Is Afghanistan the Graveyard of the Conventional Armies?

Afghanistan is a small landlocked country in South Central Asia. It is an inhospitable land with extreme climate. But its strategic location cannot be underestimated, as it is the key to domination of south Asia. Afghanistan has over the last six decades been a cradle of some form of anarchy and limited war. After the overthrow of King Zahir Shah in 1973, the communists under guidance of the Soviet Union took over from 1979. The Americans were alarmed at this extension of Russian influence and took steps to counter the Soviets. The result- they created a Muslim fighting force or mujahidin who engaged the soviet army. The red army soon brought in attack helicopters and guns and tanks to counter the American trained and inspired mujahidin. Pakistan under Gen Zia became the conduit for this operation.

The Russian army fighting without the support of the locals was doomed to failure. Mao's dictum of a war without popular support being un- winnable held true and the Russian armies suffered heavy casualties. Their afghan minions also failed to resist the Taliban coupled with the mujahidin and had soon to be written off. Amin and Najib the soviet puppets failed to get grass root support, as America fueled a religious war against the Soviets. The classic elements of guerilla operation were all in evidence as the mujahidin attacked outposts of the Soviets and over ran them. They then evaporated into the high mountains when reinforcements arrived. The Russians soon realized that the war in Afghanistan could not be won and decided to withdraw. Guerilla tactics of the Taliban bore fruit and the harassed soviet army though not defeated, could not sustain their fight as it became prohibitively costly in terms of loss of manpower and money. The Soviets then decided to withdraw. In a way this disengagement also had a lot to do with the collapse of the Soviet Union itself and its subsequent break up. The departure of the Russians led to the end of guerilla operations and the return to full-scale conventional war. The Taliban and the Mujahidin soon put the soviet trained afghan forces to route and captured Kabul. Little did the United States realize that they had nurtured a snake that would soon turn on them.

Afghanistan under the Taliban stepped back in time and the worst atrocities were inflicted on the people in the name of Islam. A progressive religion was reduced to a mockery of human rights and intolerance. The United States kept aloof and Pakistan exulted in what they saw as 'strategic depth' against arch enemy India. The Taliban thrived as America the champion of freedom for almost 3 centuries stood aloof.

The interpretation of Islam as enunciated by the mullahs required a war against the great Satan -the USA.Hence the diabolical plot of annihilation in New York on 26/11.This act at last galvanized the United States and most of the free world to launch an attack on Afghanistan and the Taliban in particular. The Taliban were defeated and retired into the mountains. The US and NATO forces came in, but lack of a clear cut policy and George Bush Jr. desire to vanquish Saddam resulted in Afghanistan again going off the Radar. This was a fatal mistake, as the Taliban were able to regroup and consolidate themselves with support from some elements of the Pakistan establishment, who still felt more comfortable with the Taliban.

The war is now on and US and NATO allies have realized the gravity of the situation.As Mao has pointed out the guerrilla lives of the land and hence it is important to isolate him from the people. Also the Taliban guerrillas thrive on the power of 'Islam in danger' ploy. This has to be countered.

Militarily the use of airpower can be decisive, more so in Afghanistan where mountains and caves rule the roost. Low flying helicopter gunships with mobile infantry units as well as heavy bombardment both from the air and the ground need to be carried out in a sustained manner. A study of the Vietnam War shows that America lost as what the chiefs of staff demanded ,was never agreed to in full and congress bowing to world opinion always watered down the military requests. This is not likely to happen now as most of the world has realized that the Taliban is threat to all and everybody. It is now incumbent for the United States to lead the attack.

Here a word needs to be mentioned about Pakistan. The United States needs to be vigilant about Pakistan which is the hot bed of support for the Taliban. There are still a lot many people in the Paki establishment who would like to shake hands with the radicals. USA has to beware of this. This war in Afghanistan is not just a military battle but a struggle that may well decide the course of history for the next 100 years.

The NATO forces have to get out into the country side and fight the Taliban on their home turf. Aerial bombardment, heavy arty and heliborne operations are the key to success in Afghanistan. More important is the political resolve to fight in Afghanistan. This resolve may require the execution of cordinated air and military strikes in Pakistan. Pakistan is itself beset by fundamentalism and their plans to export the mujahidin to the Kashmir valley are all linked together. The need of the hour is to join hands with the Indian army to put down the Pakistan proxy war in Kashmir, strike at the roots of training camps and havens in Pakistan and simultaneously launch destructive attacks on the Taliban in Afghanistan. In case this three pronged strategy is followed the Taliban can be defeated.Karzai the Afghan president has realized the problem and needs all support.

The war in Afghanistan is certainly winnable but NATO and the USA have to launch a 3 fold policy of attack.Remember the guerrilla can be defeated only at his game and his sanctuaries must be destroyed. The strategy should be to eliminate the Kashmir mujahidin, destroy the training camps in Pakistan and at the same mount operations all over Afghanistan and the tribal areas of NW frontier. The key to winning in Afghanistan is a realization of this three pronged strategy. Once this is followed Afghanistan will not be a graveyard for a conventional army.

Now Muslims Can Get Sharia Car Insurance, in Line With Islamic Law

New allowance company, Salaam Halal Insurance, is the aboriginal to be adjustable with Islamic Law as able-bodied as accommodate the accepted casework that the abounding accepted allowance companies do today. To be Islamic adjustable agency that they charge not use the acquirement to brainstorm or booty any banking gambles with it. It additionally agency that they are belted as to area they can invest, for example, not with any aggregation with any affiliation with pork, booze or gambling.

Known as 'Takaful', Halal allowance is altered from accepted British allowance articles as the accident is advance over all the policyholders. All the drivers pay into a fund, this is invested in 'Sharia compliant' investments and any profits that are fabricated are paid aback into the fund. All claims are paid out from this armamentarium and any abounding banknote is disconnected up amidst the policyholders as a abatement adjoin their abutting year's exceptional - as able-bodied as any no-claims benefit that they ability be due.

Three absolute Muslim advisers adviser the activities of the aggregation and they say that they accept a abundant accord of aplomb and can action premiums that attempt able-bodied with the bigger rivals in the industry. They are additionally assertive that they will get echo business from the 600,000 Muslim car owners in the UK.

Abdul Khalisadar, father-of-two from Leyton, East London, was one of their aboriginal customers. He drives a BMW, and is a 35 year old Pharmacist. He says that his censor affected him appear Salaam Halal but he accepted that they were additionally aggressive which helped him to adjudge that they would be the appropriate best for him.

'It's agitative to see a absolutely new artefact on the market, and I anticipate there will be abounding bodies - Muslim and non-Muslim - who will appetite to about-face to a aggregation that does not advance in weapons, booze or gambling,' says Peter Staddon from the British Allowance Brokers' Association. His assessment is that the accepted acknowledgment to the aggregation is acutely positive.

This company, Salaam Halal Insurance, is the latest in the UK to advance a 'Muslim friendly' account - there accept been others already, conspicuously some bigger Tesco branches accept a ambit of Halal foods, and McDonald's are confined Halal chicken.

So far, the aggregation has alone targeted the Muslim association with easygoing announcement in Islamic publications and on billboards but they are actual hopeful that they will be able to allure abounding added audience from all the altered religious followings.

Salaam Halal Allowance are operating a alarm centre out of Greater Manchester area abeyant audience can allocution to operators in at atomic 5 altered languages - Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu or English.

'The face of Britain is alteration and it is the albatross of British institutions to baby for such changes and acceptable diversity,' says Bradley Brandon-Cross, Chief Executive of the shareholder-owned ancestor aggregation of Salaam Halal Insurance.

Over two actor Muslims alive in the United Kingdom and abounding of them may be borderline about the attempt of Takaful (which agency "guaranteeing anniversary other"). Now with Salaam Halal allowance the UK's Muslim citizenry has the advantage to buy allowance that is Halal.

Insurance behavior are distinctively advised by allowance experts beneath the advice of a Shariah Supervisory Committee. This ensures that Muslims can accept all their allowance awning in accordance with the Muslim faith.

With accepted allowance an allowance aggregation takes on all of the accident but for Halal insurance, all of the Participants (the policyholders) accede to agreement anniversary added and, instead of advantageous premiums, Participants accomplish contributions (called Tabaru'a). The basin of contributions again creates the Takaful Fund.

