6.7.09
Friedman Wrong About Muslims Again
Tom Friedman is a Middle East expert who knows a lot about Islam. Why, then, does he keep saying misleading things? He wrote in his latest column, "To this day - to this day - no major Muslim cleric or religious body has ever issued a fatwa condemning Osama bin Laden."
A "fatwa" is simply a considered opinion of a Muslim jurisconsult. Such opinions are numerous. First of all, almost all the major Shiite Grand Ayatollahs have condemned Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. You could say that is easy, since Shiites don't generally like Wahhabis. But they are the leaders of 120 million Muslims (some ten percent of the 1.2 billion). So that is one. Tracking these things down is time-consuming, but this should do:
Ayatollah Muhammad Husain Fadlallah of Lebanon condemns Osama Bin Laden.
So then what about the Sunni world? The leading moral authority for Sunnis is the rector or Grand Imam of the al-Azhar Seminary/ University in Cairo, Egypt. Al-Azhar is perhaps the world's oldest continuous university and has been since the time of Saladin a major center of Sunni religious authority. The current incumbent is Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi. So what about Tantawi and Bin Laden?
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar seminary, Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, condemns Osamah Bin Laden. And:
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar Seminary, Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, condemns Osamah Bin Laden.
What about Pakistan? Admittedly, it has some clerics who are fans of Bin Laden, or at least who would avoid condemning him. But the allegation Friedman is making is that no major cleric has condemned him. Try this: Prominent Pakistani Cleric Tahir ul Qadri condemns Bin Laden.
I don't personally care for Yusuf al-Qaradawi. He is an old-time Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood preacher who fled to Qatar and now has a perch at al-Jazeera. But he does have some virtues. He is enormously popular among Muslim fundamentalists. And, he absolutely despises Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Al-Qaradawi has repeatedly condemned the latter. He even gave a fatwa that it was a duty of Muslims to fight alongside the US in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda! See also:
Yusuf al-Qaradawi condemns al-Qaeda.
There are also substantial Muslim communities in Europe with leaderships that have explicitly condemned Bin Laden. E.g.:
Spanish Muslim Clerical authorities Issue Fatwa against Osamah Bin Laden. There are on the order of 250,000 Muslims in Spain.
High Mufti of Russian Muslims calls for Extradition of Bin Laden. The Russian Muslim community is about 20 million strong, or 15 percent of Russia's 143 million population, and is growing rapidly, so that in a century Russia may be 50 percent Muslim. So this is not a pro forma thing here.
A good round-up on this sort of issue has been put up by al-Muhajabah.
See also Charles Kurzman's page.
Friedman also does refer to a major conference of Muslim clerics, thinkers and notables wound up just Wednesday that made a powerful statement about religious tolerance and condemned everything Osama Bin Laden stands for. But he seems oddly unaware of the significance of having Grand Ayatollah Sistani, Grand Imam of al-Azhar Seminary Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, and many other great Muslim authorities sign off on this epochal statement of Muslim ecumenism.
The statement forbids one Muslim to declare another "not a Muslim" if the believer adheres to any of the mainstream legal rites of Sunnism and Shiism. The whole basis of al-Qaeda is to call the Muslim leaders of countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as Shiites, "not Muslims." The statement also demands that engineers should please stop pretending to issue fatwas, which should be left to trained clerical jurisconsults. This para. is also a slam at Bin Laden.
PS As for Friedman's main point, that Muslims haven't done a good job of fighting jihadi ideology and terrorism, it is bizarre. The Algerian government fought a virtual civil war to put down political Islam, in which over 100,000 persons died. The Egyptians jailed 20,000 or 30,000 radicals for thought crimes and killed 1500 in running street battles in the 1990s and early zeroes. Al-Qaeda can't easily strike in the Middle East precisely because Syria, Egypt, Algeria, etc. have their number and have undertaken massive actions against them. What does Friedman want? And, besides, he is wrong that this is only a Muslim problem. In the global age all problems are everybody's. That's part of flat world, too, Tom. SourceInformed Comment
A "fatwa" is simply a considered opinion of a Muslim jurisconsult. Such opinions are numerous. First of all, almost all the major Shiite Grand Ayatollahs have condemned Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. You could say that is easy, since Shiites don't generally like Wahhabis. But they are the leaders of 120 million Muslims (some ten percent of the 1.2 billion). So that is one. Tracking these things down is time-consuming, but this should do:
Ayatollah Muhammad Husain Fadlallah of Lebanon condemns Osama Bin Laden.
So then what about the Sunni world? The leading moral authority for Sunnis is the rector or Grand Imam of the al-Azhar Seminary/ University in Cairo, Egypt. Al-Azhar is perhaps the world's oldest continuous university and has been since the time of Saladin a major center of Sunni religious authority. The current incumbent is Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi. So what about Tantawi and Bin Laden?
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar seminary, Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, condemns Osamah Bin Laden. And:
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar Seminary, Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, condemns Osamah Bin Laden.
What about Pakistan? Admittedly, it has some clerics who are fans of Bin Laden, or at least who would avoid condemning him. But the allegation Friedman is making is that no major cleric has condemned him. Try this: Prominent Pakistani Cleric Tahir ul Qadri condemns Bin Laden.
I don't personally care for Yusuf al-Qaradawi. He is an old-time Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood preacher who fled to Qatar and now has a perch at al-Jazeera. But he does have some virtues. He is enormously popular among Muslim fundamentalists. And, he absolutely despises Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Al-Qaradawi has repeatedly condemned the latter. He even gave a fatwa that it was a duty of Muslims to fight alongside the US in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda! See also:
Yusuf al-Qaradawi condemns al-Qaeda.
There are also substantial Muslim communities in Europe with leaderships that have explicitly condemned Bin Laden. E.g.:
Spanish Muslim Clerical authorities Issue Fatwa against Osamah Bin Laden. There are on the order of 250,000 Muslims in Spain.
High Mufti of Russian Muslims calls for Extradition of Bin Laden. The Russian Muslim community is about 20 million strong, or 15 percent of Russia's 143 million population, and is growing rapidly, so that in a century Russia may be 50 percent Muslim. So this is not a pro forma thing here.
A good round-up on this sort of issue has been put up by al-Muhajabah.
See also Charles Kurzman's page.
Friedman also does refer to a major conference of Muslim clerics, thinkers and notables wound up just Wednesday that made a powerful statement about religious tolerance and condemned everything Osama Bin Laden stands for. But he seems oddly unaware of the significance of having Grand Ayatollah Sistani, Grand Imam of al-Azhar Seminary Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, and many other great Muslim authorities sign off on this epochal statement of Muslim ecumenism.
The statement forbids one Muslim to declare another "not a Muslim" if the believer adheres to any of the mainstream legal rites of Sunnism and Shiism. The whole basis of al-Qaeda is to call the Muslim leaders of countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as Shiites, "not Muslims." The statement also demands that engineers should please stop pretending to issue fatwas, which should be left to trained clerical jurisconsults. This para. is also a slam at Bin Laden.
PS As for Friedman's main point, that Muslims haven't done a good job of fighting jihadi ideology and terrorism, it is bizarre. The Algerian government fought a virtual civil war to put down political Islam, in which over 100,000 persons died. The Egyptians jailed 20,000 or 30,000 radicals for thought crimes and killed 1500 in running street battles in the 1990s and early zeroes. Al-Qaeda can't easily strike in the Middle East precisely because Syria, Egypt, Algeria, etc. have their number and have undertaken massive actions against them. What does Friedman want? And, besides, he is wrong that this is only a Muslim problem. In the global age all problems are everybody's. That's part of flat world, too, Tom. SourceInformed Comment
3.7.09
Islam, Europe and the Political Elite
The European elections draw closer, but we have very few real political choices. It seems to me that Islam, Europe and extreme left all share the same warped values and are determined to force them upon us — whether we want them or not. And whatever party we vote for, citizens seem to get the very same soul-destroying policies with only a slightly different wrapper!
Take the issue of democracy, for example. Islam, the European Union and our political elite all declare their support for freedom of speech — but what they really mean is they support leftist speech. What they really mean is that anything they don’t agree with is not “free speech” but “hate speech” — and this subterfuge allows them to act claiming they are “protecting society” from racism, xenophobia or hate-mongers. So whether we vote Labour, Liberal, Conservative, Green or UKIP we will always get the same! More immigration, more Islamization, more European interference and less and less freedom to decide what we really want.
Islam, the European Union and our political elite all share the same values — they all despise fairness, democracy and justice. Today, Tories as well as Labour, Liberal and the other mainstream parties claim they are “centrist” parties, but this thin wrapper of respectability covers a dangerous neo-Marxist core which lies at the centre of mainstream politics today. Our political elites, whatever the colour of their political wrapper, truly believe that only they are worthy to be the true judges of fairness, justice and law. So when such “liberals” (of whatever party) win an election it is declared “fair”; yet if they lose one it must be due to “xenophobic elements”, “racists”, “fascists” or similar antisocial types sabotaging their rightful inheritance.
Muslims, the European Union and our political elites all wrap themselves in the cloak of liberalism, equality and fairness — but underneath, they all share the same contempt for citizens, abhorrence of duty to their constituents and loathing for the democratic process; they all hate anyone who disagrees with them. The EU, for example, learning in a poll that 60 percent of European citizens (as well as 60 percent of Turks) were against Turkey joining the EU — decided to speed up the process and keep it quiet so as not to attract the attention of citizens. And as you know, this is only one example in many ongoing acts of contempt by the EU for its own citizens.
