Piggie Piggie: The Saga Continues

I always knew that smoking was haram...

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Cigarette filters contain pig’s blood

1. April 2010 05:25

By Candy Lashkari

The next time you light up a cigarette you may be puffing on a filter which contains pig’s blood. Recent Dutch research found that pig hemoglobin was being used to make filters of cigarettes more effective in blocking harmful chemicals before they enter the smoker’s lungs.

Simon Chapman, a professor at the University of Sydney said that this was one of the 185 industrial uses of a pig that the Dutch research had identified. Chapman was quoted by Australian AAP news agency saying “I think that there would be some particularly devout groups who would find the idea that there were pig products in cigarettes to be very offensive”

"The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as (so) would many vegetarians. It just puts into hard relief the problem that the tobacco industry is not required to declare the ingredients of cigarettes ... they say 'that's our business' and a trade secret." said Chapman.

One cigarette brand in Greece was a confirmed user of Pig Hemoglobin in its production process. Considering that the Jews and Muslims consider the consumption of pork opposed to their core beliefs this new research finding is sure to shake a few feathers.

As a smoker of the Jewish or Islamic faith you would like to know if this ingredient is used in processing your cigarette, but tobacco companies do not provide these details. In voluntary disclosures of contents of their products they include “undisclosed processing aids” and these are said to be, “not significantly present in, and do not functionally affect, the finished product"

So in effect there is no way for you to know what really goes into the production of your cigarette.

Piggie Piggie

Where can I get a box of these? Dubious 'halal' takeouts, beware...

Pork test to bust cheats

(Reuters) - Scientists in mainly Muslim Kazakhstan have come up with an instant test for the presence of pork in food, a popular newspaper reported on Monday.

Oddly Enough

The plastic-stick test detects food molecules that are found only in pork, which is forbidden by Islam but is easily found in the Central Asian state, Megapolis weekly said.

"It's no secret that some chefs cheat and add pork to beef to make the dish cheaper," the newspaper wrote on Monday, saying the practice was widespread in Kazakhstan.

"When you get your beef patty, cut off a couple of small pieces and drop them in a glass of water. Stir, shake, put the test stick in ... In a minute or two you will see the result."

Megapolis said it was unclear when the test, in which the stick changes color as in a pregnancy test, would become widely available.

(Writing by Olzhas Auyezov, editing by Tim Pearce)

Rabi' al-Awwal

The month of Rabi` al-Awwal is upon us. This is the month, by the opinion of the majority, if not the consensus, of the `ulama in which the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, was born. I have always maintained, and continue to maintain that the celebration of the birth of the prophet, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, is not only obligatory, but one who does not celebrate it, or does not feel genuine happiness about it is outside of the fold of Islam.

Many of the pious and righteous of the Muslims through the centuries would have gatherings to celebrate the birth, life story, meritorious qualities, and sunnah of the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam. Such gatherings are typically colored by the reading of chapters from his mubarak life story, the singing of poetry about his beautiful personality, and the frequent invocation of benedictions and salutations upon his pure essence, `alayhissalatu wassalam. I have always maintained and continue to maintain that such gatherings, despite not having any fixed form that comes down from the times of the Sahabah, or the Tabi`un, may Allah be well pleased with all of them, are blessed, not in the sense that they themselves are a legislated part of the deen in any specific form, but because they are a means to an end: that end is to have the love, respect, and longing for the sunnah of the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam. That without that achieving that state in the heart, one cannot be counted as a Muslim, and one's Islam is only as strong as that state is strong in one's heart. Having said this, if one has such a state in one's heart, through means other than attending such gatherings, then the gatherings are just a means, and would thus be dispensable to such a person.

Many of the Muslims have chosen to increase the frequency, scale, and scope of such gatherings in the month of Rabi` al-Awwal or a particular day in it. I have always maintained that, and continue to maintain that such an increase, if it is done because the Nabi, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, was born in this month or day, than such a specification of date for such a gathering has no basis in the shari`ah. Thus it is not so problematic that such gatherings take place in this month or day: what is problematic is the belief that this month or day is somehow more appropriate for such gatherings than others. It is problematic because it adds something to the belief of the Muslims that was not there from before.

Many of the Muslims have inflated this observance to the point where it becomes an `Id to them. By `Id, I mean it becomes a religiously mandated holiday, whose mandate takes its place in the realm of `aqidah. This is despite the fact that the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, had already specified what the holidays of the Muslims are; namely `Id al-Fitr, `Id al-Adhha, and Fridays. One who takes such gatherings, as those mentioned above, as an `Id, and then proceeds to accuse those who don't attend or believe what they believe about them as somehow being deficient in their love for the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, or being hard-hearted or the like, is an ignoramus. There have been many `ulama' and righteous ones who have not attended such gatherings, and amongst them are great fuqaha', muhaddithin, and awliya' from all four madhhabs.

This leads me to my last point which is probably the most important one; that is that the highest and most meaningful expression of love of the Nabi, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, is to follow his sunnah inwardly and outwardly, and to make his life work, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam one's own life's work, rather than to live a life full of TV, music, mortgages, disrespect for family ties, the `ulama', awliya', and those who serve the deen, cold relations with the masjid, the outward appearance of a non-Muslim, lying, cheating, cheapness, selfishness, and a heart filled with longing for material pleasures and goods, or the company of such people. Where are those who are ready to sacrifice their comforts and pleasures and trade everything they have to advance the deen of Allah Most High, and please His messenger, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam? Note that actually giving everything away is not what is demanded, rather the constant state in the heat of being prepared, rather happy to do so, if the need arises. If such a state enters the heart of a Muslim, every moment of every day of life and death will become an `Id, I assure you.

Below, I have cut and paste an article written by the erudite Shaykh and Mufti, `Allamah Muhammad Taqi `Uthmani, may Allah keep him in a good state, about the status of Rabi` al-Awwal in the shari`ah. I hope that readers find it beneficial.

Humza

Rabi'ul-Awwal

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

- From Superstitions into Light
- Islamic Celebrations
- No Birthdays
- The Origins of Christmas
- Original Islamic Resources
- What is Wrong with These Celebrations
- The Transformation of Christmas
- The Religion is Complete
- Disagreement About Date
- Contemporary Seerah Meetings and Shariah
- Real Message of Seerah

From Superstitions into Light

Rabi'ul-Awwal is the most significant month in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Before the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, not only the Arabian peninsula, but also the so-called civilized nations of Rome and Persia were drowned in the darkness of ignorance, superstitions, oppression and unrest. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, came with the eternal truth of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), the only faith which provides a firm basis for the real concepts of knowledge, equity and peace. It was this faith which delivered humanity from ignorance and superstitions and spread the light of true knowledge all over the world.