The Quran and Consumer Protection

The Quran is the all-powerful adumbration accustomed by Allah to Astrologer Mohammed through angel Gabriel. Thought to be composed about the 632 AD, the Quran has one of the best effective, able and acknowledged credo that annual consumers. Apparently customer aegis had been a affair of ambition in the astute minds of men in the pre-Mohammedan era in the Arabian Peninsula. Islam accustomed in India in the 7th aeon and has played a actual affecting role in Indian consumerism anytime since.

The adventure of how Islam came to India is an apt analogy of what Islam preaches back it comes to barter practices. In 624 AD, during the activity of astrologer Muhammed, one of his aggregation Malik Bin Deenar came to Kerala. He started trading with the locals in a abrupt allegory pattern; one abounding with honesty, belief and 18-carat affair for the customer (buyer). The afflicted locals abreast the bounded baron Cheraman Perumal, who summoned Malik to his cloister allowance to accept why his practices were altered from added traders. There Malik abreast him that he was a addict of Islam and all his honest attempt were acquired from the article of astrologer Muhammed.

The adventure goes on that the afflicted baron Cheraman Perumal became the aboriginal Indian to catechumen as a Muslim, and thereafter he larboard for his hajj to Mecca. The bulletin of the adventure is that the accent that Islam placed on honest and ethical practices was absorbing abundant to win the affection of a baron himself forth with several followers.

For a Muslim businessman, there is no added way than to amuse a consumer. Even if the bazaar and bread-and-butter armament drive bottomward the profits, he still has to ensure his consumers are satisfied. According to Islam, profits are aloof agency to accumulate the business alive; the end is customer satisfaction. Unlike added religious texts, the adverse of the Quran is that it is actual specific about what can and cannot be done while administering barter practices. The Quran is additionally acrimonious in arty the harshest punishments on those who resort to bent practices.

The Quran is actual exact about the accent of contracts. In 5:1, the Quran quotes "The absolute says... O you who believe! Fulfill your contracts". The abstraction of connected weights and measures was able-bodied avant-garde in the Islamic society. Chapter 83, verses 1 to 3 goes, "Woe to those that accord in fraud; Those who back they accept to accept by admeasurement from men, exact abounding measure, but back they accept to accord by admeasurement or weight to men, accord beneath than due. Do they not anticipate that they will be alleged to account?". Chapter 17, ballad 35 added elaborates "Give abounding admeasurement back ye measure, and counterbalance with a antithesis that is straight; that is the best applicable and the best advantageous in the final determination."

Today, in the day of accession for artificially manipulating the prices, it's noteworthy that the Quran prohibits accumulator of aliment grains for added than 40 canicule with the abstraction of accepting prices. It is amazing that a arcane phenomenon accounting over 1400 years ago had the insights on column avant-garde customer concepts such as acclimation / arrangement of measures, anti-hoarding attempt for the accumulation chain, acknowledged law, and call for accuracy / accountability in the macroeconomic arrangement of a nation.

Poverty Alleviation: An Aim Of Islamic Economics

Poverty is treated as WMD (weapon of mass destruction) of modern world. Eradication of it bears very importance. The economic systems like capitalism and communism have presented number of instruments for the alleviation of the poverty from the world. But, these extreme ideologies failed to satisfy the need of the people. Private ownership of property, laissez-faire policy of capitalism and class war, dialectical materialism, state ownership of property of communism didn’t touch the real cause of poverty. This situation necessitates seeking the possibilities of Islamic economics in alleviating poverty. The aim of poverty alleviation can be attained, in an Islamic Economic system through reducing the inequality. It never means attaining equality but equity and justice in the income and wealth distribution. Islam eliminates the absolute inequality which arises from unequal distribution of income, but relative inequality emerges from equitable distribution of income and wealth.

First part of this article has given a small introduction to both conventional economics and Islamic economics. Then it provides a picture of poverty of current world and Islamic perspective of poverty. Then Islamic economics instruments to alleviate poverty such as zakat, sadaqa, qard hasan, ganima, khums, fay, jizya, mudaraba, musharaka, prohibition of interest, abolition of extravaganza, prohibition of speculation and hoarding have been mentioned in briefly. Influence of Islamic economic instruments on marginal propensity to consume, multiplier, price investment and production have been dealt with.

The books and articles I referred for this article are Dr. Dr.Sabahuddin Azmi’s Islamic Economics, S. M. Hasanuzzaman’s Economic function of an Islamic state (The early experience), Towards understanding the economic system of Islam written by Dr.P Ibrahim and Introduction to the economic system by Moulavi.M.V.Saleem.

Introduction

Nobody can undermine the importance of economics which is a social science that studies the production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services. This very importance of economics resulted in emergence of different economic systems in the world and all of those economic systems claim that they will fetch economic welfare. Those dominating and prominent economic system’s failure to accomplish economic justice, prosperity, the eradiation of the inequality and poverty make necessary an alternative economic system which can successfully make a starvation free and poverty free world.

Definition of Economics

Social scientists have developed various definitions of economics. Lionel Robinson’s scarcity definition of economics is most accepted amongst them. According to Robinson “economics is a science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses” This definition is based on two points which are scarcity of resources and the never ending needs. But in reality former is a myth. The survey conducted by UNO shows that are enough resources for 20000 million people on earth we have only 6000 million people on earth residing now. Latter point ‘never ending needs’ is also incorrect as the desire and greed of the man is unlimited but the need is countable and controllable.

Definition of Islamic Economics

As a system of life Islam has not left any area of human life without guidance. Whether it is spiritual, individual, social, economical or political Islam gives clear cut guidelines. By considering the economic guidelines of Islamic sources, Islamic economists have developed plethora of definitions. Derivation of each definition of Islamic economics is based on guidance given in the basic sources of Islamic shariah which are Quran and hadith.

According to Yusuf Ibrahim, professor of Islamic economics, Qatar University “Islamic economics is a science studying the guidance of the human behavior towards the use of resources to satisfy the needs”. This definition is based upon the following facts.

1. The resources are enough for satisfying the needs.

2. But the resources should be protected from the waste, and improper use.

3. The human behavior towards the resources should be controlled by divine injunctions.

4. Only legal needs, needs that build life on the earth, should be satisfied.

5. Illegal needs (desires), which destroy life on earth, should not be satisfied; they are never ending and never satisfied.

Islamic economic system, a normative economic system, has been built upon certain fundamental Islamic philosophies. According to Quranic teachings real and absolute ownership of the wealth belongs to the creator of the same, Almighty God. Quran says “To Allah belongs to everything in the sky and on the earth” (2:284).Role of the man is considered as trustee who is to manage the trust, i.e. wealth according to the directives of the real owner; God. Quran clearly states “And spend of that where of hath made you trustees” (57:7). So man has been granted

conditioned and limited ownership.

Another Islamic philosophy is universal brotherhood and equality of men as their creator is one and parents are same. Hence distinction based on color, caste, creed, races do not suffer at any cost. This concept induces the people for cooperation and participation in their all efforts instead of cheating, exploiting and making fraud each other. Another aspect of Islamic philosophy is the faith in the Day of Judgment after death. In the life after death man is accountable for his deeds on earth. The implication of this faith is that economic choices one makes in world are to be judged according to the norms Allah has laid down.

These are the revolutionary points which differentiate Islamic economics from the liberal, capitalistic, imperialistic, mainstream, usurious economic system and communist, class war, state dictatorship economic system. Islam constructs a just world on the spirit of everlasting divine concepts.
Poverty

Evil of any economy is poverty. The presence of begging hands in an economy pulls that economy into decades back. Poverty midst plenty is the challenge faced in the modern world. Impact of the poverty cannot confine into starvation only, but poor people, apart from starvation, suffering limited income which leads to inaccessibility of good education it disables them for challenging careers which requires number of years long education. Absence of nutritious food results in more child morality among deprived sections. Since limited access for information and knowledge those are prevented from market and opportunities.

