God And Religion Are Not A Figment Of Our Imagination

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 4 April 2024 The Atheists Will Argue That God And Religion Are The Most Fantastic Fictions Invented By Man To Achieve All That Was Achieved Through Religion. However, The Believers Know That The Moral Rules Would Not Have Taken Several Millennia To Become Normative If This Were So. The Rationale Would Have Been Provided Right In The Beginning. ----- (Representative Photo) ------ Undoubtedly, every major religion and all the scriptures are primarily about teaching men to live moral lives. They are about what mankind could not have known by themselves, which is why the Quran says in verse 96:5, “Taught man that which he knew not”. Arabia, once a fragmented tribal society of little consequence, experienced a profound transformation with the emergence of Islam as a unifying force. In a remarkably concise 80-year span, it ascended to become the preeminent power on earth, surpassing the Roman Empire at its zenith. This swift rise of the Muslims, achieving in about 80 years what took the Romans a millennium to accomplish, highlights the transformative power of religion. The Romans, with their multitude of cults and mystery religions, faced a challenge as the Roman Empire expanded. A need arose for a unified belief system to bind the entire population. With its cohesive belief system and hierarchical church structure, Christianity offered a solution. It could unite the empire religiously and empower the emperor with more control over the population. Emperor Constantine I (r. 306-337) embraced Christianity after his victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312, which he attributed to the Christian God. His alignment with this burgeoning faith not only consolidated his power but also united the empire under a single religion, underscoring the social and political impact of religion. It is undeniable that religion has played a crucial role in fostering cooperation among large groups of people. This cooperation is based on the shared moral values that religion instils, creating a sense of unity and common purpose. From the history of modern man, which began an estimated seventy thousand years ago with the “Cognitive Revolution,” we know that he was surrounded by other species of humans that were numerically and physically much stronger. The modern man could have survived only through cooperation among his kind. A common religion with shared values was sorely needed to build their trust. We also know that modern man was at constant war with the other species of humans until they completely genocided every other species about ten thousand years ago. The enemy kept them united by a common religion until ten thousand years ago. Once the enemy was annihilated, the modern man broke up into several sects/religions from envy of one another and began to fight among themselves. Sixty thousand years of being united by a common religion made everyone internalise the moral values that helped them build cooperation and preserve their group. These moral values became second nature to man and survive to this day among all people, irrespective of their religion and even if they are atheists. Therefore, the moral values from religion are as old as the appearance of modern man. The atheists will agree with all of the above but argue that religion is man-made. That begs the question - why have all the subjects of human endeavour, such as philosophy, literature, and psychology, failed to contribute a single original moral precept? Moral Philosophy is about developing theories of ethics/morality to explain why people follow moral rules. Still, none of these theories have helped generate any new moral rule, nor can they do so. Moral philosophy only studies what exists and what properties and relations can be attributed to it. None of it is about creating anything new. Religious morality, on the other hand, is prescriptive and focuses on the moral duties and obligations that individuals have to follow without explaining why. It lays down the rules. The earliest moral rules from religion are a list of dos and don’ts, and only the later religions provide a rationale. The evidence, therefore, is that: 1. The earliest religions laid down the rules without giving the rationale because the rationale was not apparent and even counter-intuitive. These rules are counter-intuitive because man is, by his basic instincts for self-preservation, greedy, niggardly, impatient, ungrateful, contentious, acquisitive, envious, jealous, fearful, and suspicious. The moral virtues of recognizing the rights of others even at cost to self, therefore, have to be learned. Even once learnt, these are easily disregarded unless there is an unacceptable price for breaking the rules. 2. Later religions could provide limited rationale because, after centuries of practising the rules as a religious duty, the benefits to the individual and society were becoming evident and the people could now understand the why part. 3. Moral Philosophy took this process a step further, examined the prevailing moral rules, developed theories of ethics/morality to explain them, and helped to make them normative. In other words, philosophy provides a rational explanation for following the moral rules. Moral rules, because they initially made no rational sense and were counterintuitive, had of necessity, to be laid down by a higher authority (God) for them to be followed as a religious duty and have come only from religion. Many millennia later, philosophy helped the moral rules of religion become normative which formed the basis of secular laws. Now armed with the rational basis for the moral rules and the fact that the rules are accepted by all without question, although largely flouted, the atheists ask, “Couldn't mankind have developed these on their own”? If they could, there was no need for religion and God. We, however, know how great a role religion has played throughout human history in all of mankind’s most outstanding achievements. Without religion, mankind could not have taken a step toward civilizational growth. On the contrary, modern man would have quickly become extinct, faced with their formidable enemies. The atheists will argue that God and Religion are the most fantastic fictions invented by man to achieve all that was achieved through religion. However, the believers know that the moral rules would not have taken several millennia to become normative if this were so. The rationale would have been provided right in the beginning. This subject has been covered in detail over the last decade in my following articles: 1. Religion as a Civilizing Influence 2. Science and Religion 3. The Progression from Religious Morality to Secular Laws and the Danger of Regression of Religious Morality into Bestiality 4. The “Natural Law of Morality” Has Come From Religion The Contribution of Atheists to Moral Philosophy and the Practice of Morality The need for repetition is because atheists keep repeating their old arguments. ----- A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation. URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/god-religion-figment-imagination/d/132081 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

The Universal Beauty of God: Transcending Religions and Cultures

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 4 April 2024 The concept of God and the perception of divine beauty have been intertwined with various religions and cultures throughout human history. However, it is important to recognize that the beauty of God is not confined to any particular religious tradition or cultural framework. Instead, the beauty of God is a universal reality that transcends these boundaries, offering a source of awe, inspiration, and connection for people of all backgrounds. I this piece I want to explore the notion that the beauty of God is not limited to specific religions or cultures but is a unifying force that can be appreciated and celebrated by all. Representative Photo ----- Beyond Religious and Cultural Boundaries: Religions and cultures provide diverse lenses through which people perceive and understand the divine. They offer a framework for individuals to connect with the transcendent and explore spiritual dimensions. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that these frameworks do not entirely encapsulate the entirety of God’s beauty. The beauty of God extends beyond the confines of religious dogmas and cultural practices. It encompasses the grandeur of nature, the depths of human experience, and the mysteries of the cosmos. It can be found in the kindness of a stranger, the harmony of music, or the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe. The beauty of God is an all-encompassing reality that speaks to the deepest yearnings of the human heart, irrespective of religious or cultural affiliations. Appreciating the Diversity of Religious and Cultural Expressions: While God's beauty transcends religious and cultural boundaries, it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the rich diversity of expressions found within different traditions. Religions and cultures offer unique perspectives on the divine, reflecting the varied ways in which human beings seek to understand and connect with the transcendent. The diversity of religious and cultural expressions of God's beauty should not be seen as a source of division, but rather as an opportunity for dialogue and mutual enrichment. By engaging with the religious and cultural traditions of others, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the multifaceted nature of the divine and develop a broader understanding of the universal beauty that unites us all. Finding Common Ground: Shared Values and Ethical Principles: While religious and cultural practices may differ, many share common values and ethical principles rooted in the recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings. Love, compassion, justice, and forgiveness are universal virtues that transcend religious and cultural boundaries. These shared values provide a foundation for interfaith and intercultural dialogue, fostering understanding and cooperation among diverse communities. When we recognize the universal beauty of God, we can find common ground based on these shared values. We can work together to address global challenges, promote social justice, and cultivate a more harmonious and inclusive world. Celebrating Diversity, Encouraging Unity: Appreciating the universal beauty of God does not require us to abandon our religious or cultural identities. On the contrary, it invites us to celebrate the richness of our diversity while recognizing our shared humanity. By embracing the beauty of God as a universal reality, we can foster a spirit of inclusivity, respect, and dialogue that transcends divisive boundaries. This celebration of diversity and unity is not a call for syncretism or the merging of distinct religious or cultural practices. Rather, it is an invitation to recognise the interconnectedness of our spiritual journeys and to cultivate an attitude of humility and openness towards the diverse ways in which people seek meaning and connection with the divine. The beauty of God is not limited to any particular religion or culture but is a universal reality that can be appreciated and celebrated by all people. While religious and cultural frameworks provide unique perspectives on the divine, they do not fully encapsulate the entirety of God's beauty. By acknowledging the diversity of religious and cultural expressions and finding common ground based on shared values, we can foster understanding, respect, and unity among diverse communities. Embracing the universal beauty of God invites us to transcend divisive boundaries and cultivate a world that celebrates the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals, irrespective of their religious or cultural affiliations. ----- A decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books are ( co-edited)- Shame, Modesty, and Honora in Islam and Interfaith Engagement Beyond the Divide (Springer) URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/universal-beauty-god-transcending-religions-cultures/d/132077 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

