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Zulhijjah 10,1427/December 31, 2006 #86
Turkish Research UNCOVERS anti-Islam network in U.S., lists dollar
amounts paid to propagandists:
Scroll down.
A rare achievement of Islamic investigators
SALATUL JANAZA GHAIBANA for President Saddam Hussein:
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha in North Carolina, Imam Badi Ali led
the funeral prayer in absentia for the President of Iraq, Saddam
Hussain. Br. Ali stands for justice and peace in all matters and
the community supports him with tremendous support. The 4 takbirat
of the salatul janaza [which is authenticated in Hadith] was followed
by Eid prayers [see below]. This was indeed a unique event. Only the
Jamaat al-Muslimeen leadership dared to speak the truth about
Saddam Hussein
Eid al-Adha Khutba
by Kaukab Siddique, Ph.D
3 Miracles: The Qur'an, Hajj [One Ummah], Zam Zam:
African Woman Founder of Makka
Saddam Hussein's Sacrifice: Reminds us of the Example of Ismail
[a.s.]: America's Blunder
Saddam was transformed by his struggle into a hero and a martyr.
[Nearly a thousand people attended Eid al-Adha in Greensboro,
North Carolina. This was the biggest gathering here yet. Dr. Siddique
lead the prayers and gave the Khutba. After the khutba, people
thanked Dr. Siddique and expressed that he had said about President
Saddam what was in their hearts. Owing to the sensitive nature of
the khutba, volunteer security, with low profile, had been
prepared. Fortunately no sectarian or government elements tried to
create a disturbance.] [Most of the people here are of Arab origin,
followed by Africans and a sprinkling of African-Americans and
Indo-Pakistanis.] [The main points of the khutba are give below.]
Texts: 1. "Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah...."
[The Qur'an 2:158]
2. " ....She climbed mount Safa and strained to look. Seeing nobody,
she came down and started running and climbed mount Marwa, ....thus
she did seven times [while her child lay dying}: Suddenly [the
archangel] Gabriel appeared and struck the ground with his heel,
or pressed the ground with his heel, and water gushed forth...Ismail's
mother was amazed... " [Excerpts from a lengthy Hadith in the
Sahih of Bukhari, kitab al-Anbiya, narrated by Ibn Abbas,
r.a.]
3 " ....O my son! I have seen in a dream that I offer you in sacrifice.
Now see what is your view?." [The son] said: "O my father! Do as you
are commanded: You will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the
steadfast." [The Qur'an 37: 102]
* Three million people went for Hajj this year. It's a sign from Allah
that the victory of Islam is inevitable.
* The Qur'an is the greatest miracle given to Muhammad, pbuh. It's
teachings made the Hajj mandatory for all Muslims. These, the Qur'an
and the Hajj, are living miracles. No government, nor marketing firm,
however rich or powerful could have brought this about for 1427
years after the Hijra.
* The Hajj symbolizes that we are ONE UMMAH: from Bangladesh to Turkey,
from Nigeria to Algeria, from Europe to America, we are one people.
* Our faith is integrated with a an absolute belief in the Hereafter.
[The Qur'an 2:4.] This faith makes us invincible.
* One of the rites of Hajj is the wearing of one cloth, like a shroud,
which symbolizes our acceptance of the inevitable return to Allah.
Nothing will go with us except the record of our deeds. We must give
up this world and prepare for the Return.
* The massing of pilgrims on Arafat is like the way it will be in
Hashr [the Last Day].
* One of the greatest miracles of Islam is connected with an African
woman's struggle symbolized in the 7 times Sa'i on the hills of Safa
and Marwa. Hajira, r.a., was alone in the desert, with her child
dying of thirst. Instead of feeling helpless, she kept striving to
find a way out. Finally the angel Jibreel revealed himself to her
and showed her the source of life in the desert. This Islamic miracle
is documented in authentic Hadith, in the most authentic book, second
only to the Qur'an.
* Countless millions of people have drunk the water of Zam Zam in the
memory of the struggle of the mother of Ismail. Her struggle teaches
us NEVER to give up hope, even when we are seemingly left alone in
the desert.
* The Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, followed in the footsteps of Hajira,
r.a., up and down Safa and Marwa, 7 times, and every pilgrim is
required to do it because, as the Qur'an says, these are symbols
of Allah. The Prophet, pbuh, used to RUN up and down these hills
to awe the kuffar with his strength. We too should be strong.
