The Supposed Shred of Evidence for my banning

The Supposed Shred of Evidence for my banning

In order to justify banning me, the Home Secretary has pulled out of her bag of tricks a truncated statement of mine relative to suicide bombing being a military tactic. The statement was made in a 1994 recording (16 years ago) for Sharjah TV. The 2009 date given which they claim is incorrect. The program was replayed in 2009, as, since I left the UAE in 2003, I have not returned. The original statement was made in the beginning of the Palestinian struggle, when use of this tactic was directed at troops and not civilians – similar to “suicide missions” well known in military operations. Once use of the tactic changed and civilians were targeted, my position also changed. Consequently, in my hundreds of lectures (on youtube and elsewhere) I have clearly condemned suicide bombing as haraam (forbidden) in Islam [outside of military necessity] especially where directed at civilian populations. In fact I was among the first to condemn 9l11 and 7/7 when they occurred.


http://blog.bilalphilips.com/2010/06/24/the-supposed-shred-of-evidence-for-my-banning/

Dr Bilal Philips Banned from the UK

Dr Bilal Philips Banned from the UK

Well, the inevitable finally happened. At least the British Home Secretary called Dr Naik in Mumbai prior to his trip and told him not to come. I arrived to London this Saturday morning, 19 June, at 8am only to denied entry and put back on a plane at 11am back to Doha!!! So, I was unable to attend the Qur’aan conference on the 20th as planned!!! Sorry to all who attended the conference expecting to hear from me or see me. Even the conference was harassed by the British National Party and had to change their venue at the last moment. And Allah is the best Protector and disposer of our affairs.
http://blog.bilalphilips.com/2010/06/22/dr-bilal-philips-banned-from-the-uk/

18 Tips to Simplify Our Spending

by xeniagreekmuslimah

The simplicity movement has swept across America. People are sick of the rat race-the fast-paced, stressful culture that has developed. They want to kick back, relax and live simpler, much less complicated lives.
Part of this means reducing the material objects that have cluttered our lives. Generally, it means living with less and being happy.
Sadly, Muslims are not immune from the rush for the material trappings of modern society. Muslims in some communities literally compete to see who has the bigger house, the nicest cars and clothes or the most expensive education.
But a Muslim was never supposed to live this way. He or she should be the representative of the “less is more” concept when it comes to material things. Some Muslims are, while others may be struggling to be. Others perhaps just want to get out of debt. Still others may want to completely revolutionize the way they’ve lived their lives and their finances are just another aspect of this.
Whatever your reasons, below are some tips to help you simplify your life’s material side, and see the bigger picture.
Tip #1: Think about this Dua
“And of them (also) is he who says: ‘Our Lord! Give unto us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and guard us from the doom of Fire’” (Quran 2:201).
This is a common Dua of Muslims, and it indicates that we don’t have to abstain from seeking the good in this world to attain good in the next.
Tip #2: Make your will
This may be scary but it will give you a true picture of where you are and where you have or want to be. Who doesn’t want to die debt-free, with money left for loved ones? By making a will, you will see the bigger picture-how much you owe, how much you have left to give-and it could provide the much needed kick in the pants many of us need to start doing things we have to do to get our financial house in order.
Tip #3: Question your sources of income
Is it Halal? Where is my money coming from? These are life-changing questions. Be ready to take a hard look at the job you may have been doing for years. Be ready to take a drastic but gradual step towards an income that may be less but Halal as opposed to one that is more but Haram. When it comes to Halal income, less really is more in terms of blessings and protection from Allah’s punishment.
Tip #4: Make a personal financial plan a second grader could understand
When people hear budget, they may think of cold accountants expressionlessly number crunching over a stack of papers. But your personal budget does not have to be this way. If you like computers, get a program that can help you do this. If not, get a notebook or folder and start doing this. Make it simple. Picture yourself as a second grader and ask yourself how you would budget your money. Remember, the only math functions you really need for this are what you probably learned in grade two: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, that’s all.
The purpose is to help you identify where your money is really going, how you can pay off debts and spend your money more wisely.
Tip #5: Write down and pay off all of your debts