ISIS and Salafism: A Debate on ISIS's Ideology

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 4 April 2024 Some Muslims are increasingly believing that Western and Zionist powers are using ISIS and other terrorist groups for their agendas, questioning why ISIS hasn't attacked Israel despite its proximity in Syria, and Russian analysts suggesting the US and Britain have been using terrorism as a strategy against Russia since the Ukraine war. Nonetheless, it is indisputable that ISIS is a product of the Salafist doctrine, as discussed in this article. It is imperative for Muslims to distance themselves from or refute the ideology that gives rise to ISIS. Main Points 1. Sheikh Kalbani, a former Grand Mosque imam and Salafi, believes ISIS is a product of Salafism and should be addressed transparently. 2. ISIS lacks doctrine, morality, and scruples, making them pure mischief, according to Mr. Naseer Ahmed, who also blames ISIS's unexpected activity in Moscow on the group's mercenary nature. 3. Notable Islamic scholars argue that ISIS adheres to a Salafist ideology, which is vulnerable to radicalization and can be exploited to justify extreme terrorist groups. 4. Muslims have faced challenging circumstances as a result of Salafist ideology, with Zionists and Islamophobic propagandists profiting the most from the Salafist ideology. 5. Salafi preachers in Syria and other regions urge followers to adopt the path of Jihadism, with Ibn Taymiyyah, their Sheikh of Islam, central to their lives. 6. In the late 20th century, violent Islamist groups in the Arab Middle East emerged, with Sayyid Qutb as their main inspiration for radical, revolutionary Islamist activism. 7. Sheikh Usama Al-Sayed Al-Azhari explains that the central idea of extremist Islamist movements was the idea of Hakimiyyah, which is the root on which their intellectual system was established. ----- Representqtive Photo ------- An article on newageislam.com argues that Sheikh Kalbani, a former Grand Mosque imam and Salafi, believes ISIS is a product of Salafism and must be addressed with transparency. Mr. Naseer Ahmed provided the following comment below the referenced article: “Have you ever wondered why ISIS has suddenly become active? If it had anything to do with ideology, they would be consistent. They have become mercenaries for hire and were hired to carry out the strike in Russia. They are likely to carry out smaller strikes in Europe and the USA that will provide an excuse for these countries to ban the pro-ceasefire protests in their countries before the full-scale assault on Rafah. Just before the general elections, which party will gain the most if they threaten strikes in India? Outfits like ISIS must be physically liquidated. They have no ideology, no morals, and no scruples. They are pure mischief.” [End of quote] Mr. Naseer Ahmed has produced some really excellent and noteworthy write-ups in refutation of ISIS; however, there is a point of debate because several pieces of evidence clearly show that ISIS adheres to the Salafist ideology, and hence ISIS does not lack an ideology. It is important to remember that Salafism is a minority group among Muslims and that most of its followers follow a nonviolent path. Nevertheless, this ideology is highly vulnerable to radicalization, and many Salafist principles can be exploited to justify the extremes observed in Islamist terrorist groups. For Muslims, this ideology has caused problems ever since it was first introduced. Muslims all around the world have never profited from the Salafist ideology. Throughout their lengthy history, Muslims have faced challenging circumstances as a result of the Salafist and Wahhabi ideology, especially after the fall of Ottoman Empire. Zionists and Islamophobic propagandists who enjoy seeing Muslims suffer are undoubtedly the ones who have profited the most from the Salafist ideology. That being said, it is concerning that Salafi Muslims have not been able to disassociate themselves from Salafism. A number of Salafi preachers in Syria and other regions urge followers to adopt the path of Jihadism, with Ibn Taymiyyah, their Sheikh of Islam, regarded as central to their lives. In the late 20th century, violent Islamist groups in the Arab Middle East, influenced by Muslim Brotherhood activism and Salafi exclusivism, emerged, with Sayyid Qutb as their main inspiration for radical, revolutionary Islamist activism. Qutb, a controversial figure in the Brotherhood, criticised hypocrites and apostates in Egypt, aiming to overthrow established governments and replace them with Islamic states. Sheikh Usama Al-Sayed Al-Azhari writes: “The central idea on which the rest of the concepts of extremist Islamist movements were founded is the idea of Hakimiyyah. It is the root on which their intellectual system was established, with all its sayings, concepts, and branches. It is from this idea that Sayyid Qutb and his brother Muhammad Qutb extracted the concepts of Shirk al-Hakimiyyah and Tauheed al-Hakimiyyah. This idea gave rise to the necessity of “al-Usbah al-Muminah” (‘a selected body of Jihadist believers’) and the idea of divine promise [of victory] for this ‘Usbah Muminah’. It declared that the common Muslims are living in the state of Jahiliyyah (ignorance). This also led to the idea of separation and subliminal distinction between the two groups (Muslims and West), the idea of dominance of ‘Usbah Muminah’ over the people of Jahiliyyah, the idea of inevitable clash between the two groups at the time of Sayyid Qutb so as to establish the caliphate, and the idea of ‘tamkin’ associated with all other concepts that emanate from the concept of Hakimiyyah and that consists of a comprehensive theory integrated within the mind of these extremist movements.” (Sheikh Usama Al-Sayed Al-Azhari, Al-Haqq Al-Mubin Fi al-Radd Ala Man Tala’ab bi Al-deen (The Lucid Truth in Refutation of Those Who Manipulate the Religion) This is how Hakimiyyah is interpreted by Salafists. Both Sayyid Qutb and his brother Muhammad Qutb are regarded as the pioneers of modern Salafism. Following in their footsteps, the radical movements interpreted the term "Hakimiyyah" to signify that "the Muslims living in the state of Jahiliyyah" should be subjugated and that Jihad should be directed towards them. According to Sheikh Al-Azhari, Sayyid Qutb's books "Fi Zilal al-Quran" (In the Shade of the Quran) and "Ma'alim fi al-Tariq" are where such interpretations of Hakimiyyah originated. Dr. Yusuf Qardawi also believes that the underlying idea of the Muslim practice of Takfir today comes from writings like "Al-‘Adalah al-Ijtimaiyyah fi al-Islam" and "Fi Zilal al-Quran," rather than just from "Ma’alim fi al-Tariq." (Y. al-Qaradawi, Ibn al-Qarya wal-Kuttab, Malamih Sira wa-Masira, vol. 3, p. 69, Dar al-Shuruq, Cairo 2008) Salih Sirriya calls the common Muslim population the Jahiliyyah community and declares their state to be "Dar al-Harb" in his book "Risala al-Iman." He also performs the takfir of the Muslim rulers. He says, "The current governance in all Muslim countries is definitely the governance of infidels, and the communities in all these countries are Jahiliyya (ignorant)." Sayyid Qutb's "Fi Zilal al-Quran" is regarded as the source of this work. Sayyid Qutb's "Fi Zilal al-Quran" served as an influence for Shukri Mustafa and his Islamist group "Al-Takfir wal Hijra," which evolved into a contemporary form of the Kharijites. Al-Farida al-Ghaiba is a brief book written by Mohammad Abdul Salam Farag, a prominent figure in extremism and Jihadism and a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, to support his "Jihadist movement" against the contemporary Muslim state. Salam Farag drew a lot of inspiration from "Fi Zilal al-Quran" by Sayyid Qutub. "Fi Zilal al-Quran" by Sayyid Qutb served as an influence for the modern Kharijite organisation "ISIS." Regarding this topic, Turki ibn Mubarak al-Binali wrote a book named "Al-Lafz al-Sani fi Tarjimat al-Adnani" about Abu Muhammad al-'Adnani, the second leader of ISIS. Within this volume, al-Binali pens: “Adnani took influence from Sayyid Qutb’s book of Tafsir, “Fi Zilal al-Quran,” which was one of his favourites. He studied it systematically for twenty years. During one of the lessons, he went through the Tafsir of the Quranic verse, “Whoever does not judge with what Allah has revealed, those are the infidels” (Surah Maidah: 44). He asked one of his colleagues, what are the sources of the Syrian constitution? What is the legislative authority? What are the executive and judicial authorities? When the colleague replied, Adnani then asked, so our government is infidel? The cleric left. That was his way of debating issues." Adnani later joined ISIS and became one of its leading spokesmen. Sheikh Al-Azhari further writes, “Following in the footsteps of Sayyid Maududi, Sayyid Qutb established the concept of Hakimiyyah as a result of the wrong understanding of the Divine statement “Whoever does not judge with what Allah has revealed; those are the infidels” (Surah Maidah:44)." From this verse, Sayyid Qutb deduced the meaning that the person who does not implement the Islamic Laws is a Kafir, even though he believes in the creed of righteousness of Islamic laws based on the Divine revelation and even though he is unable to implement them for any reason whatsoever.” (Al-Haqq Al-Mubin Fi al-Radd Ala Man Tala’ab bi Al-deen, Arabic, p. 27). In his book “Al-Adalah al-Ijtimayyiah (Social Justice),” Sayyid Qutb writes, “Islamic society today is not Islamic in any sense of the word. We have already quoted a verse from the Quran that cannot in any way be honestly applied today: “Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed is a Kafir (5:44).” In one of his comments, Mr. Sultan Shahin, Founding Editor of New Age Islam, writes, “Even Sayyid Qutb was inspired by Maulana Maududi’s work on Hakimiyyah and his concept of Iqamat e Deen as an essential religious duty for Muslims. He used terms like Taghut and Jahiliyah too, which have both become very popular in Islamist extremist circles. He forced the secular modern state of Pakistan to say Shahada through the objective resolution that was largely the fruit of his writings. He considered Irtidad (apostasy) as treason because he considers Islam a state. For him, Islam and the state are synonymous. He became so influential that even a Shia society like Iran converted its state to Islam. Never before Pakistan and Iran has there been a tradition in Islamic history of calling a state Islamic. Now this demand is being made even in Malaysia and Indonesia quite vigorously.” The article "Salafism: From a Religious Movement to a Political Force" by Juan Carlos Antunez Moreno emphasises how deeply ingrained Salafism is in ISIS. ISIS consistently uses Salafist interpretations of the Quran and Hadith in its publications. He opines that, like al-Qaeda, ISIS is affiliated with the Jihadi-Salafist movement in Islamic political theory, also referred to as Jihadism. The leaders of the group openly support this drive. The foundation of Jihadi-Salafism is an extreme and minoritarian interpretation of Islamic scripture that is also rigorous in terms of textual analysis, firmly anchored in a premodern theological tradition, and richly expounded by a respected group of religious authorities. Jihadi-Salafi scholars offer scriptural exegeses that offer a theological justification for the extremists' acts of violence. Salafism: From a Religious Movement to a Political Force These reports fully support the assertion made by Sheikh Kalbani that ISIS is a product of Salafism and must be addressed with transparency. However, some Muslims increasingly believe that the Western powers and Zionists are using ISIS and other terror organisations in Muslim countries to achieve their own goals. In the wake of the most recent terror attack in Moscow, this impression has once again increased. Numerous scholarly articles, particularly those written by Russian experts, have discussed that. More significantly, Alexander Nazarov claims in his piece "Moscow Terror Attack: ISIS, Anglo-Saxons, or Ukraine?" that since the start of the war in Ukraine, the United States and Britain have chosen terrorism as one of their main strategies against Russia. These and other statements give some Muslims good grounds to think that ISIS's ultimate objective must be to serve the objectives of anti-Islamic factions. It is yet unclear, though, if this assertion can resolve concerns and problems of Muslims. Telling Muslims that ISIS lacks an ideology would likewise not help them overcome their problems. As such, it is imperative to disassociate from or refute the ideology that gives rise to ISIS. We Muslims cannot ignore this problem by stating that ISIS is working to forward the agendas of the Zionists and other Western nations. We will need to put up some effort to disprove the theological excuses that ISIS and other terror organisations exploit or abuse. URL: https://newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/salafism-debate-isis-ideology/d/132076 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

