Farewell to America's Leading Imam
by Salahuddeen A. Kareem
Bismi'Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim
TODAY, THE COMMUNITY BURIED AN IMAM OF DEEP FAITH,
KNOWLEDGE, INTELLIGENCE, COURAGE, AND HUMILITY. WHO WAS HE?
IMAM ABDUL ALIM MUSA, A FORCE FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN
TODAY'S SHATTERED WORLD...
Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Friends -
As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatu'Allah,
This Jumu'ah afternoon (11/25/2022), the Washington, DC
local Muslim community prayed Salatul-Janazah on behalf of
Imam Abdul Alim Musa, may Allah, The Guide and Protecting
Friend of those who are secure in their relationship with
Him, welcome, receive, and bless our brother, Ameen!
A few hundred brothers and sisters attended his Janazah (the
burial) which was held at Washington National Cemetery
located in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland. Imam Abdul Alim was
loved, respected, admired, and trusted by tens of thousands
of Muslims around the world, especially in America, the
Islamic Republic of Iran, South Africa, and beyond.
He was a very influential, intelligent, knowledgeable,
visionary Imam who dedicated himself to speaking truth
directly and indirectly to those who abuse power. He was a
powerful motivational speaker whose speeches and lectures
encouraged both Muslims and non-Muslims to embrace Islam's
universal teachings holistically and firmly.
His visionary outlook, along with his community building
work, was deeply and sincerely social, political, and
economic. As an Imam, he thoroughly understood and accepted
the responsibility of not allowing Islam to be held hostage
to personal rituals and isolated spirituality. He embraced
Prophetic responsibility - with a smile on his glowing face
- to help educate, motivate, and guide those who are were
unfamiliar with or in opposition to Islamic theology and
ideology with its perfect moral principles. I think of him
as the "caring, thoughtful, selfless. people's Imam." Imam
Musa counseled, cooked, cleaned, clothed, laughed, and cried
with those who had access to his healthy, disciplined
presence. He was "a force to reckon with" locally,
nationally, and internationally. He put his full trust and
confidence in Allah, The Source of all Power and Strength.
This trust allowed him to speak and work according to his
moral conscience.
Finally, I should add that some in our community who
consider themselves "leaders" or are considered leaders,
Imams, masjid administrators, board members, and more didn't
attend today's Janazah. During sobering moments like
funerals and burials, I routinely scan Our
brotherhood-sisterhood to see who is present and who is
absent. I do this not as a ward or monitor of anyone. I
perform this observation just to take note of these
departing moments as a matter of comparing and contrasting.
It seems like when something "sad or tragic" happens to
popular, well-placed, well-known Imams and others, crowds
pour out to "send them off to heaven." Conversely, when
tragedy, pain, and death reaches less popular-known,
popular-accepted, Imams who challenge and invite others to
stand firmly for truth and justice, and very few "community
leaders" show up. Why so? Why does this routinely happen? Is
there a racial affiliation - discrimination - associated
with these "boycotts?"
We all know that our community-body is still sick, toxic,
and smelly with racist attitudes and racist behavior. We all
know that in the prejudiced minds and hearts of some in our
community, an African-American Imam such as Imam Abdul Alim
Musa is considered less than an Arab, Pakistani, Iranian, or
Indian Imam. Why is this so? How can we help clean someone
else's dirty house (mind and soul) while our house (soul and
mind) is dirty and filthy? We haven't defeated racism which
the Prophet (sawa) ordered Muslims to tackle and bury more
than 1400 years ago!
In 2015, My wife and I attended the Janazah of Sheikh-Imam
Mohammed Al-Hanooti, may he rest in eternal peace. All the
"big gun Imams and leaders" were present at his Janazah.
What distinguishes Imam Mohammed Al-Hanooti from Imam Abdul
Alim Musa? Both of them worked hard and tirelessly to serve
the community, correct? Both of them were direct and frank
in their communication with others, correct? Both of them
spoke the truth seeking to inspire listeners to accept truth
from falsehood and act on it, correct" So again, why did
some of these "favored leaders" stay at home today? These
are the same "leaders" who accept donations from anyone and
everyone, but they cannot generate enough courage and
strength to attend an African-American Imam's funeral!
What's the deal? To be honest, these "community leaders"
weren't needed at all. "The brothers and sisters" took care
of everything following Imam Musa's passing. They were
present to discharge their duty of caring for the Imam as he
cared for so many throughout the past decades.
