Search This Blog

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Palestine - factsheets and booklets




 

 
 

PSC factsheets and booklets

Exploring Palestine through citizenship - resources for schools

NEW FACTSHEET

The truth about Gaza - Frequently asked questions

The Israeli propaganda machine has been working overtime.  It is seeking to justify Israel's actions in Gaza by broadcasting massive misinformation about the history of Gaza, its inhabitants and its leaders. Most of the media in the UK are either too ignorant or too intimidated to questions these modern myths.  So here is the truth, based on reports by the UN and other NGOs on the ground, including Israeli human rights groups.


Palestine the case for justice

Palestine -The Case for Justice (February 2007)

This 48 page booklet provides an informative introduction to the origins of the conflict and to current issues, with up-to-date maps and key quotations. You can order them from the PSC office. They are free, donations to cover P&P are welcome.


Palestine - The New Apartheid (August 2009)


 

Palestine, Israel and the Trade Union Movement (August 2009)


 

Israel, Palestine and the Environment (August 2009)


Refugee factsheet

Refugee fact sheet (May 2008)



Nakba factsheet

The Nakba - Israel's 'War of Independence' and Palestine's catastrophe (March 2008)


The Jordan Valley

The Israeli Annexation of the Jordan Valley (January 2008)


news

Basic Facts

Basic Facts provides a guide to some of the essential aspects of the situation in Palestine – a time line, maps illustrating the changes which have taken place since the British occupation of 1917, a map showing the current situation and information on "What you can do".

news

Jerusalem

This Factsheet explains what is happening in Jerusalem. The Palestinians want Jerusalem to be the capital of a Palestinian state but they are being driven out of the city; the Wall splits the city from the West Bank; Palestinian owned houses are demolished or occupied by settlers and now a tramway (light railway) is being built across the city linking settler areas to the Israeli network and by-passing predominantly Palestinian areas.

news

Settlements

The numbers of Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem and the West Bank was estimated in December 2005 as 438,088 it has undoubtedly now risen to more than 450,000. What is the history behind this? Who are the settlers and how do they relate to the Palestinians whose homes and land they are taking? Find out more.

news

The Apartheid Wall

The Wall is more than 700 km. or 400 miles long, 8 metres high and has been condemned by the International Court of Justice. This Factsheet explains the impact of the Wall on the lives of the Palestinian people. (More information on the Wall can be found in the section "Wall".)

Political Prisoners (February 2008)

As of early 2008, there are currently around 10,400 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Imprisonment of Palestinians is an essential element in Israel's occupation and control of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This factsheet looks at Israel's obligations towards Palestinian prisoners under international law, including child prisoners; arrest, interrogation and toture of prisoners; the military court system; administrative detention; prison conditions; and, the imprisonment of Palestinian political leaders.

 http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=5&l2_id=27
 
Islahonline
 
 



__._,_.___

MEMOIRS FROM THE LIFE OF IMAM AHMAD




 

MEMOIRS FROM THE LIFE OF IMAM AHMAD

 

 

In an interesting book, Wada' Ar-Rasul li 'Ummatihi, Sheikh Al-Qahtani recalls the final words that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said on his deathbed.

 

 

After living a life of ibadah, da'wah, and jihad, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gathered the people around him on his deathbed and said, "I have left two things and you shall not go astray after them so long as you stick to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah."

 

After the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, the Ummah was tested with people who tried to corrupt, discredit, or amputate the Sunnah from Islam. So, Allah – from His Mercy to this Ummah – raised up warriors that would stand in the face of the most vicious enemies of the Sunnah. From those people that Allah raised was a young boy named Ahmad.

 

Ahmad lived in Baghdad over a thousand years ago. On cold winter nights, his mother, the blessed Mu'minah that she was, would awake long before Fajr to warm the water for her son. Then, again long before Fajr, she would wake him up to make Wudhu. Then she would wrap him in shawls and off through the molten dark alleys of Baghdad they would carefully make their way to the masjid.

 

There was no male to escort him (he was an orphan), so Ahmad's mother would take him that early all by herself so he could get a good seat in the Hadith Halaqa after Fajr. Then she would wait for him long after the sun rose to safely escort him back home. Her son grew up to be one of these warrior defenders of the Sunnah, one of the four Imams of this religion, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal.

