Putin: 'Wouldn't give 10 kopecks for the health of somebody who disrespects the Koran'

 

Putin: 'Wouldn't give 10 kopecks for the health of somebody who disrespects the Koran' (Moscow Times)   Putin's way of calling for mutual respect. He also said the ethnic clashes might lead to tightening regulations on immigration, particularly to the big cities. Via ITAR-TASS: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the murder of Spartak fan Yegor Sviridov is a tragedy and an attack on the whole community of Russia's soccer fans. "You should treat it as an attack against all of you, regardless of the place of residence, ethnicity or religion. Muscovite Yegor Sviridov was killed. It's a big tragedy," Putin stated at a meeting with fan clubs' representatives on Tuesday. (...) He said he was motivated by the concern that the immunity to nationalism and xenophobia might be weakening, which shows at stadiums. Now that the whole world is open, different teams have players from different countries. "The country that isolates itself, comes to nought," he said, "an open country cannot be nationalistic." "Each has his small Motherland, we're proud of it. I wouldn't give ten kopecks for the health of the person from central Russia, who displays impoliteness towards the Koran in a North Caucasus republic. But people from the North Caucasus, while coming to other regions, should have respect for the local culture, customs and laws, too," Putin underlined. "It is only this way, by respecting each other, that we'll be using the advantages of our common Motherland, our diversity," the premier underlined. In his opinion, Russia's advantage is its ethnic diversity. "Our peoples have developed a certain culture of relationship and respect for each other. It's always been our strong point," he said. (source)

 

What the Qur'an teaches: Argument of brute force

What the Qur’an teaches: Argument of brute force

 

In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful When he came to them, setting forth the truth from Us, they said: "Kill the sons of those who share his faith, and spare only their women." Yet the schemes of the unbelievers can only go wrong. Pharaoh said: "Leave it to me to kill Moses, and let him invoke his Lord! I fear that he will change your religion and cause corruption to spread in the land." Moses said: "I seek refuge with Him who is my Lord and your Lord from everyone who is too arrogant and will not believe in the Day of Reckoning. (The Forgiving; Ghafir: 25-27)

 

The surah does not dwell on what happened after the first encounter between Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh, omitting the match with the sorcerers when Moses' staff swallowed their trickery and forced them to declare their acceptance of triumphant truth. Instead, it goes on to the situation that prevailed after these initial events: "When he came to them, setting forth the truth from Us, they said: 'Kill the sons of those who share his faith, and spare only their women.'" A comment on this attitude is given straight away, before the verse is even finished: "Yet the schemes of the unbelievers can only go wrong."

Whenever tyranny is faced with a clear argument it cannot refute, it resorts to such tactics. It dreads that truth should prevail with its clear and strong arguments that appeal directly to sound human nature. Pharaoh witnessed how his sorcerers, whom he marshaled in the hope that they would defeat Moses, were the first to respond to the truth, immediately declaring themselves as believers. By contrast, Pharaoh, Haman and Korah said: "Kill the sons of those who share his faith, and spare only their women."

 

At the time Moses was born, Pharaoh had issued a similar decree. What we now need to consider is whether the Pharaoh who issued that decree had died and been succeeded by his son or crown prince. Furthermore, whether under this new Pharaoh, the original decree had been stopped, until Moses came back and confronted him with his message. Moses was after all known to this Pharaoh when he was a crown prince, and was aware that Moses had been brought up in the palace. He was also aware of the original decree to slay the male children of the Israelites and to spare their women. Now, his courtiers refer to this decree, advising Pharaoh to apply it in particular to those who believed with Moses, be they the sorcerers or the minority of Israelites who accepted Moses' message despite fearing Pharaoh and his forces. It is also possible that the original Pharaoh who adopted Moses was still in power, but the implementation of his decree had slackened with time or had even been suspended altogether. Now his courtiers advise him to revive it, applying it only to those who followed Moses, so that it would scare people away from Moses, the prophet.

Pharaoh himself seems to take a different point of view, or to have an additional measure which he mentioned during consultations on what tactics he would employ against Moses and his message. Essentially, he wanted to do away with Moses and rid himself of the whole problem: "Pharaoh said: Leave it to me to kill Moses, and let him invoke his Lord! I fear that he will change your religion and cause corruption to spread in the land."

