Superiority and Inferiority Complexes: Islamic perspective

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 30 December 2023 Either A Superiority Complex Or An Inferiority Complex Has A Detrimental Effect On An Individual's Personality. Both Circumstances Seriously Impede Human Development. A Person Who Is Arrogant Loses Respect And Social Standing. Respect For Him Is Limited To What Occurs In Front Of Him. People Frequently Make Fun Of Him Or Mistreat Him When He's Not Around. Comparable To This, A Person Who Harbours An Inferiority Complex Withdraws From Society And Fears Meeting New People. ------ Many people around us experience feelings of superiority, or it can even affect us occasionally. Individuals who have a sense of superiority believe they are better than everyone else and wish to use their speech to demonstrate this belief. Quite the reverse—many people...

A Sane New Year Resolution: Talk Less About God And Religion And More Of Love And Understanding

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 December 2023 “If The Concept Of God Has Any Validity Or Any Use, It Can Only Be To Make Us Larger, Freer, And More Loving. If God Cannot Do This, Then It Is Time We Got Rid Of Him.” ― James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time The great American novelist James Baldwin's idea of god as an embodiment of love must be measured and contextualized in today's times and esp. in the context of India. Has the so-called god been able to make us larger, freer and more loving? Has this god, at any point in time, been able to intervene and stop bloodshed, cruelty and all sorts of violence in ITS name? When most of the humans are unloved in this unloving world, how can we think of a loving god (who created us)? In fact, the very concept of god has terribly limited us. Visit...

Islamic Terrorism In Cyberspace: Changing Frontiers Of Global Muslim Terrorism

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 29 December 2023 The Ever-Changing Landscape Of Terrorist Communications Implies A Continual Evolution In The Nature Of Terrorism Itself. While The Specific Forms And Dimensions Terrorism Will Take In The Remainder Of The 21st Century Remain Unpredictable, This Evolutionary Process Will Undoubtedly Be Influenced—And Hastened—By Emerging Communications Technologies, As Has Been Observed Over The Past Decade Major Points: 1. Extremist groups, often driven by radical ideologies, have adeptly harnessed the power of online platforms to disseminate their messages, recruit followers, and coordinate activities 2. Efforts to counter the use of the Internet by Islamic extremists involve a multi-faceted approach. Governments, tech companies,...

From Babri Masjid Demolition to Ram Temple Inauguration: The Trajectory of Indian Politics

By Ram Puniyani, New Age Islam 29 December 2023 When India gained independence, Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech set the tone for the future courses that India planned to undertake. He pledged, ‘The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty, ignorance, disease, and inequality of opportunity… The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, our work will not be over.’ He articulated this vision for the temples of modern India during the inauguration speech of the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Babri Masjjid (File Photo) ----- A report in Hindustan Times archives describes it thus: “With great feeling the prime minister described...

Musings on the New Year: Forget Negativity, Embrace Positivity

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 29 December 2023 "Kisi Ko Saal-E-Nau Ki Kya Mubarakbad Dee Jaaye Calendar Ke Badalne Se Muqaddar Kab Badalta Hai " Aitbar Sajid (What's the use of new year greetings? Change of a digit on a calendar doesn't change one's fate) Though it might sound cynical but it's a matter-of-fact statement. A New Year is often our inadequate attempt to segmentise time which's a perception, not an entity; an illusion, not a reality. A New Year, therefore, is a ridiculous simplification of time. Time is a relative phenomenon, not a static concept. So, it has always amused me when people say that the ensuing year is going to be good or bad for a person. Does destiny change with a mere digital change on a calendar or an almanac? To quote Ahmad Faraz, "Na Shab-o-Roz Hi Badle...

Are The Muslims Facing the Wrath of God in The Same Way as The Jews Did in The Past?

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 28 December 2023 Like The Jews in The Past, The Muslims Today Face Massacre, Life in Ghettoes and Expulsion Main Points: 1. The Jews faced the wrath of God for sectarian bloodshed, sins, disobedience to God and persecution of their own people. 2. The Jews were expelled from various countries. 3. They were massacred by hostile communities. 4. They were forced to live in ghettoes. 5. Muslims are also facing expulsion. 6. Muslims of Myanmar, Palestine and China are forced to live in ghettoes. ------ The Muslim community more often mentions the Jews as a religious community that has faced the wrath of God in every age. They have been massacred, forced to leave their homeland and live in ghettoes for the sins they have committed and for...

Farewell Sermon of Prophet Muhammad: A Groundbreaking, Historic Declaration of Universal Human Rights

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 28 December 2023 The Farewell Sermon Delivered By The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) To A Sizable Crowd In The Area Of Arafat During His Final Visit To The Holy Ka’ba, A Few Months Before He Passed Away, Eloquently Demonstrates How He Established The Concept Of Universal Human Rights And Contributed To The Advancement Of Human Rights In A World Where Tribalism Had Previously Prevailed. ----- During his Farewell Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) imparted universal lessons and values founded on the dignity, respect, and rights of humankind. However, this is not the only document from the Prophet's life that addresses human rights. The lessons of human dignity and respect permeated the entire life of the Holy...

