Do they Laugh at the Global Muslim Ummah while claiming to
oppose each other?
USA vs China? Pakistan? Turkey? Palestine!
by Kaukab Siddique, PhD
The news of concentration camps for Uighurs in China have
been checked and double checked by investigators around the
world.
The United States is opposing the genocide of Uighur
Muslims. The entire China-US confrontation is being
discussed in US media.
However when we look at US imports from China, they are
massive beyond imagination.
Check the labels on the products we use everyday. Most of
them are from China including many from the province of
Sinkiang where the concentration camps are located. China
sees the Qur'an as a source of "terrorism." Reports indicate
that Han race Chinese males are being sent into Muslim homes
to sleep with the women. Many mosques have been demolished
and reports have checked out reports of forcible birth
control. There can be little doubt that genocide is being
enacted.
On what basis can the US and other western powers take a
high moral tone while allowing full scale economic
interchange with China! There is reason to believe that the
leaders on both sides are talking in high moral tones and
denouncing each other while carrying on business as usual.
The facts on the ground indicate that at the level of
reality nothing has changed.
Muslim rulers are much worse. Pakistan has stated in blunt
language that it accepts China's claims about the Uighurs.
Pakistan went further and endorsed the Communist Party of
China as a positive force!
Palestine.
Around the world there is restlessness and irritation about
atrocities against Palestinians. Other than in the US major
media, Israeli atrocities are everyday news. Facebook is
allowing atrocity stories to be published. Recent Israeli
bombing killed 62 children in Gaza. A media center was
demolished. Al-Aqsa was desecrated.
Among the most important voices against Israel is that of
Turkey. Erdogan is the hero of the Muslim world. A Turkish
heroism movie became the most watched movie in Pakistan.
Erdogan renewed a mosque which had been a museum for many
months.
Now read this news item casually published in the Israeli
media a few days back:
"Israelis are now banned from visiting the UK, Georgia,
Cyprus and Turkey, the coronavirus cabinet rules.
The four countries will join a growing list of places that
Israelis may not fly to; if caught doing so they face a
significant fine upon return. The decision will take effect
next Friday.
Turkey and Cyprus are two of the most popular vacation
destinations for Israelis."
So Turkey is one of the most popular holiday destinations
for Israelis!
So, almost all the people can be fooled almost all the
time.
Wake up Muslims. Read the Qur'an and authentic hadith.
Pakistan
Sindh: Secularist PPP government is the worst in Pakistan.
Landlords and Waderas.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an opposition
alliance, would now organise its anti-government rally in
Karachi on August 13, instead of July 29.
Maulana Rashid Soomro, the Sindh secretary general of the
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), one of the constituent
parties of the PDM, announced the change in the rally's
schedule in a statement issued on Saturday.
He said the date was changed after a detailed consultation
among leaders of the PDM's component parties.
He added that the PDM's rally in Karachi would not only be
against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's federal government
but also the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Sindh
government.
Soomro said the event would prove to be a public referendum
against the incompetent rulers of Sindh along with the
federal government. "Due to the incompetence of the Sindh
government, the province is becoming a hub of problems," he
said.
"The Karachi rally will be the beginning of a movement
against the sellers of islands and lands in Sindh," Soomro
remarked.
He maintained that the condition of hospitals in Sindh was
worse than hospitals of a war-torn country. "From Tharparkar
to Kashmore and from Karachi to Jacobabad, poverty,
unemployment, and unrest are on the rise," he said.
The JUI-F leader was of the view that the PPP's hometown of
Larkana was turning into ruins of Mohen-jo-Daro, and due to
apathy of the provincial government, the incidence of theft
had increased in the province.
He said all the issues of Sindh would be highlighted in the
Karachi rally on August 13 and a new movement would be
launched in the province.
War News
Mozambique [East Africa]
Several thousand troops from Rwanda have arrived to stop the
steady advances by Islamic fighters led by Islamic
State.
Rwandan troops say they have killed 30 of the
"militants."
Ethiopia
Tigray forces moblized and re-captured their capital and
advanced further into Afar tribal areas.
Heavy battle losses are reported from both sides.
Iraq
Horrific Executions and Terrible Bombing.
After year long executions of supporters of ISIS, a human
bomber struck the Shia center of Baghdad.
The executions of ISIS supporters have reached above 600.
[These are Sunnis.] Human rights groups say the executions
were preceded by fake "trials."