What Is The Night Of Decree? And How Do We Make It Out? Sufi Insights Into Shab-e-Qadr

By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam 4 April 2024 إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ Surely We revealed it on the grand night. وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ And what will make you comprehend what the Night of Power is. لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ The angels and Jibreel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair, سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ Peace! it is till the break of the morning. Once, one of the holy Prophet’s companions Abdullah bin Anas asked him: O Prophet (ﷺ), what is the Night of Power? The Prophet (ﷺ) answered: “If I was to tell you which night it is, then you would quit all days and nights to pray in that night only. You wouldn’t do anything else”. Every moment, second, minute, hour, day and night should be spent in prayer, submission and obedience to God. But in Islam, there are some specific days, nights and months, which are exceedingly meaningful and highly valuable. They have their own weight due to extra importance attached to them. The best amongst those auspicious occasions is Shab-e-Qadr—Laylat-ul-Qadr or The Night of the Decree—that is the best of all nights after in the estimation of the Holy Qur’an. Allah says in the Qur'an: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months" (Surah Al-Qadr: 3). The most paramount significance of this night is that it was chosen to reveal the Qur’an to all mankind through the holy Prophet (pbuh) in the Cave of Hira. With an abundance of divine bounties and spiritual blessings, Shab-e-Qadr assumes great significance especially for the Muslims in India during the last 10 days Of Ramzan which is called the third Ashra or Ashra-e-Nijat (ten days of seeking salvation). These days also bring joy and some festive flavour in the Indian Sub-Continent as the end of Ramazan and the biggest Muslim festival Eid-ul-Fitr approaches. With the whole night being spent in divine invocations and remembrance (zikr), this holy night which is called in Arabic Layla-tul-Qadr [the Night of Decree] is also one of the mystical nights in Islam. Popularly known in India as “Shab-e-Qadr” which are Persian words meaning the ‘night of power’, it is believed to fall on any of these odd nights: 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th of the final days of Ramazan, which occur in Ashra-e-Nijat. In Urdu, Persian and Arabic, Nijat or Nejat means: deliverance from errors or sins. Thus, Shab-e-Qadr is also a harbinger of salvation and spiritual liberation. On these nights of Ramazan, especially on the 27th, it is believed, Allah Almighty descends from heaven and forgives all sinners very generously. Most Hadith scholars and Qur’an exegetes and commentators believe that Shab-e-Qadr is most probably on the 27th night of Ramazan. Thus, this year it would be the night of 5th April. However, it is encouraged to seek the Night of Power in all these odd nights and not just 27th. The Sufi insight on Shab-e-Qadr, however, is deeper and more meaningful. Once Hazrat Muhammad Saleh asked his father, an eminent Sufi saint of his times, Imam Ahmed Al-Kabir Al-Rifa'i: when is actually the Night of the Decree (Laylatul Qadr)? He replied: My son! If the mirror of your insight becomes clear with the true thought, every time of yours would be like the Night of Decree. Source: Al-Fajr Al-Munir by Imam Muhammad Abu Al-Huda Al-Sayyadi Al-Rifa’i). Similar words of wisdom were expressed by the Grand-Sheikh in the modern Sufi order of Naqshabandiyya—Sheikh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Kubrusi al-Haqqani, a Turkish-Cypriot Sufi saint. He heard his first spiritual master (Murshid) say: “Consider every night as the Night of Power and every person as Khidir (a potentially immortal wise man)”. He meant by this that everyone should be respected as a Friend of God (Wali), and mandatory prayers must not be missed out on any single night. This is the deeper Sufi insight into this most Powerful Night. In fact, Shab-e-Qadr from a Sufi point of view is not just the night of power and decree but also an opportune time for one’s salvation, spiritual liberation and deliverance. Shab-e-Qadr is so sacred in Islam that even searching for this night is equal in importance to praying in it. Most important reason is the revelation of the holy Qur’an in it. But another distinct virtue of this night is that the Angels and the Spirit (Rooh) also descend on this night, as mentioned in Qur’an (97:4). There are various interpretations of how, where and when the Holy Qur’an was revealed on this night. The common belief is that the Qur’an descended from the Preserved Tablet (Lauh-e-Mahfooz) to the Heaven of this world (Aasman-e-Dunya) on Shab-e-Qadr. It descended there and then the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) brought it to the Prophet part by part. In fact, other scriptures and holy books were also reportedly revealed in Ramadan. Allah sent the books to His Major Prophets (Rasools) during the Ramadan only—including the books that descended upon Abraham PBUH, and Torah which descended upon Moses PBUH, Psalms and the Holy Bible. They descended on the 6th, 12th, 16th of Ramadan according to some Qur’anic commentaries. However, the Quran which was also revealed in Ramadan, came down in the Night of Power—Laylatul Qadr. Therefore, Muslims celebrate it on the night of 27th, though, but it could be a different night. Some of the authentic traditions of how the Qur’an was transferred from Lawh-e-Mahfuz to the memory of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were relayed by prominent Sufi scholar of the Qur’an Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti. He explains the process of the divine revelation in his magnum opus, Al-Itqān Fī ‘Ulūm Al-Qur’an, an encyclopaedia of Qur’anic sciences, in this order: 1) On the Night of Power, God brought the Qur’an in its totality down to the lowest heaven, after which He revealed it in parts over a period of 20, 23, or 25 years. 2) The Qur’an descended in its totality on the Night of Power, and it was between the spheres of the stars. Then God revealed it to His messenger part after part. 3) In one night (Shab-e-Qadr), the Qur’an descended towards the lowest heaven, after which it was revealed over a period of 20 years. 4) The Qur’an was separated from the Dhikr and was placed within the Abode of Glory (Bayt al-ʿizza) in the lowest heaven, after which Gabriel revealed it to the Prophet. 5) Qur’an was given to Gabriel who placed it within the Abode of Glory, after which he brought it down to earth in parts. All Muslims, more or less, feel a sense of sadness when Ramazan ends. However, the best thing we could do on this occasion is to take an account of ourselves on the Night of Power. We need to do an evaluation of where we stand now after remaining hungry and thirsty for so long. We should ask ourselves certain questions like where we were before the arrival of Ramazan and where we are moving now after passing the thirty days of fasting. Let this self-introspection lead us to feel infinite happiness for the good we have done throughout the month and remorse for the bad which we have not yet changed, even at the end of Ramazan. One of the best times to do this evaluation is the last part of this powerful night, as reported by Abu Hurayrah in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim. He quoted the holy Prophet as saying: “When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone asking Me for anything so that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I forgive him?” ---- A Regular Columnist with Newageislam.com, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar and English-Arabic-Urdu writer with a background in a leading Sufi Islamic seminary in India. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/night-decree-sufi-insights-shab-qadr/d/132075 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Asrar Jamayee: An Offspring Of Ill-Fate

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 4 April 2024 "Jis Tarah Hans Raha Hoon Main Pee-Pee Ke Garm Ashk Yoon Doosra Hanse Toh Kaleja Nikal Pade" Kaifi Azmi (The way I'm smiling, swallowing the hot tears/ Anyone in my place would have given in) Youtube/Rekhta - Asrar Jamayee left the world on April 4. ------ Does the name Asrar Jamayee ring a bell? Maybe not. This Urdu poet and King of satire breathed his last on April 4, 2020. Hardly anyone had any idea how this Khuddaar (self-respecting) man lived his life in abject penury. He had a towering self-esteem, like most Urdu poets. Asrar Jamayee's satire was once awarded by the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, who had his early education at a Madarsa and could read, write and speak Urdu, Persian and Arabic. But that's for some other day. Towards the fag-end of Jamayee's life, even local Mushairas stopped inviting him. I've always wondered why lady luck never smiled on Jamayee Saheb. He died at the age of 83. Happiness eluded him throughout his life. On this count, Jamayee Saheb’s life was like that of the exceptionally good composer of Hindi film music, Jaidev Verma who also lived in poverty and died unsung in a small room in Bombay. Both the greats never tied the knot. But that's immaterial. Asrar would always sing Jaidev Verma's immortal composition sung by Talat Mahmood, 'Dekh Lee Teri Khudai, Bas Mera Dil Bhar Gaya/ Teri Rahmat Chup Rahi, Main Rote-Rote Mar Gaya' (Film: Kinare-Kinare, Lyricist: Nyaya Sharma, 1963). Indeed, both the stalwarts were terribly upset by god or fate's ill-treatment. Jamayee Saheb was declared dead by the Social Welfare Department of South Delhi in 2013, depriving him of his monthly pension of Rs 1,500! He never got any award for his poetry, though he certainly deserved the Padma Shri or Urdu Academy Award. He was not good at lobbying and hobnobbing with those who pick up candidates for awards. Before he breathed his last, he met with an accident. Yet, he soldiered on quoting Ghalib, "Ranj Se Khoogar Hua Insaan Toh Ghat Jaata Hai Ranj/ Mushkilein Mujh Par Padeen Itni Ke Aasaan Ho Gayeen" (Once you're inured to pains, the intensity may drop/ Troubles became bearable when they befell me non-stop). It was like, pessimism when you get used to it, is just as agreeable as optimism. Satire and sarcasm are often the manifestations of angst. "Humour is a child of an emotional tumour," aptly opined the English critic, I A Richards. American humorous poet Ogden Nash also suffered a lot in life. His personal life was shambolic. Since Asrar's heart was full of angst and disenchantment, he could write beautiful satires. For example, you'll agree with him when he wrote, "Ae Desh Ke Rahbar Ye Toh Bata, Kya Tujhe Ye Nahin Dikhta Hai/ Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahti Hai Uss Desh Mein Paani Bikta Hai " (Oh the leader/well-wisher of the country, are you blind?/ Where Ganga flows, water is sold). Asrar was a prolific writer. In fact, writing would assuage his lingering pain and suffering. He once quoted Jameel Mazhari, "Itna Gham Hai Mere Andar/ Na Likhoon Toh Paagal Ho Jaaoon" (There's so much pain within me/ I shall go mad if I don't write). By the way, like Jameel Mazhari, Asrar Jamayee was also from Patna, Bihar where he was born in 1937. His entire life was a saga of pain, pathos and predicament. It was Aazmaish-e-daaro-rasan (test of the stake and rope). Such sustained ill-fate must never visit anyone, not even to those whom we don't like much. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/asrar-jamayee-offspring-fate/d/132074 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Fundamentalist Islam vs. Liberal Islam in Indian Context