 

In his collection, Al-Musnad alone, he narrated from over 280 teachers. He grew up under the shade of the Sunnah and he lived the Sunnah. It was reported that he said, "I've never written a Hadith that I did not try to implement."

 

He raised his children like this too. When you see other fathers throwing a baseball with their young Muslim children, remember this example: Abdullah, Imam Ahmad's son, taught his students that when he was young, his father would play with him by saying, "Take any chapter you wish from the Musannaf of Wakee.' Ask me any Hadith and I'll tell you the chain of narrators, or tell me any chain of narrators and I'll tell you the Hadith!"

 

He was challenged in his religion like few other humans have been challenged. Reading through his life, I came across an event that brought back sad memories. Imam Ahmad once prayed Asr and he sat down with his son in the masjid alone with another man by the name of Muhammad Bin Sa'eed Al-Khuttalee. Al-Khuttalee then remarked, "Did you (O Ahmad) tell the people to boycott Zayd Bin Khalaf?"

 

Imam Ahmad replied, "I received a letter from his people asking about his affair, so I replied explaining his madhhab and what he has innovated (in the Sunnah) and commanded that they not sit with him…"

 

Al-Khuttalee exploded in Imam Ahmad's face, red with anger, "I'm going to make sure you go back to prison. I'm going to have them crush your ribs…"

 

The vulgarity grew louder and louder. Imam Ahmad turned to his son, "Don't reply to what he says and don't speak to him." Imam Ahmad took his sandals – Al-Khuttalee swearing from behind his back – and stepped away.

 

When Caliph Al-Mu'tasim heard that Imam Ahmad did not agree with him and his court Muftis on a specific (but important) issue, they brought him and questioned him in the courtyard of the Caliph. They would debate with him and like a gladiator with a spear he would hit back with bigger and stronger arguments. The Muftis would shout, "O Caliph, he has committed Kufr!"

 

Al-Mu'tasim called the executioners. They stripped Imam Ahmad and each of the strongest guards would take turns lashing Imam Ahmad until he fell unconscious. Regardless of his state, they continued the lashing. The sun went down that day and Imam Ahmad had not relented in his faith. That day he became an icon for all followers of Sunnah.

 

Qutaybah said, "If you ever see someone that loves Imam Ahmad, know that he is a follower of the Sunnah."

 

Al-Hasan Bin Arafah narrated that when he visited Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal after he was whipped and tortured, the Imam told him, "Verily, I saw nothing more than people selling their religion and I saw scholars that were with me sell their faith. So I said to myself, 'Who am I? What am I? What am I going to say to Allah tomorrow when I stand in front of Him and He asks me, if I sold my religion like the others did?' So I looked at the whip and the sword and chose them."

 

Al-Hasan then asked, "Did you feel pain when they whipped you?"

 

He replied, "Yes, I felt the pain up to 20 lashes then I lost all feeling (they whipped him over 80 times). After it was over I felt no pain and that day I prayed Dhur standing."

And in fact, he prayed as the blood soiled his clothes.

 

Al-Hasan ibn Arafah started weeping when he heard what had happened. Imam Ahmad questioned him, "Why are you crying? I did not lose my Iman. After that why should I care if I lose my life."

 

Earlier when Imam Ahmad was being led off to the Caliph, people had tried to dissuade him from an almost certain execution. His student, Al-Marrudhi, had told him, "O teacher, Allah says, 'Do not kill yourselves.'"

 

Imam Ahmad replied, "O Marrudhi, go outside and tell me what you see."

 

Al-Marrudhi went to the wall of the Caliph's court and saw an ocean of students with their pens and scrolls in their hands. He asked some of them, "What are you waiting here for?"

They said, "We are waiting to see what Ahmad will say and then transcribe it."

 

Al-Marrudhi went back to Imam Ahmad and told him what he had seen. "O Marrudhi," he said, "what shall I gain by misguiding all those people?"

 

Imam Ahmad lived a life of poverty. He would not even have food to eat. In this life of poverty, hardship and trials, Abdullah asked his father one day, "My father, when will we ever have a respited?"