On July 19, ISIS human bomber in Baghdad killed 30 and
wounded 50. There were terrible scenes of mangled bodies.
The regime says it has arrested the plotters behind the
bombing.
Pro-Iran group used a drone to attack US base near Erbil but
there were no casualties.
July 24. Aleppo province. Kurdish Communists shelled Turkish
military base in Hazawan killing five Turkish soldiers,
Turkey responded with heavy artillery fire. No details.
American reinforcements are headed to Hasakeh province.
[northeast Syria]
Russian air strikes combined with Assad military units
reported from the eastern provinces. [Raqqa, Homs, Deir dez
zor]
A Russian jet also bombed Islamic positions in northern
Latakia position.
Heavy shelling by Assad's forces [40 rockets] is reported
from western Hama province.
ISIS used a landmine to kill an Iranian commander in eastern
Homs province.
On July 23,in Ibleen village [jabal al-Zawiyah] 7 civilians
including 4 children and their mother were killed in rocket
attacks by Assad's forces. People came out to protest and
called for protection by Turkish forces. Then Syrians
supporting Turkey responded against Assad's forces with Grad
rockets.
July 22. Russian air strikes reported by SOHR against ISIS
in three eastern provinces.
July 21: Southern Idlib province, Islamic group Fath
al-Mubeen shelled Assad regime's military positions.
July 20, Russia carried out 50 air strikes against Isis in
the three eastern desert provinces. The air strikes came
when 4 Assad troops were killed in an ISIS ambush near
Palmyra.
Life within the United States
Bill Gates & Native American lands
by Sis. Aisha
[Jamaat al-Muslimeen]
Bill Gates is America's largest farm owner. Currently, he
owns approximately 242,000 acres of farmland, which is about
the size of Hong Kong. By the way, billionaire Ted Turner is
America's largest private landowner with over 2 million
acres of land.
This land grab by uber-rich White men is very reminiscent of
the 1862 Homestead Act in America. This is where 270 million
acres of land, stolen from the Native Americans, was made
available to White settlers from every European country.
The proof of European collusion is evident in areas such as
Minnesota, which has Whites of mostly Scandinavian-descent
and Ohio and Pennsylvania with mostly people of
German-descent. White settlers were given a wooden stake and
allowed to run to an area and plant it. This stake
represented 160 acres of claimed land, free and clear! Not
only did the American government finance (or subsidize)
these claims but, they also sent cavalry men to protect
these settlers against Native American reclamation
efforts.
Spaghetti Westerns never mention this information. They want
viewers to believe that those vulnerable White settlers, who
came from Europe for a better life here, were constantly
being attacked by savage Indians for no reason. Sound
familiar? Except, today's government-sponsored land grabbing
is going on in the so-called Middle East.
Of course, Native Americans, Blacks, Mexicans, and Asians
were excluded from these homesteading events.
But, Bill Gates claims to be a man on a mission to cure
climate change by getting indigenous and small farmers to
reduce carbon levels (greenhouse gases). Bill Gates' new
book, "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster," asserts himself as
an environmental leader. But, his push for technology being
the sole solution excludes other possibly better options.
For instance, cows have been blamed for generating the
greatest levels of greenhouse gas emissions, which is why
Gates encourages eating meat alternatives (a.k.a. fake meat)
in his book.
But, is this push for eating meat alternatives out of
genuine concern for the atmosphere or another money-making
opportunity in disguise? After all, Gates is the largest
investor in Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Many
alternative meat is very high in sodium making it a
controversial food choice.
Astute activists see Bill Gates' sustainable efforts as
nothing more than a ruse to control a majority of the
world's resources. The fact that Gates' mentioned that his
land grab had nothing to do with sustainability, on Reddit,
is further proof. He stated that his company, Cascade
Investment, recommended the land grab because it would yield
significant financial gain. But, for indigenous peoples,
farming land is about providing sustenance for current and
future generations, not profit.
Studies done by Oxfam, a charitable organization, and the
Stockholm Environment Institute have shown that the world's
wealthiest 1% are responsible for the emission of twice as
much greenhouse gases than the world's 50% poorest
populations.
Oxfam also reports that, in 2020, the wealth of the world's
wealthiest individuals swelled to $1.9 trillion dollars
while over 22 million American workers lost their jobs. The
huge tax savings from land grabbing will offset any
seemingly huge donations given by Gates and his wealthy
cohorts.
