Beheading Islam in Peshawar: The eerie silence of Islamic scholars, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

Beheading Islam in Peshawar: The eerie silence of Islamic scholars

By Dr. Shah Alam Khan

The news of beheading of two Sikh youth in the Peshawar region of Pakistan has not come as a surprise to the world. What more can we expect from a rabid race of Talibanis, born and brought up on the fodder of hate and violence. The news in fact brings to light the hollow rhetoric of the Pakistani establishment when they claim to have contained the menace of Taliban.

What surprises me is the eerie silence of the Muslim ulema in the subcontinent (particularly in India) in their condemnation of this cowardly act of appalling brutality. Where are those who leave no opportunity to condemn what is inconvenient to them, no matter how comfortable it might be to Islam in general and Muslims in particular? What happens to all those voices which grow louder at times of trivial issues which they think place Islam in danger? What more danger can await a religion than accusation of the kind which we see after such heinous atrocities? When can the Islamic ulema realize that acts such as these are the ones which actually put Islam in danger.

The blood of innocents in Palestine is mourned. The brutalities of Narendra Modi’s pogrom in Gujarat were mercilessly damned. Then what happens when it’s time to condemn the most bigoted and rabid of Muslims? By being mum to the brutalities of Taliban the Muslim ulema are giving voice to those who perpetrate violence. What justification can we give to the condemnation of the likes of Modi and Sharon in future? What message is passed on to those who stand and fight for the cause of underprivileged and minorities in this country? Shouldn’t this usual tale of the ‘victim becoming the perpetrator’ be put to rest once and for all?

http://newageislam.com/beheading-islam-in-peshawar--the-eerie-silence-of-islamic-scholars/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/2497

Adversity as opportunity to realise our connection to God, Spiritual Meditations, NewAgeIslam.com

Spiritual Meditations

Adversity as opportunity to realise our connection to God

We experience agony and pain when we come to face an emotional, social or financial upheaval over which we have no control. The word agony Woman implies suffering that one goes through helplessly, maybe over a prolonged period of time. It could be a state of mental anguish in which we fear or question the uncertainty in our lives. We may feel like giving ourselves up to fate.

You might feel agony over the death of a loved one, separation from a loved one, a traumatic accident or chronic physical ailment. Suffering can also arise on account of being misunderstood by others or because of not being able to express yourself. One who is in agony might think he is a total failure in life; that there is no hope left. However, what seems like suffering can be turned into a golden opportunity if it is dealt with intellect and patience. This in turn is brought about by means of setting goals, seeking guidance and cultivating positive thoughts.

Dealing with all that causes suffering means to overcome obstacles in our path to progress. There are many ways to accomplish this. First of all it means focusing on strengths and understanding our limitations better. Interacting with positive people helps. Walking in natural environs, spending time alone, reading quietly or listening to music are all activities that engender positive thinking for it connects us to the whole; it opens our eyes to the interconnected nature of life and the concept of Brahmn starts making sense.

http://newageislam.com/adversity-as-opportunity-to-realise-our-connection-to-god/spiritual-meditations/d/2246

Is America's commitment to the war in Afghanistan waning? NATO running out of time?, NewAgeIslam.com

War on Terror

Is America's commitment to the war in Afghanistan waning? NATO running out of time?

As it happens, Mr Obama had a perfect opportunity to send just such a signal on September 20th, when he appeared on several of America’s Sunday talk shows in an effort to boost support for health reform. He has had the general’s report for several weeks and the White House confirms that he has read it. But no indication of unwavering commitment was forthcoming—if anything, the opposite. “Until I'm satisfied that we've got the right strategy I'm not gonna be sending some young man or woman over there—beyond what we already have,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press”. “I'm not interested in just being in Afghanistan for the sake of being in Afghanistan or saving face or, in some way—you know, sending a message that America is here for the duration.”