Muslims, the European Union and modern, left-wing elitist politicians have indoctrinated themselves to believe in their own superiority. They think of themselves so much, and so often, that the idea anyone could hold opposing views seems somehow ridiculous. Likewise, Islam believes, and has always believed, it is above all other religions and openly says so in the Qur’an. And such supremicism easily leads to the justification of violence and hatred for non-Muslims as European political elitism has led to an institutionalized contempt for EU citizens.
The EU believes it has a destiny to implement its vision of a united, federal Europe where the leftist elite sit at the helm dispensing equality, freedom and justice for all. They must do this irrespective of “wrong” referendum results and “meaningless” opinion polls because European citizens are too short-sighted to “see the big picture”, and benefits which will clearly be reaped by all!
Our elitist leaders believe that only they have “nuanced” beliefs and the “insight” necessary to see the true value of a “cosmopolitan society”. They alone have the vision to move beyond outdated ideas like nationalism, patriotism, and religious conflicts. In other words, only the European Union, the United Nations and the leftist elite are intellectual enough to hold objective truths. And that is why the mainstream media is right to accept their truth whilst rejecting “divisive” and “inflammatory” talk and ideas which differ from their utopian ideals.
Today, criticism of Islam, the EU and the leftist dream is treated as heresy — an attack on the very identity of the listener. And our political elites treat any such criticism with the contempt it deserves.
Anyone who challenges them, the EU or Islam does not even warrant a well argued counterargument since such ideas are so “obviously false”. There is clearly “something wrong” with the people who criticize them… so they must be xenophobic, hate-mongers or perhaps just ignorant.
I hope people will learn that a vote for Labour, Liberal Greens or Conservatives is simply a vote for the very same rotten policies in a different coloured wrapper.
Now is the time to use your vote to cause an impact, to send shudders down the spines of the political elitists and Islam-appeasing parties currently ruling over us — treating us as mindless, powerless pawns.
Source:
Take the issue of democracy, for example. Islam, the European Union and our political elite all declare their support for freedom of speech — but what they really mean is they support leftist speech. What they really mean is that anything they don’t agree with is not “free speech” but “hate speech” — and this subterfuge allows them to act claiming they are “protecting society” from racism, xenophobia or hate-mongers. So whether we vote Labour, Liberal, Conservative, Green or UKIP we will always get the same! More immigration, more Islamization, more European interference and less and less freedom to decide what we really want.
Islam, the European Union and our political elite all share the same values — they all despise fairness, democracy and justice. Today, Tories as well as Labour, Liberal and the other mainstream parties claim they are “centrist” parties, but this thin wrapper of respectability covers a dangerous neo-Marxist core which lies at the centre of mainstream politics today. Our political elites, whatever the colour of their political wrapper, truly believe that only they are worthy to be the true judges of fairness, justice and law. So when such “liberals” (of whatever party) win an election it is declared “fair”; yet if they lose one it must be due to “xenophobic elements”, “racists”, “fascists” or similar antisocial types sabotaging their rightful inheritance.
Muslims, the European Union and our political elites all wrap themselves in the cloak of liberalism, equality and fairness — but underneath, they all share the same contempt for citizens, abhorrence of duty to their constituents and loathing for the democratic process; they all hate anyone who disagrees with them. The EU, for example, learning in a poll that 60 percent of European citizens (as well as 60 percent of Turks) were against Turkey joining the EU — decided to speed up the process and keep it quiet so as not to attract the attention of citizens. And as you know, this is only one example in many ongoing acts of contempt by the EU for its own citizens.
Muslims, the European Union and modern, left-wing elitist politicians have indoctrinated themselves to believe in their own superiority. They think of themselves so much, and so often, that the idea anyone could hold opposing views seems somehow ridiculous. Likewise, Islam believes, and has always believed, it is above all other religions and openly says so in the Qur’an. And such supremicism easily leads to the justification of violence and hatred for non-Muslims as European political elitism has led to an institutionalized contempt for EU citizens.
The EU believes it has a destiny to implement its vision of a united, federal Europe where the leftist elite sit at the helm dispensing equality, freedom and justice for all. They must do this irrespective of “wrong” referendum results and “meaningless” opinion polls because European citizens are too short-sighted to “see the big picture”, and benefits which will clearly be reaped by all!
Our elitist leaders believe that only they have “nuanced” beliefs and the “insight” necessary to see the true value of a “cosmopolitan society”. They alone have the vision to move beyond outdated ideas like nationalism, patriotism, and religious conflicts. In other words, only the European Union, the United Nations and the leftist elite are intellectual enough to hold objective truths. And that is why the mainstream media is right to accept their truth whilst rejecting “divisive” and “inflammatory” talk and ideas which differ from their utopian ideals.
Today, criticism of Islam, the EU and the leftist dream is treated as heresy — an attack on the very identity of the listener. And our political elites treat any such criticism with the contempt it deserves.
Anyone who challenges them, the EU or Islam does not even warrant a well argued counterargument since such ideas are so “obviously false”. There is clearly “something wrong” with the people who criticize them… so they must be xenophobic, hate-mongers or perhaps just ignorant.
I hope people will learn that a vote for Labour, Liberal Greens or Conservatives is simply a vote for the very same rotten policies in a different coloured wrapper.
Now is the time to use your vote to cause an impact, to send shudders down the spines of the political elitists and Islam-appeasing parties currently ruling over us — treating us as mindless, powerless pawns.
Source:
13.6.09
Leading Muslim cleric killed in suicide bomb attack in Lahore
A prominent Pakistani Muslim cleric who founded a religious alliance against the Taleban was killed today in a suicide bomb attack on his Islamic college in the eastern city of Lahore.
Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi appeared to have been the target of the blast in his office at the Jamia Naeemia madrassa, which he headed and where he had just conducted Friday prayers.
Dr Naeemi — whose father founded the madrassa and who was well known and respected in Lahore and across Pakistan — died on the way to hospital, according to his son, Waqar.
“I was still in the mosque when I heard a big bang. We rushed towards the office and there was a smell of explosives in the air. There was blood and several people were crying in pain,” Waqar said.
Geo TV showed Dr Naeemi’s body lying on a stretcher, his beard and hair covered in dust and blood stains around his nostrils.
Tariq Saleem Dogar, the Punjab provincial police chief, denounced the attack on the madrassa — which taught maths and computer science as well as Islamic studies — as un-Islamic.
“It could not be an act of a Muslim to carry out an attack in a mosque,” he said.
In another blast at around the same time, a suicide car bomber struck near a mosque in the northwestern town of Nowshera, killing at least three people, police said.
The attacks are the latest in a spate of bombings which local officials say are revenge for Pakistan’s army launching an offensive against the Taleban in and around the northwestern region of Swat last month.
They came the day after the army opened a new front against the Taleban near the tribal region of Waziristan, and the US House of Representatives approved tripling aid to Pakistan to about $1.5 billion a year for the next five years.
Dr Naeemi appears to have been targeted because he had been integral in helping to generate political, religious and public support for the army’s campaign in Swat over the last few weeks.
Last month, he established the Sunni Itehad Council, an alliance of more than 22 Islamic groups and political parties with the explicit goal of opposing the Taleban.
The council claims to represent about 85 million Pakistani followers of the moderate Barelvi school of Sunni Islam, which incorporates music and mysticism and venerates saints and their shrines.
“The Taleban is a stigma on Islam,” Dr Naeemi told The Times in an interview at his madressah last month.
“That is why we will support our Government and our army and their right to destroy the Taleban. We will save Pakistan.” The Taleban preaches an extreme version of the Deobandi school of Sunni Islam, which maintains that many Barelvi practices are un-Islamic and advocates the use of violence against Barelvis and Shia Muslims.
Militants have destroyed several Barelvi shrines in the northwest in recent months.
There are no precise statistics but experts believe that at least half of Pakistan’s 173 million people are Barelvi, and about 20 to 25 per cent Deobandi. Another 20 per cent are Shia. Source
Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi appeared to have been the target of the blast in his office at the Jamia Naeemia madrassa, which he headed and where he had just conducted Friday prayers.
Dr Naeemi — whose father founded the madrassa and who was well known and respected in Lahore and across Pakistan — died on the way to hospital, according to his son, Waqar.
“I was still in the mosque when I heard a big bang. We rushed towards the office and there was a smell of explosives in the air. There was blood and several people were crying in pain,” Waqar said.
Geo TV showed Dr Naeemi’s body lying on a stretcher, his beard and hair covered in dust and blood stains around his nostrils.
Tariq Saleem Dogar, the Punjab provincial police chief, denounced the attack on the madrassa — which taught maths and computer science as well as Islamic studies — as un-Islamic.
“It could not be an act of a Muslim to carry out an attack in a mosque,” he said.
In another blast at around the same time, a suicide car bomber struck near a mosque in the northwestern town of Nowshera, killing at least three people, police said.
The attacks are the latest in a spate of bombings which local officials say are revenge for Pakistan’s army launching an offensive against the Taleban in and around the northwestern region of Swat last month.
They came the day after the army opened a new front against the Taleban near the tribal region of Waziristan, and the US House of Representatives approved tripling aid to Pakistan to about $1.5 billion a year for the next five years.
Dr Naeemi appears to have been targeted because he had been integral in helping to generate political, religious and public support for the army’s campaign in Swat over the last few weeks.