What is really being planned is an attack on the way small
and indigenous farmers operate. Gates has already called
some of their farming instruments, which have been used for
centuries, old and outdated. Scrutinizing the way these
farmers work is a way to invalidate them and get people to
view them as a problem. Meanwhile, large, industrialized
farming corporations, who abuse and overwork their
livestock, get a pass.
To further alienate these salt of the earth farmers, a
digitized rating system intent on measuring carbon emission
levels will be used only on their farms, not corporate
farms. This is surveillance and it is possible that this
digitized monitoring will approve or disapprove the normal
tasks of these farmers, thereby crippling them economically.
Then, we all would have no choice but to patronize corporate
farms. Bill Gates wants to accomplish his 'net zero' carbon
emission goal by 2050.
(Sources: the guardian.com: Nick Estes & mercola.com)
Guidance
From Sis. Yasmin
As Salaam 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh.
Eid al-Adha History & Origin.
Two of the most important Islamic holidays of the year are
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. While the former marks the end
of the long fasting month of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Adha marks the
end of Hajj,
The sacred pilgrimage to the holy city Mecca.
It's customary for every able Muslim (as prescribed in the
Five Pillars of Islam) to go on a Hajj at least once during
his lifetime.
Also popularly known as the Festival of Sacrifice, this
Muslim holiday Eid-ul-Adha commemorates Prophet Abraham's
unselfish act of sacrificing his own son Ishmael to the One
God, Allah.
The history behind Eid-ul-Adha follows the story of the
faithful Abraham, who was instructed by Allah in a dream to
raise the foundations of Kaaba, a black stone, the most
sacred Muslim place in Mecca (Saudi Arabia), which the
Muslims face during their prayers (salat). Immediately
responding to the Lord's call, Abraham set off for Mecca
along with his wife and son, Ishmael. At that time, Mecca
was a desolate and barren desert and Abraham had to face a
lot of hardships. However, he supplicated Allah's commands
uncomplaining. In a divine dream, he also saw himself
sacrificing his son Ishmael for Allah's sake. When he told
this to Ishmael, the latter immediately asked his father to
carry out Lord's commands without faltering and assured that
he was completely ready to give up his life for God. But
miraculously enough, when Abraham was about to sacrifice
Ishmael, Allah spared the boy's life and replaced him with a
lamb. And this is what Abraham ultimately sacrificed.
To commemorate this outstanding act of sacrifice by Prophet
Abraham, people sacrifice a lamb, goat, ram, sheep, cow, or
camel on Eid-ul-Adha and give the meat to friends,
neighbors, relatives and the needy. People who are away from
the holy pilgrimage, Hajj, also carry out this traditional
sacrifice. Hence Eid-ul-Adha is also known as the Feast of
Sacrifice or the Day of Sacrifice.
Eid-ul-Adha begins from the 10th day of the 12th Islamic
month Dhul-Hijjah. But the date of Eid-ul-Adha depends on
the visibility of the moon each year. Eid-ul-Adha is known
by different names in different parts of the world. For
instance, Eid-ul-Adha is known by the name Hari Raya
Aidiladha in south-east Asia. In Singapore, the local name
for Eid-ul-Adha is Hari Raya Haji and in Malaysia, people
refer to this festival as Id al-Adha and have made it a
national holiday there. Indians know Eid-ul-Adha as Id
al-Adha or Idu'z Zuha. And in Bangladesh, Eid-ul-Adha is
known as Eid-ul-Azha or sometimes even Id al-Adha. In
Pakistan, children often refer to Eid-al-Adha as big Eid and
Eid-al-Fitr as small Eid. But whatever the name, the
celebratory spirit of Eid-ul-Adha runs high among Muslims
all over the world, the geographical variations
notwithstanding.
What does Eid al-Adha commemorate?
During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the
trials and triumphs of Prophet Abraham.
The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows:
"Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright,
and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties.
We chose him and guided him unto a right path.
We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most
surely be among the righteous."
(Source~ Qur'an 16~Surat An Nahl [The Bee] ~ A #
120-121)
One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of Allah
to kill his only son.
Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's
will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to
him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had
shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others that
he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to
him in order to submit to God.
Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?
During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate
and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an
animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very
often misunderstood by those outside the faith.
Allah has given us power over animals and allowed us to eat
meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of
taking life. Muslims slaughter animals in the same way
throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time
of slaughter, we are reminded that life is sacred.