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Islamic Celebrations

Thus the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the most significant and the most remarkable event in human history. Had there been room in Islamic teachings for the celebration of birthdays or anniversaries, the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, would have undoubtedly deserved it more than the birthday of any other person. But that is against the nature of Islamic teachings. That is why, unlike Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism, there are very few festivals in Islam, which provides for only two Eids (Eidul-fitr and Eidul-Adha) during the whole year. The dates of these two Eids do not correspond to the birthday of any of the outstanding persons of Islamic history, nor can their origin be attributed to any particular event of history that had happened in these dates.

Both of these two Eids have been prescribed for paying gratitude to Allah on some happy events that take place every year. The first event is the completion of the fasts of Ramadan and the second event is the completion of Hajj, another form of worship regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.

The manner prescribed for the celebration of these two Eids (festivals) is also different from non-Islamic festivals. There are no formal processions, illumination or other activities showing formal happiness. On the contrary, there are congregational prayers and informal mutual visits to each other, which can give real happiness instead of its symbols only.

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No Birthdays

On the other hand, Islam has not prescribed any festival for the birthday of any person, however great or significant he may be. The prophets of Allah are the persons of the highest status amongst all human beings. But the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, or his noble companions never observed the birthday or anniversary of any of them. Even the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, which was the most happy day for the whole mankind was never celebrated by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, himself, nor by his blessed Companions.

The Companions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, remained alive after him for about a century, but despite their unparalleled and profound love towards the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, they never celebrated the birthday or the death anniversary of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Instead, they devoted their lives for promoting the cause of Islam, for bringing his teachings into practice, for conveying his message to the four corners of the world and for establishing the Islamic order in every walk of life.

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The Origins of Christmas

In fact, commemorating the birth of a distinguished person has never been prescribed by any religion attributing itself to divine revelation. It was originally a custom prevalent in pagan communities only. Even Christmas, the famous Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ finds no mention in the Bible or in the early Christian writings. It was only in the 4th century after the ascension of Jesus Christ that Christmas was recognized as a regular Christian feast. To quote the Collier's Encyclopedia:

"It is impossible to determine the exact date of the birth of Christ, either from the evidence of the gospels, or from any sound tradition. During the first three centuries of the Christian era there was considerable opposition in the Church to the pagan custom of celebrating birthdays, although there is some indication that a purely religious commemoration of the birth of Christ was included in the feast of Epiphany. Clement of Alexandria mentions the existence of the feast in Egypt about the year A.D. 200 and we have some evidence that it was observed on various dates in scattered areas. After the triumph of Constantine, the Church at Rome assigned December 25 as the date for the celebration of the feast, possibly about A.D. 320 or 353. By the end of the fourth century the whole Christian world was celebrating Christmas on that day, with the exception of the Eastern Churches, where it was celebrated on January 6. The choice of December 25 was probably influenced by the fact that on this day the Romans celebrated the Mithraic feast of the Sun-god, and that the Saturnalia also came at this time." (Collier's Encyclopedia 1984 ed, v. 6, p. 403).

A similar description of the origin of Christmas is found in-the Encyclopedia Britannica with some more details. Its following passage will throw more light on the point:

"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church, and before the 5th century there was no general consensus of opinion as to when it should come in the calendar, whether on Jan. 6, March 25 or Dec. 25. The earliest identification of Dec. 25 with the birthday of Christ is in a passage, otherwise unknown and probably spurious, of the philos of Antioch (c.180), preserved in Latin by the Magdeburyg centuriators (i, 3, 118), to the effect that the Gauls contended that since they celebrated the birth of Lord on Dec. 25, so they ought to celebrate the resurrection on March 25. A passage, almost certainly interpolated, in 'Hippelates' (c. 202) commentary on Daniel iv, 23, says that Jesus was born at Bethlehem on Wednesday, Dec. 25, in the 42nd year of Augustus, but he mentions no feast, and such a feast, indeed, would conflict with the then orthodox ideas. As late as 245, Origin (hem. viii on Leviticus) repudiated the idea of keeping the birthday of Christ "as if he were a king Pharaoh". (Britannica, 1953 ed. v. 5, p.642)

These two quotes are more than sufficient to prove the following points:

1. The commemoration of birthdays was originally a pagan custom, never recognized by a divine scripture or prophetic teaching.

2. The exact date of the Birth of Sayyidna 'Isa is unknown and impossible to be ascertained.

3. The commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ was not a recognized practice in the early centuries of the Christian history.

4. It was in the 4th or 5th century that it was recognized as a religious feast, and that, too, under the influence of the pagans who worshipped Sun-god.

5. There was a strong opposition against the commemorating of the birthday by the early Christian scholars like Origin, on the ground that it is originally a custom of pagans and idolaters.

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Original Islamic Resources

In original Islamic resources, also we cannot find any instruction about the celebration of birthdays or death anniversaries. Many Companions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, passed away during his life-time. His beloved wife Sayyidah Khadijah, Radi-Allahu anha, passed away in Makkah. His beloved uncle Sayyidna Hamzah, Radi-Allahu anhu was brutally slaughtered during the battle of Uhud. But the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, never observed their birthday or their death anniversaries, nor did he ever advise his followers to celebrate his own birthday in Rabi'ul-Awwal.

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What is Wrong with These Celebrations

The reason for abstinence from such celebrations is that they divert the attention of people from the real teachings of Islam towards the observance of some formal activities only. Initially, these celebrations may begin with utmost piety and with a bona fide intention to pay homage to a pious person. Yet, the experience shows that the celebration is ultimately mixed up with an element of merrymaking and rejoicing and is generally confused with secular festivals and the secular, and often sinful, activities creep into it gradually.

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The Transformation of Christmas

The example of Christmas will again be relevant. This Christian feast was originally innovated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and, of course, to remember his teachings. But once the occasion had been recognized as a feast, all the secular elements of public festivals crept in. The following quotation from the Encyclopedia Britannia is worth attention:

"For several centuries Christmas was solely a church anniversary observed by religious services. But as Christianity spread among the people of pagan lands, many of the practices of the winter solstice were blended with those of Christianity because of the liberal ruling of Gregory I, the great, and the cooperation of the missionaries. Thus, Christmas became both religious and secular in its celebration, at times reverent, at others gay."

Then, what kind of activities have been adopted to celebrate Christmas is mentioned in the next paragraphs of which the following quote is more pertinent here:

"Merrymaking came to have a share in Christmas observance through popular enthusiasm even while emphasis was on the religious phase. ... In the wholly decked great halls of the feudal lords, whose hospitality extended to all their friends, tenants and household, was sailing, feasting, singing and games, dancing, masquerading and mummers presenting pantomimes and masques were all part of the festivities." (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1953 v. 5, p. 643)

This is enough to show as to how an apparently innocent feast of reverence was converted into a secular festival where the merrymaking and seeking enjoyment by whatever means took preference over all the religious and spiritual activities.