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 3 April 20242024 Muslims In India Are Tied To Nationalism And Ideas Like Democracy And Secularism By Liberal Interpretations Of Faith, Not Fundamental Interpretations. Main Points: 1. Liberals have done a lot to bring Islam up to date and soften its strict beliefs. 2. People who hold liberal views usually say that they are flexible and don't have any strict theoretical requirements. They also say that they value social life and how it works more than ideas. 3. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad read the Qur'an in a way that was different from the basic interpretations made by people like Maulana Maududi, who didn't believe in democracy or religious neutrality. ------- Literal Islam is not a brand-new word or idea. It has been there for hundreds of years. In fact, liberalism is the view and point of view that most Muslims have held throughout the history of Islam. In the name of Islam, there is a liberal interpretation stream. At the same time, social reformers come on the scene and try to bring even the most fundamental parts of the religion up to date through readings and by leading them forward in new social conditions. In some ways, it's a vague idea. This style of thought has moved forward on its own and is now part of the mainstream. This trend has led to the idea that the religion needs to be brought up to date. Different people may have different ideas about how to do this. It will change over time based on time, society, and faith beliefs. They have done a lot for both the Muslim group and the rest of the public. They have tried to integrate the Muslim community into society while also giving the Muslim community access to society's benefits and comforts. People who hold liberal views usually don't stick to any particular theories and put more weight on social life and how it works than ideas themselves. Liberals can be found in almost every religion in the world. The main ideas behind liberal thinking are modern ideals of life, progressivism, reason, and scientific awareness. It is because liberal ideas have been brought into religious organizations that the narrow interiors of religion are becoming more open to everyone and religious views are becoming less rigid and practical. When it comes to Islam, liberals have done a lot to make it more modern and less strict in its beliefs. Most of the writings that talk about religious doctrines and rules were made in a time when people were very aware of how society worked. These kinds of writings have a lot of power over Muslim religious life. By rejecting them, you can't bring modernity to Muslim culture or change the way they live together. All of the Muslim reformers and thinkers who have come out of the society have seen this as true. Liberal theorists in religion have always reinterpreted old ideas and doctrines in a way that makes sense in today's world and uses them to support modern values and ways of thought. Ideas like democracy and equality did not come about when Islam came into the world. These ideas are not exactly the same as the policies and beliefs that are made public by religion. Even now, these ideas don't get much attention from extremist religious groups. The main reason for this is that basic religious views still can't fully accept democracy and secularism. People who didn't believe in liberalism were sure that God had already made all the rules and laws that people needed to live and given them to them. They thought that following these rules was enough to live. These thinkers also used a literal reading of the Bible as proof. This view is at odds with the idea of democracy. In a democracy, faith, religion, and God don't matter. Even the most basic ideas of democracy say that rules, laws, and ways of doing things should be changed to fit the changing social awareness of people. It doesn't matter what God says or where people of faith stand on democracy. Today, even religious people are okay with democracies, where people get together and make the rules, ideas, and beliefs they want based on their social awareness. They say that they are Democrats. We look into how this was done. Being religious and against debt did not give them any theological problems because they were able to look at the issue from a liberal point of view. Most religions' core views, including Islam's, are at odds with nonreligious ideas. When people follow fundamentalist views, they think that their religion and beliefs are better than all others. This change can be seen in the way religious groups have become active in democratic societies. There are still religious groups living outside of it that don't accept the idea of democracy. For them, the way people join together to find the good and bad they want is an attack on religion. We can understand this difference if we ask a religious expert in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or a similar place how religion fits in with the idea of democracy, where the people make their own laws and systems of government and only follow them. There is only one answer left, which is "heresy." If you ask the same question to a Muslim group or professor who works in a democracy, they will politely say that religion is the source of democracy and that you can be a democrat and a religious person at the same time. They can give two different answers on the same subject, even though they both come from the same religious background. This is because modernity has made religious people more open-minded. Some people say that secularism in the West and secularism in India are not the same thing, but their basic ideas and ideals are. Secularism is the idea that faith shouldn't play a big role in people's personal or public lives. Secularism is based on the idea that no faith or set of beliefs is better than any other. Because of this, neither the country nor the government should speak for anything. We believe and have this view. People who believe their faith is better and unique than all others cannot truly believe and follow this belief and doctrine, which supports the country's secular stance. Most religions' core views, including Islam's, are at odds with nonreligious ideas. When people follow fundamentalist views, they think that their religion and beliefs are better than all others. Most Muslims in India, on the other hand, are secularists but still believe in Islam. In light of modern times and circumstances, this change shows how well liberal ideas have worked at giving old and closed religion texts new meanings. These meanings might not make sense to Islamic fundamentalist groups that are not part of secular cultures. All of them look at different methods, like adding more evidence to religious ideas or being against religion. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a strong supporter of democracy and freedom of religion. He took a liberal view of religion while staying in the Christian mainstream. When he read the Qur'an, he didn't agree with the basic readings that people like Maulana Maududi had made, which were against democracy and religious tolerance. Many examples can be found in India. Muslims in India are linked to nationalism, freedom, and secularism because they follow liberal religious views. And not by using strong opinions. At this point in time, most of these explanations don't make sense. People don't follow old religious teachings or readings of the scriptures. If anything, the religious currents are what is going on to go along with modern knowledge and awareness. All the new ideas that people have come up with are slowly being taken up by religious currents. Reforms in religion have always been built on liberal ideas that are in line with modern values, progressivism, reason, and scientific awareness. It will keep doing that. -------- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/fundamentalist-liberal-indian-context/d/132070 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Pakistan's Political Landscape - The Interwoven Past of Allama Mashriqi, Bhuttos, and Zardaris

