In His (Prophet Mohammad -pbuh) Words

§ The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."

§ The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The best thing in this world is a virtuous woman (wife)." - Riyadh us-Salaheen, 1:280

§ The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever has three daughters, cares and provides for them, and shows the m m ercy, will enter Paradise ." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners

§ A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners

§ As he carried his grandson on his shoulders, the Prophet was heard to say: "O God! I love him, so You love him too." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners.

Embracing the veil

YVONNE RIDLEY
Special to The Washington Post

LONDON -- I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures -- until I was captured by the Taliban.

In September 2001, just 15 days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, I sneaked into Afghanistan, clad in a head-to-toe blue burqa, intending to write a newspaper account of life under the repressive regime. Instead, I was discovered, arrested and detained for 10 days. I spat and swore at my captors; they called me a "bad" woman but let me go after I promised to read the Quran and study Islam. (I'm not sure who was happier when I was freed -- they or I.)

Back home in London, I kept my word about studying Islam -- and was amazed by what I discovered. I'd been expecting Quranic chapters on how to beat your wife and oppress your daughters; instead, I found passages promoting the liberation of women. Two and a half years after my capture, I converted to Islam, provoking a mixture of astonishment, disappointment and encouragement among friends and relatives.

With disgust and dismay, I watched here in Britain as former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw described the Muslim niqab -- a face veil that reveals only the eyes -- as an unwelcome barrier to integration, with Prime Minister Tony Blair, writer Salman Rushdie and even Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi leaping to his defense.

Having been on both sides of the veil, I can tell you that most Western male politicians and journalists who lament the oppression of women in the Islamic world have no idea what they are talking about. They go on about veils, child brides, female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages, and they wrongly blame Islam for all this, their arrogance surpassed only by their ignorance.

These cultural issues and customs have nothing to do with Islam. A careful reading of the Quran shows that just about everything that Western feminists fought for in the 1970s was available to Muslim women 1,400 years ago. Women in Islam are considered equal to men in spirituality, education and worth, and a woman's gift for childbirth and child-rearing is regarded as a positive attribute.

When Islam offers women so much, why are Western men so obsessed with Muslim women's attire? Even British government ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid have made disparaging remarks about the niqab -- and they hail from Scotland, where men wear skirts.

A personal statement When I converted to Islam and began wearing a headscarf, the repercussions were enormous. All I did was cover my head and hair -- but I instantly became a second-class citizen. I knew I'd hear from the odd Islamophobe, but I didn't expect so much open hostility.

Cabs passed me by at night, their "for hire" lights glowing. One cabbie, after dropping off a white passenger in front of me, glared at me when I rapped on his window; he drove off. Another said, "Don't leave a bomb in the back seat" and asked, "Where's bin Laden hiding?"

Yes, it is a religious obligation for Muslim women to dress modestly, but the majority of Muslim women I know like wearing the hijab, which leaves the face uncovered, though a few prefer the niqab. It is a personal statement: My dress tells you that I am a Muslim and that I expect to be treated respectfully, much as a Wall Street banker would say that a business suit defines him as an executive to be taken seriously. Among converts to the faith like me, the attention of men who confront women with inappropriate, leering behavior is not tolerable.

I was a Western feminist for many years, but I've discovered that Muslim feminists are more radical than their secular counterparts. We hate those ghastly beauty pageants and tried to stop laughing in 2003 when judges of the Miss Earth competition hailed the emergence of a bikini-clad Miss Afghanistan, Vida Samadzai, as a giant leap for women's liberation. They even gave Samadzai a special award for "representing the victory of women's rights."

Some young Muslim feminists also consider the hijab and the niqab political symbols, a way of rejecting Western excesses such as binge drinking, casual sex and drug use. What is more liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your surgically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character and intelligence? In Islam, superiority is achieved through piety -- not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex.

I didn't know whether to scream or laugh when Italy's Prodi joined the debate by declaring that it is "common sense" not to wear the niqab because it makes social relations "more difficult." Nonsense. If this were the case, why are cellphones, land lines, e-mail, text messaging and fax machines in daily use? And no one switches off the radio because they can't see the presenter's face.

Under Islam, I am respected. It tells me that I have a right to an education and that it is my duty to seek out knowledge, regardless of whether I am single or married. Nowhere in the framework of Islam are we told that women must wash, clean or cook for men.

As for how Muslim men are allowed to beat their wives -- it's simply not true. Critics of Islam will quote random Quranic verses or hadith, but usually out of context. If a man does raise a finger against his wife, he is not allowed to leave a mark on her body, which is the Quran's way of saying, "Don't beat your wife, stupid."

And in the West ...?

It is not just Muslim men who must re-evaluate the place and treatment of women. According to a recent National Domestic Violence Hotline survey, 4 million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period. More than three women are killed by their husbands and boyfriends every day -- that is nearly 5,500 since 9-11.

Violent men don't come from any particular religious or cultural category; one in three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to the hotline survey. This is a global problem that transcends religion, wealth, class, race and culture.

But in the West, men still believe that they are superior to women. They still receive better pay for equal work -- whether in the mailroom or the boardroom -- and still treat women as sexualized commodities whose power and influence flow directly from their appearance.

And for those who are still trying to claim that Islam oppresses women, recall this 1992 statement from the Rev. Pat Robertson, offering his views on empowered women: Feminism is a "socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

Now you tell me who is civilized and who is not.

---

Yvonne Ridley is political editor of Islam Channel TV in London. Yvonne Ridley is co-author of "In the Hands of the Taliban: Her Extraordinary Story" (Robson Books). This essay appeared previously in The Washington Post. hermosh@aol.com
Source: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/16095998.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

The Voice of a Woman in Islam

The Voice of a Woman in Islam

Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi

Many Muslims have adopted the Judeo-Christian ethic which views women as the source of human tragedy because of her alleged biblical role as the temptress who seduced Adam into disobedience to his Lord. By tempting her husband to eat the forbidden fruit, she not only defied Allah, but caused humankind's expulsion from Paradise, thus instigating all temporal human suffering. Those misogynists who support this Biblical myth, dredge from the archives of psuedo-Islamic literature such as false and weak hadiths.

This Old Testament myth is a widely circulated belief in the Islamic community despite the fact that Allah in the Qur'an stresses that it was Adam who was solely responsible for his mistake. In 20:115 it is stated: "We had already, beforehand, taken the convenant of Adam, but he forgot; and we found on his part no firm resolve." Verse 20:121-122 continues: "In result, they both ate of the tree...thus did Adam disobey His Lord, and fell into error. But his Lord chose for him (From His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him guidance." Therefore, there is nothing in Islamic doctrine or in the Qur'an which holds women responsible for Adam's expulsion from paradise or the consequent misery of humankind. However, misogyny abounds in the pronouncements of many Islamic "scholars" and "imams."

The result of such misinterpretation of hadiths and spreading negativity is that entire societies have mistreated their female members despite the fact that Islam has honored and empowered the woman in all spheres of life. The woman in Islamic law is equal to her male counterpart. She is as liable for her actions as a male is liable. Her testimony is demanded and valid in court. Her opinions are sought and acted upon. Contrary to the pseudo hadith: "Consult women and do the opposite," the Prophet (SAW) consulted his wife, Um Salama on one of the most important issues to the Muslim community. Such references to the Prophet's positive attitudes toward women disprove the one hadith falsely attributed to Ali bin Abi Talib: "The woman is all evil, and the greatest evil about her is that man cannot do without her."

The promotion of such negativity against women has led many "scholars" and "imams" to make the unsubstantiated ruling about female speech. They claim that women should lower their voice to whispers or even silence except when she speaks to her husband, her guardian or other females. The female act of communication has become to some a source of temptation and allurement to the male.

The Qur'an, however, specifically mentions that those seeking information from the Prophet's wives were to address them from behind a screen (33:53). Since questions require an answer, the Mothers of the Believers offered fatwas to those who asked and narrated hadiths to whomever wished to transmit them. Furthermore, women were accustomed to question the Prophet (SAW) while men were present. Neither were they embarassed to have their voices heard nor did the Prophet prevent their inquires. Even in the case of Omar when he was challenged by a woman during his khutba on the minbar, he did not deny her. Rather, he admitted that she was right and he was wrong and said: "Everybody is more knowledgeable than Omar."

Another Qur'anic example of a woman speaking publicly is that the daughter of the Shaykh mentioned in the Qur'an in 28:23. Furthermore, the Qur'an narrates the coversation between Sulayman and the Queen of Sheba as well as between her and her subjects. All of these examples support the fatwa that women are allowed to voice their opinion publicly for whatever has been prescribed to those before us is prescribed to us, unless it was unanimously rejected by Islamic doctrine.

Thus, the only prohibition is the female talking softly and flirting in a manner meant to excite and tempt the male. This is expressed in the Qur'an as complacent speech which Allah mentions in 33:32: "O consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the other women: If ye do fear Allah, be not too complaisance of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech that is just."

What is prohibited then is alluring speech which entices those whose diseased hearts may be moved with desire and that is not to say that all conversation with women is prohibited for Allah completes the verse: "...but speak ye a speech that is just." (33:32)

Finding excuses to silence women is just one of the injustices certain scholars and imams attempt to inflict upon women. They point to such hadiths as narrated by Bukhari about the Prophet which says: "I have not left a greater harm to men than women." They assume that the harm implies that women are an evil curse to be endured just as one must endure poverty, famine, disease, death and fear. These "scholars" ignore the fact that man is tried more by his blessings than by his tragedies.

And Allah says: "And We test you by evil and by good way of trial." (21:35). To support this argument Allah says in the Qur'an that two of the most appreciated blessings of life, wealth and children, are trials. Allah says: "And know ye that your posessions and your progeny are but a trial." (Anfal 28) A woman, despite the blessings she bestows on her relations, can also be a trial for she may distract a man from his duty toward Allah. Thus, Allah creates awareness how blessings can be misguided so that they become curses. Men can use their spouses as an excuse for not performing jihad or for eschewing sacrafice for the compiling of wealth. Allah in the Qur'an warns: "Truly among your wives and children are enemies for you." (64:14)

The warning is the same as for the blessings of abundant welath and offspring (63:9). In addition, the sahih hadith says: "By Allah I don't fear for you poverty, but I fear that the world would be abundant for you as it has been for those before you so you compete for it as they have competed for it, so it destroys you as it has destroyed them." (Agreed upon) This hadith does not mean that the Prophet (SAW) encouraged poverty.

Poverty is a curse from which the Prophet sought refuge from Allah. He did not mean for his Ummah to be bereft of wealth and abundance for he said: "The best of the good wealth is for the pious person." (narrated by ahmed and Al-Hakam) Women are also a gift for the pious person for the Qur'an mentions the Muslim men and women (the Muslimat), the believing men (Mumins) and women Muminat as aids and comforts for each other here and in the hereafter. The Prophet did not condemn the blessings Allah provided for his Ummah. Rather the Prophet wished to guide the Muslims and his Ummah away from the slippery slope whose bottomless pit is a mire of callousness and desire.

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Source:http://www.jannah.org/sisters/qaradawi.html

The Hadith of Sunday

Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Man's feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out.''

[At-Tirmidhi]. 
 
Commentary:
1. This Hadith first of all highlights the importance and value of this transitory life, every breath of which is invaluable. Not a moment of it should, therefore, be wasted in the disobedience of Allah because one shall also be made to account for it.
2. Man shall also be answerable for his knowledge. Here, we find an inducement for acquiring religious knowledge because that alone is beneficial for him. He should make use of his knowledge for winning the pleasure of Allah. If he does not do that then he must think about the justification for not doing so. He must also think how he would be facing Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
3. The question in respect of wealth raised in this Hadith clearly shows that one should earn wealth by legitimate means only and spend it strictly in a lawful manner. If he takes to unfair means of income or squanders it, he will be sinful and required to account for the violation of the Divine injunctions.
4. One should protect his body from everything that is unlawful and force himself to submit to the Divine injunctions. When he is asked to account for neglecting them, it will be difficult for him to escape the consequences of accountability.
In short, this Hadith makes one conscious of the accountability so that one keeps it all the time in view so that he will be saved from humiliation on the Day of Resurrection. How nice would it really be if one bears the accountability of the Day of Resurrection always in mind!
   Riyad-us-Saliheen (407)

ইকনা সম্মেলন এবার কানেকটিকাটে

উত্তর আমেরিকায় মুসলমানদের সর্ববৃহৎ মিলনমেলা ইসলামিক সার্কেল অব নর্থ আমেরিকা (ইকনা) ৩৬তম বার্ষিক সম্মেলন এবার অনুষ্ঠিত হতে যাচ্ছে হার্ডফোর্ড কানেকটিকাটে। মে’র ২৮-৩০ পর্যন্ত অর্থাৎ মেমোরিয়াল ডে উইকএডে এবার সম্মেলন অনুষ্ঠিত হবে। সমগ্র উত্তর আমেরিকাসহ বিশ্বের নামকরা ইসলামিক স্কলার এবং ওলেমারা এতে অংশগ্রহণ করবেন। সম্মেলনে অংশগ্রহণে ইচ্ছুক ব্যক্তিরা সংগঠন হোটেল বুকিং এবং রেজিস্ট্রেশনের জন্য ৭১৮-৬৫৮-১১৯৯ a যোগাযোগ করতে বলা হয়েছে।

অমর্ত্য সেন নোবেল জিতলেও আন্তর্জাতিকতার আকাশে উড়াল দিতে পারেননি

আহমদ আশিকুল হামিদ
নোবেল পুরস্কার জিতলেই কেউ যে একেবারে গড় উল্টে ফেলার মতো মহাকিছু হয়ে যান না সর্বশেষ ক্ষেত্রে তার প্রমাণ দিয়েছেন ভারতের নাগরিক অমর্ত্য সেন।
‘দি আরগুমেন্টেটিভ ইন্ডিয়ান গ্রন্থে মূলকথার মধ্য দিয়ে মিস্টার সেন বুঝিয়ে দিয়েছেন, অন্য দশজন হিন্দুত্ববাদী ভারতীয়র মতো তিনিও মনে-প্রাণে একজন কট্টর
হিন্দুই রয়ে গেছেন, তথাকথিত আন্তর্জাতিকতার আকাশে উড়াল দিতে পারেননি। ভারতীয় হিন্দুদের জন্য এটাই অবশ্য স্বাভাবিক। অনেক তথ্য ও ঘটনারই উল্লেখ করা যায়, যেগুলো প্রমাণ করবে, মুসলমানদের প্রতি ভারতীয় হিন্দুদের মনোভাব সেই ব্রিটিশ আমলের মতোই রয়েছে। অর্থাৎ পাকিস্তানের জাতির পিতা মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্নাহর ‘টু নেশন থিওরিতে কোনো ভুল বা অতিরঞ্জন ছিল না। মিস্টার জিন্নাহ আসলেও একশ ভাগ সত্যই বলেছিলেন। প্রথমে ‘ওপার বাংলার কথাই বলা যাক। শুনলে আমাদের ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ সুশীলজনেরা রা-রা করে উঠতে পারেন, কিন্তু ভারত এতটাই ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ রাষ্ট্র যে, কোলকাতার মুসলিম প্রধান পার্ক সার্কাস এলাকায় মুসলমানরা এখনো জুমার নামাজ পড়তে যান টুপি পকেটে নিয়ে। অনেকটা লুকিয়ে লুকিয়ে- যেন কোনো অন্যায় করতে যাচ্ছেন পশ্চিমবঙ্গে বামফ্রন্ট সরকারের আমলেই মাইকে আযান দেয়া আইন করে নিষিদ্ধ করা হয়েছে। নয়াদিল্লির তথা ভারতের কেন্দ্রস্থলের দিকে লক্ষ করুন। ন্যাশনাল কংগ্রেসের সভানেত্রী সোনিয়া গান্ধীর মতো বিদেশিনী খ্রিস্টান রমণীকেও নির্বাচনী প্রচারণা শুরু করার আগে ব্রাহ্মণ পুরোহিত ডেকে, হাড়িতে আগুন জ্বালিয়ে এবং ঢাকঢোল বাজিয়ে পূজার আনুষ্ঠানিকতা সম্পন্ন করতে হয়। মন্দিরে গিয়ে গলায় আঁচল পেঁচিয়ে হিন্দুদের দেবীকে পেন্নাম করতে হয়। অথচ সোনিয়া গান্ধী হিন্দু নন। এসবই ভারতের রাজনীতিতে অবশ্যপালনীয়- সোনিয়া গান্ধী থেকে লালকৃষ্ণ আদভানী পর্যন্ত রাজনীতিকদের প্রত্যেককে হিন্দুধর্ম এবং ধর্মের বিধি-বিধান মানতে হয়। নাহলে ভোট পাবেন না তারা। কথাগুলো জানানোর উদ্দেশ্য একথা স্পষ্ট করা যে, যতোই ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতার স্লোগান দেয়া হোক না কেন, ভারত এখনো সর্বতোভাবেই হিন্দুত্ববাদী রাষ্ট্রই রয়ে গেছে। দেশটিতে মুসলমানসহ সংখ্যালঘুদের বিপদও বাড়ছে পাল্লা দিয়ে। এখানে ২০০২ সালের সংঘটিত গুজরাট হত্যাকান্ডের উল্লেখ করা যায়। গোধরায় একটি ট্রেনে অগ্নি সংযোগের মিথ্যা অভিযোগে দিনের পর দিন ধরে সেবার শতশত মুসলমানকে হত্যা করা হয়েছিল। কিন্তু বিজেপির নেতা ও প্রধানমন্ত্রী অটল বিহারী বাজপেয়ী মুসলমানদের স্বার্থে কোনো পদক্ষেপ নেননি। শুধু তা-ই নয়, হত্যাকান্ড নিয়ে লোকসভায় বিতর্ক শুরু হওয়ার প্রাক্কালে গোয়ায় অনুষ্ঠিত বিজেপির সম্মেলনে দেয়া ভাষণে প্রধানমন্ত্রী বাজপেয়ী গুজরাট হত্যাকান্ডের জন্য উল্টো মুসলমানদের দায়ী করেছিলেন। তার কথাগুলোও ছিল উস্কানিমূলক। তিনি বলেছিলেন, ‘যেখানেই মুসলমান সেখানেই সন্ত্রাস। তাদের ধর্ম সন্ত্রাস শেখায় এবং পৃথিবীর কোথাও তারা শান্তিতে বসবাস করতে পারে না। বাজপেয়ী গুজরাট পরিস্থিতির জন্য তার নেতৃত্বাধীন কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের এবং গুজরাটের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী নরেন্দ্রনাথ মোদীর কোনো দায়-দায়িত্ব নেই বলেও ঘোষণা করেছিলেন। এককালের সমাজতন্ত্রী ও বাজপেয়ীর প্রতিরক্ষামন্ত্রী জর্জ ফার্নান্ডেজের বক্তব্যও স্মরণ করা যেতে পারে। তিনি বলেছিলেন, ‘রেপ বা ধর্ষণ এমন কোনো বিষয় নয়। এটা অতীতেও বহুবার ঘটেছে। গর্ভবতী মায়ের পেট কেটে শিশু হত্যার যে কথা বলা হচ্ছে তা কি এক গুজরাটেই ঘটেছে? ১৯৪৭ সাল থেকে এমন ঘটনা কতবার ঘটেছে তার হিসাব কষে দেখুন। প্রধানমন্ত্রী বাজপায়ী এবং প্রতিরক্ষামন্ত্রী জর্জ ফার্নান্ডেজের বক্তব্য লক্ষ্য করলে দেখা যাবে, দুজনই প্রকারান্তরে মুসলিম হত্যাকান্ডে নিজেদের সমর্থন ও পরোক্ষ অংশগ্রহণের কথা স্বীকার করেছিলেন। তাদের কথায় ঘাতকদের প্রতিও সমর্থন ও উস্কানি ছিল- যার অর্থ হলো, মুসলমানদের বিরুদ্ধে যেকোনো সময় যেকোনোস্থানে হত্যার অভিযান চালানো যেতে পারে এতে দোষের কিছু নেই এবং এটাই ভারতীয় মুসলমানদের প্রাপ্য ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতার ধ্বজাধারী ন্যাশনাল কংগ্রেস ও বামপন্থীসহ বিজেপির বিরোধিতাকারী দলগুলোও কখনো মুসলমানদের পক্ষে ভূমিকা পালন করেনি। গুজরাট হত্যাকান্ডের দিনগুলোতে দেখা গেছে, রাজ্যের রাজধানী আহমেদাবাদে যাওয়ার কিংবা মুসলমানদের বাঁচানোর লক্ষে কোনো ফলপ্রসূ পদক্ষেপ নেয়ার পরিবর্তে সোনিয়া গান্ধী শুধু লোকসভার অধিবেশন আহবান জানানোর দাবির মধ্যে সীমাবদ্ধ থেকেছেন। এর ফলেও ঘাতকরা যথেষ্ট সময় পেয়েছিল। এদেশের কারো কারো ‘কাকাবাবু জ্যোতি বসু তখন পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী ছিলেন। তাকেও শুধু দিল্লিতেই দৌড়-ঝাঁপ করতে দেখা গেছে। এভাবেই এক মাসের বেশি সময় কাটিয়ে দিয়েছিলেন ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ ভারতের রাজনৈতিক নেতারা। লোকসভার অধিবেশনে দেয়া ভাষণেও সোনিয়া গান্ধী গুজরাট হত্যাকান্ডের তদন্ত ও বিচারের এবং মুসলমানদের নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করার দাবি তেমন জোরালোভাবে জানাননি। তিনি প্রধানত মুখ্যমন্ত্রী নরেন্দ্রনাথ মোদীকে বরখাস্ত করার দাবি জানিয়েছিলেন- যেন ওই একজন মাত্র ব্যক্তিকে সরানো হলেই মুসলমানদের জানমালের নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করা যাবে যেন হত্যার অভিযানে বাজপেয়ীসহ কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের কোনো ভূমিকা বা অংশগ্রহণই ছিল না প্রাসঙ্গিক অন্য একটি তথ্যও কম তাৎপর্যপূর্ণ নয়। বিরোধী দলের সমালোচনার মুখে প্রধানমন্ত্রী বাজপেয়ী তখন গুজরাটের রাজ্য বিধানসভা ভেঙে দিয়ে নতুন নির্বাচন আয়োজনের প্রস্তাব দিয়েছিলেন। কিন্তু সোনিয়া গান্ধী সে প্রস্তাব প্রত্যাখ্যান করেছিলেন। কারণ, গুজরাটে তখন নির্বাচন হলে মুসলমান নিধনে নেতৃত্ব দেয়ার ‘পুরস্কার হিসেবে বিজেপি জোটই জয়ী হতো এবং নরেন্দ্র মোদীই আবারও মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হতেন। ভারত এতটাই ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ দেশ এর মধ্য দিয়েও প্রমাণিত হয়েছিল, ভারতে এখনো ‘টু নেশন থিওরিই সত্য। উল্লেখ্য, বিজেপি এখনো গুজরাটের ক্ষমতায় রয়েছে এবং মোদীই আবার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হয়েছেন।
এখানে কংগ্রসের ভূমিকার দিকটি লক্ষ করা দরকার। পর্যালোচনায় দেখা যাবে, বিরোধিতা ও প্রতিবাদের নামে কংগ্রেস যেটুকু করেছিল তার সবই করেছিল নিজের ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ পরিচিতিকে টিকিয়ে রাখার জন্য। কংগ্রেসের প্রধান উদ্দেশ্য ছিল দেশের অন্যান্য রাজ্যে ‘ভোট ব্যাংক মুসলমানদের সন্তুষ্ট করা। অর্থাৎ কংগ্রেসের উদ্দেশ্যের মধ্যে মুসলমানদের জানমাল হেফাজতের কোনো উপাদান ছিল না। সবই ছিল নিতান্ত রাজনৈতিক কৌশল। বলা দরকার, কংগ্রেস সবচেয়ে বেশি সময় ভারতের ক্ষমতা থেকেছে এবং কংগ্রেসের সময়ও মুসলমানরা একইভাবে হত্যা ও দাঙ্গার শিকার হয়েছেন। ১৯৯২ সালে বাবরী মসজিদ যখন ভেঙে ফেলা হয় তখনও কংগ্রেসই ক্ষমতায় ছিল। প্রধানমন্ত্রী ছিলেন নরসীমা রাও। কিন্তু কংগ্রেস সরকার বাবরী মসজিদ ভাঙা যেমন প্রতিহত করেনি তেমনি ব্যবস্থা নেয়নি মুসলমানদের হত্যার অভিযান থামানোর জন্যও। উত্তর প্রদেশের তৎকালীন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী কল্যাণ সিং বলেছেন এবং একথা প্রমাণিতও হয়েছে যে, অটল বিহারী বাজপেয়ী এবং লালকৃষ্ণ আদভানী বাবরী মসজিদ ভাঙার কর্মকান্ডে নেতৃত্ব দিয়েছিলেন। কিন্তু নরসীমা রাওয়ের কংগ্রেস সরকার এই দুজনসহ কারো বিরুদ্ধেই কোনো ব্যবস্থা নেয়নি। সত্যিকার ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ কোনো রাষ্ট্রে এমনটা কল্পনাই করা যায় না। কিন্তু উত্তর প্রদেশ ও গুজরাটসহ সারা ভারতে মুসলমানদের হত্যাকান্ড সম্ভব হওয়ার কারণ হচ্ছে, সংবিধানে লেখা থাকলেও এবং প্রকাশ্যে প্রচারণা চালানো হলেও ভারত এখনো উগ্র হিন্দুত্ববাদী নীতি, মনোভাব ও কৌশল নিয়ে এগিয়ে চলেছে। বিশেষ করে মুসলমানদের হত্যা করার, মুসলমানদের ওপর নির্যাতন চালানোর এবং মুসলমানদের পদানত রাখার ব্যাপারে গোপনে গোপনে সকল দলের মধ্যেই সমঝোতা রয়েছে। পার্থক্য হলো, বিজেপি যেখানে হিন্দুত্ববাদী পরিচিতিকে প্রকাশ্যে আনে কংগ্রেস সেখানে ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতার সাইনবোর্ডকে সামনে রাখে।
এখানে কমিউনিস্ট ও বাম নামধারীদের প্রসঙ্গেও বলা দরকার। মুসলিম প্রধান বাংলাদেশ এবং ইসলামী রাষ্ট্র পাকিস্তান-বিরোধী ভূমিকা পালনের ক্ষেত্রে অন্য ভারতীয় নেতাদের সঙ্গে পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্যও পাল্লা দিয়ে এগিয়ে চলেছেন। প্রশ্ন উঠতে পারে, তার আগের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী জ্যোতি বসুর আমলে এই বিরোধিতায় তেমন কমতি ছিল কি-না? উত্তর হলো, সর্বতোভাবে ভারতের স্বার্থ উদ্ধারে নিয়োজিত থাকলেও জ্যোতি বসু এদেশে অনেকেরই ‘কাকাবাবু হওয়ার চাতুরিপƒর্ণ কৌশল অবলম্বন করেছিলেন। ‘কমরেড জ্যোতি বসু যেখানে অভিনয় করার কৌশল নিয়েছিলেন, ‘কমরেড বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য সেখানে কূটনৈতিক শালীনতা ও শিষ্টাচার পর্যন্ত মানেন না। তার কথাবার্তা শুনে বরং মনে হবে, প্রকাশ্য পরিচিতিতে একজন ‘কমিউনিস্ট হলেও তার আবির্ভাব ঘটেছে উগ্র হিন্দুত্ববাদী বিজেপি, আরএসএস ও সংঘ পরিবার থেকে এবং বাংলাদেশের বিরুদ্ধে লেগে থাকার জন্যই যেন তাকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বানানো হয়েছিল উদাহরণ হিসেবে এখানে বাংলাদেশ সম্পর্কে তার কিছু মন্তব্যের উল্লেখ করা যায়। ২০০৪ সালের ১৭ আগস্টের বোমাবাজি নিয়ে বাংলাদেশের মানুষ যখন ভীত-সন্ত্রস্ত ও চরমভাবে ক্ষুব্ধ, পশ্চিমবঙ্গের এই ‘কমরেড মুখ্যমন্ত্রী তখন বাংলাদেশে পাকিস্তানের ‘সেকেন্ড ফ্রন্ট আবিষ্কার করে বসেছিলেন। বোমাবাজির ঠিক পরদিন উগ্র হিন্দুত্ববাদী ও চরম বাংলাদেশ-বিরোধী হিসেবে পরিচিত কোলকাতার দৈনিক আনন্দবাজারকে দেয়া সাক্ষাৎকারে বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য বলেছিলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশ এখন একটা থ্রেট। এ শুধু কথার কথা ছিল না। কারণ, অত্যন্ত ক্ষোভ ও বিরক্তির সঙ্গে ওই সাক্ষাৎকারে বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য জানিয়েছিলেন, বাংলাদেশ যে একটা ‘থ্রেট এবং পাকিস্তান যে বাংলাদেশে তার ‘সেকেন্ড ফ্রন্ট খুলেছে- এই কথাটি তিনি দিল্লিকে তথা ভারতের কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারকে ‘ততোবার বোঝানোর চেষ্টা করেছেন, ‘যতোবার ক্ষমতাসীনদের সঙ্গে কথা বলার সুযোগ পেয়েছেন। কিন্তু ‘আফসোসের বিষয়, কেউই বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্যের কথাকে তেমন ‘পাত্তা দেননি। তা সত্তে¦ও বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য তার নিজের মনের মতো করে ব্যাখ্যা হাজির করেছিলেন। আনন্দবাজারকে দেয়া ওই সাক্ষাৎকারে ‘কমরেড মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেছিলেন, বাংলাদেশে ‘মৌলবাদীরা এমনভাবেই মাথাচাড়া দিয়েছে, যার ফলে ‘ইসলামিক ফান্ডামেন্টালিজম নাকি একটি ‘জটিল জায়গায় চলে গেছে তিনি আরো কয়েক ধাপ এগিয়ে বলেছিলেন, কথিত ‘মৌলবাদীদের প্রতিফলন নাকি সরকারে এবং সেনাবাহিনীতেও হচ্ছে এজন্যই বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য বাংলাদেশকে একটা ‘থ্রেট মনে করেছেন। বাংলাদেশের মধ্য দিয়ে তিনি যে পাকিস্তানের পাশাপাশি সার্বিকভাবে মুসলমানদেরই টেনে এনেছেন সে কথা নিশ্চয়ই বলার অপেক্ষা রাখে না। অর্থাৎ ভারতের তো বটেই, পশ্চিমবঙ্গেরও কারো কাছে মুসলমানদের আশা করার বা পাওয়ার কিছু নেই- তা তিনি মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বা রাজনেতিক নেতা, কূটনীতিক, সাংবাদিক, বুদ্ধিজীবী বা নোবেল বিজয়ী যা-ই হোন না কেন। উদ্বেগের কারণ হলো, ভারতের প্রধান রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোই পরোক্ষ ও প্রত্যক্ষভাবে মুসলিমবিরোধী হিন্দুত্ববাদী সন্ত্রাসী সংগঠনের বিস্তার ঘটিয়ে চলেছে। দেশটিতে হিন্দু ধর্মভিত্তিক সন্ত্রাসী সংগঠন শুধু গড়েই ওঠেনি, সেগুলো দশকের পর দশক ধরে তৎপরতাও চালিয়ে আসছে। এসব সংগঠনের সঙ্গে ভারতের সেনাবাহিনীও প্রত্যক্ষভাবে জড়িত রয়েছে। তাদের লক্ষ ভারতকে হিন্দু রাষ্ট্র বানানো। তারা ভারতের সেনাবাহিনীতে হিন্দুত্ববাদের প্রচারণা চালাচ্ছে। পেছনে রয়েছে শিব সেনা, বজরঙ্গ দল, আরএসএস বা রাষ্ট্রীয় স্বয়ং সেবক সংঘ এবং বিশ্ব হিন্দুপরিষদ বা ভিএসপির মতো কয়েকটি উগ্র হিন্দুত্ববাদী রাজনৈতিক দল। দলগুলো সেনাবাহিনীর বিভিন্ন স্তরের অফিসার ও সৈনিকদের সন্ত্রাসবাদী সংগঠনে ভেড়াচ্ছে। পুলিশ অনেক উপলক্ষেই প্রমাণ পেয়েছে, ভারতের সেনাবাহিনী ও হিন্দু সন্ত্রাসীদের মধ্যে ঘনিষ্ঠ সম্পর্ক রয়েছে এবং তারা মুসলমানদের হত্যাসহ সন্ত্রাসী কর্মকান্ড চালাচ্ছে। কিন্তু তাদের বিরুদ্ধে কোনো ব্যবস্থা নেয়া যায় না। কারণ, নিন্দেশ আসে ‘র-এর কাছ থেকে। সব প্রধানমন্ত্রীর আমলেই ‘র হিন্দুত্ববাদী সংগঠনের প্রশিক্ষণপ্রাপ্ত সন্ত্রাসীদের ব্যবহার করেছে। অর্থাৎ ভারতের রাজনৈতিক দল, সেনাবাহিনী, ‘র এবং সন্ত্রাসীদের সমন্বিত নেটওয়ার্ক একযোগে কাজ করছে। বাবরী মসজিদ ধ্বংস ও মুসলমান হত্যা, গোধরায় ট্রেনে অগ্নি সংযোগ, গুজরাট গণহত্যা, মালেগাঁওয়ের বোমা বিস্ফোরণ, সমঝোতা এক্সপ্রেস ট্রেনে অগ্নি সংযোগ এবং সংখ্যালঘু মুসলমানদের বিরুদ্ধে ভয়ংকর সব অপরাধেই রাজনৈতিক দল, সেনাবাহিনী, ‘র এবং সন্ত্রাসীদের জড়িত থাকার প্রমাণ পাওয়া গেছে। প্রতিটি হত্যাকান্ডের সময় তো বটেই, আগে-পরে সকল উপলক্ষেও প্রমাণিত হয়েছে, ভারতীয় মুসলমানদের পাশে দাঁড়ানোর মতো কোনো দল ভারতে নেই। অদূর ভবিষ্যতেও তেমন কোনো দলের সম্ভাবনা দেখা যাচ্ছে না। কারণ, ‘ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ রাষ্ট্র হিসেবে যতো প্রচারণাই চালানো হোক না কেন, ভারত এখনো হিন্দুত্ববাদী রাষ্ট্রই রয়ে গেছে। বিশ্লেষণের এই দৃষ্টিকোণ থেকে বলা যায়, অমর্ত্য সেন মোটেও ব্যতিক্রম ঘটাননি। একজন ভারতীয় হিন্দু হিসেবে তিনি বরং তার জাতীয় দায়িত্বই পালন করেছেন।

বর্তমান পর্যায়ে এত কথা বলার কারণ শুধু অমর্ত্য সেন নন। মিস্টার সেন যে দেশটির প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেছেন, সেই ভারতের চামচামো করার মতো লোকজনের সংখ্যা এদেশে লাফিয়ে লাফিয়ে বেড়ে চলেছে। রাজনৈতিক এবং সাংস্কৃতিক অঙ্গনে তো বটেই, ব্যবসা-বাণিজ্যসহ অন্য সকল ক্ষেত্রেও তারা দাপটের সঙ্গে তৎপরতা চালাচ্ছে। এসব লোকজনই কথায় কথায় বাংলাদেশকে ‘এপার বাংলা বানিয়ে ছাড়ছে- যেন সার্বভৌম রাষ্ট্র বাংলাদেশ ‘ওপার বাংলা পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মতো ভারতের একটি রাজ্য মাত্র বুঝতে অসুবিধা হচ্ছে না, সবকিছুর পেছনে রয়েছে একই সুচিন্তিত পরিকল্পনা। অমর্ত্য সেনও সে পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়নেই ভূমিকা পালন করেছেন। বাংলাদেশের জনগণকে তারা ধীরে ধীরে ভারত নামের ট্যাবলেট গেলানোর কৌশল নিয়েছেন। ভারতীয় হিসেবে অমর্ত্য সেন এমন কিছু করতেই পারেন, কিন্তু উদ্বেগ বেড়ে চলেছে আসলে বাংলাদেশের ওই গোষ্ঠীর কর্মকান্ডে। সার্বভৌম বাংলাদেশকে শুধু ‘এপার বাংলা বানানোর মধ্যে সীমাবদ্ধ থাকছেন না তারা, সুযোগ সৃষ্টি করে ভারতের জাতীয় সঙ্গীতও বাজাচ্ছেন। এরকম একটি ঘটনা ঘটেছে রোটারি ইন্টারন্যাশনালের বাংলাদেশ শাখার সম্মেলনে। গত ১ এপ্রিল ঢাকায় অনুষ্ঠিত সম্মেলনে বাংলাদেশের পাশাপাশি ভারতের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজিয়ে গোটা জাতিকে স্তম্ভিত করেছেন এর কর্মকর্তারা। এ ধরনের কোনো অনুষ্ঠানে সাধারণত স্বাগতিক দেশের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজানো হয়। কর্তাব্যক্তিরা যুক্তি দেখিয়ে বলেছেন, সম্মেলনে রোটারি ইন্টারন্যাশনালের প্রেসিডেন্টের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেছেন একজন ভারতীয়। ওই ভারতীয়র প্রতি সম্মান দেখানোর জন্যই নাকি ভারতের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজিয়েছেন তারা যুক্তিটি অবশ্য হালে পানি পায়নি। কারণ, এটা ভারত- বাংলাদেশের ক্রিকেট খেলার মতো কোনো উপলক্ষ ছিল না বরং সম্পূর্ণরূপে ছিল ক্লাবটির বাংলাদেশ শাখার সম্মেলন। এতে যদি ক্লাবের প্রেসিডেন্ট নিজেও উপস্থিত থাকতেন তাহলেও তার বা বাংলাদেশ ছাড়া অন্য কোনো দেশের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজানো চলতো না। ক্লাবের গঠনতন্ত্রেও অন্য কোনো দেশের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজানোর বিধান নেই। অতীতে এই রোটারি ক্লাবেরই অনেক সম্মেলন বাংলাদেশে হয়েছে। সেগুলোর কোনোটিতেও নিয়মের বাইরে যাওয়া হয়নি। যেমন গত বছর রাষ্ট্রপতি জিল্লুর রহমানের উপস্থিতিতে অনুষ্ঠিত সম্মেলনে তুরস্কের একজন নাগরিক ক্লাব প্রেসিডেন্টের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেছিলেন। ওই সম্মেলনে তাই বলে তুরস্কের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজানো হয়নি। কিন্তু এবার নিন্দনীয় ব্যতিক্রম ঘটিয়েছেন ক্লাবের কর্তাব্যক্তিরা। তারা একজন মাত্র প্রতিনিধির প্রতি সম্মান দেখানোর অজুহাত দেখিয়ে ভারতের জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজিয়ে ছেড়েছেন। আশ্চর্যের বিষয় হলো, বাণিজ্যমন্ত্রী এবং সাবেক তত্ত¦াবধায়ক সরকারের একাধিক উপদেষ্টাসহ উপস্থিত গণ মান্যজনদের কেউই এ ব্যাপারে আপত্তি জানাননি। তারাও সম্ভবত ভক্তিতে গদগদ হয়ে পড়েছিলেন। জাতীয় সঙ্গীতের অবমাননা করার এ ঘটনাটিকে হাল্কাভাবে নেয়ার সুযোগ নেই। কারণ, জাতীয় সঙ্গীত ও জাতীয় পতাকা একটি দেশের স্বাধীনতা-সার্বভৌমত্বের প্রতীক হিসেবে সম্মানিত হওয়ার মতো বিষয়। এ দুটিকেই আমরা সশস্ত্র যুদ্ধের মধ্য দিয়ে অর্জন করেছি। এই স্বাধীনতার জন্য জাতি প্রাণ দিয়েছে, রক্তের সাগর তৈরি করেছে। এত বিপুল ত্যাগের বিনিময়ে অর্জিত বলেই জাতীয় সঙ্গীত ও জাতীয় পতাকার অবমাননাকে আইনে দন্ডনীয় অপরাধ হিসেবে নিন্দিষ্ট করা হয়েছে। সংবিধানেও জাতীয় সঙ্গীত ও জাতীয় পতাকার মর্যাদা সমুন্নত রাখার সুস্পষ্ট নিন্দেশনা রয়েছে। এজন্যই যার-তার প্রতি সম্মান দেখানোর নামে জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজানো যায় না, যেমন যায় না যে-সে মানুষের গাড়িতে জাতীয় পতাকা লাগানো। এ সংক্রান্ত আইন ও নিন্দেশনা রোটারি কর্মকর্তাদেরও অজানা থাকার কথা নয়। তা সত্তে¦ও তারা যেহেতু একজন ভারতীয় নাগরিকের প্রতি সম্মান দেখানোর অজুহাতে জাতীয় সঙ্গীত বাজিয়েছেন সেহেতু ধরে নেয়া যায়, সব জেনে-বুঝেই তারা আইন অমান্যের এবং অবমাননা দেখানোর অপকম্মটুকু করেছেন। বলা বাহুল্য, এর পেছনে রয়েছে ভারতপ্রীতির সে একই উদ্দেশ্য, যে উদ্দেশ্য থেকে অমর্ত্য সেন মুসলমানদের ইসলাম ত্যাগ করার ‘নসিহত করেছেন। বিষয়টি নিয়ে এখনই গভীরভাবে চিন্তা করা দরকার।
www.akhonsamoy.com/bangla

Burqa Ban ‘Un-democratic’: Danish Muslims

CAIRO – As France became the first European country to outlaw the wearing of face-veil, Danish Muslims are lamenting the ban as a violation of democratic principles in the West.
“It is important to let the Muslim population know that when they have fled dictatorship in their home country – or perhaps just left their country for work purposes – they will not encounter a new dictatorship or aspects of it in the Western democracies based on religious views,” Imran Shah, the spokesperson of the Islamic Society in Denmark, told The Copenhagen Post on Wednesday, April 13.
A French law banning the wearing of face-veil – burqa or niqab - in public places took into force on Monday, April 11.
Under the law, offenders would be fined 150 euros ($189) or required to take part in a citizenship class.
People who force women to wear a face-veil risk up to a year in prison and a fine of $41,000.
On Tuesday, a 27-year Muslim woman was fined 150 euros for wearing face-veil in Paris.
Shah said it has taken the Western democracies decades to obtain the freedoms that we can take for granted today.
But the French ban shows a new tendency towards demolishing these freedoms, he added.
The ban was not the first controversial law issued by France against a Muslim outfit.
In 2004, France banned hijab in schools and public places, with many European countries following suit.
France is home to some 5-6 million Muslims, the biggest Muslim minority in Europe.
Mania
The Muslim leader said that woman should be free to wear what they wish.
“We do not recommend that Danish Muslim women wear burqas or niqabs,” Shah said.
“But they are free to choose what they wear.”
A burqa is an all-enveloping cloak, often blue, with a woven grill over the eyes, that many Afghan women wear.
The niqab, a garment that is often black, covers the face but leaves the eyes uncovered.
Only three Muslim women wear a burqa on a regular basis in Denmark, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen in 2009.
Between 150 and 200 women are believed to wear a niqab in the Scandinavian country.
The burqa mania reached Denmark in 2009 with the Conservative Party proposing a ban on the Muslim outfit, a move that won little support.
Denmark banned judges from wearing hijab (headscarf) and other religious symbols in courtrooms in 2008.
While hijab is an obligatory code of dress for Muslim women, the majority of Muslim scholars agree that a woman is not obliged to wear the face veil, or niqab, but believe that it is up to women to decide whether to cover her face.

Danish Muslims say that the French burqa ban violates the Western democratic principles. (Google) 

 

 

 

Denmark was the focus of Muslim anger in 2005 after a newspaper published cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).
Following the cartoons crisis, Muslims worldwide took many initiatives to remove widely circulated stereotypes about Islam in the West.
Danish Muslims established the European Committee for Honoring the Prophet, a grouping of 27 Danish Muslim organizations, to raise awareness about the merits and characteristics of the Prophet.

Related Links:

Risking Jail for Niqab
Niqab Ban Harmful: French
UK Rules Out French-style Burqa Ban
Burqa Ban Divides Aussie Govt
Burqa Police U-turn Delights Dutch Muslims

বাংলা নববর্ষের শুভেচ্ছা

বাংলা নববর্ষের শুভেচ্ছা

Hadith

Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as saying, "Mankind will stand before Allah, the Rubb of the worlds (on the Day of Resurrection), some of them will stand submerged in perspiration up to half of their ears".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:  This Hadith gives us a glimpse of the horrible scene of the Resurrection when people will stand in awe before Allah.

Riyad-us-Saliheen 400

Hadith

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The people will perspire on the Day of Resurrection and their perspiration will be seventy cubits down in the earth and it will reach up to their ears (they will be bridled with it)".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Riyad-us-Saliheen 403

How I Came To Islam - Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)

by Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)

All I have to say is what you know already, to confirm what you already know of the message of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as given by God – the Religion of Truth. As human beings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top of creation. Man is created to be God's deputy on earth and it is important to realize the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives a preparation for the next life. Anyone who misses this chance is not likely to be given another, to be brought back again, for it says in the Qur'an Majeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, "O Lord, send us back and give us another chance.' The Lord will say, 'If I send you back, you will do the same.'"

My early religious upbringing

I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxury and the highlight of show business. I was born into a Christian home.

We know that every child is born in his original nature, and it is only his parents that turn him to this religion or that. I was given this religion (Christianity) and thought this way. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, so we had to make contact with Him through Jesus, and Jesus was in fact the door to Good. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not swallow it all.

I looked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life. When they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. I believed it, simply because I had to have respect for the faith of my parents.

Pop star

Gradually, I became alienated from this religious upbringing, and started making music. I wanted to be a big star. All those things I saw in the films and on the media took hold of me, and perhaps I thought this was my god: the goal of making money. I had an uncle who had a beautiful car, and I thought "Well, he has it made". He had a lot of money. The people around me influence me though think that this was it, this world was their God.

I decided then that this was the life for me, to make a lot of money, to have a 'great life'. My examples were the pop stars, and so I started making songs. But deep down, I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if I became rich, I would help the needy. (It says in the Qur'an that we make a promise, but when we make something, we want to hold on to it and become greedy)

So it happened that I became very famous, as a teenager, and my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life, and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated (with liquor and drugs).

In the hospital

After a year of financial success and 'high' living, I became very ill, contracted TB and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think: what was to happen to me? Was I just a body and my goal in life was merely to satisfy this body? I realized now that this calamity was a blessing given to me by Allah, a chance to open my eyes, 'why am I here, why am I in bed', and I started looking for some of the answers. At that time there was great interest in great interest in the Eastern mysticism. I began reading and the first thing I began to become aware of was of death, and that the soul moves on, it does not stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment. I started meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in 'peace and flower power', and this was the general trend. But what I did believe in particular was that I was not just a body, this awareness came to me at the hospital.

One day when I was walking and I was caught in the rain, I began running to the shelter and I realized, 'wait a minute, my body is getting wet, my body is telling me I am getting wet.' This made me think of a saying that the body is like a donkey and it has to be trained where it has to go, otherwise the donkey will lead you where it wants to go.

Then I realized I had a will, a God given gift: follow the will of God. I was fascinated by the new terminology I was learning in the Eastern religion. By now I was fed up with Christianity. I started making music again and this time I started reflecting my own thoughts. I remember the lyric of one of my songs. It goes like this: 'I wish I knew, I wish I knew what makes the Heaven, what makes the Hell, do I get to know You in my bed or some dusty cell while others reach the big hotel?' and I knew I was on the Path.

I also wrote another song 'The way to find God out.' I became even more famous in the world of music. I really had a difficult time because I was getting rich and famous and at the same time I was sincerely searching for the Truth. Then I came to a stage where I decided that Buddhism is alright and noble, but I was not ready to leave the world, I was too attached to the world and was not prepared to become a monk and to isolate myself from society.

I tried Zen and Ching, numerology, tarot cards and astrology. I tried to look back into the Bible, and could not find anything. At this time I did not know anything about Islam, and then, what I regarded as a miracle occurred. My brother had visited the mosque in Jerusalem, and was greatly impressed that while on the one hand it throbbed with life (unlike the churches and synagogues which were empty), on the other hand, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility prevailed.

The Qur'an

When he came to London he brought back a translation of the Qur'an, which he gave to me. He did not become a Muslim, but he felt something in this religion, and thought I might find something in it too.

And when I received the Book, (a guidance that would explain everything to me: who I was, what the purpose of life was, what reality was, and where I came from), I realized that this was the true religion – religion not in the sense the West understands it, not the type for only your old age. In the West, whoever wishes to embrace a religion and make it his only way of life is deemed a fanatic. I was not a fanatic, I was at first confused between the body and the soul. Then I realized that the body and soul are not apart and you don't have to go to the mountain to be religious; we must follow the will of God, then we can rise even higher than the angels. The first thing I wanted to do now was to be a Muslim.

I realized that everything belongs to God, that slumber does not overtake Him. He created everything. At this point I began to lose the pride in me, because hereto I had thought the reason I was here was because of my own greatness. But I realized that I did not create myself, and the whole purpose of my being here was to submit to the teaching that has been perfected by the religion we know as Al-Islam. At this point I started discovering my faith. I felt that I was a Muslim, on reading the Qur'an. I now realized that all the Prophets sent by God brought the same message. Why then were the Jews and Christians different? I know now how the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and that they had changed His Word. Even the Christians misunderstand God's Word and called Jesus the son of God. Everything made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an: it asks you to reflect and reason, and not to worship the sun or moon but the One who has created everything. The Qur'an asks man to reflect upon the sun and moon and God's creation in general. Do you realize how different the sun is from the moon? They are at varying distances from the earth, yet appear the same size to us; at times one seems to overlap the other.

Even when many astronauts go to space, they see the insignificant size of the earth and vastness of space, and they become very religious, because they have seen the Signs of Allah.

When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt that the only answer for me was the Qur'an, and God had sent it to me and I kept it a secret. But the Qur'an speaks on different levels. I began to understand it on another level, where the Qur'an says "Those who believe don't take disbelievers for friends and the believers are brothers." Thus at this point I wished to meet my Muslim brothers.

Conversion

Then I decided to journey to Jerusalem (as my brother had done). At Jerusalem, I went to the mosque and sat down. A man asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a Muslim. He asked what was my name; I told him 'Stevens'. He was confused. I then joined the prayer though not so successfully. Back in London, I met a sister called Nafisa. I told her I wanted to embrace Islam and she directed me to the New Regent Mosque. This was in 1977, about 1½ years after I received the Qur'an. Now I realized that I must get rid of my pride, get rid of Iblis and face one direction. So on a Friday, after Jummah I went to the Imam and declared my faith (the Kalima) at his hands. You have before you someone who had achieved fame and fortune. But guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an. Now I realize I can get direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion. As one Hindu lady told me, 'You don't understand the Hindus, we believe in one God, we use these objects (idols) to merely concentrate.' What she was saying was that in order to reach God one has to create associates that are idols for the purpose. But Islam removes all these barriers, the only thing that moves the believers from the disbelievers is the Salat. This is the process of purification. Finally I wish to say that everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah and pray that you gain some inspirations from my experiences. Furthermore I would like to stress that I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur'an first and realized no person is perfect, Islam is perfect, and if we imitate the conduct of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him), we will be successful. May Allah give us guidance to follow the path of the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Ameen!


E-mail your comments to light@iiie.net

Arabia before Islam

Edited by Omer  Ibn  Abdullah

Religion is central to human civilization. Research conducted on the origin and development of human civilization concludes that all civilization that arose in the modern-day Middle East were connected to the Mediterranean Sea. The mainspring of the civilizations that emerged near its shores, or in proximity to Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece, was religion. Regardless of its variations, religion has shaped the world and continues to do so, even today. Despite the many attempts to dislodge it, contemporary civilization still inclines toward religion, and religion continues to court contemporary civilization. Perhaps one day, religion may even assimilate it..
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam emerged in this cradle of religion-based civilizations. Christianity reached Rome and, with the backing of empire, spread far afield. However, it was stopped at Persia, where Zoroastrianism was the norm. Both Christianity and Zoroastrianism had their own ideas of colonialism and expansion. Judaism and Christianity had made some inroads in Yemen, but this land, with its Ma`rib dam and economic, cultural, and religious development, never commanded the desert people’s respect, and its temples never became a religious center.

The peninsula’s desert tribes remained pagans, satisfied with worshipping the numerous deities located in the Ka`bah of Makkah and their homes. Moreover, Makkah had been a pagan pilgrimage site since the beginning of Arab history. Since every Arab sought to travel to it, it was a de facto capital of the peninsula. And in this preeminent city, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would be born in 570. 

Unite Against Terrorism

Harun Yahya

All forms of terrorist attack are roundly con¬demned in Islam. According to the Our'an, it is a great sin to kill an innocent person, and anyone who does so will suffer great torment in the Hereafter:


"... If someone kills another person-unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth-it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs, but even after that, many of them committed outrages in the earth". (Our'an, 5:32)


This verse equals the killing of one inno¬cent to slaughtering all of humanity! Another verse expresses the importance that the faithful attach to life:


Those who do not appeal to any other deity besides God [alone]; nor kill any soul whom God has forbid¬den [them to] except with the right to do so; nor for¬nicate. Anyone who does so will incur a penalty. (Our'an, 25:68)


In yet another verse, God issues the follow¬ing commandment: "Say: "Come, and I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden for you": that you do not associate anything with Him; that you are good to your parents; that you do not kill your chil¬dren because of poverty-We will provide for you and them; that you do not approach indecency-outward or inward; that you do not kill any person God has made inviolate-except with the right to do so. That is what He instructs you to do, so that hopefully, you will use your intellect." (Our'an, 6:151)


Any Muslim who believes in God with a sin¬cere heart, who scrupulously abides by His verses and fears suffering in the Hereafter, will avoid harm¬ing even one other person. He knows that the Lord of Infinite Justice will suitably reward him for all his ¬deeds. In one of the hadiths, our Prophet (S) listed the kinds of people who are not pleasing to God:


"Those who act cruelly and unjustly in the sacred lands, those who yearn for the ways of the ignorant, and those who wrongly shed human blood." (Sahih Bukhari Hadith)


In the Our'an (32:9), God reveals that He has breathed His Spirit into man, His cre¬ation, and that man is His representative on Earth (Our'an, 6:165). One of the most important dif¬ferences between man and the ani¬mals is that man was cre¬ated with both earthly desires and with a con¬ science. Every person possesses desires that incite him to evil, along with a con¬science that inspires him to avoid it. Alongside such pleasing attributes inspired by that conscience-love, sacrifice, compassion, humility, affection, honesty, I loyalty and kindness-he also possesses destructive and undesirable tendencies, stemming from his earthly desires.


I Thanks to his conscience, however, the believer can distinguish between right and wrong and opt for what is morally right. Strong belief in fear of God, faith in the Hereafter, pow¬erful fear of the endless torments of Hell and a yearning for Paradise all keep the temptations of his earthly desires at bay. Therefore, he always behaves well towards people, is forgiving, responds to wickedness with good, assists those in needs, and shows compassion, love, affection and tolerance.


Terrorists, on the other hand, listen to their earthly desire for violence instead of their con¬sciences, and can easily turn to all forms of wicked¬ness. They become loveless, aggressive people who easily hurt others without the slightest pang of conscience. Having no fear of God, they do not know the morality of religion, nor do they prac¬tice it. Nothing can stop them from commit¬ting crimes.


Terrorist organizations can't possibly have any place in a society whose people avoid evil of their own free will. Where religion's morality prevails, problems that give rise to organizations supporting the use of violence will disappear natu¬rally. If the whole society possesses superior virtues like honesty, sacrifice, love and justice, there can be no place for such things as poverty, unequal distri¬bution of income, injustice, the oppression of the weak, or limitations on freedoms. On the contrary, a social order will emerge that meets the wants of the needy; where the wealthy protect the poor and the strong, the weak; where everyone can enjoy the very best health care, education, and transport sys¬tems. There, tolerance and understanding will dom¬inate the relationships between different ethnic groups, religions and cultures.


For these reasons, proper morality is the key to solving so many social problems. The source of that key, in turn, is the Our'an, which God has revealed as a guide for mankind.


The ideological fight against terrorism, therefore, must be started with great urgency, to include very great numbers of people. This fight will be fought on the level of ideas-between people who believe in God, who love, forgiving, compas¬sionate and in full possession of their conscience; and those who draw their strength from ignorance and violence. In one verse, our Lord reveals, “Why were there not people with good sense among the generations of those who came before you, who for¬bade corruption in the earth..." (Our'an, 11:116). Believers should possess the virtue that God describes in that verse.


While terrorists hope to achieve their aims by violence, true Muslim believers know that true success can be achieved only by clinging tightly to the religion of God, and acting accordingly. Jews, Christians, and Muslims will join together in that struggle, in a spirit of respect for all beliefs and ideas and, by the will of God, enjoy definitive success. This is God's promise to all His believing servants, which will definitely come true.


Sincere believers in all parts of the world can help end the ignorance that breeds terrorism by searching for solutions, writing books and articles, promoting educational activities and teaching about the Islamic heritage. The prevalence of tolerance, peace and security on the Earth, as commanded by God, will make terrorism disappear into the pages of history forever. Adopting a defeatist, pessimistic atti¬tude in the face of terror is unacceptable. Our hope is that this suffering will not be repeated, and that all measures will be adapted to that end.


May God have mercy on those who died in those hateful attacks, and may He heal the injured. Our sincere condolences are to all mankind.

An Ideal Family

By Suffiullah

Definition of an Ideal Family: A fundamental social group in society consisting of one or two parents with children. The family shares goals, cultural values and religious values and have long–term commitments to each other. The central institution of Muslim society is the family.