Being fully aware of this human psychology, Islam has never prescribed, nor encouraged the observance of birthdays and anniversaries, and when such celebrations are observed as a part of the religion, they are totally forbidden.

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The Religion is Complete

The Holy Qur'an has clearly pronounced on the occasion of the last Hajj of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "Today, I have completed the teachings of your religion." [Al-Maida 5:3]

It means that all the teachings of Islam were communicated to the Muslims through the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. No one is allowed after it to add any thing to them as a part of religion. What was not a part of religion during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, can never become part of it. Such additions are termed by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as Bid'ah or innovation.

Thus, the observance of the 12th of Rabi'ul-Awwal as a religious feast is not warranted by any verse of the Holy Qur'an or by any teaching of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Had it been a part of the religion it would have been clearly ordered or practiced by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and his blessed companions or, at least, by their immediate pupils. But no example of the celebration of the occasion can be traced out in the early centuries of the Islamic history. It was after many centuries [Albalagh Note: According to Maulana Yusuf Ludhinavi it was in the year 604 A.H.] that some monarchs started observing the 12th of Rabi'ul-Awwal as the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, without a sound religious basis, and the congregations in the name of Maulood or Milad were held where the history of the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to be narrated.

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Disagreement About the Date

The observance of the 12th of this month as the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is not only an innovation having no basis in the Islamic teachings, but the accuracy of this date as the real birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is also very much doubted. There are different dates suggested in different traditions, and the majority of the authentic scholars is inclined to hold that the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was born on the 9th of Rabi'ul-Awwal. This difference of opinion is another evidence to prove that the observance of the birthday is not a part of the religion, otherwise its exact date would have been preserved with accuracy.

The life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is, no doubt, the most important source of guidance for all the Muslims, and every Muslim is under an obligation to learn and study the events of his life, and to follow the practical example set by him in every sphere of life. The narration of his pious biography (the Seerah) in itself is a pious act, which invites the divine blessings, but the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah have not prescribed a particular time or method for it. This pious act should be performed in all the months and at all the times. The month of Rabi'ul-Awwal has not been designated by the Shariah as a special season for holding such congregations to commemorate the birth or life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is thus an innovation (Bid'ah) to restrict the Seerah meetings to the month of Rabi'ul Awwal only, or to believe that the meetings held in this month are worthy of more reward than the meetings held on any other date during the year. In fact, the Companions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to commemorate the life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, throughout the year, not only by studying and conveying his message to others, but also by following his way of life and acting upon his teachings in each and every branch of their activities, and this is exactly what a Muslim is required and supposed to do.

By this we do not mean that the Seerah meetings should not be held in the month of Rabi'ul-Awwal. The point is only that they should not be restricted to it, nor should it be believed that the Shariah has laid any kind of emphasis on holding such meetings in this particular month.

Another point that should always be kept in mind while holding such meetings is that they must be in complete conformity with the rules of Shariah. A Muslim is supposed to abide by the rules of Shariah in all his activities. But at least the meetings held in the memory of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, should be free from all the acts forbidden by the Shariah.

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Contemporary Seerah Meetings and Shariah

It is often observed, especially in the Western countries, that the people hold the Seerah meetings where men and women sit together without observing the rules of hijab prescribed by the Shariah. The teachings of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, are obviously against such mixed gatherings. How can a Seerah meeting bring fruits where such fundamental teachings of the Shariah are openly violated?

In some meetings the Na'ts (poems) in the memory of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, are recited by the women before the male audience, sometimes with music, which is totally against the instructions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is clearly prohibited by the Shariah to hold such meetings or to participate in them, because it is not only a violation of the Shariah rules, but it is an affront to the sanctity of the Seerah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

All other activities, often practiced on the twelfth of Rabi'ul-Awwal, like holding processions, constructing the mock tombs of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and illumination of the buildings and the roads are not warranted by any rule of the Shariah. Rather they are based on conscious or unconscious imitation of certain other religions. No example of such activities can be traced out from the earlier Islamic history.

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Real Message of Seerah

What is really important with regard to the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is, first, to follow his teachings, and second to make his pious Seerah available to every Muslim, to preserve it in the hearts of the Muslims from the very childhood, to educate the family members to run their lives according to it and to hold it as the most glorious example of the human conduct the universe has ever witnessed -- and all this with utmost love and reverence, not manifested by some formal activities only, but also through actual behavior of following the Sunnah. This cannot be done by merely holding processions and illuminating the walls. This requires constant and consistent efforts and a meaningful program of education and training.

Imams Zaid and Tahir In Seattle!

The Forgotten Generation

Challenges Facing Muslim Youth in the West

Sunday, February 7th, UW Kane Hall

With Imam Zaid Shakir and Imam Tahir Anwar

Register now at Mihraab.com

Ever wonder how to maintain your Islamic identity living in the West? Or as parents how to help your children deal with everyday challenges? As Muslims in the West, we not only face challenges in creating an authentic American Muslim Identity, but we also have to cultivate a balance between our faith and daily lives.

We welcome you to come listen and learn from two of the leading Western Muslim scholars, Imams Zaid Shakir & Tahir Anwar as they advise the youth, parents and community members through the Prophetic Model and share their personal experiences in a one day seminar.

Conference details

The Forgotten Generation - Challenges Facing Muslim Youth in the West

Speakers:

Imam Zaid Shakir - Zaytuna Institute,

Imam Tahir Anwar – South Bay Islamic Association

When: 1:00 pm – 8:00pm, Sunday, Feb 7th 2010

Where: University of Washington – Kane Hall

Free babysitting available!

Mihraab.com

Blueprints: Building a Society on Prophetic Guidance

Thawr Institute Presents:

Blueprints: Building a Society on Prophetic Guidance

Friday, January 15th:
Jumu’ah at Old Redmond Schoolhouse - Imam Abdullah Madyun I’tikaf Program for Brothers Starting at 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 16th:
Lectures 10 am - 10 pm

All events at Islamic Center of Redmond
18080 NE 68th St, Bldg. D
Redmond, WA 98052

All lectures will be in English
Brothers & Sisters welcome
Entry is Free

Guest Speakers:

SHAYKH JUNAID KHARSANY
Shaykh Junaid was born in South Africa in 1975. He memorized the Holy Qur’an at age of 15. His higher studies began at the Madrasah ‘Arabiyyah Islamiyyah in Azaadville, South Africa where he immersed himself in the study of Arabic, fiqh, hadith, the Qur’an, and related sciences. Soon after graduating in 1996, he began teaching hadith and tafsir at Islahul Muslimeen a seminary in Durban. Shaykh Junaid has long been involved in the work of da’wah and has served as a social worker and leader for a number of communities. He is currently Imam at Masjid Jamat Islam in Inglewood, California. He is also the founder of the Riyadhul Uloom Institute in Torrance, CA.

