Islamic Revival

Abu-l ‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Khallikan (أبو العباس أحمد بن خلكان), (September 22, 1211 – October 30, 1282) was a Kurdish Muslim scholar of the 13th century. He was born in Arbil, Iraq in 1211. By his talents and his writings he received the title of the most learned man and the ablest historian of that city. He studied jurisprudence at Mosul and after a brief stay at Damascus, settled in Cairo, where he gained pre-eminence as a jurist, a theologian, and a grammarian. He married in 1252 CE. He left Cairo to become judge (Qadi) of Damascus in 1269 CE. When he was removed later, he returned to Cairo to take up a professorship and to act as deputy to the chief judge. He returned to Damascus to a triumphant welcome to become kadi again, a post he relinquished in 1281 CE, one year before his death. Ibn Khallikan’s most famous work is The Obituaries of Eminent Men (Wafayat al-Ayan), often referred to as The Biographical Dictionary. He started to work on it in 1256 until 1274. It has always...

The english translation of Ibn Hisham's Seerah of the Prophet (saw) is available to download from: Seerah Ibn Hisham

Britain’s former Prime Minister Blair caught red handed On 23/4/2008 former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was caught traveling on a train without a ticket and no cash to pay for the fare. The ticket costs $49 dollars, while Blair’s income since June 2007 amounts to a million dollars. In 2000, Blair's wife Cherie, was fined after being caught riding a train without a ticket. What is noteworthy is that Blair deflected all accusations of nepotism, embezzlement and corruption, while he was prime minister. He employed expensive advisors and lawyers to protect himself from the full arm of the law. Yet, all it took was a normal train journey to reveal Blair’s true colours. Ethiopian crusaders slaughter Somalian Muslims On 23/4/2008 Amnesty International accused Ethiopian soldiers of killing 21 people, including an imam and several Islamic scholars, at a Mogadishu mosque and said seven of the victims had their throats slit. The human rights organization is the latest voice to speak out...

Increases in the price of rice, wheat, corn, cooking oil, milk and other foodstuff have sparked violent protests in many countries including Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Madagascar, the Philippines and Indonesia. In Pakistan and Thailand, army troops have been deployed to avoid food being seized from fields and warehouses. On 14/4/2008 World Bank has reported that global wheat prices jumped 181 per cent over the 36 months to February 2008, with overall food prices up 83 per cent. Robert Zoellick, the World Bank president, said, Based on a very rough analysis, we estimate that doubling of food prices over the last three years could potentially push 100 million people in low-income countries deeper into poverty. There are two primary factors that have prompted higher prices. First, the increase in the price of oil has caused the price of agriculture inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, machinery etc to go up. Higher transportation costs have also added to the overal...

On 14/4/2008 a poll found McCain to be the best commander in chief amongst the three US candidates vying for presidency. So if McCain were to become the next US President what views would shape his attitudes to the Islamic world. Perhaps the answer lies with Reverend Rod Parsley who was conferred the title of "spiritual guide" by none other than McCain himself at a campaign rally in Cincinnati. Reverend Parsley regularly spews venom against Islam and in one of his books, in a chapter titled Islam: The Deception of Allah, he writes: "I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore." Bush’s spiritual guide Pat Robertson espoused similar views. Then again! After seven years of fighting Islam, do Mu...

After having recently described the Federal Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Pakistan the most dangerous region in the world, the US is now seeking direct access to Pakistan's nuclear assets. On 14/4/2008 a Pakistani newspaper reported that the US State Department wanted to permanently assign an official at the US embassy in Islamabad to monitor Pakistan 's nuclear issues. Furthermore, the US wants the official to have direct access to Pakistan's National Command Authority (NCA) Secretariat. The latest demand comes hot on the heels of the 11 humiliating conditions, stipulated by the US a few weeks ago. President Musharraf's unstinting support to America , has now paved the way for the US to have direct control over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. The present government of Gilani and the opposition show no signs of anxiety or opposition to the US proposal. In comparison, Indian politicians adopted a bolder stance than their spineless Pakistani counterparts. They vehem...

On 7/4/08 the world's media reported that an Indian girl with two pairs of eyes, two noses and two lips, and only one pair of ears was born. In the medical world, the girl suffers from a rare condition known as craniofacial duplication. But to Hindus, the baby girl is worshipped as reincarnation of a Hindu goddess. 100 people a day visit the girl at home to touch her feet out of respect. Ignorance left unquestioned will always produce behaviour that does not befit human beings. When the aql is used correctly to arrive at Tawheed, it elevates the human being to the best of creation. Allah (swt) says: “Surely We created man of the best stature. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.” [TMQ 95: 4 to 5] April 10th 2008

On 8/4/2008 violence once again greeted the streets of Kenya . This time it was over the failure of the opposition leader Odinga and the President Kibaki to form a unity government. Under the power sharing accord brokered by Kofi Anan in February 2008, both leaders are required to form a national unity government in which cabinet positions are equally shared. However, Kibaki has refused to cede enough powerful ministries, like finance, foreign affairs or internal security, to placate Odinga. The political stalemate has less to do with squabbles between Odinga and Kibaki, and has more to do with foreign interference. At present, both Britain and America have locked horns in a vicious struggle to protect their respective interests through surrogates in the new coalition government. This has spilled over into violence. The people of Kenya need to join their Muslims citizens in exposing the plans of the colonialists and supporting the re-establishment of Khilafah. The Khilafah is the only ...