* Also, the Eid festival reminds us of Abraham's vision to sacrifice
his son. He asked his son about it and the son accepted. "Do as you
are commanded" he said. This is what Islam is all about. Of course,
Islam does not want human sacrifice but teaches the good of humanity.
The sheep is sacrificed and the meat distributed.
* Within that context, understand the tragic event which happened on
this Eid in Iraq. America committed its latest blunder and ordered
its puppets to execute the President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Why?
* Is it because he did wrong and committed major sins? We know that
the acceptance of Islam wipes away all sins except Shirk
[associating others with Allah's power].
* Why has Saddam been executed? Because he stood up to the power of
America, defiant to the end.
* What was his "sin?" That he would not surrender although America
attacked him with overwhelming force.
* What is his record? He never surrendered. Even when America occupied
Iraq, he went underground and fought till he was captured. Is there
any Arab leader in modern times who has had the courage to fight on
even when his country was occupied by a superpower? No!
* While he was a prisoner, they humiliated and demeaned him. Did he
compromise? No!
* When they set up a puppet court to "try" him, he came to court with
the Qur'an in his hand.
* When they decided to execute him, did he compromise? No! Did he
ask for mercy? No!
* How did he go to his death? With a smile on his face, with complete
composure and with Allah's words and words of acceptance of the
Prophet in his mouth.
* They say, he sinned. Who has not sinned? The question is: did he
repent? Did he accept the Path of Islam? Surely, without a doubt.
* The way we enter the HEREAFTER is central to Islam. Remember, how
much the Prophet, pbuh, wanted Abu Talib to recite the kalima
because he knew the Hereafter depended on it.
* Imam Ghazali [one of the greatest Islamic thinkers of all times] has
taught us never to be too proud if we stand in the front rows of
prayer, because if we are not careful of our faith, we might be
in the last rows by the time we die.
* Ghazali also taught, do not be scornful of those whom we see in
the last rows of Islam. By the time the end comes, they might be in
the front rows.
* Are we ready to meet our maker? Have we prepared? How will we leave
this world? What have we done for the Hereafter? That's what counts.
* O Allah! Unite the Muslims on the Qur'an and the Hadith. O Allah!
Remove asabiyya [narrow national, ethnic, sectarian, racial
loyalties] from our souls. O Allah! Give victory to the struggling
Muslims around the world.
* O Allah! Soften our hearts, so that compassion may enter. O Allah!
Remove the coverings which envelope our souls so that Your Light
may enter! O Allah! Make us strong against the oppressors and soft
towards the oppressed! O Allah! Help us to see the spirit of Hajira,
r.a., in our sisters so that we may respect and honor all Muslim women!
Brief Interview with Br. Khalil Abdur Rahman
Imam Jamil's Representative says: The Real Criminal is Bush
Imam Jamil al-Amin's representative, Imam Khalil Abdur Rahman, was in
the Eid salat reported above. After the prayers, Br. Kaukab
conversed with him for quite a while and asked him some questions,
the gist of which is given below.
Question: What do you make of the obscene dancing and singing by
Shi'ites in Michigan and Iraq shown on TV celebrating the murder
of Saddam Hussein? We should not be dancing for joy even when a
murderer or rapist is killed, and this was the leader of the resistance.
Imam Khalil: These expressions miss the point. The real criminal is
Bush. It is well established now that he carried out an illegal war
and an illegal occupation of Iraq. Saddam had no WMDs. Bush should
be tried.
Question: What do you think of pro-government Muslims touting Keith
Ellison as the first Muslim elected to congress. He does not even
say "Bismillah" or "asalamu alaikum" and supports Israel.
Imam Khalil: Islam has its own political and economic system. We must
understand Islam and work to make it a reality. These activities
which you mention are irrelevant.
Question: How is Imam Jamil al-Amin?
Imam Khalil: Physically, his situation has not changed. He is still
being mistreated and held in solitary confinement. However, we are
going back to court for a new appeal to be filed in the light of
key evidence which was ignored in the trial. The court hearing is
late in February and we need the support of the community.
Jamaat al-Muslimeen New York Activist Says:
Saddam's Trial was a Farce: His Execution was Murder!
I just heard the reports all over the cable and local news channels
that Saddam Hussein had indeed been executed. They say he was executed
for war crimes.
His trial was a farce. This execution was outright murder!
How can Saddam Hussein's conviction be considered legitimate when
the court system is set up by the American invaders and is based on
American law? I also read that a U.S. judge refused to order a stay
of execution. Why is it in his hands?