Last month, he established the Sunni Itehad Council, an alliance of more than 22 Islamic groups and political parties with the explicit goal of opposing the Taleban.
The council claims to represent about 85 million Pakistani followers of the moderate Barelvi school of Sunni Islam, which incorporates music and mysticism and venerates saints and their shrines.
“The Taleban is a stigma on Islam,” Dr Naeemi told The Times in an interview at his madressah last month.
“That is why we will support our Government and our army and their right to destroy the Taleban. We will save Pakistan.” The Taleban preaches an extreme version of the Deobandi school of Sunni Islam, which maintains that many Barelvi practices are un-Islamic and advocates the use of violence against Barelvis and Shia Muslims.
Militants have destroyed several Barelvi shrines in the northwest in recent months.
There are no precise statistics but experts believe that at least half of Pakistan’s 173 million people are Barelvi, and about 20 to 25 per cent Deobandi. Another 20 per cent are Shia. Source
28.5.09
From Darkness into Light. Why we choose Islam
Many people explain why they chose islam as the only right Path to the Truth...
22.5.09
Mohammad (pbuh) the Praise worthy
Mohammad, the seal of all of God's Messengers and Prophets.
He preached the religion of Adam, Noah, Abraham, moses, Jesus (pbut),
He founded a state
He built a nation
He laid down a moral code
He applies social and political reforms
He established a powerful dynamic society
He helped reform society
His teachings are practice and represented by a billion and half people world wide
He completely revolutionized the arab culture.
He gave of human thought and behavior for all times to come.
"His Name is MUHAMMAD" which translates to the Praise worthy.
May Peace of God Be Upon Him (pbuh) Source
He preached the religion of Adam, Noah, Abraham, moses, Jesus (pbut),
He founded a state
He built a nation
He laid down a moral code
He applies social and political reforms
He established a powerful dynamic society
He helped reform society
His teachings are practice and represented by a billion and half people world wide
He completely revolutionized the arab culture.
He gave of human thought and behavior for all times to come.
"His Name is MUHAMMAD" which translates to the Praise worthy.
May Peace of God Be Upon Him (pbuh) Source
15.5.09
QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE -CONFLICT OR CONCILIATION?
Islamic Research Foundation An International Resource Centre For Understanding And Clarification, On Islam And Comparative Religion. Islamic Research Foundation Provides For Free Hire And Sale, Video And Audio Cassettes, On Islam And Comparative Religion. This Being, The Largest And Best Collection Internationally. It Includes Films, Television Programmes, Documentaries, Qur’anic And Islamic Studies Programmes As Well As Interviews, Lectures, Symposia, Debates, Etc., Of World Renowned Speakers Like Shaikh Ahmed Deedat – South Africa, Dr. Zakir Naik – India, Dr. Jamal Badawi – Canada, Dr. Khalid Al-Mansoor – U.S.A., Brother Yusuf Islam – U.K., Brother Gary Miller – Canada, Dr. Israr Ahmed -Pakistan, Maulana Abdul Karim Parekh- India, And Many Others. Islamic Research Foundation Also Provides On Request, Free Literature on Islam And Comparative Religion. Please Phone, Call, Or Write To Islamic Research Foundation, 56/58, Tandel Street (North), Dongri, Mumbai 400 009.
QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE -CONFLICT OR CONCILIATION? – PART I
QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE -CONFLICT OR CONCILIATION? PART II
QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE -CONFLICT OR CONCILIATION? – PART I
QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE -CONFLICT OR CONCILIATION? PART II
12.5.09
Who will stand up for Noah(pbuh) on Judgment day?
No 549: Narrated Abu Said: Allah's Apostle said, "Noah and his nation will come (on the Day of Resurrection and Allah will ask (Noah), "Did you convey (the Message)?' He will reply, 'Yes, O my Lord!' Then Allah will ask Noah's nation, 'Did Noah convey My Message to you?' They will reply, 'No, no prophet came to us.' Then Allah will ask Noah, 'Who will stand a witness for you?' He will reply, 'Muhammad and his followers (will stand witness for me).' So, I and my followers will stand as witnesses for him (that he conveyed Allah's Message)." That is, (the interpretation) of the Statement of Allah: "Thus we have made you a just and the best nation that you might be witnesses Over mankind .." (2.143)
It's rather intresting that I cam across this Hadith by an email and thought it was very uniqe, yet very truthful because in the Quran it speaks of Noah-pbuh, as a righteous man, who served God and delivered the message to his people, but they rejected and mocked him, that some of them were so arrogant, as it began raining as he told them, it says he was still inviting them to listen and come a board, they were still arrogant to say no his being untruthful and that it will stop. They mostly rejected because of arrogance and Noah-pbuh according to the Quran is not quilty of anything and is one of God's prophets.
It's rather intresting that I cam across this Hadith by an email and thought it was very uniqe, yet very truthful because in the Quran it speaks of Noah-pbuh, as a righteous man, who served God and delivered the message to his people, but they rejected and mocked him, that some of them were so arrogant, as it began raining as he told them, it says he was still inviting them to listen and come a board, they were still arrogant to say no his being untruthful and that it will stop. They mostly rejected because of arrogance and Noah-pbuh according to the Quran is not quilty of anything and is one of God's prophets.
In Malta Tourists are welcome (but not them Muslims)
a couple of scores of Muslim men gathered on the Sliema front. They were not being rowdy, they weren't drinking and they weren't swearing. All they had as props were some prayer rugs. Because, in fact, they were only interested in praying together. And they had a police permit to do so.
You would think, Malta being a free democratic country, that this would be a totally non-news event. Bzzz. Wrong answer - not with the racist hysteria gripping the island. For this whole week it's been the most read, most commented and most e-mailed article. Some of the comments to this simple gathering are truly alarming, chilling almost:
"Malta is a Catholic country. They have no right to come here and pray in front of us. I don't care what they do in the privacy of their own home, but not here."
"They should go to a mosque. That is where they belong. Or in some hole somewhere. But not here where I get my children to eat and have a good time."
"I would have had no problem if they were Catholics praying... in Malta we are all Catholics, so it's not a problem, but not them."
"If this happens again there will be trouble."
"I bet that their next step will be to make us remove our icons/crosses and statues from our streets or from schools."
"The authorities should never have given permission, much less protection, at the cost of the Maltese taxpayer."
"This is clear case of arrogance by a small group of men."
I'm sorry? Arrogance? Arrogant was the woman who insisted on walking her dog in front of them, twice. The comments get harsher and harsher. You would think that these men were planning a coup d'etat rather than reciting their Qur'an, or that their prayer beads were weapons of mass destruction.
The reaction, were it not in the context of our society's dark skin paranoia, would have been perplexing. These men simply prayed and then went their way: "We are not here to protest or threaten violence but to express our fundamental human right to gather in prayer," one of the leaders, Bader Zina, said.
They resorted to the Sliema front because the Planning Authority sealed off the Sliema flat where they normally gathered as it did not have a licence to be used as a place of worship. Fair enough. But then, they have every right to get a permit and hit the front.
It's not as if it's never been done before by religious groups. Didn't that touchy-feely, hand-clappy charismatic Edward Spiteri guy and his followers hog the Birzebbuga front for summer weekends on end?
Religion is being used as a poor excuse, a cover-up if you want, for racism. Yet again, the Catholic leaders have chosen to remain silent on the matter. They who should be encouraging the embracing of different religions, they who should be at the forefront of promoting tolerance and acceptance, they who should be reminding all and sundry that Christ after all said 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
Where is the Church when it needs to voice its disapproval of this unacceptable prejudice? More on this
You would think, Malta being a free democratic country, that this would be a totally non-news event. Bzzz. Wrong answer - not with the racist hysteria gripping the island. For this whole week it's been the most read, most commented and most e-mailed article. Some of the comments to this simple gathering are truly alarming, chilling almost:
"Malta is a Catholic country. They have no right to come here and pray in front of us. I don't care what they do in the privacy of their own home, but not here."
"They should go to a mosque. That is where they belong. Or in some hole somewhere. But not here where I get my children to eat and have a good time."
"I would have had no problem if they were Catholics praying... in Malta we are all Catholics, so it's not a problem, but not them."
"If this happens again there will be trouble."
"I bet that their next step will be to make us remove our icons/crosses and statues from our streets or from schools."
"The authorities should never have given permission, much less protection, at the cost of the Maltese taxpayer."
"This is clear case of arrogance by a small group of men."
I'm sorry? Arrogance? Arrogant was the woman who insisted on walking her dog in front of them, twice. The comments get harsher and harsher. You would think that these men were planning a coup d'etat rather than reciting their Qur'an, or that their prayer beads were weapons of mass destruction.
The reaction, were it not in the context of our society's dark skin paranoia, would have been perplexing. These men simply prayed and then went their way: "We are not here to protest or threaten violence but to express our fundamental human right to gather in prayer," one of the leaders, Bader Zina, said.
They resorted to the Sliema front because the Planning Authority sealed off the Sliema flat where they normally gathered as it did not have a licence to be used as a place of worship. Fair enough. But then, they have every right to get a permit and hit the front.
It's not as if it's never been done before by religious groups. Didn't that touchy-feely, hand-clappy charismatic Edward Spiteri guy and his followers hog the Birzebbuga front for summer weekends on end?
