By Guest Contributor, on October 18th, 2009
By Abu Muhammad
In ‘What I Believe’, Dr Tariq Ramadan’s latest book, he endeavours to clarify some of the misunderstood positions he holds. It is aimed at ordinary people, journalists, politicians, social workers, teachers and others, who do not have the time or perhaps sometimes the capacity to grasp the academic and philosophical language he employs in his writings. This book sets out to clarify the basic ideas which he has been advocating for more than twenty years.
This is long overdue. I have personally come across many people who attack and call Dr Ramadan and others of having deviant opinions and hence label him and the others like him of being deviant. When asked if they have read his works, the response almost always is in the negative. Continue reading What I believe
By Guest Contributor, on October 16th, 2009
By Abu Muhammad
During a visit to the local historical attractions, while a student in Amman (Jordan), a classmate made a remark which started an enthralling discussion on religion, culture and revival.
While admiring the remains and colosseums the Romans left behind, which still dominate parts of the Jordanian capital, my classmate commented, ‘when the Islamic revival or the Islamic state is established, these and other similar buildings should be destroyed – firstly because they remind us of the tragic history and the suffering of the Muslims, and secondly, these are un-Islamic and therefore, they ought be removed from Muslim lands’.
This depicts the sentiment of many people who, in the opinion of some writers, view the world and its development through a one-dimensional perspective. Continue reading Cultural mixing and the Qur’anic Generation
By Hussain, on October 7th, 2009
A very special guest came and has now sadly departed from us. We tried our best to prepare for it with sincere intentions. We tried our best to honour our guest by performing the fasts, doing extra worship and tried to change our behaviour. We even tried to impress upon it by thinking about others and gave in charity and invited family and friends for Iftar.
Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, faithfully and optimistically seeking reward shall have all his previous sins pardoned, ﴾whoever stands the night of Qadr, with conviction and due anticipation of reward, shall have his previous sins forgiven﴿.
But what has this special guest left for us that we are able to carry its sweet fragrances for the rest of the year? Continue reading Never say farewell
By Amin, on October 5th, 2009
Commenting on Portsmouth’s current financial troubles Harry Redknapp, its former manager, observed: “As somebody said they’ve (Portsmouth) found the only Arab who seems to be struggling for money.” He was wrong. I had the misfortune of finding the other Arab short of a bob or two. Forget a thousand and one nights, it was more a case of a thousand and one excuses.
The case of Sulaiman al-Fahim, Portsmouth’s new owner, mirrors my own recent experience with apparently rich Gulf Arabs - including a hospital episode.
Like al-Fahim, we too were spun a glamorous vision of riches, comfort and mixing with royalty. In fact, the service we provided was minimal in return for a decent reward package, including first-class travel and presidential suites at a 5 star hotel. So far so good. Unfortunately, like the Portsmouth affair that’s where the glitz and glamour ended. Continue reading A thousand and one excuses – an Arabian tale
By Lubaaba, on October 2nd, 2009
You know when you’re doing the washing, and the bottle of washing liquid emits a random bubble? You watch that bubble float around before either you pop it or it decides to give up on its existence by landing on some surface in micro-explosive glory.
Well, this has nothing to do with that. OK, just not with the washing bit. But let’s talk bubbles. Slightly bigger ones.
Our communities are developing and vibrant. Areas such as London’s Tower Hamlets present a haven of (particularly psychological) security by the strengthening of a close knit and supportive community. My couple of years in these parts have taught me to appreciate the comfort of a zone where often practically anyone can be considered family. Continue reading Bubbles
By Abdullah Hasan, on September 23rd, 2009
Another Ramadan has come to its end. Yet again it seems that every year it comes and goes as fast as a speeding train. May Allah accept the prayers, sujud and supplications of all the Muslims here and the rest of the world.
I am reading a brilliant book by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi on the wisdom behind the commands in Islam and thought I’d share the the wisdom of the six fasts of Shawwal. Continue reading Maqasid: the six fasts of Shawwal
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