Whether it’s the $20 you borrowed from your wife for your haircut last week, the $100 you were lent by your brother or your student loan, write down every debt that you have and incorporate repayment of all of your debts into your personal financial plan. In fact, set a specific part of your income whenever you receive it for this purpose only. Just start. Don’t wait to have a big amount. Put in $5, $10, $15. Whatever the amount, begin today.
Tip #6: Avoid buying unless you’ve got the money
It’s this very attitude that promoters of the credit card seek to change. They want you to think that this silly piece of plastic is the ticket to happiness. It means you can buy when, where and how you want.
Not true. Remember, if you buy on credit, you will have to deal with the stress of paying off this bill before the interest kicks in. If you don’t, the original price will keep increasing. Not only is this a headache. Taking and paying interest is Haram.
Tip #7: Try to reduce borrowing
Unless it’s really necessary, avoid borrowing money, even if it’s interest-free from a relative or friend. This just adds to the stress of constantly remembering that you have to pay someone back and it takes away from your ability to spend on what is really important. In some cases, it can have a negative effect on relationships with people (if the lenders are family or close friends). Pay off what you have left and try to avoid this habit. If you practice tip #2, you will have have less of this problem, Insha Allah.
Tip #8: Don’t use shopping as a fix
Shopping is not simply a mechanical activity in our culture. It’s what many do when they are depressed or want to have a good time. Whether it’s the teenagers who hang out at the mall, or those who see getting groceries on Saturdays as a family trip, shopping has become recreation. Make a rule that you will not go shopping unless you have an exact item you want to buy or some real work to do. Then take up some other interesting activity to replace your fix: family time, a Halaqa, sports, reading, etc.
Tip #9: Read this Dua before entering the shopping mall or market

La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul mulko wa la hul hamdo youh yee wa youmeetu wa huwa hayyu la yamooto bi yadihil khayru wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadeer.
Translation: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is living and does not die. In His hand is all good and He is over all things, omnipotent.
This was reported in Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim
Tip #10: Try to avoid shopping without a list

And stick to it, even if there are only one or two items on it. Normally, people use this for groceries but the concept can be extended to buying clothes, shoes, etc. If you can stick to the list, you can see beyond the fancy marketing gimmicks at the front of the store and just walk right to wherever you have to go, get what you have to get, and leave without being suckered into buying some useless knickknack or other object on sale that day.
Tip #11: Set a quota for your obsessions

Tell yourself you will not spend more than say, $50 per month on things that aren’t really necessary, but you like to have (i.e. lots of clothes, chocolate, junk food, computer games and videos, etc.) or whatever your obsession is. Then keep only this amount in your wallet. Don’t withdraw any more from your account.
Tip #12: Give, give, give

Sadaqa does not decrease wealth. Be on the lookout for opportunities to give (i.e. Ramadan, if you know a relative or another Muslim in need, etc. ).
Tip #13: Treat interest like the disgusting thing that it is

When you start to refocus and begin to identify the Halal and Haram of your financial life, you will see that perhaps many of the things you used to do (i.e. your source of income or how you spent it) are not in line with Islamic values. Giving and taking interest is one of these (to see why it’s not in tune with Islam, check out Verses of the Quran and Ahadith about Money Matters. Treat interest like what it is: a disgusting disease that enslaves people and makes them miserable. Be conscious of it and avoid it at all costs, no matter how little. Encourage others to do the same.

Tip #14: Save a specific percentage of your money

This is not so you can hoard lots of money. Emergencies happen. Your savings can help you out here. Or you lose your job and you’re the sole supporter of your family. Your savings can help you in the short-term by at least covering the bare necessities until some other arrangement is worked out.
Tip #15: Resist the urge to “keep up with the Jameels”

The Jameels got a new house. But then the Syeds got a bigger one. In response the Sakrs got a mansion. And the cycle continues. This kind of competition for material things is another example of material enslavement. Resist the urge to keep up with the Jameels or anyone else for that matter. If the pressure is too intense, consider widening your circle of friends to those who don’t base their relationship with you on how much money you make or how many cars you have.
Tip #16: If you can, chuck the T.V. or reduce how often your kids, especially, watch it

Television is one of the best things to ever happen to peddlers of toys, weight loss gimmicks and insecurity. Getting rid of it or reducing its consumption, especially for your kids, will decrease the need to buy the latest action figure, Barbie and what not. That doesn’t mean the desire will go away. But when kids (adults as well) are not bombarded with daily messages feeding on their need to have the same toys or insecurities their friends have, these items will have less importance and help reduce the need to use material things as a source of personal satisfaction.
Tip #17: Do Istikhara before buying major items