I have attached a few pictures from today's "send our
brother off back to his Creator, Allah, ceremony." Again, a
few hundred brothers and sisters braved chilly air and
slight breeze as our brother was lowered into his new home.
May Allah, The King of all kings, be with Imam Abdul Alim
Musa day and night, Ameen! May He, The Owner of Life and
Death, comfort Imam Musa, and allow him to rest peacefully
after having struggled and sacrificed all he had as a true
servant of Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. We ask Allah, The One Who
Honors His true servants, to assign a spacious villa in
heaven/paradise for Imam Musa. Allow him to share stories
with those who preceded him in struggle and sacrifice,
Ameen! Ameen! Ameen!
Wear Your Seat Belts: This Happened to 3 Muslims!
KANAWHA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA — Three people from
Pennsylvania were killed, including one child, during a
Thanksgiving Day vehicle crash in West Virginia.
The accident, which occurred at around 6 a.m. Thursday along
Interstate 79 South at the mile 11 marker, claimed the lives
of Nighat Syeda, 71, Hira Syeda, 33, and one child, whose
age was not given.
The victims were traveling from Upper Darby, Delaware County
to Kentucky at the time the single-vehicle accident
occurred, according to a news release from the Kanawha
County (West Virginia) Sheriff's Office.
Uncovering the Real Elon Musk
Once again Dr. T. has sent us a superb video. This is from
the Werleman show and it is a devastating critique of Elon
Musk's anti-Muslim moves.
Here are the main points:
Musk has set up a show case of his business in
Sinkiang
where China has put the Uighur Muslim population in
concentration camps. Musk has plenty of funds. He did'nt
have to do this.
Musk is a strong friend of Israel and met Netanyahoo. He
then blocked the Palestine Online outlet from his
system.
He has an Apartheid background and has fired his Human
Rights team from his new business.
From facebook he harassed and removed 42 supporters of
Myanmer and other Muslim groups/
Extreme anti-Muslim persons like Ms. Taylor are his close
friends as is Trump who claims that the Qur'an is a scary
book.
His Black emlpyees have been having a hard time in his
business.
He has deep and money related relationship with India &
no compassion for Indian Muslims;
He is also very close to the Saudis and is untouched by
the vicious mistreament of Islamic scholars by the
Saudis.
[New Trend urges Mr. Musk to let us know if any of this is
incorrect.]
A major German War Leader Continues to be Vilified in
Euro-American Media even after 70 years since the war ended.
Here is the historic response.
Goebbels and World War II Propaganda
By Mark Weber
Apart from Hitler himself, perhaps the most fascinating
figure of Third Reich Germany is the regime's chief
publicist and spokesman, Joseph Goebbels. He is widely
portrayed as a master of lies and deceitful propaganda. But
this familiar image, which is particularly entrenched in the
United States, is itself a propaganda falsehood.
He was raised in a middle-class, Roman Catholic family in a
medium-size city in the German Rhineland. He had a
first-rate education, and was an outstanding student. At the
age of 24, he earned a doctorate in philosophy from the
University of Heidelberg. After an unsuccessful effort to
find employment as a writer for major national daily papers,
and a nine-month stint working at a bank in Cologne, he
became an activist in the fledgling National Socialist
Party.
In 1926, at the age of 29, Hitler appointed him party
district leader, or Gauleiter, of Berlin. He lost no time
taking firm control of the small and feuding Party
organization in the nation's most important city, and
infusing it with dynamism. He quickly proved himself a
quick-witted and sharp-tongued public speaker, and a
courageous, skilled and creative organizer.
In early 1933, six weeks after Hitler became Chancellor, the
35-year-old Goebbels was named "Reich Minister for
Propaganda and Popular Enlightenment." In this newly-created
position, and then as President of the "Reich Culture
Chamber" ( Reichskulturkammer), he exercised wide control
over Germany's newspapers, radio broadcasting, motion
pictures, magazines and book publishing. More than anyone
else, he set the parameters and tone of the nation's mass
media and cultural life.
During the first years of the Second World War, 1939 to
1942, his job was relatively easy. With an almost unbroken
string of German and Axis military victories, maintaining
public morale was not difficult. His greatest challenge came
during the final two years of the war, as Germany's armies
suffered ever more terrible military reverses, and as her
great cities were battered into ruins under a growing storm
of British-American bombing. It was during this period, as
utter defeat loomed, that Goebbels most strikingly proved
his skill as a master molder of public opinion. In spite of
the drastically worsening situation -- both on the front
lines and at home -- he largely succeeded in maintaining
public morale, confidence in Hitler's leadership, and even
hope.