To download the issue 5 and issue 6 of the new Urdu Khilafat Magazines, go to: http://www.khilafat.pk The links to the PDF's are on the front page, you can download from there.

On 8/4/2008 The IMF's Global Stability Report stated that the effects of the credit crunch (ability of banks to offer loans to encourage movement of money in markets) are likely to be "broader, deeper and more protracted" than in previous downturns, due to the "degree of securitisation and leverage in the financial system. The IMF also warned that potential losses from the credit crunch will reach $945bn and could be even higher. As usual the IMF blamed lax regulation by governments and poor supervision by banks for contributing to the crisis. Such factors are often cited by the IMF to explain routine bust and boom cycles experienced by the financial markets, but rarely shed light on the underlying reasons responsible for the situation. There are 2 main reasons that have contributed to the current turmoil. First, capitalism encourages debt to be traded in international markets through a web of complex financial products called securities. In most cases these products...

Read the passage in perspective to the recent U.S. decisions, their backfire and the resultant growth of Islamic spirit in Muslims. In the Name of Allah, The most Beneficent, The most Merciful In 1991 Communism was consigned to history. The fall of the Communist world was heralded as the rise of America. That the U.S.A. would become the most powerful and the only world power was a forgone conclusion. There wasn’t a single person doubting that preposition. But in fact, that very incident marked the biting of the dust for the U.S.A. As soon as Soviet Union crumbled and U.S.A. became the sole Superpower, it took upon itself to awaken the Sleeping Giant – Islam. Of a surety, if men could probe into the hearts of men, America regrets having rubbed shoulders with Islam. The contrived events of 9/11, Madrid …… and the entire gamut of deceits and blames, culminating into the ‘War on Terror’, Afghanistan, Iraq – have all contributed to America digging its own grave. Liars can never spea...

The following is the draft english translation from a chapter of the book تيسير الوصول إلى الأصول (‘Teyseer al wusool Ila al-Usul’ - To make understanding Usul easy) by Sheikh Ata ibn Khalil Abu al-Rashta. Please refer to the original Arabic for accurate meanings: When the evidences conflict and there is no advantage of one evidence over another; this is called equivalence (ta’aadul). Equivalence (ta’aadul) does not take place in the definite matters (qat’iyyaat) since there is no contradiction in them. It does not take place between a definite (qat’i) evidence and a speculative evidence (Zanni) because the qat’i evidence takes precedence over the zanni evidence. Also, it does not take place in the speculative matters (zanniyyaat) due to the legislative reality. Though logically there is nothing there to prevent it however it conflicts with the legislative reality. This because the speculative evidence, if it conflicts from all angles without the possibility of outweighing, then it is...

بِسْمِ الله الرَّحمَنِ الرَحيم The new government is just a new face for slavery to the WestO Muslims! When will you escape the slavery through re-establishing the Khilafah? O Muslims of Pakistan! You have seen another change in the faces of your rulers, as you have seen countless times before. And all those who examine the events closely, will have realized that the newly elected representatives will ensure continued slavery to the West, rather than bring a real change to your declined situation. Previously, Musharraf’s government embraced the road of slavery to the West and declared Pakistan an ally of America in its war to attack Islam and the Muslims and occupy the lands of the Muslims. He used the resources of Pakistan and its army to assist America in its war. Due to this continual assistance, America was able to establish an occupation and maintains its occupation of Afghanistan to this day due to this assistance. All this is why you hated Musharraf’s government and prayed for i...

Tom Kratman , a retired US Army soldier recently published a fictional novel entitled 'Caliphate' . Caliphate is set about 100 years in the future, in a world where Islam has come to dominate Europe as well as much of Asia and Africa. It basically focuses on three characters, an American soldier (Hamilton) and a brother (Hans) and sister (Petra) living in Muslim-dominated Europe. The book grossly misrepresents Islam and the Caliphate appealing to the fears in the Western phsyche. The author paints an ugly picture of Islamic society and the status of Dhimmis in particular. This book highlights the West's fear of the impending return of the Khilafah (Caliphate) and their attempt to malign it via spreading misinformation. Muslims need to continuously explain Islam and the Caliphate system in a correct manner to the West. Muslim authors in particular should write about what a future world would be like under a Caliphate, giving an accurate picture of the justice of Islam rather...