IMAM ABDULLAH YUSUF MADYUN
A Chicago native, Imam Abdullah Yusuf Madyun pursued the Higher Islamic Sciences and Arabic studies at Madinah University. He also spent time in the UAE advancing his Islamic education and living with scholars of varying cultural and educational traditions during his time there. Imam Abdullah is active in delivering lectures at universities throughout the US, da’wah programs, and Social Service activities throughout the Chicago area. Previously, he served as imam at Masjid al-Amin in Gary, Indiana for over five years and was the first ever Muslim chaplain in the state of Indiana. He is
currently serving his fourth year as imam of Masjid al-Ihsan.

SHAYKH AHMED PATEL
Shaykh Ahmed completed his memorization of the Qu’ran and higher Islamic studies at Darul-Uloom Bury, England, graduating in 1993. After graduation, he accepted the posi-tion of imam at the Islamic Center of Elizabethtown in Kentucky until 2004. Currently, he is the imam of the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks, CA.

Local Scholars include:
Shaykh Hamzah bin Maqbul
Shaykh Fadhl Hasan


For more information:
http://thawr.org
info@thawr.org
(425) 248 0560

The Heart of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him

The love of the messenger of Allah is a ticket to be with him on the day of judgment as is corroborated by a number of sahih narrations...

Have we ever thought of what effect our seemingly insignificant actions have on his living heart, sallallahu'alayhi wa sallam?
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(taken from deoband.org, slightly edited)

You opened my eyes!

By Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi
Translated by Shaykh Yusuf Laher

There was once a poet of liberal mind and thought. Some people’s hearts are sensitive, and he was one of them. Thus, his poetry was heart-rending and passionate. A person in Iran read his Persian poetry and thought that the poet must be a very pious person. So he traveled all the way from Iran to meet the poet.

When he reached the place where the poet lived, he sees that the poet is seated by the barber having his face shaven. The traveller became annoyed (because he thought the poet to be pious and now sees him shaving his beard and flouting the Sunnah). The traveller says to him [in Persian]: “My master! You are having your face shaved!” The poet answers: “Yes, I am having my face shaved, but I do not shave (hurt) the heart of anyone.” (It is a major sin to hurt the feelings of another.) The traveller spontaneously answered: “Yes! You are shaving the heart of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace)!”

By this he meant that when the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) will be informed that a certain person is flouting the Sunnah, then he will be greatly distressed.

On hearing this, the poet’s eyes opened. His whole attitude and body language was saying:

“May Allah reward you, jazak-Allahu khayran for opening my eyes. Up till now I was blind. Today I have come to realize that I was causing hurt to the heart of Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace)”

Taken from “Stories and Anecdotes Related by Mawlana Thanawi”, a compilation of stories and anecdotes related by Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) in his lectures, majalis, etc. Extracted and compiled by Mawlana Qari Abu ‘l-Hasan A’azimi.

Mawlana Ilyas Rahimahullah and Tabligh

Many people have benefited from the work of the Tablighi Jamat. Through it, Allah has given many a slave a chance to change their life for the better, learn to pray, fast, stay clean, and be tied to the sunnahs of our Nabi, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

For those like myself, who may have had some mixed or even downright negative experience with some individuals connected with this work. There are definitely some things that can use improvement and no group is without its problems, for sure.

All that being said, I thought that this post would be a beautiful look at the pure origin of the work of Tabligh, and the purity of its founder, Mawlana Ilyas, may Allah have mercy upon him. I haven't come across any reasonable person who could look at the life and sincerity of this person and not be lost in the fragrance of his wilayah, may Allah accept it from him and us.

So whether or not you want to join this work, or no matter how much a self-styled Ameer Sahib annoys you; however shameless the dervish-like tablighi insolently and ignorantly basks in his made up maqam of fana fit-tabligh, know that the work is noble, its origin is pure, its nisbat is high, and its barakat are profuse.

For those who are actively engaged in this work, I would encourage you to read this post and ponder over some of the disparities between the work as portrayed in it, versus what actually ends up happening, and maybe discuss it with some of the `ulama'. See the spirituality and spiritual connection with the messenger of Allah, sallallahualayhi wa sallam, the `ulama', the madrasah and the khanqah.

May Allah not withhold from us any of the khayr He divides up amongst his servants.

article taken from attalib.blogspot.com
lightly edited and emphasis added by humza
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Hazrat Maulana Ilyas (ra), Tablighi Jama'ah, and the 'Ulama

.

Maulana Muhammad Aslam Shaikhupuri (db)

It was an ache that it distressed him all the time; he couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep. was a worry that had engulfed all other worries; it was a topic, the explanation and elucidation of which took up all energies of his tongue and pen to the extent that writing on any other subject was a trial for him. He had written to Shaykh al-Hadith Maulana Zakariyya (ra), "My heartfelt desire is that at least my brain, thought, time, and energy should be limited to nothing but this work." He used to say, "How can any other occupation be lawful for me when I see that the soul of Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is distressed (because of the weakness of the Muslims' faith and the supremacy of kufr)?" One day an attendant complained that he saw a lack of attention and affection in his behavior as previously compared. He replied, "I am very busy; I feel that Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is in distress; I cannot pay attention to anything else."

He did not attend gatherings where there was little chance of putting forward his message; he disliked going for the sake of an obligation only. He used to say, "If you go to a place, go with your message and put it forward, keep your invitation above anything."

Once in Delhi, he had to perforce attend a wedding ceremony of an acquaintance. He addressed the gathering at the wedding thus, "Today is the happiest of days for you when even the lowliest is pleased; it is not done to displease even the sweeping woman………tell me! Do you have any concern of pleasing Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)?" then he explained that the endeavor to revive the Deen brought by Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was the greatest way to please him (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam).

This fine references are of the founder of the Tablighi Jamat, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas (Nawwarallahu Marqadahu), who adored calling to the Faith to such extent that all other pleasures and opinions were dimmed before them; this spiritual pleasure had become sensory and natural for him.

Once, Maulana had defined Ishq (adoration) as such: "The pleasures and interests of man that are divided between so many things come out and converge at one point. This is Ishq." This definition was personified in the Maulana himself. He used to sob and cry on the departure of the Ummah from its Deen. Sometimes he used to writhe in pain, sigh, sob, and complain, "O Allah! What else should I do? I am not doing enough." Sometimes he used to turn agonizingly on his bed, then get up and pace the room. One night his wife at last asked him, "What is the matter? Can you not sleep?" he answered, "What can I tell you? If you get to know what I do then the waking ones will become two."