One of the best profiles of this man is the biography by
German historian Helmut Heiber. Although his portrayal is
highly critical and generally unflattering, the author
nonetheless acknowledges his subject's extraordinary talents
and abilities. Goebbels, he notes, "was able, until the very
last minute, to encourage and exploit a blind trust in
Hitler and his genius. It is indeed one of the macabre
phenomena of the Third Reich that even in their country's
agony the mass of the German people remained docile and
faithful to Hitler's banner ... In spite of everything they
had experienced, they kept the faith."
After the great defeat at Stalingrad in early 1943, Goebbels
was the first official forthrightly to acknowledge the
gravity of the peril that faced the nation and Europe, and
frankly to concede that Germany could lose the war. His
candor and even courage during these increasingly difficult
months won him a measure of popular admiration. Writes
Heiber: "As other influential Nazis began to creep into
their shells, Goebbels could dare to appear before a mob and
not only gain a hearing, but even arouse faith and hope
..."
As the war dragged on, Goebbels' front-page editorial essays
in the weekly paper Das Reich played an increasingly
important role in sustaining public morale. They were widely
reprinted and routinely read over the radio. "His articles
in Das Reich were indeed excellent, brilliantly written,
and full of bright ideas," Heiber writes. He goes on:
"Goebbels' articles were carefully worked out more than a
week before they were to appear, written in excellent,
polished German, stylistically enjoyable and relatively
discriminating in content; often they seemed illumined by
the lofty wisdom of a great thinker. Their very titles were
reminiscent of philosophical treatises: 'On the Meaning of
War,' 'The Essential Nature of the Crisis,' 'On the Work of
the Spirit,' 'On Speaking and Being Silent,' 'The
Indispensability of Freedom,' 'About National Duty in War.'
... It is all very well turned and very solid. These
articles made an impression, and Goebbels knew it."
During this period, he also directed German newspapers,
magazines and newsreels to stress the themes of continental
unity and a common European destiny, and the goal of
building a peaceful and prosperous community of nations.
(One notable exception to this was a kind of official
silence regarding Poland and the Poles. And, of course, the
German media was vehemently anti-Jewish.)
In keeping with the outlook of Germany's wartime leadership,
Goebbels instructed the German press, radio and newsreels to
portray other nations and ethnic groups tactfully, and with
regard for the sovereignty and national character of other
peoples. He stressed the importance of treating other
nations and peoples with tact and respect.
This outlook was laid out in confidential guidelines to the
German media In February 1943, Goebbels issued an internal
directive in which he ordered:
"The entire propaganda work of the National Socialist Party
(NSDAP) and the [German] National Socialist state must
accordingly be organized to make clear, not just to the
German nation, but also to the other European peoples,
including the peoples in the occupied Eastern territories,
and in the countries still under [Soviet] Bolshevik rule,
that the victory of Adolf Hitler and of German arms is in
their own most basic self interest.
"It is therefore inappropriate to hurt the feelings of inner
self-worth of these peoples, directly or indirectly,
especially those of the eastern nationalities, particularly
in public speeches or writings ... Stalin and the Bolshevik
system should be attacked as bestial, but not the peoples
who have been subdued by them.
"Similarly inappropriate is any discussion of the future new
order of Europe that might create the impression among
people of foreign nationality that the German leadership
intends to maintain any long-term relationship of
subjugation. Completely out of place are any remarks
suggesting that Germany might set up colonies in the East or
carry out a colonial policy, or would treat the land or its
inhabitants as objects of exploitation . ...
"Following their systematic destruction by the Bolsheviks
[in accord with Stalin's 'scorched earth' order of July
1941], the occupied Eastern territories will be rebuilt
under German leadership. With the riches of the soil, this
will secure, for the long-term future, freedom in food and
raw materials, as well as the social advancement for Germany
and all of Europe, and, thereby, also for the peoples living
in the East."
A few weeks later, in mid-March 1943, Goebbels reinforced
these "guiding principles" in a talk to foreign journalists
about the "new Europe." He said:
"The severe measures that Germany has been forced by the war
situation to introduce in the occupied Eastern territories
are valid only for the duration of the war. The new Europe
will be held together not by compulsion, but rather it will
built on the basis of free will. There will be no
dictatorship over the various nations of Europe. Individual
national identity will not be extinguished ... No European
country will be obliged to introduce any particular
social-political system. If countries want to hold on to
their traditional democracy, that's their own business."