Every country and international organizations like World Trade Organization, World Bank and Asian Development Bank hard work to construct the countries and world on the foots of self sufficiency respectively. Mission of the World Bank is described as global poverty reduction and improvement of living standards. General Council of UN has declared October 17 as International day for the eradication of poverty. It shows how seriously they took poverty as a problem

But, it is wondering that out of 6.1 billion world population more than 1 billion are finding their livelihood in less than $1 per day and almost 3 billion on less than $2 per day. You might be provoked that 74% of total income of world is shared by the 20% of the elite class of the world. It is heartening you that there are countries whose national income is less $800 and morality of below five years age children is about 26%.It is worrying that 110 million primary school age children are out of school and 60 percent of them are girls.
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Poverty and Islamic Economics

Below Poverty Line (BPL) fixes in Islamic economics system on the basis of ownership of nisab, which limit makes one eligible for the payment of zakat Whosoever wealth on or over the nisab is responsible for the payment of zakat. Those wealth is below nisab are zakat recipients and they are treated as poor. Hence, in Islamic economics, the size of deprived come under BPL will be large. Starvation and inaccessibility of food, shelter, cloths and education could not suffer in an Islamic economy which aims human falah, i.e. human welfare. It does not support any economic instrument that leads to the deprivation of the man. Since poverty emerges in an economy as a result of various causes so wiping out of these causes is primarily important.

Limited income, unequal distribution of income and wealth, misdistribution of resources, regional disparities, unemployment, social injustice, and decreased investments …etc are some of the obstacles in the way of attainment of self-sufficiency and welfare. Islam considers the fulfillment of basic needs of every member of society is economic, moral as well as religious obligation of the ruler. List of the basic goods extends from traditional food, clothing and shelter to seasonal clothing, personal attendant to disabled person, and expenditure on marriage of poor and expenditure on entire family of poor, which are intensified by scholars from time to time and likely to extend the list time to time for the welfare of the citizen. Islamic economic system introduces a bunch of divinely guided instruments which bring to an end of poverty and build
poverty less world.

Islamic Economic Instruments to eliminate poverty

It is advised to Muslim citizens in an Islamic county, as the part of believe, to practice certain things in their life, some of them are compulsory nature and the rest are voluntary nature. The practice of these will have vast economic implications apart from the reward of God. Non Muslim citizens also have to make certain compulsory payments, which have economic impacts, as the part of their citizenship in the Islamic country. Compulsory duties and agreements of citizens are governed by the Islamic country and violation of any part would not suffer Islamic state. In addition to these functions there are other things the Islamic state has to carry out similar to any nation does for the welfare of citizens. Both positive and negative measures have recommended by Islam for wiping out the reason of poverty.

Positive Measures

There are numerous Islamic orders and injunction to perform certain things which have immense influence on economies justice, prosperity and growth. Important divine injunctions amongst them and their influence upon the economy are briefed below.

Zakat

Zakat is the yearly obligation of wealthy Muslims to poor and it is the share of have-nots in the property and wealth of the rich. Quran commends “establish worship and pay the poor his due (zakat) and obey the messenger”. Technically we can call it as spiritual tax. It is imposed on those forms of wealth which have the capacity to grow in value or otherwise produce further, is having the custody of whole year and have exceed a certain minimum value called ‘nisab’. Quran has stated the eight specific heads for the distribution of zakat.
Due to the divine spirit for the performance of zakat, chances for evasion are less. The imposition of zakat on idle wealth urges the owners for the productive and profitable employment of idle wealth which increases the wealth of economy and again the share of zakat.

Donations

Sadaqa is the one of the voluntary economic instrument. No limit and eligibility criteria for performing contributions to needy. It can be divert, apart from the eight heads mentioned for the distribution of zakat, to any needy. and it will strengthen what economic implications emerged by zakat.

Qard hasan

It is an arrangement of interest free loans for unproductive purposes or for the needy to meet the expenses like hospital expenses, home expenses and education expenses etc which are do not make any earnings. So it is not able to charge any material benefit, like profit share, from qurd hasan. These are provided as the part of kindness to human beings. In an Islamic economy individuals and institutions like Islamic banks will offer this type of loans expecting the reward of Allah. Availability of qard hasan reduces the financial burdens like interest, of deprived.

Profit and loss sharing

Islam formulates profit and loss sharing as the tool of trade contracts instesd of interest. The motivation behind it is the cooperation amongst the people. In profit sharing there are different types of financing such as mudaraba (profit and loss sharing) and musharaka (participation) …etc
Mudaraba is the agreement between both capital owner and entrepreneur to share the profit arises from the business and in case of loss capital owner’s capital reduces and entrepreneur’s time and effort loose. Musharaka is the agreement to share profit and loss where all contributors participate in management of business. Both mudaraba and musharaka help the people, who have inadequacy of capital, to engage in business, production and contribute their share into the welfare nation and earn for their own.

Ganima (war booty), Khums (one fifth) and Fay

Ganima is the property Muslims seize from the enemy. Four fifth of the ganima is divided among the fighting army and one fifth (khums) of the entire ganima move to state fund, which is earmarked for the special beneficiaries mentioned in Quran. Fay is the property receives from the enemy without actual fighting. This source of state revenue is generalized for the common good of the entire population and public welfare.

Kharaj (Land- Tax)

Land-Tax, a source of revenue of state, is the levy imposed on land produce. This is actually the rent for the use of value of agricultural land. The rate of kharaj and method of collection can be declared by state from time to time as there is no direction of Quran and tradition of prophet in this regard.

Jizya (Poll tax)

Jizya (poll-tax) imposed on the non-Muslim citizens of Islamic country for securing their wealth, property and lives from damage. It helps them to contribute their skill, talent, health, wealth and property for the prosperity of the country

Waqf (Endowment)

Waqf (endowment) is regular source of revenue which is earmarked and dedicated fund of Muslim for supporting charitable and welfare activities
State ownership on uncultivated land:
Any economic instrument that hinders productivity is harmful to economies prosperous. According to Islamic shariah, if a land is remained uncultivated three consecutive years lead to moving of ownership of that land from current owner to other who is ready for cultivate the land and produce. Prophet (pbuh) said “The original rights of ownership in land are God’s and the prophets and then yours afterwards. But he who revives any dead land acquires the right of ownership to it”. There is an another institution, iqta, boost the circulation and tax revenue of the state by transferring the uncultivated/dead land to someone in return for ushr or khraj.

Combined ownership of natural resources:

Individual ownership of natural resources like fire, water, pasture and salt are restricted by the Islamic shariah. People have combined ownership in these natural resources which should be accessible to anyone. This rule allow anyone to use the benefit derives from the natural goods and ensure that nobody is away from the natural goods which are easy to get to without any hard work.. List of natural goods, in addition to mentioned goods, can be extended into more goods in time to time. Prophet (pbuh) said “people are joint owners in water, pasture and fire”.
There are other sources of revenues like property of deceased with no legal heir, lost and found with no claimants and additional taxations.

Negative Measures

There are some prohibitions of God which has influence on the economies prosperity and welfare of every men of country.
Prohibition of interest
Interest, whatever form, has been contemned by Allah and His messenger. Quran says “Allah has permitted trade and hath prohibited riba” (interest). Islam doesn’t support interest but profit and loss sharing. Every financial transactions of Islamic economy should be free of Interest. But absence of interest in an Islamic economy doesn’t create any hindrance to prosperity but flourish the prosperity.

Prohibition of speculative instruments

Instruments which don’t have any advantage to real economy such as futures and option are not permitted in Islamic economy. Stock market instruments like day trading, marginal trading are prohibited, either. Absence of these instruments in the economy reduces speculation which is harm to the entire economy.
Implications

The implementation of shariah guidelines we discussed above in an economy lead to number of positive fruits which make the state free from every form of poverty.
Increased redistribution of income and wealth will result in, when the people perform the religious obligations like zakat, donation, waqf, inheritances, fithr zakat and kaffarath etc… It leads to flow of wealth and money from rich to poor. Thus the concentration and accumulation of wealth in a few hands come down. Poor and needy spend approximately eighty percent of their earnings to fulfill their basic needs. Economically Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC) of the poor is larger than middle and high class. A large portion of whatever comes into handy of poor will flow to economy for consumption of basic goods; it lead to more demand for primary goods and then it result in the increased production of basic goods. It is difficult to restrict luxurious consumption and production completely by law and force. But the increased rate of redistribution of wealth and income increase the demand for basic goods and decrease the demand for luxurious goods. Automatically it reduces the utilization of resources for the production of luxuries. Consequently, natural resources use for the production of basic goods and for the benefit of public welfare
This increased redistribution of wealth to poor enables them to get the accessibility of good education and nutritious food. Increased knowledge and skills help the poor to get good jobs and earn. This raises the entire poor family and dependence to heights. In turn, increase of income more than a certain limit make them capable for performing zakat and other voluntary donations for the sake of the benefit of have-nots. Rise in the redistribution help to reduce the gap between haves and have-nots and bring economic justice to all citizens.