Religion is being used as a poor excuse, a cover-up if you want, for racism. Yet again, the Catholic leaders have chosen to remain silent on the matter. They who should be encouraging the embracing of different religions, they who should be at the forefront of promoting tolerance and acceptance, they who should be reminding all and sundry that Christ after all said 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
Where is the Church when it needs to voice its disapproval of this unacceptable prejudice? More on this
11.5.09
Message from Musa Sadulayev. Chechnya Iam with you
For more than a month I was at home in Chechnya, first I was ill and then I was nursing my son who had influenza, so I had no opportunity to check up e-mail. Only yesterday, having received all mail for 3-4 weeks, in total more than 160 messages, I was surprised to learn that the radicals during this time had carried out so much work to attract attention to the genocide happening in Chechnya. I can't call in other way what the federal army does in my land. Because it isn't considered a crime to kidnap a peaceful civilian and then for a big sum to sell to his relatives his corpse with traces of violent death (having bragged beforehand in the Russian mass-media about one more killed field commander). As it isn't considered a crime to fire at peace houses from sub-machine guns, grenade discharger cups, mortars. Anyway, I'm not aware of any fact of punishment of a criminal for similar act. And there is a lot of facts when criminal proceedings aren't instituted for above mentioned crimes.
Also I was surprised to learn that our party comrade and colleague Olivier Dupuis had been fasting for more than 2 weeks to protest against the war in Chechnya and attracted thus to the Chechen problem the attention of many international politicians who after monstrous acts of terrorism of last September 11 preferred not to speak about my republic and thus untied the hands to the Kremlin. With great pleasure I'll join the initiative "Two days of the world hunger-strike for Chechnya". Not only me. My brothers Havazh (43 years), Rezaudi (42), Magomed (38) Sadulayev, and also my friends Aslan Zugayev (34), Mamed Khazhmuradov (34) and Selima Gapayeva (29). Though only our familiars and neighbours will know about our action, we consider it our duty to join the mass two-day hunger-strike from March 12 till March 14, against the war in our republic. It is a pity that I learned about this action only in the evening on March 11. I'm sure that there could be much more people wishing to take part in it.
Since the end of 1994, a genocide has been carried out against all inhabitants of Chechnya, the leaders of Russia call it an antiterrorist operation. It isn't known the exact death-roll and the number of disappeared among the peace population during this period. Official figures of the lost Russian militarians cause doubts. But even official figures frighten. It's more than three thousand death notifications in Russian houses during the last military campaign. There are more than 10 thousand mutilated and wounded. But the tears of victims of these two wars don't reach the Kremlin leaders, and they lack courage to repent of their sins and to stop a senseless war. But if all of us who take a sober look at what is happening, don't say "no" to the war - there won't be an end.
The people of Chechnya is tired of what is happening. Federal forces every day carry out the so-called sweeping-ups throughout Chechnya, accompanied by beatings, tortures, murders and plundering of peaceful population. Especially it happens in mountain and foothill regions of Chechnya. It's villages Alleroy, Tsotsan-Yurt, Kurchaloy, Stariye Atagi, Noviye Atagi, Chechen-Aul, Urus-Martan, Assinovskaya, Sernovodskaya, Samashki, Achkhoy-Martan, Argun, Shali, Vedeno... Speaking about all these evil deeds, the representatives of the command of federal army say that everything occurs within the framework of the Russian law. I'm not a lawyer, nevertheless I know that there is no law in the world allowing to taunt the arrested person, to torture with electro-shock, to cut off ears from alive person, to hold a person waist-deep in ice water (in order that he have no posterity - as militarians themselves said), to organize lynching and to hide carefully the traces of their actions.
In Grozny and in other settlements of Chechnya there is a lot of places where presumably the burial places are. But it's problematic and unsafe to carry out excavations and identification of bodies, because the militarians at once "find" in these places mines which are to be neutralized only by exploding them on the place, after that no corpses can be found there. Such fact took place last year in Oktyabrsky district of Grozny, near the military commandant's office.
And it would be a long story about what is happening on the Chechen roads, especially on the road from Rostov to Baku. But I'll tell a short story from my own experience. I had to spend 120 roubles in order to get from Sleptsovskaya (Ingushetia) to Assinovskaya (Chechnya) and back. The distance is no more than 20 kms. No soldier on my way would let me pass without having received "one tum" (ten roubles). Thousand people pass there every day. So it isn't surprising that having received a "tum", the soldier asked to change small coin for big notes which he got enough during the day. And these people officially enforce the order in our land, struggle with terrorism.
It is impossible to write shortly in one letter about everything happening in Chechnya. But in order that the events in our republic be not judged in the world by official propaganda of Mr. Yastrzhembsky, by the statements of Mr. Rogozin-headed Russian delegation in the PACE, and many mass-media controlled by the Kremlin, all of us as far as possible must inform the public about the essence of the arbitrariness occurring in Chechnya. Only reminding to all the world that the war in Chechnya isn't the lesser grief than the explosions of September 11, we'll be able to compel somehow the contradictory parties to sit down to the negotiating table. Otherwise the bloodshed will never stop.
And in conclusion I'd like to express my gratitude to all those who grieves over my republic and my people. At the same time I earnestly ask Olivier Dupuis whom I respect so much, to stop his indefinite hunger-strike. You did much more than all the politicians together who speak much about human rights and at the same time indifferently look how every day innocent people are killed in Chechnya, thousands of people three years live in canvas tents in Ingushetia, they are ill with hepatitis, tuberculosis, other diseases and have no means for treatment, people for ever leave their historical native land, going abroad to rescue their children.
Sincerely yours, Musa Sadulayev, member of the TRP since 1995
Also I was surprised to learn that our party comrade and colleague Olivier Dupuis had been fasting for more than 2 weeks to protest against the war in Chechnya and attracted thus to the Chechen problem the attention of many international politicians who after monstrous acts of terrorism of last September 11 preferred not to speak about my republic and thus untied the hands to the Kremlin. With great pleasure I'll join the initiative "Two days of the world hunger-strike for Chechnya". Not only me. My brothers Havazh (43 years), Rezaudi (42), Magomed (38) Sadulayev, and also my friends Aslan Zugayev (34), Mamed Khazhmuradov (34) and Selima Gapayeva (29). Though only our familiars and neighbours will know about our action, we consider it our duty to join the mass two-day hunger-strike from March 12 till March 14, against the war in our republic. It is a pity that I learned about this action only in the evening on March 11. I'm sure that there could be much more people wishing to take part in it.
Since the end of 1994, a genocide has been carried out against all inhabitants of Chechnya, the leaders of Russia call it an antiterrorist operation. It isn't known the exact death-roll and the number of disappeared among the peace population during this period. Official figures of the lost Russian militarians cause doubts. But even official figures frighten. It's more than three thousand death notifications in Russian houses during the last military campaign. There are more than 10 thousand mutilated and wounded. But the tears of victims of these two wars don't reach the Kremlin leaders, and they lack courage to repent of their sins and to stop a senseless war. But if all of us who take a sober look at what is happening, don't say "no" to the war - there won't be an end.
The people of Chechnya is tired of what is happening. Federal forces every day carry out the so-called sweeping-ups throughout Chechnya, accompanied by beatings, tortures, murders and plundering of peaceful population. Especially it happens in mountain and foothill regions of Chechnya. It's villages Alleroy, Tsotsan-Yurt, Kurchaloy, Stariye Atagi, Noviye Atagi, Chechen-Aul, Urus-Martan, Assinovskaya, Sernovodskaya, Samashki, Achkhoy-Martan, Argun, Shali, Vedeno... Speaking about all these evil deeds, the representatives of the command of federal army say that everything occurs within the framework of the Russian law. I'm not a lawyer, nevertheless I know that there is no law in the world allowing to taunt the arrested person, to torture with electro-shock, to cut off ears from alive person, to hold a person waist-deep in ice water (in order that he have no posterity - as militarians themselves said), to organize lynching and to hide carefully the traces of their actions.
In Grozny and in other settlements of Chechnya there is a lot of places where presumably the burial places are. But it's problematic and unsafe to carry out excavations and identification of bodies, because the militarians at once "find" in these places mines which are to be neutralized only by exploding them on the place, after that no corpses can be found there. Such fact took place last year in Oktyabrsky district of Grozny, near the military commandant's office.
And it would be a long story about what is happening on the Chechen roads, especially on the road from Rostov to Baku. But I'll tell a short story from my own experience. I had to spend 120 roubles in order to get from Sleptsovskaya (Ingushetia) to Assinovskaya (Chechnya) and back. The distance is no more than 20 kms. No soldier on my way would let me pass without having received "one tum" (ten roubles). Thousand people pass there every day. So it isn't surprising that having received a "tum", the soldier asked to change small coin for big notes which he got enough during the day. And these people officially enforce the order in our land, struggle with terrorism.
It is impossible to write shortly in one letter about everything happening in Chechnya. But in order that the events in our republic be not judged in the world by official propaganda of Mr. Yastrzhembsky, by the statements of Mr. Rogozin-headed Russian delegation in the PACE, and many mass-media controlled by the Kremlin, all of us as far as possible must inform the public about the essence of the arbitrariness occurring in Chechnya. Only reminding to all the world that the war in Chechnya isn't the lesser grief than the explosions of September 11, we'll be able to compel somehow the contradictory parties to sit down to the negotiating table. Otherwise the bloodshed will never stop.
