Ibn Taymiyyah, A Bright Star In The World Da’wah & Jihad

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أنا جنتي و بستاني في صدري ..
أين ما رحت فهي معي ..
أنا حبسي خلوة ..
و نفيي سياحة ..( يعني الترحيل عن البلد )
و قتلي شهادة ..
المأسور من أسره هواه ..
و المحبوس من حبس قلبه عن ربه ..

(translation at the end of this article)

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On 20th Dhul Qaidah 1430 H or equivalent to 8th November 2009, it was exactly seven hundred and two (702) years that the Islamic ummah had lost one of its warriors in history. The warrior was also a commander, ulama, mujtahid and mujahid, the defender of Islam. His life was never free from the shadows of the tyrannical government and iron bars. The warrior’s name is Abul-Abbas Taqiyud-Din Ahmad ibn Abdul-Salaam ibn Abdullah ibn Taymiyah al-Harrani or better known by the name Ibn Taymiyyah.

He was born into the circle of a religious family from a strong intellectual background. His father, Shihabuddin bin Taymiyyah was a judge and a khatib (speaker) at the same time. His grandfather named Majduddin Abul Birkan Abdussalam bin Abdullah bin Taymiyyah Al-Harrani was an ulama in fiqh, 'Ilmu 'I-Usul, tafseer, and an ahlul hadith.

Ibn Taymiyyah was born in Harran, on the 10th Rabiul Awwal 661 H when Baghdad was the centre of authority and Islamic culture during the Abbasid Dynasty. When Ibn Taymiyyah was six years old (year 1268), he was taken by his father to Damascus as Iraq was under attack by the Mongol army then.

Like his father and grandfather, Ibn Taymiyyah also possessed a high IQ. The signs of his intelligence could already be seen at a very young age. Once, when he was still a kid, there was a great ulama from Halab (ed- in Syria) who purposely came to Damascus, only to see this prodigious child named Ibn Taymiyyah whose intelligence and marvelous retentive power became the talk of the town. During the meeting, he gave Ibn Taymiyyah a test by means of presenting 11 or 13 matn (text) of hadith at once. Evidently, Ibn Taymiyyah could memorize them precisely in a very short period of time. The same goes when a number of sanad (the chain of narrators of the hadith) were presented to him, he could memorize and repeat them all exactly without a single mistake. Astonished at the feat of the boy's memory he remarked: “If Allah wills him to live, he would be a genius without a peer in the whole world.”

Before reaching his teenage years he had already mastered most of the religious and secular sciences of his time giving special attention to Arabic literature, Nahwu (grammar), mathematics, khat (calligraphy) and lexicography. He also learned the laws of Shari'ah, Jurisprudence, Hadith and Quranic sciences, . At that age, he had already studied the musnad of Imam Ahmad for some times, then the Kutubu-Sittah and Mu’jam At-Thabarani Al-Kabir.

In his youth, he had been stuffed with pouring important knowledge from important personalities. He studied with over 200 sheikhs, among them his own father and four women. As he was endowed by Allah Ta’ala with the ability to easily memorize and hardly forget, he had already memorized the Qur’an since he was young.

Ibn Taymiyyah especially mastered the Rijalul Hadith (narrators of hadith) and Fununul Hadith (varieties of hadith) whether it be the weak, faulty or sahih hadiths. He understood all the hadiths contained in Kutubus Sittah and various Al-Musnad. He had an extraordinary brilliance in presenting the verses as hujjah, to the extent that he could easily bring up the mistakes and weakness of the mufassir. He wrote tafseer, fiqh, ilmu ‘usul every night while at the same time commenting on the philosophers. In one day and night, he managed to write four kurrosah (small book) which contained a variety of his opinion in the field of shari’ah. Ibnl Wardi said in Tarikul Ibnl Warid that Ibn Taymiyyah had written five hundred titles.

Although Ibn Taymiyyah’s love for knowledge was very deep, he did not right away abandon the amaliyah activities of da’wah and jihad like many of today’s ulamas who are only satisfied by involving themselves with books. Ibn Taymiyyah did not remain quiet seeing the munkars that were prevalent in his time. He personally jumped into the midst of society establishing amar ma’ruf and nahi munkar. He did not adopt the uzlah (the breaking off) approach seeing the rampant vices and munkars. Once, on his way to Damascus, in a “café” that normally became a meeting place for the blacksmiths, he saw people playing chess (a game that he considered as immoral - ed). He immediately approached the place, took the chess board and turned it over. Those who were playing the game could only be taken aback and silenced.

Not only that, with his own hands, he had also smashed up a drinking place and harassed its visitors. [Something nearly the same done by the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front) in Indonesia especially in the month of Ramadhan.] In fact, Ibn Taymiyyah and his followers had on one Friday fought the people who lived in the mountain of Jurdu and Kasrawan because they had strayed and their aqeedah had been corrupted as a result of the Tar-Tar army invasion which had destroyed the city. He then explained the truth of Islam to them.

His amaliyah of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar did not stop there. He then continued to conduct jihad, in the sense of “fighting a war”, something that is a far cry from most of today’s ulamas. He was a Mujahid who made Jihad as his way of life. In the year 700 H, when Sham was sieged by the Tar-Tar army, he immediately approached the mayor of Sham in order to crush any possibility that could happen by presenting verses from the Qur’an. He generated the spirit to defend a homeland and drive away the enemies. Because of his determination, he became a trusted person and was able to get help from the forces of the Sultan of Cairo. With mature and precise argumentations he managed to awaken the heart of the Sultan. Then, the sultan deployed his entire army forces to Sham until they achieved victory at last.

