Muslim Ulema urgently need to introspect

Indian Muslims stand against terrorism, but do the ulema have the vision to save them from the ever-expanding web of radical Islamism By Sultan Shahin Deoband: Nudged by persistent and growing identification of Islam and Muslims with terrorism at the national as well as global levels since September 9, 2001, Indian Muslim clerics of all hues finally came together to pronounce an unequivocal fatwa against terrorism of all kinds. In an event organised by Dau-ul-Uloom, Deoband, 6,000, heads of madrassas from across the country along with the heads of organisations sponsoring their institutions, joined hands despite their sectarian differences to say with one voice that terrorism of all kinds was against the peaceful principles of Islam and to exhort Muslims to stay away from such...

JIHAD: A Battle for peace and Justice

I wrote the following article on Jihad sometime in 1999. It appeared in several newspapers then. I found the following on http://www.jammu-kashmir.com. JIHAD: A Battle for peace and Justice By Sultan Shahin " O ye who believe ! Bow down, prostrate yourself and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may be successful. And strive in the way of Allah as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and discipline). He has chosen you and has imposed no hardship on you in religion; it is the Religion of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslim, both before and in this ( Book ) that the messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witness for you and ye be witness for mankind! So establish Salat (prayer), give Zakat and hold fast to Allah! He is your protector, the best to protect...

I found the following article I had written several years ago on a website Islam for today. Though some of the statements are now outdated, it may still bear reading and would probably prove useful for some readers. It is also available at http://www.islamfortoday.com/shaheen01.htm. I am posting it here just as it is on that site except that I have corrected the misspelling of my byline: About this Site Basic Islamic Beliefs What's New Muslims Today History & Civilizations...