What gives America the right to invade a sovereign nation and put its
leader on trial for war crimes based on U.S. law and then kill him?!
Former Liberian dictator is on trial now for war crimes against his
people but, the trial is being held in Geneva - a neutral territory.
I pray that Allah forgives Saddam Hussein for his sins and punishes
American leaders for their devilishness in this life and in the hereafter!
Sis. 'Aisha
The Hartford Seminary and Anti-Islamic Forces
by the Turkish American Journal Research Center
In order to understand the role of The Hartford Seminary after the
tragedy of 9/11, we must examine how anti-Islamic forces developed
and how they hijacked American Foreign policy. These forces include
Neo-Cons, Conservative foundations and their funding efforts,
Evangelical Churches, and opportunist missionary schools. We will
discuss each of these forces in more detail as they pertain to the
post 9/11 environment.
Neo-Cons
Michael Collins Piper, in his book The High Priest of War,
describes most Neo-Conservatives (Neo-Cons) as former Trotskyite
Communists. Many Neo-Con intellectuals, prior to the 1980's, were
part of the liberal tradition often aligning themselves with the
U.S. Democratic party. They were staunch pro-Zionist allies and
were in close contact with the U.S.-Israeli lobby. During the
Reagan administration, a tactical shift occurred in the Neo-Con
agenda. A more pro-conservative U.S. platform was developed to
benefit Israeli foreign policy. Many Neo-Cons became influential
in the mainstream media and made inroads among conservative groups.
Professor Paul Gottfried, an American Jewish academic, who opposes
the Neo-Con agenda states, 'What is being correctly observed is a
convergence of interests in which neo-conservatives have played a
pivotal role. At this point, they control almost all ˜conservative"
think-tanks, the ˜conservative TV Channel [Murdoch's Fox News], The
Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, together with just about
every magazine that claims to be conservative' (Piper 2004).
During the Bush Jr. administration, Neo-Cons became elite advisors to
the president on almost every issue pertaining to foreign policy and
the Defense Department. The current wars propagated by the Bush
administration have been well designed and orchestrated to meet
Neo-Con objectives. Not surprisingly, these objectives serve Israeli
interest rather than U.S. foreign interest. "Sharon's goal of
achieving a 'Greater Israel' is part and parcel of the neo-conservative
agenda and the ultimate in hate and imperialism." (Piper 2004)
In order to advance their agenda in the Middle East, Neo-Cons developed
an "evil enemy" to convince the US population that they are in danger
and urged a national defense policy be created. Thus with fear, they
have fostered a demonizing view of Muslims and portray Islam as
violent and a threat to the "civilized world." These individuals
include Richard Perle, William Kristol often seen on Fox News,
Henry Kissinger, and Paul Wolfowitz.
Conservative Foundations Against Islam
A number of wealthy conservative foundations are primary bankrollers
of the Neo-Cons and right - wing think-tanks. A grand total of 83
research grants totaling over $4.5 million dollars are supplied to
groups and researchers involved in anti-Islamic research. The
following foundations currently offer financial support of
anti-Islamic research: The Earhart Foundation, The Shelby Cullom
Davis Foundation, The Smith Richardson Foundation, The Lynde and
Harry Bradley Foundation, and The John M. Olin Foundation. The chart
below links some specific research individuals with their funding
foundation.
Name of Primary Researcher
Amount $
Funder
Alexander Alexiev
$75,000
Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation
---------------------------------
Hillel Fradkin
$173,800
Smith Richardson Foundation
--------------
David Cook
$150,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
------------------------------
Nazeer Ahmed
$50,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
------------------------------------------------------
Zachary Abuza
$65,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
------------------------------------------------
Timur Kuran
$164,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
---------------------------------------------
Nelly Lahoud
$9,000
Earhart Foundation
----------------------------------------------------------
Hussain Haqqani
$100,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Steven Emerson
$250,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
-------------------------------------------------------
Zeyno Baran
$110,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
------------------------------------------------
Sultan Tepe
$60,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
------------------------------------------------------
Cheryl Barnard
$100,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
--------------------------------------------------
Graham Fuller
$15,000
Earhart Foundation
---------------------------------------------------------------
Ibrahim Abu-Rabi
$20,000
Earhart Foundation
----------------------------------------------------------------
Fawaz Gerges
$143,000
Smith Richardson Foundation
-----------------------------------------------------
Ahmad Mousalli
$100,000+
Earhart Foundation
--------------------------------------------
Infamous researcher Zeyno Barran, who is well known in Turkey, is
heavily involved with research in the Central Turkic states. Her
research protects the interests of oil companies and pipeline
developments from the Caspian Sea. She is of Sephardic Jewish ancestry.