The result of this heart ache and dedication to his aim was that in just a few years, the ache that had bothered one breast caught fire in hundreds. The Mewatis who had become half Hindu despite being called Muslims, who celebrated many of the Hindu festivals, whose villages rarely had a mosque in them, who even used to kill their newborns; suddenly, little beacons of light sprung up in the same Mewati dwellings. Mosques were built, religious schools and Madaris mushroomed, the number of Huffaz exceeded hundreds, and there was a good number of qualified 'Ulama. The birth of the love of Iman extinguished kufr. The customs and traditions that had come to be a way of life for them began to be eradicated. An experienced Mewati explained this in a very clear manner when he was asked what was happening in his area. He said, "I don't know anything else; what I do know is some things for which we used to strive and they did not happen, are happening on their own; some things which we tried to stop with battles and great endeavor and did not stop, are being stopped on their own."

Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas (ra) had a keen concern that if the 'Ulama did not overlook the preaching and this task was left to the common man alone, it would develop alot of flaws. His wish was for the educated 'Ulama to take an interest in this task and use their God-gifted talents for the propagation of this work. Because most of his life Maulana had been associated with learning, he knew intimately the pursuits of the Madaris, its teachers, and students. He wanted them to join hands with this work of calling to God but he also wanted a way out that would help those of the Madaris in their learning, yet not interfere with it. He writes, "Deen can progress and develop according to the progress and development of learning, and under the progress and development of learning. It would be the greatest of losses if my movement caused any set back to learning. I do not mean by Tabligh to prevent or hurt progress towards learning…"

He used to council the groups going in the way of Allah for Tabligh to sit and learn from the gatherings of elders with the intention of improving oneself, and never to mention their own work in their presence. If the elders asked anything of their own accord, well and good; otherwise they were to keep silent. He wrote to Shaykh al-Hadith Maulana Zakariyya (ra), "I have an old wish, that these groups benefit from the khanqahs, keeping to all the manners of khanqahs, and that the missionary work be done in particular timings in surrounding villages. (Please) make a plan concerning this after council with the coming groups. This humble person is also overwhelmed with the wish to attend with some companions; I am also thinking of Deoband and Thana Bhawan."

Hakim al-Ummah, Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali at-Thanwi (ra) was of the opinion that when 'Ulama educated for eight to ten years failed to solve some matters when on mission work, what would the ignorant Mewatis do without any formal education and training? His cautious and farsighted nature was unsatisfied and he feared some harm would come out of it. But when he received continuous news that the groups were working under supervision of the 'Ulama and getting guidance from them, and that they did not mention anything for which they were not allowed, he became satisfied.

The founder of the Jama'ah always tried to link the workers of Tabligh to the 'Ulama. He used to stress the importance of 'Ulama, the need to benefit from them, the rewards of meeting them, and used to teach the manners of talking to them. He used to educate the workers to take the best possible explanation of things they did not understand and keep their faith in the scholars. The results of this effort became apparent when those big businessmen who were against the 'Ulama started attending their gatherings with respect and reverence and invited them for discourses to their congregations. They did not have the condition that only those 'Ulama would give talks who had spent time in the Jamat; all authentic and righteous 'Ulama were invited.

The connection of Shaykh al-Islam Maulana Husain Ahmad al-Madani (ra) with politics was no secret, but he often gave discourses in gatherings although he had not spent any formal time in the Jamat. Shaykh Maulana Abul Hasan Ali an-Nadwi (ra), who was the heart and soul of Nadwat al-Ulama - and who was aware of the barrier between the Nadwa and the rest of the Madaris because of its special ambiance and isolation of some of its founders - his dealing with the founder of the Jamat was totally different. Hazrat Maulana Ilyas (ra) respected and loved all 'Ulama and so he did Maulana Abul Hasan Ali an-Nadwi (ra), and gave importance to his advice.

One day Maulana Abul Hasan Ali an-Nadwi (ra) said that although the Nadwa had always extended an affectionate hand towards the people of Deen, they had seldom had a positive response. "Thank God that he, Maulana Ilyas (ra), had been loving towards them." Tears ran down Maulana's face and he said, "What are you saying? Your Jamat is that of Deen; I am not in favour of leaving out even the people from Aligarh [i.e. the Muslims of secular education]."

Besides Maulana Abul Hasan Ali an-Nadwi (ra), Hazrat Maulana Manzoor Ahmad Nu'mani (ra) was also among Maulana's close associates. Hazrat Maulana Abdul Qadir Raipuri (ra) was also a frequent visitor [great shaykhs of knowledge and tasawwuf].

Not even a blind person can deny the fruit born by it; the whole world seems in a stir by its blessing, millions of people have been reformed by joining it; but despite all this, there is a need for guidance from the 'Ulama at each step. God forbid, if a rift is created between the Jamtat and the 'Ulama, and the 'Ulama are made to follow the Jamat instead of the other way round, it will have grave results for the religious circles.


Original article is entitled Tablighi Jamat and the Ulama.
Courtesy of Darsequran.com
.

The Grace of Tawbah

I just read this article through today's CAIR news roundup. It is absolutely incredible. Unbelievable. I have to admit, that when I read the original story, I balked.

To read that he seems to have made good on both his tawbah is nothing less than yet another miracle of our Nabi, sallallahu'alayhi wa sallam, and a shining manifestation of the divine mercy.

It just goes to show that:

a- You don't know what is truly in someone's heart.

b- The grace of Allah is such that if He hits someone with it, there is no holding it back. Allahu Akbar!

It reminds me in some way of the tawbah of Fudhayl bin Iyyadh, although, admittedly he made tawbah while robbing someone without having to be put at gunpoint. Nevertheless, may Allah give our friend a deen like that of that (and give our convenience store owner his share too).

Humza
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Robber Thanks Would-Be Victim For Saving His Life

A deli owner gives a $40 and a loaf of bread to a man who attempted to rob him.

By ERIC LUU

Updated 1:30 PM EST, Thu, Dec 3, 2009

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NBC New York

What can $40 and a loaf of bread do for a man?

Apparently it can turn a crook’s life around and help him get on track.

An ex-thug sent a thank-you note and a $50 bill to the Long Island deli owner who spared his life and saved him from a life of crime.

Back in May, the letter-writer attempted to rob the deli when the owner, Mohammed Sohail, 47, pulled out a rifle. But after the ex-crook pleaded for his life, explaining he was only doing this because his family was down on luck. Sohail spared the thief's life and gave him $40 and a loaf of bread.

WATCH

"When you do good things for somebody, it comes back to you. I gave him $40 and he sent me back $50. It was a good investment," Sohail said, laughing.

The anonymous writer apologized to Sohail, his intended target. "First of all I would like to say I am sorry at the time I had [no] money no food on the table no job and nothing for my family," the ex-crook wrote.

The letter went on to say he "was wrong but I had [no] choice. I needed to feed my family," comments similar to those he made during the attempted robbery.

"When you had that gun to my head I was 100% that I was going to die," he wrote.

"Now I have a new child and good job make good money staying out of trouble and taking care of my family. You gave me forty dollars thank you for sparing my life. Because of that you change my life."