 

His words, "leave it to me to kill Moses," suggest that his view was not immediately accepted. Reservations might have been expressed, such as someone suggesting that killing Moses would not end the problem. On the contrary, it might inspire the masses to consider him a hero or a martyr, which could in turn generate enthusiasm toward him and his new faith, particularly after the sorcerers, who were supposed to expose his myth, declared their acceptance of his faith. One or other of Pharaoh's advisers might also have feared that Moses' God might avenge his killing and inflict punishment on his killers. This was a distinct possibility since idolaters believed in multiple deities and could imagine that Moses had a God who would punish his killers. This possibility explains Pharaoh's statement, "let him invoke his Lord!" Pharaoh might have meant this as a rejoinder to the objection. On the other hand, his wild remark might have merely been to show that he did not care about the consequences. His carelessness was suitably punished in the end, as we shall presently learn.

It is useful to reflect a little on Pharaoh's argument in support of his declared intention to kill Moses: "I fear that he will change your religion and cause corruption to spread in the land." Could there be anything more laughable than Pharaoh, the idolater, saying this of Moses, God's messenger? Yet, is it not the same statement every tyrant repeats about everyone who advocates the truth and seeks to reform people's beliefs? Is it not the word of ugly falsehood about splendid truth? What trickery seeking to shake people's faith! It is indeed the same logic repeated whenever falsehood is confronted by the truth, tyranny by justice and unfaith by faith, anywhere in the world.

 

For his part, Moses resorted to the secure shelter that is always extended to advocates of the truth: "Moses said: I seek refuge with Him who is my Lord and your Lord from everyone who is too arrogant and will not believe in the Day of Reckoning." As he said this, Moses felt reassured. He submitted himself to the One who overpowers every arrogant despot and is able to protect those who seek His shelter against arrogant enemies. He referred to God's oneness, stating it clearly, fearing nothing of the threats he received. He also referred to the rejection of the true promise that a day will inevitably come when people will have to account for their deeds. No one can resort to arrogance if they believe in the Day of Reckoning. How can they if they realize that they will stand in front of their Lord, humble, deprived of all power, without friend or intercessor?

 

Arab News

What the Qur'an teaches: Who judges in disputes?

What the Qur'an teaches: Who judges in disputes?

 

In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful 
Whatever the subject of your disputes, the final word belongs to God. Such is God, my Lord. In Him have I placed my trust, and to Him do I always turn. He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. He made mates for you from among yourselves, just as He made mates for animals, so that you will multiply. Nothing bears even the slightest comparability to Him. He alone hears all and sees all. His are the keys of the heavens and the earth. He gives abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure to whomever He wills. He has full knowledge of everything. (Consultation, Al-Shoora: 42: 10-12)

 

The surah returns to the central issue, identifying the ultimate point of reference in judging any dispute. It is this new revelation from God, containing His judgment. This ensures that changeable personal preferences and fleeting desires cannot influence life under the divine code that admits no prejudice: “Whatever the subject of your disputes, the final word belongs to God. Such is God, my Lord. In Him have I placed my trust, and to Him do I always return.”

This passage expresses a number of facts, but the way these are stated and their sequence and juxtaposition in this short passage is truly remarkable, requiring proper reflection. Upon such reflection, the interlinking between their inner and outer aspects is both subtle and precise. Everything over which dispute arises between people should be judged by God: “Whatever the subject of your disputes, the final word belongs to God.” God has made His judgment clear in this Qur’an, stating His final word concerning this life and the life to come. He also established the code of living which people should follow in their personal and community lives, in their dealings among themselves, their system of government and their moral values and manners. He has made all this abundantly clear, making the Qur’an a comprehensive constitution for human life, with a scope that is broader than their own constitutions. Therefore, should dispute arise between them, the right judgment is ready for them, outlined in His revelation delivered to them by His Messenger.

 

When this truth has been established, the verse quotes the Prophet’s statement whereby he clearly submits himself and all his affairs to God, turning to Him in all situations: “Such is God, my Lord. In Him have I placed my trust, and to Him do I always turn.” Thus, the Prophet’s statement that he turns to God, places all his trust in Him and relies on Him in all situations, occurs at the most suitable point, serving as it does as a comment on the preceding rule. When God’s Messenger who receives guidance from God declares his attitude in these terms, how can other people refer their disputes to anyone else or place their trust in other beings? Knowing that God is his Lord who provides everything for him and guides him to what is best, the Prophet makes his choice, turning to Him alone. How can others make a different choice?

