Malaysia: Stay Away From Book On Muslim Women, Muslims Advised, Islamic World News, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic World News

Malaysia: Stay Away From Book On Muslim Women, Muslims Advised

The book "Muslim Women and The Challenge of Islamic Extremism" can create doubt and disharmony among the people in the country, according to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).

Its director general, Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz Wan Mohamad said the contents of the book contravened the Islamic Publication Materials Censorship Guidelines issued by Jakim in 1996.

"Several obvious errors were found (in the book)," he said in a statement Tuesday.

He said among others the book stated that Islamic family laws and Syariah criminal laws were promoting prejudice and discrimination against women.

The book also questioned the Fatwa institution and the ban on non-Islamic scholars from discussing Islamic issues, besides promoting re-interpretation of the verses in the Quran, especially on gender bias, he said.

Wan Mohamad said the book had been scrutinised, checked and referred to the Islamic Publication Materials Censorship Committee chaired by the Mufti of Perak, Tan Sri Dr Harussani Zakaria.

"Hence, Muslims in the country are advised to be wary of reading materials which contravene Islamic teachings. If in doubt, refer to the guidelines issued by Jakim," he said.

Wan Mohamad said Jakim also respected the High Court's decision on Monday to lift the ban on the book, but felt that it was its responsibility to explain to the public on the errors found in any Islamic book in the market.

http://newageislam.com/malaysia--stay-away-from-book-on-muslim-women,-muslims-advised/islamic-world-news/d/2421

Deoband intervenes: ‘Muslims can do yoga, Namaz itself a form of yoga,’ says cleric, Islam and Pluralism, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Pluralism

Deoband intervenes: ‘Muslims can do yoga, Namaz itself a form of yoga,’ says cleric

Jakarta, Nov 26 (IANS) -- Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, will not follow the Malaysian move to ban Muslims from practicing yoga, the country's top clerics have said.

"It is okay if it's for sport but I do not know if it is proven that it can destroy our beliefs as Muslims or contains ideas of polytheism," Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deputy chairman Umar Shehab was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post Monday.

MUI edict commission deputy chairman Ali Mustafa Yakub said there was no need to ban yoga as no Muslims were found practising it in Indonesia.

"If they are, they are not publicly visible, so there is no problem," he said.

Yakub added that the Indian influence in Indonesia was not as strong as in Malaysia and such influence was only limited to music.

Shihab said more research had to be done before a decision can be made to prohibit yoga. The council had not carried out any study on yoga as it had not received any objection from the public.

The Indonesian clerics were reacting to the ongoing debate in Malaysia, where the National Fatwa Council last week issued an edict declaring that the practice of yoga by Muslims is "haram" (prohibited) as it dilutes Islamic values and practice.

http://newageislam.com/deoband-intervenes---%E2%80%98muslims-can-do-yoga,-namaz-itself-a-form-of-yoga,%E2%80%99-says-cleric--/islam-and-pluralism/d/1162

Even spies are afraid of Big Brother now: Orwell was right--The Big Brother State has arrived, even if it has come 20 years late, Current affairs

Current affairs

Even spies are afraid of Big Brother now: Orwell was right--The Big Brother State has arrived, even if it has come 20 years late

BY WILLIAM REES-MOGG

No doubt, as most politicians thought, Davis's decision to resign his seat and fight an election on the issue of liberty was a quixotic gesture. I had never thought of him as a political Don Quixote — he has both the face and the reputation of a political tough. But his action has proved a service to what almost seemed a forsaken cause. He has helped promote recognition that we have already lost too many liberties, and we'll have to fight to regain them.

In the past seven years, the events of 9/11 have led our rather enfeebled Parliament to allow State agencies to develop a new authoritarianism. Of course, the British want to be protected against terrorism, but that did not mean every local authority should be given the right to spy on us for breaches of the most trivial bylaws.

The powers Parliament gave to protect us against terrorists have also been used against parents suspected of using a false address to get their child into a popular school, or citizens who fail to scoop up their Fidos' mess in the park.

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