A. Parental Activities
B. Children’s Activities
C. Social Activities


A. Parents Activities: O my son! Perform prayer regularly, enjoin (and support) what is good (and just), and stop (and prevent) what is wrong: And be patient and constant with whatever happens to you, verily, these are of the firm commandments. [Sura Luqman: 31:17]


i. Parental Responsibilities Towards Their Children
ii. Parents Own Rights


i. Parental Responsibilities Towards Their Children:


For a baby:
1. Listening to the “Adhan” when the baby is born
2. Keeping a meaningful Islamic name
3. Performing the akikha for the baby
4. Circumcising the baby if it is a boy
5. Piercing nose and ears if baby is girl


For their kids:
1. Feeding them
2. Loving them
3. Take caring of them
4. Kindness
5. Tolerance
6. Forgiveness
7. Well-wishing
8. Friendliness
9. Open-mindedness
10. Spending time with them
11. Helping them


For Children:
1. Sending them to a good school
2. Helping them with their studies
3. Watching what is going on
4. Teaching them what is right
5. Telling them what is wrong
6. Playing with them
7. Going to a mosque together
8. Praying with them and for them


For Education:
a. Learning about Islam from:
1. Parents
2. Family members
3. Imam (Teacher)
4. Islamic Leaders
5. Mosque
6. Muslim Club (School or College or University)
7. Muslim Community Center
8. Islamic Organization
9. Islamic Institutes


b. Career of Study:
1. Collecting all studies material before class starts
2. Studies should be first priority
3. Giving them opportunities to spend time on their studies
4. Asking your children questions
5. Become economically stable
6. Use all educational tools


Looking for life partner:
1. First quality has to be “Tawaqa”
2. Financially established
3. Good health
4. Beauty
5. Compatibility
6. Educated
7. A Muslim


ii. Parents Own Rights:


For Family Meeting:
12. Meet monthly
13. Talk with your children kindly
14. Discuss any kind of problems (family or personal)
15. Count on each other for advice
16. Solve problems by discussing
17. Every family member has to participate
18. Work as a team
19. Family picnic in the summer
20. Family get together
21. Have good relationships with each family member


For Job:
1. Go on time
2. Work honestly
3. Take the job seriously
4. Count your time
5. Do your job very sincerely
6. Be trustworthy to your employees
7. Maintain a good relationship with your boss
8. Eat with co-workers
9. Help them when they need help
10. Give a gift to your employee/employer
11. Be a team worker


B. Children Activities: “And your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him. And that you be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age in your life, do not say a word of (hate and) disrespect to them; and do not brush them aside, instead, talk to them with (respect and) honor. And, (out of kindness), lower to them the arm of submission by being humble through mercy, and say: My Lord! Grant to them Your Mercy as they brought me up (dearly) during my childhood.” [Sura Al-Isra`:17:23-24]


i. For Children Responsibilities Towards Parents
ii. Marriage Life


i. For Children Responsibilities Towards Parents:
22. Always keep your mind and eyes open
23. Be kind to your parents
24. Treat them (parents) with kindness
25. Have a good relationship with your parents
26. Be loving toward your parents
27. Talk politely to them
28. Take care of your parents very well
29. Spend time with them
30. Feed them with your own hand
31. Look after them
32. Pray daily and make “Duwa” for parents


ii. For Marriage Life:
1. Love each other
2. Trust each other
3. Help each other
4. Maintain a strong relationship to each other
5. Eat outside together
6. Give gifts on special events
7. Go outside for entertainment
8. Help with cooking
9. Pray together
10. Know each other very well
11. Take care of each other financially


C. Social Activities: Verily, the Muslim men and women-The believing men and women-The (deeply) religious men and women-The true men and women-The men and women who are patient and constant-The men and women who make themselves humble (before Allah)-The men and women who give charity-The men and women who fast-The men and women who guard their chastity-And the men and women who remember Allah much-With their hearts and (words on) their tongues; For them (such men and women) Allah has prepared forgiveness and great reward. [Sura Al-Ahzab:33:35]


i. Behaviors
ii. A good Health
iii. Other Activities


i. For Behaviors:
1. Respect elders
2. Be loving towards younger people
3. Speak the truth with everyone
4. Have good manners with anybody
5. Help each human being
6. Be patient all the time
7. Try to be creative your own way
8. Be accountable with time
9. Always be well organized


ii. For A Good Health:
1. Eat “Halal” foods
2. Avoid fatty foods
3. Always eating more vegetables
4. Don’t eat too much meat
5. Drink lots of water everyday (8 glasses)
6. Eat fresh fruits
7. Play indoor games when it is winter time
8. Play outdoor games when it is summer time
9. Go to the Gym and hospital for check-ups
10. Exercise as a daily life routine


iii. For Other Activities:
1. Love your neighbors
2. Do good works for non Muslim and Muslim
people 3. Volunteer with the Muslim Community
4. Go to summer camp with Islamic Organizations
5. Have interfaith dialogues with other religious groups
6. Visit and invite relatives or neighbors
7. Financially support your family
8. Pay “Zakat” if we are able to do it
9. Give to charities
10. Help fundraisers
11. Donating for any need
12. Arrange funeral baths and grave when someone dies
13. Arrange for “Janaza” prayer for the deceased.


Recommendation: The family is the beginning foundation of our society. Like a tree, if we have a good tree we can get good fruits from the tree. If we have a bad tree we are getting bad fruits from the tree. Our society will benefit if we have a strong family.

The Hadith of Sunday

Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) sent us to Huraqat, a tribe of Juhainah. We attacked that tribe early in the morning and defeated them, (then) a man from the Ansar and I caught hold of a man (of the defeated tribe). When we overcame him, he said: `La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah).' At that moment, the Ansari spared him, but I attacked him with my spear and killed him. By the time we went back to Al-Madinah, news had already reached Messenger of Allah (PBUH). He said to me, "O Usamah, did you kill him after he professed La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)?''

I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He professed it only to save his life.'' Messenger of Allah (PBUH) repeated, "Did you kill him after he had professed La ilaha illallah?'' He went on repeating this to me until I wished I had not embraced Islam before that day (so that I would have not committed this sin).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Did you kill him in spite of his professing La ilaha illallah?'' I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He said out of fear of our arms.'' He (PBUH) said, "Why did you not cut his heart open to find out whether he had done so sincerely or not?'' He continued repeating it until I wished that I had embraced Islam only that day.
Commentary: The relevance of this Hadith with the present chapter is evident from the fact that it stresses that injunctions of Islam will be enforced on every Muslim according to his apparent condition. It is a very wise course indeed for the reason that it has closed the door of retaliation; otherwise, everyone could kill his enemy on the pretext that the victim was not sincere in his profession of Islam. In order to rule out the possibility of any such mischief, probing into the true condition of the heart is ruled out. A Muslim has to be treated according to his apparent condition only.
   Riyad-us-Saliheen (393)

Verse(s) from Al-Quran

Al-Araf

7: 142. We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed (the period) with ten (more): thus was completed the term (of communion) with his Lord, forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron (before he went up): "Act for me amongst my people: do right, and do not follow the way of those who do mischief.”

7: 143. When Moses came to the place appointed by Us, and his Lord addressed him, he said: "O my Lord! show (Yourself) to me, that I may look upon You." Allah said: "By no means can you see Me (direct); but look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shall you see Me." When his Lord manifested His glory on the Mount, He made it as dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance, and I am the, first to believe."

7: 144. (Allah) said: "O Moses! I have chosen you above (other) men, by the mission I (have given you) and the words I (have spoken to you): take then the (revelation) which I give you, and be of those who give thanks."

7: 145. And We ordained laws for him in the Tablets in all matters, both commanding and explaining all things, (and said): "Take and hold t11ese with firmness, and enjoin your people to hold fast by the best in the precepts: soon shall I show you the homes of the wicked, - (how they lie desolate)."

7: 146. Those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right - I will turn them away from My Signs: Even if they see all the Signs, they will not believe in them; and if they see the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the Way; but if they see the way of error, that is the Way they will adopt. For they have rejected Our Signs, and failed to take warning-from them.

7: 147. Those who reject Our Signs and the Meeting in the Hereafter, - vain are their deeds: can they expect to be rewarded except as they have wrought?

7: 148. The people of Moses made, in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf, (for worship): it seemed to low: did they not see that it could neither speak to them, nor show them the Way? They took it for worship and they did wrong.

7: 149. When they repented, and saw that they had erred, they said "If our Lord have not mercy upon us and forgive us, we shall indeed be of those who perish."

7: 150. When Moses came back to his people, angry and grieved, he said; "Evil it is that you have done in my place in my absence: did you make haste to bring on the judgment of your Lord?" He put down the Tablets, seized his brother by (the hair of) his head, and dragged him to him. Aaron said: "Son of my mother! The people did indeed reckon me as nothing, and went near to slaying me! Make not the enemies rejoice over my misfortune, nor count me amongst the people of sin."

7: 151. Moses, prayed: "O my Lord! forgive me and my brother! Admit us to Your mercy! for You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!"

7: 152. Those who took the calf (for worship) will indeed be overwhelmed with wrath from their Lord, and with shame in this life: thus do We recompense those who invent (falsehoods).

7: 153. But those who do wrong but repent thereafter and (truly) believe, - verily your Lord is thereafter Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

7: 154. When the anger of Moses was appeased, he took up the Tablets: in the writing thereon was Guidance and Mercy for such as fear their Lord.

7: 155. And Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting: when they were seized with violent quaking, he prayed: "O my Lord! if it had been Your Will You could have destroyed, long before, both them and me: would You destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? This is no more than Your trial: by it You cause whom You will to stray, and You lead whom you will into the right path. You are our Protector: so forgive us and give us Your mercy: for You are the Best of those who forgive.

7: 156. "And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned to You." He said: "With My Punishment I visit whom I will; but My Mercy extends to all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and practice regular charity, and those who believe in Our Signs;

7: 157. "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures), - in the Law and the Gospel; - for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); he releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him, - it is they who will prosper.

Ahmed Deedat

He is a Muslim Scholar with more then 5 decades of experience, amazingly he has more knowledge of Christianity then Islam and due to this, any Christian missionary thinks 100 times before debating with him. He with exact Surat, Ayat number, recites different quotes from Different Bibles each conflicting with each other which makes his opposite Christian missionary rethink his own religion. In South Africa were he lives, hundreds of people have entered Islam Including large number of  Christian Missionaries.
Born in the Surat district of India in 1918, Ahmed Hoosen Deedat had no recollection of his father untill 1926. His father a tailor by profession had emigrated to South Africa shortly after the birth of Ahmed Deedat. With no formal education and fighting off the extreme pangs of poverty, he went to South Africa in 1927 to be with his father. His farewell to his mother in India in 1927 was the last time he saw her alive for she passed away a few months later. In a foreign land, a boy of nine with no formal schooling and command of the English language began preparing for the role he was to play decades later without realizing it. Applying himself with diligence to his studies, the little boy not only was able to overcome the language barrier but excelled in school. His avid passion for reading helped him gain promotions until he completed standard 6. Lack of finance interrupted his schooling and at the early age of about 16 he took on the first of many jobs in retailing.
The most significant of these was in 1936 where he worked at a Muslim owned store near a Christian seminary on the Natal South Coast. The incessant insults of the trainee missionaries hurled against Islam during their brief visits to the store infused a stubborn flame of desire within the young man to counteract their false propaganda.
As fate would have it, Ahmad Deedat looked impatiently in the store of his Muslim owner to find any book that is interesting, by pure chance he found out a book entitled Izharal-Haq, meaning the Truth revealed. This book recorded the techniques and enormous success of the efforts of Muslims in India in turning the tables against Christian missionary harassment during the British subjugation and rule of India. In particular the idea of holding debates had a profound effect on Ahmed Deedat.
Armed with this new found zeal, Ahmed Deedat purchased his first Bible and began holding debates and discussions with the trainee missionaries. When they beat a hasty retreat in the face of his incisive counter arguments, he personally called on their teachers and even priests in the surrounding areas. These successes spurred Ahmed Deedat in the dirrection of Da’wah. Not even his marriage, birth of Children and a 3 year sojourn to Pakistan after its independence dampened his enthusiasm or dulled his desire to defend Islam from the deceitful distortions of the Christian missionaries.
With missionary zeal to project the Truth and beauty of Islam, Ahmed Deedat immersed himself into a host of activities over the next three decades. He conducted classes on Bible studies and gave numerous lectures. He established the As-Salaam, an institute to train propagators of Islam. He, together with his family, almost single-handedly erected the buildings including the masjid which is still a landmark today.
 He was a founder member of the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) and became its President, a position he still holds today. He has published over 20 books and distributed millions of copies free of charge. He has delivered thousand of lectures all over the world and successfully engaged Christian Evangelists in public debates. Several thousand people have come into the fold of Islam as a result of these efforts Due to his extensive knowledge of Christianity many of Christian Scholars with whom he debated have converted.
He is also popular due to his very humorous way of explaining Religion.
In a fitting tribute to this monumental achievement, he was awarded the King Faisal International award in 1986, a prestigious recognition of enormous value in the world of Islam.
No number of awards and honors can truly capture the man’s essence and zeal for Islam. This anthology of books is no exception. It demonstrates Sheikh Deedat’s analytical compilations drawn from personal encounters and experiences against Christian distortions.
In 1996 Sheikh Ahmed Deedat suffered from a serious stroke and since then was unable to move or speak. Please pray to Allah (swt) for his health and well being.
On the 8th of August 2005 / 2 Rajab 1426, Sheikh Ahmed Hoosen Deedat passed on yo meet his creator. This was After succumbing to asevere stroke that left him paralysed for More than nine years.

To commemorate the passing away of this world renowned personality the IPCI held a tribute to its founder & president the late Sheikh Ahmed Deedat on Saturday, 20 August 2005 at the Durban City Hall.

At the the event some were moved to tears when an on screen 15 minute visual presentation on the life and times of Sheikh Deedat concluding with his Janazah.

The full part of this one hour documentary is available from the IPCI on the life of this icon of the muslim world, Marhoom Sheikh Ahmed Hoosen Deedat.

His life and times should be an example that muslims should emulate. The IPCI has received approximately one thousand messages of condolences both nationally and internationally.at the Saturday afternoon event, message of condolences were read out from hrh Prince Khalid Al Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz, Dr Ahmed Totonji, Dr Zakir Naik, Professor Ali Mazrui amongst, mayor of Durban Obed Mlaba & many others.

Present at the function were the ambassadors of palestine, he Mr Salman el Herfi, the ambassador of sengal, Mr Mame Gorgui Gueye, and the ambassador of Pakistan, Dr Ali Ahmed Arain.

---

Source: http://www.famousmuslims.com

JESUS Will Return To Earth

JESUS Will Return To Earth

By: Harun  Yahya The subject of Jesus' return to earth has been of great interest in the world in recent weeks. In order to learn the truth of this matter, one of course needs to study the signs in the Qur'an. There is important evidence in the Qur'an regarding the second coming of Jesus. This may be set out as follows: 1. "... I will place the people who follow you above those who are unbelievers until the Day of Resurrection..." The first verse indicating Jesus' return is given below: When God said: "Jesus, I will take you back and raise you up to Me, and purify you of those who are unbelievers. And I will place the people who follow you above those who are unbelievers until the Day of Resurrection. Then you will all return to Me, and I will judge between you regarding the things about which you differed. (Qur'an, 3:55) God mentions that a group of Jesus' true followers will dominate the unbelievers until the Day of Resurrection. Jesus did not have many followers during his tenure on Earth and, with his ascension, the religion that he had brought degenerated rapidly. Over the next two centuries, those who believed in Jesus were oppressed because they had no political power. Therefore, we cannot say that the early Christians dominated the unbelievers in the sense indicated by the verse given above. At present, Christianity is so far removed from its original state that it no longer resembles the religion taught by Jesus. In this case, "And I will place the people who follow you above those who are unbelievers until the Day of Resurrection" carries a clear message: There has to be a group of Jesus' followers who will exist until the Last Day. Such a group will emerge in his second coming, and those who follow him at that time will dominate the unbelievers until the Last Day. 2. "There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before he dies..." In the Qur'an, we read that: There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before he dies; and on the Day of Resurrection he [Jesus] will be a witness against them. (Qur'an, 4:159) The phrase "there is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before he dies" is very interesting. Some scholars believe that the "him/it" in this verse refers to the Qur'an instead of Jesus, and so understand it to mean that the People of the Book will believe in the Qur'an before they die. However, it is beyond dispute that the same word in the preceding two verses refers to Jesus. Another point we need to make here has to do with the interpretation of "before he dies." Some believe that this stands for the People of the Book "having faith in Jesus before their own death." According to this view, everyone from the People of the Book will definitely believe in Jesus before he or she dies. But so far, millions of the People of the Book have lived and died without ever believing in Jesus. Therefore, the verse does not speak of the death of this group, but rather of the death of Jesus. In the end, the reality revealed by the Qur'an is this: "Before Jesus dies, all People of the Book will believe in him." This can only be possible with the return to Earth of Jesus and all the People of the Book having faith in him during this second life. That is in fact the promise in the hadiths. (Only God knows for certain.) 3. "He is a Sign of the Hour..." In the Qur'an, we are informed of Jesus' return to Earth. This verse states that Jesus is a sign of the Hour: He [Jesus] is a Sign of the Hour. Have no doubt about it. But follow me. This is a straight path. (Qur'an, 43:61) The great scholars of Islam interpret this pronoun as referring to Jesus, an opinion that they base on other Qur'anic verses and hadiths. In his commentary, Elmalili Muhammad Hamdi Yazir writes that: No doubt he [Jesus] is a sign of the Hour, one that declares that the Hour will come, that the dead will be resurrected and stand up, because the miracle of Jesus' second coming and his miracle of resurrecting the dead, together with his revelation that the dead will rise, prove that the Day of Judgment is real. According to the hadiths, his arrival is a sign of the Last Day. (Elmalili Muhammad Hamdi Yazir, Kuran-i Kerim Tefsiri (Qur'an Tafsir); www.kuranikerim.com/telmalili/zuhruf.htm) Jesus lived six centuries before the Qur'an's revelation. Therefore we cannot consider his first life as a sign of the Day of Judgment. The verse says that Jesus will return toward the end of time or, in other words, during the last period of time before the Day of Judgment. In that context, his return is a sign of the Hour's imminent arrival. (God knows best.) 4. "He will teach him the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel." The verses 45-48 of Sura 3 reveal that God will teach Jesus the "Book," the Torah, and the Gospel. Obviously, this book in question is very important. The same expression is also used in the verse given below: Remember when God said: "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel." (Qur'an, 5:110) When we examine how "Book" is used here, we see that it refers to the Qur'an in both cases. The verses reveal that after the Torah, Psalms and the Gospel, the Qur'an is the final divine book. Another verse uses "Book" to denote the Qur'an, after mentioning the Torah and the Gospel. (Qur'an, 3:2-3) In this case, the Qur'an is the third book that Jesus will be taught. But this will be possible only when he returns to Earth, for he lived 600 years before the Qur'an's revelation. The hadiths also reveal that Jesus will rule with the Qur'an, not the Gospel, on his second coming. This corresponds with the meaning of the verse. (Allah knows best.) 5. "The likeness of Jesus in God's sight is the same as Adam." The verse "The likeness of Jesus in God's sight is the same as Adam." (Qur'an, 3:59) could also indicate Jesus' return. Muslim scholars who have written Qur'anic commentaries point out that this verse indicates the fact that both Prophets did not have a father, for God created both of them with the command "Be!" However, the verse could also have another meaning: Just as Adam was sent down to Earth from God's presence, Jesus could be sent down to Earth from God's presence during the End Times. (Only God knows for certain.) 6. "...The day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised up again alive..." Surah Maryam also mentions Jesus' death in the following verse: [Jesus said,] "Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised up again alive." (Qur'an, 19:33) When this verse is considered in conjunction with Surah Al `Imran verse 55, an important reality emerges: While Surah Al `Imran states that Jesus was raised up to God's presence and does not mention that he died or was killed, Surah Maryam speaks of the day on which he will die. This second death can only be possible after he returns and lives on Earth for a period of time. (Only God knows for certain.) 7. "... you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown …" Another piece of evidence for Jesus's return is the word kahlaan, used Surat al-Ma'ida 5:110 and Surah Al `Imran 3:46. These verses say: Remember when God said: "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown (kahlaan)…"(Qur'an, 5:110) He will speak to people in the cradle, and also when fully grown (kahlaan), and will be one of the righteous. (Qur'an, 3:46) Kahlaan, which is used only in these two verses, only in reference to Jesus, and to express Jesus' adulthood means "someone between the age of 30 and 50, someone who is no longer young, someone who has reached the perfect age." Islamic scholars agree that it denotes the age of 35 or above. They base their views on a hadith reported by Ibn 'Abbas that Jesus was raised up to God's presence in his early 30s, and that he will live for 40 years when he comes again. Therefore, they suggest that this verse is evidence for Jesus' return, since his old age will occur following his second coming. (Muhammed Khalil Herras, Fasl al-Maqal fi raf`i `Isa hayyan wa nuzulihi wa qatlihi ad-Dajjal (Cairo: Maktabat as-Sunnah, 1990), 20.) In short, the miracle of the second coming of Jesus, revealed in a great many hadiths, is also mentioned in the Qur'an. Jesus did not die, and will return to Earth again.