"Run Parallel Like Train Tracks"

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 28 December 2023 “I've always been interested in people, but I've never liked them.” This famous quote of W Somerset Maugham reminds me of Nida Fazli's famous ghazal, "Badla Na Apne Aap Ko Jo Thay Wahi Rahe/ Milte Rahe Sabhi Se Magar Ajnabi Rahe/ Apni Tarah Sabhi Ko Kisi Ki Talaash Thi/ Hum Jiske Bhi Qareeb Rahe Door Hi Rahe" (I never changed myself and remained what I was/ I met all, yet, remained a stranger/ Like me, everyone was in search of something/ Whoever I was close to, I also kept a distance from). Dosti Sab Se Rahi, Adavat Kisi Se Nahin/ Phir Bhi Koi Mere, Main Kisi Ke Qareeb Nahin (All have been friends; I had enmity with none / Yet, no one's close to me, nor am I close to anyone). This is not narcissism or megalomania. Nor does it smack of contempt...

Nonviolent Interfaith Solidarity Jihad—An Autobiographical Account

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 27 December 2023 Most People Yearn For A World Of Love And Real Human Connection And To Live Meaningful Lives That Transcend Material Well-Being, That Tie Us To The Ongoing Unfolding Of Spirit And Consciousness, And That Connect Us With The Inherent Interdependence And Love That Permeates And Inspires All Being. ------ My involvement in interfaith dialogue in Australia goes back to my undergraduate days during the late 1990s. At the age of eighteen, I settled in Perth, Western Australia, as a Bosnian refugee, with my parents and older brother. Over time, I became active in the Muslim Student Association at the University of Western Australia and various interfaith initiatives at the local level. My involvement in interfaith activities intensified after...

Time: The New Physics and The Qur’an

By T.O. Shanavas, New Age Islam 27 December 2023 Human Beings Since The Beginning Of Civilization Have Pondered The Concept Of Time. The Unyielding Irreversibility Of The Passage Of Time Is Borne In Human Beings By The Certainty Of Death. Unlike Other Life Forms, We Know That Our Life Could End At Any Moment, And Even If We Attain All Our Earthly Expectations, Our Success Is Inevitably Followed By Eventual Decay And Death… ------ This enquiry focuses on the key role of time in reconciling the scientific theories regarding the universe and life with religious beliefs about divine creation. It suggests that a thorough exploration of the nature and characteristics of time could provide insights into how the gradual process of evolution of life and the narrative of divine creation might...

Growing Incidents Of Violence Among Muslims Of Rural Bengal

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 27 December 2023 Lack Of Islamic Education And Culture The Main Reason Behind The UnIslamic Way Of Life Of Rural Muslims Of Bengal Main Points: 1. In March 2022, 8 members of a family in rural Bengal were burnt alive due to political rivalry. 2. On December 22, 2023, a court sentenced 12 TMC workers for life for killing a CPM worker Humayun Mir. 3. On 22 December, a TMC worker Shaikh Mateen was killed by two Muslims due to political rivalry. 4. On February 5, TMC workers Newton Sheikh and Laltu Shaikh were killed due to political rivalry. 5. Muslims of rural Bengal are aggressive and hot-headed. 6. Only 3.6 per cent Muslims in villages have completed secondary education. 7. Only 1.7 per cent Muslims in villages are graduates. ------ ...

Dinosaur Eggs As Deities!

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 27 December 2023 In Madhya Pradesh's Dhar, the Mandaloi family has been worshipping palm-sized "stone balls" for generations. A resident of the Padlya Village, 41-year-old Vesta Mandaloi was following in his forefathers' footsteps, worshipping these balls as "Kakar Bhairav" — or lord of the land. As per a Times Of India report, Vesta and his family believed that the stone balls were a 'Kuldevta' or a totem that would protect their farmland and cattle from problems and misfortunes. Like the Mandaloi family, others in Dhar and in adjoining areas too had similar totems they worshipped for protection. Photo: The Times of India ------ However, a team of researchers revealed that these balls turned out to be something else. Experts from Lucknow's Sahni Institute...

New Peace Plan Prepared by Qatar and Egypt Seeks to Eradicate Hamas from Gaza Diplomatically

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 26 December 2023 Israel Will Withdraw from Gaza and Hamas-PNA Will Share Government in Gaza Main Points: 1. The plan is in its initial stage. 2. It will be discussed by Israel's war cabinet. 3. Hamas and Israel will abide by a month-long ceasefire to exchange captives and prisoners. 4. The two parties will then jointly appoint a government in Gaza. 5. The deal will go through in three phases in a month's time. ------ A demonstrator holds a placard with a painting of the Palestinian flag and a peace symbol during a demonstration on July 17, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. ----- The Mossad, CIA, Qatar's Prime Minister and Hamas' top leadership had been holding negotiations for a truce between Israel and Hamas for about two weeks and it was obvious...