From Nafi', who narrates from Abdullah ibn 'Umar (r.a.):
The Prophet,pbuh,said: Do not stop the maid servants of
Allah from the mosques of Allah."
(Muwatta of Imam Malik)
Comment by Kaukab Siddique:
Its a command from the Prophet, pbuh, but many mosques in
Muslim countries and some in western countries have no place
for women, or even if they have a place, women cannot
participate in discussion or in decision making.
Syria: Two British fighters Killed fighting ISIS for the
Communist Kurds [YPG]
BBC. August 2.
"A British man has reportedly died fighting with Kurdish
forces against so-called Islamic State in Syria.
Dean Carl Evans, 22, from Reading, died on 21 July during
fighting in the city of Manbij, Kurdish reports suggest.
His father, John, posted a statement on social media
confirming the death and added: "He was loved and will be
missed by all his family and friends".
Dean Carl Evans has become the second British man to die in
the fight against IS with the Kurds in Syria.
The first UK casualty, Erik 'Kosta' Scurfield, died during
fighting to take back the strategic Til Hamis town in the
Hasakah province in north-eastern Syria."
[Any Muslim who tries to join the Islamic State from
anywhere in the world is treated as a criminal and arrested
-Editor NT
Nigeria: New Leader of Boko Haram.
Source: Los Angeles Times
August 3.
The new leader of Boko Haram is Abu Musab Barnawi, former
spokesman for the group, and his new role was announced
Wednesday. Little is known of Barnawi, who was interviewed
in the Islamic State newsletter, Al Naba,
New Boko Haram leader is son of founder
Military forces from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad are
campaigning against Boko Haram.
[As New Trend pointed out earlier from Amnesty
International, 7000 Muslims have died in Nigerian military
prisons, many under torture, including children. These
horrendous crimes against humanity are ignored by the global
media controlled by Zionists.]
PALESTINE
Israeli Tactic to Delay Repairs on al-Aqsa Mosque, Forcing
Neglect
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained six employees
of the Islamic
Endowment (Waqf), which manages the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
in occupied East
Jerusalem's Old City, on Thursday morning.
According to Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri, the
employees were
detained over suspicions that they were planning on carrying
out maintenance
work on the Dome of the Rock without obtaining a permit from
the Israeli
Antiquities Authority.
Sources told Ma'an that the Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa
compound and
detained Bassam al-Hallaq, the head of the Waqf
rehabilitation committee.
Israeli police also detained five employees of the committee
while working
inside the mosque, who were identified as Muhammad
al-Dabbagh, Anas
al-Dabbagh, Mahmoud al-Anati, Suleiman Abd al-Latif, and
Mutasem Karameh.
Al-Samri said that the six Palestinians were taken to the
al-Qishla police
station in the Old City for toture and interrogation, adding
that al-Hallaq had been
banned from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for five
days.
This marked the second time Israeli forces detained
al-Hallaq this week,
after they briefly detained him on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, Israeli police officers detained
al-Hallaq and three
other Waqf rehabilitation committee employees, as groups of
right-wing
Israelis toured the site. One of the employees, identified
as Issa Salhab,
was banned from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for two
weeks.
Israeli authorities have launched a crackdown on Waqf
employees over the
last week, detaining some, banning others from entering the
compound, while
hindering the ongoing repair works at the holy site.
On Tuesday, Israeli police reportedly assaulted one of the
Al-Aqsa Mosque
compound guards and obstructed repair works for a water
pipe.
Israeli authorities have recently banned seven Waqf
employees from Al-Aqsa,
including spokesperson Firas al-Dibs and a number of
security guards.
Several security guards have also been summoned by Israeli
police for
questioning.
IRAN
Iran Committing Crimes Against Humanity. 20 Sunni Prisoners
Executed after 10 Minute "Trial."
Sharam Ahmadi's Wife Comments on Horrifying process of the
"trial."
[With help from Luis Galan]
On August 2, Iran carried out a mass execution of 20 Sunni
prisoners, Iranian State Media have broadcast wild
accusations against the victims. Iran's favorite are
"confessions" extracted under torture which were also
broadcast.
Looks like Iran is trying to crush Sunni opposition in its
Kurdish population.
[Translated from French.]
Iran executes 10 Sunni prisoners. Ten prisoners sunnís have
been executed this morning, Tuesday August 2 in rajai shahr
prison of Iran.