The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given
away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and
relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third
is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness
to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our
hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also
symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own
bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help
those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come
from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with
others.
It is very important to understand that the sacrifice
itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with
atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves
from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous
generations:
"It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah;
it is your piety that reaches Him."
(Source~ Qur'an ~ 22~Surat Al Hajj [The Pilgrimage ]~ A #
37)
The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make
sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight
Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things
that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who
submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to
follow Allah's commands completely and obediently. It is
this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing
obedience that our Lord desires from us.
What else do Muslims do to celebrate the holiday?
On the first morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the
world attend morning prayers at their local 'Masjids'.
Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and
the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members
of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make
arrangements for the slaughter of an animal.
The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or
shortly thereafter.
~ My 'Salaams' to all~
~Yasmin~
'Do Not Despair of the Mercy of Allah'.
{'Qur`an ~ Surat Az-Zumar~ 39 :A # 53 }
Person to Person.
Newark, Delaware.and Brooklyn, NY
6 pages to 27 Muslims and 25 Muslims
<.b>
After juma salat on July 23, six pages from New Trend were
given to 27 Muslims in Newark, Delaware.
Also on July 23, six pages were given to 25 Muslims in
Brooklyn, New York.
Some of the items in these six pages were:
Khutba by Dr. Siddique, June 25 on Germany and ibn Tamiyya.
Jamaat al-Muslimeen shoora on Masjid al-Aqsa & desecration by the Zionists, led by sis. Nadrat, and resolutions supporting Palestine. [June 26]
Pakistan. JI & Imran Khan.June 27
Message from Imam Badi Ali, North Carolina
As-slamu alaikum,
The Prophet (pbuh) was a loving husband.
Aisha, r.a., talked about the times when she enjoyed meals
with him. He enjoyed his meals only when she sat next to him.
They drank from one cup and he watched where she placed her
lips so that he could place his lips on the same area.
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things.
Call your wife with beautiful names "Its Sunnah"
Remember with love and patience, nothing is impossible!
O Allah gather me with my family and friends in jannah.
Ameen.
Biggest Myths of the Second World War.
The Camps of "Operation Reinhardt"
Our prestigious series Holocaust Handbooks includes three
monographs on the so-called Camps of "Operation Reinhardt":
Treblinka, Belzec and Sobibór. The first monograph is 19
years old, the second 17 years, and the last of them
appeared 11 years ago. Lots of archeological research has
been conducted in Treblinka and Sobibor in the meantime, and
many more witness statements were about both camps have been
made accessible during the past decade. Hence, it was time
to either give all three books a major overhaul, or to issue
a new book bringing the entire topic up to date.
For a number of reasons, we decided to go the second route.
This new book replaces the unwieldy old Volume 28 of the
Holocaust Handbooks (it had more than 1300 pages). Now we
have an attractive new Volume 28:
C. Mattogno, The "Operation Reinhardt" Camps Treblinka,
Sobibór, Belzec: Black Propaganda, Archeological Research,
Expected Material Evidence
This study has its first focus on witness testimonies
recorded during the war and its aftermath, thus
demonstrating how the myth of the "extermination camps" was
created. The second part acquaints us with archeological
efforts made by mainstream scholars in their attempt to
prove that the myth is true. The third part compares the
findings with what we ought to expect, and reveals the chasm
between archeologically facts and mythological
requirements.
Available as hardcover, paperback and e-book (PDF, ePub).
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THE THIRD ENCOUNTER with the West: 1776 AD to 2476 AD
by Dr. H. Ashruf
Founder member of Islamic Society of Baltimore
A new nation the United States of America declared
independence in 1776. The nascent nation struggled for seven
years for recognition in the world body. The very first
recognition came from the Muslim world. Sultan Mohammad III,
the Sultan of Morocco, was the first sovereign in the world
to recognize the new nation in 1783.
During the same period, when the Muslims were driven out of
Europe and European Powers and Russia were occupying Muslim
lands, Muslims were brought in USA as slaves from Africa. A
beginning of third encounter was made.
According to Yvonne Haddad 1/5TH of all the slaves brought
to America were Muslims.
Fareed Nauman, a Muslim researcher says that from the year
1530 to 1860 ten-million slaves were brought to North
America. Thirty percent of them were Muslims. This was the
first wave of Muslims, which was brought to the USA by
force.