Increased MPC of poor as the redistribution of income results in more multiplier effect in economy that fuels more income to the overall income of economy that help the poor section of people to raise their per capita income and living standards.

According to Professor Keynes, investment depends on two variables which are current rare of interest and the marginal efficiency of capital or expected profit rate. Investment would take place only if the expected rate of profit exceeds of interest. Due to the absence of interest, in an Islamic economy, only the size of expected rate of profit of profit will be the determinant of investment.

Speculative motive of money and liquidity theory of money will have no place in an interest free economy which reduces investment. But the presence of only expected rate of profit will result in investments, even in low rate of expected rate of profit to increase their principle amount and to avoid the deterioration of principal through zakat. The increased investment raises the production, employment, wages and overall national income of economy. It flows wealth to poor and raises their economic status.

Fisher’s quantity theory which states that quantity of money affects the price and value of money. It means that increase in the supply of money will proportionately increase the price in economy but the output will not increase. But in the case of Islamic economy money should not be supplied without making increase in the output. The central bank and commercial banks of Islamic state increase the money supply through making investment contracts on the basis of profit and loss sharing. So every flow of money into economy results in output growth without making proportionate hike in price. It is helpful to the poor to get need things at reasonable price

Conclusion

Way of eliminating poverty in Islamic economy is simple. Faith in the oneness of God (tawheed) motivates to the performance of zakat and profit and loss sharing and avoiding interest and extravaganza. Increased redistribution and productivity are the outcome of these instruments which helps finally to attain alleviation of poverty.
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Muslim Dating Sites Offers The Best Interaction Platform For Muslims

Muslim dating has been made easier and more friendly through the Muslim singles dating sites. They are fast-growing matrimonial sites for Sunni and Shia singles. It is very possible to meet compatible Muslim singles over the popular and successful Muslim sites on the Internet. Looking for dating and marriage? It is simple especially with the availability of photo galleries and video profiles on the sites. Muslim chat rooms offer a good platform for interaction making it easy to find a perfect Muslim mate. It is very possible to get a site that shows real commitment to the Muslim's member privacy and safety. This inspires many people who lack faith in online dating Muslim. Safe and friendly environment where singles with the same mind meet. You can either date a Muslim or a none Muslim. It all depends on a person's choice and preferences.

Joining a Muslim singles dating site allows the member to enjoy the freedom of global Muslim dating. It is in such sites that you will find a dating Muslim who has involved himself with network of Islamic singles from all over the world. You might as well contact members who are non Muslims if you wish. Agencies which deal with Muslim dating create awareness among Muslims by promoting any event all round your respective cities. Most of the dating sites are interactive and will allow you to give them your opinions and complains. If there are any events you want promoted you can always pass the message through the message boards available on the site. If you are a married Muslim, you are not left out. There are Muslim matrimonial and marriage service sites which could be very instrumental in the betterment of your social life.

Muslim singles dating sites usually possess a different touch. The sites are large and are a common ground for most college-educated dating Muslim singles. Muslim dating has gained a lot of popularity especially in USA, Canada, UK and other developed nations. Developing countries are catching up in a good speed. It is possible to contact a thousands of Muslim members even right now if you join a dating site. The good thing is that dating or friendship sought using professional Muslim dating services is acquired much safely and easily. The matrimonially-minded Muslim people are brought together through premium features such as language translation services, live chat rooms, video introductions and wonderful voice messaging. You find love so effortlessly since it is even free to reply to instant messages and e-mails.

When it comes to dating, people are controlled by their minds but they are guided by their hearts. There i dating advice column which focus on helping dating Muslims seeking marriage. Most Muslim dating sites scores solid and high marks for their savvy presentation but miss it somehow in the area of dealing with the larger Muslim community. People use dating sites to meet Muslim singles, Muslim singles seeking marriage, Muslim pen pal or Muslim friends. An arranged marriage was the norm in the past but nowadays with the new advances on the Internet, you have a great opportunity to know the person you would like to get married to before even meet them. While at it, you can still keep your personal details safe. Our Muslim brothers and sisters will successfully find love and happiness in fulfilling marriages Inshallah.

The Eid Festivals - Eid ul Fit and Eid ul Adha

The Muslim festival Eid-Ul-Adha is the Festival of Pilgrimage for Muslims. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah to mark the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. This is a festival that recollects fundamental events in Muslim history; the call of Prophet Abraham for believers to visit the Kaaba he had built.

Basically Eid-Ul-Adha signifies a festival of obedience and sacrifice through following God’s commands and the spirit of sacrifice and dedication that Muslims harbor with fellow Muslims and other human beings.

The great patriarch, Abraham was so God abiding that he was ready to immolate his beloved son Ismael at God’s command. But God then acknowledged his obedience and sent a sheep to be sacrificed instead. Today believers donate to the poor and rejoice during Eid-Ul-Adha.

Eid-Ul-Adha starts with a usual bath wherein all members of the family seek each other’s forgiveness and pardon. There is a special congregational prayer organized in the mosque to recall the spirit of Abraham’s sacrifice.

Another joyous Islamic festival is the Eid-Ul-Fitr that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. This is the day people thank Allah for their strength and self-restraint during their fast during Ramadan. The first sight of the new moon on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth Islamic month decides the date of Eid-Ul-Fitr and the start of celebrations.

The festival is also referred to as the ‘Festival of Fast-Breaking’ where you see a great rush in markets the day before the festival. This is when people shop for gifts, clothes and sweetmeats. Eid-Ul-Fitr also signifies the payment of obligatory charity, fitrah. Being the festival of charity, the poor, ailing and orphans are remembered and are relieved by Muslims who give donations, kindness and love generously.

The morning of Eid finds all Muslims attending morning players after which everyone wears their best. Men wear white kurtas, pants, surma, perfume and a white or colored topee to complete their attire. Women wear beautiful churidhars and shalwar kameez with embroidered shawls. After eating a special Eid preparation of milk, sugar and vermicelli, the male attend special prayers at the mosque.

The mosques are packed on Eid-Ul-Fitr where rich and poor stand together in front of their Creator to cement the bond of affection and brotherhood of Islamism by hugging each other and greeting ‘Eid Mubarak’. The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives and friends to exchange greetings and gifts. Children look forward to Eid-Ul-Fitr as they receive Eidi in the form of cash or gifts from elders. Radio stations play popular ‘Qauwwali’ while the television screens progams with Muslim flavor.

No Lid celebration is complete without Biryani. Its preparation is a part of the rituals of Lid that is transmitted from mother to daughter and master to disciple. Besides Biryani, meet and chicken Kababs, kulfis, faloodas, pulaos, Shawai and other delicacies are gorged after one month of restraint. All friends and relatives participate in the joyous, and traditional celebrations of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

US Hispanics Embracing Islam

US Congress in 1968 for the first time designated the week of September 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Week. But in 1988 that was amended to make it a whole month, thus at the moment Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15. Having such a month seems necessary for a country like United States having a great number of Hispanics spreading over the states.

President Bush's insistence to fence the US- Mexico border in order to prevent illegal immigration of Hispanics from Mexico to US during this period signifies the importance Hispanics and generally immigration has to US government. The total cost of this 700 mile fence is estimated from $2 billion to $9 billion. However, US government is disregarding Mexican officials' grievances of this issue. “The Mexican government expresses its strong rejection of the construction of the wall ... This decision damages the entire bilateral relationship, is contrary to the spirit of cooperation that must prevail to guarantee the security of the frontier," Mexican presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar. The news raised lots of controversies inside and outside US; border communities, religious groups, advocates and lawmakers were among serious opponents inside the country. "Critics have also argued that it would make the border more violent; would force illegal immigrants to take more dangerous routes through the desert; would harm trade and relations with Mexico; and still wouldn't solve the problem of illegal immigration."

Simultaneous to this news, another issue came up regarding Hispanics in US which I was always concerning about. The news was published in New Mexican website on October 6, claiming that the number of Hispanics leaning to Islam is increasing. It explains the life of a Muslim Hispanic who was born in Colombia and is now living in US. The population of Hispanic Muslims has increased 30 percent to some 200,000- although it is still very few in comparison to the number of Christians in US- since 1999, estimates Ali Khan, national director of the American Muslim Council in Chicago. This growing trend to Islam by Hispanics may be assumed as a consequence of 9/11 terrorist attacks and also the collision between two burgeoning minority groups, means Muslims and Hispanics. It is important to notice that there are several similarities in faith between Hispanics and Muslims such as family- orientation, being religious, poverty, health care and issues regarding immigration.

The previous ruling of Muslims in Spain can not be ignored as a crucial reason for this tendency of Hispanics to Islam. Ihsan Bagby, professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky indicates: “Many Hispanics … who are becoming Muslim, would say they are embracing their heritage, a heritage that was denied to them in a sense." Another point to be mentioned is that the number of Hispanic Muslim growing is very high in New York, Florida, California and Texas, where Hispanic communities are largest. The number of Hispanics attending mosques is ascending gradually, the need for Spanish books especially Koran is a reasonable proof for this claim.

Hispanics as a very significant and influential minority in United States bear a very important role in coming US elections, both Congress election in 2006 and 2008 presidential elections. Among the total registered people of voting, more than 2.7 million voters have Hispanic surnames, an increase of about 560,000 since 2002. Of the 85,000 additional voters this year, about 77,800 were people with Hispanic surnames, Williams' office reported. It is interesting to know that for example there are about 8 million Hispanics in Texas, and of those 3.4 million are eligible to vote, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

To conclude the discussion of Hispanics, their intention for Islam and Hispanics' role in political decisions by voting, I would like to conclude that a country like Iran which is facing severe conflicts with US should be clever enough to make use of these conditions; current dissatisfaction of Hispanics of US government, Hispanics' inclination to Islam and their role in US elections. Iran is said to be a driving force in preaching Islam, thus it should equip itself with qualifications that grant it opportunities to be able to contact Hispanics in States and direct them more to Islam. In this way, Muslims and Hispanics can unitedly protest for unjust rules treated to them since earlier this year, Muslims joined Hispanics in marches nationwide protesting immigration-reform proposals they felt were unfair. Islamic Republic of Iran can build a constructive relation with the Latino American Dawah Organization, established in 1997 by converts in New York City and increase its policy supporters inside the land of US. One of the ways by which Iran can improve its relation with this center is to hold joint conferences and research projects.

Who Was Muhammad, The Prophet of Islam?

The Prophet of Islam was born Muhammad ibn Abdullah in Mecca in the year 570 CE. He is the messenger and prophet of Islam and according to Muslims, he is the last and final prophet that God has sent. Muhammad's role went beyond being a Prophet, he was also a politician, a legislator, a military man, and a social reformer.

Muhammad was born in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca and was orphaned at a very young age. His father, Abdullah, died several weeks before his birth and his mother died when Muhammad was 6 years old. His grandfather Abd al Muttalib and then his uncle, Abu Talib, took custody of him and raised him. When Muhammad was of age, he worked as a shepherd and a merchant and traveled to several Middle Eastern cities with the trade caravans. He got married to a rich Meccan widow by the name of Khadijah at the age of 25. At the time Khadija was twice widowed and was 40 years old. Together, Muhammad and Khadijah had 6 children, four girls and two boys.

According to Islamic history, Muhammad often retreated to a cave on the outskirts of Mecca in order to meditate and reflect on life and the bigger questions of life. He received his first revelation from God at the age of 40 and in the month of Ramadan. Three years after this even, Muhammad started preaching the message of the oneness of God and declared himself as a Prophet. Khadijan, his first wife, was the first person to accept Islam.

Muhammad had few followers early on and he was ridiculed by the Meccans who were mostly pagans. Muhammad left Mecca to the city of Medina where he established his religious base and gained more followers. Eventually Muhammad conquered all Arabian tribes and united them under Islam. He conquered the city of Mecca, his birthplace, and destroyed the Pagan gods and established Islam as the only religion of Arabia.

According to Islam, revelations were sent to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. It is these revelations that eventually were gathered and put together in a book known as the Quran. These revelations came sporadically throughout Muhammad's prophetic life. The Quran, however, is not in any chronological order, instead, the editors of the Quran decided to put the chapters by order of their size, from the longest chapter to the smallest chapter.

Muhammad died of illness on 632 CE from illness in the city of Medinah. He was buried in Medinah and currently Medinah is one of the pilgrimage destination of Muslims.

Islam In Germany-A Personal Review

While driving towards Stuttgart – one of my favourite cities in Germany – I was amazed up to my level hearing frequency channel FM1-SWR1 94.7 MHz. nearby the premises of the Hohenheim University. The surprising news of the current amendments in education system at the Schools in Germany, I could not explain my sudden increase of happiness! The moderator commented something about Islam. I became conscious and the second moment I slowed my car a bit and simultaneously knobbed up the volume. “Islam is going to be taught in German Kindergartens – Schools…” and she also took some introductory interviews from some of the teachers. This news energized me in such a way that made me to think accelerating the car in such a way to fly to my country and tell the people about the generosity of the German government about Islamisation and allowing it to be taught in the schools.

In a country with 3.2 million Muslims the issue to sending the small children to the schools – where there is a little Islamic touch – has been somehow a “problem” for the parent. Some families went back to their homeland in order to brighten up their children with so-called “well attributes of Islam”. Many who faced the new challenges and cope with the necessary modernization in views and lifestyles became successful resident and noteworthy contributors to the German economy. Now, by introducing the teachings of the basic “Islamic shariya – Islamic principles” at the school level one should spell the German culture climbed to its perfections somehow. Those hidden beauties shining already here can be observed easily. For example the freedom of speech, fulfillment of the basic human needs, rules-n-regulations of German perfection and now in the end the introduction of Islamic principles in the “roots of a personality” – the schools! This would strongly encourage the families thinking positive about “Valueless European” and to be optimistic by visualizing this step of German government. In other words one can scrutinize by pivoting the argument on “degree of freedom” in a way to understand Islamic regulation is easier while living here.

Personal freedom and social liberty are positive point in a society if implemented and regulated under soft Islamic ways. Actually, if you just open Islamic history book and go back to 1400 years ago, the same conditions prevailed and the emergence of pure principles were not nipped by the mean desires of the kings of that time. It is true and natural that the genuineness of Islam and its reality needs no proof for its existence. It continues and gets its own shape anyway! The scenery of the survival of the finest and the significant principles becomes clear when one gets himself involved in the situation or adopts that life patterns which shines him/his heart. There are many other positive factors for living independent life.

Incentivization – encouraging the people by providing some incentives – is common way to gain public demands fulfilled in a democratic country. This new legislature would bring hopefully many positive improvements in the society. For example if one is informed from the very beginning about the loving nature of Islam and other religions then he/she would easily understand the basics of the rest of the life. Under no supervision or force, one can decide what is right and where is the mistake. The already existing differentiating-capability between guilty and honesty would become a badge in one’s personality after having lectures about Islam in their school…

Actually, any child who comes in this beautiful world is like a clean paper on which parent, society or environment writes their impressions. These letters on that paper then shape up an essay of one’s personality. Exactly in the same way that little cute baby is “imprinted” and “allowed” to grow up into a character of that traits which he influenced from the above mentioned factors. Of course, meanwhile he learns his own experiences and concludes his theories too. Persuasively, one can state that the base of a child gets strong rooted to morality, decency, politeness, adoptability, and listening to what is right if the schooling and the parents contribute into personality shaping and directing matters. Since the foundation of a child’s character starts to shape up during the school period, the Muslim parent can be more or less satisfied now sending their children to the schools with other. Therefore one can state A: There will be an atmosphere of the openness of Islam to other cultures and warm welcoming to them. B: Consequently, there would become a time when the dusty image of Islam would be shined and gain its pure shape as it was in the beginning in Arabia. The new amendment in education block will certainly bring many positive prospects in integration of other Muslim nationalities into Germany. Statistical observation shows that about are Muslims from Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and Palestine, Bosnian, Pakistan and many others… Not only providing a green signal to them by interacting friendly with German culture but also encouraging the families living in other countries to come to Germany as due to its well organized life securities. Such social organizations, reformations and preference to the human dignity would summit a good co-operation between Euro-Muslim worlds and open a door to strong friendship among them!

Mr. MALIK graduated with distinction from the University of Punjab (Pakistan) in 2001. For further education he went to Germany and secured M.Sc. thesis from the University of Stuttgart (Germany) in 2003. Now he is striving for his Ph.D. in Physics. His interests are Microelectronic Device Fabrication. Organic semiconductors, Diffusion barrier layers. Inorganic Coatings, Plasma CVD.

Apart from the fact that science brings you closer to God and Physics is somehow a good key to understand that fact... The author wants to know different cultures, learn other languages, discuss closely related religions, life styles and hobbies are some of the extra curricular activities which are a significant part of his life. If there is any kind of offense or mistake, he excuses in advance.

Christianity vs Islam

On my travels through Europe, driving slowly from Prague to Cyprus Turkey, the last place I spent time at before making a rapid dart to southern Turkey in order to escape the cold of winter, was Montenegro. A Christian out hold where every local was proud to boast their successful defiance against centuries of Turkish invasion. Nestled deep in impassable mountains, the locals would tell stories of how even the king of the Sultans came against them after several campaigns before him had failed. And how, when he arrived at the foothills of these great mountains (Monte Negro, after all, means Black Mountain), he would look up, craning the back of his neck with his mouth dropped open, and exclaim, "Now I know why we have failed so many times".

This is a Christian fortress in an area where the border between the Islam and Christian worlds has swept back and forth over the centuries. I visited one famous monastery to which thousands would set out to on a pilgrimage every year in search of the holy. It was buried into a cliff face high above a valley. The locals would tell stories how the Turks would bring great canons and fire them up at the cliff side, but how their canon balls would fall short. A monastery where the hand of Saint Paul himself was held for a long time. I visited several such monasteries during my travels, and each time it did have a feel of the holy. But in all these places, the Turks and the Islam world was portrayed as a great source of evil, and to which the doors of these churches, often pillaged and ransacked by them, were always closed. When I mentioned my intention to keep going south, eyes would bulge open and great warnings of danger would fill the air. From the west pleas of fear would stream by email asking me to come to my senses. Some of the most sincere Christians I know would look east with concern, and mutter to themselves with gracious worry, "What will ever happen to all those poor Muslims?" (assuming, of course, that all of them would spend eternity in hell).

Eventually I made it past the border and from that point onward I was amazed how peaceful these Muslims were. I sat down and talked to many of them. All of them would openly acknowledge the bible, that their God is the God of Abraham, the father of the Jews, that Jesus was a prophet, but they would not agree that he is the son of God and they did not believe in the Trinity. [Does this reason alone justify their eternal damnation?] One person I talked to explained to me how the rituals and rules of Islam made him strong: not drinking alcohol, and the daily prayers. He explained that Islam is against alcohol because it makes people aggressive and increases their lust for their neighbour's wives. When I visited their mosques, I would watch how they go through their ritual of dropping to their knees, then placing their forehead on the ground, then stand up again, with hands open upwards, and continue this cycle over and over again for about five minutes. Every day, three times a day. There would be beads on a string hanging on a pillar and the intention was to place them in your hand, and with your thumb, move the beads from left to right, counting through the beads and each time muttering to yourself the name of God. The Christian might look at these as rituals which distract from the spiritual essence of Jesus. But Mohammed, the prophet of Islam, designed them intentionally to increase our awareness of God. Rules which help us be conscious of God during each one of our days, not just Sunday.

One of my Muslim friends here once asked me how often people go to church in the west. I told him that a minority of people went to church, and only on Sundays. Many Christians would only go to church during Easter, or only occasionally. He said this was bad and was troubled by it - and rightfully so. So many times a Muslim would offer me some food from their dinner table (whether a small group was eating next to me while I worked on my computer at an internet café, offering me to join them, or brought me a handful of grilled chicken while I ate out of my tin can of sardines, sitting in my truck while parked on the beach), and I was informed that it was part of their "religion". Over time, I came to realise that in so many ways Muslims followed the bible much more diligently than the average Christian does. And it brought me back to my earlier days of belief and when I was "born again". And I remembered one line in the bible which would resound most frequently:

RO 10:8 "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: [9] That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. [11] As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

It seemed to be the greatest pillar of Christianity, and leaned on constantly. Used as a justification why all Jews and Muslims will burn forever in hell - because they are not uttering these so important words (assuming that the "Lord" in this case refers to Jesus only). And used as a justification why the believer can do basically anything, as long as they believe in Jesus and utter these words. The above line was spoken of in context against the legalistic message and the notion that we are saved by works and our own righteousness. There is golden truth to both edges of the sword of truth, and I continue to study and seek the wisdom of balance between both of them (the balance between grace and obedience). But I consider the one-sided focus on this message of grace similar to the Jihads proclaimed by Islamic terrorists and which have contributed to the tainting of Muslims in the eyes of the west. These extremists also focus their attention on excerpts from the word of God (for God has spoken to us through his prophets and faithful believers through the ages, and his word is certainly not limited to only the bible), taking things out of context, and justify it for all their own motives. One can consider these two extremes of the same sword, with one edge preaching supreme grace and the other supreme obedience. But the Muslims say that these extremists are not obedient to the Koran.

In any case, the point I am trying to make is to dispel people's notion in the west that Muslims and the people of Islam are somehow insanely evil and plummeting to hell. What concerns the message of grace above, there are countless other lines in the bible preaching the message of obedience, the most notable in my mind and which would serve as the flip side of the sword to the message above being:

HEB 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. [25] Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

HEB 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, [27] but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. [28] Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. [29] How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

And from the mouth of Jesus himself:

MT 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [19] Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

I have not yet made it to Israel, and I hope to. I can only speak of my impressions from far away. I was told many times that the people of Syria have the most golden heart, and that the people of Iran will run out of their houses and beg that I come into their homes so that they can feed me from their table. But of the Jews my impression is a nation whose awareness of God is deeply rooted and a daily part of their existence. On the tongues and conscience of everyone. In the west I often feared bringing up the subject of God. Eyebrows would be raised and confrontation was expected from me. One could not just start talking openly about their feelings towards God. Most people would instantly shy away from you. In this way is America supposed to be the great basket of God's truth here to save the world? While here in the Islam east, I can now look back, as much of the world perceives the west, and see the immense godless decadence and flaunting, reckless consumption rampant there. It is painful to watch, and what takes the west away from God. It is even spoken of in the bible, referring to the final days before judgement day. Just look around at all the billboards and advertising, preaching to a hyperselfish generation which needs gratification "right here, right now". Preaching a message that, if you buy this or that product, you will be happy and find success in your life.

This message is everywhere and it all preaches against God and against a humble and modest existence of reflection and meditation on our great creator. If missionaries should be sent into the world, it should be the Muslims to the west, and not the other way around. But we are all God's children. I do believe that Jesus is the son of God, and in his living Spirit and grace that we should rely on. I also see many people in the Islam world who are not contrite, who burn rubber into the pavement with their fancy new cars, thick gold chains around their necks and flaunting their wealth. This I believe is one of the greatest evils against God. It is the notion that we do not need God and that our wealth will save us. Like Jesus said, it is harder for a rich man to enter the pearly gates of heaven than for a mosquito to pick its nose with a boxing glove, or a camel to walk through the eye of a needle. I see contrite Christians, Muslims and Jews on all sides, seeking God with a humble and pure heart, next to their peer and kin who sports the latest fashion, blares their radio and worships and glorifies themselves more than anything else. This is the real evil - not some slight difference in the nuance of faith, with outstretched fingers pointing east or west and calling for war against that "infidel nation". This ignorance can be found in abundance on both sides, but from my experience, it is much more rampant in the west, and the east's accusations against the rampant decadence of the west seems much more justified.