In Ramadhan 702 H, he personally jumped into the battle arena during the battle of Syuquq, which became the command centre of the Tar-Tar forces. Together with the army forces from Egypt, they all advanced under the command of the Sultan. With the spirit of “Allahu Akbar” that echoed, they managed to expel the Tar-Tar forces and Syuquq could be reclaimed.

The personality of Ibn Taymiyyah had a lot of different aspects. One role that could always be seen was his activity in fighting all bid’ah (innovation), khurafat (superstitious notion) and views that according to him was astray. It’s not surprising that he received heavy oppositions and hard times from the ahlul bid’ah during his time.

A big part of them wanted to eliminate the pure shari’at of Muhammad, which is above all the other religions and hukm (rules). The leaders of those deviated stream caused the people to be in doubts about the fundamentals of their religion.

“They are the zindiq people who are not confident with their religion. After seeing all those, it was clear to me that it is compulsory for anyone capable to fight their falsehood and overcome their arguments, to muster all energy to expose their ugliness and rebuff their theorems.” Thus was some of his view which had received challenges from those who felt cornered and faulted by him.

Year 705 H, the ability and credibility of Ibn Taymiyyah was tested. The Qadhi’s and the sultan assembled in the palace. After going through a fierce debate between them, it was clear in the end that Ibn Taymiyyah held a true aqeedah. Many amongst them realized the truth in Ibn Taymiyyah.

However, the attempt to discredit the personality of Ibn Taymiyyah continued to happen. In one meeting in Cairo, he was accused of causing restless in the society through his controversial viewpoints. The Qadhi who had been influenced by the gossips pronounced Ibn Taymiyyah as guilty. He was sentenced to one year and a few months in jail.

In the journey of his life, it was not only once that he felt life inside the prison. In the year 726 H, in accordance with twisted facts, the Sultan issued an order of his arrest. Hearing that he said, “I am waiting for it. There is a lot of goodness there.”

That was Ibn Taimiyah, a great ulama who cowered inside the prison of Egypt. He was just freed from prison and then he was arrested again and imprisoned for a second time for another half a year. It was because of his writings in which the contents were about issues of theology that could not be accepted by the many. So, the personality of Ibn Taymiyyah was not one considered as nearer to the government and become a lackey who sucks up to the ruler’s side. Not a few, including ulamas considered him to be deviated and deviating. In the prison, where he only spent for half a year, he managed to enlighten and bring home the occupants of the prison who stayed with him until all of them were repentant and became his faithful followers.

He made the most of the life in prison with reading and writing. His writings were still resounding with the strength of the hujjah and enthusiasm, as well as his strong viewpoints. But it was precisely that stance that restricted Ibn Taymiyyah’s moving space. On 9th Jumadil Akhir 728 H, all his books, papers, pens and ink were confiscated and it became such a big blow to Ibn Taymiyyah. After he was banned from writing, he spent more time reading holy verses (reciting Qur’an) and worshipping, intensifying his tahajjud until his confidence became even more fortified. Despite being a hafidz, he used the Holy Qur’an which was the only book he had left after all the other books were confiscated. He kept reading the Qu’ran until he got tired, then he performed zikr and solat. Thus was his routine, to the extent that he had completed reading the Qur’an 80 times since then.

And when he read for 81st time, when he came to the verse that means, "…Lo! The righteous will dwell among gardens and rivers firmly established in the favor of a Mighty King." [54:54- 55] . He was not able to complete this recitation because he fell ill for 20 days.

At that time he was already 67 years of age and he had been cowering inside the last prison for more than 20 months and his illness was never reducing. The public did not know that he was in an ill condition because the only one who administered him was Ibnl Qayyim Al-Jauziyah, his faithful student. Only when the muadzzin called out from the minaret announcing he had returned to his Lord that people started to come in droves and swarmed the gate of the prison.

A massive crowd was mourning his death in their sobs and cries. They all struggled to get close and see his face, hold his janaza and there were even those who attempted to kiss him.

He passed away on Monday, 20th Dhul Qaidah 728 H (26-28th September 1328 M), at the age of 67, after being ill in the prison for more than 20 days. He breathed his last on his prayer mat while in the state of reading the Qur’an. He eventually had to die defending the truth inside a prison. The baazars and streets of Damascus were quiet. Livelihoods stopped for a while. The Emirs, leaders, ulama and fuqaha, soldiers, men and women and children, they all came down to send off his janaza. According to historians, there had never been a janaza which was prayed upon and honoured by so many people except the janaza of Ibn Taymiyyah and Imam Ahmad bin Hambal. He was buried at about the ‘Asr time beside the grave of his brother Sheikh Jamal Al-Islam Syarafuddin.

There was one short and concise message that he left for the strugglers until the end of time, a message that he constructed in the form of a beautiful and sharp poem:

What could the enemies do to me?!!!!
my garden and orchard (paradise) are inside my breast
Where ever I go, it’s always with me
And it has never left me.
my imprisonment is khalwat
my killing is shaheed
my expulsion from my country is recreation

(Ibn Taymiyyah)

NB:
In order to know more in detail about the life of Ibn Taymiyyah and the condition of the Muslim Ummah in the seventh century after Hijrah i.e. at his time, please read the more complete books that discuss about his life, such as:

1. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, by Abul Hasan Ali An-Nadwi.
2. Ibn Taymiyyah, Bathal Al-Islah Ad-Diny. Mahmud Mahdi Al-Istambuli, ed. II 1397 H/1977 M. Maktabah Dar-Al-Ma’rifah–Dimasyq

Sour©e: muslimdaily

The Sadistic Serbian Forces Commander Convicted of War Crimes

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SARAJEVO, (Reuters) - Former Serb army commander Predrag Kujundzic was convicted of crimes against humanity -- including murder and rape -- by Bosnia's war crimes court on Friday and sentenced to 22 years in jail.