The men had been transferred to the regime of isolation only
12 hours before his execution, their families have been
called to the jail to meet up with them for the last
time.
The Identities of the men have not yet been confirmed; a
prisoner, shahram ahmadi, is among the dead.
The wife of shahram ahmadi said that he, along with 9 other
prisoners, were buried at 4.30 hours today in tajikistan,
province of Tehran.
The wife of shahram ahmadi said, " if my husband was truly
guilty, then why don't they gave him a public trial? Why
don't they give him permission to defend themselves?
" why were ten people sentenced to death in a court hearing
which lasted only ten minutes, without being allowed to say
a word?"
Germar Rudolf Interviewed on Red Ice Radio
Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust
Germar Rudolf talks about the process led him to question
the "official" version of Holocaust history in his mid-20s,
while preparing an expert report on the chemical and
technical questions of the alleged gas chambers of Auschwitz
and Birkenau for the trial of a Holocaust "denier."
On this radio interview he also discusses the longstanding,
brutal suppression of evidences that contest the narrative
of gas chambers used to systematically exterminate 6 million
Jews, and he looks at the undeniable proof that the powers
that be have been using this "miracle weapon" to
psychologically defeat German and Western European identity.
Much more is said in this new interview for Red Ice radio,
as Rudolf tells us about the problematic decline of native
population in some developed countries.
Saturday's rally was the first rally to be held in Addis
Ababa after a series of Oromo and Amhara protests elsewhere
[Reuters]
At least six people have been reported killed over two days
of protests in Ethiopia while dozens were arrested in the
capital, Addis Ababa.
A source told Al Jazeera that four people were killed on
Saturday in the northern Gondar region, in addition to two
people killed in the area on Friday. Located 700km north of
Addis Ababa, Gondar is a region dominated by the ethnic
Amharas.
Ethiopian authorities would not confirm the death toll.
The reported deaths come as dozens of ethnic Oromo
protesters were arrested in Addis Ababa on Saturday.
At least 500 Oromo people - protesting against alleged
economic inequality and discrimination - gathered amid a
heavy police presence on the capital's main Meskel
Square.
The protesters, who shouted slogans such as "we want our
freedom" and "free our political prisoners", were dispersed
by police using batons. Dozens were arrested.
READ MORE: The 'Ethiopia rising' narrative and the Oromo
protests
A Reuters news agency video of the confrontation showed
unarmed protesters being beaten and kicked by police
officers, as protesters ran to evade arrest.
Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn on Friday announced a
ban on demonstrations, which "threaten national unity" and
called on police to use all means at their disposal to
prevent them.
The rally was organised by opposition groups from the Oromo,
Ethiopia's biggest ethnic group, who have held protests for
months against what they say is government discrimination.
They have been joined recently by ethnic Amharas, and
protests have been reported in other parts of the
country.
Are Ethiopia's Oromo being violently repressed?
The Oromo and Amhara together make up some 80 percent of
Ethiopia's population and claim they suffer discrimination
in favour of ethnic Tigrayans, who they say occupy the key
jobs in the government and security forces.
Ethiopian authorities told the AFP news agency that at least
a dozen people have been killed in clashes with police over
territorial disputes in recent weeks.
Local people told AFP there had been rallies and clashes
with police in the city of Ambo and Nemekte, in the Oromo
region, as well as a calls for protests in Baher Dar in the
Amhara region.
Latest Khutba
Women's Rights & Progressive Revelation of the Qur'an. How
was Islam Able to Change a Deeply Oppressive Society in
which Women were "inherited "?
On August 5, Br. Kaukab Siddique gave the Juma Khutba at
Masjid jamaat al-Muslimeen in Baltimore. Here is an outline
of the main points of the khutba.
Text #1
And when the girl-child that was buried alive is asked
For what sin she was slain! [The Quran 81:8-9]
Text #2
And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them:
"Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be
ye male or female: Ye are members, one of another: Those who
have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or
suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain,- verily,
I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them
into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath;- A reward from the
presence of Allah, and from His presence is the best of
rewards." [The Quran 3: 195]
Text #3
O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have
made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another.
Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best
in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware. [The Qur'an
49:13]
In early revelations to the Prophet, pbuh, in which the
certainty of Allah's power and creativity and faith in the
life Hereafter were foremost, key teachings about human
rights and particularly the rights of slaves and women were
embedded.
The Qur'an attacked the infanticide of female
children.