By Nasim Yousaf, New Age Islam 4 April 2024 Recognizing Mashriqi’s Influence And Power, Notable Figures From Sindh Acknowledged Mashriqi's Potential To Challenge British Rule, Leading Them To Align With The Khaksar Movement To End British Rule ------ A historical review of Pakistan's political landscape reveals intriguing connections that have shaped the course of the nation's history. Delving into the intertwined past of Allama Mashriqi, the Bhuttos, and the Zardaris uncovers fascinating relationships that have often remained unexplored. From Sir Shah Nawaz Khan Bhutto's affiliation with the Khaksar Movement (source: Gul Hayat Institute, Sindh) to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's deep admiration for Mashriqi, and President Zardari's ties with Mashriqi's descendants, these historical threads offer insights into the intersections of politics, ideology, and familial bonds. As a biographer of Mashriqi, I have been asked to shed light on these connections for the record. I will delve into the historical tapestry of the Mashriqi-Bhutto and Mashriqi-Zardari relationships separately. Before delving into Sir Shah Nawaz Khan's association with the Khaksar Movement and Bhutto's deep admiration for Mashriqi, we need to understand the context or background of the reference. Keep in mind that Mashriqi was no ordinary personality; he was a world-famous mathematician who shattered academic records at the University of Cambridge, becoming the first Muslim scholar whose book, “Tazkirah” was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature by scholars from both the East and the West. Scholars worldwide acknowledged his work, including Albert Einstein, who admired Mashriqi and introduced him to his wife during a meeting at his house in Germany in 1926. For more details, refer to my piece "Einstein & Other Scientists’ Meetings with Allama Mashriqi." Mashriqi's establishment of a formidable private army was recognized by British authorities as the most potent threat to their rule. The British worked with weaker leaders without street power, easily side-lining them if they resisted their agenda. Yet, they kept these leaders in the limelight to portray them in masses as influential. Mashriqi refused to accept any form of control. Consequently, there was no collaboration or partnership between Mashriqi and the rulers. Mashriqi's first wife, Wilayat Begum, was the sister of Mohammad Sharif, who was titled "Maulvi" (an honorary title) and appointed as a Justice of the Peace by the British Governor General in Council in united India. His large land holdings led to the naming of Sharifabad near Nawabshah after him. His second wife, Kaniz Fatima, was a politician and District Council Member. In the 1960s, President Mohammad Ayub Khan went to Nawabshah to seek the support of Sharif's family against Fatima Jinnah, a sister of Jinnah. There, Kaniz Fatima received the President at the Nawabshah airport. Mashriqi's niece, Waheeda Begum, married Mohammad Yousaf, son of Estate Magnate Mohammad Shafi (also titled Maulvi), after whom Shafiabad Railway Station was named. Aisha Begum, Mashriqi's sister, married into Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah's family, Sindh's Premier and first Governor post Pakistan's formation, showcasing the esteemed Mashriqi lineage and the family's significant influence. Recognizing Mashriqi’s influence and power, notable figures from Sindh acknowledged Mashriqi's potential to challenge British rule, leading them to align with the Khaksar Movement to end British rule. Members included G.M. Syed, Muhammad Hashim Gazdar (a Member of the Legislative Assembly), Yusuf Abdullah Haroon (son of Sir Abdullah Haroon), and Barrister Ghulam Mustafa Khan Bhurgri. Mir Ali Ahmed Talpur, Mir Rasool Bakhsh Talpur, and Pir Ilahi Bakhsh (who served as Chief Minister) also joined the Khaksar Movement. Moreover, influential families like the Bhuttos, Talpurs, Soomros, Abros, Khuhros, Halepotos, and Jatois from Sindh rallied behind the movement. Refer to the "Note" at the end for some of these prominent names. Understanding Sir Shah Nawaz Khan's Khaksar Movement affiliation and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's admiration for Allama Mashriqi is evident. Bhutto's profound respect for Mashriqi surfaced notably in the 1970s during meetings with Mashriqi’s daughter, Masuda Yousaf (my mother), and son, Inamullah Khan Akram (my uncle). Bhutto swiftly confirmed Masuda's appointment, expressing unusual haste, through his Military Secretary. During their meeting in Rawalpindi, Bhutto hailed Mashriqi as an "inspiring personality," "mathematical genius," and "indomitable freedom fighter." This admiration extended to Akram, culminating in Bhutto offering him a parliamentary seat despite Akram's lack of political activity or involvement with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), solely due to his lineage as Mashriqi’s son. Bhutto's admiration for Mashriqi was more than mere words; it manifested in his policies and actions, resonating with Mashriqi's vision for a just and empowered society. Bhutto's focus on grassroots mobilization, fiery speeches, and dedication to social justice echoed Mashriqi's ideals for an equitable society and the upliftment of the masses. His initiatives to empower women, notably his daughter Benazir Bhutto, reflected a larger vision for social and economic reform akin to Mashriqi's endeavors in the 1930s. Explore further in my works: "The Khaksar Women Who Fought for Our Freedom: Allama Mashriqi Pioneered Female Empowerment" and the book "The Khaksar Women: Warriors for Independence." Bhutto's formation of the Federal Security Force (FSF), akin to Mashriqi's Khaksar Movement, presents an intriguing parallel despite their differing goals. Politicians often draw inspiration from historical figures like Mashriqi, evident in Jinnah's adoption of some of Mashriqi's ideas such as the Muslim League National Guard and the Women’s National Guard. Jinnah's iconic slogan “unity, faith, and discipline” echoed the core ideology of Mashriqi’s Khaksar Movement, illustrating the common practice of leaders finding inspiration from predecessors without explicit acknowledgment. The enduring ties between the Bhutto and Mashriqi families are highlighted by the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's appointment of Syed Qaiser Hussain Zahidi, an ICS and Mashriqi’s niece's husband, as Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Team. Additionally, a 2013 meeting between Fatima Bhutto, Ghinwa Bhutto, and Mashriqi’s daughter-in-law, Dr. Sabhia Arshad Al-Mashriqi, at the provincial headquarters of the Khaksar Movement in Larkana underscores the Bhutto family's ongoing interest in and connection with Mashriqi's legacy, where both Fatima and Ghinwa sought information on Mashriqi. Turning to the Zardari family, we discover Hakim's alignment with Mashriqi's goal of ending British rule through the Khaksar Movement (The Express Tribune, March 25, 2011). This led him to join the party and commence his political journey within its ranks. Zardari, donning a Khaksar uniform, holding a belcha—a symbol of the Khaksar Movement reflecting the power of the labour class and the levelling of society—and marching; he also actively disseminated Khaksar material, spreading Mashriqi's message of freedom from British rule. Like Mashriqi, Hakim critiqued the Governor General of Pakistan Jinnah’s politics vehemently; I have yet to hear a Pakistani politician with the guts to denounce Jinnah like that. Hakim’s interview is on the Internet. The relationship further evolved with a close friendship developing between Hakim's son, Asif Ali Zardari, and Mashriqi's nephews, the sons of Sharif mentioned above (Ehtesham, Ehsan, Inam, Ikram). This friendship deepened, along with a growing bond between Asif's sister, Faryal Talpur, and Mashriqi's niece, Gul Bano. Residing in Nawabshah (Sindh), they found a second home in each other's company, with their bond solidifying further when both Asif and Ehtesham enrolled at Cadet College Petaro. The connection extended beyond the Sharif family, leading to a new chapter in their intertwined histories. Asif Zardari and Waheed-ud-Din Akbar (Mashriqi’s son, also at Cadet College Petaro) forged a friendship. Meanwhile, Akbar, along with numerous dissatisfied cadets, including Asif, boldly took over the college from its principal, S.S. Azim, on April 5th, 1972. Akbar, known for his remarkable leadership akin to his father Allama Mashriqi, assumed the role of Principal following the takeover, with Zarar Lucman as Vice Principal, Mohammad Nasim as Adjutant, and Asif Zardari (then Asif Ali Baluch) as Bursar. This event marked a significant moment in the history of Cadet College Petaro's history, catching the administration off guard. A letter from the principal, dated April 6th, 1972, detailed their occupation of various offices on April 5th and 6th, 1972. Copies were dispatched to high-ranking officials, including the Governor of Sindh, highlighting the magnitude of the event both within and beyond the college. In 1973, Ehtesham faced tragedy, a brief account of which follows: During a break from Cadet College Petaro, Ehtesham and his elder brother Inaam Sharif were unwinding at their family farmhouse in Sharifabad on August 13, 1973. Suddenly, they were ambushed by unknown assailants who opened fire in the darkness of the night. The attack proved fatal for Inaam, who tragically lost his life on the spot. Ehtesham was quickly taken home, where Asif promptly arrived. Ehtesham's brothers (Ahsan and Ikram) and Asif rushed him to the hospital. The doctors later revealed the grim news: Ehtesham had been left paralyzed by the bullets that had grievously injured his spinal cord, so the three moved him to Jinnah Hospital in Karachi. This life-altering event occurred when Ehtesham, a Junior Under Officer from Iqbal House at Cadet College Petaro, was just beginning to enjoy a brief respite from his studies. Ehtesham stayed in the hospital for 18 months. Ikram stayed with him, taking care of his brother. I went to see Ehtesham in Karachi. Asif regularly checked on his progress and brought homemade food for both brothers. If Asif couldn't make it, he would send the food with his driver. I also remember Asif had left free passes for Bambino and Scala cinemas, both owned by his father and located in Karachi. Sadly, Ehtesham eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away on January 14, 1975. Ehtesham and Ikram greatly admired Asif’s brotherly gesture. To them, Asif was "A friend in need is a friend indeed," which I am told by others too. Following Ehtesham’s tragic passing, the bond between Asif and Ikram grew stronger. In 1986, Ikram got married, with notable guests from Nawab Shah and beyond attending, including Brigadier Afzal Malik (Ikram’s maternal uncle) and Lt. General Zakir Ali Zaidi. Asif Zardari played an integral role, standing alongside Ikram as a friend, akin to a brother. The subsequent year saw Asif marry Benazir Bhutto with Ikram reciprocating the support. Upon Benazir Bhutto’s assumption of the Prime Minister office and her residence in Rawalpindi, Ikram frequented the Prime Minister's house, continuing their close association. Despite Ikram’s subsequent passing, the enduring link between the Zardari and Mashriqi families persisted. On a death anniversary of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Hameedud Din Al-Mashriqi (son of Allama Mashriqi, who passed away on January 10, 2010) and Dr. Sabiha al-Mashriqi (Mashriqi’s daughter-in-law) visited Garhi Khuda Bakash in Larkana District (Sindh). They offered condolences and prayed that God may grant Bhutto eternal peace. In conclusion, the connection between the Bhuttos, Zardaris, and Allama Mashriqi and his descendants remains a notable aspect of history. This remains true despite the different objectives pursued by the Bhuttos, the Zardaris, and Allama Mashriqi and his descendants. Exploring this historical connection could yield valuable insights for historians. However, this exploration is hindered by the inaccessibility of documents related to Mashriqi, spanning from his birth in 1888 to his death in 1963. Currently, only a few British files and a scant number of other materials, which can be counted on fingertips, are available in libraries. The sheer volume of Mashriqi's Khaksar material is so immense that it would require extensive archival facilities to store it adequately. It would be a great service to the nation if President Zardari, who is in power, could order the declassification of Mashriqi and the Khaksar Movement's pre- and post-partition of India confiscated documents. This is something no other President or Prime Minister of Pakistan has done in its history for mere political reasons, ignoring the nation's interest in knowing the hidden facts of its history. Asif Zardari would be remembered as a daring President who took this step, for no government has released these papers to date, to uncover the truth for the people. Note: The names below are examples sourced from the Gul Hayat Institute in Sindh: Wadero Arbab Khan Bhutto (Salar), Wadero Arbab Ali Bhutto (Salar) Abdul Rahim Bhutto, Mir Haji Khair Muhammad Khan Talpur (Salar), Molvi Muhammad Juman Khan Talpur (Salar), Allah Dino Soomro, Doda Khan Soomro, Muhammad Mian Halepoto (Salar), Muhammad Qasim Halepoto (Salar), Mir Muhammad Khan Halepoto (Salar), Faqir Muhammad Abro, Nawaz Khuhro, Ali Nawaz Jatoi (Salar), Muhammad Khan Bhurgri (Salar), M. Hussain Bhurgri (Khaksar Salar), Suleman Khan Bhurgri (Salar). Scholar Nasim Yousaf has dedicated over two decades to writing about the history of the Indian subcontinent, beginning his research in 1996. As the grandson of the freedom fighter Allama Mashriqi, Yousaf has authored 19 books and digitized 19 rare works. His monumental works include digitizing Mashriqi’s historic and rare journal 'Al-Islah', a book on Khaksar women, and a 2.5-hour documentary titled "The Road to Freedom: Allama Mashriqi's Historic Journey from Amritsar to Lahore". Detailed information about his biography and books in world libraries is available on the internet ------ Nasim Yousaf is a biographer and grandson of Allama Mashriqi. Yousaf’s works have been published in peer-reviewed encyclopedias and academic journals (including at Harvard University and by Springer of Europe), and he has presented papers at academic conferences, including at Cornell University. URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/pakistan-political-landscape-mashriqi-bhuttos-zardaris/d/132067 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Holiness And Piety Don't Ensue From Any God Or Religion

