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Showing posts from June, 2008

Beyond the Confines of Patriotism & Nationalism

In the Name of Allah, The most Beneficent, The most Merciful Stereotypes that don’t fit the Islamic Vision of Unity and World Order. Patriot – n. One who defends or is zealous for his country’s freedom or rights. Nationalism – Patriotic feeling, policy of national independence. Country – n. Region; territory of a nation; land of a person’s birth. [Concise Oxford Dictionary] Muslims view themselves as a single and indivisible nation and term it as Ummah. This concept of nation is based on ideological affinity and not on territorial integrity. He (the Muslim) is therefore primarily zealous in guarding that ideology. In the process, he does (as part of the State) guard the territory, but that is incidental to the protection of the ideology. This concept is widely different from the dictionary meanings of Patriotism or Nationalism and their application in the world today. Unfortunately but truly, patriotism and nationalism is the root of discord, disunity and strife on this plan

Views on the news - 26/06/08

Europe: Christian values can only be protected by Islam On 23/6/2008 conservative Anglican leaders opened talks in Jerusalem on the future of the Church of England. At the heart of the dispute between conservative and liberal church leaders is how to make the bible more appealing to secular audiences. This includes recognizing homosexuality and other practices condemned by the bible. “The Communion is in a state of brokenness,” said Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola. Ever since the birth of secularism in the 17th century, Christian values have been repeatedly revised by secular fundamentalist to make them more palatable with their version of the world. Gay bishops, women priests, illegitimate children, and the commercialization of Christmas are now commonly accepted by many Christian denominations. However, if conservative Christians still want to retain their values then they should look towards Islam. In the past, when Islam was implemented practically -for instance in Islamic Spain-

Views on the news - 19/06/08

Americas: Saudi’s capitulate to American pressure and raise production On 13/6/2008 the BBC reported that Saudi Arabia could increase its output by more than half a million barrels of oil per day to a record 10 million barrels per day. Saudi Arabia is coming under increasing pressure from G8 and the Bush administration to raise production and curb escalating oil prices. However, the popular perception is that speculators are the chief culprits behind the soaring price of crude oil. Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said "enormous" speculation is behind the rising energy prices. It is now widely documented that whenever the dollar falls powerful hedge funds intervene and cause huge spikes in the price of crude oil. Such initiatives cause a temporary rebound in the value of the dollar. If the rulers of Saudi Arabia had a modicum of common sense they could take advantage of the current situation to rid the Saudi Arabia of American and western domination. All that is

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 sacrifice for o

Views on the news - 12/6/08

Europe: France and Germany sweat over Irish response to EU treaty On 11/6/2008 the Irish will vote on the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty is designed to streamline the EU's structures and give the bloc a bigger say on the global stage by establishing a full-time president of the European Council, the institution where heads of government meet, and a new, more powerful foreign policy chief. However, there is a good chance that the Irish may reject the treaty. Ireland has less than 1 percent of the EU's population, an Irish no vote would stop the Lisbon treaty in its tracks because all 27 member states need to ratify it for it to come into force. Such an outcome will spell disaster for Franco-German efforts to give the EU a greater presence in international affairs. ”The eventuality of an Irish rejection would be a problem not only for the French presidency but for Europe ,” Sarkozy said. “It's for the Irish to decide on this, but what Madame Merkel and I have decided is that, what

New Book from Revival Publications

Organisations of the Khilafah State ( Ajhizat Dawlat al-Khilafah ) - Price: 6.00 GBP At a time when the world is in chaos and turmoil and when the change in the world order is imminent by the re-establishment of the Khilafah, there is a need for people to understand how this system, the Khilafah will be different from all the other systems. With the glad tidings that the Muslim ummah already has that the khilafah will return on the footsteps of the prophethood, Hizb ut Tahrir , a pioneer and a leader in the work for the re-establishment of the Khilafah presented this book to the Muslims in the Arabic language. The original was published by Dar al Ummah, Lebanon. This is an English rendering of the aforementioned book. The book presents an elaborate understanding as to what is the ruling and administrational organization of the Khilafah in a carefully deduced manner that brings satisfaction to the heart. Various details such as the method of appointment of the Khaleefah, or the remova