The letter-writer wrote that he initially said he would convert to Islam only because he feared for his life, but he has since followed through, according to the letter.

The Islam convert signed the letter: “Your Muslim Brother.”

"That's the same guy I gave $40 to," Sohail told the New York Post. He showcased the letter at his Shirley Express deli yesterday. The typewritten letter had no return address and was mailed on Long Island the week before Thanksgiving.

"I'm really thrilled," said Sohail. "I'm very happy for that guy, because he is now doing good for the community He has a job and he is a good person. I really feel great. Thank God he's doing good. He's got a new baby and he's not in jail."

Suffolk County police turned down the Post’s requests for comment until they have reviewed the letter. Detectives investigating the attempted robbery in were unable to track down the suspect after reviewing surveillance camera footage.

Sultan Alamgir and the Mimic

Alamgir and the Mimic

[taken from http://deoband.org/2009/11/history/anecdotes/alamgir-and-the-mimic/]

By Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi
Translated by Shaykh Yusuf Laher

When Alamgir (may Allah have mercy on him)1 became king, a function was held in which important people in the kingdom were granted gifts. A mimic also came to ask for something2. Due to Alamgir being an ‘Alim [and thus having knowledge of the laws of Shari'ah], there was no fund from which he could grant the mimic a gift. On the other hand, it was against royal etiquette to deny the mimic a gift, so he tried to evade him in a subtle way.

He said to the mimic: “A gift is presented on an achievement. Your achievement will be to present yourself in such a disguise that you are not recognised.” Thus the mimic kept on changing disguises and presenting himself, but the king never failed to recognise him. He told him that “The day you fool me, you will be worthy of receiving a reward.”

Incidentally, the king had to travel to Decca. The mimic lengthened his beard, adopted the appearance of the pious and went to stay in a village along the way [to Decca]. In a short time he became famous [as a pious person].

Alamgir’s practice was that wherever he travelled, he would make it a point to meet the pious en-route. When he reached this village, he heard of ‘the pious person’ residing here, and sent his minister to ask the pious person a few questions on Tasawwuf. The mimic gave all sensible answers to the questions. In those times the mimics would intentionally acquire every science (to assist them in their mimicry).

When the minister returned, he was full of praises for the mimic. The king now went himself to meet the mimic. They had a lengthy discussion and the king concluded that ‘Shah Sahib’ is a perfect saint. As he departed, the king presented one thousand ashrafis (gold coins) as a gift to the mimic. The mimic rejected the gift saying: “you consider me to be like yourself, a dog of this world!” This reaction increased the faith of Alamgir in this ‘pious person’.

[Mawlana Thanwi says]: undoubtedly, independence is a remarkable quality. Thereafter Alamgir returned to his entourage. Meanwhile, the mimic follows him and says: “Give my reward, may Allah protect you.” The king exclaims: Oh, it is you! Alamgir now presents him with a meagre reward and says to him: “Why did you not accept the gift I first presented which was much more than what I have now given you and I would never have demanded it back?” [He would not have demanded it back after coming to know that he is actually the mimic.] He answered: “Sir, if I had accepted that gift, the mimicry would not have been correct, because it was the mimicry of the dervishes. To accept it was contrary to the status of a dervish!”
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Taken from “Stories and Anecdotes Related by Mawlana Thanawi”, a compilation of stories and anecdotes related by Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) in his lectures, majalis, etc. Extracted and compiled by Mawlana Qari Abu ‘l-Hasan A’azimi.

1. Alamgir was a learned and pious king from the Mogul rulers of India. ↩
2. A mimic would disguise himself and if the person he presented himself to did not recognise him, he would be entitled to receive a gift in lieu of the successful disguise. If the person saw through the disguise, he (the mimic) would not receive anything. ↩

Laughing At US and Not With US

I just read a BBC World News Headline entitled "Obama Orders Afghan Troop Surge."

Firstly, our pseudo-Muslim President sure does seem to be doing a slow job ending wars...

But more ironically, I cannot help but visualize people in such diverse places as Russia and Vietnam falling off their seats with laughter.

Barack, my man, you should watch the movie The Princess Bride (unless you actually are a Muslim, in which case, watching movies is HARAM), and specifically the part where it is so wisely mentioned that the most well known of the classic blunders is to oppose the maxim, "Never start a land war in Asia..."

Freedom...

Hmm... Democracy and freedom of religion...? This looks more like hypocrisy. Its funny how these people first invent and bring to life a screwed-up image of Islam themselves, then let it scare the snot out of them, then use the fact that they are scared snot-less as an excuse to act just as stupid as the screwed-up rendition of that which they fear themselves.

A state that allows the building of certain religions' places of worship to the exclusion of others... That sounds an awful lot like theocracy without the Theo...

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Swiss voters back ban on minarets
One of four minarets in Switzerland
There are only four minarets in Switzerland

Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, official results show.

More than 57% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces - voted in favour of the ban.

The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation.

The government opposed the ban, saying it would harm Switzerland's image, particularly in the Muslim world.

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the surprise result is very bad news for the Swiss government which also fears unrest among the Muslim community.

Our correspondent says voters worried about rising immigration - and with it the rise of Islam - have ignored the government's advice.

"The Federal Council (government) respects this decision. Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted," said the government in a statement, quoted by the AFP news agency.


This will cause major problems because during this campaign in the last two weeks different mosques were attacked, which we never experienced in 40 years in Switzerland
Tamir Hadjipolu
Zurich's Association of Muslim Organisations

Minaret vote: Your views

Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the result reflected fear of Islamic fundamentalism.

"These concerns have to be taken seriously. However, the Federal Council takes the view that a ban on the construction of new minarets is not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies," she said.

She sought to reassure Swiss Muslims, saying the decision was "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture".

Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets.

After Christianity, Islam is the most widespread religion in Switzerland, but it remains relatively hidden.

There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning applications for new minarets are almost always refused.

Supporters of a ban claimed that allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy.

But others say the referendum campaign incited hatred. On Thursday the Geneva mosque was vandalised for the third time during the campaign, according to local media.

Before the vote, Amnesty International warned that the ban would violate Switzerland's obligations to freedom of religious expression.

'Political symbol'

The president of Zurich's Association of Muslim Organisations, Tamir Hadjipolu, told the BBC that if the ban was implemented, Switzerland's Muslim community would live in fear.

"This will cause major problems because during this campaign in the last two weeks different mosques were attacked, which we never experienced in 40 years in Switzerland.

"So with the campaign... the Islamaphobia has increased very intensively."

Sunday's referendum was held after the People's party collected 100,000 signatures from eligible voters within 18 months calling for a vote.

SVP member of parliament Ulrich Schluer said the campaign had helped integration by encouraging debate. He rejected the charge of discrimination.

In recent years many countries in Europe have been debating their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations.