 

His father – one of the greatest revivers of the Sunnah, a role model for all Muslims, whose contribution continues to benefit students a thousand years on – looked him in the eye and said, "With the first step we take into Jannah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Monday, March 15, 2010

Palestine- The Test of Islamic Revival


Palestine- The Test of Islamic Revival

The Palestinian cause is the most dangerous cause as far as the Muslim Ummah is concerned and is perhaps the most dangerous issue at all. Palestine is a blessed usurped Muslim land against which the East and the West conspired. Furthermore, Muslims themselves, aware or unaware, conspired against it. Nevertheless, Allah in the Qur'an reassured us that sovereignty over the Earth will be given, by Divine will, to pious Muslims. {Verily, the earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He will of His slaves, and the (blessed) end is for the Muttaqun (pious).} [Al-A'raf, 128]

Unique characteristics giving Palestine a distinctive nature

Palestine- The Test of Islamic RevivalPalestine, as well as Egypt, Iraq, Chechnya and any country ruled by Islam even for one day, is a Muslim land. In this regard, it should be born in mind that a country that was ruled by Islam, by virtue of either a conquest or a treaty, will remain Islamic till the Day of Judgment regardless of how universal and man-made laws may change and how divergent opinions people may express. No doubt, this is the unchangeable Divine law. "No change can there be in the Words of Allah." Moreover, Palestine is not just a Muslim land; rather, it is endowed by Allah with unique characteristics so as to be distinctive from any other Muslim country.

First: It was the first Qiblah (direction for prayer) for Muslims.

Second: It was the destination of Isra' (the miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad)

Third: It contains Al-Aqsa Mosque, which Allah always connects to the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and glorifies as the second house for worshipping Allah after Ka'bah to be placed on earth.

Fourth: It contains the third of the three holiest Mosques to which Muslims are encouraged to undertake journeys solely for the purpose of worship (the other two being Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and the Prophet's Mosque).

Fifth: A prayer in this Mosque is worth 500 prayers more than in any other mosque.

Sixth: Allah called it in the Qur'an the blessed and the sacred land.

Seventh: It is the land of resurrection and gathering (for the Day of Judgment).

Eighth: Many decisive battles in the history of Islam, such as Ajnadin, Bisan, Hittin and Ein Jalut, took place on these lands. On the same lands, the last battle between Muslims and Jews marking the approach  of the Day of Judgment, in which Muslims will be victorious, will erupt.

Ninth: Blessing its people till the Day of Judgment, Allah stated that a group of Muslims living in Jerusalem and its hereabouts will remain fighting for the truth till the Day of Judgment.

Tenth: Allah made it the homeland of many prophets, who either were born therein, emigrated thereto, lived on whose land or were buried therein.

I have so far listed ten distinctive characteristics by virtue of which this land was given preference over any other country.

A question might arise: why this land is specifically endowed with such characteristics? The answer is that Allah predestined that all inhabitants of the Earth will think of invading this small land being so sacred and blessed and that it will remain the focus of conflict till the Day of Resurrection. In fact, it was ever coveted by Persians, Byzantines, Crusaders, Tatars, the English, Jews and many more others. Accordingly, Allah inculcated great zeal in the hearts of believers so that they may never leave it occupied. Of course, Muslims should never be tolerant regarding the occupation of any Muslim land.

Palestinian issue may never be compromised and its Islamic orientation may not be changed

Palestine- The Test of Islamic RevivalHowever, this land specifically will remain a coveted object for occupiers. Therefore, Allah the Almighty held it in a high esteem so that Muslims may not forget it regardless of the passage of time. Accordingly, the Palestinian cause is of clearer Islamic orientation than any other Islamic issue. Hence, it is by no means credible or acceptable that this cause be compromised or that its Islamic orientation be given up. Moreover, Allah made the Palestinian cause a measure of the faith of the Muslim Ummah in general. To clarify, Palestine will be occupied by whatever force in case Muslims forsake their religion, neglect their identity and fail to abide by Allah's commandments and the Sunnah of their Prophet (peace be upon him). On the other hand, Muslims will retake Palestine in case they once again come to the fold of Islam holding fast to their religion and the Sunnah of their Prophet (peace be upon him). In other words, the case of rising resistance to occupation, struggle and jihad is an indicator of a high level of faith. However, the case of rising surrender and submission is an indicator that religion is absent from the life of Muslims.