This was not a case of a president being caught on the hop. Robert Gibbs, his press secretary, told reporters on Monday that an overall assessment of strategy in Afghanistan was continuing inside the administration and would not be completed for several more weeks. No decision would be made about sending more troops until it was. And this assessment, Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last week, was starting from “first principles”.

http://newageislam.com/is-america-s-commitment-to-the-war-in-afghanistan-waning?-nato-running-out-of-time?/war-on-terror/d/1791

India: Affirmative action, not reservation is the answer for Muslims, says Minister, Islamic Society, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Society

India: Affirmative action, not reservation is the answer for Muslims, says Minister

By Manoj C G

Jun 08, 2009

New Delhi: In contrast to predecessor A R Antulay who maintained a studied silence on the issue of reservation, newly-appointed Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has called quota for Muslims a “double-edged sword” which could create “envy, hostility and resistance”. He has instead advocated affirmative action as a tool to “inject an ability to compete” rather than make them “constant beneficiaries of additional help”.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Khurshid said it was time to explore “angles” other than reservation. He said it was his intention to roll out some “quick impact” schemes and fine-tune delivery of recommendations made by the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee.

“You don’t want to try and please somebody and not get them the comfort of actually getting any relief. I think it is much better to get substantive relief, substantive opportunity rather than stick your mind only on one particular way of doing it.”

“If you can get them what they want by another method... what they want is opportunity, why should we just follow a standard line of reservation. There may be a better way. If there isn’t then, we will come back to discussing reservation. Let us look at other angles,” Khurshid said when asked about implementation of the Ranganath Mishra committee report which he maintained he had not read.

http://newageislam.com/india--affirmative-action,-not-reservation-is-the-answer-for-muslims,-says-minister--/islamic-society/d/1451

Noam Chomsky: Obama’s Stance on Gaza Crisis “Approximately the Bush Position”, Islam and the West, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and the West

Noam Chomsky: Obama’s Stance on Gaza Crisis “Approximately the Bush Position”

Yesterday I spoke to President Mubarak and expressed my appreciation for the important role that Egypt played in achieving a ceasefire. And we look forward to Egypt’s continued leadership and partnership in laying a foundation for a broader peace through a commitment to end smuggling from within its borders.

Now, just as the terror of rocket fire aimed at innocent Israelis is intolerable, so, too, is a future without hope for the Palestinians. I was deeply concerned by the loss of Palestinian and Israeli life in recent days and by the substantial suffering and humanitarian needs in Gaza. Our hearts go out to Palestinian civilians who are in need of immediate food, clean water and basic medical care, and who’ve faced suffocating poverty for far too long.

Now we must extend a hand of opportunity to those who seek peace. As part of a lasting ceasefire, Gaza’s border crossings should be open to allow the flow of aid and commerce, with an appropriate monitoring regime, with the international and Palestinian Authority participating. Relief efforts must be able to reach innocent Palestinians who depend on them. The United States will fully support an international donor’s conference to seek short-term humanitarian assistance and long-term reconstruction for the Palestinian economy. This assistance will be provided to and guided by the Palestinian Authority.

http://newageislam.com/noam-chomsky--obama%E2%80%99s-stance-on-gaza-crisis-%E2%80%9Capproximately-the-bush-position%E2%80%9D--/islam-and-the-west/d/1144

Ulema ask US to accept failure in Afghanistan, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

Ulema ask US to accept failure in Afghanistan

The first demand is to announce US failure in Afghanistan; the second is to withdraw US and allied forces from Afghanistan and the third is to compensate the Afghan government for killing of thousands of people and damaging their houses and property.

“Let the Afghans be free and give them an opportunity to rebuild their country,” the Ittehad Ulema-e-Afghanistan said, adding that after US forces’ arrival and attacks in Afghanistan, the situation became from bad to worse.

It further said that jihad had become obligatory for all the Muslims whether men or women as the non-Muslims were trying to occupy Afghanistan and use it for their bad designs in the region.

The organisation said that atrocities have doubled after the US invasion on Afghanistan and vowed that through jihad they will free their nationals from the US and allied forces’ atrocities.