While Germany's wartime media was not always candid, with
regard to this important chapter of World War II, Goebbels
and the German media told the truth, while American
officials and the US media told lies.
In addition to his work as the nation's chief spokesman and
propagandist, Goebbels took on ever greater organizational
and policy-making responsibilities during the war, playing
an increasingly important role in keeping the nation's
industrial and social machinery functioning.
In the summer of 1944 Hitler named him "Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Total War Mobilization." Thus,
during the final catastrophic months of the war, Goebbels --
along with Armaments Minister Albert Speer -- directed
Germany's human and material resources for maximum war
production, while simultaneously seeing to the continued
operation of the nation's electric power and water plants,
transportation and telephone systems, food and fuel supply
networks, public schools, radio broadcasting and daily
newspaper publishing.
This organizational feat of keeping essential social and
community services functioning, while at the same time
maintaining and even increasing armaments production -- in
spite of devastating aerial bombardment and an ever
worsening military situation -- is an achievement without
historical parallel.
His final radio address to the nation, broadcast over what
remained of a tattered network, was delivered on April 19,
1945, twelve days before his death. As he had done every
year since 1933, he spoke on the eve of Hitler's birthday.
Even on this occasion, when the terrible end was glaringly
obvious to all, Goebbels spoke with eloquent, controlled
passion. While frankly acknowledging the supreme gravity of
the situation, he was still able to persuade and
inspire.
Contrary to the image of him that many have come to accept,
Goebbels was successful as a publicist and spokesman not
because he was a master of the "Big Lie," but rather as a
result of his regard for accuracy and truth.
In an important address given in September 1934 in
Nuremberg, he said: "Propaganda can be pro or con. In
neither case does it have to be negative. The only thing
that is important is whether or not its words are true and
genuine expressions of a people's values ... Good propaganda
does not need to lie, indeed it may not lie. It has no
reason to fear the truth. It is a mistake to believe that
people cannot take the truth. They can. It is only a matter
of presenting the truth to people in a way that they will be
able to understand. A propaganda that lies proves that it
has a bad cause. It cannot be successful in the long
run."
In an article written in 1941, Goebbels cited examples of
recklessly inaccurate British wartime claims, and went on to
charge that British propagandists had adopted the "big lie"
technique, which Hitler had condemned in his book Mein
Kampf. Goebbels wrote: "The English follow the principle
that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it.
They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking
ridiculous."
Summing up, historian Heiber writes: "Goebbels was
accordingly able to celebrate his information policy as
being not only superior to the enemy's in its monolithic
character, but also of a 'seriousness and credibility' which
'simply cannot be surpassed.' The boast could be made with
some justification: Seen in the long view, Goebbels
preached, the best propaganda is that which does no more
than serve the truth. Goebbels' real lies, his conscious
lies, always pertained to mere detail ... Goebbels' lies
were more in the nature of those equivocations and evasions
by which government spokesmen everywhere seek to 'protect'
the 'national interest'."
The postwar image of Goebbels as a master dissembler is
itself a propaganda distortion, explains French scholar
Jacques Ellul in his classic study, Propaganda. He
writes:
"There remains the problem of Goebbels' reputation. He wore
the title of Big Liar (bestowed by Anglo-Saxon propaganda)
and yet he never stopped battling for propaganda to be as
accurate as possible. He preferred being cynical and brutal
to being caught in a lie. He used to say: 'Everybody must
know what the situation is.' He was always the first to
announce disastrous events or difficult situations, without
hiding anything. The result was a general belief between
1939 and 1942 that German communiqués not only were more
concise, clearer and less cluttered, but were more truthful
than Allied communiqués ... and, furthermore, that the
Germans published all the news two or three days before the
Allies. All this is so true that pinning the title of Big
Liar on Goebbels must be considered quite a propaganda
success."
In a letter to his stepson written just days before his
death, Goebbels expressed confidence that truth would
ultimately prevail: "Do not let yourself be disconcerted by
the worldwide clamor that will now begin. There will come a
day, when all the lies will collapse under their own weight,
and truth will again triumph."
This is an edited text of an address given by Mark Weber on
April 23, 2011, at a meeting in southern California.
Sources / For Further Reading
Benjamin Colby, 'Twas a Famous Victory (Arlington House,
1975), esp. chap. 6.