Cheryl Barnard, who is the wife of Zalmay Khalizad the current
ambassador of the United States to Iraq, is the primary author of
the report "Civil Democratic Islam" by the Rand Corporation. This
report outlines how to distort Islam by questioning the authenticity
of Qur'anic Ayats and Hadith. It also proposes a strategy to build
up and popularize a modernist "Muslim" leadership, how to go on the
offensive against the "Fundamentalists," advance the values of
Western Democracy, promote Sufism, and focus on the education of Muslims.
This strategy utilizes hand picked individuals by the U.S. Administration
to become "Islamic leaders" who promote the above agenda. For example,
some of the leaders mentioned are Mustafa Ceric the Grand Mufti of
Bosnia, Abou El Fadl the professor of Islamic Law at UCLA, Fethullah
Gulen of the Gulen Movement of Turkey, Muhammed Shahrur the author
of the "Proposal for an Islamic Covenant," and Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
of the Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA).
Other anti-Islamic researchers include: Sultan Tepe who researched the
current leading party in Turkey, the Justice and Development party
(AK Party). Hussain Haqqani made research on the state of
Islamic groups in the parliament of Pakistan. Ahmed Mousalli
developed a thesis called "Ideology and Politics: Islamic
Fundamentalism and World Order." Ibrahim Abu-Rabi conducted
research titled, "Religious Liberty in the Contemporary Middle
East: Arab Islamist Expressions." Fawaz Gerges made research on
Islamists groups in the Middle East (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan,
Lebanon, Turkey, and Palestine) titled, "The Islamists and the
West: Clash of Cultures or Clash of Interests," Graham Fuller
involved his research with the Nursi movement of Turkey through
the Rand Corporation. Steve Emerson, a self proclaimed Islamic
expert and Islam phobic, used research to fabricate many allegations
against Islamic organizations and individuals in the US and worldwide.
Christian Right Against Islam
In addition to conservative foundations, the American Evangelical
Christian churches spearhead the most vehement anti-Islamic rhetoric.
Evangelicals have a vested interest in demonizing Islam. Evangelicals
have long noted the rising conversion rates of Christians to Islam
inside and outside the United States. According to Diana Eck, in a
"New Religious America," Muslims in America outnumber Presbyterians
or Episcopalians (Kevin Phillips, American Theocracy, 2006).
In order for evangelical churches to stay relevant, a concerted
effort to damage the authenticity of Islam was undertaken.
Evangelical churches receive substantial funds from the Bush
Administration under the guise of Faith-based social programs
and education.
The now infamous Pat Robertson, a well known Evangelical leader who
received well over 14 million dollars from U.S. taxpayers, stated
on his church television show (The 700 Club) in 2002 that Islam "is
not a peaceful religion that wants to coexist. They want to coexist
until they can control, dominate and then, if need be, destroy."
Another example of anti-Islamic statements by prominent Evangelicals
comes from Franklin Graham, son of the Reverend Billy Graham who is
a close personal friend of the Bush family and gave the invocation
at George W. Bush's presidential inauguration , stated "The God of
Islam is not the same God of the Christian or the Judeo-Christian
faith. It is a different God, and I believe a very evil and a very
wicked religion." (CBS Oct 26, 2006). Also, Jerry Vines, former
head of the Southern Baptist Convention, has described the beloved
Prophet of Islam, Muhammad,pbuh, as a "demon-obsessed pedophile."
These charlatans claim to be of Christian virtue and spreading peace,
yet their agenda is quite to the contrary. They are full supporters
of the various wars in the world supporting Israeli/Neo-Conservative
interests and economic exploitation. Pat Robertson, for example,
openly called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's
President and denouncer of Bush.
In the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, Evangelists were urging support
of Israel and continued aggression.
With the current Iraq war, numerous Christian groups are utilizing the
chaos to proselytize Muslims of Iraq to Christianity. Let us read a
statement from an Evangelical group about spreading Christianity in
Iraq, "As Iraq struggles to stabilize, you can touch the very heart
of Iraq by reaching its children for Christ. This opportunity has
been years in the making, and now is the time to act." Campus Crusade
for Christ staff teams in Iraq have been working since the American-led
liberation, reaching people there with the Gospel. According to Mark
Noll, from his book The Old Religion in a New World, Christian
faith has spread by military and economic dominance around the World.
