A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - The Just War and Terrorism

The Just War and Terrorism

The West often speaks of the problem of terrorism and radicalism. In our view, this problem is a serious one for the world and a number of measures must be taken to deal with it. At the same time, we wish to emphasize the following points that appear to us very reasonable:

First, radicalism is not intrinsically tied to religion. Radicalism can take many forms, political, economic, or ideological. These should be given the same level of attention, because they seek to overturn the moral principles and the systems that secure human rights throughout the world.

A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - Islam and Secularism

Islam and Secularism

The signatories to the American paper focused on the necessity of the separation of church and state, and they considered this to be a universal value that all the nations of the Earth should adopt. We Muslims approach the problem of the relationship between religion and the state differently. Our understanding is to protect the will of the majority and their rights while also protecting the rights of the minority. Islam is a comprehensive religion that has specific laws addressing all aspects of life. It is difficult for a nation to be respected and taken seriously by its people in an Islamic environment without adopting the laws of that religion in general. State adoption of the religion does not mean an infringement on the particular needs of the minorities who live within it or their being forced to abandon their religion and embrace Islam. The idea that there is no compulsion in religion is firmly planted in the Muslim mindset and is clearly stated in the Qur'ân. The separation of church and state that the American thinkers are calling to in their letter shows a lack of understanding of how religion acts as a formative basis for culture in Islamic societies. We see secularism as inapplicable to Muslim society, because it denies the members of that society the right to apply the general laws that shape their lives and it violates their will on the pretext of protecting minorities. It does not stand to reason that protecting the rights of the minority should be accomplished by violating the rights of the majority. We see that the real concern of a religious minority is the protection of its rights and not the violation of the rights of the majority, since infringing upon the rights of the majority is not conducive to social stability and peace, whereas the rights of the minority in Muslim society are protected.

We believe that Islam is the truth, though it is not possible for the entire world to be Muslim. It is neither possible for us to force others to think the way we do, nor would Islamic Law allow us to do so if we were able to. This is a personal choice in Islamic Law. The thing that we have to do is explain the message of Islam, which is a guidance and a mercy to all humanity. However, we are not heedless of the necessities brought about by the present state of humanity and of the need to remove the obstacles that prevent people from properly understanding the message of Islam so they can, if they choose, adopt it of their own free will.

A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - Our Position on America

Our Position on America

We can easily see today that the Eastern block - Japan and China - seems more alien to the understanding of the Islamic World than does the West. There are many more bridges connecting the Islamic World to the West than there are connecting it to the East. There likewise exist mutually beneficial relationships and common interests between the Muslim world and the West. It should be assumed that the West perceives it in their best interests for there to be balance and stability in the Muslim World and that it knows that the Muslim lands have provided much for them, especially economically. The West is the primary beneficiary of Muslim economic strength.

A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - The Events of September 11 and their Implications

The Events of September 11 and their Implications

It is completely unreasonable to turn the tragic events of September 11 into a means of categorizing our world's ideologies, civilizations, and societies. Those attacks were unwelcome to many people in the Muslim world due to the values and moral teachings of Islam that they violated.

A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - Our Values and Guiding Principles

Our Values and Guiding Principles

There are a number of basic principles and moral values that govern our dealings with other nations. These were set forth fourteen centuries ago by the messenger of Islam, Muhammad. This was before human rights organizations existed and before there was a United Nations with its international charters.

Let us look at some of these:

A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - The Dialogue

The Dialogue

We are firmly convinced that it is necessary for people of knowledge and probity to enjoy a far-reaching depth of vision. Thit will not permit them to pursue choices made by individuals and circles, under the pressure of circumstances, that fail to take ethics and human rights into consideration. Such are the choices that lead societies to perpetual anxiety, deprivation, and inhuman conflict.

The language of their discourse is the language of power. This is a mistake, since making power the language of dialogue tends to permit the forces of conflict to play a difficult and uncertain role in the future.

A Letter to American Scholars and Intellectuals - How We Can Coexist

How We Can Coexist

A little while ago, educated people had been discussing a paper prepared by the Center for American Values entitled "What We're Fighting For" which was signed by sixty American intellectuals. It centers on a number of issues, among the most important of which is to explain the morality behind America's war on what they call terrorism and to call the Muslims to stand with them, adopt American values, and fight against what they describe as Islamic radicalism.

What can we do for our brothers and sisters in Iraq?

1. Call on our Lord in humility to protect our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Palestine.
2. Spread the knowledge of the Omma’s affairs and problems through all the available facilities, especially the Internet.
3. Boycott all the American and British products.

Verily Allah’s victory is near

Verily Allah’s victory is near:

Allah says:
- Allah has promised," to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power)",24:55

- Allah has decreed: "It is I and My apostles who must prevail….” 58:21
- 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) 612: 8

- We will, without doubt, help our apostles and those who believe, (both) in this world's life and on the Day when the Witnesses will stand forth, - 40: 51.
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The Last Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until the Jews will hide themselves behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say: Muslim, the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him. And also the prophet said, “Allah showed me the size of my Omma and it will encompass the east and west of the earth.

To the Youth of the Muslim Omma

By Amr Khaled

“Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From 13: 11

About Iraq:

Baghdad - this beautiful city on Tigris River - where today troops of the aggressive forces are trying to surround it and defeat it. A capital for the Islamic State and for the world, where Muslims ruled the world for hundreds of years. Baghdad, the center of culture and sciences, where Christians and Jews lived safe and sound with the freedom to practice their religion for hundreds of years. Baghdad, the Arab Muslim city standing its grounds, in the old days surrounded by the Mongol Tatar who violated its pure sacred land, slaughtering its women and children, is being surrounded by the Tatars of today. Who claim they come to rescue people from a 10-year old sanctions. Well, they were the ones who imposed the sanctions in the first place and now that this is not enough, now they claim to free those people by killing, destroying houses, killing men, women and children, Those who say “Lord! Raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!"

Secularisation no answer for Muslim world

Originally published in The Age Newspaper
(http://www.theage.com.au/news/state/2002/01/16/FFXN85RPGWC.html)

Secularisation no answer for Muslim world

By AMIR BUTLERWednesday 16 January 2002

Two consistent themes in much of the contemporary analysis of world affairs have been the impending clash of civilisations and the need for the secularisation of the Muslim world.

Secularism seeks to make the temporal rather than spiritual the basis for all laws. It arose in response to a uniquely European Christian problem - the excesses of the church, the antagonism between the church and science, and the intra-Christian wars being fought at the time. The separation of church and state was a logical solution.

You are the reason behind the hindrance of victory for the Muslim Nation

By Abd Al-Kareem Al-Kateb
 

Sitting by myself, saddened with the news of Muslims and the calamity that happened to them, I heard a voice from within me (my inner self) saying: You are the one to blame. You are the reason why we don’t have victory. You are a main factor in what Muslims are facing now.

I answered back:  Me! How come!  I am just a weak servant of Allah, a servant who has no power in his hands.  If I tried to order people, they will never listen. If I even tried to advise them, they will not take my advice.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that non-Jewish Israelis cannot buy or lease land in the Zionist entity?
  
  
• Did you know that Palestinian license plates in Zionist entity are color coded to distinguish jews from non-jews?
  
  
• Did you know that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the territories? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is given to about 400 settlers, while 15% must be divided among Hebron's 120,000 Palestinians?
  
  
• Did you know the United States awards the israel $5 billion in aid each year?
  
  
• Did you know that yearly US aid to israel exceeds the aid the US grants to the whole African continent?
  

What Does Islam Say about Terrorism?

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran, God has said: { God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers } (Quran, 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children, and he would advise them: "...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child" And he also said: "Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise.."

Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.