Jacques Ellul, Propaganda (New York: 1965, 1973)
Joseph Goebbels, "From Churchill's Factory of Lies," ("Aus
Churchills Lügenfabrik"), January 1941. Reprinted in Zeit
ohne Beispiel (1941)
Joseph Goebbels, The Goebbels Diaries, 1942-1943. Edited by
Louis P. Lochner. (Doubleday & Co., 1948)
Joseph Goebbels, "Propaganda" (1934)
Helmut Heiber, Goebbels (New York: 1972, 1983)
David Irving, Goebbels: Mastermind of the Third Reich (St.
Martin's Press. 1996)
Walter Lipgens, ed., Documents On The History of European
Integration: Plans For European Union (De Gruyter, 1985,
1991), Vol. I , esp. pp. 118-119, 121-122.
Mark Weber, "Goebbels' Place in History," The Journal of
Historical Review, 1995.
India
Orchestrated Persecution of Christians in India
In 365 days of 2021 Christians witnessed 502 incidents of
violence
In first 103 days of 2022 Christians witnessed 127 incidents
of violence
New Delhi - Today, over two thousand years ago Jesus Christ
was persecuted or believed to be crucified on this day.
Followers of Jesus are even today being persecuted in
certain parts of the world including in India wherein vested
groups of people are spreading hatred against minorities for
their political gains.
The persecution of Christians in India
2014 127
2015 142
2016 226
2017 248
2018 292
2019 328
2020 279
2021 502
2022 127
is intensifying
which is leading to a systemic and carefully orchestrated
violence against Christians, including use of social media
to spread disinformation and stir up hatred. The strong
infiltration of hatred against Christians, have witnessed
127 incidents of violence in 2014 which increased to five
hundred fold in 2021 as 502 incidents of violence was
reported in 2021 on UCF toll-free helpline number
1800-208-4545. Most church leaders are men, and being a
pastor is understood to be one of the riskiest vocations in
India. Pastors and their families are targeted to instil
fear among them.
In the first 103 days of 2022 we have already witnessed 127
incidents of violence against Christians. January saw 40
incidents, 35 incidents in February, 34 incidents in March
and just in
13 days of April 18 incidents of violence were reported on
UCF helpline. In which 89 Pastors were beaten up and
threatened from conducting prayers for which they became
pastors. 68 Churches were attacked in which 367 women and
366 children received injuries. Out of 127 incidents 82
incidents were mob violence.
There are 42 cases pending in various courts challenging the
constitutional validity of the so-called "Freedom of
Religion Act" which have been framed with a malafide
intention to harass the Christian community who are falsely
accused of forceful conversion. Whereas, till today, not a
single Christian has been convicted for forcing any one to
convert. Moreover, census after census have shown that
Christian population remained 2.3 percent of India's
population of 1.2 billion.
There are many false cases that were filed against
Christians which the courts have found untrue and pulled up
the police and the authorities for misusing the power. One
example is in May 2017, where 72 Christian children going
for Christian camp from Madhya Pradesh to Nagpur accompanied
by six elders were detained on charges of being "kidnapped
to be converted'. The Madhya Pradesh High Court granting
bail to children and elders directed the police to come back
with evidence to prove their claim that children are not
Christians and that they were being kidnapped to be
converted. Till today, the police have not come back to
Court.
In another judgement, beginning of 2019, the Delhi High
Court while restoring the status of Overseas Citizen of
India said that the government could not show any proof
whatsoever of having forcefully or fraudulently converting
even a single person. Under similar charges, there were over
40 Churches in Jaunpur District of Uttar Pradesh that were
shut down in 2018. Even though pastors and other Christian
leaders are out on bail, the police are yet to file the
charge sheets against any of them as they do not have any
evidence to prove fraud or forceful conversions. There are
hundreds of such cases, if not in thousands, that are lying
in front of various courts across India due to the absence
of proof of fraud or forceful conversions. The various
courts in India in the last 15 months - January 2021 to
March 2022 have acquitted Christians of false allegations of
conversions in 59 cases (41 in 2021 and 18 till March
2022).
War News [We report the war news without taking sides.]
Syria
Turkish Offensive started
November 24-27
In eastern al-Raqqah, in an Isis raid two senior Assad
officers were injured and a soldier killed.
In Hasakeh countryside, commander of local militia was
killed.
Turkish artillery and Syrians supporting Turkey hit ten
villages in Tel Tamr and Abu Rasin areas of Hasakeh where
SDF forces are stationed.
