21 Rabi' al Thani 1442 A.H. - December 6 2020 Issue # 49, Newsletter #1892
Editorial
Biggest obstacles blocking the Islamic State in Pakistan.
By Kaukab Siddique
Pakistan is a deeply religious country. Mosques and Islamic
schools proliferate. The call to prayers resounds five times
a day . Religious leaders have vast following as could be
seen in huge gatherings of people for the funeral of Allama
Rizvi in Lahore.
However after 73 years Pakistan is still not an Islamic
State and leadership remains in secular persons. East
Pakistan became Bangladesh despite the fact that Bengalis
are deeply religious people in the conservative sense.
Recently Bangladesh held the biggest protests in the Muslim
world against the blasphemous cartoons in France. The
country is ruled by a pro-India secular clique.
I see the inability of Pakistan to be Islamic under three
headings:
Sectarianism which envelopes the whole country.
The dominance of the military and its alliance with the
secular civilian elite.
The subservience of women.
Sects are prohibited in Islam(*1)
Yet sects are virulently active in Pakistan. The country is
permeated with sects who have intense hatred for each other.
They go to the extent of claiming that the sects they oppose
are not Muslims! When the biggest sects engage in religious
hostility, one gets the impression that these sects cancel
each other out.
Such is the situation of the Brelvi and Deobandi sects.
Smaller sects then become aggressive and try to take over
the religious ambience of the country.
The sects flourish by ignoring central teachings of the
Qur'an and authentic hadith. They believe that a savior will
emerge and solve all the problems of the world.
The most popular myth is that Jesus, pbuh, will come back
and destroy evil, identified as Dajjal (anti-Christ). The
Qur'an does not mention the second coming of Jesus, yet many
Pakistani religious leaders teach the Second Coming.
The Qur'an explicitly teaches the required beliefs of
Muslims(*2) which do not include the Second Coming, yet it
is ignored.
Some of the religious leaders respond to the absence of the
second coming by claiming that it is Ijma' (consensus) of
the community though they are unable to come up with
specifics on when and by whom was this consensus
achieved.
A number of other narratives also teach the emergence of a
Mahdi or Guide who would solve our problems. Again this
arrival of the mahdi or a savior is not in the Qur'an which
is the source of authentic Islamic beliefs. The savior
concept is so popular that every now and then a person
claiming to be a mahdi or the "messiah" emerges only to be
defeated by Qur'anic teachings.
One sect insists that its mahdi is in hiding and will emerge
if we keep praying for his emergence. This waiting for the
hidden Mahdi has been going on for more than 1200 years.
The Realists
The teachings of Maulana Maudoodi have led to a peaceful
movement for social change. It's probably the only religious
group which has organized an internal democratic process.
Many students of westernized colleges have joined this
group. Numerous women have also accepted it.
This peaceful movement seems to be aware that a clash with
the military will result in it's decimation. Executions of
some of its leaders in Bangladesh did not create any calls
for retaliation or revenge.
Another peaceful group known as the Lal masjid or Red Mosque
group in Islamabad was decimated by the army although its
martyrs included scores of women. Owing to the power of
sectarianism, the Islamic groups which differed with the Red
Mosque remained silent even as the military action and the
slaughter went on right in the middle of the capital of a
country established in the name of Islam.
The Red Mosque is now resurrecting itself cautiously with
more support from the people of Islamabad.
Chapter 6, verse 159 of the Qur'an.
Chapter 2 verse 177.
(to be continued.)
Pakistan
Pakistan Situation
Dec 06, 2020
By Mantaqi
Security and International Issues:
Pakistani top civil and military officials held a meeting at
ISI headquarters. Chinese defense minister visited. There is
talk of building a Pakistan, China, Iran and Turkey block to
counter the US, Israel, India, Saudi Arabia, and UAE axis.
Indian general planning to visit Saudi Arabia soon for the
first time. Reports say that India wants to replace
Pakistani Army in Saudi Arabia with its troops, and guard
Mecca and Medina with Indian Muslim troops. Also, India is
pushing to replace Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia and
UAE, depriving Pakistan of billions of dollars with of
remittances, and put several million Pakistani workers out
of work.
Saudi and UAE leaders are putting intense pressure on
Pakistan to recognize Israel. If Pakistan doesn't follow
their diktat, then they are threatening to expel Pakistani
workers, and destroy Pakistan's stock market.
