Do Not Repeat the Mistakes of 1989 in Allowing the Return of Taliban, New Age Islam Editor Sultan Shahin Asks International Community at UNHRC in Geneva

By Sultan Shahin, Founder-Editor, New Age Islam 11 March 2019 Oral Statement At United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, 40th Regular Session 25 Feb to 22 March 2019 General Debate on Agenda item 3: “Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Including the Right to Development.” Delivered on behalf of Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum Mr. President, The US is withdrawing from Afghanistan as well as from Iraq and Syria. Inspired by the Taliban declaration of victory, a radicalised terrorist in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, backed by a Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist organisation, attacked an Indian military convoy,...

Can Madrasas Be Allowed To Have ‘Sovereignty’? Let Them At Least Weed Out Violent Passages from Their Text First

By Sultan Shahin, Founder-Editor, New Age Islam 1 Mar 2019 “An attack on the sovereignty of madrasas” is how the All India Muslim Personal Law Board secretary described the suggestion to bring the Muslim religious schools under the Right to Education (RTE) act. Madrasas’ autonomy and independence guaranteed under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution will be threatened, Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said recently. But, the question is what have Indian madrasas, where more than seven million children go for basic education, made of their autonomy? Even if one concedes that it is okay for them to teach just Islamiyaat, they must be asked what brand of Islam are they teaching these impressionable children? Also...

Arabic Imperialism Vs. Islamic Pluralism: Has The Time Come For Islam To Go Local?

By Sultan Shahin, Founder-Editor, New Age Islam 9 Feb 2019 A Turkish lawmaker, Öztürk Yılmaz, has proposed that the Muslims in Turkey be called to prayer in Turkish, and not Arabic. His Republican People’s Party threw him out for the demand, though when the party, which now leads the Opposition, was in power, the azaan was in Turkish. Not just azaan, even namaz was offered in Turkish during 1932-1950. But the Arab colonisation of Muslim minds was so comprehensive that it was a very unpopular decision, and was rolled back when the party lost the election in 1950. The first time prayers were said in Turkish in an Istanbul mosque was on 19 March, 1926 — the first Friday of Ramzan that year. Cemaleddin Efendi, who was leading the prayer,...

Honouring the Prophet (pbuh) and Showing Gratitude

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 15 March 2019 Allah says in the Quran, (21:107) “We sent you not (O Muhammad), but as a Mercy for all the worlds.” The creation of Adam and his progeny, distinct from every other creature, in their cognitive abilities, was a great favour of Allah on the progeny of Adam. Further, Allah sent Messengers all through the ages, to guide mankind on the straight path to success in this life and in the Hereafter.  This process of guidance through revelations culminated with Muhammad (pbuh), and the revelation of the Quran containing the perfected and complete religion. With it was also complete the granting of full autonomy to man in making moral choices and therefore the Quran proclaimed, “Let there be...

The Meaning of Islam and Muslim

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 19 March 2019 The triliteral root word slm (sīn lām mīm س ل م) is common for the following Arabic words: Salam - Nominal noun as a greeting meaning “peace” and as a noun meaning peace as in 4:90  “… if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace (l-Salama) ....” As a noun meaning submission as in  16:28 The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission (l-salama), [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what you used to do. Taslīm – also means acceptance as in 33:22, peace as in 33:56 and submission as in 4:65 33:22  And when the believers saw the companies, they...

On Abrogation

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 22 March 2019 Is any part of the Quran abrogated? If the answer is yes, then the question arises why does the abrogated part find a place in the Quran? Logically speaking, when is it necessary to consider whether any verse is abrogated or not? The answer is, when one verse of the Quran contradicts another. Are there verses that contradict other verses? The answer is no. Logically speaking therefore, there is no need even to consider any verse as abrogated. If the Quran were to contain abrogated verses, then its claim that it is a Book without crookedness is a false claim, because the presence of an abrogated verse could mislead many. So either we reject the...