Second revelation, Husbands must provide for and protect
the women they marry, sura Nisa, and an end to the pagan
idea of women as property.
Men and women are comrades in the struggle against
oppression. Working together in the struggle creates trust
and unity.
Absolute equality. Superiority is not based on gender but
on taqwa and God-conscious behavior.
Part 2.
Hadith.
Marriage is required and it has to be based on Islam.
Choose spouses based on DEEN otherwise you will come to
no good.
The best Muslims are the ones best to their wives,
daughters, mothers and sisters.
If Muslim women don't come to the mosque for prayer and
participation, the whole community is weakened. Of course
standards of modesty and discipline and wise separation must
be maintained.
There is no place in Islam for domestic violence. Rape
is punishable by death in Islam but in America the rapist is
almost coddled. So we must protect Muslim women and also
teach them self-defense.
Policies of forced arranged marriages, including cousin
marriages, and the refusal of Islamic inheritance to women
prevalent all over the Muslim world, are destroying the
ummah.
O Allah help us to study the Quran and help us to follow the
Sunnah of Muhammad, pbuh.
Spotlights
by Br.Badi
Hillary & Trump. Isn't this America's Worst?
The Khans Don't Represent Muslims.
In every political cycle, voters get swept up with the same
political promises. In fact these promises are what motivate
almost every election. Sometimes I feel that there is no
creativity whatsoever. They all use the same language.
America has the most expensive elections in the world, but
it does not produce strong and mature candidates.
Can't America dump both Hillary and Donald, and find someone
else? I know I am dreaming.
American voters seem to be relying on the lesser of the most
hated presidential candidates in the nation's history. Don't
you think it's bad that we have to rely on such notion?
This election is chaotic in every way because of the
ideology, principles, behaviors and performance of those who
are running for election.
The two worst things that could happen to America: Clinton
or Trump
Donald Trump at his worst would do far less damage than
Hillary Clinton at her worst.
The Khans are not a valid representation of the Muslim
community. We aren't willing to be represented in such
manner. This representation terrifies us. It is a cartoon
that may only fit in The Simpsons show, and that's a
shame.
The Khans representation of Muslims
It is more to represent the Clintons purpose, rather than to
represent the Muslim community
When you put the Khans out there to represent us, you are
denying us any reflection of ourselves..
- Br. Badi Ali leads a large Muslim community in Greensboro,
NC.
PAKISTAN
Three Jamaate Islami Perspectives: Rebuttal of India's Claim
that Kashmir Struggle is "Terrorism"; Serious Concern About
Kidnaped Children; Praise for the Pope's Statement on Islam.
by Qaiser Sharif
JI lauds Nisar's rebuttal to Rajnath
LAHORE, Aug. 5: Deputy chief of the Jamaat e Islami, Hafiz
Muhammad Idrees, has lauded Interior Minister Nisar Ali
khan's courageous stand rebutting India Home Minister
Rajnath's bid to equate Kashmiris' liberation movement with
terrorism. He was addressing a large Friday congregation at
Mansoora.
Hafiz Muhammad Idrees said, "our oppressed mother, sisters
and daughters in Kashmir are awaiting another Muhammad Bin
Qasim to liberate them from the clutches of Hindu
brutes".
He said the rulers' slogans and claims on Kashmir were
highly pleasing but liberating the Kashmiris from the
clutches of India required serious efforts. He said that
Kashmir had been a disputed territory but Indian wanted to
continue her unlawful occupation there through brute force,
shamelessly.
He impressed upon the government to adopt a bold stance on
Kashmir in accordance with the sentiments of the nation and
make it clear to the world at large that the Kashmir issue
must be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions to
ensure world peace and to avoid a destructive war in the
region.
Hafiz Muhammad Idrees said that the so called custodians of
world peace were totally blind to Indian occupation forces'
brutalities in Held Kashmir. He said there had been a time
when a Muslim ruler had sent young commander Muhammad Bin
Qasim to the sub continent on the complaint of a single
Muslim woman. However, he said, the present Muslim rulers
were deaf to the cries of the Kashmiri children and
women.
The JI deputy chief said that the rulers claim of good
governance were exposed by the increasing incidents of
kidnapping.
Released by Media Cell, JIP, Mansoora, Lahore.
PIRACHA
LAHORE, Aug. 5; Deputy Secretary General, Jamaat e Islami,
Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, has said that the rulers' criminal
silence and apathy towards the increasing cases of child
abduction was a matter of deep concern.
