Category Archives: Politics & News
Principles of Just War in Different Religions
Thucydides, the well-known author of The History of the Peloponnesian War wrote: "The strong do as they can, while the weak suffer what they must."
This summarizes what had been happening in the dark ages of yesteryears, and what is happening unfortunately right now at the behest of "the leaders of civilization".
In fact, soon after the Second World War, international laws were instituted by all the reigning powers, to prevent the terrible sufferings likely to be inflicted on the weak by the strong. The idea was to uphold right rather than might.
These internationally approved laws of war are codified in the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, Read more ...
More than Bad Rulers and Corrupt Societies
In the past few centuries the Muslim world was much more integrated than we realize. It was one social, cultural, religious and economic domain. Its language, system of education, currency, and laws were the same.
When British journalist Robert Fisk said that in the face of disaster Arabs act like mice, he was being polite. He could have said that the Muslims act like mice. The question is why?
It is easy and customary to blame the current Muslim rulers for this sorry situation. No doubt the Iraq invasion would not have been possible without their acquiescence and support. If they refused to open their lands, waterways, and airspace to the invasion, Read more ...
Not Rocket Science: Zionism and the United States Congress
By William James Martin | Source: PalestineChronicle
The ideology, or political project, of Zionism which underlies the creation of the State of Israel had, in fact, a Christian origin rather than a Jewish one, as writings can be found dating from the 1500’s, written by Christian clergymen in England advocating the migration of Jews to the Holy Land.
The migration of Jews to Palestine was also advocated by Napoleon Bonaparte.
The first Jewish presentations of Zionism were written by Moses Hess in 1862 and 20 years later by Leo Pinsker, both of the Russian Pale, with each writer advocated a separate state for Jews.
Twentieth century Zionism Read more ...
What is the Punishment of Rape crime in Islam?
Praise be to Allah.
The Arabic word ightisaab refers to taking something wrongfully by force. It is now used exclusively to refer to transgression against the honor of women by force (rape).
This is an abhorrent crime that is forbidden in all religions and in the minds of all wise people and those who are possessed of sound human nature. All earthly systems and laws regard this action as abhorrent and impose the strictest penalties on it, except a few states which waive the punishment if the rapist marries his victim! This is indicative of a distorted mind let alone a lack of religious commitment on the part of those who challenge Allah Read more ...
What to do at time of Earthquake or other Calamity?
"What must be done at the time of an earthquake or other calamity, or an eclipse, strong wind or flood is to repent to Allah, may He be glorified, and to beseech Him and ask Him for well-being, and to remember Him a great deal and ask Him for forgiveness, as the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said at the time of an eclipse:
“When you see that, then turn to remembrance of Allah and call upon Him and ask for His forgiveness.”
It is also mustahabb to show compassion to the poor and needy, and to give charity to them, because the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Those who show mercy will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show Read more ...
The Cuban Missile Crisis Revisited, This Time in Korea
Source : PalestineChronicle | By George Katsiaficas
The current threat of a major war in Korea is akin to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, when the US and the USSR nearly waged nuclear war. Peaceful coexistence was assured only after an agreement was reached for Russia to withdraw its missiles from Cuba and for the US to pull its own out of Turkey.
In recent weeks, as a similar standoff has escalated in Korea, the US has sent B-2 bombers from Missouri and B-52s from Guam to fly up to the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea. These flights are as close to a threat of a first strike—possibly a nuclear one—that the US can make.
President Read more ...
In Their Shoes: Obama Failed Palestine
Source : PalestineChronicle | By Uri Avnery
Obama in Israel: Every word right. Every gesture genuine. Every detail in its place. Perfect.
Obama in Palestine: Every word wrong. Every gesture inappropriate. Every single detail misplaced. Perfect.
It started from the first moment. The President of the United States came to Ramallah. He visited the Mukata’a, the “compound” which serves as the office of the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
One cannot enter the Mukata’a without noticing the grave of Yasser Arafat, just a few paces from the entrance.
It is quite impossible to ignore this landmark while passing it. However, Read more ...
Birds of a Feather Hopefully will Flock Together
Birds of a Feather Hopefully will Flock Together
A Muslim’s Reflections on the New Pope
By - Imam Afroz Ali
1. Birds, Francis and the New Pope
I was somewhere in between Singapore and Sydney when fumata Bianca from the chimneys of the Sistine Chapel announced to the world of a new Pope who would lead its over 1.2 billion Catholic adherents. I was flying on a modern mechanical bird; an airplane.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first non-European, was elected the new Pope on 13th March. Interestingly, before the chimneys went off in white smoke, birds flocked around it, and for some Catholics, the birds were already a positive sign given the Read more ...
“When Will Our Lands Return to Us?”
A young man enters a gathering in which an elderly scholar is addressing an audience. Clearly agitated, the young man struggles to wait for a pause in the scholar’s speech in order to interject. Finding his moment, the man gets up to say his piece. Voice raised and angry, he asks (without really asking): Mata ta‘udu ilayna afghanistan? - ‘When will Afghanistan be returned to us?’ Mata ta‘udu ilayna al-‘iraq? – ‘When will Iraq return to us?’ Mata ta‘udu ilayna falastin? – ‘When shall Palestine be returned to us?’ Mata, mata, mata!? – ‘When, when, WHEN!?’
The shaykh takes a deep breath and lets out a subdued sigh of Read more ...
Michael Prysner : ‘The Real Terrorist Was Me…’
navedz.com republishes the fragment of one of the most powerful anti-war speeches done by the former Corporal of the US Army in Iraq Michael Prysner at the 2008 Winter Soldier in Maryland. It is still relevant and sounding as ever.
By Michael PRYSNER (USA)
“I tried hard to be proud of my service, but all I could feel was shame. Racism could no longer mask the reality of the occupation. These were people, these were human beings. I’ve since been plagued by guilt, any time I see an elderly man, like the one who couldn’t walk, who we rolled onto a stretcher, and told the Iraqi police to take him away. I feel guilt any time I see a mother with her Read more ...
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