Source: Daily Times, Pakistan

http://newageislam.com/ulema-ask-us-to-accept-failure-in-afghanistan/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/390

My dear Kashmiri friends, don’t let Geelani take you to Hell!, Islamic Ideology, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Ideology

My dear Kashmiri friends, don’t let Geelani take you to Hell!

By Sultan Shahin, Editor, NewAgeIslam.com

Geelani read Jamaat-e-Islami founder-ideologue Maulana Abul Ala Maudoodi’s books in his early teens, picked up his worst ideas and has apparently gone beyond his mentor in perversity. For Maudoodi never supported the idea of Partition and the establishment of a separate Islamic state for Muslims to be called during the anti-colonial independence movement. He believed that Jamaat-e-Islami would be able to establish an ideological Islamic state in Free India with the help of the Hindu majority which would see no reason not to support a party wanting to create a state based on the ethical principles of Islam, even if they didn’t belong to the religion. He thought that since Islamic ethics is the same as Hindu ethics and they put stress on the same values, Hindus would have no problem voting for a Jamaat-e-Islami government which would govern according to the Islamic rules of Justice and fairplay and equality to all. It was only when Pakistan became something of a fait accompli, and he saw the opportunity of actually ruling even a small state in the name of Islam, rather than the whole of India as he had envisioned in his teenage he decided to shift to Pakistan. And yet while going away he asked his Indian followers who had decided to stay back to sever all organisational and practical relationship with him and the Jamaat in Pakistan and be loyal to the Indian state that they had chosen to be a subject of, as this is what Islam teaches in a very clear-cut manner.

http://newageislam.com/my-dear-kashmiri-friends,-don%E2%80%99t-let-geelani-take-you-to-hell!/islamic-ideology/d/626

Islamic group threatens to attack Beijing Olympics, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Islamic group threatens to attack Beijing Olympics

8 Aug 2008, ,AP

Last month, the militant group issued videotaped threats and claimed responsibility for a series of bus bombings in China in recent months. The latest video features graphics similar to ones used earlier: a burning Olympics logo and an explosion imposed over an apparent Olympic venue.

The new video claims the Communist regime's alleged mistreatment of Muslims justifies holy war. It accuses China of forcing Muslims into atheism by capturing and killing Islamic teachers and destroying Islamic schools, according to the SITE. It says China's birth control program has forced abortions on Muslim women.

``I think what they're doing is they're trying to capitalise on the build-up to the games,'' said Ben Venzke of Intel enter, which provides counterterrorism intelligence to US government agencies.

Venzke said on Friday that his group believes that based on the militant group's demonstrated ability to conduct bombings ``and the apparent opportunity TIP believes the Olympic Games presents in terms of targeting and striking a blow to China, that the threat is credible and should be taken seriously.''

http://newageislam.com/islamic-group-threatens-to-attack-beijing-olympics/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/477

What is God's Real Name?, Islamic Ideology

Islamic Ideology

What is God's Real Name?

By Ahmed Deedat

Meaning thereby as to the name of God. I stood up to answer. But before I opened my mouth, he spoke into the mike, provided for questioning, that he would answer his own question. I said, "You posed the question so the obligation is on me to reply to your question". He said, "Yes, but I will answer the question." (Laughter in the Audience). He was actually begging for an opportunity to be heard. Where else on earth would he get such a large audience, and that at the Muslim's expense, to preach? I said, "Carry on!" (Give him enough rope to hang himself). After some rambling, he concluded that the name of God was "JESUS CHRIST!"

It was not the time, at that meeting; nor is it expedient here to discuss the subject fully - "IS JESUS GOD?" It is enough, for the moment, to say that in the language of Moses, Jesus and Muhummed (Peace be upon them all) the name of God Almighty is ALLAH! Proof will be provided in Chapter 4.
Belief in God is ingrained in the nature of man. As long as man existed on earth, the knowledge of God

http://newageislam.com/what-is-god-s-real-name?/islamic-ideology/d/204