In a statement here on Friday, he said that the abrupt
absence of a child was a big tragedy for any family. He said
that the rulers were like family heads. However, he said,
that the instead of facing the facts and striving to recover
the missing children, the rulers were focusing on the number
of the missing children.
He said that the disappearance of even a single child should
be enough cause for the rulers to have sleepless nights but
unfortunately, the government was not giving any importance
to the kidnapping of around one hundred children.
He urged the Punjab Chief Minister to set up a Task Force
under his own supervision for the recovery of the missing
children.
Released by Media Cell, JIP, Mansoora, Lahore
Ulema body hails Pope's statement on Islam
LAHORE, Aug. 5; The Jamiat e Ittehadul Ulema Pakistan,
(JIUP) has highly appreciated Pope Francis's statement
declaring Islam as the religion preaching world peace.
A delegation of the JIUP led by its chief, eminent religious
scholar, Maulana Abdul Ma'lik expressed these views during a
call on JI deputy chief, Asadullah Bhutto, at Mansoora, on
Friday.
The JI deputy chief said that the noble views of the Pontiff
regarding Islam reflected his realistic approach. He said
that the Pope's acceptance of Islam as a great and
peace-loving religion could play a great role in the
promotion of harmony and understanding among different
religions especially at time when people like Donald Trump
were busy in a malicious campaign against Islam.
Asadullah Bhutto clarified that Islam was against terrorism
and extremism, and upholder of international peace, while
those linking Islam with terrorism were ignorant of Islam's
teachings..
War News
Syria
Aleppo Siege Broken: Mujahedeeen Inflict Heavy Losses on
"Hizbullah," Iranians & Shia Forces.
Vast amounts of Weaponry Captured In Aleppo as al-Nusra
joins FSA Defending Key City.
American-led Kurds Enter Manbig Center. Outbursts of
Fighting at Damascus Doors.
Breaking News: Finally on August 7, "Hizbullah" conceded
"retreat" in its attempts to cut off Aleppo from supply
lines.
Eyewitnesses report that mujahedeen forces broke the siege
of Aleppo on August 5 and then launched a second offensive
to clear the supply road which was still under "hizbullah."
shelling. On August 6 mujahideen forces of al-Nusra, Ahrar
al- Sham and various Uzbek and other volunteers broke
through the Shia-Iranian-Hizbullah lines to reach the FSA
forces defending eastern Aleppo.
On August 7, the first supplies entered Aleppo for the
civilian population, This was a small transport because the
conditions on the road are still risky owing to the
Russians.
Hundreds of Shia fighters were killed in the fighting.
Scores of mujahideen were also killed, many in around the
clock Russian air strikes.
In the Ramousa area and the artillery school of the Assad
regime, massive amounts weapons and ammunition were captured
by the Islamic fighters. It was the biggest storage area for
the Alawites.
Earlier a Russian helicopter dropping supplies to the
Alawite garrison in western Aleppo was shot down by FSA
fighters killing the 5 Russians in the copter.
This is a serious setback for the Bashar Assad regime. Even
with Hizbullah and Shia reinforcements from Iraq and
Afghanistan, and with Russian air strikes and his own still
active air force, he cant win.
The American air force leading the Communist Kurds [YPG] has
been increasingly successful in damaging the Islamic State.
On August 6, the Kurds in SDF [a YPG force supported by the
US] entered the center of Manbig, which is on the corridor
to Turkey. The US air force has slaughtered IS fighters and
civilians supporting IS in Manbig on a big scale. SOHR
reports that in two months of bitter fighting in Manbig, 932
Islamic State fighters and 432 civilians have been killed.
About 600 of the fighters were killed in US air strikes over
two months.
Of the civilians killed in Manbig, 203 including 52 CHILDREN
and 18 women were killed by the US air force [Source: SOHR]
and the rest by the Kurds. The American bombing has been so
indiscriminate that 8 prisoners were also killed in the air
strikes.
IS fighters are not giving up. Till now 269 Communist Kurds
[SDF or YPG] have been killed in the fighting.
Fighting is continuing around Damascus, with the regime
using heavy artillery and helicopter attacks to stop the
Islamic forces from advancing into Damascus. Some fighters
very near Damascus have joined IS under the label of
"ar-Rahman Brigade." The FSA groups are in conflict with
them.