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 3 April 2024 "Koi Zaroori Nahin Ke Muqaddas Jazba Sirf Khuda, Deen Aur Tasawwuf Ki Jaanib Se Hi Aaye" Tawaaf Hussain (It's not necessary that a sacred thought or emotion should ensue only from a god, religion and spirituality) A tourist says to his guide, " You must be proud of your town. I was especially impressed by the number of Churches in it. Surely, the people here must love the Lord." "Well," says the cynical guide, "they may love the Lord, but they sure as hell hate each other." Like the little girl who, when asked, “Who’re pagans?", replied , " Pagans are people who do not fight about religion." Jonathan Swift aptly said, "We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” It's really ironic that as religiosity and spirituality, which is just a euphemism for religiosity, are on the rise, hatred and fights in the name of religion and god are also increasing rapidly. The great Persian mystic Khaqani was eating dates during the daytime in the holy month of Ramzan (not Ramadan). Seeing this, a holier-than-thou said, "What are you doing? You're not observing Roza (fast)? " He cursed and abused Khaqani and went away. The great mystic looked skyward and said, "I'm eating dates instead of fasting and thanking you. And there are people who abuse their fellow beings in a holy month. Oh Allah, tell me what's holiness?" Holiness and piety are the two most sublime qualities that no religion or spirituality can teach you. In other words, they cannot be inculcated. All religions teach you religiosity and religiosity makes you hateful and fanatic. Holiness and piety come from within. Both are immanent human traits. One doesn't require any religion or spiritual mumbo-jumbo to be holy and pious. Holiness and piety are two most sacred human spirits that are independent of religion, spirituality and even your so-called god. A person once asked the Buddha, "Can humans be holy and pious without any faith in god and religion?" The Buddha said, "My whole philosophy is based on this. You can be holy and pious without being religious and god-centric." Once you're aware of your intrinsic holiness and piety, you're no longer religious and no religiosity guides you. No god ever makes you holy and pious. You're born holy with piety. By the way, Buddha believed that every human was potentially divine and sacred. Humans don't require extraneous/external divinity. The very idea of celestial divinity is a concoction of all man-made faiths. It's within you. You're the most sacred, pure and divine. You need no god, no faith and no rituals. Ironically, Buddha's simple teaching, known as Ketayan in Pali, itself degenerated into a doctrine and became an ism; Buddhism. Once this realization dawns on us that we're all born with holiness and piety and every individual is congenitally pious, religion and extraneous religiosity will vanish and we'll be able to relate to every creature, living or non-living, with a sense of universal love. All hatred caused by religion and spirituality will peter out eventually. Remember, holiness is wholesomeness. When one's wholly aware of one's piety and divinity, one becomes acutely aware of his/her conscious existence. That's satori. It requires no religious or spiritual intervention. But like a musk-deer which is unaware of the source of its musk, we're all in search of holiness and piety through the labyrinths of god, religion and fashionable spirituality that create bitterness and bad-blood. Lastly, just like holiness and piety don't ensue from any god or religion, morality also doesn't come from heaven! Humans created all moral precepts over a period of time. Stop giving credit to what you've never seen and experienced. ---- An abridged version of this write up has appeared in The Economic Times, April 2. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/holiness-piety-god-religion/d/132066 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Voices of Conscience: Jesuit Declaration on Gaza - A Call for Justice, Peace, and Fraternity

By Midhun J Francis, Sj, New Age Islam 2 April 2024 Introduction: Speaking Truth To Power The Declaration Of The Jesuits, Titled "We Cannot Be Silent!", Echoes The Collective Outcry Of The Jesuit Community And Many Others Globally Regarding The Ongoing Conflict In Gaza. Approved By Arturo Sosa Abascal, The General Of The Society Of Jesus, This Statement Underscores The Imperative Of Moral Responsibility In The Face Of Human Suffering And Injustice. As The Guns Persist In Their Deadly Symphony, The Jesuits, Alongside Numerous Individuals Of Diverse Faiths And Beliefs, Assert Their Commitment To Vocal Opposition Against The Death And Destruction That Continue To Afflict Gaza And Its Neighbouring Regions. A Palestinian family outside of a destroyed house after an Israeli air strike, in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, on October 12, 2023. ----- Bearing Witness to Tragedy In the wake of the devastating attacks on southern Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli bombardments of Gaza, followed by a ground offensive leaving swathes of the region in ruins, the Jesuits bear witness to the unfolding tragedy. The toll of the conflict is staggering, with tens of thousands of lives lost, countless more injured, displaced, and now facing famine and disease. The declaration mourns the loss of nearly 1,800 Israelis and over 32,000 Palestinians, highlighting the profound human cost of the protracted conflict. Unveiling the Horrors: A Call to Action The declaration unveils the grim realities of the Gaza conflict, lamenting the relentless violence and devastation that have persisted for almost six months. It vividly portrays the dire humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli bombardments, ground offensives, and the ensuing famine and disease outbreaks. The staggering toll on human lives, with thousands dead and countless others wounded, displaced, and destitute, serves as a stark indictment of the failure to uphold fundamental principles of human dignity and rights. Rejecting Silence: The Jesuit Commitment In resolute defiance of indifference and complacency, the Jesuits affirm their steadfast commitment to break the silence surrounding the Gaza crisis. They denounce the inaction and impunity that have allowed the conflict to perpetuate, emphasizing the moral imperative to speak out against injustice and advocate for peace. By amplifying their voices in prayer, protest, and solidarity, the Jesuits epitomize the conscientious dissent against the normalization of violence and suffering. Championing Alternatives: A Vision of Hope Central to the declaration is the articulation of alternative pathways to peace and reconciliation. Rejecting the false dichotomy between violence and dialogue, vengeance and reconciliation, the Jesuits espouse the prophetic vision of a future characterized by harmony, justice, and non-violence. Drawing inspiration from sacred scriptures, they envision a transformative paradigm shift where swords are transformed into plowshares, and nations forsake the path of war for the pursuit of collective well-being. The declaration laments the absence of accountability for the perpetrators of violence and the perpetuation of conflict in a region sacred to multiple faiths. Through their engagement with Middle Eastern communities over decades, the Jesuits emphasize the imperative of choosing reconciliation over vengeance, justice over wrongdoing, and dialogue over violence. Echoes of Solidarity: Aligning with Papal Advocacy The Jesuits align their stance with the unequivocal denunciation of war by Pope Francis, emphasizing the moral imperative to view armed conflict as an unequivocal failure. By echoing the Pope's calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and inclusive negotiations, the Jesuits reinforce the urgency of concerted diplomatic efforts aimed at securing lasting peace and justice in the Middle East. Conclusion: A Call to Conscience In conclusion, the Declaration of the Society of Jesus on Gaza serves as a poignant reminder of the ethical imperative to confront injustice and advocate for peace in the face of human suffering. By refusing to remain silent and amplifying their voices of conscience, the Jesuits exemplify the transformative power of moral courage and solidarity. As the world grapples with the enduring spectre of conflict and division, the message of hope and reconciliation articulated in this declaration resonates as a beacon of light amidst the darkness of despair. ------ An occasional columnist for New Age Islam, Midhun J Francis Kochukallan SJ is a Jesuit priest from Kerala in India. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/jesuit-declaration-gaza-justice-peace-fraternity/d/132062 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Increasingly Intolerant Islam In Malaysia And Indonesia

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 2 April 2024 This pertains to the news item on the site of NAI, Hijab Rules And Segregated Pools - Religion Reshapes Social Norms In Malaysia, Indonesia You Could Bleach Your Skin, Colour Your Hair, Speak Icelandic, But You Are Still Malay - "Melayu Tetap Melayu". But In A Flash, You Could Reject Your Religion. You Could Eat Pork, Consume Alcohol, Get Baptised And Deny The Shahadah (Affirmation) And Zap! You Are Not Muslim. But Ethnically, You Are Still 'Melayu' - Neither You Nor Anyone Else Can Take That Away." ------- Islam and intolerance go hand in hand. Of late, it has escalated across the globe. The problem with Muslims is their reluctance to admit that there's something seriously wrong with the whole faith and its tenets. Why should a Christian or a non-Muslim girl wear a hijab? Islam is often at loggerheads with the freedom of an individual. It's really strange that when the whole world is doing away with ostensible religious customs and rituals of all faiths, Muslims, all over the world, are becoming more and more orthodox and fanatic. Malaysian and Indonesian Muslims used to be quite liberal. The language of the Malays is Austronesian in origin as are the people. It has nothing to do with Islam. The Malay people existed before Islam. They were animists, Hindus and Buddhists before embracing Islam. The only connection between Malay as an ethnic group and Islam as a religion is the Federal Constitution. More than 15 years ago, I read a Malaysian Muslim's self-description. Let me quote that verbatim, " Am I first a Muslim then Malay? No, I am first Malay, then Muslim, because a religion can, at will, be rejected. One can't deny oneself being Malay just as a Chinese can't deny himself/herself being Chinese regardless of what religion he/she subscribes to. And this is the same with the other races. An Indonesian Malay Christian would get quite annoyed if you were to claim that he/she is not Melayu as I found out from a girlfriend many years ago. You could bleach your skin, colour your hair, speak Icelandic, but you are still Malay - "Melayu Tetap Melayu". But in a flash, you could reject your religion. You could eat pork, consume alcohol, get baptised and deny the Shahadah (affirmation) and zap! You are not Muslim. But ethnically, you are still 'Melayu' - neither you nor anyone else can take that away." Alas, things have changed in Malaysia and Indonesia. Now the religious identity (read Islam) of a citizen is of paramount importance. His or her ethnicity is secondary, nay, inconsequential. Bali bombings in Indonesia in 2002 by Muslim fanatics (Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Ghufron) that killed 202 people, hardened the relatively liberal Islam in Malaysia and Indonesia. New millennium witnessed a different kind of hardcore and intolerant Islam. Despite that, even 'educated' Muslims, esp. in India, will continue to play the victim card and say that Muslims are toys in the hands of so-called powers as though butter wouldn't melt in their mouth. Nonsense! You can understand Malaysian Islam's intolerance as the country shelters the fugitive preacher and an abysmal character Dr Zakir Naik who currently resides in Malaysia where he has permanent resident status. He envenomed the minds of the subcontinental Muslims until he fled India in 2016. Now, he's spewing venom in Malaysia. Allah hu Akbar! ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-tolerance/intolerant-islam-malaysia-indonesia/d/132057 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

‘Anatomy of a Genocide’