A delicate measure of faith

Referring to coming back to the folds of Islam, I do not mean this is required only for liberating Palestine. Rather, liberating Palestinian is one of many other duties, such as performing prayers, fasting, paying Zakah (obligatory charity), dutifulness to one's parents and dealing kindly with one's neighbors. By the same token, it is also obligatory to practice jihad, liberate occupied lands and resist injustice. Such are duties Allah ordained us to do collectively, which we have to do as a whole and regarding which we are given no choice to do whatever we like and no to do whatever we do not like. {Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest?} [Al-Baqarah, 85] In fact, we repent to Alllah because He enjoined us to frequently repent to Him and ask His forgiveness. {And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.} [Al-Zumar, 54] Thus, if we turn in repentance to Him in the best sense of the word obeying all His commandments and abiding by His injunctions and limits, He will be pleased with us and will fulfill our hope of liberating Palestine or any other land. {And indeed We have written in Zabur (Psalms) [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Qur'an] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz (the Book, that is in the heaven with Allah), that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise).} [Al-Anbiya', 105]

Actually, we do not return in repentance to Allah only in crises and calamities or for a certain need or purpose; rather, we turn in repentance to Him because He is our Lord and God and in Whose Hands are the keys of all matters. Moreover, we are His servants who seek His mercy and fear His Hellfire. Furthermore, we turn in repentance to Him as we are His unstintingly devoted servants who worship Him wholeheartedly. To this effect, we are not like bad servants who obey if given and disobey if deprived. Rather, we abide by His commandments whether we are humiliated or given authority over others, whether glorious or otherwise and whether rich or poor.  {Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).} [Al-An'am, 162] Although humans in general by nature are at times grateful and ungrateful at other times, get closer to Allah at times and turn away from Him at other times, Allah being Merciful of His creatures places reminders in life in order to remind those who might forget Him and lead them back to Him.

One reminder is the Palestinian cause. This fact was deeply understood by great Muslim scholars and leaders. Feeling that Muslims turned away from Allah as Palestine is occupied, they would stir people's zeal through reminding them of the Palestinian issue. By doing so, they did not intend only to free Palestine but also to serve the great goal and supreme objective, i.e. Divine Satisfaction.

Liberation of Palestine contingent upon returning to Allah

Great martyr Nur Ad-Din Mahmud Zangi ordered a large pulpit to be made and decided not to end his worry or lay his fear to rest unless this pulpit has been placed in occupied Al-Aqsa Mosque or he has died. Having understood the Islamic orientation of the issue, he made use of it to lead people back to the way of their Lord. The same was applied by Saladin (Salahud-Din) bin Ayyub (may Allah show mercy to him), who could think of liberating Palestine only after feeling sure that Muslims turned in repentance to their Lord. Feeling that people are unstintingly devoted to their Lord, he could perceive that victory is near and he therefore fought the battle of Hattin and could liberate Jerusalem.

The same notion was also grasped by Sultan Saif Ad-Din Qutuz (may Allah show mercy to him). He moved his army to Palestine only after scholars, foremost among whom is Al-'Izz Ibn Abdul-Salam, had awakened people's desires for Paradise and their fear of Hellfire, and had raised the value of jihad and death in the cause of Allah. Having been certain that people turned in repentance to their Lord, he came to be sure that victory over Tatars is an inevitable result of such repentance. Thus, the battle of Ein Jalut was fought and subsequently Tatars were destroyed and Palestine and the Levant were liberated. {If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.} [Muhammad, 7]

Accordingly, Muslim Du'ah (callers to Allah) have to make use of the Palestinian cause in order to draw Muslims' attention to the necessity of turning in repentance to Allah the Almighty. To this effect, it should be highlighted that loss of Palestine is an indicator of a weak and decreased level of faith. It should also be propagated that the more Muslims show weakness toward the Palestinian issue, the more they are far from Allah, a terrifying situation and a great alarm bell.