August 7: Demonstrators in southern Syria, Quneitra and
Daraa, are urging the Islamic factions to unite and move
against the Damascus regime.
IS has advanced on Deir ez Zor and is besieging the Assad
garrison there,
There have been a series of IS attacks on Alawite check
points on the Homs and Hama fronts but IS advances have been
local.
[Critics of New Trend are urging that Lebanese Shia force
should be mentioned as "Hizbullah" and not Hizbullah because
they are fighting for the mass murderer Bashar Assad, not
for Allah....editor]
IRAQ
Minor Offensive by IS.
August 7. An American backed and armed force known as the
New Syrian Army which once again tried to outflank IS at the
connection of the Iraq-Syrian frontier [at Tanaf] suffered
heavy losses as IS launched truck bombs on its forces.
IS has also advanced once more in Diyala province towards
Iran. Details are not available.
Moqtada al-Sadr supporters have been accusing the Baghdad
regime of extreme corruption but their rallies seem to have
ended a few days back.
News Within the U.S.
Philadelphia
Using a Muslim Soldier's Family to Support Pro-War
Patriotism
[New Trend Media Monitor]
US media have given more coverage to Khizr khan whose son
was killed in Iraq fighting Muslims than all the victims of
Israel in Gaza, the Iraqis killed in the American invasion
and the Afghans killed by NATO.
Do Islamic people not have sons who sacrifice their lives to
defend the lands of Islam? Khizr khan has been thoroughly
exploited for the political purpose of defeating Trump. Do
Muslim lives have any value other than to be used to invade
and occupy Muslim countries?
Are American Muslims so naive that they cannot see how
easily Khizr khan is allowing himself to be used. Not only
Anwar Awlaki a US citizen was executed without any process
of law, his son too was incinerated in an American air
strike. Is it true that only Khizr khan had a son who was
killed in the unjust war imposed on Iraq?
Trying to Understand Syria . Assad is Aligned to the West
and is Working with it.. A Different Perspective.
by Sis. Karin Friedemann [Boston]
On Monday, August 1, 2016 I was privileged to have an in
depth conversation with a Syrian doctor who has lived in the
US for the past 27 years, to get his personal analysis of
the political situation in Syria. I had approached him with
many questions due to what appeared to me to be a near
complete disconnect between Islamic vs Leftist, or US vs
Russian news reports. I would like to resolve this gap in
mutual understanding to move to the next level of problem
solving.
Sam said in order to understand, we have to go back in
history. His father was a member of the socialist,
nationalist Baathist party, which was one of many
post-colonial movements, and came to power in Syria in 1963.
He said his father was a "true leftist" and a high-ranking
military officer. In 1970, Hafiz al-Assad, the defense
minister, staged a coup against the party to take power. He
claimed his intention was to get the Baath party on the
right track after it had become corrupted. Assad's
"corrective movement" purged half or more of the party's
leaders, including Sam's father.
Leftists in Syria believe that Hafiz al-Assad's coup was
staged by the West in order to dismantle the socialist
movement. The US at that time was propping up several
governments in South America, Southeast Asia and Africa
where policy decisions were made by one person. These
governments, including the newly installed Assad regime,
were less than socialist and more like a dictatorship. Under
Assad, the political rhetoric remained leftist but in
actuality, Assad tortured and wiped out all the Communists
in Syria, which had been around 10% of the population.
King Hussein of Jordan had previously kicked the
Palestinians out of Jordan and sent them to Lebanon. Under
Hafiz Assad, Syria occupied Lebanon and purged both leftists
and Palestinians. He sent the PLO and Arafat out of Lebanon
and forced them to live in Tunisia. Eventually, they were
able to return to the West Bank after Arafat's peace treaty
with Israel.
The Syrian regime has always been pro-Western and pro-Israel
but using leftist rhetoric because of popular sentiment.
Assad depended heavily on his Alawite sect, the elite of
which became a mafia ruling the country and dominating the
military and intelligence agencies. Assad ruled by force of
intimidation and torture. His dictatorship was run by the
Alawite minority using socialist slogans. Syria was not
anti-American/pro-Russia as many western leftists believed.
The Syrian regime, similarly to the Iranian, would use
slogans such as "resistance and steadfastness" and "Death to
America!" which caused the gullible to believe these regimes
were anti-imperialist. However, Iran has helped the US
greatly in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The US then basically
handed the power to Iran in Iraq after removing Saddam
Hussein at great cost.