I just partook in Ramadan. Well, only to the extent that I ate their free dinner at the mosque. After that meal I would wash my hands in the special place while others washed their faces and feet (like Jesus would do and preach), and then I would sit in the mosque watching the others, waiting while my friends who invited me there would finish their prayers. I would watch how groups would perform the rituals together, and I found it all endearing and inspirational. Sometimes people would come up to me and shake my hand with a smile as they would head out the door. Which seemed slightly in contrast to how many in a western church, based on instruction or impetus from a preacher, would reach out their hands to all those around them, but where, every time, it felt like the believers were doing it almost reluctantly and just wanted to finish with the experience and scurry on home.

Occasionally, while contentedly eating away their free food [here at the mosque], I would be asked if I was a Muslim. To which I once responded, "God is God and there is only one. He is just called differently by different nations." My friend said he liked my response very much. Next time, if asked this question, I thought my answer would be: "I believe in God. Does that not make me a Muslim?" By this though I am not professing that I am not a Christian. And if I profess that I am a Christian, I am not making myself an enemy of Islam.

I once spoke to a Christian preacher who was stationed in Turkey. I told him how I liked the prayer singing which would emanate from the mosques over the loud speaker every hour. It was a call to worship and meditate on God, in a moment of silence. I might be in a restaurant, and the waiter would run over and turn off the radio, which was possibly playing some obnoxious western disco music. If parked by the seaside, the prayer singing would resonate across the water and I'd hear the echo of several prayer songs from different mosques overlapping each other. In the west, the most you would hear is the occasional chime of a church, sometime recorded and not even from a bell pulled manually by one of God's faithful. I like how, with words, all within earshot were asked to take a moment of silence and reflect and meditate on God. Does one ever hear something like this in the west, over the screaming preaching of the television? And how did this Christian preacher respond to my appreciation of this call to quiet reflection on God? "Oh, is that what you think it is?" And I could just imagine how he must have thought they were Satanic verses plummeting this "godless" nation to its doom.

Yes, there are many here in the Islam world who sport their gold chains and flaunt their wealth in the expensive discos, but they are the same breed which needs saving as can be found in the west. By these pages I wanted to dispel fears from both sides, but mostly from the west. I am sure that God looks down on us from his seat in heaven and recognizes the contrite heart which seeks him, whether the heart is of a Jew, Muslim or Christian. Rather than look at a distance, to a far of land which needs conquering and "saving" and fill our minds with noble thoughts of distant missionary work, we should look directly around us for the "enemies" we should love and lend a helping hand to, as the bible commands us.

Business Ethics in Islam

Introduction:

A person can earn money by two means; one is agriculture and the other is business. If business is not done according to the ethics then there will always be inflation and shortage of goods. As it can be seen in the case of many commodities like wheat, sugar etc. It is due to the stocking in, speculation and the selfishness of some businessmen. The government has also become a trader itself, while the shariah has stopped the Islamic government from trading.

As it can be seen that business is an important part of life, the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, "People get 9/10 of their daily bread by trade." Islam explains the concept of righteous trade by telling business ethics. If trade or any other thing is done against the morals and creed then this will lead to the bad end on the day of resurrection. Also by the law the person guilty of illegal business would end up no where. Islam emphasizes on the importance of the business ethics a lot. Allah says in the Quran, "they say that buying is also like interest but Allah has declared buying as permissible and interest as forbidden." And "When you buy or sell then make someone a witness of it." The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, "If trade was not there then you would have become a burden on others." He also said that "A trader is the guardian of the means of daily bread and a keeper of the dignity of himself and other people." The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) encouraged the trust worthy traders by these words, "A trustworthy and truthful merchant shall be with the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the righteous." "God shows mercy to a person who is kindly when he sells, when he buys and when he makes a claim" The prophet emphasized on the truthfulness and the righteousness of the businessmen a lot. He said that "Verily, merchants shall be raised up sinners on the day of resurrection, except he who fears God, and is good, and speaks the truth."

Business and ethics

As Muslims, we have to adhere to ethical standards, not only in business but also in all aspects of life. Both business and ethics are interrelated. There is a reference to this point in the Qur'an, "For you in the Messenger of Allah is a fine example to follow." Allah Almighty says, "To the Madyan people (we sent) Shu'aib, one of their own brethren: he said: 'O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other god but Him. And give not short measure or weight. I see you in prosperity, but I fear for you the penalty of a day that will compass (you) all rounds. And O my people! Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due: commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief. That which is left you by Allah is best for you, if you (but) believed! But I am not set over you to keep watch!"

Prophet Muhammad was chosen by God to be His last prophet and messenger at the age of 40. Before that he was very much involved in business. He and his wife Khadija were both merchants. It is reported that he traveled to Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, and many other places in Arabia for trade. Some historians have also suggested that he probably traveled to Iraq and Ethiopia. From his early age, he was involved in commerce. He had a good reputation as a hardworking, honest, truthful, and very successful businessman.

Fair dealings in business

The Holy Qur'an and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) have made it clear that a Muslim must be honest and upright in his business and monetary dealing. Also the true Muslim should keep his word and fulfill his promises, shun fraud and avoid deceit and perfidy, encroach not upon the rights of others, nor take part in wrongful litigation. Also a good Muslim does not give false testimony, and abstains from making unlawful money as from usury and graft. According to Islam whoever is not free from these vices, is not a true believer but a renegade and a worthless transgressor.

And the Qur'an is rich with verses that confirm all this. Allah says in the Quran, "Eat not up each other's property by unfair and dishonest means."

Allah forbids all unclean and corrupt means of making money, such as, dishonest trading, gambling, and bribery. And the Holy Quran has explained and described such practices in many of its verses. He says, "Woe to those that deal in fraud, - those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be asked on a Mighty Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the lords."

Another example is given in the coming verse, where Allah urges Muslims to be very particular about their trusts and about other people's rights. "Allah does command you to render back your trust, to those to whom they are due."

Major principles of fair business dealings

According to Islam, the following things must be avoided to commence fair business.

1. No fraud or deceit, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) is reported to have said, "When a sale is held, say, There's no cheating"

2. Sellers must avoid making too many oaths when selling merchandise. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) is reported to have said, "Be careful of excessive oaths in a sale. Though it finds markets, it reduces abundance."

3. Mutual consent is necessary. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) is reported to have said, "The sale is complete when the two involved depart with mutual consent."

4. Be strict in regard to weights and measures. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, "When people cheat in weight and measures, their provision is cut off from them." He told the owners of measures and weights, "You have been entrusted with affairs over which some nations before you were destroyed."

5. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) forbade monopolies. "Whoever monopolizes is a sinner."

6. Free enterprise, the price of the commodities should not be fixed unless there is a situation of crisis or extreme necessity.

7. Hoarding merchandise in order to increase the prices is forbidden.

8. Transaction of forbidden (Haram) items, such as intoxicants, is forbidden.

Fraud and dishonesty in business

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) has stressed the importance of honesty in most of his sermons, saying, "Remember, there is no faith in him who is not trustworthy; there is no place for him in religion who cares not for his pledged word or promise. He (PBUH) also said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three, when he speaks, he is false, when he promises, he fails; and when he is trusted, he plays false."

Condemning those who cheat in business Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has said, "He who cheats is not of us. Deceitfulness and fraud are things that lead one to Hell."

Once Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) came upon a heap of corn in the market of Madinah and thrust his hand onto it. His fingers felt damp. On being asked, the trader replied that rain had fallen upon it. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) observed, "Why did you not then keep (the wet portion of) it above the dry corn, so that men may see it? He, who deceives, is not one of us."

Thus traders who deceive by showing to customers a false sample or by concealing from them the defects of the product they're selling are not true Muslims in the judgment of Allah Prophet (PBUH) and, they are going to end up in hell.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, "The seller must explain to the buyer the defects, if any, in the quality of the article offered for sale. Should this not be done, the seller will permanently be caught in the Wrath of Allah."

In short, all manner of deceit and dishonesty in business is prohibited in Islam. The Holy Prophet has expressed his strong dislike for those who do so.