Last week, Dutch MP Geert Wilders finally released his 17 minute film called Fitna on the internet via a UK based company. The film openly attacks Islam. As expected the response from the rulers of the ummah was appalling to say the least. No diplomatic ties were severed; no imposition of oil embargo was undertaken, no withdrawal of funds from Dutch banks was initiated and operations of Dutch companies such as Shell, Unilever and Philips were not halted” the best the rulers could muster was condemnation and nothing more. Once again it was left to the ummah to hold rallies and to boycott Dutch goods. Had it not been for the powerlessness of the agent rulers, the Dutch would not have allowed such a film to be released. The West will continue to offend Islam and Muslims, unless the ummah redoubles her efforts re-establishes the Khilafah. 3/4/2008

After having been brow-beaten by AKP over Abdullah Gul nomination to the presidency, the army in cohorts with the chief prosecutor succeeded on 31/3/2008 in to move the High Court against AKP. This time the army again wants AKP to be banned for anti-secular activities. The challenge has less to do with AKP Islamic credentials as voiced by the Kemalists. The latest dispute is part of a long running disagreement between the pro-British Turkish army and the US friendly government of Erdogan. The army fears that if the AKP succeeds in the implementation of US agenda disguised as reforms, then its future role as the custodian of British interests in Turkey would be gravely undermined. 3/4/2008

On 2/4/2008 the New York Times reported that Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had been selected to be included in US Army Command and General Staff Colleges International Hall of fame. US Lt-Gen William B. Cadwell said that Kayani was the fourth Pakistani Officer named to the hall, out of a total of 227 officers from 60 countries. Even America's darling Musharraf was not accorded such an award, despite his unstinting support for America's war against Islam. 3/4/2008

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ - لِيَمِيزَ اللَّهُ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ وَيَجْعَلَ الْخَبِيثَ بَعْضَهُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَيَرْكُمَهُ جَمِيعاً فَيَجْعَلَهُ فِى جَهَنَّمَ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ "Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.) In order that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good, and put the wicked one over another, heap them together and cast them into Hell. Those! it is they who are the losers." There has been since the time of our father Adam (alaihis salaam) a battle between Haq (the truth) and Batil (falsehood). Where there are carriers of Haq, there are people w...

The Netherlands, traditionally one of the most liberal countries in Europe, is now at the centre of a malicious campaign to defame Islam and the teachings of the noble Book of Allah (swt). The Netherlands and other western countries claim to uphold values of tolerance, equality and justice. Yet when it comes to Muslims these values suddenly disappear. Torture, kidnapping and detention without trial are now acceptable if applied to Muslims. Muslims defending their lands from occupation are labelled ‘unlawful combatants' where the Geneva Convention and other international norms are suspended. As Tony Blair, a former British Prime Minister once said: "the rules of the game are changing." In the Netherlands a new film attacking the Holy Qur'an as a ‘fascist' and ‘intolerant' book is currently in production and expected to be screened on Dutch TV in the New Year. Spearheading this campaign against Islam and the noble Qur'an is Geert Wilders, Dutch Member of Par...

Political Opportunism Under the banner of the “War On Terror” politicians have used the current political narrative to serve their interests. Right wing politicians such as Geert Wilders are calling for the ban of the Qur’an, and it was reported this week that the right wing Dutch Politician released a film on the divine book which he named Fitna, a Qur’anic term meaning strife. The film is an attempt to show how the Qur’an incites to violence, terror, death and destruction. In addition to this he has commented on the Qur’an many times, his opportunistic one liner’s include: “Ban this wretched book just like Mein Kempf is banned” “Muslims living in the Netherlands should tear out half of the Koran” “…this fascist book called the Koran” However, can anyone take him seriously? Isn't this political opportunism at its best? The current situation in the Netherlands gives some damning answers, Netherlands under its current secular political framework suffers from: – 48% increase in robbe...

On 25/3/2008, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in an interview with the Financial Times said, “We are not happy about the situation around Georgia and Ukraine …We consider that it is extremely troublesome for the existing structure of European security. ... No state can be pleased about having representatives of a military bloc to which it does not belong coming close to its borders.” Medvedev was protesting about NATO’s upcoming meeting scheduled for April 2-4, when it will consider the entry of Georgia and Ukraine into NATO. The ultimate benefactor of this expansion is America. The US aims to achieve two objectives. First, it allows the US to protect her newfound colonies Georgia and Ukraine under the umbrella of NATO and undermine Russian security at the same time. Second, it weakens the efforts of France and Germany to unite Europe and become a counterweight to the US.

A new blog has been launched by Dr Abu Dawud, Hamza Andreas Tzortzis & Dawud Charalambous in order to provide the reader with accurate information on Islam. This blog is an attempt to transcend the irrational hysteria over the Sharia and seeks to initiate a frank and honest dialogue beyond the current anti-Islamic rhetoric. The Islam Revealed blog: http://islamexplained.blogspot.com/

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Hitler’s Henchman Joseph Goebbels "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." G. W. Bush Many will argue that these statements can be applied to the rhetoric on the war on terror; the so called imminent danger, the potential loss of many innocent lives. But how real is this threat? How many of us are suffering the consequences of daily attacks? Many of us were shocked and saddened by the events of 7/7, but since then what has...