He states, "The spread of American influence around the world has
meant that American versions of the nature, purpose, and content of
the Christian faith have also spread widely." (Phillips)
Opportunist Missionaries
Unlike vehement evangelicals, opportunist missionaries subtly seek
to customize Islam to fit Christian values. They seek to include
Muslims in their overall mission of introducing and exposing
Christianity to the Muslims. Furthermore, they desire to diminish
the tide of Muslim converts by minimizing important distinctions
between both religions. Therefore, Christians interested in Islam
would see no essential difference between the two religions and no
reason for converting. This is best exemplified by the quote from
the Moslem World Publication of the Hartford Seminary, "The
relationship between Christianity and Islam inevitably profit
the former rather than the latter, materially Christianity always
gains to the detriment of Islam and socially Christianity never
accords what it promises" (Vol. 2, No. 2, page 342).
In the past several years, interfaith dialogues have been promoted
by Muslim organizations, such as the Fetullah Gulen group of Turkey
(as mentioned earlier in the report "Civil Democratic Islam"), ISNA
(Islamic Society of North America), and ICNA (Islamic Council of North
America). They have made connections with leading Christian
missionary schools such as the Hartford Seminary who publishes the
Muslim World (formally called the Moslem World). Dr. Sayed M. Sayeed
is the Director of the ISNA Interfaith and Community Initiatives. Of
note, Ingrid Mattson, the current President of ISNA, is also an
associate editor of the Muslim World and professor at
the Hartford Seminary. Interestingly, Ibrahim Abu-Rabi, listed
earlier who received funding from conservative anti-Islamic
foundations (Earhart Foundation), is the editor of the Muslim
World. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, an ultra
conservative foundation, funded the dialogue initiative in the
United States.
Another fascinating observation comes from the articles presented in
the Muslim World. These articles are consistent with the Rand
Reports strategies described in "Civil Democratic Islam" such as
popularizing Sufism and promoting modernist Muslim leaders. In a
special issue of the Muslim World (Vol. 95, No. 3, July 2005),
the entire issue was devoted to Fetullah Gulen of Turkey. One article
titled, "Sufism and Modernity in the Thought of Fetullah Gulen," was
written by Father Thomas Michel. Father Michel is currently a
Vatican official in Rome who is a promoter of interfaith dialogue
(apparently dialogue has not refrained Pope Benedict from
insulting Islam).
Also, Fetullah Gulen's group recently announced a donation of $2
million U.S. dollars to the Hartford Seminary for Islamic studies.
Gulen's group has denied that the Harford Seminary is a missionary
school or ministerial teaching school; however, our research indicates
the school is both a missionary and a ministerial school. For example,
in 2005, the Black and Hispanic Ministries Program classes held
graduation banquets honoring minister graduates. These classes are
taught by the Hartford Seminary, with Rev. Dr. Benjamin Watts as
director of the Black Ministries Program and Professor Efrain Agosto
as Director of the Hispanic Ministries Program.
For additional information pertaining to the Hartford Seminary, please
review prior articles on the Turkish American Journal website.
Conclusion
Clearly, an anti-Islamic agenda has been working for many years. The
anti-Islamic groups have multiple interests (Pro-Zionist, economic
globalization/exploitation, world domination and Christian proselytism).
All these forces have a similar aspiration that is to redefine
Islam, and the funding sources between these various groups can
be traced to conservative foundations. These foundations work closely
with the neo-conservatives and the media (also owned by many neo-cons)
to popularize their ideas.
Hopefully, this article has shed some light about various anti-Islamic
forces. We, however, have questions that still linger. They are the
following:
1. Why are popular Muslim leaders, such as Fetullah Gulen, Shaykh
Hisam Kabbani, Mustafa Ceric, promoting initiatives listed in the
Rand Report: "Civil Democratic Islam?"
2. Why are some Muslim leaders listed in the Rand Report to be of
benefit to the West?
3. Why haven't these leaders objected publicly to being listed as
stooges for anti-Islamic forces?
4. Why are so called U.S. Muslim leaders being supportive of
conservative foundations that are anti-Islam?
5. Why do some of these Muslim leaders need to redefine Islam in
terms of "tolerance?" Islam is inherently tolerant and numerous
examples in history point to Islam's tolerance towards others.
2006-12-31 Sun 15:43:34 cst
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