The Political Alliance of Rogues and Knaves:
The "Save my Corruption" demonstrations continued, with a
public meeting at Multan. People were bused in from all over
Pakistan, and the number present were between five and ten
thousand. Note that Multan is a city of around 2.5 million.
The government made the mistake of trying to stop the public
meeting to stop the spread of COVID 19. The PDM wants dead
bodies, so it can wave the bloody shirt and attract the
public. The government realized this and decided to let the
public meeting take place. The next PDM public meeting is in
Lahore, on December 13. There has been massive inflow of
money in the coffers of PDM from Lahore traders (in addition
to money from Arab kings and maybe RAW, the Indian
intelligence agency), who have been promised that they will
not have to pay any taxes, if PDM comes to power. The good
part is that the poor people in the rent a crowds are
getting some money and food.
In a demonstration of ruthless dynastic politics, Zardari
sent his twenty seven year old daughter Asifa to speak at
the Multan public meeting. So a young woman, who is barely
conversant in Urdu spoke, while PPP stalwarts waited on her
like courtiers on a princess. So Asifa and Maryam belong to
rival royal families, while Pakistani people are treated as
serfs, whose only job is to provide these two families and
their hangers on ever increasing riches and luxuries. That
is why these two families consider Imran Khan as a kind of
Attila the Hun, bent on destroying their power and
riches.
Nawaz Sharif's Finance minister and personal accountant
Ishaq Dar had an interview with Stephen Sackur of BBC's Hard
Talk. Dar who was used to softballs from pet journalists in
Pakistan, walked into an ambush when Sackur asked him
pointed questions about his corruption and properties. Dar
lied, sputtered and looked like a deer caught in an eighteen
wheeler's headlights. He would have been a figure of pity if
it was not for the fact that he was the one who looted
Pakistan's people, laundered the money and invested it
outside the country. See the interview: click here.
There are reports that Jamaat-e-Islami is thinking of
joining the PDM. If it does so, then it will show its total
moral bankruptcy, and it will be a folly comparable to its
folly in 1968-69 when it joined the other morally bankrupt
politicians in demanding the release of the arch-traitor
Mujibur Rehman (AKA Muzeeb usShaitan maloun). That decision
cost both Pakistan and Jamaat-e-Islami very dearly.
Judge Arshad Malik who convicted Nawaz Sharif died of heart
attack. He had been under great pressure because of attempts
to blackmail him by Maryam Nawaz's minions. They leaked
videos of him drinking, and carousing with women. As a
result he was expelled from the Supreme Court. So, he died a
heart broken man.
Covid Tragedy in Pakistan
Prominent Karachi architect and conservationist Yasmin Lari
is in icu in critical condition. Her husband Suhail Lari a
prominent author passed away this morning. Both got COVID a
few days back. Please take care all of you and limit social
exposure. The second wave is much deadlier than the earlier
one.
Many in the religious establishment in Karachi have passed
away from covid.
Many religiously observant and excellent physicians have
also died in the second wave.
Some could not find hospital beds or ventilators.
[From Dr. T.]
War News
Syria
Russian Bombing, IS Ambushes, Pro-Turkish Shelling,
Pro-Assad Shelling.
December 1 to 6.
Russian air force carried out 40 more air strikes to stop
Islamic State fighters advancing through the Raqqa, Homs,
Deir ez Zor triangle. The IS groups seemed to have
successfully evaded the bombing though vague reports of
casualties have been reported.
In the Deir ez Zor desert near Meyedein, secularist
Palestinians fell into an IS ambush and lost 7 killed and
many injured. IS took their vehicles.
Earlier in the week, the regime forces whom Assad calls the
Syrian Arab Army fell into an Islamic State ambush in the
eastern Homs
desert. 24 of the Assadis were killed. and the rest fled
leaving heavy weapons behind.
In the Ain Essa area [north central Syria], Syrian fighters
supporting Turkey shelled Communist Kurdish positions all
day. No details
available.
In the eastern Irbid province areas and northeastern
Lattakia area, Assad's Iranian long range artillery shelled
mujahideen positions.
Inter-Muslim conflict is also reported when Tahrir arrested
several members of "Defenders of the Faith" group which is reputed
to be al-Qaida affiliates and were bombed by the US air force.
Mozambique
AFP report, December 5.
Government troops were lured into a forest in northeastern
area of the Island and ambushed by Islamic State
fighters.
The government has admitted 25 troops killed and several
dozen seriously injured. The fighters disappeared into the
forest.
The government earlier brought troops from South Africa and
Tanzania to fight the mujahideen but they were forced to retreat.