Judge Saban Maksumic said the court found Kujundzic, 48, guilty of "committing and coercing sexual slavery, rape, severe deprivation of physical liberty, persecution of non-Serb civilians and other inhumane acts."

Kujundzic was the commander of the Bosnian Serb Army unit known as Predini Vukovi (Predo's Wolves) that operated around the northern town of Doboj during the country's 1992-95 war.

"Commanding over the Predo's Wolves unit, he participated in inhumane treatment of 50 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Croat civilians who were unlawfully detained and used as human shields during combat operations and 17 were killed," the judge said.

Maksumic said Kujundzic went to the house of a woman in June 1992, armed and accompanied by five members of his unit. He raped the woman's under-age daughter and incited other soldiers to rape the mother.

"After Kujundzic raped the minor female, he told her that as of that day she would comply with all that he requested from her or otherwise he would kill her mother and younger sister," the judge said.

Kujundzic ordered the girl to wear a chain with a cross pendant and a Serb army camouflage uniform. He made her wear a red beret and changed her Muslim name into a Serb name without consent of her parents, Maksumic said.

The judge acquitted Kujundzic of separate charges related to the inhumane treatment of prisoners of a detention camp.

The Bosnian war crimes court was set up in 2005 to relieve the burden on the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and to try mid- and low-ranking cases from the Bosnian war that claimed an estimated 100,000 lives.

The trial of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic opened in The Hague this week, with prosecutors accusing him of leading a campaign of genocide against Bosnian Muslims during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

(Reporting by Maja Zuvela)

Learn To Appreciate Hidayah

. Do we still remember the personality of one Sumayyah? She is known as the first Shaheedah in Islam. Sumayyah Binti Kahiyyat and Yasir had been tremendously tortured by Abu Jahal Bin Hisham in the middle of the scorching desert. The moment Rasulullah SAW knew about it, he came over and said, “O family of Yasir, be patient! You have been promised the rewards of paradise.”

In fact, they were even threatened to be killed if they did not leave the religion of Islam. Both these parents of Ammar, Yasir and Sumayah, remained holding on tight to Islam and bravely said in front of the mushrikeen, “we, who have been clean with Islam do not want to make ourselves dirty again.” Hearing that, the mushrikeen became angry and ended up killing them both with spears.

Sumayyah chose to hold out though she could just choose to give in and return to ignorance (Jahiliyya). But she was a Muslimah who was conscious of a true choice. She chose to die as the first Shuhada in the history of Islam. And of course the reward for her should be greater, jannah and the pleasure of Allah were over her.

Today, we are also faced with a wondrous incident . A lady in this century chose to remain defiant with the jilbab that she put on. Marwah Al Sharbini, a 32 year old Muslimah, was stabbed to death by a 28 year old Russian-born immigrant from Germany, in a court of law in the German city of Dresden on Wednesday, 1st July 2009. The pregnant lady was stabbed 18 times, before she gave her witness against the German man who had been harassing her for long months, and calling her a “terrorist”. (He also allegedly removed her head scarf by force from her head on several occasions.) Marwa Died on the spot. Her husband who rushed to save her was both stabbed by the man and shot by the police. He remained in coma for 3 days. Her young son Mustafa who is 3 years old was also stabbed by the man but survived. It was all simply because she wore hijab. Tragic!!!

These two incidents gave our hearts a whack, telling us how hidayah is too precious for them. Because they saw that there is no “ilah” that must be obeyed besides Allah. There is no other purpose in life to be looked for except to find the pleasure of Allah. They would do anything as long as it could bring about the pleasure of Allah. In fact, even if they have to die in achieving it, they would certainly do it.

From here we learn that having the religion of Islam means submitting ourselves wholly to the decision of Allah. Whatever Allah wants, whatever Allah wishes, we will endeavour to do it sincerely. Without hoping for profit, no hidden motive and no demand of any kind. We will also avoid words that cause Allah's anger and actions that make Allah displeased with us. We will be very careful in our speeches, in our actions and in our performances. Because for us the hidayah of Allah is so precious and more meaningful than the riches of the whole world.

This is the value that we must inculcate in the Muslimahs and our young daughters. That holding hidayah tightly is as important as seeking hidayah itself. Seek hidayah with our utmost ability and when we have found it don’t let go just like that. Defend it with all the might that we have in our spirits and physical bodies.


by: Burhan Sodiq

An American Millionaire Who Was Also Michael Jackson’s Lawyer Becomes Muslim

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An American millionaire, Mark Shaffer declared his Islam in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 17th October 2009. Mark was at that time on a holiday in Saudi Arabia to visit some famous cities like Riyadh, Abha and Jeddah for 10 days.

Mark is a well-known millionaire and also a practiced lawyer in Los Angeles, specializing in cases of civil laws. The last big case he handled was the case of the famous American pop singer, Michael Jackson, a week before he passed away.