Many in Kurdish population are protesting in the streets
against Turkey.
North west Aleppo province, Afrin area, Turkish drone
strikes killed 5 Assad troops injured several. Turkish
artillery is shelling numerus Assad positions in Aleppo
province.
In Kobani area, Turkish and SDF are exchanging artillery
fire. Turkish jets bombed 6 SDF positions/
Fath al-Mubeen Islamic group and Assad troops exchanged fire
in various parts of Irbid border.
Nov. 25
Eight SDF troops were killed in Turkish air strikes around
al-Hol refugee camp where ISIS families are imprisoned [said
to be 50,000]. Women are trying to escape.
Justice for Ziyad
Absurd "arguments" were used to sentence him for 31 years.
[See the link to New Trend's web site for his photos and his
mother's poems.] [Thanks to Br. Rich.]
FreeZiyadYaghi.info
Ziyad Yaghi, a young American man raised in North Carolina,
was wrongfully convicted of conspiracy to provide material
support for terrorism and sentenced to 31 years in prison.
Ziyad was accused of providing "material support" to a vague
philosophical construct - the "global jihad movement" -
merely by believing that Muslims are religiously obligated
to take action in defense of their faith.
To convict him the government relied on rap lyrics Ziyad
posted as a teenager on Facebook, the testimony of a
self-proclaimed jihadist, Daniel Boyd, a co-defendant and
former government informant who lied about Ziyad to reduce
his own sentence, and the "expert" testimony of a widely
discredited charlatan Evan Kohlman who before seeing
any evidence went on MSNBC and stated that Ziyad and his
co-defendants fit the profile of Homegrown Terrorists and
then testified at Ziyad's trial that normal conversation by
Ziyad about going to the beach, or wanting to get married,
were jihadi code words based on his five factors of
"homegrown extremism", which he fabricated from whole cloth
with no evidence or empirical studies to back it.
Ziyad's family and friends created this website to expose
the injustice of his trial and 31-year prison sentence.
The publicly available documents filed in his case have been
gathered on this site so that everyone can see the injustice
of his case. Please support Ziyad Yaghi's demand for justice
by learning about his case, writing him letters,
and donating to his legal campaign.
Guidance by Sr. Yasmine
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.
This Cave of Hira, the sanctum of the Prophet
(peace be upon him),
the place of his devotions and meditations and the sacred
spot
where the Holy Qur`an began to be revealed.
The Cave is situated on Mount
Al-Noor on way to Mina near Makkah and its peak is
visible from a great distance.
Prophet Muhammad~ (peace be upon him) had just stepped
into the forty-first year of his life,
when during a night in the month of 'Ramadan' the first
Five {5} verses of the 'Qur`an'
Surat Al-Alaq # 96~ were Revealed to him.
Revelation of the Holy Qur`an
The Qur`an was revealed piecemeal
throughout a period of 23 years.
The Prophet (peace be upon him), received the first revelation in
610 C.E. in the Cave of Hira in
the Mountain of Light 'Jabal-e- Noor',
two & half miles away from
the House of ALLAH in the city of 'Makkah' in Arabia.
The first revelation was the first five {5} verses of Surah Iqra
Editorial
Why does Islam Strongly Discourage Interfaith Activities?
Many Muslims don't know that interfaith activities are not
allowed in Islam.
Islam is based on self-determination, not on support from
non-Muslim or anti-Muslim powers.
Islam is based on TAWHEED, unity of Allah, and global
humanity.
Islam is based on outright negation of SHIRK or mixing
others with the power and divinity of Allah.
Other faiths and ways of thinking are based on:
Nationalism
Communism.
Hinduism/Buddhism [Many gods or no god]
Judaism. [Affinity only with the Jewish people]
Christianity. [Treating Jesus like god or son of god.]
Thinking of God in human terms.
The very basis of Islam is LA or total negation of all
powers other than Allah.
"And there is none like unto Him." [The Qur'an 112:4]
As a great scholar, Ishaaq ibn Rahaweeyah, wrote "Whoever
describes Allah and in so doing likens Allah to any of
Allah's creation is a disbeliever in Allah." [ The names and
Attributes of Allah by Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar.]
That should not stop us from being kind, interactive,
merciful forgiving or strong against oppressors.
