Islamic Revival

Sherry Jones promised a work of “extensively researched historical fiction”. Whilst capturing the “fictional” dimension perfectly, the end result wreaks of an orientalist mindset, viewing Islamic culture and values through the prism of narrow western eyes. Her treatment of the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (RadiAllahu anha) has far more in common with a Jane Austen novel than a serious historical account. The style of her novel, choice of protagonist, as well as her subsequent statements, all suffer from a mistaken belief that the ‘’real’ Aisha (RadiAllahu anha) needs to emancipated from the shackles of a male dominated recording of history. The Muslim response has differed greatly. Some disagreed with the content of the novel but argued, in a manner Voltaire would be proud of, to allow for the freedom to offend. Others countered, freedom of expression is a ‘fanciful idea’, that it is applied selectively rather than adhered to as the ‘sacred cow’ we are often led to believe. There is ...

British MP warns that some Muslim children at primary school are dangerous fanatics On 8/10/2008 Britain’s Schools Secretary suggested some primary school pupils were already displaying "early warning signs" of extremist attitudes. He called on teachers to challenge pupils sympathizing with terrorists. Guidance published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families outlined a series of recent examples of schoolchildren being confronted by extremist groups. Speaking as it was launched at a school in north London, Mr Balls said: "Violent extremism influenced by Al-Qaeda currently poses the greatest security threat but other forms of extremism and hate- or race-based prejudice are also affecting our communities and causing alienation and disaffection amongst young people…Our goal must be to empower our young people to come together to expose violent extremists and reject cruelty and violence in whatever form it takes.” British Officials also narrated how one primary...

The following article was received by a brother. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Muslim armies must respond to occupation The top British commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban cannot be won, the Sunday Times reported on 5 October 2008. It quoted Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith as saying in an interview that if the Taliban were willing to talk, then that might be “precisely the sort of progress” needed to end the insurgency. “We’re not going to win this war. It’s about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that’s not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan Army,” he said. At the same time, a group of Muslim protesters in Indian-administered Kashmir has defied a curfew imposed by the Hindu occupiers to denounce Pakistani President Asif Zardari for saying that Muslims fighting Indian rule in Kashmir were “terrorists” in an interview with America’s Wall Street Journal. In contrast, the treacherous remarks by Zardari were welcomed warmly by the Indian pre...

The following is a translation of an Arabic article. The events in Bolivia reflect a conflict between the US-backed governors of five provinces and the central government that controls only the other four provinces. What sparked the latest events there appears to the attempt of the President Juan Evo Morales to bring about new constitutional reforms aimed at redistributing the pastures and allot them to the impoverished farmers and the ethnic Red Indians. Meanwhile the United States has taken its stand that supports the white farmers among whom are the former rulers who control the fertile lands and pastures of Bolivia. When Morales discovered the axis of these five US-backed governors lined up against him, he back-tracked form any confrontation even before any dialogue, but aggressively went about gradually getting rid of those governors. He began by sending back the American ambassador and then began to weaken US influence over his opponents. Morales subscribes to the Latin American ...

The following is the translation of an article in Arabic. The US President George Bush yesterday 19th September, 2008 announced the need to act immediately to face the challenge posed by the financial crisis that has gripped the United States. He indicated that a plan was on the anvil for government intervention in order to salvage the markets and that this plan envisages enormous funds and also added that this involves certain risks. The president called upon the Americans to have faith in the economy. He said in his address from the White House that this is a crucial time to address the crisis and act to save the economy of the nation from big dangers. He further added that this collapse of the US financial markets was a crucial and decisive time. Bush's speech indicates the graveness of the crisis gripping his country and that the US is on the verge of a collapse. This is indeed a grim situation. He announced his bailout plan today 20th September, 2008 and presented it to the US...

The following is an answer to a question we receieved: Question: If someone blatantly rejects the shariah laws of hudud like cutting the hand of the thief that is mentioned in the Quran with clear statements such as 'I believe that is backward' or 'these rules are not part of Islam and I believe they should not be applied today', etc as some of the modernists do, does this take someone outside of the fold of Islam and make them an apostate? Answer: The following is a translation of an extract from the book entitled 'The punishement system of Islam' (Nizam al-Uqubat fil Islam) by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Maliki which answers your question: The apostate is the one who disbelieves after his Islam so everyone who disbelieves after his Islam becomes an apostate. A Muslim disbelieves in four ways: Doctrine/belief ( 'itiqad ), doubt ( shakk ), saying and action. As for belief, therein are two aspects. Firstly, the decisive belief in what came a decisive prohibition ag...

The following is from the draft english translation of the Arabic book مقدمة الدستور أو الأسباب الموجبة له (Introduction to the constitution and the evidences that make it obligatory) published by Hizb ut-Tahrir 1382 Hijri (1963 CE). Please refer to the original Arabic for accurate meanings. Please note some of the adopted opinions of the Hizb have changed since the time the book was published so any of the adopted literature published after this book which contradicts what is mentioned in this book abrogates those specific points. Article No 8 The Arabic language is exclusively the language of Islam and it is exclusively the language used by the State. Explanation and evidences: The evidence of this article is derived from the fact that although all people are addressed by the Qur’an, because of Allah’s (swt) saying: [17-89] “And We have explained to man in this Qur'an every kind of similitude” T.M.Q Allah (swt) also says: [30-58] “And We have propounded for people in th...