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LETTER TO PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSAIN:
We are still receiving support for the letter. The best is this one from Br.
Iqbal Yunus Khan, Toronto, who after asking us to add his name to the
signatories, writes:
The governments in the middle east who depend for their existence on the
support of
U.S.A
are worried that the masses may rise up in arms against
their backer and they may lose every thing. This is the reason they are
begging their Master not to attack
Iraq.
The USA having assembled one of the biggest armadas cannot now back out.
If for any reason they are forced to back out, the government of Tony Blair
would fall, and President Saddam would gain enormous prestige. All this
cannot be allowed and so war has to be waged by the
Bush
warmongers.
Islam will survive and the enemy would face defeat, Insha Allah.
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LETTERS ON
DR. SIDDIQUE'S
ARTICLE on ABORTION and ISLAM:
[From Thom Saffold, Baptist clergyman in Michigan.]
[He probably read the article on the "Austin Muslims" list.]
I just wanted to drop you a note to say how much I appreciated this post.
I'm going to write or call New Trend Magazine to see if they will allow me
to reprint articles like these in my newspaper, The Street Wall Journal,
which is published in Ann Arbor, MI. The American public at large needs
accurate information about what Islam does and does not teach, as well as
Muslim points of view on current issues, and many of the postings that
originate with New Trend fit those requirements.
Is "Austin Muslims" a functioning group, or just an e-mail list?
BTW, I'm a Baptist clergyman who find that he has more friends at the local
Islamic Center than in local churches, and feels much more at home
surrounded by the multi-hued men in prayer there on Fridays than in
churches.
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[From Sis. Eileen, New Jersey.]
salaam alaikum- I want to thank you for the informative column on abortion.
This is much needed information on what is usually a secret, with most
people ill informed and giving home grown fatwas on this issue.
[From Sis. Hedaya, Georgia.]
Thank you very much for making the Islamic view of the abortion issue very
clear. I have read and had been told that my view of
pro-choice/anti-abortion (unless the mother life is at stake) based on
Allah not forcing us to do anything and Allah showing mercy on all was
wrong. I left the Pro-Choice camp years ago before converting to Islam.
I left because the whole view of abortion by demand did not appeal to me.
It was saying to me that women were not going to do or live in a truly
heathy and respectful manner. No woman should want to live a life style
that abortion by demand is available to cover up her lack of loving
yourself enough to avoid relationships that she is not proud to admit in
the open and live as committed partner with someone. Now that I am Muslim
I know that means marriage and marriage only.
[From Sis. Um Ahmed, Florida.]
Just a short addition to your article on abortion - and I apologize for
being in a hurry and not quoting the 'exact' text and names involved - but
from my memory.....
Someone during the time of the Prophet, saws, had caused a woman to abort
(I believe it was from hitting her in the stomach), and he was forced to
pay recompense - in another case (depending on age of fetus) fasting was
ordered. Sorry I do not have the details handy --- it has been many, many
years since I studied this - maybe you recall the details.
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[An opposing viewpoint which appeared on the muslims-n-georgia list.]
I'm afraid i didn't agree with the position of Br Siddiqui with regards
to the issue of Abortion, and I felt compelled to make a response.
1} Allah says in the Qur'an"...And do not kill your
children for fear of poverty.." Aren't we taught that
Satan imspires us to fear poverty, and to kill our
children? My dear brother quoted two Ahadith
concerning fighting women, one losing the fetus, as
support for his arguement, however I think he has
overlooked the issue of INTENTION! The ladies in the
stories found in the Ahadith did not intend to abort
the baby, whereas in today's American society people
are aborting babies usually to avoid the costs
necessary to raise children! This breeds
irresponsibility as well as lack of respect for human
life. I hope I have showed my point.
2} My Brother also feels this is an issue of the
Rich, as the "pro-life" people oppose Abortion yet
support war against Iraq. This is an
overgeneralization, just like it is to say that all
Muslims support Osama Bin Laden! I'm sure there are
people on both sides of the issue who support war, and
those opposed to war. Moreover, this is a legitimate
concern [i.e. Abortion] which affect many aspects of American
society, and, unfortunatly, other societies as
well, and needs addressed. Life is not cheap, it is
sacred, and Abortion is indeed a sympton of the greater
disease that affects American society.
We should oppose injustice and wrongdoing whereever we
find it! We don't only find it in Iraq,
Chechnya,
Palestine,
Kashmir and Mindanar, we find
it in Abortion clinics in USA, in Police stations, in
Drug-infested neighbourhoods, in the workplace, and on
and on.
Sometimes we Muslims act like we only care about the
Muslim world, however we should remember that Islam is
a solution and an alternative for every human, in
whatever area, and we should be ACTIVE where ever we
need to be active, not just on "Muslim" issues.
I hope that I have not offended anyone by this
response, and in the end, the Praise and thanks are due
to Almighty Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds.
Khuda Hafiz
Br S Waheed
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Br. Waheed missed the point: The verse "Do not kill your children...." is
not about abortion but about infanticide. As was pointed out in our article,
Hadith shows that the aborted fetus is not considered a child in Sharia.
Also Br. S. Waheed is wrong about the pro-life people. They support war,
while the pro-abortion people oppose war. He should go back and read the
article again. He is supporting the pro-life people. The point of the
article was that Islam has its own agenda and we should not support either
side.
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2003-01-26 Sun 11:25ct