Qatar
Qatar showing the Right, the Healthy Path to the World
Dangerous Choices being commercialised and globalised in the
name of "Freedom of Choice"
Dr. Javed Jamil
As the dates for the inauguration of FIFA World Cup in Qatar
started approaching, the world media got busy to play the
game of the market forces, which commercialises every human
weakness in the name of "Freedom of Choice" despite their
being huge threat to human life and health. The world media
is full of the stories related to "controversies"
surrounding the first major world tournament being held in a
Muslim Arab country. They thought that this tournament would
help them in popularising the "Freedom of Choices, which
will help them imposing the Sex and Alcohol markets in the
Arab countries, some of which are already toeing their
lines.
Qatar resisted and banned alcohol and display of nakedness
in the stadiums. To add to the world fury, it opposed any
show of solidarity (through ribbor bands in the arms) with
the LGBT movement, which has in recent years become a big
global movement despite its posing the most deadly threats
to human existence.
They expected that Qatar would bow down and under global
pressure will allow at least some "Freedom" during the
tournament. As it did not happen, they chose to question
Qatar over its "Human Rights" records.
The unfortunate part is that despite some of these "human
rights" being responsible for tens of millions of deaths
every year, right thinking people including religions have
failed to combat the designs of the global market forces led
by the Western powers.
Facts that expose the threat to humanity
See the following facts that show how dangerous sex,
alcohol, gambling and smoking have become for the very
survival of humanity:
In 2021, around 650,000 people died from AIDS-related
illnesses worldwide. Since the beginning of Pandemic in
1980s, more than 40 million people have died of AIDS.
Worldwide there is an estimation of 40-42 million
prostitutes. 80 percent of the world population of
prostitutes are female and range in age between 13 and
25. Globally, female sex workers are 13.5% more likely to be
living with HIV than other women of reproductive age
Homosexuality is the biggest threat to human life, as
according to various figures, they are 8-30 times more
likely to get HIV/AIDS and all other Sex Transmitted
Diseases, the latest being Monkey Pox. The Life Expectancy
of Homosexuals is considered to be 20-30 years less than
normals.
According to reports, there were more than 604,000 new
cases of cervical cancer and 342,000 deaths in 2020. This
again is directly related to promiscuity, homosexuality and
prostitution. (Much less common in circumcised
communities)
70-100 Million Abortions take place. Right of Killing
Children in wombs has become a human right.
Alcohol kills 3 million people worldwide every year. It
means: Every 10 seconds a human being dies because of
alcohol. This represents 5.9 % of all deaths. Alcohol
consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and
injury conditions. A large number of murders, accidents and
suicides are also under the effects of alcohol.
The WHO estimates that more than 8 million people die
prematurely due to tobacco use each year. This is the latest
available WHO estimate as of June 2021.
According to WHO, close to 800, 000 people die of suicides
globally every year. Gambling accounts for one in five cases
of suicides, it means that as many as 200,000 people commit
suicides on account of gambling related problems.
Freedom of Choice: Biggest Corporate Conspiracy against Health
The forces of globalization commercialise every human
weakness irrespective of its disastrous effects on health in
the name of Freedom of Choice. Nobody has the guts to shout
that "Human Rights" at the cost of Human Security and life
cannot be defended as Human Rights. They use four tier
formulas to commercialise human weaknesses: Normalization,
Institutionalization, Legalization; and Commercialization.
First they try to prove that these are normal practices and
exist since ancient times. Then NGOs and other groups are
used to campaign for their legalization, which is then
followed by legalization. Once legalization is achieved,
they are free to commercialise and globalise them. All these
"Choices" bring trillions of dollars and after
commercialising these, once they bring problems to society
in the form of diseases, deaths and crimes, healthcare and
law industry are there to commercialise the solutions, which
again bring trillions of dollars. "Freedom of Women" has in
effect proved to be nothing but the freedom to men and
men-dominated market to enjoy, exploit and commercialise
their beauty and "services".
Religions need to unite
If the world has to be saved from the destructive designs of
the forces of globalization, the only hopes lies in
religion. All religions, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and
Hinduism included, will have to unite on the grounds of
common morality rather than keep fighting on the ground of
religious identity. Qatar has presented a bold example. Let
other countries and all those ideologies and organizations
that care for life and health more than economics follow and
enlarge the campaign against dangerous economics. Let Health
reign supreme and not the Economics! Let the World Health
Organization stop playing in the hands of the market forces
and prepare an agenda for truly achieving "Highest Standards
of Health" in mankind!
*Dr Javed Jamil is a thinker and writer with over twenty
books including his latest, A Systematic Study of the Holy
Qur'ān". His other books include "Justice Imprisoned".