A tourist guide who accompanied Mark for 10 days in Saudi Arabia, Dhawi Ben Nashir told: Since he set foot for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Mark already started to ask question about Islam and Solat. As soon as he arrived in Saudi, Mark stayed in Riyadh for two days. While in Riyadh, Mark was very interested in Islam. After moving to Najran, we went to Abha and Al-Ula. There, his fascination on Islam grew more obvious, especially the time when we ventured out into the desert.

Mark was amazed to see three Saudi youths who were in our group in Al-Ula, performing solat in the expanse of the very wide desert. A very fantastic panorama indeed.

After two days in Al-Ula, we went to Al-Juf. As soon as we arrived in Al-Juf, Mark asked if I could get him some books on Islam. I then obtained some books on Islam for him. Mark read all those books. The next morning, he asked me to teach him how to perform solat. I then taught him how to pray and take wudhu (ablution). Then, he joined me and performed solat beside me.

After solat, Mark told me that he felt peace in his soul. On Thursday afternoon, we left Al-Ula heading for Jeddah. He looked very serious throughout the journey reading those books about Islam. On Friday morning, we visited the old town of Jeddah. Before the time for the Friday prayer approached, we went back to the hotel and I excused myself to go for the Friday prayer. Then, Mark told me: I would like to join you for the Friday prayer so that I can witness myself how the Friday prayer is like. So I answered: welcome…

We then went to a masjid which was not far from the hotel where we stayed in Jeddah. Since we were quite late, I and many other jamaah had to pray outside, as the number of jamaah was overflowing. I could see Mark observing the jamaah, especially after the Friday prayer was completed, when everybody was shaking hands and embracing each other with radiant and happy faces. Mark was very impressed with what he saw.

When we return to the hotel, Mark suddenly told me that he wanted to become a Muslim. So I said to him: Please have a shower first. After Mark took the shower, I guided him in saying the kalimah of shahadah (declaration of faith) and then he prayed two rakaah. Later on, Mark expressed his desire to visit the Masjidil Haram in Makkah and perform solat there before leaving Saudi Arabia.

In order to fulfill his wish, we went to the Da’wah and Irshad office in the area of Al-Hamro’, Jeddah, to obtain a formal proof of his conversion to Islam, so that he would be allowed to enter the city of Makkah and Masjidil Haram. Then, Mark was given a temporary certificate of his conversion to Islam. As a number of group members who participated in Mark’s visit to Saudi Arabia had to go back to America on Saturday afternoon, Al-Hamdulillah, Ustadz Muhammad Turkistani was willing to send Mark to the Holy Land of Makkah that same morning.

Regarding Mark’s visit to Masjidil Haram, Ustadz Muhammad Turkistani narrated: After Mark obtained his temporary certificate, we straight away departed heading for the noble Masjidil Haram. When he witnessed the Masjidil Haram, he face looked radiant and it emanated an extraordinary happiness. When we entered the Masjidil Haram and witnessed the Ka’bah for ourselves, his happiness increased. By Allah, I could not express that scene with words. After performing the tawaf around the noble Ka’bah, we performed the sunnah solat and went out of Masjidil Haram. I could see Mark very reluctantly wanting to leave Masjidil Haram.

After Mark declared his Islamic faith, he had the chance to express his happiness in Al-Riyadh Newspaper saying: I could not express my feeling at this time but I am being reborn and my life has just started… then he added: I am very happy. This happiness that I am feeling could not be expressed in words especially when I visited the Masjidil Haram and noble Ka’bah.

Regarding his next step after his conversion to Islam, Mark explained: I will learn more about Islam, I will delve deeper into this religion of Allah (Islam) and come back to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

As to what impelled him into converting to Islam, Mark explained: I have already had information about Islam, but it was very limited. When I visited Saudi Arabia and personally witnessed the Muslims there, and saw how they performed the solat, I felt a very strong drive to know more about Islam. When I read true informations about Islam, I became confident that Islam is a religion of haq (truth).

Sunday morning, 18th October 2009, Mark left the Airport of King Abdul Aziz Jeddah heading for America. When filling in the immigration form before leaving Jeddah, Mark wrote ISLAM as his religion.

Farewell Mark… May Allah bless you and make you an obedient Muslim and a Da’i who would invite the American society to benefit from the happiness of being Muslims, just as how you have felt because only Islam could save mankind in this world, as well as in the akhirah later… Ameen. (fj/eramuslim)

Taliban Gained Huge Amount Of “Ghonimah”

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Al Jazeera has obtained exclusive footage showing the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan displaying what appears to be a huge amount of US weapons seized as ghonimah (war booties) from the American military.

The fighters in that video say they seized the arms cache from two US outposts in eastern Nuristan province. The attacks were carried out on 3rd of October this year. Around 200 Taliban fighters were involved in the raid.

Days after the alleged assault, the US military pulled out its entire troops from the area and left behind a lot of weapons which fell into the hands of Taliban fighters.

The region of Nuristan is now controlled by the Taliban. The NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) questioned as to why the Americans left a lot of ammunition at the base on their withdrawal which ended up in the possession of the Taliban.




[Jonah Hull, Al Jazeera]

VIDEO: "Israel" Part 1 & 2

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A Must Watch!..

Kill Enemy Children: Jewish Edict

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OCCUPIED JERUSALEM – A Jewish rabbi has issued a book giving Jews permission to murder non-Jews, including babies and children, who may pose an actual or potential threat to Jews or Israel.

"It is permissible to kill the Righteous among non-Jews even if they are not responsible for the threatening situation," Rabbi Yitzhak Shapiro, who heads the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva in the Yitzhar settlement in the occupied West Bank, wrote in his book "The King's Torah."