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 1 April 2024 Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, was speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where she presented her latest report, entitled ‘Anatomy of a Genocide’, during an interactive dialogue with Member States. “Following nearly six months of unrelenting Israeli assault on occupied Gaza, it is my solemn duty to report on the worst of what humanity is capable of, and to present my findings,” she said. “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide…has been met.” Three Acts Committed Citing international law, Ms. Albanese explained that genocide is defined as a specific set of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. “Specifically, Israel has committed three acts of genocide with the requisite intent: causing seriously serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent birth within the group,” she said. Furthermore, “the genocide in Gaza is the most extreme stage of a long-standing settler colonial process of erasure of the native Palestinians,” she continued. ‘A Tragedy Foretold’ “For over 76 years, this process has oppressed the Palestinians as a people in every way imaginable, crushing their inalienable right to self-determination demographically, economically, territorially, culturally and politically.” She said the “colonial amnesia of the West has condoned Israel's colonial settler project”, adding that “the world now sees the bitter fruit of the impunity afforded to Israel. This was a tragedy foretold.” Ms. Albanese said denial of the reality and the continuation of Israel's impunity and exceptionalism is no longer viable, especially in light of the binding UN Security Council resolution, adopted on Monday, which called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Arms Embargo And Sanctions Against Israel “I implore Member States to abide by their obligations which start with imposing an arms embargo and sanctions on Israel, and so ensure that the future does not continue to repeat itself,” she concluded. Speaking on the same subject, Chris Hedges, an American journalist, author, commentator and Presbyterian minister, posted a piece titled A Genocide Foretold on his sub-stack, which is reproduced below: The genocide in Gaza is the final stage of a process begun by Israel decades ago. Anyone who did not see this coming blinded themselves to the character and ultimate goals of the apartheid state. There are no surprises in Gaza. Every horrifying act of Israel’s genocide has been telegraphed in advance. It has been for decades. The dispossession of Palestinians of their land is the beating heart of Israel’s settler colonial project. This dispossession has had dramatic historical moments — 1948 and 1967 — when vast parts of historic Palestine were seized and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were ethnically cleansed. Dispossession has also occurred in increments — the slow-motion theft of land and steady ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The incursion on Oct. 7 into Israel by Hamas and other resistance groups, which left 1,154 Israelis, tourists and migrant workers dead and saw about 240 people taken hostage, gave Israel the pretext for what it has long craved — the total erasure of Palestinians. Israel has razed 77 percent of healthcare facilities in Gaza, 68 percent of telecommunication infrastructure, nearly all municipal and governmental buildings, commercial, industrial and agricultural centers, almost half of all roads, over 60 percent of Gaza’s 439,000 homes, 68 percent of residential buildings — the bombing of the Al-Taj tower in Gaza City on Oct. 25, killed 101 people, including 44 children and 37 women, and injured hundreds — and obliterated refugee camps. The attack on the Jabalia refugee camp on Oct. 25 killed at least 126 civilians, including 69 children, and injured 280. Israel has damaged or destroyed Gaza’s universities, all of which are now closed, and 60 percent of other educational facilities, including 13 libraries. It has also destroyed at least 195 heritage sites, including 208 mosques, churches, and Gaza’s Central Archives, which held 150 years of historical records and documents. Israel’s warplanes, missiles, drones, tanks, artillery shells and naval guns daily pulverize Gaza — which is only 20 miles long and five miles wide — in a scorched earth campaign unlike anything seen since the war in Vietnam. It has dropped 25,000 tons of explosives — equivalent to two nuclear bombs — on Gaza, many targets selected by Artificial Intelligence. It drops unguided munitions (“dumb bombs”) and 2000-pound “bunker buster” bombs on refugee camps and densely packed urban centres as well as the so-called “safe zones” — 42 percent of Palestinians killed have been in these “safe zones” where they were instructed by Israel to flee. Over 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, forced to find refuge in overcrowded UNRWA shelters, hospital corridors and courtyards, schools, tents or the open air in south Gaza, often living next to fetid pools of raw sewage. Israel has killed at least 32,705 Palestinians in Gaza, including 13,000 children and 9,000 women. This means Israel is slaughtering as many as 187 people a day, including 75 children. It has killed 136 journalists, many, if not most, deliberately targeted. It has killed 340 doctors, nurses and other health workers — four percent of Gaza’s healthcare personnel. These numbers do not begin to reflect the actual death toll since only those dead registered in morgues and hospitals, most of which no longer function, are counted. The death toll, when those who are missing are counted, is well over 40,000. Doctors are forced to amputate limbs without anaesthetic. Those with severe medical conditions — cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease — have died from lack of treatment or will die soon. Over a hundred women give birth every day with little to no medical care. Miscarriages are up by 300 percent. Over 90 percent of the Palestinians in Gaza suffer from severe food insecurity, with people eating animal feed and grass. Children are dying of starvation. Palestinian writers, academics, scientists and their family members have been tracked and assassinated. Over 75,000 Palestinians have been wounded, many of whom will be crippled for life. “Seventy percent of recorded deaths have consistently been women and children,” writes Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, in her report issued on March 25. “Israel failed to prove that the remaining 30 percent, i.e. adult males, were active Hamas combatants — a necessary condition for them to be lawfully targeted. By early December, Israel’s security advisors claimed the killing of ‘7,000 terrorists’ in a stage of the campaign when less than 5,000 adult males in total had been identified among the casualties, thus implying that all adult males killed were ‘terrorists.’” Israel plays linguistic tricks to deny anyone in Gaza the status of civilians and any building - including mosques, hospitals and schools - protected status. Palestinians are all branded as responsible for the attack on Oct. 7 or written off as human shields for Hamas. All structures are considered legitimate targets by Israel because they are allegedly Hamas command centers or said to harbour Hamas fighters. These accusations, Albanese writes, are a “pretext” used to justify “the killing of civilians under a cloak of purported legality, whose all-enveloping pervasiveness admits only of genocidal intent.” In scale, we have not seen an assault on the Palestinians of this magnitude. Still, all these measures – the killing of civilians, dispossession of land, arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances, closures imposed on Palestinian towns and villages, house demolitions, revoking residence permits, deportation, destruction of the infrastructure that maintains civil society, military occupation, dehumanizing language, theft of natural resources, especially aquifers — have long defined Israel’s campaign to eradicate Palestinians. The occupation and genocide would not be possible without the U.S., which gives Israel $3.8 billion in annual military assistance and is now sending another $2.5 billion in bombs, including 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs, 500 MK82 500-pound bombs and fighter jets to Israel. This, too, is our genocide. The genocide in Gaza is the culmination of a process. It is not an act. The genocide is the predictable denouement of Israel’s settler colonial project. It is coded within the DNA of the Israeli apartheid state. It is where Israel had to end up. Zionist Leaders Are Open About Their Goals. Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, after Oct. 7, announced that Gaza would receive “no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel.” Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz said: “Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened.” Avi Dichter, the Minister of Agriculture, referred to Israel’s military assault as “the Gaza Nakba,” referencing the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, which between 1947 and 1949, drove 750,000 Palestinians from their land and saw thousands massacred by Zionist militias. Likud member of the Israeli Knesset Revital Gottlieb posted on her social media account: “Bring down buildings!! Bomb without distinction!!…Flatten Gaza. Without mercy! This time, there is no room for mercy!” Not to be outdone, Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu supported using nuclear weapons on Gaza as “one of the possibilities.” The message from the Israeli leadership is unequivocal. Annihilate the Palestinians the same way we annihilated Native Americans, the Australians annihilated the First Nations peoples, the Germans annihilated the Herero in Namibia, the Turks annihilated Armenians and the Nazis annihilated the Jews. The Specifics Are Different. The Process Is The Same. We cannot plead ignorance. We know what happened to the Palestinians. We know what is happening to the Palestinians. We know what will happen to the Palestinians. But it is easier to pretend. Pretend Israel will allow in humanitarian aid. Pretend there will be a ceasefire. Pretend Palestinians will return to their destroyed homes in Gaza. Pretend Gaza will be rebuilt. Pretend the Palestinian Authority will administer Gaza. Pretend there will be a two-state solution. Pretend there is no genocide. The genocide, which the U.S. is funding and sustaining with weapons shipments, says something not only about Israel, but about us, about Western civilization, about who we are as a people, where we came from and what defines us. It says that all our vaunted morality and respect for human rights is a lie. It says that people of color, especially when they are poor and vulnerable, do not count. It says their hopes, dreams, dignity and aspirations for freedom are worthless. It says we will ensure global domination through racialized violence. This lie — that Western civilization is predicated on “values” such as respect for human rights and the rule of law — is one the Palestinians, and all those in the Global South, as well as Native Americans and Black and Brown Americans have known for centuries. But, with the Gaza genocide live streamed, this lie is impossible to sustain. We do not halt Israel’s genocide because we are Israel, infected with white supremacy and intoxicated by our domination of the globe’s wealth and the power to obliterate others with our industrial weapons. Remember The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman telling Charlie Rose on the eve of the war in Iraq that American soldiers should go house to house from Basra to Baghdad and say to Iraqis “suck on this?” That is the real credo of the U.S. empire. The world outside of the industrialized fortresses in the Global North is acutely aware that the fate of the Palestinians is their fate. As climate change imperils survival, as resources become scarce, as migration becomes imperative for millions, as agricultural yields decline, as coastal areas are flooded, as droughts and wildfires proliferate, as states fail, as armed resistance movements rise to battle their oppressors along with their proxies, genocide will not be an anomaly. It will be the norm. The earth’s vulnerable and poor, those Frantz Fanon called “the wretched of the earth,” will be the next Palestinians. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: A Genocide Foretold: Genocide In Gaza Is The Final Stage Of A Process Begun By Israel Decades Ago ----- A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/anatomy-genocide-israel-palestine/d/132050 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

A Genocide Foretold: Genocide In Gaza Is The Final Stage Of A Process Begun By Israel Decades Ago

