Antulay is the Simi Garewal of Indian politics, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Antulay is the Simi Garewal of Indian politics

He has chosen to feed the Muslim with the comfort food of conspiracy theories

By M J Akbar

21 Dec 2008

There is outrage against the television coverage of Mumbai terrorism because television celebrities surrendered their judgment before the rising demand for hysteria. There is no supply without demand. The very audiences that sucked out hysteria from cable are now howling against its perpetrators. It is a human instinct to develop instant amnesia about one’s mistakes and sharpen knives with the vigour of humbugs the moment a scapegoat has been identified. The viewer is now seeking absolution through anger.

But the information market has been flooded with toxic weed. Hysteria is not the exclusive preserve of audio-visual junketeers. From the moment the terrorist violence hit Mumbai, much before the course of events evolved into a pattern, some sections of the Urdu press began pumping up circulation figures with fantasy fodder, in the shape of conspiracy theories, to a readership in search of denial. The conspiracy-in-chief was that this mayhem was nothing more than a plot to sabotage the investigation that ATS chief Karkare was conducting into the Malegaon blasts. The death of the police officer was declared instant martyrdom.

http://newageislam.com/antulay-is-the-simi-garewal-of-indian-politics/islam-and-politics/d/1068

A Critique of the Terms Dar ul-Islam, Dar ul-Kufr and Dar ul-Harb, Islamic Ideology, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Ideology

A Critique of the Terms Dar ul-Islam, Dar ul-Kufr and Dar ul-Harb

By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

(Translation from Urdu by academic Yoginder Sikand)

Ijtihad is a principle of the shariah. The ulema generally agree that this principle is rooted in a Hadith report attributed to Maaz bin Jabal, a Companion of the Prophet, who, when he was sent to Yemen by the Prophet, was asked how he would solve any problem that he faced. He replied that he would do so in accordance with the Quran. The Prophet asked him if the matter was not mentioned in the Quran what he would do, to which he answered that he would abide in that regard with the Prophet’s practice (sunnat). The Prophet asked him that if the matter was not dealt with in his sunnat what he would do, and Maaz bin Jabal replied that he would exercise his judgment through ijtihad. The Prophet appreciated this reply.

The ulema regard this Hadith report as the basic source and foundation of the principle of ijtihad. This Hadith report indicates very clearly that ijtihad is legitimate only when no explicit guidance is available on a particular matter in the Quran and in the sunnat of the Prophet. If such guidance is available in either or both of these sources, then ijtihad is not permissible. For instance, from the Quran it is evident that the month of fasting is Ramadan, and so there is no possibility of ijtihad in deciding the month of fasting. Likewise, the Hadith indicates that the number of compulsory daily prayers is five, and so no one can seek to engage in ijtihad in this matter in order to reduce or increase this figure.

http://newageislam.com/a-critique-of-the-terms-dar-ul-islam,-dar-ul-kufr-and-dar-ul-harb/islamic-ideology/d/1000

God is the source of all power, Islamic Ideology, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Ideology

God is the source of all power

By Sayyid Qutb

The Quraysh sought to enjoy might and glory among the Arabs through idolatrous beliefs that lacked real substance. They feared to follow divine guidance, even though they acknowledged that it was guidance, because they feared for their own status. Yet those people, the Arabian tribes and clans, were not a source of might and glory. They could not give or deny these to anyone: “All might and glory belong to God alone.” If they enjoyed any measure of power and might, it was only because God gave them this. Therefore, anyone who wishes to have these should go to the original source, not to a recipient of that source. Recipients can only give what they have in excess. Besides, recipients are also weak and in need.

This is an essential truth of Islamic faith, which establishes values, standards, judgment, behaviour and ways and means. When this truth is firmly rooted in one’s heart, one does not hesitate to stand up in dignity and glory to the rest of the world, knowing from whom one derives might and glory. Such a person does not bow before any despot, storm, calamity, state, or worldly force whatsoever. Why would they when all might and glory belong to God alone, and when no one receives any portion of it without His leave?

http://newageislam.com/god-is-the-source-of-all-power/islamic-ideology/d/120