He argues that goyem (a derogatory epithet for non-Jews) may be killed if they threaten Israel.

"If we kill a Gentile who has sinned or has violated one of the seven commandments - because we care about the commandments - there is nothing wrong with the murder."

Shapiro, who heads a small Talmudic school at the settlement of Yitzhar near Nablus, claims his edict "is fully justified by the Torah and the Talmud."

The anti-goyem edict seems to come in response to the arrest by Israeli police of a Jewish terrorist who has confessed to having murdered two Palestinian shepherds in the West Bank.

The terrorist, an American-born immigrant named Yaakov Teitel, also confessed to have tried to assassinate leftist Jewish figures.

Police considered the arrest an important achievement in combating Jewish terrorism, which experts contend thrives on religious edicts issued by rabbis affiliated with the religious-Zionist camp.

Nearly 16 years ago, a Jewish terrorist named Yigal Amir assassinated then Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin.

Moreover, numerous innocent Palestinians have also been murdered in cold blood by Jewish terrorists.

In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, a notorious Jewish terrorist, murdered 29 Muslim worshipers inside Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank town of al-Khalil.

Non-Humans

The controversial edict is backed by numerous rabbis affiliated with the so-called national-religious camp as well as the Talmudic seminary in West Jerusalem, known as Merkaz Ha’rav.

Among the rabbis who have publicly supported the edict are Yitzhak Ginsburg and Ya’akov Yosef.

Ginsburg had written a leaflet glorifying murderer Goldstein and called him a "saintly figure."

Shapiro’s views on how Palestinians and non-Jews in general ought to be treated according to Jewish religious law (halacha) are widely looked at as representing the mainstream not the exception in Israel.

During the Israeli onslaught against Gaza earlier this year, Mordecahi Elyahu, one of the leading rabbinic figures in Israel, urged the army not to refrain from killing enemy children in order to save the lives of Israeli soldiers.

He had even petitioned the Israeli government to carry out a series of carpet bombing of Palestinian population centers in Gaza.

"If they don’t stop after we kill 100, then we must kill a thousand. And if they do not stop after we kill a thousand, then we must kill 10,000. If they still don’t stop, we must kill 100,000, even a million. Whatever it takes to stop them."

According to Israel Shahak, author of "Jewish History, Jewish Religion: the Weight of Three Thousand years," the term "human beings" in Jewish law refers solely to Jews.

Many Jewish orthodox rabbis, especially within the national-religious sector, view international conventions incriminating the deliberate killing of civilians and destruction of civilian homes and property as representing "Christian morals" not binding on Jews.

In 2006, the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Settlements in the West Bank urged the army "to ignore Christian morals and exterminate the enemy in the north (Lebanon) and the south (Gaza Strip).

Such manifestly racist and hateful edicts don’t raise many eyebrows in Israel, neither among the intelligentsia nor in the society at large.

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Sour©e: IOL

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Related post: Israel Is Thirsty For The Children Blood

BE STRANGE

. STRANGE!!! THE “CRAZY” PEOPLE WHO SACRIFICE

At a time when others are having fun with what they desire according to their nafs (ego), but hey… there exists a group of strange (“crazy”) people who on the contrary are thinking (ed: caring) about the condition of the ummah which is all miserable and oppressed right now.

There are those who hurled negative statements at them, “Why do you have to think of others? Deal with your own affairs and improve your own self first!” They say.

Don’t you all know?!! The negative statements should be more suitable to be targeted at the people who like to gossip and talk spitefully of others (as infotainment), why? Because they are indeed the ones who “think”, interfere and blow up the aib (failings) of others.

We all know that the Qur’an says : " ..those who like to talk about the flaw of others is like eating the flesh of his dead brother."

Well, more about caring for others… yes, it’s true, our care for others is not baseless, we must in our actions be bounded by the shara’ regulations (Islamic regulations). Rasululllah SAW the perfect human being said:

“Whoever wakes up in the morning and focus only on his worldly affairs, then that person is useless in the sight of Allah; and whoever does not pay heed to the condition of the Muslims, then he is not from amongst the Muslims” (THR. Thabrani dari Abu Dzar Al Ghifari).

Now, our logics are telling us… if not from amongst the Muslims (the ummah of Muhammad SAW) then the opposite understanding is that they are from out of the ummah of Prophet Muhammad SAW a.k.a. kafir. Naudzubillah min dzalik!!!

It’s true that it is not easy to win the Shafa'at (Intercession) of Prophet Muhammad SAW! It needs sacrifices! It needs hard works! Isn’t it fair that sacrifices and hard works should be paid with paradise? Even in the simple task as eating, works are required (by chewing first) in order for the food to be digested easily.

Yes, this is Islam, if we talk about solidarity, Islam is in the lead in this matter!! The solidarity in Islam is very principled, unlike the solidarity of those who are narrow-minded and blind, solidarity only based on common nationality (nationalism), solidarity only based on common ethnicity (tribalism/chauvinism).

It is this kind of solidarity that is too awkward, to care only because of a common nationality/clan, so narrow and fragile. Narrow, because the care is limited by the boundaries of nationalism.

Fragile, because it can easily be destroyed and lost. The tie of nationalism/tribalism only exists when there is danger (attacks) and when the attacks that intimidate them are gone, their bondage will be gone and replaced by individualism and narcissism, like what are indisputably proven today.

Therefore, the narrow and fragile ties like nationalism, tribalism, patriotism and chauvinism are only suitable for whom? True, very suitable for the animals that do not have the capacity to think, that make them unable to differentiate the rights and the wrongs according to the standard of Islamic regulations.