The regime is worried because large mineral wealth is found
in the areas near the territory captured by the IS. USA is
also concerned.
Opinion
Excerpted from al Jazeera
Dozens of rights groups denounce US arms sales to UAE.
Groups raise concern about the UAE's role in Libya, Yemen
conflicts in attempt to halt $23bn in arms sales.
Twenty-nine arms control and human rights organisations have
signed a letter opposing the sale of $23bn worth of
missiles, fighter jets and drones to the United Arab
Emirates and asking US Congress to block the deal.
"The hope is to stop these sales altogether," said Seth
Binder, advocacy officer at the Project on Middle East
Democracy (POMED), who spearheaded the effort. "But if that
is not possible in the short term, this sends an important
signal to the incoming Biden administration that there is a
diverse group of organizations that oppose delivery of these
weapons."
KEEP READING
US approves $23bn advanced arms sale to UAE: Pompeo
Pompeo to visit UAE to discuss arms sale, Israel normalisation
UAE halts new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim states
The Trump administration formally notified Congress that it
plans to sell 50 advanced F-35 fighter jets to the UAE as
part of a broader arms deal worth more than $23bn.
Three US senators proposed legislation to halt the sale,
which also includes drones from privately held General
Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp F-35s and missiles made by
Raytheon, setting up a showdown with President Donald Trump
just weeks before he is due to leave office.
US law covering major arms deals allows senators to force
votes on resolutions of disapproval. However, to go into
effect the resolutions must pass the Republican-led Senate,
which rarely breaks with Trump. They also must pass the
Democratic-led House of Representatives.
China
U.S. takes aggressive steps against China for forcing
Uighurs into labor
This week, the Trump administration took one of its most
aggressive steps yet against what it calls Chinese slave
labor.
The U.S. accuses Beijing of forcing ethnic Uyghurs, a Muslim
minority who live mostly in Western China, into factory and
farm jobs against their will.
Nick Schifrin reports on how Uyghurs end up as forced
laborers and the larger campaign that has ripped Uyghur
lives and families apart.
My Veil is My Cure
'O Prophet, tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women
of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them
[when they go abroad] that will be better so that they may be
recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.
{Source~ 'Qur'an' ~Surat Al-'Aĥzāb~ # 33 A # 59
~}
'And when you ask them [the Prophet's wives] for anything
you want ask them from behind a screen, that is purer
for your hearts and their hearts.'
{ Source ~'Qur'an'~Surat Al-'Aĥzāb~ # 33 A#
53}
*The Muslim Woman Unveiled*
You look at me and call me oppressed, Simply because of the
way I'm dressed...! You know me not for what's inside,
You judge the clothing I wear with pride ?
My body's not for your eyes to hold, You must speak to my
mind, not my feminine mold, I'm an individual, I'm no man's slave,
ALLAH'S pleasure is all I crave...{!} I have a voice so I will
be heard, for in my heart I carry HIS word,
'O ye women, wrap close your cloak, So you won't be bothered
by ignorant folk ', Man doesn't tell me to dress this way,
It's a Law from ALLAH that I obey, Oppressed is something I'm
truly not for liberation is what I've got, It was given to me
many centuries ago, With the right to prosper, the right to grow,
I can climb mountains or cross the seas, Expand my mind in
all degrees, Behind the veil I am the queen...
I have a body that no one has seen Many people think
I am oppressed... And wonder how I got myself into this mess...
My veil is my cure... And makes my heart pure...
It earns me love from ALLAH my Lord. And makes me strong
gainst any sword... behind my beautiful veil lies...
My savior from the temptation of guys! 'Behind my veil,'
I begin to say...'Is where I shall forever stay'!
{'In Shaa Allah'~ 'Aameen'~}
~My 'Salaams' to all ~
Yasmin
Hadith of the Week
Narrated By
'Ubada bin As-Samit, r.a.:
Who took part in the battle of Badr and was a Naqib (a
person heading a group of six persons), on the night of
Al-'Aqaba pledge: Allah's Apostle said while a group of his
companions were around him, "Swear allegiance to me for:
Not to join anything in worship along with Allah.
Not to steal.
Not to commit illegal sexual intercourse.
Not to kill your children.
Not to accuse an innocent person (to spread such an
accusation among people).
Not to be disobedient (when ordered) to do good deed."