And in conclusion I'd like to express my gratitude to all those who grieves over my republic and my people. At the same time I earnestly ask Olivier Dupuis whom I respect so much, to stop his indefinite hunger-strike. You did much more than all the politicians together who speak much about human rights and at the same time indifferently look how every day innocent people are killed in Chechnya, thousands of people three years live in canvas tents in Ingushetia, they are ill with hepatitis, tuberculosis, other diseases and have no means for treatment, people for ever leave their historical native land, going abroad to rescue their children.
Sincerely yours, Musa Sadulayev, member of the TRP since 1995
Chechnya, War Crimes, death toll 160000 in two Russian Campaigns
MOSCOW: The two military campaigns Russia has conducted in separatist Chechnya have claimed a toll of up to 160,000 persons, a Chechen official said on Monday. "Between 150,000 and 160,000 civilians and military have died or gone missing in the two campaigns," Taus Dzhabrailov, head of Chechnya's interim Parliament, told a press conference in Moscow. He said ethnic Chechnens accounted for only a fourth of the total losses. "Rough estimates show that between 30,000 and 40,000 ethnic Chechens have died in both campaigns," Mr. Dzhabrailov said. According to official figures around 5,000 Russian servicemen were killed during the first war in 1994-1996. Unofficial estimates put the number of Russia's military losses in the second campaign launched in 1999 at 7,700. Vladimir Radyuhin
Refrences The Hindu
10.5.09
Concerns white phosphorus used in Afghan battle
By JASON STRAZIUSO and RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press Writers Jason Straziuso And Rahim Faiez, Associated Press Writers – 57 mins ago
KABUL – Doctors voiced concern over "unusual" burns on Afghan villagers wounded in an already controversial U.S.-Taliban battle, and the country's top human rights groups said Sunday it is investigating the possibility white phosphorus was used. Full article
Unleash your Brain Power!
KABUL – Doctors voiced concern over "unusual" burns on Afghan villagers wounded in an already controversial U.S.-Taliban battle, and the country's top human rights groups said Sunday it is investigating the possibility white phosphorus was used. Full article
Unleash your Brain Power!
4.5.09
Witness for Jesus' in Afghanistan
By Al Jazeera
May 04, 2009 "Al Jazeera" -- US soldiers have been encouraged to spread the message of their Christian faith among Afghanistan's predominantly Muslim population, video footage obtained by Al Jazeera appears to show.
Military chaplains stationed in the US air base at Bagram were also filmed with bibles printed in the country's main Pashto and Dari languages.
n one recorded sermon, Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Hensley, the chief of the US military chaplains in Afghanistan, is seen telling soldiers that as followers of Jesus Christ, they all have a responsibility "to be witnesses for him".
"The special forces guys - they hunt men basically. We do the same things as Christians, we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down," he says.
"Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them into the kingdom. That's what we do, that's our business."
Local language Bibles
The footage, shot about a year ago by Brian Hughes, a documentary maker and former member of the US military who spent several days in Bagram, was obtained by Al Jazeera's James Bays, who has covered Afghanistan extensively.
Bays also obtained from Hughes a Pashto-language copy of one of the books he picked up during a Bible study lesson he recorded at Bagram.
A Pashto speaker confirmed to Bays that it was a Bible. More here
2.5.09
Twelve Proofs that Muhammad is a True Prophet
Shaykh `Abdul Rahman `Abdul Khaliq
Originally published by IANA
My brothers and sisters everywhere! With this essay, I am not singling out the adherents of Islam - to which I ascribe - but rather I am writing this essay to every man and woman throughout the whole world.
I ask Allah that He facilitates that this essay reaches every ear, falls under the sight of every eye, and is understood by every heart...
Muhammad the son of `Abdullah is Allah's Prophet and the Final Messenger Sent by Allah to the Inhabitants of Earth.
My brothers and sisters everywhere! You should know that the Messenger, Muhammad the son of `Abdullah (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is Allah's Messenger in reality and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the Koran that we now have between our hands. This Koran mentioned most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were able to belie him regarding anything that he said.
2. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he was reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also brought an Arabic Koran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Koran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Koran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Koran.
Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Koran.
4. The life history of this Noble Prophet was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of Allah.
5. Allah instilled great love for Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) in the hearts of all who believed in and met him. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or father for him.
Till today, those who believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, even if but once.
6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, who is the most influential human in history. rest of list
Originally published by IANA
My brothers and sisters everywhere! With this essay, I am not singling out the adherents of Islam - to which I ascribe - but rather I am writing this essay to every man and woman throughout the whole world.
I ask Allah that He facilitates that this essay reaches every ear, falls under the sight of every eye, and is understood by every heart...
Muhammad the son of `Abdullah is Allah's Prophet and the Final Messenger Sent by Allah to the Inhabitants of Earth.
My brothers and sisters everywhere! You should know that the Messenger, Muhammad the son of `Abdullah (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is Allah's Messenger in reality and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the Koran that we now have between our hands. This Koran mentioned most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were able to belie him regarding anything that he said.
2. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he was reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also brought an Arabic Koran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Koran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Koran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Koran.
Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Koran.
4. The life history of this Noble Prophet was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of Allah.
5. Allah instilled great love for Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) in the hearts of all who believed in and met him. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or father for him.
Till today, those who believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, even if but once.
6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, who is the most influential human in history. rest of list
30.4.09
Guantanamo prisoners to be transferred to Baku An Azerbaijani newspaper reported
The Newspaper Musavat Novin, printed in Baku, reported that an agreement was made between the Azerbaijani government and the American government regarding the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Azerbaijan at the same time that the country is on the verge of voting for a referendum regarding its constitution.
This newspaper wrote the following about how Azerbaijan is a strategic position for American forces: “American airplanes enter the Azerbaijan Republic every day and then fly to Afghanistan and other countries. But, the information regarding what these planes are carrying remains secret. It is not clear whether they are carrying prisoners or military equipment. This issue creates the conditions necessary to transfer prisoners.”
This report was published when the Obama administration issued a statement saying that they are closing Guantanamo Bay. Source
This newspaper wrote the following about how Azerbaijan is a strategic position for American forces: “American airplanes enter the Azerbaijan Republic every day and then fly to Afghanistan and other countries. But, the information regarding what these planes are carrying remains secret. It is not clear whether they are carrying prisoners or military equipment. This issue creates the conditions necessary to transfer prisoners.”
This report was published when the Obama administration issued a statement saying that they are closing Guantanamo Bay. Source
29.4.09
Converts from: Australia, China, Greece, Peru, Israel, Indonesia, Lebanon, South Africa, USA.
Converts from: Australia, China, Greece, Peru, Israel, Indonesia, Lebanon, South Africa, USA.
Part One
Part Two
Part One
Part Two
28.4.09
The following table shows the 50 countries with the highest percentage of Muslims.
Country -- %of Muslims -- Muslim Population
Mauritania - 99.9% - 3,083,772
Maldives - 99.9% - 348,756
Western Sahara - 99.8% - 272,461
Somalia - 99.5% - 8,548,670
Turkey - 99% - 68,963,953
Iran - 99% - 67,337,681
Algeria - 99% - 32,206,534
Afghanistan- 99% - 29,629,697
Yemen - 99% - 20,519,792
Tunisia - 99% - 9,974,201
Oman - 99% - 2,971,567
Comoros - 99% - 664,534
Djibouti - 99% - 471,935
Morocco - 98.7% - 32,300,410
Iraq - 97% - 25,292,658
Libya - 97% - 5,592,596
Pakistan - 96.35% - 156,491,617
Saudi Arabia - 95.7% - 25,281,642
Tajikistan - 95% - 6,805,330
Jordan - 95% - 5,471,745
Qatar - 95% - 819,898
Senegal - 94% - 10,459,222
Azerbaijan - 93.4% - 7,389,783
Egypt - 91% - 70,530,237
Mali - 90% - 11,062,376
Niger - 90% - 10,499,343
Gambia - 90% - 1,433,930
Uzbekistan - 89% - 23,897,563
Turkmenistan - 89% - 4,407,352
Indonesia - 88.22% - 213,469,356
Bangladesh 88% - 127,001,272
Syria - 88% - 16,234,901
Guinea - 85% - 8,047,686
Kuwait - 85% - 1,985,300
Bahrain - 85% - 585,093
Palestine - 84% - 3,159,999
Kyrgyzstan - 80% - 4,117,024
UAE - 76% - 1,948,041
Lebanon - 70% - 2,678,212
Albania - 70% - 2,494,178
Brunei - 67% - 249,481
Sudan - 65% - 26,121,865
Malaysia - 60.4% - 14,467,694
Sierra Leone - 60% - 3,610,585
Burkina Faso - 55% - 7,658,922
Chad - 54% - 5,306,266
Nigeria - 50% - 64,385,994
Eritrea - 50% - 2,280,799
Ethiopia - 47.5% - 34,700,310
Kazakhstan - 47% - 7,137,346
Grand Total is.....My calculator is not handy anyone is welcome to add it :D
References
* US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report 2004
* CIA Factbook
* adherents.com
* Religious Freedom page
* census.gov
This List was compiled by the Works of Religious facts
Mauritania - 99.9% - 3,083,772
Maldives - 99.9% - 348,756
Western Sahara - 99.8% - 272,461
Somalia - 99.5% - 8,548,670
Turkey - 99% - 68,963,953
Iran - 99% - 67,337,681
Algeria - 99% - 32,206,534
Afghanistan- 99% - 29,629,697
Yemen - 99% - 20,519,792
Tunisia - 99% - 9,974,201
Oman - 99% - 2,971,567
Comoros - 99% - 664,534
Djibouti - 99% - 471,935
Morocco - 98.7% - 32,300,410
Iraq - 97% - 25,292,658
Libya - 97% - 5,592,596
Pakistan - 96.35% - 156,491,617
Saudi Arabia - 95.7% - 25,281,642
Tajikistan - 95% - 6,805,330
Jordan - 95% - 5,471,745
Qatar - 95% - 819,898
Senegal - 94% - 10,459,222
Azerbaijan - 93.4% - 7,389,783
Egypt - 91% - 70,530,237
Mali - 90% - 11,062,376
Niger - 90% - 10,499,343
Gambia - 90% - 1,433,930
Uzbekistan - 89% - 23,897,563
Turkmenistan - 89% - 4,407,352
Indonesia - 88.22% - 213,469,356
Bangladesh 88% - 127,001,272
Syria - 88% - 16,234,901
Guinea - 85% - 8,047,686
Kuwait - 85% - 1,985,300
Bahrain - 85% - 585,093
Palestine - 84% - 3,159,999
Kyrgyzstan - 80% - 4,117,024
UAE - 76% - 1,948,041
Lebanon - 70% - 2,678,212
Albania - 70% - 2,494,178
Brunei - 67% - 249,481
Sudan - 65% - 26,121,865
Malaysia - 60.4% - 14,467,694
Sierra Leone - 60% - 3,610,585
Burkina Faso - 55% - 7,658,922
Chad - 54% - 5,306,266
Nigeria - 50% - 64,385,994
Eritrea - 50% - 2,280,799
Ethiopia - 47.5% - 34,700,310
Kazakhstan - 47% - 7,137,346
Grand Total is.....My calculator is not handy anyone is welcome to add it :D
References
* US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report 2004
* CIA Factbook
* adherents.com
* Religious Freedom page
* census.gov
This List was compiled by the Works of Religious facts
27.4.09
Who are the Righteous ? What is Righteousness ?