The second wave of Muslims came to the USA after the
breakdown of the Ottoman Empire after the first World
War.
In the mid-sixties of the last century, at the height of the
Vietnam war, America needed skilled labor and Johnson's
administration relaxed the immigration laws. Highly
qualified Muslims immigrated to the USA from 65 different
countries. This was the third wave of Muslims to come to
this country.
Within a span of thirty years, 1914 to 1944, two World Wars
took place and caused colossal murder and mayhem. About the
first World War Charles L Mee wrote "By November 11, 1918,
when the armistice that marked the end of the war was signed
eight million soldiers lay dead, twenty million more were
wounded, diseased, mutilated, and twenty-two million
civilians had been killed or wounded".
About the Second World War, Patrick Buchanan wrote that
fifty million died to bring Hitler down.
After the Second World War there was an acute shortage of
manpower in Northwestern Europe (the heart of Europe) and in
the United Kingdom. The UK needed labor. Muslims came with
others from India and Pakistan. France needed labor. Muslims
arrived from North Africa. Germany needed labor. Muslims
came from Turkey.
As I pointed out before in the first and second encounters
the Northwestern Europe (the heart of Europe) and UK were
spared. Muslims could not penetrate there. For the first
time in history during the last 50 to60 years Muslims have
established themselves in the heart of Europe (Northwestern
Europe) and UK along with the USA and Canada.
There are 23 million Muslims in Northwestern Europe and
British Isles. Total number of Muslims in Europe as a whole
in 2007 was about 53 million (7.2 %). Bradford is 24%
Muslim. Birmingham is 22% Muslim. Belgium is 5 % Muslim.
Copenhagen and Manchester are 15% Muslim. 10% of Paris is
Muslim and 10% of London is Muslim.
Muslims in the British Isles have done extremely well. They
are present in every walk of life. You see them on BBC Some
are members of Parliament, a few in House of Lords. The
Mayor of London is a Muslim. There are 1,500 mosques in
England where there were only two 70 years ago. There are
100 Sharia Courts. Mr. Gibbon must be uncomfortable in his
grave because a department of Islamic studies has been
established at Oxford University under the patronage of the
heir apparent, Prince Charles.
In France, the number of mosques doubled in 20 years from
1000 to 2300. Mr. Charles Martel must be turning in his
grave because a mosque is built in Tours, where he claimed
to have stopped the advance of Muslims in 732.
In Germany there are 2600 prayer areas out of which 1200 are
called mosques. 114 mosques have minarets.
In Austria, according to recent Gatestone Institute report,
the Muslim population now exceeds 500.000 (or roughly6% of
the total population), up from an estimated 150,000 (or 2%)
in 1990. The report further states that Muslim students now
outnumber Roman Catholic students at middle and secondary
schools in Vienna, the capital and largest city of Austria.
Austria is also in the process of introducing new
taxpayer-funded textbooks for the formal teaching of Islam
in all public elementary schools across the country. This is
the first time Islam is being taught to Austrian students in
German language.
Belgium had 350 mosques as of 2005. A few years ago, the
municipal council of Brussels (the capital of the European
Union) of 21 members had 10 Muslim members.
In Spain Muslim population has almost doubled from about a
million in 2007 to 1.9 million today.
Switzerland has 114 mosques catering for the need of 400,000
Muslims. Recently the government of Switzerland has banned
the construction of minarets.
In Canada there were 579,740 Muslims according to 2001
census.
In United States of America there are 4 to 5 million
Muslims. There are 2007 Islamic Centers/mosques. There are
two Muslim members of Congress.
When one reflects on these encounters, certain realities,
certain facts emerge. In the first and second encounters
Muslims gave their blood and treasure. Hundreds of thousands
were martyred and maimed but they could not penetrate in the
heart of Europe. In the third encounter, not a single person
died or injured, and Muslims established themselves in the
West. It is a divine design. It is a test for Muslims.
In the beginning it was said that each encounter has a point
of beginning and an end. In between it reaches its peak its
pinnacle, where it is hindered, hampered, or stopped. The
peak of the first encounter took place in 732 and of the
second in 1401.The third encounter also had to have its
peak, exactly after 600 years of 1401 the unfortunate
incident of 911 occurred in 2001.
Please also note that only we the Muslims are responsible
for what happened in all the three encounters. It is only
our doing. If Muslim soldiers were united in 732 things
would have been different. In 1402 if two big Muslim Powers
would not have fought with each other things would have been
different
In 732 Islam's advance was stopped at Tours (France) and in
1683 Islam's advance was stopped at Vienna (central
Europe).
But after 911, Islam did not stop. Islam for the first time
in the history has become global. Every household in the
world hears about Islam 24/7. It is a different matter that
the honeymoon of Islam with the US came to an end. The cold
war, which was fought with the communism under its red
banner ended. A new war, which is rather hot, started in
earnest on the pretext of terrorism with Islam's green
banner.
It is a fact that so far the establishment of Muslims in the
West. specially the heart of Europe is concerned, the third
encounter is the most successful. Bernard Lewis has
acknowledged this fact in his book 'Islam and the West'.
The real question is how this third encounter all is going
to end? Will there be a new inquisition in Europe like in
1492 to expel the Muslims from Europe? Will there be an
internment of all Muslims in the USA as it was done to
Japanese after the Pearl Harbor incident? These are the
issues, which Muslims must ponder.
In my opinion there will be no inquisition or internment.
There will be no battles or battlefields. There will be no
armies or armistices. There will be no truces or treaties.
It will be a different kind of struggle. The end result of
the third encounter depends as to how the Western Muslims
shape up. The choice is ours. Either it will be a story of
rack and ruin of Islam or a rebirth and renaissance of
Islam. The prevailing condition among the Western Muslims
points to the most likely scenario that our progeny will get
drowned and dissolved in the predominant, pervasive,
permissive, and most al1uring and seductive Western
culture-will get melted into the melting pot The story of
rack and ruin of Islam will be written.
Today 38 to 40% of the Muslims of the world live as
minorities. There are 77 countries in the World in which the
Muslim population is 2% or more than 2% and soon USA will be
the 78th. By the year 2050 more than 50% of the Muslim
masses will live as minorities. Western Muslims - especially
the Muslims of the USA - must lead. They are highly educated
and most economically viable and live in the only superpower
of the world (decisions made here have a global impact). We
must know as to where we stand. The press writes about, and
we boast about, that Islam is the fastest growing religion
in the West, but nobody knows and nobody talks about how
many second generation Muslims are leaving the fold of Islam
or are just Muslims for names sake only. The efflux is
greater than influx. To have the rebirth and renaissance of
Islam the challenges are many. The greatest challenge is to
keep our progeny on the right path.
US Muslims have many challenges to meet. The challenge is to
muster up a political clout that the media dare not demonize
us and dehumanize us.
The challenge is to create a place for ourselves in the
public square - to get a place at the table -to have a
platform from where we can persuade our government to not
only sit in the world as a military might but to stand tall
morally right---to tell our government that the national
interest is not just to have a continuous flow of cheap oil.
National interest is to fight for the truth, for human
rights and justice for all, to have a platform from where we
can demand loud and clear to stop the name calling; there is
no such thing as Militant Islam, Mystic Islam, Political
Islam, or Radical Islam. Islam is Islam. Deen-Al-Haq. Yes, a
Muslim can be militant, mystic, radical or fanatic. American
Muslims are not militant, mystic, radical, terrorist or
fanatic. We are peace loving, law abiding, tax-paying
citizens. We must have a platform from where the immigrant
Muslims will say loud and clear that we made this country
our country and the indigenous Muslims will say we are the
sons of the soil, part of the American soul. We the American
Muslims, Immigrant and indigenous will make this country a
better country. We are going to live here, and we are going
to die here. We are not selfish people. We are a unique
lobby. We want equality for all, justice for all - whoever
he may be whether an atheist, a Buddhist, a Christian, a
Hindu, a Jew, or a Muslim. We embrace the constitution of
the USA, not only because we are the subjects of the land,
but for its greatness. All Islamic values are embedded in
it. We want our administration, also, to hold to our constitution.
We should have a newspaper of a national caliber and a TV
station. There are 1912 think tanks in this country, the
most in the world. We Muslims do not have a single think
tank as far as I am aware. The challenge is to have one!
These are lofty goals. To achieve them we have to have our
house in order, which is properly run. We have to have a
hard look as to how our organizations are run, how our
children are taught We have to have a complete paradigm
shift We must abandon the bi-polar management of our
organizations and adopt a unipolar management, which is an
Islamic model. We must stop marginalizing the 50% of our
working force, our women folk. They must have an equal share
in running our organizations. We must change the ritualistic
Islamic education of children, where the Quran and life of
our Prophet SAS is kept at the periphery, to a real Islamic
system where the teaching of Quran in its entirety and life
of our Prophet SAS in its proper context should have a
central position. WE HA VE TO ESTABLISH THE INSTITUTION OF
ZAKAT.