Views on the news - 5/6/08

Europe: Muslims sent to Pakistan to showcase ‘British values’ On 30/5/2008 six-member British Muslim team arrived in Pakistan to promote ‘British Islam’. Over the past two years, the British Foreign Office has organized more than 20 visits to countries with a Muslim-majority population in a programme to ‘showcase the integral role Muslims play in British society’ and increase mutual understanding. One thing is for sure that the delegation will not highlight the oppression and tyranny suffered by British Muslims under British values. The routine stop and search of ordinary young Muslims, confinement of Muslims without trial, unbridled police surveillance of mosques, espionage of Islamic organizations and community leaders, the proliferation of anti-terror legislation to target Muslims and the forced removal of hijjab are some of the draconian measures that have become not only Britain’s benchmark for integrating Muslims but Europe too. Americas: Another proof CIA intelligence is cooked

Love for the Ottoman Khilafah lives on in India

The following is an article from the Website of Zaman newspaper in Turkey, it highlights the love for the Muslims in India for the Khilafah. Love for the Ottomans and Turkey lives on in Kolkata, India India has long held a special place in the hearts of Anatolia's people. For this reason, we've decided to visit this country, and in particular, Kolkata's "Caliphate Committee," an organization of particular importance to Turks during the Turkish War of Independence. The Caliphate Committee was originally established with the intent of helping the Ottomans and the people of Anatolia. Photographs taken in 1920 and 1922 hang on the walls of the Caliphate Committee's office. During those years, members of this committee got together to send financial and spiritual assistance to the Ottomans during the Turkish War of Independence. The goal of this committee was to display the prominence and importance of their ties to the caliphate as well as to help inform and suppo

Q&A: How to dispose of shares?

Question: I recently found out that owning shares in PLC companies is haram according to the Shariah, if I have already purchased shares in such companies based upon the fatawa of some mufti's who don' t understand the reality of these companies then how can I dispose of them? Is it allowed to sell them? Answer: This matter has been explained by Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabhani in the book'The Economic System of Islam' page 162-163, in the english translation. The following is the text: "The above discussion raises questions about the Muslims who buy shares of these companies, associate in establishing them, or hold shares due to their subscription in such companies. Was their action haram, even though they were ignorant of the divine law (hukm shar'i) at the time of their subscription into these companies? Or if some scholars, who did not understand the reality of the share stock company, and gave them a fatwa (of permission) with regard to them, are these stocks

Russia and China attack US plans for missile shield

On 23/5/2008, President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and President Hu Jintao of China condemned American proposals for a missile shield in Europe. Both countries called the plan a setback to international trust that was likely to upset the balance of power. During the visit Medvedev following Putin’s footsteps said, ”I will say frankly that not everyone likes the strategic cooperation between our two nations but we understand that it's in the interests of our people and we'll strengthen it whether others like it or not...”' As a signal of the warming ties between China and Russia, the two countries signed a $1 billion agreement for Russia to build a nuclear fuel enrichment plant in China and supply uranium. Furthermore trade between the countries rose to $48.17 billion last year from $10.67 billion in 2000. These developments clearly indicate that the world is truly becoming a multi-polar, where different power centres such as Russia and China feel confident enough to openl

Union of South American Nations unlikely to challenge US hegemony

At a summit in Brasilia , Brazil , on Friday 23rd of May, 12 South American countries formally constituted the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), a regional integration initiative which began informally in 2004. The countries that make up UNASUR are Venezuela , Colombia , Argentina , Bolivia , Brasil , Chile , Ecuador , Guyana , Paraguay , Peru , Surinam , and Uruguay , encompassing a total population of 380 million inhabitants Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez described UNASUR as the culmination of the region’s search for unity. "Only in unity will we later have, progressively, complete political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological, and military independence," Chávez commented. However, Chavez’s upbeat assessment of the new union is misplaced. Whilst Chavez leads a small bloc of countries that are avidly anti-American, most other countries that are part of the union toe the American line. This polarization will ensure that policy makers in Washington retain