Moreover, Du'ah have to make clear for people the Islamic orientation of the issue and how it is closely attached to the Divine evaluation of Muslims. Had a certain generation of Muslims been truthful, Allah would have given them authority. Had a certain generation of Muslims, on the other hand, been weak, cowardly and impure, Allah will exchange them for some other people. {And if you turn away (from Islam and the obedience of Allah), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes.} [Muhammad, 38] Another duty of Du'ah is to explain to Muslims how their enthusiasm for Palestine can be turned into positive action having the effect of not only freeing Palestine but also of raising high the esteem of the Muslim Ummah as a whole and of giving it superiority over all nations of the world as predestined by Allah. {You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind…} [Al 'Imran, 110]

Thus, it is improper on the part of Muslims to pray Allah to free Palestine and relieve its calamity when they do no positive action, do not prepare themselves for jihad, do not adhere to Qur'anic teachings or Sunnah, are not even self-sufficient in food, medicine and armament production and do not enforce Shari'ah (Islamic law).

In fact, Islam is an integrated institution. Thus, a Muslim profound scholar is one who has a comprehensive perception of the entity of Islam. In this respect, such a scholar may not concern for a certain aspect while neglecting another and may not elect only such aspects of religion as may go in line with his desires and whims. Rather, one's slogan in this life should be: {We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).} [Al-Baqarah, 285]

Finally, the Palestine cause is totally Islamic and Palestine will be returned one day to Islam and Muslims. However, the important question is: who is to return it? In better words, who will return in repentance to Allah so that Allah might return Palestine to him?

{O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad) you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter. If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people, and you cannot harm Him at all, and Allah is Able to do all things.} [Al-Tawbah, 38, 39]

 

Dr. Ragheb ElSergany
 

Saturday, March 13, 2010

HIJAB in Hindu and Christian Religion

 


In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
 
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

 

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
 
  
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
 
HIJAB is there in Hindu and Christian Books Also
- Zakir Naik 
 
 

Lets analyze what the Hindu Scriptures have to speak on modesty ?

 

It is mentioned in the Rig Veda Book no. 8 Hymn no. 33 V. no. 19

"When Brahma has made you a woman, you should lower your gaze and should not look up. You should put your feet together and you should not reveal what the garment and the veil conceals."

 

So the Rig Veda says that the woman should wear the veil.

They should lower their gaze and should not stare.

 

It is further mentioned in Rig Veda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 85 V. no.30

"Unlovely is the person is the husband who covers his thighs with the garment of his wife. "

 

So the Rig Veda says that wearing the clothes of the opposite sex is prohibited.

 

It is further mentioned in the Mahavir Charitra Act 2 Page 71 that

When Purshuram comes, Rama tells his wife Sita that "He is our elder, please lower your gaze, and put on the veil. "

 

Rama tells his wife Sita to put on the veil and to lower her gaze.

 

If you read historical books, the books talking about the Coin Age, the  Age of the Gupta and the post Gupta age, there are coins , on which there are pictures of the Indain woman wearing the veils and the veil are going upto their shoulders, some go upto the arms. There are many Indian woman in the villages who wear the veils, some of the woman even cover their faces.

 

So,if you analyze, even the Hindu Scriptures say that a woman should wear the veil. That the woman should lower their gaze.
 

 
 
Now lets look at the Christian Scriptures...
 
Matthew 5:27-28 
You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery'
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart
 

Wearing of opposite sex clothes not allowed

Deuteronomy 22:5

22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

 

 

I Timothy 2:9

And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.

 

 

Punishment for a women who does not cover her head

 

I Corinthians 11:5-6

11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven
 

 
 
 
The Noble Qur'an - Al-Ahzab 33:59
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornments except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.)
and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their son's, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sisters sons or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam),  or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex.
And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And beg Allah to forgive you all O believers, that you may be successful. 
 

 
Because followers of hindu and christianity does not wear hijab , This implies either they do not follow whats written in it or they themselves know that thier holy book is not the word of god and is not worthy of not being followed.
So be it.
 
But do not point your fingers on followers of Islam, because we belive and we know that the Quraan is the word of God and we obey by it.
 
Watch :
Hindu Women Questions Dr. Zakir Naik about Hijab
 
 

  Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications.

 

Six C's of Character - Yasir Fazaga