By Chris Hedges March 30, 2024 Israel Has Killed At Least 32,705 Palestinians In Gaza, Including 13,000 Children And 9,000 Women. This Means Israel Is Slaughtering As Many As 187 People A Day Including 75 Children. It Has Killed 136 Journalists, Many, If Not Most Of Them Deliberately Targeted. It Has Killed 340 Doctors, Nurses And Other Health Workers ------ There are no surprises in Gaza. Every horrifying act of Israel’s genocide has been telegraphed in advance. It has been for decades. The dispossession of Palestinians of their land is the beating heart of Israel’s settler colonial project. This dispossession has had dramatic historical moments — 1948 and 1967 — when huge parts of historic Palestine were seized and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were ethnically cleansed. Dispossession has also occurred in increments — the slow-motion theft of land and steady ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. A Genocide Foretold - by Mr. Fish ------ The incursion on Oct. 7 into Israel by Hamas and other resistance groups, which left 1,154 Israelis, tourists and migrant workers dead and saw about 240 people taken hostage, gave Israel the pretext for what it has long craved — the total erasure of Palestinians. Israel has razed 77 percent of healthcare facilities in Gaza, 68 percent of telecommunication infrastructure, nearly all municipal and governmental buildings, commercial, industrial and agricultural centres, almost half of all roads, over 60 percent of Gaza’s 439,000 homes, 68 percent of residential buildings — the bombing of the Al-Taj tower in Gaza City on Oct. 25, killed 101 people, including 44 children and 37 women, and injured hundreds — and obliterated refugee camps. The attack on the Jabalia refugee camp on Oct. 25 killed at least 126 civilians, including 69 children, and injured 280. Israel has damaged or destroyed Gaza’s universities, all of which are now closed, and 60 percent of other educational facilities, including 13 libraries. It has also destroyed at least 195 heritage sites, including 208 mosques, churches, and Gaza’s Central Archives that held 150 years of historical records and documents. Israel’s warplanes, missiles, drones, tanks, artillery shells and naval guns daily pulverize Gaza — which is only 20 miles long and five miles wide — in a scorched earth campaign unlike anything seen since the war in Vietnam. It has dropped 25,000 tons of explosives — equivalent to two nuclear bombs — on Gaza, many targets selected by Artificial Intelligence. It drops unguided munitions (“dumb bombs”) and 2000-pound “bunker buster” bombs on refugee camps and densely packed urban centres as well as the so-called “safe zones” — 42 percent of Palestinians killed have been in these “safe zones” where they were instructed by Israel to flee. Over 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, forced to find refuge in overcrowded UNRWA shelters, hospital corridors and courtyards, schools, tents or the open air in south Gaza, often living next to fetid pools of raw sewage. Israel has killed at least 32,705 Palestinians in Gaza, including 13,000 children and 9,000 women. This means Israel is slaughtering as many as 187 people a day including 75 children. It has killed 136 journalists, many, if not most of them deliberately targeted. It has killed 340 doctors, nurses and other health workers — four percent of Gaza’s healthcare personnel. These numbers do not begin to reflect the actual death toll since only those dead registered in morgues and hospitals, most of which no longer function, are counted. The death toll, when those who are missing are counted, is well over 40,000. Doctors are forced to amputate limbs without anaesthetic. Those with severe medical conditions — cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease — have died from lack of treatment or will die soon. Over a hundred women give birth every day, with little to no medical care. Miscarriages are up by 300 percent. Over 90 percent of the Palestinians in Gaza suffer from severe food insecurity with people eating animal feed and grass. Children are dying of starvation. Palestinian writers, academics, scientists and their family members have been tracked and assassinated. Over 75,000 Palestinians have been wounded, many of whom will be crippled for life. “Seventy percent of recorded deaths have consistently been women and children,” writes Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, in her report issued on March 25. “Israel failed to prove that the remaining 30 percent, i.e. adult males, were active Hamas combatants — a necessary condition for them to be lawfully targeted. By early-December, Israel’s security advisors claimed the killing of ‘7,000 terrorists’ in a stage of the campaign when less than 5,000 adult males in total had been identified among the casualties, thus implying that all adult males killed were ‘terrorists.’” Israel plays linguistic tricks to deny anyone in Gaza the status of civilians and any building - including mosques, hospitals and schools - protected status. Palestinians are all branded as responsible for the attack on Oct. 7 or written off as human shields for Hamas. All structures are considered legitimate targets by Israel because they are allegedly Hamas command centers or said to harbour Hamas fighters. These accusations, Albanese writes, are a “pretext” used to justify “the killing of civilians under a cloak of purported legality, whose all-enveloping pervasiveness admits only of genocidal intent.” In scale we have not seen an assault on the Palestinians of this magnitude, but all these measures – the killing of civlians, dispossession of land, arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances, closures imposed on Palestinians towns and villages, house demolitions, revoking residence permits, deportation, destruction of the infrastructure that maintains civil society, military occupation, dehumanizing language, theft of natural resources, especially aquifers — have long defined Israel’s campaign to eradicate Palestinians. The occupation and genocide would not be possible without the U.S. which gives Israel $3.8 billion in annual military assistance and is now sending another $2.5 billion in bombs, including 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs, 500 MK82 500-pound bombs and fighter jets to Israel. This, too, is our genocide. The genocide in Gaza is the culmination of a process. It is not an act. The genocide is the predictable denouement of Israel’s settler colonial project. It is coded within the DNA of the Israeli apartheid state. It is where Israel had to end up. Zionist Leaders Are Open About Their Goals Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, after Oct. 7, announced that Gaza would receive “no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel.” Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz said: “Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened.” Avi Dichter, the Minister of Agriculture, referred to Israel’s military assault as “the Gaza Nakba,” referencing the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, which between 1947 and 1949, drove 750,000 Palestinians from their land and saw thousands massacred by Zionist militias. Likud member of the Israeli Knesset Revital Gottlieb posted on her social media account: “Bring down buildings!! Bomb without distinction!!…Flatten Gaza. Without mercy! This time, there is no room for mercy!” Not to be outdone, Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu supported using nuclear weapons on Gaza as “one of the possibilities.” The message from the Israeli leadership is unequivocal. Annihilate the Palestinians the same way we annihilated Native Americans, the Australians annihilated the First Nations peoples, the Germans annihilated the Herero in Namibia, the Turks annihilated Armenians and the Nazis annihilated the Jews. The Specifics Are Different. The Process Is The Same. We cannot plead ignorance. We know what happened to the Palestinians. We know what is happening to the Palestinians. We know what will happen to the Palestinians. But it is easier to pretend. Pretend Israel will allow in humanitarian aid. Pretend there will be a ceasefire. Pretend Palestinians will return to their destroyed homes in Gaza. Pretend Gaza will be rebuilt. Pretend the Palestinian Authority will administer Gaza. Pretend there will be a two-state solution. Pretend there is no genocide. The genocide, which the U.S. is funding and sustaining with weapons shipments, says something not only about Israel, but about us, about Western civilization, about who we are as a people, where we came from and what defines us. It says that all our vaunted morality and respect for human rights is a lie. It says that people of color, especially when they are poor and vulnerable, do not count. It says their hopes, dreams, dignity and aspirations for freedom are worthless. It says we will ensure global domination through racialized violence. This lie — that Western civilization is predicated on “values” such as respect for human rights and the rule of law — is one the Palestinians, and all those in the Global South, as well as Native Americans and Black and Brown Americans have known for centuries. But, with the Gaza genocide live streamed, this lie is impossible to sustain. We do not halt Israel’s genocide because we are Israel, infected with white supremacy and intoxicated by our domination of the globe’s wealth and the power to obliterate others with our industrial weapons. Remember The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman telling Charlie Rose on the eve of the war in Iraq that American soldiers should go house to house from Basra to Baghdad and say to Iraqis “suck on this?” That is the real credo of the U.S. empire. The world outside of the industrialized fortresses in the Global North is acutely aware that the fate of the Palestinians is their fate. As climate change imperils survival, as resources become scarce, as migration becomes an imperative for millions, as agricultural yields decline, as costal areas are flooded, as droughts and wild fires proliferate, as states fail, as armed resistance movements rise to battle their oppressors along with their proxies, genocide will not be an anomaly. It will be the norm. The earth’s vulnerable and poor, those Frantz Fanon called “the wretched of the earth,” will be the next Palestinians. ------ Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for 15 years for The New York Times, where he served as the Middle East bureau chief and Balkan bureau chief for the paper. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor and NPR. He is the host of show “The Chris Hedges Report.” URl: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/genocide-gaza-israel-decades/d/132049 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Muzaffar Hanfi: Remembering A Contemplative Poet

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 1 April 2024 Thappa Laga Hai 'Muzaffar' Ke Naam Ka Us Ka Koi Bhi Sher Kahin Se Utha Ke Dekh (There's An Unmistakable Stamp Of The Name, Muzaffar/ Pick Up Any Of His Couplets At Random) Prof. Muzaffar Hanfi, a prominent Urdu Poet, critic, and writer ------ The aforementioned couplet of Muzaffar Hanfi underlines the uniqueness of his craftsmanship. You cannot understand his couplets at first blush. One needs to ferret out the meanings. "Har Sher Mein Baat Ho Kuchh Aisi/ Har Koi Samajhne Lage Toh Phir Shayari Kaisi ? " (There must be something unique in every couplet / If it's intelligible to everyone, how can it be poetry?). Mind you, he's not demeaning his readers. Nor is he condescending. He's just reiterating his contemporary Urdu poet Bashar Nawaz from Aurangabad, "Lafzon Ke Ma.Ani Khulte Chale Jaayein / Jyon Pyaaz Ki Partein Aahista Se Alag Hon" (The connotations of the words slowly become clearer / The way, layers of an onion are slowly peeled off). But at the same time, Hanfi criticized too much ambiguity and wrote, "Shaakhon Par Ibhaam Ke Paikar Latak Rahe Hain/ Lafzon Ke Jangal Mein Ma.Ani Bhatak Rahe Hain" (Figures of ambiguity are hanging from the branches/ The meanings are loitering in the forest of words). Muzaffar Hanfi was a lecturer of Urdu. By the way, he was the Vice President of Indian Universities Urdu Teachers Association. Obviously, a teacher's poetry is slightly didactic: Bachpan Mein Aakaash Ko Chhoota-Sa Lagta Tha/ Iss Peepal Ki Shakhein Ab Kitni Neechi Hain (When I was a child, the Peepul tree looked like touching the sky / Now its branches are drooping). Poet talks of changing perspectives of the onlooker and also the decline of an object with time and age. Hanfi is known for the use of sarcasm. Here's an example, "Shukriya Reshmi Dilase Ka/ Teer Toh Aap Ne Bhi Maara Tha" (Thanks for the silken/false consolations / You too hit / aimed at me). His honesty is worth-appreciating: Ghamon Par Muskura Lete Hain Lekin Muskura Kar Hum/ Khud Apni Hi Nazar Mein Chor Se Ma'aloom Hote Hain (I smile at my sorrows and sufferings/ But at the very next moment, it becomes embarrassing for me). Anything ephemeral and evanescent fails to appeal to him, "Yoon Palkon Pe Jagmagana Do Ghadi Ka Aish Hai/ Roshni Ban Ke Mere Andar Hi Andar Phail Ja" (Glittering on the eyelids is a fleeting moment of happiness/ Come, spread within me like the effulgence ). Elsewhere, he says the same thing in a simpler language, "Lamhe Bhar Ki Muskurahat Nahin/ Zindagi Bhar Ki Hansi De Mujhe (Don't give me a temporary smile/ Give me a permanent grin). Reading Hanfi is a mental exercise. He's meant for the cerebral readers and those who prefer serious poetry over the frivolous one. Jise Padhna Ho Mujhe, Waqt Le Kar Padhe/ Main Ek Jhalak Ka Shayar Nahin (Those who want to read my poetry, do take time/ My poetry is not to be read cursorily). I agree with you, Hanafi Saheb. Your contemplative poetry requires intense concentration and patience. Caviar to the general, one cannot read and enjoy his layered poetry in a cavalry manner. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URl: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/muzaffar-hanfi-contemplative-poet/d/132048 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism