Islamic Revival

Question :  The second phase of the presidential elections was held in Ukraine on 2nd February, 2010. In the first phase of the polls, Victor Yusichenko, who had come to power in the wake of the ‘Orange Revolution', bagged merely 5% of the votes and in the second phase, he was unable to compete. While Yanukovych and Tymoshenko won 35% and 25% of the votes in the first phase and entered the second round. Indeed Victor Yanukovych who is pro-Russia and has served earlier as Prime Minister and also as President in 2004 polled 48% of the votes in the second round against his rival Tymoshenko who bagged 46% of votes, and thus he has again become the president of the republic. Does this mean the end of the era of the ‘Orange Revolution' and return of Ukraine in the Russian lobby? How will the US-Russian rivalry affect Ukraine in the coming era? Answer: 1. As is known that the ‘Orange Revolution' was ushered after the 2004 elections which led to the downfall of Yanukovych from...

The incidents that began with the expulsion of a Muslim sister from a French language course have now escalated to the Quebec government barring Muslims wearing the niqab from obtaining provincial services. The ban is politically opportunistic, pressures Muslims to abandon some of the Ahkam of Islam, and paints the Muslims as foreigners. In terms of voicing our opposition to this ban, we must do so intellectually and on the basis of Islam even when calling on the wider Canadian society to stop this ban. Last month, the Quebec government tabled Bill-94. According to the Canadian Press, the bill says that "people obtaining - or delivering - services at places like the health- or auto-insurance boards will need to do so with their faces in plain view". The bill has been widely reported as the "niqab ban". In a press conference regarding the bill, Jean Charest, the premier of the Province of Quebec, stated: "Two words: Uncovered face". He also defended the ...

This article is written by Brother Adnan Khan Last week Britain's three political parties clashed over the nation's role in the world. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), which represents the views of one of the most influential bodies in Britain, found 88% of its members comprising of diplomats, defence and academic analysts, that the UK needs "a radical reassessment of the position it wants, and is able, to play in the world." Britain's foreign policy and role in the world usually centres on nuclear weapons, terrorism and the special relationship with the US. However in reality Britain's global interests revolve around another set of ideals, colonialism, expediency and hyperbole which successive governments have constantly pursued. World War Two consumed Britain to such an extent that it brought an end to the British Empire and its international standing. In the post war era, British global aims were restricted by its economic realities. For th...

By now the whole world is aware of the plight of Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist who was arrested in Ghazni province in Afghanistan. She was apparently found with documents describing US landmarks and a number of containers containing chemical substances. She now faces life imprisonment on false charges of attempted murder against her interrogators, but nothing on the terrorism charges she was originally suspected of. Aafia Siddiqui was picked up in Karachi by Pakistani intelligence in March 2003 together with her 3 children, and remained in obscurity until July 2008 when she was arrested in Ghazni province. Both U.S and Pakistani govt officials deny any knowledge of her whereabouts for the previous 5 years, however during this time the FBI had her on a list of 7 most wanted Al Qaeda fugitives. It has since come to light that Aafia Siddiqui is the infamous prisoner 650 that was tortured and raped in Bagram jail. It is clear that her disappearance was due to the demand...

“Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: but Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light even though the unbelievers may detest it.” (TMQ 61: 8) يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ Firmness in proclaiming the truth to those who aid the tyrants, making them hear the Haqq (true Islam) that they dislike and the criticisms of their false gods, is the best path for those who wish to be from the helpers of the Deen of Allah and of those supporting it. They cannot be harmed by those who oppose them or betray them until the Command of Allah comes while they are in such a state. It was reported by Imam Ahmad and others from Abi Sa’id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “A man should not let intimidation by people prevent him from speaking the truth if he sees or witnesses a situation where he should do so. Speaking the truth or mentioning something important w...

The Messenger of Allah (saw) brought the message of Islam to the Arabs of Quraish. This message contained a system of life that would soon give its adherents leadership over the Romans and the Persians. It was narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (saw) first received revelation, he came to Khadija (ra) and proclaimed, “From this day there will be no rest!” Hence the first Ayat commanding the Prophet (saw) to, اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ “Read in the Name of your Lord…” [TMQ 96:1] came with a great burden. It was a weighty message and required an Ummah, characterized by thinking and seriousness, to carry its burden. Because of its tremendous responsibility, this Ummah has been described by Allah (swt) as: كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاس “... the best Ummah brought forward to mankind.” [TMQ 3:110] The Muslim Ummah, which was once the leading nation of the world, now faces a terrible situation. Our Deen is under attack, we are divided into over 50 ins...

Where there must be unanimity in opinion and where difference is allowed The Ummah is one Jama'ah in its root. Islam has made clear where differences do not arise and where they can arise. وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُوا "And hold tight to the rope of Allah and divide not," [TMQ Ale-Imran: 103] Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'aala) orders the Muslims to hold tight and not let go of the rope of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'aala) and not to divide. Ibn Masood (ra), Ali bin Abi Talib (ra), and Abu Saeed Al-Kuddrri (ra) said it is the Qur'an. Others said it is the Deen of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'aala). Others like Ibnul Mubaarak said it is the Jama'ah. At-Tabari said; "...and do not disperse away from the Deen of Allah and His covenant which he took from you in His Book: that you should be together in obeying Him and His Messenger (SalAllahu alaihi wasallam)." Ibn Katheer said; "He ordered them to stay in the Jama`ah ...

British Army uses mosques on UK firing range The UK army was accused of gross insensitivity yesterday for putting up seven mosque-like structures on a firing range. Muslim leaders said the replicas were used as symbols of danger and reinforced negative stereotypes of Islam. The fake buildings - complete with green-domed roofs - were installed on the Black Beck range at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. During training exercises, soldiers are instructed to fire at wooden targets mounted on rails which emerge from behind the 'mosques'. Last night, the British Ministry of Defence apologised and said it had 'no intention of offending religious sensibilities'. But a spokesman said it was crucial that the 'generic Eastern buildings' were put up to replicate conditions in Afghanistan ahead of future deployments. US worried about Russian- Venezuelan arms deal The United States Department last week questioned Venezuela's need to buy billions of dollars in...

Belgium to ban the burqa The draft legislation in Belgium, aimed at clamping down on Islamic extremism, forbids anyone from hiding their faces in public. And those who break the law will be fined or sent to prison for up to a week if the legislation is approved. A committee of MPs voted unanimously yesterday to put the hard-line bill to a full parliamentary vote on 22 April. If passed, Belgium will become the first country in Europe to impose a complete ban on the wearing of full-face veils. The law has cross-party support and is likely to be voted through. "We cannot allow someone to claim the right to look at others without being seen," said liberal MP Daniel Bacquelaine, who proposed the bill. "It is necessary that the law forbids the wearing of clothes that totally mask and encloses an individual."Mr Bacquelaine estimated that a few hundred women in Belgium wore facial veils, adding that it was a rising trend. Belgium's Muslim population stands at about 60...

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Most Esteemed Brothers! Al-Quds will not be liberated by any amount of lip-service But it will only be liberated by troops of soldiers fighting the Jewish State on the battlefield ! The Arab rulers concluded their 22nd Summit meeting today, 28th March, 2010 after two days of deliberations at Sirte, Libya which was preceded by a preparatory meeting of their foreign ministers on 25th and 26th of March, 2010 who prepared the agenda for the Summit meeting. The Summit resolutions were replete with old and new terms, like ‘Peace Process', ‘Arab-Israeli Conflict', ‘The Arab Initiative', The Jewish refusal to open the Haram Ibraheem and Masjid Bilal, as well as the Jewish refusal to stop their policy of Settlements and the ramifications of these on direct and indirect negotiations...the situation in Iraq and the Emirate Islands, supporting the peace and development in Sudan, Somalia and the Comoros Islands, making the region free from nuclear weapons etc....