An interesting true story: a sister and her husband went to buy a sofa. They found two they liked. They decided to do Salatul Istikhara. When they got back to the store, one of the sofas was sold. The lesson: (for me at least) before buying big ticket items, seek Allah’s guidance and help, and He will give you what is best. It will also give you time to think about whether or not you want to spend over $500 on something or look for something cheaper.
Tip #18: Imagine yourself as a traveler

What do you notice about travelers? They are focused on their destination, and keep very few things that will load them down. Our destination as Muslims, Insha Allah is Jannah. We need to keep our eyes focused there. That also means not getting too bogged down in things like fancy homes and cars (which are almost always purchased using interest.
Source : http://xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com

Ranking of professional colleges – AMU, Hamdard nowhere in sight

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: The Muslims are the most backward community educationally in India. Everyone admits it. But why are so backward the top educational institutions established by the community? Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Hamdard etc consume huge sum of public money but when it comes to ranking of professional colleges in the country they are nowhere in the sight. Who is to blame?
The Outlook magazine, in its latest issue (28 June 2010), has published annual ranking of top professional colleges in India in different streams like engineering, medicine, mass communication, law, architecture and social work. None of the ‘brand’ institutions of the Muslim community has occupied any place. While two courses of Jamia Millia Islamia, namely mass communication and architecture are in top 10 in respective fields, neither AMU and Jamia Hamdard as whole nor any of their courses or colleges have got any rank. However, a little respite is provided by Hyderabad-based Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology which is among top 50 engineering colleges in the country.


[Photo by columbia.edu]
Muffakham Jah College was established in 1980 and is run by Sultan-ul-Uloom Education Society. AMU was set up in 1875, and is now a central university while Hamdard University was established in 1962, and is a deemed university.
According to the Outlook ranking, in engineering, at No. 1 is IIT Kharagpur. Top 10 of 50 ranks is captured by IITs. Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology gets 50th rank. No other Muslim institution is there. Among top 20 medical colleges, No. 1 is All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Delhi). College of Dental Sciences (Manipal) is ranked No 1 among top 15 dental colleges. In Law, National Law School of India University (Mumbai) is top among top 10 and in Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences is on the top.


[Photo by milligazette.com]
In Architecture, the Department of Architecture of Jamia Millia Islamia (Rank 10) is among top 10 such departments of colleges in the country. The Dept of Arch & Planning of IIT Roorkee is at the top. In Mass Communication, Jamia Millia’s AJ Kidwai MCRC is ranked at No. 3. The top position is held by Xavier Institute of Communication (Mumbai).
But overall, why is so poor performance of Muslim community-established institutions? Why is no course or college of AMU or Hamdard in the ranking?
“This is alarming. Responsibility should be fixed for it. They get huge budgets then why they are back in ranking,” asks Professor Akhtarul Wasey, renowned Islamic Scholar and Head of the Department of Islamic Studies at Jamia Milia Islmia. Giving reason of the backwardness of AMU in academic excellence, Prof Wasey talking to TCN from New Delhi says: “Bickering, internal strife and backbiting has downed the historic institute.” No VC in the last 20 years was allowed to work peacefully, he adds.
About Jamia Hamdard, Porf Wasey, who has authored several books, says the institute has lost its distinction of academic excellence somewhere.


[Photo by delhiphotodairy.blogspot.com]
Overall, Prof Wasey, who is also Vice-Chairman of Urdu Academy of Delhi, admits, these Muslim institutions lack vision, planning, structure and capacity building. He is happy Jamia Millia’s two courses are in the ranks, and for it he gives credit to the vision that the institute enjoys. “Take the case of AJ Kidwai MCRC, Jamia was the first to introduce Masters degree course in mass communication.”
Bihar’s noted educationist and academician Prof Abuzar Kamaluddin is also sad at the dismal performance of AMU. In his view the reason is AMU not having good faculty.
“Community sends its best of the best students to AMU but due to lack of proper faculty these talented students fade out before they bloom. It is a tragedy, a waste of talent,” says Prof Kamaluddin who is currently Principal of M P Sinha Science College in Muzaffarpur.
If they solve the issue of faculty, they will get 50% result if they are now getting 10%, says Prof Kamaluddin who has also served as Vice Chairman, Bihar Intermediate Educational Council.
On the role of bickering in poor performance of AMU, the author of several books Prof Kamaluddin says: “No institute is free from bickering or internal strife for promotion or such things, even IITs are facing such problems. But if the faculty is good such issues will not hamper the performance of the class. After all, the faculty has issues with administration and teachers, not students. Once they are in classroom, they will deliver.” Prof Kamaluddin has written several books on education—the latest one is “Education: Views and Vision – A Suggestive Study with Critical Analysis Under the Backdrop of Bihar.”
http://twocircles.net/2010jun25/ranking_professional_colleges_amu_hamdard_nowhere_sight.html