Our Deen gives us a golden half an hour every week, our
Friday Sermon. That tool, that treasure, is not properly
used by the owners of the pulpit These people are in the
driver's seat The driver who takes you to the destination
safely by seeing through the wide-open windshield in front,
by looking in the right side and left side mirrors and by
seeing through the rear window. Most of them they just drive
by seeing through the rear window.
There are three purposes of Friday sermon. Remembrance of
Allah Subhana-o-Tala, Reverence for our Prophet SAS and
relevance to the world we live in. All of them definitely
talk about the first two but the third is always missing.
The audience do tell us the old stories but steer us. Do
tell us the old narrative but open-up new frontiers for us.
Nobody gives direction to the younger generation. Nobody
tells them that just becoming a pious Muslim is not enough
to survive in this world. Nobody tells them to participate
in each and every walk of life in this country: to have a
broad-based education. Nations are not built by just
producing physicians and engineers. We must have artisans
and artists, architects and astronauts, doctors and
diplomats, educationists, and entrepreneurs, geologists and
journalists, politicians, poets, and playwrights. Friday
sermons have become routine ritualistic rigmaroles when
there is a hunger among the audience to be kept engaged and
to get energized. I am quite sure that our preachers know
Islamic history, but they must also know the American
history. They must know the constitution of this country.
They must read books on current topics and at least one
national newspaper every day. Time has come to make the
Friday sermons a two-way street Preachers must give their
e-mail addresses so that the audience can contact them about
their sermons.
American Muslims must struggle and strive in two spheres
namely spiritual and secular----what I call internal and
external struggle. We have to work on both fronts
simultaneously. Internal struggle is the need of the hour -
it is absolutely essential and most vital. The essence of
Islam is the development of a God conscious and a
God-fearing personality. A devout Muslim cannot be melted in
the melting pot, but he can become part of a mosaic. He adds
beauty and a grace to that mosaic.
A good Muslim is a best citizen of any country and is an
asset to any community. To become a devout Muslim, one has
to struggle with oneself. When returning, from the Hunayn
Expedition the Prophet SAS had declared "we are back from
the lesser jihad to a greater jihad". A companion asked,
what is the greater jihad o Prophet of God? He answered," it
is fighting the self-ego". Is to become a better Muslim from
our previous self. American Muslims have to hold fast to
their Deen and embark on a massive jihad-e-Akbar.
To secure our secular demands, if we cannot create a place
for ourselves in the public square or a place on the table,
we should join with the ones who have a place. There are
hundreds of lobbying groups. We should join hands with the
ones who cater to our needs. There are three groups of our
interest. The first group is working for the political
refinement at home such as Common Cause and Public Citizen.
They are working to have term limitation on the politicians
and campaign for finance reform. The second group, the
Council for the nationa1 Interest is working toward a fair
and balanced foreign policy in the Middle East. The third
group is working on moral issues such as permissiveness,
homosexuality, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. They include
Concerned Women of America and Mothers against Drunk
Drivers. We should continue to work in various interfaith
dialogue groups and human right groups. Assimilation is
taboo in Islam, but interaction is a must in Islam.
What is to be done to get back the glory for Islam? There is
only one way for each of us and that is to obtain piety
coupled with professional perfection and supplement with
persistent patience, and prayers to put us on the path of
glory for Islam.
Almighty God knows better what the historians in 2474 will
write about the Muslim's third encounter with the West.
Inshallah, it will be a story of rebirth and renaissance of
Islam, not the story of rack and ruin of Islam.
Dr. Syed Habeeb Ashruf M.D.
Retired consultant in Emergency Medicine
Ex-President of Islamic Society of Baltimore
E-Mail: shashruf@yahoo.com
PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS OR CRITICISM TO MY EMAIL GIVEN
ABOVE. THANKS.
Eid Cease Fire
Taliban declared week -long cease fire during Eid.
Taliban are surrounding major cities and calling for
voluntary surrender of Kabul troops.
Numbers of Taliban dissidents have joined IS.
via facebook
The July 18 issue of New Trend reached 69,873 Muslims
including 6288 women.