Syria was also no anti-imperialist. The Golan Heights never
had a more secure Israeli border until after Assad. Rather
than pushing against Israel, Assad was busy fighting
Palestinians in Lebanon. If Assad had pushed against Israel,
Israel would not have swallowed the West Bank.
The US didn't mind him saying anti-American things. He still
sent his kids to college in the US and came to the US for
medical treatment. His and his junta's assets were secured
in Western banks. Assad regime was not anti-US nor
anti-Israel.
The Syrian Revolution came in spite of the Americans, it was
not instigated by the US. They said at first they would
support the "moderates" but they didn't deliver on their
promise. The US could have helped Syrians overthrow the
regime but the fighters didn't get the anti-aircraft
missiles they needed, (and were crucial to win) except what
they captured from the regime. The US did give FSA a few
anti-tank missiles but the revolution could not survive
without anti-aircraft missiles, which the US gave out 2 or 3
at a time. The short supply was secured by the US
government, which could deactivate the anti-aircraft
missiles at will. The technology was constantly monitored as
to its whereabouts by the US, and only one person was
allowed to use it, using their thumbprint. Then whenever the
US decided they could cut him off. So this American help was
not help. There was no trust.
Had the US supported moderate rebels, they would have
overthrown Assad long ago. US is working with the regime.
Their goal is not to allow any side to win, and not ending
anything.
Chemical weapons were used, and nothing happened despite
American declared red lines. There was a point when the
regime was weak but the US did not intervene to tip the
balance towards the rebels. After a few planes had been shot
down, Assad would have been forced to come to the
negotiating table. But the US is working with the
Russians.
The US gave limited amounts of weapons to FSA - the Syrian
army members that defected because they refused to fire upon
their own people and have now joined the people's struggle.
The FSA received no practical help from the US. The
Islamists have more support. They are rumored to receive
weapons from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and even from Iran and
the regime!
Why? Because the Syrian regime wants to be seen as "fighting
Islamic extremists." The world would see the moderate
democratic rights activists as a viable option to replace
Assad. But the world will never accept an Islamic
government. Therefore in 2012, the regime actually released
thousands of Islamic movement prisoners, who became the
leaders of the Islamic resistance, which soon overpowered
the secular Free Syria movement. Most Syrians do not want an
Islamic government and many even prefer the regime, but the
world powers promoted the Islamists in order to get rid of
the potential acceptance of a popular Syrian movement for
democracy.
The regime is acting in concert with the West's policies.
They got rid of any acceptable replacement to their
government. The initial revolution was wiped out and their
struggle for freedom was replaced by a struggle between the
regime and Islamist forces.
Since the 1940's, there existed the Muslim Brotherhood, who
wanted to work within the system and use elections to
promote their political platform, but there was no big
Islamic movement in Syria. The moderate Muslim Brotherhood
was outlawed and their members would be executed.
The US support to the Kurds is very open, and serves to
demonstrate the difference between Kurdish areas and other
areas in Syria. Any time a Kurdish town is about to fall,
the US will actively intervene effectively. The Kurds have a
defacto alliance with the Syrian regime, who does not bomb
them, and with Israel, who used them to fight against Saddam
Hussein.
Sam said the US preferred Assad and stability for their
geopolitical ambitions. Assad helped Israel neutralize Egypt
in Sinai. He told me to look up Henry Kissinger's 1973 pact
between Assad and Israel.
Regardless of what the US wants, the Assad regime is no
longer acceptable to govern because of what he has done.
Assad has to be replaced; could be with a similar regime
with a new name but that he needs to be replaced is a fact.
It doesn't mean that the US desires it but they have to work
with the situation. The US has not supported the uprising
against Assad. But at this point there is no choice for the
world powers. Once they desire to solve the problem,
replacement of Assad is a must. This is not a victory for
the revolution. Perhaps some of the people's demands will be
addressed.
Guidance
Maudoodi's Teachings about the military. Will Jamaate Islami
take Heed?
Rational Approach to Islam: Opposition to Dictatorship and
Westernization.