Whereas, the concept of solidarity in Islam is extensive and strong. Extensive, because it is not limited by the boundaries nationalism, as long he/she is Muslim, even though he/she is located at the end of the world, he/she is still our brother/sister. Strong, because the tie of a common aqeedah is always there, whatever the condition is, whether it be during peaceful times or in the condition where the Muslim ummah are oppressed like today, where the tie of this common aqeedah becomes even stronger.

The issues of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Islamic countries that are oppressed, are not their own personal problems but are the common problems of the Islamic ummah all over the world which we must think of and find common solutions to. And we all know that the “Sharia’ and Khilafah” is The Only One Solution.

What follows are some examples of scenarios how as Muslims we care about the conditions of the Islamic ummah today!

Try to imagine, is it “Strange” or not? At a time, say maybe it's 8 o’clock at night, when others are normally relaxing comfortably at home while watching the TV shows, gathering or chit-chatting with the family or friends. But, hey… these da’wah advocates are out of their houses instead, leaving their children and wives at home. And they are not out of their houses for enjoyments but to meet and make plans (ed: da’wah strategy) of how to formulate methods which are effective and efficient in awakening the society. Is it “Strange” or not?

Try to imagine, is it “Strange” or not? At a time, say maybe it's 11 o’clock at night, when others are sleeping soundly on comfortable mattresses and soft pillows, but, hey… these da’wah advocates are struggling against the cold of the night because maybe they have just gotten back from an assembly.

So isn’t it fair that paradise is the reward for the people who wants to sacrifice like this? Insha Allah the reward is paradise, as long as the niyyah (intention) is sincere for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah alone, for the sake of raising high the kalimah of Allah.

Is it “Strange” or not? In the last one third part of the night when others are in the climax of their pleasurable sleep (dreaming, snoring & slobbering). But hey… instead these da’wah advocates are having a One Night Stand (ed: meaning standing up at night for tahajjud, etc. Not the one-night social encounter).

They prostrate and their tears are flowing as a sign that they are grateful (shukr) and have fear (taqwa) of Him.

And they make do’a and perform munajat (intimate communication in secret) with the Lord — the God Who created the heaven and the earth and all that they contain. And the do’a that they supplicate to Him is not egoist which only prays for themselves and their families. But they pray so that those who have not awakened would be given awareness and hidayah by Allah, because they know that they are also the slaves of Allah who want to feel how pleasant it feels to perform ibaadah and serve Allah.

Is it “Strange” or not? At a time when others are unrestrainedly spending their money to buy whatever they want (consumptive). But hey, these da’wah advocates are readily spending their wealth in the path of Allah, for example by donating their wealth to produce bulletins, banners, pamphlets and organizing talks here and there without any pay.

Come on!!! Let’s think with the mind that Allah has given us. Don’t let our heads function only as a part for placing the 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 nose + 2 of its nostrils and 1 mouth. If that is the only function, then what difference are we from the animals???

Have we not heard??? That there is a term, “humans are animals with wisdom”. So, if our intelligence is not used for understanding the laws of Allah, then those humans are not much different than animals.

In fact, Allah’s statement in the Qur’an is much more forceful, “that the humans who do not use their intellect to understand the laws of Allah are more strayed than livestocks.” Do we want to be likened or even called as more strayed than livestocks??? For the sane, the answer would certainly be: NO!!!!.

The da’wah advocates are the chosen people who could be the best part of the ummah and not the perfunctory part of the ummah.

Have we not heard Rasulullah SAW said: "Islam was strange when it began and will one day be strange again; Blessed are the ghuraba' (those strange people)". [H.R.Muslim]

Who are these strangers??? No other than the advocates of truth i.e. the advocates of the ideology of Islam; because it is only the ideology of Islam that is compatible with the fitrah (nature) of human beings, which is satisfying to the mind & calming to the soul.

Let’s pay a close attention and think deeply. Are the three criterions above existent in the ideologies other than Islam (Capitalism & Socialism-Communism)??? The answer for a human with healthy mind MUST be: NO!!!!.

LET US THINK!!! USE OUR INTELLECT TO UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF ALLAH SWT. THIS IS AN INVITATION TO THINK…

LASTLY, I want to ask you all a question with reference to the hadith just now, don’t you all want to be the lucky people??? Therefore, my recommendation is BE THE “STRANGERS” above!!!

Wallahu’alam bisowab.

Read also: The Characters Of The Ghuraba'

US Rapper To Expose "Media Lies" About Islam

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Mutah Beale launches TV show to present "true Islam"

Islam is backward, breeds terrorists and suppresses women, are just some of the lies the media promotes about Islam, says American rapper and convert to Islam Mutah Beale, who is set to launch a TV show next month to counter the negative stereotypes about Muslims.

Beale, who shot to fame as a member of the "Outlawz" formed by hip hop legend Tupac Shakur, is set to launch Napoleon TV on Dec. 1 to introduce people to the "true" Islam and counter what he terms "media lies about Islam."

"It seems like here in America the media is attacking Islam in every way possible, so I decided to use the media to give people an understanding about the true religion of Islam, which is whole and peaceful" Beale told Al Arabiya.

Napoleon TV, named after Beale's rap alias, will be launched in Britain on cable network Sky's Up & Coming channel where Beale will present his audience an eclectic mix of segments from introducing top celebrities to Islam to explaining verses of the Quran.

