Some thoughts on the news, religion and life in general
Archive for June, 2009
Imams: to import or not to import?
Jun 30th
Last week I was called by a CNN journalist in London requesting me to help them in a programme they were making on the moderation programme supposedly introduced in Mosques, prisons and schools by the former [UK] Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. I suggested they call two large mosques in London and ask them if they have any classes or programmes taking place in the Mosques.
Yesterday, they called again informing me that they were not able to get in touch with anyone who would comment or knew the government’s proposal and requested me to do a short interview to be broadcast in the evening news.
Knowing that the media is not always Muslim friendly, and the reputation of CNN on covering these topical subjects, plus the previous programmes and interviews I had done for CNN and others (which did not always go as planned) More >
The repetitions of ignorance and intolerance
Jun 26th
So, we are witnessing some ill-aimed swings at the veil. Again. There seems to be a shortage of imagination.
At any rate, we can congratulate Nicolas Sarkozy in managing to simultaneously display ignorance and a shortage of logic. The French President, as we know, has lashed out at the veil claiming it undermines a woman’s dignity. So shall we assume the auctioning of his wife’s nude pictures at Christies, New York, (which he had no problem with) is hardly undermining of a woman’s dignity? More >
Purifying the Creed from Secularism III: Exposing the myth in light of president Sarkozy’s comments
Jun 25th
President Sarkozy’s remarks about the Burka or the face veil reminds us about the intellectual foundation of France and most of the western nations, including our own country Britain. Since the 1789 French revolution, secularism continues to dominate the political and social intellectual milieu of the country promoting liberalist and capitalist agendas in all spheres of life. “laicite”, a concept that is cemented in the constitution of France believes in, among other things, the separation of church from the state, and the division of the private and public spheres. It is from this paradigm that Mr Sarkozy seeks to alienate a Muslim community reaching a staggering number of five million.
He said, “We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity,” and “That is not the idea that the French republic has of women’s dignity.” He also said, “The burka is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French republic.”
More >
Honesty: A key ingredient of happiness
Jun 19th
Honesty is one of the universal principles which all civilised communities and peoples agree with. Without it individuals and the society at large will be in complete turmoil and live in suspicion of each other. When friends, family, work colleagues and couples are not honest with each other, to create and develop a society that is conducive to the equilibrium that God desires for us, then the life of those and others in the wider society will be in jeopardy. More >
To sing or to sin?
Jun 17th
One of the most heated issues that are debated in fiqh is the permissibility or not of music in Islam. While the majority of the classical scholars, it appears, prohibit the usage of musical instruments in singing [accompanied with licentious activities or not], a minority among them opine the view that music in itself is not unlawful except when it is accompanied with the drinking of alcohol and other prohibited practices, then it is prohibited.
The maqsad of this blog is not to highlight the differences among the scholars and which view is more closer to the truth. I wish to highlight and remind myself and the readers of some very important issues pertaining to da’wa and the way in which we should approach knowledge and people who we may not agree with. More >
Poetry – reclaiming a beautiful language
Jun 10th
Poetry is one of oldest languages known to man. So much can be expressed with few words – that is the power of poetry. From ancient Egypt to early Greek and Roman times, poetry has been used as a way of remembering oral history, genealogy, and even law.
Poetry, and discussions of it, has a long history, Aristotle’s Poetics, focused on the use of speech in rhetoric, drama, song and comedy.
Known as jaahili poetry, the pre-Islamic era in Arabia was known for its love for poetry as an art form that distinguished a man for his eloquence (faseeh) and of course as a form of entertainment. The Prophet is known to have loved poetry and has even encouraged the use of it to propagate his message. For example, Prophet Muhammad tells us: “God is beautiful and He loves beauty.” Poetry is that expression of beauty – appreciating and loving God’s creation. Indeed, as the Prophet taught his companions – “In some poetry there is wisdom.” More >
