Some thoughts on the news, religion and life in general
Abdullah Hasan
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Homepage: http://www.maqasid.wordpress.com
Posts by Abdullah Hasan
Maqasid al-Shari’ah and fanaticism
Apr 6th
The attitude of some people now is ‘my way or the high way’. I have the most correct or the most authentic view and therefore I am upon the Sunnah! You know what I’m talking about, right? We’ve all been there. The reason why people have this attitude is perhaps due to their incorrect knowledge (or the lack of it) in regards to the Shari’ah or more specifically fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) – fiqh is not a monolithic system which one group or individual has monopoly over, but it is as spacious as the oceans of the earth.
It’s surprising that people who previously criticised ‘certain groups’ and ‘individuals’ for carrying and promoting certain views such as voting or political participation, hijrah (migration), establishing groups or organisations, engaging with non-Muslims and a host of other issues - have now, not only adopted the same opinions they used to criticise. Not only that, in some respects they condemned others for espousing it, but they these same people are now promoting and advocating them More >
Another one bites the dust!
Mar 16th
Our stalker Andrew Gilligan is keeping his word to the ‘concerned’ public (although procrastination is creeping in) to ‘expose’ the authors of Btl. He is still trying to misguide the readers with lies and innuendos. I’m telling you people – I’m on cloud nine as they say! I have never received such attention from a ‘respected’ journalist working for a national newspaper before. Well, not like this anyway.
In his blogpost Mr Andrew Gilligan quotes from a short blog I posted on my personal blog from the Muslim Public Affairs Committee’s website (www.mpacuk.org) in which the author poses a question: When is joining a mainstream political party regarded as ‘infiltration’? This is in reference to the allegations of ‘entryism’ made by Jim Fitzpatrick a few weeks back against the Muslims of Tower Hamlets. He then concludes his blog by stating: ‘’So how should Muslims respond? Simply by getting rid of Fitzpatrick and any other MP that makes such allegations at the forthcoming General Election. Fitzpatrick has a surmountable majority of just over 7,000 votes. If Muslims in the constituency organise against him, they can either sweep him out of power or at least erode his majority into marginal territory. Muslims should demonstrate that they can vote tactically in the Election and show malcontents such as Fitzpatrick the door.’’ More >
Watch out Gilligan’s about!
Mar 7th
Over at the Psychologist today web-site I came across an alarming post. Dr Satoshi Kanazawa an evolutionary psychologist, who is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Psychology at University College London and Birbeck, suggests that most if not all newspapers in Britain make up news stories as they go along irrespective of their authenticity. He cites findings of the Reporters Sans Frontieres’s annual index of press freedom, the United Kingdom currently ranks 24th in the world in terms of press freedom, with the 2007 index of 8.25. In comparison, the United States ranks 48th in the world, with the 2007 index of 14.50. (The smaller the index, the freer the press.) More >
Lessons from the Imam & the Laundryman
Jan 1st
Imam Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates from Muhammad Ibn Salimah and Abu Abdullah Saymari narrates from Fadl Ibn Ghanim that when Imam Abu Yusuf fell ill, Imam Abu Hanifah went to visit him a number of times. On one occasion, he found him looking very frail and weak. Imam Abu Hanifah recited ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un and remarked: “I hope you will remain after me for the benefit of the Mu’minin and if they are afflicted with your death, then a great treasure of knowledge will be exterminated with your death.”
According to another report, Imam Abu Hanifah said: “If this young man dies, nobody on the entire face of the earth will be able to fill his place.” More >
The concept of religion in Islam
Dec 16th
Anyone wishing to study some aspects of secularism and its history is advised to read ‘Islam and Secularism’. (ISTAC, Kuala Lumpar, 1993). The author, Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas, the Founder-Director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation and University Professor of Islamic Thought and Civilisation at International Islamic University Malaysia, explains the history and definitions of secularism. In a particular profound section of the book he defines the word din and explains the essence of Islam as a complete way of life. Below are some excerpts from chapter three, ‘Islam: The concept of religion and the foundation of ethics and morality’, which readers may benefit from: More >
Amusing story of a drowning tyrant
Dec 5th
Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi was a harsh and a ruthless tyrant. His famous debate with the great scholar and Mujahid Saeed Ibn Jubayr epitomises his rule as an unforgiving viceroy of Iraq who killed innocent and pious people. It is said that when he was on his deathbed, his prisons were filled with 50,000 men and 30,000 women – of which 16,00 were stripped naked More >