In the name of God, the most compassionate, most merciful.
Who are the Righteous ? What is Righteousness ?
"Righteousness is NOT turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Scripture, and the Prophets, and the GIVE THEIR MONEY cheerfully, to the relative, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to FREE THE SLAVES, and they observe the contact prayer and give the obligatory Charity, and they KEEP THEIR WORD whenever they make a PROMISE, and they steadfastly persevere IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION, HARDSHIP AND WAR. These are the truthful, these are the righteous" 2:177
First I don't know where to begin in regards to the principals taught about giving back to your community and outside that as to help travelers and freeing slaves.
I don't think anyone would DISAGREE with the principals taught here.
The Quran explains what a Righteous person is, also not the Righteous are mentioned alot in the Quran, and among them are all believers in the One true God over all creation.
There is no dispute in that matter whatsoever, The Quran explain and teaches its lessons to mankind as a whole, all readers realize that its a book written to interact with you personally.
This book is not the work of man. Read it for yourself and see.
Are you among the Righteous ?
26.4.09
Islam Forbids the Killing of Innocent People
According to Islam it is a great sin to kill an innocent person, and anyone who does so will suffer great torment in the hereafter:
...So We decreed for the tribe of Israel that if someone kills another person - unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth - it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs but even after that many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Surat al-Maida: 32)
As we can see from the above verse, killing one innocent person is regarded as equivalent to killing all of mankind. In another verse, the importance that the faithful attach to life is expressed in these terms:
"Those who do not call on any other god together with Allah and do not kill anyone Allah has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment" (Surat al-Furqan: 68 )
In yet another verse, Allah issues the following commandment:More
...So We decreed for the tribe of Israel that if someone kills another person - unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth - it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs but even after that many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Surat al-Maida: 32)
As we can see from the above verse, killing one innocent person is regarded as equivalent to killing all of mankind. In another verse, the importance that the faithful attach to life is expressed in these terms:
"Those who do not call on any other god together with Allah and do not kill anyone Allah has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment" (Surat al-Furqan: 68 )
In yet another verse, Allah issues the following commandment:More
25.4.09
Jesus-pbuh his mission will be fullfilled upon his return.
Islam teaches and explains the birth of Jesus(pbuh), His family line, His blessed virgin mother Mary(pbuh). Islam teaches that Jesus(pbuh) will return and therefor explaining why God lifted him as though saying his mission is not complete yet. God has a far greater plan at hand.
To say Jesus mission is full filled is inaccurate according to Islam. Jesus(pbuh) did bring down the gospel, which was inscribed in him. According to the Quran, The miracle child spoke at birth to protect HIS mother Mary(pbuh) from their people, who were outraged that she would have a child with out being married and coming from a righteous family as well.
The Verse goes as stated
“O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!”
But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
“And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
“(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
“So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”!] (Maryam 19:26-33)
Note - The word die here is ment only in the physical relm, but spiritually well that unkillable.
JESUS(PBUH) SPOKE AT BIRTH, The Second miracle sent with Jesus( pbuh) after his birth. As I explained the Quran says, the Gospel was inscribed in him, further clarifying that he only spoke the Gospel, further authenticating and affirming the other descriptions about Jesus (pbuh) in the Quran, as the word of God, the spirit of God, the Son of Mary.
The Quran clarifies all miss conceptions about Jesus, his birth, his mission, his peoples rejection,The Jewish leadership plot against him, his message and his return. Jesus(pbuh) will return, because according to the bible the comforter would speak pure of inspiration and that he is an unlearned man. Mohammad(pbuh) spoke out of pure inspiration. Source
To say Jesus mission is full filled is inaccurate according to Islam. Jesus(pbuh) did bring down the gospel, which was inscribed in him. According to the Quran, The miracle child spoke at birth to protect HIS mother Mary(pbuh) from their people, who were outraged that she would have a child with out being married and coming from a righteous family as well.
The Verse goes as stated
“O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!”
But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
“And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
“(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
“So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”!] (Maryam 19:26-33)
Note - The word die here is ment only in the physical relm, but spiritually well that unkillable.
JESUS(PBUH) SPOKE AT BIRTH, The Second miracle sent with Jesus( pbuh) after his birth. As I explained the Quran says, the Gospel was inscribed in him, further clarifying that he only spoke the Gospel, further authenticating and affirming the other descriptions about Jesus (pbuh) in the Quran, as the word of God, the spirit of God, the Son of Mary.
The Quran clarifies all miss conceptions about Jesus, his birth, his mission, his peoples rejection,The Jewish leadership plot against him, his message and his return. Jesus(pbuh) will return, because according to the bible the comforter would speak pure of inspiration and that he is an unlearned man. Mohammad(pbuh) spoke out of pure inspiration. Source
24.4.09
What some great intellectuals have said about Islam, the Bible, and the Holy Quran
Our civilization is standing at dangerous crossroads. The Bible cannot provide workable foundations for the survival of mankind. (Lord Snell, The New World.
For the redemption of humanity we will have to look toward the owner [Mohammad] of the Qur'an not toward Chrisitianity. (Lewis Mumford, Faith for Living.
The Bible cannot lead us to an international religion, nor can it unify all mankind. (Ehrich Fromm, The Sane Society.
The teachings of Islam can fail under no circumstances. No human mind can go beyond the Qur'an. (Johann Goethe - Letters to Eckermann, Sir Henry Elliott’s Collection) 2.
The code of permanent values can only come through Revelation to chosen personalities (messengers) of God.
(Albert Einstein 1879-1955 - Out of My Later Days)
The word of Mohammad is a voice, direct from nature's own heart . . . all else is wind in comparison.
(Thomas Carlyle - On Heroes and Hero Worship)
If the society is not conducive to the growth of human personality, people would remain slaves even if such a society were perceived to be free.
(Nicholes Berdyeau - Destiny of Man)
For the development of SELF I need a society where others' benefit feels like my own.
(Hastings Rashdall - Theory of Good and Evil)
The development of the human personality [NAFS] can take place only collectively with other members of the society.
(Robert Briffault - The Making of Humanity)
The purpose of life is the development of humanity in a collective social order. (Prof A.N.
Whitehead, British author teaching at Harvard in 1920s - Adventure of Ideas)
Development of the self [self-actualization] can take place only in an equitable social system.
(Robert Briffault, The Making of Humanity)
International order for all mankind is the time's foremost demand.
(John Reves - Politics in Future)
The world needs not only for its development but also for its very survival a universal "way of life" in which economic, social, and moral values are uniform for all.
(Frederick Hertz - Nationality, History and Politics)
The purpose of life is development of the person and thereby, of all humanity en mass. (Prof A. N.
Whitehead - Adventure of Ideas)
The real progress entails development of an international social order in which every individual can grow to one’s full potential.
(Hastings Rashdall - The Theory of Good and Evil)
Islam offers a beautiful collective system which says Yes to Life.
(Nicholes Berdyeau - The Divine and the Human)
A complete way of life which would be universal is neither present in human instinct nor can we devise it through intellect. It can only come through Revelation.
(Prof Alfred Cobban - The Crisis of Civilization)
We need a religion that can transcend nationalism and make the world one Nation.
(Robert Murray - The Individual and the State)
Only Islam can transcend the boundaries of nationalism.
(Arnold Toynbee, The World and the West)
In order to make true progress, man must exercise his free will in accordance with the Divine guidance. Man must do this, not to put God under any obligation, but for the evolution of his own SELF. (British astronomer, Sir Arthur S.
Eddington 1882-1944 - Science and the Unseen World)
The time for nations has already passed. The era of mankind as one community is about to dawn. (W. Chardin - Building of the Earth) 19. The solution to humanity's problems lies not in internationalism. It rests in the Qur'anic teaching of universal brotherhood of all men.
(Neveres Emery - The Anatomy of Peace)
The world will shortly see a single government without borders in which the affairs of human beings will be a matter of counsel.
(Gummer Murdael - Beyond the Welfare State)
No tangible forces, no intangible powers, can stop Islam from becoming the universal faith. This is because only Islam can march along with the evolution of human civilization.
(German born, American psychoanalyst, 1900-1980, Erich Fromm - The Sane Society)
It is the sacred duty of our civilization that we revive the true human brotherhood which existed at the beginning of life and after which people divided.
(Professor Hugh Miller - Country and State)
The ideal society will be one where the wellness of others will feel like my own wellness.
(German philosopher, Immanuel Kant 1724-1804 - Critique of Practical Reason)
The teachings of Islam can fail under no circumstances. With all our systems of culture and civilization, we cannot go beyond Islam and, as a matter of fact, no human mind can go beyond the Qur'an. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the celebrated German poet and thinker, in his letters to J. Eckermann and Sir Henry Elliot)) In fact, Islam is so scientific that the noted Russian thinker, P.D. Ouspensky, stated that any science that collides with the Qur'an will turn out to be false.
(Tertium organum)
Sometimes people wonder if Islam has run its course. The bullet has been fired. What remains is just the empty barrel. This is a dangerously false assumption. Dangerous because it deprives humanity of the only hope it has. An examination of history bears out the fact that Islam has not failed, Muslims have. And Muslims have failed because they abandoned the Qur'an in favor of manmade books written centuries later! The moment they return to the Book, the Muslims will attain their lost glory. Or, whichever nation for that matter, embraces the Qur'an will establish the ideal state on the planet. Let us recall what George Bernard Shaw had said, "Mohammad, the wonderful man - in my opinion he must be called the Savior of humanity." -- "I predict that tomorrow's Europe will embrace Islam." Thus, the exalted Messenger will prove to be the Savior of humanity as he did 14 centuries ago. His sublime Message is perfectly alive and well.
For the redemption of humanity we will have to look toward the owner [Mohammad] of the Qur'an not toward Chrisitianity. (Lewis Mumford, Faith for Living.
The Bible cannot lead us to an international religion, nor can it unify all mankind. (Ehrich Fromm, The Sane Society.
The teachings of Islam can fail under no circumstances. No human mind can go beyond the Qur'an. (Johann Goethe - Letters to Eckermann, Sir Henry Elliott’s Collection) 2.
The code of permanent values can only come through Revelation to chosen personalities (messengers) of God.
(Albert Einstein 1879-1955 - Out of My Later Days)
The word of Mohammad is a voice, direct from nature's own heart . . . all else is wind in comparison.
(Thomas Carlyle - On Heroes and Hero Worship)
If the society is not conducive to the growth of human personality, people would remain slaves even if such a society were perceived to be free.
(Nicholes Berdyeau - Destiny of Man)
For the development of SELF I need a society where others' benefit feels like my own.
(Hastings Rashdall - Theory of Good and Evil)
The development of the human personality [NAFS] can take place only collectively with other members of the society.
(Robert Briffault - The Making of Humanity)
The purpose of life is the development of humanity in a collective social order. (Prof A.N.
Whitehead, British author teaching at Harvard in 1920s - Adventure of Ideas)
Development of the self [self-actualization] can take place only in an equitable social system.
(Robert Briffault, The Making of Humanity)
International order for all mankind is the time's foremost demand.
(John Reves - Politics in Future)
The world needs not only for its development but also for its very survival a universal "way of life" in which economic, social, and moral values are uniform for all.
(Frederick Hertz - Nationality, History and Politics)
The purpose of life is development of the person and thereby, of all humanity en mass. (Prof A. N.
Whitehead - Adventure of Ideas)
The real progress entails development of an international social order in which every individual can grow to one’s full potential.
(Hastings Rashdall - The Theory of Good and Evil)
Islam offers a beautiful collective system which says Yes to Life.
(Nicholes Berdyeau - The Divine and the Human)
A complete way of life which would be universal is neither present in human instinct nor can we devise it through intellect. It can only come through Revelation.
(Prof Alfred Cobban - The Crisis of Civilization)
We need a religion that can transcend nationalism and make the world one Nation.
(Robert Murray - The Individual and the State)
Only Islam can transcend the boundaries of nationalism.
(Arnold Toynbee, The World and the West)
In order to make true progress, man must exercise his free will in accordance with the Divine guidance. Man must do this, not to put God under any obligation, but for the evolution of his own SELF. (British astronomer, Sir Arthur S.
Eddington 1882-1944 - Science and the Unseen World)
The time for nations has already passed. The era of mankind as one community is about to dawn. (W. Chardin - Building of the Earth) 19. The solution to humanity's problems lies not in internationalism. It rests in the Qur'anic teaching of universal brotherhood of all men.
(Neveres Emery - The Anatomy of Peace)
The world will shortly see a single government without borders in which the affairs of human beings will be a matter of counsel.
(Gummer Murdael - Beyond the Welfare State)
No tangible forces, no intangible powers, can stop Islam from becoming the universal faith. This is because only Islam can march along with the evolution of human civilization.
(German born, American psychoanalyst, 1900-1980, Erich Fromm - The Sane Society)
It is the sacred duty of our civilization that we revive the true human brotherhood which existed at the beginning of life and after which people divided.
(Professor Hugh Miller - Country and State)
The ideal society will be one where the wellness of others will feel like my own wellness.
(German philosopher, Immanuel Kant 1724-1804 - Critique of Practical Reason)
The teachings of Islam can fail under no circumstances. With all our systems of culture and civilization, we cannot go beyond Islam and, as a matter of fact, no human mind can go beyond the Qur'an. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the celebrated German poet and thinker, in his letters to J. Eckermann and Sir Henry Elliot)) In fact, Islam is so scientific that the noted Russian thinker, P.D. Ouspensky, stated that any science that collides with the Qur'an will turn out to be false.
(Tertium organum)
Sometimes people wonder if Islam has run its course. The bullet has been fired. What remains is just the empty barrel. This is a dangerously false assumption. Dangerous because it deprives humanity of the only hope it has. An examination of history bears out the fact that Islam has not failed, Muslims have. And Muslims have failed because they abandoned the Qur'an in favor of manmade books written centuries later! The moment they return to the Book, the Muslims will attain their lost glory. Or, whichever nation for that matter, embraces the Qur'an will establish the ideal state on the planet. Let us recall what George Bernard Shaw had said, "Mohammad, the wonderful man - in my opinion he must be called the Savior of humanity." -- "I predict that tomorrow's Europe will embrace Islam." Thus, the exalted Messenger will prove to be the Savior of humanity as he did 14 centuries ago. His sublime Message is perfectly alive and well.
23.4.09
Yvonne Ridley New 2006 Interview Talks about Islam
Yvonne Ridley New 2006 Interview Talks about Islam This is amazing, she talks about how as a feminist she became Muslim. She left Church of England and Christianity to become a Muslim. She loves Islam a lot and she finds it gives her many rights and freedom that nothing else can give. Yvonne Ridley Convert to Islam
22.4.09
Islam and Modernity
KATE SEELYE: Here at al Azhar, one of the Muslim world’s oldest and most respected centers of learning and worship, Muslims come to study and pray and to ask how to live a devout life in the modern world. They come for fatwas — religious rulings that are nonbinding. Clerics give advice on how to be good Muslims in matters of religion, family and even finance.
This vendor says fatwas are indispensable.
MOHAMMED (through translator): You feel very reassured after getting a fatwa, and you know you can build your future plans on it.
SEELYE: But recently, some of Azhar’s fatwas have come under criticism. Last year a cleric ruled that an unmarried man and woman could work together alone, which is normally forbidden in Islam, but only if the woman established a maternal relationship with her colleague by breastfeeding him five times. The cleric was suspended for his fatwa, which raised questions about Islam’s relationship with modernity.
In Egypt, the modern and the traditional live side by side. Like other developing countries, Egypt has been flooded in the last decade with new technologies like satellite TV and the Internet, and that’s exposed this conservative society to a confusing mix of Western values and culture.
Dr. Ragab Abu Malih
Islam Online is trying to help Muslims navigate this fast-changing environment. It’s one of the Muslim world’s most popular Internet sites and provides religious advice as well as counseling and information about health, science, and culture in both Arabic and English.
Clerics like Ragab Abu Malih take questions during live fatwa sessions four times a day. He says he receives more than 700 queries daily but can only answer a fraction of them.
Dr. RAGAB ABU MALIH (Managing Editor, Shari’ah Section, Islam Online, through translator): I think if we answered the 700 questions, then more would come. People are asking questions they never had before because of new technologies and influences.
SEELYE: Questions include whether it’s permissible to find a spouse through the Internet. Can a man divorce his wife in a text message? And what about Internet chatting? Flirting between men and women is forbidden in Islam, but can they chat online? According to clerics here, it’s best if a third party monitors the chat.
ABU MALIH (through translator): The Qur’an did not mention these details in their entirety, but it guides us in our advice.