The Prophet added: "Whoever among you fulfills his pledge
will be rewarded by Allah. And whoever indulges in any one
of them (except the ascription of partners to Allah) and
gets the punishment in this world, that punishment will be
an expiation for that sin. And if one indulges in any of
them, and Allah conceals his sin, it is up to Him to forgive
or punish him (in the Hereafter)." 'Ubada bin As-Samit
added: "So we swore allegiance for these." (points to Allah's Apostle)
As-slamu alaikum,
Allah does not like the arrogant.
Allah said,
"... إِنَّ
اللّهَ
لاَ
يُحِبُّ
مَن كَانَ
مُخْتَال›ً
فَخُورًا
"
"Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and
boastful."
You need to be humble enough to know you're not better than
anyone else, but wise enough to know you're different.
A mistake that makes us humble is better than an achievement
that makes us arrogant.
Stay humble!
Ya Allah, remove all arrogance and selfishness from my
heart, and teach me to be humble, to always remember You
wherever I go and in everything that I do. Ameen.
"ALLAH DOES NOT BURDEN A SOUL BEYOND THAT IT CAN BEAR"
(2:286)
"لَا
يُكَلِّف¥ اللَّهُ
نَفْسًا
إِلَّا
وُسْعَهَ›"
It is important to understand that every hardship that we
face in life is a test from Allah (s.w.t).
It is a test of patience, devotion and trust in Allah
(s.w.t).
This means that regardless of the situation, Allah (s.w.t)
is choosing to test you with that challenge because He knows
that you are strong enough to get through it.
So trust in Allah's wisdom and justice. Trust that after the
storm, comes a calm.
O Allah give me enough strength and ability to face the
difficulties in my life. Ameen.
US Congresswomen McCollum, Tlaib Condemn Killing of
Palestinian Child Abu-Alayya
US Congresswoman Betty McCollum has denounced the fatal
shooting of a Palestinian child by Israeli occupation forces
in the West Bank as a "grotesque state-sponsored
killing."
"Yesterday's death of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in the
West Bank by an Israeli soldier who shot the child in the
abdomen is a grotesque state-sponsored killing," McCollum
said. "This senseless incident must be condemned as a direct
result of Israel's permanent military occupation of
Palestine."
"I urge the incoming Biden Administration to fully
investigate and verify to the American people that no US
taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel provided material
assistance enabling this taking of a child's life," the
Congresswoman concluded.
Democrat Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian
descent, also condemned the killing of Abu Aalya. "No child
deserves to die like this," she wrote on Twitter on
Friday.
On Friday, Israeli occupation soldiers shot Palestinian
13-year-old Ali Abu-Alayya in the stomach during a protest
near his village of al-Mughayir in the occupied West Bank
district of Ramallah. He succumbed to his wounds a few hours
later.
The Palestinian Presidency condemned the Israeli murder of
the child and called on the international community to work
to provide protection for the Palestinian people, end the
occupation and help the Palestinians establish an
independent state of their own with East Jerusalem as its
capital.
Canada shows Concern for Farmers' Protests in India.
Led by Sikhs, Farmers are Challenging the Modi Regime.
On the 551st anniversary of Guru Nanak, the Canadian Prime
Minister expressed concern for the farmers of India who have besieged
New Delhi. There are three Sikhs now in PM Trudeau's cabinet
and the concern was real. India strongly protested to Canada
on this interference in its "internal affairs." India
considers Sikhs as extremists and potential terrorists.
India had destroyed the
holiest temple of the Sikhs in Amritsar and desecrated
their holy book.
Meanwhile in India, the farmers in large numbers, mostly
Sikhs, are in no mood to surrender. Here is a description of
the situation in India as narrated by al Jazeera:
"Tens and thousands of farmers with distinctive, colourful
turbans and long, flowing beards have descended upon the
city's borders, choking highways in giant demonstrations
against new farming laws that they say will open them to
corporate exploitation.
For more than a week, they have marched towards the capital
on their tractors and trucks like an army, pushing aside
concrete police barricades while braving tear gas, batons
and water cannon.
Now, on the outskirts of New Delhi, they are hunkered down
with food and fuel supplies that can last weeks and as they
threaten to besiege the capital if Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's government does not meet their demands to abolish the
laws passed in September.
"Modi wants to sell our lands to corporates," said one of
them, Kaljeet Singh, 31, who travelled from Ludhiana city in
Punjab, some 310 kilometres (190 miles) north of New Delhi.
"He can't decide for millions of those who for generations
have given their blood and sweat to the land they regard as
more precious than their lives."