The show, which will reach people in Europe and North Africa, will also give Muslims in the West unprecedented access to scholars in the Middle East with a segment on fatwas, or religious edicts, where people can call in and seek advice from accredited scholars in English, a feature Beale says will help Western Muslims in need of guidance on religious matters.

Beale will also use the channel, which brands itself as a platform for up and coming TV channels, to air his documentary, "Life of an Outlaw," which is currently in the works and will be produced by Hollywood actor and comedian Mike Epps.

"The Real Me"

Audiences will also be treated to an inside look in to the daily life of the rapper, who left hip for Islam, with a segment called "Napoleon--The Real Me," a reality show that will follow Beale, who is now a motivational speaker, around.

When asked what makes his life so interesting, Beale answered: "I want people to see that being a Muslim is a part of everyday life, which could be me taking my sons to a soccer game or me in a business meeting."

"People will get to see me going about my business while always striving to get closer to Allah."

The audience will also get a look at exclusive footage of Beale in the African nation of Gambia where he is currently working on opening an orphanage with U.K.-based charity Muslim Global Relief.

"I was an orphan and this is something I want to do because it is close to my heart," Beale said, adding "I will not be making a single penny out of this all money raised will go towards helping orphaned children."

The next stop after Gambia, could be from Gaza to Kashmir "anywhere where they will have us," Beale said.

So who should tune in to Napoleon TV?

Muslims who want to learn about their religion and non-Muslims who have misconceptions about Islam or anyone interested in understanding why someone would give up the luxuries gained from selling more than 40 million records worldwide.

"My goal is to introduce people to Islam and let them leave with an accurate understanding of the religion of Islam."

Napoleon TV will be launched on Dec. 1 on Sky channel 843. The show will air daily from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sour©e: Al-Arabiya

Ustadz Ferry Nur: Zionist Israel Is Waiting For The Muslims’ Inattention

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Sunday, 25th October 2009, the Zionist Israel Laknatullah was acting up again. The military and civilians of the descendants of the cursed swines and apes were again defiling the sanctity of Masjid Al Aqsa. All the same, they are working shoulder to shoulder in the destruction of Masjid Al Aqsa in accordance with the empty hopes they have been struggling for all this time.

In response to the savage action, the Aqsa Working Group held a Tabligh Akbar (mass religious rally) with the theme “Al Aqsa in Danger” on Friday, 30th October 2009 at Masjid Agung Al Azhar, South Jakarta.

Appearing as the one of the speakers was Ustadz Ferry Nur from the KISPA (Committee For Indonesian and Palestinian Solidarity). He reminded that this was not the first time the Zionist Israel is doing it, they had already attempted to demolish the building of Masjid Al Aqsa since 1967.

Therefore, Ustadz Ferry Nur stressed that the Zionist Israel is waiting for a slip on the Muslim’s part in order to destroy Masjid Al Aqsa. They are in the process of waiting for the ‘right’ time to execute their evil plan.

To date, there have been a lot of physical damages on the building of Masjid Al Aqsa resulting from the barbaric acts of the Zionist Israel. The fanatic Jews have tried to burn the Masjid a few times. One of the most heartrending end results was the burning of the Mimbar of Salahuddin Al Ayyubi that occurred in 1969.

And the latest evil act they have done was the destruction of the northern entrance door called “Al Maghariba” as well as the digging of underground tunnels below the Masjid. From the data obtained, more than 60 tunnels were found under Al Aqsa. As a result the walls of the Masjid are cracking. This is very worrying, because if there is enough vibration, Masjid Al Aqsa could collapse in an instant.

Therefore, in his oration, Ustadz Ferry Nur gave two messages to the Muslims:

1. Never get tired and never get bored to attend the events of the Tabligh Akbar of this kind, even though it has been repeatedly held. Then, everybody is dutiful to convey to others whatever he learns regarding the latest condition of Masjid Al Aqsa and Palestine.

2. Let’s set aside a part of the our rizq (sustenance) for our brothers in Palestine whether it be daily, weekly or monthly. As we are aware, the economic conditions of the Muslims in Palestine are very pitiable, especially in Gaza where it was blockaded on all sides.

And don’t forget to spare time for do’a in our every solat for the safety and wellbeing of the Muslims in Palestine and Masjid Al Aqsa.

[muslimdaily.net/tegoeh]

Read also: An Appeal By The MMI On The Preparation Of Sending The Mujahideen To Palestine

Pakistani Taliban: "We Are Prepared For A Long War"

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PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A Taliban spokesman denied Tuesday that Pakistan has won a series of battlefield victories in its offensive in tribal South Waziristan, saying the Mujahideen are drawing government soldiers into a trap.

"We are prepared for a long war," Azam Tariq told an Associated Press reporter by telephone. "The areas we are withdrawing from, and the ones the army is claiming to have won, are being vacated by us as part of a strategy. The strategy is to let the army get in a trap, and then fight a long war."

Tariq also denied army claims that hundreds of Mujahideen have been killed, saying only 11 have been shaheed so far.

In mid-October, the Pakistani government launched an offensive in the South Waziristan tribal region, viewed as the main stronghold in the country of both the Taliban and al-Qaida. The military says it has pressed deep into Taliban territory and captured some Taliban strongholds. They claimed they have effectively sealed off the tribal areas, semiautonomous regions where the central government in Islamabad has long had only minimal authority. The offensive has drawn retaliatory Mujahideen attacks across Pakistan.

What is actually happening, though, is impossible to confirm. Journalists have only been allowed near combat areas on carefully choreographed military trips.