"Economics First or Health First?", "Muslim Vision of
Secular India: Destination & Road-map", "Qur'ānic
Paradigms of Sciences & Society" (First Vol: Health),
"Muslims Most Civilised, Yet Not Enough", "The Devil of
Economic Fundamentalism", "The Killer Sex", "Islam means
Peace" and "Rediscovering the Universe". He iscurrently
Chair in Yenepoya University Mangalore.
Iran
24 Nov 2022
300 killed, 14000 arrested. Crushing its Unarmed but
Defiant People.
Iran's Leader has rejected any Gentle moves: Crackdown Continues.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to
establish a fact-finding mission to investigate potential
abuses in Iran's crackdown on anti-government
demonstrations, with a particular focus on women
and children.
Thunderous applause broke out as the 47-member council
passed the resolution on Thursday, with 25 countries voting
in favour and 16 abstaining. Six nations - Armenia, China,
Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan and Venezuela - voted against the
measure.
"I call on the authorities immediately to stop using
violence and harassment against peaceful protesters and to
release all those arrested for peacefully protesting, as
well as ... a moratorium on the death penalty," he said.
The resolution is the latest move by the international
community to pressure Iran over alleged abuses linked to the
protests, which broke out in September after 22-year-old
Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the "morality
police" for violating the country's strict dress code.
Demonstrations have since spread across the country,
prompting a harsh response from the Iranian authorities.
Turk said more than 300 people had been killed since Amini's
death, while 14,000 had been arrested, including children.
He added that Tehran had not responded to his request to
visit the country.
In a statement announcing new sanctions against Iranian
security officials earlier this week, the United States said
the crackdown has been "particularly severe" in areas of the
country with large Kurdish populations.
"The fact-finding mission established today will help ensure
that those engaged in the ongoing violent suppression of
Iranian people are identified and their actions documented,"
Blinken said in a statement.
Rights groups also celebrated the resolution, with Amnesty
International describing it as "historic", while Human
Rights Watch said it was "a welcome step towards
accountability".
But it was condemned by Iran's representative at the meeting
in Geneva, Khadijeh Karimi, who called it "politically
motivated".
Pakistan
End of Interest-Based Economy is Essential.
by Qaiser Sharif
LAHORE: Nov 25:Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq has
warned the government to take practical steps to eradicate
interest-based economy or get ready to face the countrywide
protests.
Talking to JI workers at Mansoorah on Friday, he said the
government must issue directions to the banks to take back
their appeals against Federal Shariat Court decision against
riba.
Despite government announcement, he said, 14 appeals were
yet to be withdrawn, creating an impression that the rulers
were insincere and reluctant to fulfill their
commitment.
Haq said the interest-based economy was the violation of the
Constitution. He said Quaid-i-Azam Muhmmad Ali Jinnah (R.A)
had issued the clear direction to introduce Islamic model of
economy while inaugurating the State Bank of Pakistan.
Seven decades had been passed to the instruction of the
founder of Pakistan, yet the rulers had not taken a single
step in this direction, he added.
He demanded the government introduce riba amnesty scheme and
build the tax system on Zakat and Ushar.
He regretted the objectives on the basis of which the
country got independence are yet to be achieved. The IMF, he
said, controlled the national economy and the western NGOs
prepared the national curriculum.
The country, he said, would not witness any change in
presence of these agents of the status quo.
The JI, he said, had made a long struggle against
interest-based economy and the time had come to take it to
the conclusion. He said Islam provides solution to all the
problems and the country needed Islamic system.
Photo of Sirajul Haq below
What is Jamaat Al-Muslimeen ?
by Br. Salahuddin
Abdullah. [Denver]
Jamaat al Muslimeen is a unique Islamic organization in USA.
Here are our goals and objectives.
We must learn Islam directly from the Qur'an and
Hadith.
Want indigenous and immigrant Muslims to work
together.
We believe in being economically independent.
Men and Women are equal in the movement at all levels of
leadership. Taqwa is the only criterion of one being better
than the other.
Decentralization in leadership is important because every
Muslim man and woman is responsible for his/her actions.
Building big expensive mosques isn't our goal. Our
movement concentrates on working at the grassroots level so
we can help the people in the oppressed communities.
I believe that if other movements would take our movement's
approach we can accomplish more and be more successful.
Insha Allah
[The writer is an African American leader of Jamaat
al-Muslimeen.]
