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Showing posts from January, 2010

Why has the Muslim world failed to Develop?

The Muslim world has bewildered many experts who have researched the potential of the Islamic lands. Many have questioned how it is even possible that a people who are so rich and so plentiful in resources came to be so poor in reality. Many have an unfortunate tendency to compare the development of the West and conclude that the absence of liberal values will always act as an obstacle to industrial development in the Muslim world. There are a number of factors that have hindered development in the Muslim world, many of them originate from outside the Muslim world. 1.Colonialism – Much of this currant situation in the Muslim lands stems from the colonial era and is summed up best by David Fromkin, Professor and expert on Economic History at the University of Chicago: "Massive amounts of the wealth of the old Ottoman Empire were now claimed by the victors. But one must remember that the Islamic empire had tried for centuries to conquer Christian Europe and the power brokers decidi

Views on the News - 22-01-2010

France accuses US of occupying Haiti France accused the US of "occupying" Haiti on Monday as thousands of American troops flooded into the country to take charge of aid efforts and security. The French minister in charge of humanitarian relief called on the UN to "clarify" the American role amid claims the military buildup was hampering aid efforts. Alain Joyandet admitted he had been involved in a scuffle with a US commander in the airport's control tower over the flight plan for a French evacuation flight. "This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti," Mr Joyandet said. Geneva-based charity Medecins Sans Frontieres backed his calls saying hundreds of lives were being put at risk as planes carrying vital medical supplies were being turned away by American air traffic controllers. But US commanders insisted their forces' focus was on humanitarian work and last night agreed to prioritise aid arrivals to the airport over military flight

Is it forbidden to live a luxurious life in Islam?

Islam prohibited the individual from luxury, considered it a sin, and He warned the luxurious ones with torture. Allah سبحانه وتعالى said: وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ مُتْرَفِين "And those of the left hand: What of those of the left hand? In scorching wind and scalding water, and shadow of black smoke. Neither cool nor refreshing. For they were, before that, indulged in sinful luxury." [Al-Waqi'a: 41-45] i.e. they were arrogant, who do what they wish. Allah سبحانه وتعالى also said: حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذْنَا مُتْرَفِيهِم بِالْعَذَابِ إِذَا هُمْ يَجْأَرُونَ "Till when We grasp the (town's) luxurious ones with punishment, behold! They started to supplicate." [Al-Mu'minun: 64] The luxurious ones here means the arrogant tyrants. Allah سبحانه وتعالى said also: وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ

The Anthem of the Khilafah

Adopting a slogan/anthem that can be acclaimed to distinguish a certain group of people from others, or a certain state from others is one of the permissible matters. The Muslims in the past had a slogan which they used when they met their enemies on the battle field. This was used at the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and by his agreement. They took the slogan of (Ha Mim, they are not helped) in the battle of the trench and Qurayzah, and the slogan of (You, the helped, bring death, bring death) in Banu Al-Mustaliq, and so on. This is besides the favours bestowed by Allah سبحانه وتعالى upon man of the characteristics created in him such as hearing, sight and speaking, all of these are included in the evidences of ibaha. So, man sees, speaks and applauds whatever he wants unless there is specific evidence related to any of them, which then he must observe. Therefore, it is allowed for the Islamic State to adopt a slogan with which it applauds and by which it dis

Who will free Aafia Siddiqui?

In March 2009 two female US Journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling were seized by North Korean border guards while reporting for California-based Current TV. They were subsequently tried and sentenced to 12 years in prison for "hostile acts" and illegal entry into North Korea. After their imprisonment America worked tirelessly to get the women released and in August 2009 dispatched former US President Bill Clinton to speak with North Korea's Kim Jong Il. The meeting was productive and the two women were later released. In March 2003 a women was also seized and imprisoned. Her name was Aafia Siddiqui. Like the US Journalists she was a women, she studied and worked in America and her three children were American citizens. But unlike the US Journalists captured six years later she was a Muslim and she had no leader to take care of her affairs. This is her story . Dr Aafia Siddiqui was born in Karachi, Pakistan, on March 2, 1972. She was one of three children of Mohammad S

Q&A: The Next Egyptian President

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Question: Recently there has been some analyses in the media, especially the European and the American media regarding the next Egyptian president to succeed Hosni Mubarak who reportedly will not be renominated for the presidential elections scheduled in 2011 C.E. These reports have cited the names of Gamal Mubarak, Ayman Nour, Mohammed El-Baradaei and Amr Moussa among others, and among them Gamal Mubarak and Ayman Nour’s names are being touted as favourites... We know that Jamal Mubarak has his loyalties to the US just like his father, does Ayman Nour also shares the same loyalty especially because he was released from his previous detention just before Obama’s visit to Egypt? Or is Ayman Nour loyal to the Europeans? If this is correct, then does this mean that Europe and especially Britain are looking forward to get a foothold in Egyprt after all these years of American stronghold in Egypt? Answer: Indeed political insight into the happenings in Egypt

Reflection:The Divine Rule

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ "Oh you who believe, answer the call of Allah and the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life".[TMQ 8:24] In the tafseer of Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir it says about the above verse, "Respond to what is good for you and what makes you better and that is obeying Allah and following the Qur’an and [what is in it] from the obligations. Doing this will result in success and eternal life". In other words, we are required to obey the commands of Allah (swt). This includes fulfilling the fardh (obligatory) actions that Allah (swt) has prescribed for us and not doing that which He has made haram (prohibited) for us. Fullfilling one’s fardh and steering clear of the haram is the only way to attain success in this life and in the akhira (Hereafter). The Hukm Shari’i: The Guidance from Allah (swt) The criterion of what is lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram)

The misuse of the principle of Dhuroora (necessity)

Unfortunately today some people misuse Islamic principles in order to justify clearly prohibited actions. One of the most commonly misapplied principles is that of Dhuroora (necessity). People often use it to justify taking interest based loans, working in jobs that involve haram, engaging in bribery, supporting kufr political parties and a variety of other prohibited actions. They attempt to justify this from Islamic texts by saying that when your dying of hunger it becomes permitted to eat pork and other haram foods. From this they generalise and say therefore we can break the Shariah rules under any type of difficulty. It is true that Allah said: إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ "He has forbidden you Al-Maytah (meat of a dead animal), blood, flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrif

The Evil of Craving for Wealth

Imam Ahmad, An-Nasaa'i, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Heban in their Saheeh report the hadeeth of Ka'b ibn Malik al-Ansari (ra) of the Prophet (saw), who said: "Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep are not more harmful than a person craving after wealth and status is to his Deen." At- Tirmidhi said, "It is hasan saheeh." It is also reported from the Prophet (saw) in the hadeeth of Ibn `Umar, Ibn `Abbaas, Abu Hurairah, Usama ibn Zayd, Jaabir, Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree and `Aasim ibn `Adiyy al-Ansaree (ra), and the wording of the hadeeth is that of Jaabir (ra): "Two ravenous wolves which spend the night amongst sheep whose shepherd is absent, will not cause more havoc for the people than will love of status and wealth to a Believer's Deen." The hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas (ra) narrates as, "…love of wealth" in place of "…craving." This analogy given to us by the Prophet (saw) clearly illustrates the dangers of craving wealth and wo