SEELYE: But critics question the advice being given. Islam Online may be using modern technology, but it’s spreading a very traditional message. The cleric who founded the site, Yousef Qaradawi, is considered a moderate in the region. But his fatwas have opposed women traveling alone without a male guardian, and he’s ruled against women being heads of state. Source
For secular Muslims like Dalia Ziade, such views are decidedly anti-modern. Ziade is a human rights activist. The 26-year-old accuses religious institutions in Egypt of spreading fundamentalist beliefs, like the veiling of women.
This vendor says fatwas are indispensable.
MOHAMMED (through translator): You feel very reassured after getting a fatwa, and you know you can build your future plans on it.
SEELYE: But recently, some of Azhar’s fatwas have come under criticism. Last year a cleric ruled that an unmarried man and woman could work together alone, which is normally forbidden in Islam, but only if the woman established a maternal relationship with her colleague by breastfeeding him five times. The cleric was suspended for his fatwa, which raised questions about Islam’s relationship with modernity.
In Egypt, the modern and the traditional live side by side. Like other developing countries, Egypt has been flooded in the last decade with new technologies like satellite TV and the Internet, and that’s exposed this conservative society to a confusing mix of Western values and culture.
Dr. Ragab Abu Malih
Islam Online is trying to help Muslims navigate this fast-changing environment. It’s one of the Muslim world’s most popular Internet sites and provides religious advice as well as counseling and information about health, science, and culture in both Arabic and English.
Clerics like Ragab Abu Malih take questions during live fatwa sessions four times a day. He says he receives more than 700 queries daily but can only answer a fraction of them.
Dr. RAGAB ABU MALIH (Managing Editor, Shari’ah Section, Islam Online, through translator): I think if we answered the 700 questions, then more would come. People are asking questions they never had before because of new technologies and influences.
SEELYE: Questions include whether it’s permissible to find a spouse through the Internet. Can a man divorce his wife in a text message? And what about Internet chatting? Flirting between men and women is forbidden in Islam, but can they chat online? According to clerics here, it’s best if a third party monitors the chat.
ABU MALIH (through translator): The Qur’an did not mention these details in their entirety, but it guides us in our advice.
SEELYE: But critics question the advice being given. Islam Online may be using modern technology, but it’s spreading a very traditional message. The cleric who founded the site, Yousef Qaradawi, is considered a moderate in the region. But his fatwas have opposed women traveling alone without a male guardian, and he’s ruled against women being heads of state. Source
For secular Muslims like Dalia Ziade, such views are decidedly anti-modern. Ziade is a human rights activist. The 26-year-old accuses religious institutions in Egypt of spreading fundamentalist beliefs, like the veiling of women.
21.4.09
Report: Prejudice against Muslims on rise
WASHINGTON — Discrimination and hate crimes against Arab-Americans have dropped in recent years after a spike following the 9/11 attacks, but such prejudice is still more common than in the 1980s and 1990s, according to a report by an advocacy group.
The study gives Hollywood some credit for presenting a more balanced view of Arabs and Muslims in recent films. But it said prejudice is worse than ever in popular culture. It particularly faulted the news media for allowing political commentators to inflame fears that Muslims are terrorists.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee released the study Thursday, calling it the most comprehensive look at prejudice and racially motivated violence that Arab-Americans and Muslims faced in the United States between 2003 and 2007.
Full Story
The study gives Hollywood some credit for presenting a more balanced view of Arabs and Muslims in recent films. But it said prejudice is worse than ever in popular culture. It particularly faulted the news media for allowing political commentators to inflame fears that Muslims are terrorists.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee released the study Thursday, calling it the most comprehensive look at prejudice and racially motivated violence that Arab-Americans and Muslims faced in the United States between 2003 and 2007.
Full Story
19.4.09
Are reverts to Islam more eager to discover Islam then born Muslims ?
It seems to me that (most) Muslim converts are more religious and eager to know about Islam than a good amount of those who are born Muslims?
Its a very good question to think about
Its easy to think that it can be what your born into, for example if someone is born rich, they tend to not appreciate wealth and spend at will for personal pleasure and not even consider how much they are spending. Money is nothing
People born into Islam in many occasions understand it from whats around them and might not be taking full advantage of what they have in the Quran. Many reverts dig deeper in my opinion to show the more sensible, reasonable, modest, among so many other attribute. for example many great former Christians have inspired many new converted Muslims like yusuf estes. Yet again many Muslims have as well done so, I think its all well balanced and Allah knows best.Full Post
What have Muslims done in since 9-11 to denounce Terrorism
In Iran, they observed a minute's silence for the victims of 9/11. Ayatollah Imami Kashani said this act of terrorism could only be condemned by all Muslims, adding that the whole world should mobilise against terrorism. On September 18th, Iranians held a vigil on the streets of Tehran. They lit candles, prayed for the victims, and condemned terrorism.
In Bangladesh and Indonesia they held rallies condemning terrorism.
Palestinian organizations strongly condemned the terrorist attack. Palestinians held candle light vigils on September 12th and 14th to express their grief and solidarity with Americans. Close to a million Palestinian students stood for five minutes in silence, to express their solidarity for American children who were struck by the tragedy. Palestinian university students in East Jerusalem began a blood drive to donate blood to the victims of 9/11.
In Kuwait, they sent so many flowers in sympathy to the American Embassy, it formed a ring around the embassy.
Every leader, from every Muslim country, except Iraq, condemned the terrorist attack and denounced terrorism, along with thousands of Muslim organizations and scholars around the world.
American Muslims held a rally in Washington attended by thousands to condemn terrorism.
Here in the United States, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Muslim American Society, Islamic Society of North America, Islamic Circle of North America, Muslim Alliance in North America, and American Muslims for Jerusalem all condemned the attacks and denounced terrorism. These groups represent most of the seven million Muslims in the United States. None of it made national headlines, just local headlines.
Thanks to Isabella-37
In Bangladesh and Indonesia they held rallies condemning terrorism.
Palestinian organizations strongly condemned the terrorist attack. Palestinians held candle light vigils on September 12th and 14th to express their grief and solidarity with Americans. Close to a million Palestinian students stood for five minutes in silence, to express their solidarity for American children who were struck by the tragedy. Palestinian university students in East Jerusalem began a blood drive to donate blood to the victims of 9/11.
In Kuwait, they sent so many flowers in sympathy to the American Embassy, it formed a ring around the embassy.
Every leader, from every Muslim country, except Iraq, condemned the terrorist attack and denounced terrorism, along with thousands of Muslim organizations and scholars around the world.
American Muslims held a rally in Washington attended by thousands to condemn terrorism.
Here in the United States, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Muslim American Society, Islamic Society of North America, Islamic Circle of North America, Muslim Alliance in North America, and American Muslims for Jerusalem all condemned the attacks and denounced terrorism. These groups represent most of the seven million Muslims in the United States. None of it made national headlines, just local headlines.
Thanks to Isabella-37
17.4.09
Allahu Akbar
You might have seen plenty of Muslims in so many parts of the world, in a protest or in a video or in a articles, even in comments saying Allah'u Akbar, over and over again.
Why so much emphasis on these words. whats so great about saying Allah'u Akbar for Muslims.
Lets look at the Islamic Call to prayer ( translated )-Also see Video
God is Greater , God is Greater
God is Greater , God is Greater
I testify that there is no God except God.
I testify that there is no God except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success! Come to success!
God is Greater , God is Greater
There is none worthy of worship except God.
The Words Allah'u Akbar - translated would be God is greater.
You may ask yourself, greater then what ?? why does the chant stop there ?? whats the meaning of saying God is greater if your not gonna say whats its greater of ??
Which should lead to the only answer to it and that is anything. Thats the reasoning why its left the way it is and its direct and to the point. God is greater.
As they pray, as they celebrate, as they remorse, as they achieve, as they fall ( illness), as they protest, as the chant in agreement that God is greater, God is greater, God is greater.
Its easy to see that the words Allah'u Akbar is something that is not just simply associated to Muslims and Islam, It actually makes a Very Valid Point for ALL BELIEVERS, not only Muslims.
Who among the believers would dare to say that Muslims are wrong to say God is Greater ?? or greatest depending on the translator. either way the statment is pure, simple and straight forward. God is Greater.
Why so much emphasis on these words. whats so great about saying Allah'u Akbar for Muslims.
Lets look at the Islamic Call to prayer ( translated )-Also see Video
God is Greater , God is Greater
God is Greater , God is Greater
I testify that there is no God except God.
I testify that there is no God except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success! Come to success!
God is Greater , God is Greater
There is none worthy of worship except God.
The Words Allah'u Akbar - translated would be God is greater.
You may ask yourself, greater then what ?? why does the chant stop there ?? whats the meaning of saying God is greater if your not gonna say whats its greater of ??
Which should lead to the only answer to it and that is anything. Thats the reasoning why its left the way it is and its direct and to the point. God is greater.
As they pray, as they celebrate, as they remorse, as they achieve, as they fall ( illness), as they protest, as the chant in agreement that God is greater, God is greater, God is greater.
Its easy to see that the words Allah'u Akbar is something that is not just simply associated to Muslims and Islam, It actually makes a Very Valid Point for ALL BELIEVERS, not only Muslims.
Who among the believers would dare to say that Muslims are wrong to say God is Greater ?? or greatest depending on the translator. either way the statment is pure, simple and straight forward. God is Greater.
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