France focused on the headscarf, while in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne.

Satisfaction

The Dissatisfaction of Sin



by Arif Billah, Hazrat Mawlana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (damat barakatuhum)



Hazrat (damat barakatuhum) says, “The question often arises: does one attain true satisfaction and contentment by fulfilling the demands of one’s base desires?



Hazrat Hakimul Ummah Thanwi (rahimahullah) says in answer to this, ‘If a person casts lustful glances at all the beautiful women of the world except for one. And then someone was to tell him whether he wants to see that one also, then he would definitely say yes.’



From this is it is understood that the example of trying to acquire fulfillment through committing sins is like hoping to extinguish a fire by adding more fuel to it.



And the example of hoping to gain satisfaction through committing sins is like the hope of trying to gain purity by washing away feces with urine.



Likewise, by closely observing the lives of people who worship their lust and are addicted to casting evil glances, one will discover a life of worries, depression, dissatisfaction and sleepless nights.



On the other hand, those people who are occupied with the remembrance of Allah Ta`ala and accompany the Ahlullah, their lives are filled with peace of mind, contentment of heart and comfort.



Through the blessings of Allah’s remembrance, a person actually enters the “lap” of Allah’s mercy. Allah Ta`ala takes the people of His remembrance into the loving embrace of His mercy.



Hazrat Hakimul-Ummah Thanwi (rahimahullah) says, ‘By continuously being involved in a tug of war with the lower self by fighting the temptations of the nafs, one actually attains more of a closeness to Allah Ta`ala, even though apparently the heart may become restless and disturbed by this.



On the other hand, by committing sin and falling into the trap of temptation, the temporary enjoyment and short-term satisfaction wherein the nafs finds gratification is actually the moment wherein the wrath of Allah Ta`ala descends.



[In other words, when a person fulfills his impermissible, base desires for the sake of coming out of the restlessness and inner agitation to gain “peace of mind”, this state is actually a cursed state, even though one may feel satisfied. This is because of the fact that this “satisfaction” has been acquired by Allah’s disobedience.]



And the continuous feeling of restlessness and non-fulfillment of desires was through taqwa and fear of Allah. [Therefore this will become a means of closeness to Allah and elevation of one’s ranks.]



A short while after committing the sin, that temporary satisfaction one was feeling will also be snatched away. After this stage, such an intense desire for sin will overtake the person that was never experienced previously.



This is because the nafs has now become strengthened by having received its vile sustenance of sin and the spirituality has become weakened. Now the onslaught of nafsani desires and temptations will be doubled.”



May Allah Ta`ala bestow us the ability to please Him and to abstain from those things which invite His displeasure. Ameen



(Kashkol-e-Ma`rifat; 367-68)

Days of Veneration and Sacrifice: Thawr Institute's Comprehensive Guide to Dhul Hijjah

A Pretty Accurate Synopsis of the War in Afghanistan

I got this commentary from the Jami'at al-Ulama newsletter from Transvaal in South Africa, which I had the good fortune to visit recently...

It pretty much accurately summarizes the situation in Afghanistan.

This just go to emphasize the need to stay away from the most well known of classic blunders:

Never start a land war in Asia.

Humza
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Jamiatul Ulama

Online Newsletter

Vol.: 4 No.: 42


09 Dhu al-Qa'dah 1430 / 28 October 2009

Read the full Newsletter from your browser:
http://www.jamiat.co.za/newsletter/online_newsletter_0442.htm

Weekly Comment

Afghanistan: An Exit Strategy for a Super Power
What was deemed far-fetched a year ago is a likely prospect in Afghanistan. The United States will have to cut a deal with the Taliban.

Regardless of the posturing and express support of NATO for the US, it is clear that the continuation of the war is going to be a hard-sell for Barack Obama.

With a toll of 55 killed, October has turned out to be deadliest month for the US troops. At such a rate, can the US stay the course? In any case, which ‘course’ has the US charted and how can it sustain it?

As it stands, combined US-NATO troops are reported to outnumber Taliban fighters on a ratio of 12:1. Will additional troops make any difference? It is no wonder that Obama has been averse to committing more troops as General Stanley McChrystal, has been pleading for.

What is increasingly evident is that the US has been stretched thin in as far as manpower is concerned.

Afghanistan is also proving to be a financial black hole for the US treasury. An estimated U$1m is required to keep one soldier in Afghanistan per annum. Add to that the Baghdad bill then you have a real mess to the fiscus.

As Afghanistan unravels, Matthew Hoh, a senior American diplomat in Afghanistan has become the first US official to resign in protest of the war he says is only being perpetuated by the occupation and ‘international support for a corrupt, unpopular government’.

Unsavoury stories of the occupation keep coming too. Only today, the New York Times has revealed that Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of the embattled Afghan president and a suspected drug trafficker, has been on the CIA payroll for most of the past eight years.

About two weeks ago, it was the story of Italian soldiers who ‘paid protection money to prevent attacks on their troops.’

French troops who took control of the Sarobi district from the Italians back in August 2008, suffered ten fatalities due to being unaware of the 'Sicilian type of homage’ they had to give to the locals to secure protection.

The government itself is also faltering after a sham election which is now heading into a staged face-saving run-off between Hamid Karzai and Abdallah Abdallah after the former had won with a ‘boosted’ margin in the first round, thanks to stuffing of ballot boxes!

It is clear that no conventional warfare will win it in Afghanistan. No matter how much more resources the US is going to commit to stabilize Afghanistan, a genuine peace dividend will prove elusive.

White House will have to accept the fact and make peace with the Taliban. It should not be through bribing of ‘moderate’ warlords to be made viceroys without the consent of the masses. An all-inclusive process of national-building is imperative.

Washington would be better place for Obama with a carefully executed consensus-building initiative that respects the people of Afghanistan as capable of making choices of how to run their affairs as a sovereign.

Regardless, a consensus-building exercise will not be an easy way out. However, it would prove more durable at a much cheaper price than to fight a war without end.

Islamophobia In America

This recent op-ed piece penned by Nihad Awad gives a dirty glimpse into the nasty side of Islamophobia operating with indigence in the corridors of power of this country. I don't believe that such people represent a majority of Americans or even power-holders in government. However, these people are omnipresent in Congress and other institutions of government, and when given the opportunity, cherish the chance to spread their hate, which often spills over to anti-immigrant, anti-black, and anti-hispanic feelings as well as general xenophobia and plain ignorance about the world. The perils of such lobbying are intensified by the fact that the emotions of such people are mostly motivated not by genuine concern about the world around them, rather they are obsessed with the apocalyptic and messianic cartoons fed to them by opportunistic preachers and the half-baked religion they push.

Does anyone think that a Christian behaving like a ill-mannered and mean-spirited hooligan in the hopes that they'll make Christ's return happen any faster is true religion?