Foreign Coalition Forces Involved In Drug Trade

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KABUL – The minister in Afghanistan who are in charge of handling the narcotic problems said that the foreign coalition forces acquired profits from the opium production in Afghanistan.

General Khodaidad said that the majority of the illegal drugs are sourced from the two provinces which are under the control of the foreign forces from America, UK and Canada, the IRNA reported on Saturday (31/10).

He said that the military forces of NATO are usurping taxes out of the opium production in a number of territories which are under their control. Afghanistan is the biggest supplier of opium in the world.

The production of illicit drugs in Central Asia keeps on growing rapidly since the invasion led by America started eight years ago.

The recently issued reports by the UN said that the opium of Afghanistan has a terrible impact on the world, killing thousands of its users in many countries.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Ahmad Wali Karzai, the sibling of the Afghan president, was involved in the opium trade and he is also the benefactor of the CIA.

This is just another instance when the lies of the West through their corporate media are disproved flat out by Allah. They have been deceiving and trying to brainwash the world through their black propaganda by presenting them opposite facts about what is really going on. In this case by accusing that the Taliban gets their income from the Afghan drug trade.

The truth of the matter is that the Taliban government was instrumental in implementing a successful drug eradication program implemented in 2000-2001, with the support and collaboration of the UN. The Taliban's drug eradication program led to a 94 percent decline in opium cultivation. In 2001, according to UN figures, opium production had fallen to 185 tons. Immediately following the October 2001 US led invasion, production increased dramatically, regaining its historical levels.

Earthquakes and Tsunamis: Is God a Murderer?

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The recent earthquake in Indonesia has evoked memories of the catastrophic Tsunami of 2004 that left hundreds of thousands dead. Natural disasters of cataclysmic proportion always raise the question of how a merciful God can permit indiscriminate carnage and devastation. How can a just God allow such injustices to take place? The secularists, atheists and agnostics use such catastrophic events to reinforce their belief in a Godless universe. They reason, if God does exist He should stand trial for murder and cruelty.

Murder by definition means to take a life unlawfully. But which laws has jurisdiction over God? He is the lawgiver, the creator and the owner of the entire universe and its content; hence it is His prerogative to give and take, life. He is above any law by definition.

Furthermore, God created mankind and placed them on earth with a limited life span as the giver and taker of life. Therefore, according to secular ‘logic’ He has been committing ‘murder’ from the death of the very first man! By the way: what is about the 'mass murder' of cattle, sheep and chicken in the slaughter-houses just to satisfy the nutritional needs of humans: how does this squares with ‘murder’ and 'justice' in the secular minds.

Another point is the ability to resurrect life. The creator has the ability to recreate mankind after they have perished, as recreating is easier than creating from scratch. The divine can easily undo the alleged ‘murder’ of his subjects and He will on the Day of Judgment by resurrecting everyone! This is something a human being could not do to the murdered victims. Thus, the concept of murder can only be applied to those human beings that take another life unlawfully; they are guilty as they did not create the life in the first place, thus have no rights over it. And they are not able to resurrect the victims: the guilt persists forever.

Who knows the fate of those who have perished? Who has this knowledge? To assume that they are worse off is an assumption. The creator may have given them a better life and spared them further sufferings in this world. From the Islamic perspective those who have perished are martyrs, they will be rewarded greatly and the young will enter paradise as they are innocent, they do not need salvation and no one needs to die for their ‘sins’. Therefore, to pass quick judgment upon the divine without the full picture is premature, foolish and in reality impossible.

As for the hardship suffered by those who have survived the recent disaster, it cannot be construed as evil. Many tend to confuse between evil and suffering in general. According to the Islamic text, evil is rebelling against Gods commandments and the consequential suffering inflicted upon the victim. But not all forms of hardship constitutes evil by definition, a serious error often made by many. The creator is entitled to test us from time to time and how quick are we to forget all the bounties that He has given us prior to that.

Adjectives like ‘love’, ‘merciful’ used in describing God Almighty should be understood not in terms of human qualities but as divine attributes. When for example God says He hears everything that does not mean He has big powerful ears but the use of such vocabulary allows the limited human minds to get an infinitely small appreciation of the power of the divine, whilst remembering that HE is nothing like the creation, not part of it and not subjected to the laws of the creation.

There is a clear distinction between the creator and created. This is fundamental point about the notion of God. He created human beings and their mind, given it the ability to compose, analyze and deduce ideas. By rational necessity the finite human mind cannot comprehend the nature of the infinite and eternal God. Furthermore, the reality shows that the human mind being finite struggles to comprehend the creation itself let alone the nature of the creator.

Despite this, the secularists, atheists and agnostics have attempted conceptualize the essence of God using their limited mind, and perhaps the Christian and Pagan traditions have also contributed to this; the end result is God is a more powerful being with super human qualities. Naturally God is now thought of as a being that can be understood in terms of having human qualities and therefore subjected to the same principles that are applied to human beings. And this is where the error begins with charges of murder.

By rational necessity the eternal and uncreated God can never be subjected to the principles that have been derived from the minds of those who HE has created. Similarly, He cannot be subjected to the laws and ethics derived from the human mind as He has created the mind, body and soul. Just as a slave cannot command his master in the same way the eternal sovereign God cannot be commanded or evaluated by His own creation.

These major events like earthquakes and tsunamis are for us to reflect about the meaning of life, the limitations of human beings, these events are proof that the span of life on earth is pre-determined.

Yamin Zakaria
London, UK