When this is established in a believer’s heart, he sees his way ahead, clearly defined and well enlightened. He does not look for any other way. He is confident, reassured, knowing where to go. He entertains no doubt because he knows that God takes care of him and protects him. Moreover, he attaches a high value to his system, which he derives from God’s revelations, clear in his mind that no system can be superior to God’s word.

 

A further comment is then made to consolidate this truth: “He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. He made mates for you from among yourselves, just as He made mates for animals, so that you will multiply. Nothing bears even the slightest comparability to Him. He alone hears all and sees all.” The One who revealed the Qur’an to provide final judgment on all people’s disputes is “the Originator of the heavens and the earth,” who controls them. The law that governs the heavens and the earth is His final judgment on all that concerns them. Human life is only a part of what takes place in the heavens and the earth. Therefore, His judgment on human matters ensures harmony between human life and the life of the great universe.

God, to whose judgment they should refer all their disputes, is the One who created them and molded their souls: “He made mates for you from among yourselves.” Thus He designed your life giving it its very foundation. He knows what is best for you and what suits your life, putting it in harmony with the rest of His creation: “just as He made mates for animals.” This unity in biological form confirms the unity of will and design. Hence, people and animals multiply and procreate in the same natural process. By contrast, He is alone in the way He is, with no comparability to anything or anyone: “Nothing bears even the slightest comparability to Him.” Human nature accepts this without hesitation.

The Creator of all cannot be compared to anything He creates. Therefore, His creatures refer to Him when they differ. They cannot refer to anyone else alongside Him because nothing is comparable to Him.

Although God, in His limitless glory, is beyond comparability with anyone or anything, contact between Him and His creation is not severed. On the contrary, “He alone hears all and sees all.” His judgment is that of the One who knows, hears and sees.

 

Norway: Islamic Council organizes protest against terrorism

Norway: Islamic Council organizes protest against terrorism On Saturday the Islamic Council of Norway led representatives from the Norwegian government, the church of Norway, anti-racists and Norwegian Muslims, in a demonstration to show that the various faiths stood together against terrorism. Last weekend, Iraqi-born 28 year old Taimour Abdulwahab shocked people by exploding in a suicide attack in Stockholm. A week later, the common thread to all those who joined in the protest was a categorical condemnation of terrorism as a means. In the ice-cold December in the capital, it warmed many when the head of the Islamic Council of Norway, Senaid Kobilica, quoted from Thorbjørn Egner's Law of Cardamom at the end of his speech: You should not bother others, you should be nice and kind, otherwise you can do as you please. But before that, Kobilica's tone was more serious. On behalf of Norwegian Muslims, he pointed out that the plans of the suicide bomber in Stockholm were an eye-opener. "There are no extenuating circumstances that can justify terrorism. Categorical condemnation is the only response," he said during the demonstration. Kobilica emphasized that terrorism should in no way be excused, and that both Muslims and Christians have an obligation to peaceful coexistence. "This doesn't mean that we should ignore what's happening in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, but it's a political and military question which should be debated in its proper context." Several hundred people took time off, or just took a break from shopping in the center of town, to hear the speeches on the terror threat that had come a little closer with the suicide bomber in the neighboring country. These included Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap); Kari Helene Partapuoli, head of the Anti-Racist Center, and Oslo Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme. All had gathered under the slogan: "Together against terrorism". "Everybody wants to live a safe life, as simple as that. We therefore stand together against those who want to spread fear," Støre told those present. Source: Nettavisen (Norwegian)

 

Sweden: PM praises Muslim response to Stockholm bombing

 

Sweden: PM praises Muslim response to Stockholm bombing Via the Local: Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt used his Christmas speech to condemn the suicide bombing in Stockholm as "an attack on Swedish society", praising Muslim leaders for standing up for freedom and openness. (...) "A suicide bomber steps right into Swedish society and it is that which he challenges. Freedom and openness, it is that which he hates," Reinfeldt said. The prime minister also referred to the fact that the attack was apparently carried out with a religious pretext. "It had to do with religion. It is difficult to understand a secular country such as Sweden. From a starting point in religion the right is claimed to threaten others." (...) Furthermore, Reinfeldt reserved praise for the strong reactions from Swedish Muslim leaders after the attack and argued that imams and others had clearly defended Sweden's openness and condemned the terror attacks. "I welcome the fact that Muslim Sweden has unequivocally stood up." (source)

 

Funding Mosques from the State Treasury

EU: Funding Mosques from the State Treasury Via Miller-McCune: Secular European governments give money to Muslim congregations in an effort to defang radicalism imported from foreign sources. A recent push by the German government to educate a generation of European-born (and Enlightenment-minded) imams — to wean the nation's Muslim population from a class of religious leaders trained and paid by Turkey — belongs to a controversial strain of thinking in Europe. The idea is to commit tax funds to mosque-building and other integration efforts with the goal of drying up foreign, and sometimes radical, streams of money. Some programs are more promising than others. Nicolas Sarkozy argued in a 2004 book (before he became president of France) that Paris should make an exception to its century-old tradition of strict laïcite, or secularism, and give money directly to Muslim groups to build mosques. Secular groups, understandably, howled, but Sarkozy's argument at least confronted a nagging problem with unintegrated Muslims in Europe. "What is dangerous is not minarets," he wrote in The Republic, Religions, Hope, "but caves and garages that keep clandestine religious groups hidden." A glamorous French-funded mosque, goes the logic, is better than a back-alley prayer room with literature and funding from Riyadh, Damascus or Tehran. (source)

 

12 arrested planning terror plot

UK: 12 arrested planning terror plot Via Daily Mail: Twelve men were arrested early this morning in a major national counter-terrorism operation, police said today. The men - five from Cardiff, four from Stoke-on-Trent and three from London - were detained on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the UK. The suspects, aged between 17 and 28, were detained by unarmed officers at approximately 5am. It is understood that the plans for the alleged attacks were at an advanced stage.

 

Muslims, Jews, object to labelling of ritually slaughtered meat

 

EU: Muslims, Jews, object to labelling of ritually slaughtered meat Via the Guardian: About 10 million turkeys are expected to be eaten in the UK over Christmas with most people unaware of how the bird on their plate was killed. All that could change under proposed EU legislation that would require the labelling of unstunned halal and kosher meat, to the chagrin of Muslim and Jewish groups. (...) Emotions among Jews and Muslims have been inflamed by far-right groups such as the British National Party and English Defence League whipping up opposition to halal meat – the former describes it as a "barbaric and disgusting Islamic tradition" – while not targeting kosher meat. The Conservative MEP for North West England, Sajjad Karim, who is a Muslim, received threatening emails after voting against the amendment. Yunus Dudhwala, chairman of the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC),, which certifies halal products in the UK, said animal welfare was a "red herring", adding that there was a relative lack of interest in factory farming and animal transportation conditions. "If people are really concerned about animal welfare the rest of the journey of the animal [before slaughter] really needs to be looked at," he said. Dudhwala said he would be happy for unstunned meat to be labelled if other meat carried the method of stunning used, such as gassing or electrocution, but believed that would never happen because it would be unpalatable for consumers. The other UK halal regulator, the Halal Food Authority (HFA), which approves of stunning before slaughter providing it does not kill the animal (the HMC argues it is impossible to guarantee this), supports labelling of unstunned meat.

 

Sweden: Imams issue fatwa against terrorism

Sweden: Imams issue fatwa against terrorism The fatwa was written by Hassan Moussa, who sits on the European Council for Fatwa and Research. The fatwa is available in Swedish and Arabic on the Islamic Association site. I will add a translation to this posting later. Via the Local: A group of Swedish imams condemned on Sunday the recent suicide bombing in central Stockholm, while the Security Service has confirmed that it believes the attacker was acting alone. A number of imams issued a fatwa calling the attack in central Stockholm on December 11th "deplorable" and "reprehensible." Moderate Muslims reject all forms of extremism and fundamentalist interpretations of Islamic teachings, laws and practices. Destruction, the spread of fear, terror and killings have nothing to do with Islam, the imams wrote on Sunday in the fatwa. "Muslim institutions around the world have already written about this for a long time. In Sweden, we don't accept terrorism and refuse violence," Mahmoud Khalfi, the spokesman for religious affairs of the Islamic Association in Sweden (Islamiska Förbundet i Sverige), told The Local on Monday.

 

Russia: Nationalist riots spread fear among Muslims

Russia: Nationalist riots spread fear among Muslims Via AFP: Muslims gathered for Friday prayers at Moscow's central mosque on Friday said they were afraid and angry at a nationalist riot last week that saw hundreds make fascist salutes beside the Kremlin walls. The chief imam at the mosque said that fewer people than usual had attended prayers, blaming fears after the violent riot, triggered by the shooting of a football fan in a fight with men from the Russian Caucasus. (...) Usually, thousands of worshippers roll out prayer rugs on the pavement outside the cramped mosque. But this Friday, all the worshippers stayed within the gates. "Because of this situation, on the ordinary days this week there have been fewer people," imam Ildar Khazrat Alyautdinov told AFP. "Every day we can see there are noticeably fewer people. "Of course there are fears over safety," said Alyautdinov. "There are fears for their lives, of course people are afraid." He said he warned parishioners not to travel alone or go out at night. (source)

 

Netherlands: Muslims excluded like 1930s Jews, says Labour leader

 

Netherlands: Muslims excluded like 1930s Jews, says Labour leader (Wikipedia) Via NIS News: Muslims are excluded from present-day Dutch society, as also happened with Jews in the 1930s, in the view of Labour (PvdA) leader Job Cohen. Cohen drew the controversial comparison in an interview with Vrij Nederlands weekly. He links his views to the rise of Geert Wilders. In reaction, the Party for Freedom (PVV) leader rejected Cohen's criticism as "disgusting." Cohen, himself Jewish, recounts how his mother experienced around the time of the outbreak of the Second World War that Jews were slowly being excluded. He also sees this alienation now in society. (source)

 

Netherlands: Muslims excluded like 1930s Jews, says Labour leader

Netherlands: Muslims excluded like 1930s Jews, says Labour leader Via NIS News: Muslims are excluded from present-day Dutch society, as also happened with Jews in the 1930s, in the view of Labour (PvdA) leader Job Cohen. Cohen drew the controversial comparison in an interview with Vrij Nederlands weekly. He links his views to the rise of Geert Wilders. In reaction, the Party for Freedom (PVV) leader rejected Cohen's criticism as "disgusting." Cohen, himself Jewish, recounts how his mother experienced around the time of the outbreak of the Second World War that Jews were slowly being excluded. He also sees this alienation now in society. (source)

 

Abu Dhabi pines for a golden Christmas

Abu Dhabi pines for a golden Christmas

AP

A hotel in Abu Dhabi is in the running for the accolade of having the
world's most expensive Christmas tree.

The $11m (£7m) faux fir at the Emirates Palace hotel – which also
boasts its own marina, heliport and a vending machine which dispenses
real gold bars – stands 43ft (13m) tall and has been decorated with
131 trinkets crafted from gold, diamonds and sapphires. The hotel is
now in line for an entry in Guinness World Records.

The current record holder is a $10.8m tree decorated by Swiss watch
makers Piaget, which was unveiled in Tokyo in 2002.

SAYINGS OF PROPHET MOHAMMED PBUH.....500 HADITHS

THOSE WHO ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BEG

33.He who begs the property of others to increase his own is asking
only for live coals, so let him ask little as much.
(Muslim).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

34.It is better for one of you to take a rope, bring a load of
firewood on his back, and sell it, Allah thereby preserving his self
respect, than that he should beg from people whether they give him
anything or refuse him.
(Bukhari).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

35.If anyone guarantees me that he will not beg from people, I will
guarantee him paradise.
(Abu Dawud, Nasa'i).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

SPENDING

36.If you spend (to help others), O son of Adam! I [Allah] shall spend on you.
(Bukhari, Muslim).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

37.It is better for a man to give a dirham as Sadqa during his
lifetime than to give a hundred at the time of his death.
(Abu Dawud).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

38.Do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, even meeting
your brother with a cheerful face.
(Muslim).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

39.Sadqa given to a poor man is just Sadqa, but when given to a
relative it serves a double purpose, being both Sadqa and a connecting
link.
(Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah, Darimi).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

HOARDING

40.If anyone keeps goods till the price rises, he is a sinner.
(Muslim).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

41.He who brings goods for sale is blessed with good fortune, but he
who keeps them till the price rises is accursed.
(Ibn Majah, Darimi).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

42.If anyone withholds grain for forty days thereby desiring a high
price, has renounced Allah and Allah has renounced him.
(Razin).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

43.The man who withholds goods is evil. If Allah lowers prices he is
grieved, and if He raises then he is happy. (Baihaqi).
(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

Russia: Top Muslim Cleric Shot Dead In Volatile Caucasus

Russia: Top Muslim Cleric Shot Dead In Volatile Caucasus Via RFE/RL: The top Muslim cleric in Russia's volatile region of Kabardino-Balkaria has been shot dead. A spokeswoman for the regional investigators said that Anas Pshikhachev, the region's top mufti, was attacked by two unidentified assailants just outside his home in the town of Nalchik on December 15. He received several gunshot wounds and died of his injuries on the spot. President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences to the mufti's family.

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