True religion has the capacity to change people for the better. True religion teaches people to deal with the decree of God; it doesn't make people trash any sense of morality in the hopes of affecting some sort cosmic bonus round...

humza
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CAIR: Islamophobia Machine Targets American Muslims
Nihad Awad
WORD COUNT: 1187

[Nihad Awad is national executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s leading Muslim civil liberties organization. He may be contacted at nawad@cair.com.]

“Are you a believer?” asked the participant in a Capitol Hill gathering of Islamophobes and Muslim-bashers who -- according to conference materials -- were seeking to promote “freedom of speech and religion.”

When CAIR’s intern answered, “Yes, of course,” the conference participant -- whose card indicated he works for “Encountering Islam Christian Ministry” and obviously thinking “believer” meant something other than Muslim -- replied, “Good, because we want to cut their [Muslims’] necks off.”

Just one hour later, the officially-registered intern was asked to leave the conference, which was held in the U.S. Congressional Auditorium, because “some of the panel members do not feel comfortable with you being here.” So much for freedom of speech and religion.

Before being ejected, CAIR’s intern heard one audience member seek advice from a panelist as to how American Muslim rights could be “curtailed,” given the fact that “unfortunately” Islam itself cannot be outlawed.

But not to worry - one of the speakers at the Washington, D.C., conference does advocate outlawing Islam in America. That speaker, David Yerushalmi, works for one of the other speakers at the conference, Frank Gaffney Jr.

Other panelists included anti-Islam hate blogger Pam Geller, who has appeared at Muslim-bashing events with Gaffney and with another conference speaker, Florida House of Representatives Majority Leader Adam Hasner. Hasner recently hosted an appearance by extremist anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert “ban the Quran” Wilders in Florida, which was co-hosted by the hate blogger and promoted by another conference panelist, Tom Trento of the Florida Security Council.

Does all this make sense? It does if you understand that there is an “Islamophobia Machine” made up of extremists of all stripes who coordinate and cooperate in a relentless effort to demonize Islam and deprive American Muslims of their civil rights.

The list of attendees at CAIR’s recent sold-out 15th annual banquet in Arlington, Va., further illustrates how the Islamophobia machine works.

Two of those who purchased tickets for the banquet were notorious Islamophobes with histories of Muslim-bashing and associations with hate groups.

Among the 750 Muslim community members and activists, interfaith leaders and diplomats from Muslim-majority nations who heard addresses by speakers such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs of Progressive Faith Foundation were the two “moles” a hijab-clad representative of an anti-Islam group and a “counterterrorism consultant” who claims Thomas Jefferson only owned a Quran “so that he could know his enemy, so he could confront them, know them, kill them.”

The consultant, John Cosgrove, made that claim weeks earlier as he protested the “Day of Islamic Unity,” during which thousands of American Muslims gathered for prayer on Capitol Hill. Cosgrove is head of the Virginia chapter of the anti-Muslim hate group called the United American Committee (UAC). He was one of the main opponents of the expansion of an Islamic school in Virginia.

In 2007, the head of the UAC called Islam a “cult” and said terrorists are “honest” Muslims. He also stated that anyone who believes Muslims are not the “enemy” is “incredibly ignorant or a simple-minded fool.”

SEE: GOP Women's Group Promotes Anti-Muslim Hate

Hijab-wearing mole number two, Christine Brim, is senior vice president for policy and program management at the Center for Security Policy. She was asked to leave the event after being observed surreptitiously recording the banquet speeches, despite earlier being given legal notice that such recordings were prohibited. Instead of speaking to security personnel, Brim immediately fled to the hotel’s exit. (CAIR’s dinner was an open event with media present. Unauthorized recordings are prohibited only to prevent abuse by those who have, in the past, sought to smear the speakers by distorting their words.)

Brim, along with Cosgrove, was an opponent of the Islamic school in Virginia.

Her group and its President Frank Gaffney Jr. actively promote the racist and anti-Islam ideology of David Yerushalmi, the center’s general counsel, who has advocated outlawing the practice of Islam in America and permanently closing all U.S. mosques.

SEE: Center for Security Policy Staff

In a 2007 commentary headlined “War Manifesto -- The War Against Islam,” Yerushalmi called for a “war against Islam and all Muslim faithful.” He wrote in part:

“On the so-called Global War on Terrorism, GWOT, we have been quite clear along with a few other resolute souls. This should be a WAR AGAINST ISLAM and all Muslim faithful…At a practical level, this means that Shari’a and Islamic law are immediately outlawed. Any Moslem in America who adopts historical and traditional Shari’a will be subject to deportation. Mosques which adhere to Islamic law will be shut down permanently. No self-described or practicing Muslim, irrespective of his or her declarations to the contrary, will be allowed to immigrate to this country…”

Another such “manifesto” called for making “adherence to Islam” punishable by a 20-year prison term.

In a 2006 article for The American Spectator, Yerushalmi wrote: "Muslim civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization…The Muslim peoples, those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies."

In another article, Yerushalmi wrote: “Instead of a promise of victory, Sura 24:52 must be made ashes in the mouths of Muslims. A seemingly unending air control campaign over enemy territory is the way to continually remind the Muslims of their subordinate status and the impotence of Allah without becoming mired in the quagmire of counterinsurgency.”

He also wrote that he “has staked out an approach which is to Know the Enemy by declaring the enemy historical, traditional, and authoritative Islam.”

Yerushalmi’s website once contained the following white supremacist language as part of its mission statement:

“America was the handiwork of faithful Christians, mostly men, and almost entirely white, who ventured from Europe to create a nation in their image of a country existing as free men under G-d.”

Other articles on his website made racist statements such as: “There is a reason the founding fathers did not give women or black slaves the right to vote,” and "Race matters and affects your intelligence. Jews are the smartest white people around. Orientals smarter than Whites. Latinos next. Then Blacks.”

Another article stated:

“Is there something unique about the Black American (or, at least the Black New Yorker) that leads him to murder so disproportionately and to most often kill and victimize his own?”

Yerushalmi is also the former employer of Dave Gaubatz, his one-time “Director of Intelligence and Counter-terrorism Studies” and author of a Muslim-bashing book. In 2007, Yerushalmi’s group paid Gaubatz $148,898 for “research.”

Gaubatz has a long history of bigotry targeting Islam and Muslims. He has called Islam an “evil ideology” and a “terminal disease.” Along with his past rhetorical attacks Islam, Gaubatz has called President Obama a “crack head” and wrote that “a vote for Hussein Obama is a vote for Sharia Law.”

It is becoming obvious to anyone who puts all the parts of the Islamophobia machine together that American Muslims are being targeted by a coordinated and well-funded nationwide effort to disenfranchise their community and demonize their faith.

This insidious effort will only succeed if Americans of all faiths fail take a stand against un-American attempts to divide our nation along religious lines.