Muhammad, pbuh, as Example and Leader. Islamic Pakistan's
Basic Ideas.
by Kaukab Siddique, Ph.D
"... the militaries in Muslim countries realized that the
real source of dictatorial power lay with the military. This
awareness brought military officers into the arena of
politics and they started a whole process of intrigues and
destabilization of governments and the establishment of
military regimes. These armies have become a calamity for
Muslim countries. They are not interested in fighting
external enemies or in defending their countries: they are
focused on 'conquering' their own countries and using the
weapons provided them for national defense to enslave their
own nations." [Maulana Maudoodi speaking in Arabic to a
large gathering of young men in Makka after the Hajj,
Zulhijja 16, 1382 AH, years back. See Tafhimat, vol.3,
pp.358-359, published 1969.]
Syed Abul 'Ala Maudoodi, a soft spoken scholar from
Hyderabad, India, was discerned as an extraordinary thinker
by Allama Iqbal and invited to move to the Punjab. Thus a
new chapter began in the saga of the Islamic movement in
South Asia.
Much has been written about Maudoodi, both by his legion of
enemies as well as by his countless friends. One of the best
books in Urdu is by his second-in-command Mian Tufail
Muhammad titled Mushahidat: Maulana Maudoodi, Jamaate Islami
awr Pakistan [compiled by Saleem Mansur Khalid and published
in 2000, 2001 and 2003 by Idara-e-Ma'arife Islami, Mansoora,
Lahore, Pakistan].
Maudoodi lived at a time when entire generations of Muslims
were becoming secularized and westernized. Tufail Muhammad
himself was a westernized lawyer in coat, tie and hat.
Maudoodi's writings led Mian Tufail to give up the entire
context of westernized ideals and aspirations. He died
recently permeated with the virtues of Taqwa and deen.
Nowadays the idea that "Islam is a complete way of life" has
almost become a cliche and stands unchallenged. This was
Maudoodi's contribution. He put the westernizers on the
defensive and helped Muslim intellectuals become comfortable
with the idea of the SUPERIORITY of Islam over all other
ways of life. I consider the following to be his most
important contributions to the resurgence of Islam:
Muslims and non-Muslims are separate nations. Muslims have
the right and the obligation to self-determination and the
implementation of Islam within their communities and
nations. Peace, tolerance, compassion and coexistence are
important but they do not mean that Muslims should
assimilate into the non-Islamic ethos. Separatism based on
self-determination was the seed of Islamic Pakistan which
was sowed by Maudoodi and pre-dates the contributions of
others. Perhaps this factor attracted the attention of
Allama Iqbal.
Islam has within itself the framework of Law and the
Constitutional Process as well as the methodology of
revolution which precedes the implementation of Law.
Islam has its own economic and social system.
Authentic Hadith is essential to Islam. The attempts of
anti-Islam forces to separate the Qur'an from the Hadith, if
successful, would be fatal for the Islamic ethos.
Kingship is alien to Islam. We do not need to defend the
crimes of Muslim kings or extol their achievements as if
they are part of Islam. The title of Caliph does not
legitimize rule based on absolute power and hereditary
succession. Shoora is a form of democracy which is essential
for Islamic polity, and shoora is required in ALL aspects of
life and by ALL Muslims.
Jihad is essential to Islam.
Maudoodi was repeatedly imprisoned by various Pakistani
governments. Owing to his writings against "Ahmeddis" [known
as "qadiyanis" in Pakistan] he was sentenced to death by the
secularist regime which was trying to undermine Islam. He
refused to beg for mercy and barely evaded execution as the
governmrent of the time fell.
His love for Pakistan as a putative Islamic state was so
great that he repeatedly put his own life in danger to save
Pakistan. He attempted to heal the differences between East
and West Pakistan but was thwarted by the army's actions and
by the India-backed mass murders and extreme violence.
On another occasion, the regime's gangsters tried to shoot
him down in front of a large gathering. His supporters asked
him to take shelter. His response is famous: "If I sit down,
who will remain standing."
Today one of Maudoodi's greatest students, Syed Munawar
Hasan, is leading the movement against American intervention
in Pakistan. The universities of Pakistan are full of new
generations of Muslims learning from Maudoodi's writings
that Islam is applicable in all walks of life.
I was blessed to meet him on many occasions. He used terms
of deep affection for me which a true teacher does for a
good student in our Islamic culture.
Later, I often differed with him. Sometimes, owing to my
restless questioning about kings, I upset him.
In spite of all the support he had at the end, he did not
want us to see him as the last word in Islamic scholarship
or to make a faultless saint out of him as many schools of
thought do with their leaders. He gave us the foundations
required to build the edifice of Islam in modern times and
to defeat westernization and cultural imperialism.