A different jihad

By Asghar Ali Engineer,
The word jihad’s literal meaning is to strive, for any thing good including striving for peace, for welfare humanity. If the Qur’anic verses in Qur’an are read with its oft repeated command that the believers should enforce what is good and forbid what is evil (ya’murun b’il ma’ruf wa ynahauna ‘anil munkar) the whole meaning of jihad assumes a new significance.
All those who are serving humanity in different ways by promoting a morally clean and non-corrupt society, are real mujahids. It is for this reason that the word jihad was interpreted differently by different sections of society. For rulers and political class it meant war and conquests to expand Islamic rule, for Sufis it meant to conquer ones own desires and greed and for theological class it meant efforts to enforce shari’ah law and to mould ones behaviour within shar’i limits (hudud).


Charity Alliance head Dr Zafrull Islam Khan distributing grains among poor people in Murshidabad, West Bengal [Photo by Milligazette]
And for Usama bin laden it meant again very different thing and he used it for retaliation against USA and gave rise to what is totally unacceptable phenomenon of terrorism. However, when the political class in medieval ages used jihad for territorial conquests, it was how the rulers expanded their regimes in those days. Even Ibn Taymiyyah had some justification for issuing fatwa for jihad after Mongol hordes sacked Baghdad.
But what Usama did was very different. It is neither an acceptable way in the contemporary world nor does he belong to a political or ruling class. No head of the Islamic state has approved of what Usama did nor has any army of a Muslim country invaded any other non-Muslim country. Usama is neither head of any country nor has he backing of any regular Muslim army. Thus his jihad has neither scriptural backing, nor political nor of Ulama. It is nothing more than personal and hence totally unacceptable.
Coming back to root meaning of jihad i.e. to strive for good of the society and for enhancing welfare of humanity as a whole, today one of the best ways of waging jihad would be to struggle and strive for saving our earth and its environment. This form of jihad has multiple levels of meaning of jihad: Firstly it is most ma’ruf (desirable and most acceptable) activity; secondly, it also has the sense in which the Sufis used it i.e. controlling ones desire and greed and exercising self control on ones inner self and fourthly it is also in keeping with the Prophet’s sunna as there are repeated commands of the Prophet to protect trees and crops and respect Allah’s creation.
Also, the very opening chapter of the Qur’an Surah Fatihah describes Allah as Rabb al-‘Alamin (i.e. Lord of the Universe) and the word rabb in Arabic means to look after carefully and take some thing through various stages of perfection. And if Allah is Rabb of entire universe and we worship him it is our duty to strive to look after it carefully and not to destroy it otherwise our worship of the Lord has no meaning, if we do not respect His creation.


[Photo by storm-blue.deviantart.com]
Also, we must realize that global warming is the result of our greed for consumption. We are plundering the precious resources of earth for our greed. It is high time we realize the dangerous consequences of our reckless consumption and wage a jihad against our own greed as Sufis did. As political class has greed for more territories and do not care for shedding blood of innocent people, we as citizens in a modern capitalist consumer society, are plundering the scarce resources of the earth and do not care for the consequences and are making lives of our future generations difficult to live.
So, as Muslims (which means surrendering to the will of Allah) and as m’umin (which means believer, believer in the values enshrined in Qur’an and respecting the creation of Allah) we must strive i.e. wage jihad against all those who indulge in needless consumption and destroy our earth.
This form of jihad has to be both individual and collective: Individual in as much as we have first to struggle against our own greed and reduce our consumption to environmentally acceptable levels and collectively in as much as we have to make efforts to bring down consumption levels of entire world to acceptable levels through constant awareness campaigns and building pressures on the ruling classes and especially developed nations of the west whose consumptions of natural resources are far more than what is warranted by their population.
Many Arab countries have the rich oil resources and when used generates high carbon emissions which leads to global warming. When the Prophet was asked what the best form of jihad is, he replied telling the truth in the face of a tyrant ruler. Can these Arab rulers tell the truth to western and other nations, especially to USA to reduce their oil consumption and face the consequences? It would be a great jihad.

Source : http://twocircles.net/2010jun23/different_jihad.htmlA different jihad