Bribery in business transactions

Bribery and usury, although might be practiced by mutual consent and agreement, are totally prohibited and forbidden. Those who are guilty of them have been condemned by Allah and His Prophet (P.B.U.H). Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, "The curse of Allah rests on him who offers loan on usurious terms, and on him who receives, and on those who are witnesses to the transaction, and on the writer who writes the deed thereof."

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, "If a person made a recommendation for anyone in a just manner and gratified party gave him something as a gift (in return for it) and he accepted it, then he committed a grave error (meaning that it, too, is a form of bribery)."

Usurpation of another's property by force or fraud or dishonest litigation is even worse. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) made this clear, as he says, "Whoever occupies land belonging to another unjustly will be sunk into the ground along with the plot of land on the Doomsday till he reaches the lowest layer of the earth." And "He who acquires the property of a Muslim unjustly by taking a false oath (before an Officer) is debarred by Allah from entering Paradise and the Fire of Hell is made inevitable for him." Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) again, is reported to have warned a person who was very fond of entering into litigation with others in these strong words, "Remember, he who will obtain the property of another by swearing a false oath will appear as a leper before Allah (on the Day of Judgment)."

And, again he (P.B.U.H) said, "Whoever laid a claim on a thing that was not his is not of us."

Conclusion

The Prophet's general advice to all people was that, "What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not recognize. He who guards against the doubtful things keep his religion and his honor blameless, but he who falls into doubtful things falls into what is unlawful, just as a shepherd who pastures his flocks round a sanctuary will soon pasture them in it. Every king has a sanctuary, and God's sanctuary is the things he had declared unlawful." Before the Prophet invited his people towards Islam, it was his truthfulness and trustworthiness which had earned for Muhammad (S.A.W.) the glorious titles of "Sadiq" (truthful) and "Amin". Therefore, one must follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) in regard to business and all other aspects of life; to become a good Businessman and hence, a better Muslim.

Islam and the WoT

Islam has existed since the Middle Ages. It has co-existed with other religions since its foundation by the Prophet (PBUH). Sometimes it has been spread by force, but more often by assimilation and conversion. When the Christian Kingdoms were violently suppressing Christian heresies in the High Middle Ages, the Islamic Kingdoms and Caliphates stood as beacons of tolerance and reason. So, there is nothing inherently inimical about Islam to peace and civilisation.

The media presentation of Islam and selective highlighting of some fringe elements of this great religion says more about the agenda of those in power, what I call the power elites, than about fundamental differences between Islam and the West. When those in power can make its own population fearful of an external threat, they can grab more power. Hitler did that in Germany in the last century. Every tyrant who wish to rule without opposition set up some group as the fall guys so that civil liberties can be quashed.

The real conflict, in my opinion, is between those who wish to live peacefully in a pluralistic society that values difference and tolerance. Following Karl Popper, lets call these Open Societies. Open Societies allow people to pursue their own faiths or beliefs. Open Societies allow the free discussions of ideas and encourage the interchange of views and perspectives. Open Societies permit the spread of ideas and philosophies through persuasion and enrolment rather than through force. Open Societies value openness in transactions and abhor double-dealing and dissemblement. They believe that the ends do NOT always justify the means.

Ranged against Open Societies are the forces of intolerance. Again, following Popper, lets call these Totalitarians. Totalitarians know they have the hotline to the Truth, God, Allah, Jehovah, Brahma etc and wish to impose their vision on others whether the others like it or not. Totalitarians brook no opposition to their world view. They do not tolerate difference and see all who would resists their particular vision as heretics or counter-revolutionaries. Totalitarians believe the ends DO justify the means.

Fundamentalists are those who have a literal interpretation of their sacred texts. As long as they respect other people rights to make their own choices, fundamentalists are no threat to the Open Society. So called fundamentalist Christian sects have co-existed in liberal democracies for centuries. Examples would include Christadelphians, the Amish, Jehovah's Witnesses etc.

Liberal democracies have also allowed many forms of religions to coexists. In addition to the various sects of Christianity (Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, the various Orthodox Churches, Methodists, Baptists etc) most of the great world religions have been tolerated.

Not being that knowledgeable about Islam, I do not know of the different 'flavours'. However, I suspect in Islam there are a wide range of interpretations of the Quran ranging from the mysticism of the Sufis to the more traditional interpretations of the Sunnis. Some interpretations may well have a fundamentalist 'flavour' but as long as they do not enforce their beliefs on others through force, they too can co-exist in Open Societies.

The real enemies are those who would impose their views on others through manipulation, deceit and force. Both the Western and the Islamic world are besieged by forces of Totalitarianism. In the West, it is those who wish to curtail individual's freedom and rights so that they can impose their own views on all. Often, this is dressed up as being tough on an external enemies such as terrorists. Once the State can control all aspects of a citizens life, then it is much easier to push through their own agenda without considering civil righs or freedom of speech. In the Islamic world, it is those who wish to impose their own version of a State run under approved interpretations of Sharya Law. These people will define anything as threats to Islam and use this as justification for their armed struggle or jihad.

Ordinary people have struggled against terror throughout history and yet, ultimately, we have managed to create Open Societies. The English suffered the terrors raids by Anglo Saxons and then the Vikings in the Middle Ages. The Chinese had suffered continual raiding by the Hui Neng, the Mongols,. the Manchus etc. Ordinary people were massacred at the fall of Jerusalem in the First Crusades (including a large number of Christians). Jews, Gypsies and Slavs were killed in concentration camps in WW2. Now we have the massacres in Darfur and it goes on and on. Terror is the weapon of the Totalitarians.

I believe terror arises because ordinary people do not make a stand against Totalitarians. So the answer is to stand up to them. In liberal democracies, people should make a stand against those who would roll-back civil liberties. They should also encourage those minorities in their societies to make a stand against totalitarians within their midst. They should also put pressure on their politicians to ensure fairness and openness in foreign policy rather than manipulation of other states to further their own interests. Muslims should also challenge those who would pervert their faith for their own selfish ends. More should follow the example of Klemel Attaturk and strive to modernise their own countries through education and building democratic institutions appropriate to their culture and state of development.

The greatest weapon for totalitarians is the apathy of ordinary people. If we each, in our small way, reach out to those who do not share our faiths and endeavor to understand their position, then totalitarians cannot win. It is through discussion and dialogue that we can make common cause against those who would impose their views on us. There should not be a War on Terror. Instead, there should be a War on Totalitarians! The only thing we should not tolerate is intolerance!

Muslim Holidays - Explaining the Two Major Islamic Holy Days

There are only two universally accepted holidays in Islam. By universal, I mean both Sunni and Shia Muslims celebrate them equally. These two holidays are Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha.

First, let me break down the terminology.

- The word "Eid" in Arabic, just means "celebration" or "festival."
- "Fitr" means "breaking the fast" and "Adha" means "sacrifice."

Therefore, Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast and Eid ul-Adha means the Festival of the Sacrifice. Eid ul-Fitr takes place after the month of Ramadan ends. Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims must fast every day from dawn till dusk. This obligation is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Muslims celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan with Eid ul-Fitr, hence the name. Eid ul-Adha takes place during the Hajj season. The Hajj is a pilgrimage Muslims must make to the Kaaba in the city of Mecca in modern day Saudi Arabia. All Muslims are required to complete this journey at least once in their lifetime if they are able to. The Hajj is also one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

During the Hajj, the pilgrims sacrifice a sheep. Both the Old Testament and the Quran mention a story where Abraham was ordered to sacrifice his son by God. Jews and Christians believe this son was Isaac, but most Muslims believe this son was Ishmael. When Abraham showed he loved God enough to sacrifice his son on command, God ordered a sheep be sacrificed instead and spared Ishmael. The sacrifice in Hajj is to commemorate this event. And Eid ul-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, also celebrates this event.

Both Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha are celebrated in similar fashion.

Muslims start the day early and go to a common meeting place, usually a mosque or open field. There they make a special prayer followed by a short sermon from the Imam (leader). They then gather for special meals, meeting with family and friends, and giving charity and gifts. The only difference is that during Eid ul-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, it is common for a sheep, goat, cow, or camel to be slaughtered as well. While there are other holidays celebrated by Muslims, none of them are as universally accepted as Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr.