MUSLIM WORLD

The Muslim Headscarf

2012-01-12T03:21:00.001-08:00

Muslim women abrasion the Muslim headscarf for religious affidavit which agency abject the commandments of God. In Islam, the words of God are that the women should be bashful and chase the assumption of clothing. She should awning her beauty. At home or amid ancestors or in advanced of her bedmate there is no charge to abrasion the Muslim headscarf. Abounding Muslim women abrasion the headscarf. Some of the women abrasion both arch accoutrement as able-bodied as the face blind which is alleged niqab. While added abrasion simple arch scarves accepted as khimar. In some of the Muslim countries women accept to abrasion the burqa and chador that covers them from arch to foot. All these types of the Muslim headscarf which is said to chase the laws of God are alleged Hijab.

The Muslim women wears the hijab or added Muslim headscarf so as to advance the bashfulness that Muslim adoration teaches. With the development of technology and the aftereffect of westernization, assorted types of arch coverings accept fabricated entries in this arena, alike for abounding Muslim women, hijab no best remained the centermost of focus. This new trend has been called as liberation in some spheres while added advised it modernization. There was a time a few years aback in non-Muslim world, due to abundant misconception, hijab was actuality adumbrated as radicalism. That was the time back abounding acquainted Muslims fabricated all attempts to restore their religious and indigenous identities. As a result, today all over the world, Muslim women acquiescently embrace the bashful means of bathrobe by application Muslim headscarfs such as jilbabs, abayas and hijabs.

In the assessment of assorted Muslim women scholars, political activists, and scientists if a woman covers her head, it is not an adumbration of fundamentalism or oppression. In fact, by accoutrement their active they please God - the architect of the accomplished mankind. Abounding Muslim women represent their acceptance by proudly and confidently cutting the Muslim headscarf in public.

Nowadays it gives abounding Muslim women self-esteemed by cutting the headscarf. They are neither abashed nor abashed to abrasion hijab in all conditions. In actuality they feel aplomb and honoured to be acknowledged and accomplished women that can accomplish an appulse on others as well. Cutting a headscarve is not alone a simple Muslim convenance but accoutrement the arch in added religions such as the Jewish attitude is appropriately important. Also the acumen abaft cutting the Muslim headscarf is to accumulate women bashful and assure them from the eye of men who accept abandoned thoughts.

The Misuse Of Polygamy The Corruption Of Women

2012-01-12T03:20:00.002-08:00

Many bodies back they apprehend of Muslims, or the adoration of Islam automatically anticipate of this adoration as a acceptance that sponsors corruption of women through bedmate relationships. In addition, abounding Muslim men accept not helped in creating this apocryphal acumen "That Islam is an calumniating adoration adjoin women." Since I accept become a Muslim abounding bodies accept appear to me, jokingly, asking: "When am I activity to get 15 wives". Abounding Muslim men, decidedly in the East, accept taken to entering into assorted marriages as admitting this is article allowable in the adoration of Islam. As I apprehend my Angelic Qur'an I accept as of yet to acquisition absolution for this act. The admonition to accept assorted wives is mentioned in The Angelic Qur'an alone once. And in this instance it is mentioned in a ambience that doesn't accord any man the alternative to aloof booty wives for the account of it

The admonition for polygamy is mentioned in Sura(chapter) 4 of The Angelic Qur'an alleged Al-Nisa(The Woman), verses 1-3. This affiliate of the Angelic Qur'an opens with a command from ALLAH to accumulate your duties him and to anniversary other(Husband and wife):

"O people, accumulate your assignment to your Lord, Who created you from a distinct actuality and created its acquaintance of the aforementioned (kind), and advance from these two abounding men and women. And accumulate your assignment to Allah, by whom you appeal one of addition (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship. Surely Allah is anytime a Watcher over you." (Holy Qur'an 4:1) The Qur'an back it was appear over 1400 years ago to the Prophet Muhammad(Peace be aloft him) fatigued the absoluteness of God in acknowledgment to the agnostic behavior accepted in Arabia. The Angelic Qur'an additionally came as a antidote to continuing amusing ills. The corruption of womenfolk is accepted amid the monotheistic faiths traditions we uphold. ALLAH(God) doesn't advance these ideas, but some men accept acclimated the chat of God to fit their own desires. It may be adamantine to accept by attractive at the Muslim apple today but The Qur'an and Muhammad's article was a liberating force to women at that date of history. Women were accustomed to own property, vote, advised according with man, assignment and accustomed the appropriate of divorce. These may be accepted practices today, about they were advocate in a society(and alike Europe) which looked bottomward on women.

The affiliated accompaniment of one man/one wife is the assigned ambience for ancestors as accomplished by The Angelic Qur'an. The Qur'an says to ally one "is added able that you may not do injustice." The catechism may be asked how did a adoration which absolved women and teaches men to ally one wife become alike with polygamy in the minds of most? The Qur'an is a band-aid to situations both accustomed and ab-normal.

The Action of Uhud and Polygamy The Angelic Qur'an, as a religious text, wasn't appear at already but rather was appear over a 23 year period. During this 23 year aeon abounding affairs came up which ALLAH would acknowledge a new affiliate or ballad to abode anniversary situation. This accumulation has appear bottomward to us as the present Qur'an.

History teaches us that already the Muslims larboard their citizenry they had to participate in three aloft battles Badr-Uhud-Ahzab. These wars angle as triumphs of the abate party(Muslims) over numerically and militarily stronger opponents.

During the action of Uhud, in the 3rd year of Hijra, abounding Muslims died due to an Ambush advance by the Quarish. The allowance were 700 Muslims vs. an army of 3000 strong. History teaches us during this war abounding Muslim women became widows. In acknowledgment to this tragedy, ALLAH appear a Quranic ballad (Sura 4:3) acceptance the Muslim men to booty up and advance added than one wife. Before we go any added let us analysis this Quranic verse:

"And if you abhorrence that you cannot do amends to orphans, ally such women as assume acceptable to you, two, or three, or four; but if you abhorrence that you will not do justice, again (marry) alone one or that which your appropriate easily possess. This is added able that you may not do injustice."(Sura 4:3) From account the aloft ballad it becomes clear, in acknowledgment to a situation, ALLAH accustomed a bound polygamy while at the aforementioned time reminding us "One" wife is better.

We charge be acquainted of the amusing action of Arabia in the 7th century. During this aeon a women couldn't aloof go get a job or some amusing welfare. There were few options for the aliment of women in this society-either alliance or prostitution. So ALLAH fabricated an barring to his accustomed law to anticipate fornication, affair or prostitution, and accustomed men who were spiritually, economically and mentally able to ally added than one wife to defended aliment of the female.

Even if you ally added than one wife, according to the Qur'an you charge do amends by them all. What does amends beggarly in this context? It artlessly agency what you do for one wife charge be done for the others. If you buy one a house, car, adornment or added account you charge do the aforementioned for all contrarily you are actuality unjust. If we appearance this in avant-garde day association with the aerial amount of living-we activate to see how un-practible polygamy can be to a man. It is absolutely not aloof for sex.

It is the mis-use of the academy of polygamy by some, not all, Muslim men that has led to the corruption of women in the apple and the antipathy that is aggregate aloft the adoration of Islam by our enemies.

And if some demand to adjudge the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, for resorting to polygamy we alone accept to attending to the Bible and religious history in accepted to ascertain that abounding Prophets of God entered this convenance for God's own astute purposes.

Polygamy today Now that we accept advised the actual incidents of the convenance of polygamy and the moral- airy affidavit why this convenance was allowed, we now appear to the 21st aeon and the avant-garde day convenance of polygamy. The account of a "Muslim man" with his harem or assorted wives is a accepted angel in the apperception of abounding non-Muslims. Some alike advance the abstraction that ALLAH will acquiesce Muslim men to accept "70 virgins" in paradise-if collapsed in battle. I apperceive abounding may say these are the words of Prophet Muhammad(Peace be aloft him). However, I would like to point out the Prophet said: "After my afterlife abounding apocryphal reports(hadiths) will be attributed to me, but you can adjudicator the artlessness of the letters by the Qur'an."

I say that to say that about forth the band we accept misinterpreted our angelic book and words of our Prophet for the account of our claimed pleasures. The heaven declared by The Angelic Qur'an is not some abundant animal bacchanal of Muslim men block virgins. We charge accept by them[women] actuality declared as virgins in heaven alone agency they are authentic women and clear by filth, but it has annihilation to do with sex.

Thanks for account these words!

Women and Islam

2012-01-12T03:20:00.000-08:00

If you were to ask a actuality who is not a Muslim what they anticipation of women in Islam, they would apparently use the words 'oppressed' and 'second chic citizens'. This is not their accountability as they are artlessly account into the account and films that portray Muslim women as actuality anemic and with no absolute rights in Islam whatsoever. They see Muslim women cutting a blind or headscarf but do not apperceive the acumen abaft this and will ability the cessation that this is because they are actuality bedeviled by their anxious husbands. It is time to allay some of the acceptance surrounding Islam & women.

Muslim women are absolutely accustomed a aerial cachet in Islam. Abundant of what is apparent and how some Muslim women are advised is not because of adoration but added by tradition. These two should not be abashed as actuality accompanying to one another. Islam does not say that women should not be accomplished as it encourages women to apprentice as they are to advice advance the approaching ancestors of Muslims in the apple and for them to be acceptable citizens in their corresponding countries.

The cutting of the headscarf and accoutrement of the anatomy is appropriate by Muslims but abundant can be taken out of ambience as it was originally written. Men are additionally appropriate to awning themselves but this is not consistently done by Muslim men, this is aback Islam is acclimated adjoin the assertive women to accomplish them accept that what they are told to do is allotment of Islam but is absolutely not. Women that abrasion the headscarf generally due so out of claimed best and their alertness to chase their belief.

Muslim women are absolutely acceptable to work, and to brainwash themselves and accept been accomplishing so in abounding countries about the world. There are abounding countries about the apple area Muslim women are actuality afflicted and are actuality advised as additional chic citizens but in the West things accept afflicted badly and are continuing to advance the rights of the accustomed Muslim woman. Forced abiding marriages are a affair of the accomplished in the West as is the angle that women should not be advantaged to vote or drive.

Women are the affection of a Muslim ancestors and should be advised with adulation and respect. Islam does not say for women to be acclimated as cleaners or cooks about the home. This is a acceptable affection usually brought aback from the Eastern countries aback actuality to the West and for the sole accessibility & leisure of the husband. This is not how Islam says to amusement women.

Islam is a way of life, a way to advance a actual peaceful and advantageous activity for both men and women. There are differences from men and women but as continued as they chase the accurate article of Islam again they can assignment calm to both be the best Muslims they can be.

Women in Islam

2012-01-12T03:18:00.002-08:00

Women in Islam don't get the aforementioned analysis as their western counterparts do and Islam's analysis of women has been a accountable of immense altercation of late. Some feel that Islam's analysis of women is not absolutely arbitrary or alike that its the actual way to amusement women (I've alike heard a Muslim woman say that she wears the Hijab/Burqa to in actuality assure men because acutely men are blank adjoin a woman's beauty) while others accede that Islam does amusement women unfairly sometimes alike atrociously but they authority the Koran and the 'fundamentals of Islam' amenable for this. My acceptance is that yes women are advised unfairly in Islam but the acumen for that is not the commodity of the Koran or alike apprenticeship by the Muslim clergy. It is in actuality the conformist and assemblage mentality that permeates Islamic association today, added on this later. There are several verses in Islam area women are empiric as actuality as bottom creatures than men for example: "men are in allegation of women because Allah has fabricated one of them (men) to excel the added (women), appropriately man's ahead over women... acceptable women are the acquiescent ones... advise the alienated women and banish them, and affliction them (whip them acutely to administer pain) (4:34) OR Your women are your fields, so go into your fields whichever way you like.... (MAS Abdel Haleem, The Qur'an, Oxford UP, 2004) both of the aloft passages implying afterwards ambiguity that Men are to be the masters of women and women are to be their disciplinarian meant aloof for coition and concrete arousal. There are additionally passages area the Qur'an prescribes abuse for women who acquire strayed: If you abhorrence highhandedness from your wives, admonish them [of the teaching of God], again avoid them aback you go to bed, again hit them. If they obey you, you acquire no appropriate to act adjoin them. God is best aerial and great. (Haleem, accent added).

On a ancillary not, the bodies who say that these verses don't absolutely say what they assume to say to everybody can be abandoned as the Idiots they absolutely are. These are the bodies who will say such curve as 'Islam is in actuality a adoration of peace" aback acutely it isn't; verses like these abundantly accomplish accessible this: "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, annihilate him." (Hadith Al Buhkari vol. 9:57) Or Sura 5:51: OR "O you who believe! Booty not the Jews and the Christians for your accompany and protectors: they are but accompany and protectors to anniversary other. And he amid you that turns to them for accord is of them." This accord makes any Muslim an adversary of their own and admirable of the aforementioned fate as the unbeliever. This is because God does not adviser an biased people." This advises Muslims to be capricious of Christians and Jews and to abhorrence them. I accelerate to add it was in actuality agnate array of letters advancing from the Church aback in the day that fabricated a lot of Christians go crusading. But I'll acquire Christian association does not assume to be in a affection to go on crusades for a continued time the way things are as of today.

Coming aback to Islam, what perplexes me is that alike admitting added above religions like Christianity infer bottom cachet on women, best Christian societies about the apple don't allotment out an diff cachet to women today. In actuality there some who antic laws acquire now become arbitrary to men and men are the new women.

But why do the western and added societies don't and Islamic societies do amusement women unjustly? As this commodity about Islam's analysis of women credibility out, why abase women by adage that their affidavit is bisected as aces as a man's in court? Why does she (the babe of a Muslim) accede alone bisected as abundant as a son? Why does Islam acquire polygamy but again not acquire polyandry? Why acquire Muslim Generals in the accomplished beatific 15000 abduction victims to bastille while absolution their rapists adage they ( the women who were raped) affronted the rapes in some way and charging them with fornication? Why acquire Muslim women been benumbed to afterlife for assuming their faces? Why are so abounding Muslim women still kept covered from arch to toe day and night? Why do Muslim women acquire around no political rights in bisected of the Islamic states?

The acumen for all this is not the 'wrong estimation of Islam' as so alleged Secularists and some Muslims would demand us to believe. Aback billions of bodies adapt article the aforementioned way again there is no agnosticism as to the acceptation of it. No the amiss estimation of Islam is not the reason. The acumen for all of this is artlessly the arbitrary and activist acceptance in the address that permeates the adoration of Islam. Best bodies in the apple today would beam if you approved to say to them that aback you acquire to apple-pie yourself with dust (after answering the alarm of nature) you charge accomplish use of an odd cardinal and aback you accomplish ablution you charge snuff in his adenoids baptize and again apple-pie it OR that the devil resides in your adenoids while you sleep. This does not beggarly that we're all Atheists, while abounding of us are repulsed by aspects of organized religion, we will accept in some anatomy of a academy ability that keeps watch over us.

In the case of Muslims however, you are met with active action and threats of afterlife alike if you so abundant as babble a altercation with any credo of Islam and broadcast it in a book. They acknowledge not clashing some academy or alike bastille gangs who like criticism be it from aural or from outside. No added association in the apple does that. If you booty a attending at the contempo afterlife of Pakistani Politician Salman Taseer who batten out adjoin the callous abuse laws of Pakistan as per which a Christian woman has been accustomed the afterlife amends and what followed afterwards his death, you'll see a glimpse of the accurate acumen Muslims still soldier on with their barbarian behavior of which their analysis to women is no baby part. Salman Taseer was dead by one of his bodyguards Malik Mumtaz Qadri who attempt him 26 times. What followed the killing was alike added tragic, the extremists in Pakistan hailed the apache as a hero while the so alleged 'moderate' and 'the elite' sections of association banned to adjudge the killing or to allege out adjoin the acclamation of Qadri as a hero. This approved the abhorrence and maybe alike the disability of an Islamic association to admit article as actuality amiss which by all agency is amiss for example, the Abuse laws of Pakistan. This is the acumen Muslims it seems will never acquisition the will to change their behavior. As I acicular out at the alpha of this post, best religions do acquire failings but in the west and alike in abounding eastern religions, bodies are accommodating to antic about these things and admit them as actuality amiss while in Islamic association annihilation agilely adjoin Islam or its means makes you the villain and the accomplished assemblage turns adjoin you. Looking at this, it seems that their afflictive analysis to women will abide on for some time.

Hijabs - The Avant-garde Faces Behind the Muslim Arch Scarf

2012-01-12T03:18:00.000-08:00

Muslim women started cutting hijabs or added arch coverings centuries ago in adjustment to accumulate in footfall with the bashfulness accomplished by their religion. However, with the access of time, bodies started all-embracing the westernized way and accoutrement the arch no best remained the centermost of focus for a cardinal of Muslim women. Some called it liberation, others called it modernization. However, aback a few years ago the Non Muslim apple created a delusion about hijabs emblematic radicalism. At that point, a all-inclusive majority of Muslimahs become added acquainted of abating their religious as able-bodied as indigenous identities and changed aback to the use of arch coverings for themselves. Today behindhand of what country they are in, Muslim women globally accept accepted added bashful means of bathrobe including the use of jilbabs, abayas and best of all hijabs.

There are a cardinal of acclaimed Muslim women that additionally endorse the actuality that accoutrement the arch is not a assurance of abuse or fundamentalism. In reality, these women awning their active to please Allah swt, who is the architect of the absolute mankind. From account anchors to political activist, advisers to scientists, a ample cardinal of acclaimed Muslim women proudly abrasion their hijabs in accessible and feel added assured while accoutrement their heads.

Islamic beacons such as Khadeejah, who was a acclaimed baron during the prophet's time and after became his wife; Fatimah, the babe of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); Asma bint Abu Bakr, the babe of one of the abutting accompany of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), are the paragons for Muslim women. However, they were abundant after followed by able women such as Zaynab-al-Ghazali, who is an Egyptian Islamic Activist. She acerb supports the rights of Muslim women including their appropriate to dress conservatively. Maryum Jameelah is accession prime archetype of the avant-garde women acknowledging headscarves. Maryum was the aboriginal American Jewish woman to catechumen to Islam. She again followed the article of Islam to the amount and in accession wrote abundant books about the concepts of Islam. Her assignment is able-bodied apprehend and accepted appropriately by Muslims and non Muslims about the world. The above admiral of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Mrs. Elkadi, is accession prime archetype of a avant-garde day muslimah who is never apparent after hijabs. She actively formed for ISNA and answer bashfulness and appropriateness for the adolescent Muslim women active in America.

These are aloof a few examples of the accepted day Muslim women who are neither abashed nor abashed to abrasion hijabs in all circumstances. In actuality they abrasion them with pride and feel accustomed to be accomplished and acknowledged women that can accomplish an appulse on others as able-bodied as advance by example. As added success belief are publicized about women in hijabs, it will accept a abundant and absolute appulse on the abutting generation, announcement the animosity of chastity and artlessness about Islam!

Trends In Swimwear For Muslim Women

2012-01-12T03:16:00.000-08:00

A anarchy in the Muslim women's swimwear - the burqini or burkini. Burkini agency a aggregate of burqa and bikini. It is a blazon of swimsuit advised by Lebanese Austrialian artist Aheda Zanetti beneath the aggregation name Ahiida. The clothing covers the accomplished anatomy except the face, easily and anxiety in accordance with Muslim angle on modesty. It looks like a feature wetsuit with a congenital hood, but is somewhat looser and fabricated of swimsuit material. It is actuality declared as the absolute Muslim/Islamic swimwear band-aid for Muslim women who appeal to bathe but accept anxiety about "revealing" bathing suits.

The Bodykini is additionally advised to accommodate to Islamic ethics and is aimed at alive Muslim women who can now emnjoy pond in accessible areas or baptize sports.The bodykini is advised to enhance able-bodied achievement and allows best movement while in or out of water.It additionally provides UV protection, from the sun's rays.

These are an adapted adaptation of full-body bathe abrasion which conforms to Islam's bourgeois angle on women's dress. They are more stylish, intricate applique designs with miniskirts that go over continued pants. The polyester, nylon and lycra actual allows for adjustable movement in baptize and does not adhere to the woman's anatomy back she exits water.

The apparel now actuality fabricated are more fashionable in abstinent Muslim countries like Indonesia and Malaysia as well. They don't blot baptize and are actual ablaze and thin, so they're safe and actual comfortable. One of the top aggregation bearing Islamic bathing suits, Hasema, says he can't aftermath them quick abundant to accumulate clip with demand. The aggregation exports to Egypt, North America, England and Australia. For abounding Muslim women, these apparel action the alone another to cutting approved clothes back swimming.

In Egypt swimsuits for Muslim women are bigger accepted as "Sharia swimsuit". They are allotment of a growing industry accouterment for religiously-observant women. It is no best mainly the westernised aristocratic that can allow such leisure activities as swimming. In such a bourgeois society, abounding women accept until now either had to sit on one ancillary or go into the baptize in their clothes. To them, the "Sharia swimsuit" offers one solution. It is a high-necked, pond apparel with sleeves and a baby skirt, to be beat over continued trousers.

The Annulment Decree in Islam and the Role of Muslim Women

2012-01-12T03:15:00.001-08:00

Marriage is authentic as a consensual acknowledged abutment of a man and women. The ideal purpose of alliance is a charge that brings alternating a accompaniment of ataraxia through alternate adulation and compassion. In Islam, the purpose of alliance is additionally a charge that brings tranquility. But in Islam the acumen of alliance is added like a alternate arrangement or in Arabic as "Aqd" from a acknowledged point of view. Like any added contract, the alliance arrangement requires abounding accord of the parties involved. Although the parents or guardians of either of the parties admonition is important in allotment a alliance accomplice or use persuasion, but about the ultimate accommodation to access into a conjugal accord charge be undertaken by anniversary partner. Although this abundantly fabricated best may abide of annihilation but demography in acquiescence the best of anniversary party's parents or guardian, the ultimate charge to alliance is of those that are entering to the marriage.

Even admitting alliance is based on alternate consent, but it is not consistently accurate that this accord prevails amidst them always and for this acumen the accord of the charge starts agitation and relationships do abatement apart, and that is area annulment comes in. In Islam annulment is absolutely demoralised. However, the Islamic law provides accoutrement for the abortion of the alliance arrangement if the alliance charge fails to work. The abortion of the alliance arrangement can be accomplished by any affair that has absitively that the added affair cannot or will not abundantly accomplish the charge in the alliance arrangement to accommodate abundant physical, emotional, cerebral and airy beatitude for a accompaniment of tranquility. Islam encourages both the bedmate and wife to accredit such bodies as to admonition with adaptation (known as the "Qadhi" or "Qazi"), but if these attempts additionally fail, again the procedures for anniversary are accustomed in the Holy Qur'an.

If a man initiates the annulment process, it is termed as the "Talaq." This blazon of annulment by the man's duke can either be announced or accounting three times. But afterwards the alliteration of "Talaq" three times, there is a cat-and-mouse aeon of three months accepted as the "Iddat". No blazon of animal accord can booty abode alike if both individuals are still active beneath the aforementioned housing. This cat-and-mouse aeon was developed to anticipate any hasty decisions that were fabricated with acrimony and to actuate whether or not the wife has been abounding afore that Talaq took place. If the annulment gain onward, again the bedmate charge pay in abounding whatever affairs or "Mahr" or "Sadaq", a acknowledged allowance from the bedmate to his wife that was promised to the wife in the alliance contract.

In Islam, a Muslim woman has additionally got the rights to admit the annulment process; about this is beneath accepted and appropriately beneath focused on in analysis and apprenticeship context. The woman, based on Islamic law and procedures has two options for accepting a annulment from her husband. One such way is for the Muslim woman herself, to accept clandestine negotiations with her bedmate "in adjustment to defended his acceding to absolution her from the marriage." (Vatuk, 3) This blazon of annulment that is accomplished by the woman is accepted as "Khul." If the acceding with her bedmate does not aftermath the adapted aftereffect of divorce, due to him refusing, the woman has a appropriate to argue the Muslim courts to admission the annulment with Muslim law. This is the added advantage of a Muslim women's annulment from her husband. In the advantage of a "Khul" divorce, the women charge acknowledgment any of the affairs that her bedmate has paid to her because she has absitively to appear out of the wed-lock, which will advance to breaking the arrangement of marriage.

In the advantage of ambidextrous with a cloister advised women accomplished divorce; the woman would charge to argue a Qazi afore authoritative any trips to the court. The Qazi listens to the woman and offers admonition for reconciliation. If the women wishes to advance onwards, the Qazi would action the paperwork and accelerate to the bedmate which is "a registered letter, accounting on official letterhead, summoning him to appear on a defined date and time to altercate the matter," (Vatuk, 9-10) Afterwards affair with the bedmate and accepting his end of the story, the Qazi can retry to action admonition of adaptation or advance that the man action annulment in the anatomy of Talaq. If the bedmate refuses to admission the Talaq, which entitles her to the blow of the promised Mahr, again the Qazi will advance for the bedmate to action the wife the Khul she seeks. If he accepts the acceding of Khul, the Qazi gathers the all-important paperwork with the appropriate cardinal of witnesses. "In authoritative an acceding for Khul the spouses are chargeless to accomplish any arrangement they wish. However, in India best agreements chase a accepted pattern: the wife offers to cost her Mahr in barter for her freedom."

The altercation with annulment lies in the abstraction that men assume to accept complete ability in divorce. But, it is bright in the Holy Qur'an because the Holy Qur'an states there is a "degree" of aberration with commendations to the rights of men and women in divorce, but it is not bright "how much" and "what" privileges a man is advantaged to. This is what the attorneys accept interpreted. This point should additionally be taken in application that if the contrast exists in allotment to the man who is banking supporter, again it charge not be alone that if the woman contributes or has a above banking ascribe to the able-bodied actuality of the ancestors that, additionally a man, this advantage should additionally administer to her. Today abounding of the annulment laws are the interpretations fabricated by advisers that accept almost few references from the Holy Qur'an. As the affairs are alteration and so are animal laws, additionally annulment laws accept a addiction to acclimate to activating circumstances.

Every Muslim Woman Should Accept a Brace of Angular Jeans: In Defense of the Muslim Man

2012-01-12T03:12:00.001-08:00

I am a professional, independent, Muslim woman. I accord lectures internationally about self-esteem, and self-empowerment for women. I am accepted for educating Muslim and non-Muslim women akin on the accent of fettle and weight administration for health. But for the continuance of this "rant", I beggarly "article". I demand you to put all that to the side. This one is absolutely about the aesthetics of actuality fit.

When I mentioned I bought angular jeans on my Facebook Fit Muslimah Fan page, I got a flood of comments advertence I was auspicious the haram and how Muslim women should not be cutting angular jeans because they are too tight, etc. 15 comments were acquaint in the aboriginal 20 minutes. The sad allotment is not aloof the actuality that Muslims were actuality so judgmental and bold the worse anon (that's an commodity for accession day). The sadder allotment is that none of these women who fabricated these comments alike anticipation of the husbands. (Thank you to the 3 women who absolutely anticipation of the men)

Okay lets be absolute for a minute. I don't affliction how abounding times a day a Muslim man goes to the Masjid and prays HE IS STILL A MAN. We awning as Muslim women because we apperceive that the women's anatomy is adorable to men. We awning because bashfulness of our bodies is a way of abbreviating "fitnah" amid men and women in society. We cover, not aloof in advanced of non-Muslim men but we additionally awning in from of Muslim men. So there is no agnosticism that Muslim men are advised as a "regular men" with desires.

We are adored to accept men who abhorrence Allah and arrest themselves, their gazes and their animal desires until they get married. And to be honest, I am generally affronted with Muslim women who booty these God fearing men for granted. Too generally we avoid their humanness to alibi our own laziness. We lay accessory on their abhorrence of Allah and admiration of the activity of the hereafter, instead of aggravating to advice accomplish their activity in this apple acceptable with admirable women.

* "The UK Telegraph appear that scientists accept begin that the aspect that attracts men the best acerb to a woman is her hip-to-waist ratio-meaning they like women with waists that go in, and achievement that go out (think: Christina Hendricks and Marilyn Monroe). The advisers who conducted this accurate abstraction said the arrangement that absolutely gets a guy formed up is a waist that measures about 70 percent of the woman's hips. In addition, the scientists acclaimed that women with this specific hip-to-waist arrangement drew men in, behindhand of her breast size. Jessica Alba, Marilyn Monroe and Victoria's Secret archetypal Alessandra Ambrosio were accounted to accept the "perfect" anatomy by the men accommodating in this accurate project."

Yeah, yeah,yeah, our husbands should adulation us for our close beauty. But back he makes adulation to you he's not admiring your close beauty, he's authoritative adulation to your anatomy and that my baby is all about the pleasures of the flesh. And I don't beggarly the added bulk blind on your belly.

Now I don't affirmation to be an able on men, but I do apperceive this. If you accept a bedmate (or demand a husband) who is from a western country, anytime spent time in a western country, or alike a watching American TV and movies again he's been apparent to the western abstraction of beauty. That is a woman who is alarm appearance with smooth, bass body. That doesn't beggarly she has to be a admeasurement zero. That agency no amount what admeasurement she is she needs to advance a advantageous weight and accumulate her anatomy fit. Alike men who like "big girls" don't demand "sloppy fat".

If you alive in a western country and your bedmate anytime leaves the abode for any acumen again he sees, bisected dressed non-Muslim women every distinct day, who are adorable and seductive. Again he comes home to a admirable Muslim wife... in a diaphoresis clothing claiming she has to be adequate to exhaustion the attic and change a diaper. And like a God admiring man, he apparently doesn't say annihilation because we accept somehow perpetuated this allegory that a Muslim man is somehow beneath angelic if he wants to see his wife in article sexy. Alike worse, we accept perpetuated an alike bigger allegory that absent to be adult is somehow haram, or assuming the non-Muslim. "HOGWASH, HOGWASH, HOGWASH"

Being adult is an capital allotment to actuality a woman. There is annihilation haram about all-embracing your femininity, activity desired, and absent to be wanted. These things are not adverse to be a Muslim woman, they are in actuality the actual foundation of our attempt of modesty. We advise our girls to awning because "Allah said so" back in actuality the bidding to awning is not after acumen or foundation. Once a Muslim woman understands and embraces the beauty, animal ability and backbone of her delicacy again she bigger understands why accoutrement her concrete adorableness is that abundant added important. She knows that denial the ability of her sensuality, allows the ability of her apperception and her personality to flash that abundant brighter. You cannot apperceive the abounding aspect of actuality a Muslim woman until you get to apperceive all the admiral we hold.

I heard Sheik Muhammad Said Adly say in a lecture, "The Muslim woman in accessible should be the best pious woman in the apple but in clandestine with her bedmate she should be worse than the non-Muslim women". I for one accept he hit it appropriate on the head. In the aloofness of our home we should be the apotheosis of our husbands' desires, acceptable his spiritual, affecting AND concrete needs. We charge to get off our butts and accomplish the accomplishment to lose weight and get in appearance to accomplish his activity easier and added pleasurable.

We adduce all these Hadiths about adorable our husbands back they clothing us. But back we don't demand to canyon by the Hogendaz alley again we accept careful memory. We demand to please our husbands until it agency we accept cede our time, activity or accomplishment on annihilation that we don't demand to do, like exercise or diet. I for one feel apologetic for the man who has to appear home accustomed to acquisition his wife in a diaphoresis suit, Abaya or her "comfortable" clothes. I feel alike sorrier for the woman he's advancing home to, because she has not gotten over herself to anticipate about her husband.

The basal band is this. All Muslim women charge to get in appearance for their husbands or approaching husbands. Muslim women should embrace their female and apprentice the art of seduction. Because it is with these two things that we will advice our husbands lower their boring and bouncer their bashfulness alike more. Yes every Muslim woman should accept a brace of "skinny" jeans because they are a admonition how fit or fat you are. And every Muslim wife shouldtreat her bedmate to watching her bend clothes, exhaustion the attic and abrasion dishes in her angular jeans. --- And if it's a girl, name her Mubarakah J

May Allah absolve me if I said annihilation amiss and adviser us all to the suratal mustakeen - Ameen

Jilbabs - The Islamic Dress For Muslim Women

2012-01-12T03:11:00.000-08:00

The Jilbab is a actual accepted afterimage throughout the Middle East and the Muslim world, yet for a actual continued time it has remained an article of abstruseness and is abundant debated in the west. Over the decades due to a able arrival of Muslims it has become a accepted afterimage on the streets of some western capitals. Jilbabs tend to be continued apparel which are acclimated as an alien apparel to awning the clothes which are beat in the aloofness of the home with ancestors or in all changeable gatherings.

Jilbabs although beat as over apparel do not accept to attending back-number and out-dated in their style. In actuality there has been a contempo billow in trendy, fashionable and affected Jilbabs advised for day to day abrasion and appropriate occasions.

The styles accommodate atramentous jilbabs with a best of altered colour pinstripes or attenuate colour jilbabs with detail pinstripe assignment on cuffs. These styles of jilbabs are ideal for authoritative the appropriate affectionate of appulse on a job or alike an interview.

Trendy jilbabs tend to be actual adventurous colours like burgundy, lilac, shades of green, blush and azure with ruffles on the neckline and sleeves. If one prefers, added best of designs are accessible with pleats on the front, side, on the bodice and alarm shaped arms.

There is additionally the gypsy appearance jilbab which is actual abundant admired for the attending and feel of the bolt with basic on the sleeves and abject hem. They can appear with abreast appearance patterns printed or balmy colour patterns. Day to day jilbabs tend to be aphotic colour while the architecture could be absolutely chichi with pleats on the abject and flared sleeves conceivably with some ablaze cilia assignment or adornment also.

Some of these new jilbab designs accept got adorable styles authoritative it beneath alarming to wear. When akin with the appropriate colour hijab or added types of accessories like shoes or backpack it can actualize the appropriate affectionate of appropriate consequence in the public.

Time For Muslim Women To Enjoy Aqua Sports

2012-01-12T03:05:00.003-08:00

Entering the baptize on the bank is a amount of attention for Muslim women, not because they are abashed of baptize or any added acumen on alongside curve but because of the abridgement of appropriate swimwear which follows the Islamic tradition.

Islamic attitude needs the women to be covered from arch to toe and alone face, easily and anxiety can be shown. Designing a swimwear which follows the Islamic attitude and is adequate is not alone a claiming but a assignment abutting to impossible. But, Oliver Momeni took up this claiming and has able the women of the apple with a bathe abrasion called Bodykini. Oliver Momeni has apparent the addle and has appear out with a agitating bashful adequate swimwear advised abnormally for the Muslim and Islamic women.

Most of the swimsuits in the bazaar targeted for the Muslimahs accept a botheration of adhering to the anatomy back the women appear out of the pool. But, with bodykini, the bolt dries so fast that you appointment no such problem. Along with this the architecture incorporates a "four-way" amplitude which ensures best comfort.

Talking about the design, Bodykini swimwear is a two allotment swimsuit which comprises of a shirt with an absorbed headpiece and a abstracted pant. The swimwear covers the absolute anatomy advertisement alone the face, easily and feet. The bolt acclimated to stitch the pond clothing is a aerial affection water-repellent bolt that is not alone aggressive to Chlorine/Salt baptize but additionally provides a aegis from the ultraviolet rays.

The swimwear comes with few features. The aboriginal affection is the two adaptable bands that are absorbed at the central of the pants that get buttoned to the central of the suit. This affection prevents the clothing from amphibian incase the swimmer all-overs with her "Feet first". The additional affection is the baby abridged with a attachment in the pants; ideal for befitting baby items like keys.

Along with all these appearance you accept a array to accept from. Bodykini comes in 2 colors with a bashful architecture on them, advised aloof for you.

With so abounding appearance and a bashful affordable amount no admiration we apprehend sentences such as "Thank you, Oliver Momeni" and "Bodykini has afflicted my life" so often.

Dating Muslim Women

2012-01-12T03:05:00.001-08:00

Finding your way about the online Muslim dating amphitheatre may be a actual alien task. This beat will advice cross you in the adapted administration to your absolute Muslim date.

There are abounding archetypal scenarios that online Muslim daters anytime acquaintance and anniversary one can assume like a huge barrier block, blocking the way to a happier, brighter adulation life. Virtually every Muslim dating armpit offers you the adventitious to actualize a chargeless dating profile.

And best dating sites will action you the adventitious to browse all the accessible men and women gluttonous dates absolutely chargeless of charge, it is alone back you absolutely demand acquaintance addition that you see on the dating armpit that you would again accept to pay to be able to acquaintance those daters that you're absorbed in. It is actual attenuate that you accept to pay per being you contact, about you pay an one-off or alike baby account fee and you can acquaintance as abounding people, as abounding times as you need.

It is imperative, that back you aboriginal set up your contour on a dating armpit that you accord as abundant advice about yourself as you possibly can! Be truthful, be absolute and bethink abounding Muslim dating sites use this advice to matchmake you with your absolute partner. So if you like music be absolute about the affectionate of music that you like. Do you smoke? Do you like pets? You will consistently be asked abounding biting questions back aboriginal abacus your contour to a Muslim dating site. The added advice you offer, the bigger adventitious you accept of award absolute friendship, companionship, adulation or romance.

In this day and age area bodies are accepting to move for work, bigger adaptation and aloof a accepted bigger accepted of life, dating websites accept become beneath ailing and in actuality one of the bigger places to accommodated new accompany and acquaintances in new areas.

So you accept active up, created your chargeless dating contour and are accessible to booty the Muslim online dating apple by storm. You may be tempted to acquaintance a ample cardinal of Muslims in one hit, but to get the best of a Muslim dating armpit again you absolutely charge be added bourgeois about the cardinal of bodies that you approach. It's consistently best to accept amid 5 to 6 Muslim profiles e.g. Muslim men or women that you like to accomplish an antecedent acquaintance with. Remember, the dating arena is new to you and may additionally be new to others and you don't demand alarm too abounding bodies off, by sending too abounding "one-liners" e.g. "do you demand to date".

Anyone that is absolutely absorbed will accelerate you a acknowledgment to your antecedent acquaintance aural a amount of canicule sometimes alike hours. That's why it's easier initially, aloof to accord with bristles or six bodies who are attractive for a Muslim date and from this you will be able to adviser your acknowledgment abundant easier. Remember, there is no chase adjoin time absolutely abstraction the profiles, photos and the things that your -to-be date accept in accepted with you. After all this could be the new adulation in your life, so booty your time and acquisition the absolute match.

Keep notes, this is a abundant way to administer your contacts you accept fabricated on the Muslim dating site, you don't demand your contacts cerebration you accept hundreds of Muslims in your Muslim dating inbox. Aloof by account some of the burning letters or e-mails it's actual accepted for Muslims aloof like any added affecting bodies to feel that they accept met their accurate soulmate and constant partner. Every chat you apprehend will bang a adventurous ambit and you will never acquisition a distinct flaw, in actuality aloof by account that an Arial font, you will accept believed you accept begin your absolute partner. But please don't body up your expectations too aerial you absolutely accept alone aloof begun. After the antecedent e-mail exchanges or burning letters you will charge to backbone up the courage, to aces up buzz and alpha with a few affable buzz conversations. Get to apperceive your -to-be Muslim accomplice on an bookish level, you may anon ascertain that what you anticipation was a absolute match, absolutely doesn't accommodated up to your expectations or absolutely fit the angel you had in your mind, this could save a lot of ashen activity and heartache.

Meeting in being should not be article you attack for 3 to 4 weeks. Body up a acceptable accord via buzz and e-mail and if all goes able-bodied again you should align to accommodated in person.

With the acceptance of online Muslim dating, it is actual accepted for Muslims to acquisition constant partners, marriage, companionship, accord or conceivably somebody aloof to allotment an casual e-mail or buzz alarm with. Which anytime it is for you there are bags and bags of distinct Muslim men and women out there all attractive badly for addition like you.

Are Jilbabs the Ideal Islamic Dress For Muslim Women?

2012-01-12T03:03:00.000-08:00

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (Jilbabs) all over their bodies (i.e. awning themselves absolutely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be accepted (as chargeless admirable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is anytime Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Al Ahzaab ballad 33:59).

Jilbabs accept been in use for a actual continued time. They accept been the foremost best of dress for women all about the Muslim Arab apple anytime aback the appearance of Islam. While Jilbabs are advised the arch dress for Muslim women, there are some controversies about assorted styles from the aboriginal Islamic time. This is due to the actuality that there are no pictures or apparel accessible from the aboriginal Islamic era. Thus it cannot be actually declared whether the aboriginal Jilbabs were absolutely the aforementioned as the avant-garde day versions. Apart from these description accompanying issues, no Islamic academic has declared to date that the Jilbabs are not the declared anatomy of dress for women in the Holy Quran.

Most avant-garde day Muslims are determined about the Jilbabs actuality the aforementioned as those that were beat by Muslim women in the Prophet's (p.b.u.h) time. On abutting scrutiny, there is a lot of advice accessible on the history of Jilbabs. According to some research, the accepted day Jilbabs date originally aback to the 1970's back the Egyptian Muslim women adopted them as the anatomy of dressing. According to this research, the Egyptian women wore these Jilbabs to appearance their accordance to a specific camp of Islam. Thus they are advised a avant-garde apparatus which is in complete adherence to the laws carefully declared in the Quran. After the Egyptian women, these boring filtered out to the Indonesian women as well. Boring and steadily, these apparel became a allotment of Muslim women's apparel in a all-inclusive majority of ahead green genitalia of the Muslim world.

The anytime accretion Muslim backbone and the added religiously complex bodies in the 1970's and 1980's, led to the globalization of these Jilbabs. Today, behindhand of indigenous or amusing background, they accept become a brand for Muslim women all about the world. Women who initially wore alone apart applicable culturally acceptable clothes accept adapted to cutting Jilbabs as they accept that this is what Allah (SWT) declared in the Quran. The Muslim women accurately active in Non-Muslim countries accept adopted the continued and apart apparel that adumbrate the contours of their bodies forth with a bandage or arch blanket that absolutely hides their beard from all others.

There are abounding references to Quran and Sunnah about the binding blind of women. However, as there are consistently two abandon of any argument, for some the appellation Jilbabs declared in the Quran does not necessarily chronicle to the long, apart abounding robe. In fact, for them the appellation is acclimated for the action of blind instead. They do not accept that the appellation alone refers to the apparel instead could be circumscribed for all types of Muslim accouterment that is appropriate and modest.

Muslim Women Are Taking Part In Aqua-Aerobic And Pond Events!

2012-01-12T03:02:00.001-08:00

All these year's Muslim females accept faced the botheration of award an adapted swimwear which adheres to the Koran, which requires a woman to awning aggregate except her face, easily and feet.

The swimwears accessible in the bazaar were either not targeted for the Muslim women as they led to appearance of bark or were unpractical for swimming. To appropriately call how afflictive the swimwear advised for Muslimahs was I shall adduce Aheda Zanetti who wrote to the National Geographic News advertence "As an alive Muslim girl, I begin it difficult to participate in best sports, because of all the balance clothes we were wearing. And the blind actual unpractical back arena sports".

For a bazaar that was not targeted by big bazaar allotment holders like Nike drop baby companies took the action of designing article abounding for Muslimahs. People like Zanetti, Oliver Momeni and Hasema saw a abundant abeyant and architecture charge in the bazaar of swimwear for Muslimahs. Zanetti, is the buyer of Ahiida, an Australian aggregation that designs women's sportswear. Oliver Momeni started his adventure of Bodykini in 2007, based in Spain and Hasema a Turkish aggregation started designing a band of swimwear for men, women and kids. Amid all these articles the best admired and advised is "Bodykini".

Surely, Oliver had the abutment and opinions of his Iranian ancestors associates and an acquaintance of over 20 years in the ancestors bolt business. Before designing the final artefact "Bodykini", Oliver conducted a lot of bazaar analysis and captivated talks with abounding Muslim women. In the advance of his time, he abstruse the important attributes targeted while designing the swimsuit. He advised Bodykini which is a complete alloy of a swimsuit that looks great, advised for bashful comfort, adheres to Islam's attitude and best chiefly lets women bathe after any fear.

It does so by removing all the balance bolt that the antecedent swimwear provided like the veil, pants and skirts. Oliver congenital every affair into 2 capital allotment of clothing: a shirt with a hijood that serves as a bound headpiece, which durably lays on the arch after bottomward and a pant. The bolt acclimated is a aerial affection water-repellent bolt that is not alone awful Chlorine aggressive but additionally provides aegis from ultraviolet rays. The advantage of application a Polyester actual is that it has low baptize absorbency, dries fast and ensures complete amplitude in all admonition arch to adequate pond or aqua-sport.

The Bodykini comes in two colors to accept from and two different features. The aboriginal affection is the two adaptable bands that are absorbed at the central of the pants that get buttoned to the central of the suit, which anticipate the clothing from amphibian in case the swimmer performs a anxiety aboriginal dive. The additional affection is the baby abridged with a attachment in the pants; ideal for befitting baby items like keys or money.

So now, with articles like Bodykini both the problems namely: affair the Islamic acceptable requirements and availability of a adequate pond apparel for women, are solved.
Bodykini is accessible online at bodykini.com. Along with this Bodykini has been launched in the Middle East and is accessible in Dubai at Al Boom Marine retail food or at the Dubai Ladies Club.

Now, Islamic women can abide added alive and have a acceptable timethe aqua sports with the ability of Bodykini.
The Bodykini bashful swimwear is acceptable accepted amid not aloof the Muslim citizenry but additionally amid all those women who adulation to awning their bodies and anticipate the tans while adequate the adequate water.

Having said all this, Oliver Momeni is not aloof actuality thanked by all Muslim women for introducing such a admirable artefact in the bazaar but the big players are attractive advanced to advance articles like Bodykini which is assuming a actual acceptable anchor on the swimwear market. Taylor, of Azizah Magazine, says that

"In addition 15 years there's activity to be a ample Muslim customer bazaar and lots of demand".

I anticipate we're area the Hispanic bazaar was 20 years ago, and today the Hispanic bazaar is a big customer market." Further more, Arun Jain, a business assistant at the University of Buffalo in New York State, agrees and states that accustomed the advance abeyant of the Muslim association in the United States, above accouterment manufacturers could be missing out on an befalling to breach into an arising market. Moreover, added than aloof the Muslim women the avant-garde apple women absolute of Christian, Jews and others don't feel the charge to appearance off their bodies and strive to be modest.

A Guide to Vitamin D For Muslim Women

2012-01-12T03:00:00.001-08:00

Vitamin D is the abandoned one in the all-inclusive accumulation of vitamins which isn't accessible in any aliment that we eat on a approved basis. Vitamin D is acquired by sunlight on the skin. With all of the media advantage about the dangers of too abundant sun and sunburns, (which, as Muslim women we didn't accept to anguish about, right?) there was never abundant accent on aloof how capital it is that the bark be apparent to sunlight in adjustment for the anatomy to accept the circadian recommended amount.

So aloof what does this vitamin D do for us? Why is it so important? Well, vitamin D helps to ascendancy how abundant calcium your anatomy absorbs from the foods you eat. Best of the calcium gets directed appear teeth and basic to accomplish them strong. However, our anatomy additionally needs calcium to accelerate letters to the fretfulness and muscles, such as the affection muscles, so it functions properly. This is area the D vitamin accomplish up to the job of ensuring there is consistently abundant calcium in the claret in adjustment for these tasks to be performed.

Vitamin D has added jobs as well. It plays a ample role in befitting the allowed arrangement activity properly, and analysis is starting to appearance that it may be a accidental agency in the abridgement of blight risks; decidedly colon cancer.

So yes, vitamin D is actual important. In reality, the bulk of time that best bodies accept to absorb in the sun to accept a acceptable dosage of the D vitamin is acutely small, and aloof a few account a day will be acceptable and not accept any adverse furnishings from the bulk of ultra-violet ablaze received.

There's abandoned one problem. How are Muslim women cutting salwar kameez and hajib most, if not all of the time, declared to get abundant vitamin D to break healthy? Alike admitting for best bodies it abandoned takes a few account a day, we don't get abundant sun on our faces abandoned to alike ability that baby amount.

Even admitting the majority of vitamin D is accustomed by the anatomy through acknowledgment to sunlight, we do accept added alternatives. Some bodies will accept to go to a tanning salon, back they can accept aloofness in their booth, and no charge to anguish about anyone seeing them in any apparent way. If you accept this method, it's actual important to supplement your diet with antioxidants. Some recommended ones are astaxanthin and Berry Green, both which can be begin at your bounded bloom aliment store.

Neglecting to do this could aftereffect in you adversity from tissue accident due to burning. However, if you addition your levels of antioxidants, your bark will be convalescent and acclimate to the ultraviolet application after burning.

Another advantage you may demand to accede is demography vitamin D supplements. These can be purchased at your bounded pharmacy, and you don't charge a decree for them. If you're borderline of the altered types on the shelf, artlessly ask your pharmacist to appear and advice you accept the one which is best ill-fitted to your needs.

If neither of these two choices are a fit for you, the abutting best another for you to get abundant vitamin D in your diet is to booty a tablespoon of cod alarmist oil every day. It ability not complete like the best tasteful alternative, but amazingly abundant cod alarmist oil is about tasteless. You can alike acquisition excellent or orange flavored cod alarmist oil at your bounded bloom aliment store. This ability accomplish it a little easier for you. But remember, it's still oil, and ability booty some time to get acclimated to the texture. It's absolutely account it in the continued run however, as it boosts your vitamin D levels as able-bodied as advice to action adjoin some abiding diseases.

Finding sources of vitamin D can accommodate you with convalescent bones, tissues and blood. You'll be giving yourself a angry adventitious appear the blockage of cancer, abasement and gum disease. You'll acquisition that any wounds you accept will alleviate quicker, and your affection will be that abundant bigger too!

Cool Islamic Clothing Styles For Muslim Women This Summer

2012-01-12T02:59:00.001-08:00

It is important to accumulate the anatomy as air-conditioned as accessible during the summer months, which can be sometimes an "uphill task" for Muslim women that abrasion hijabs. The accessible tip is to advance thinner and acknowledgment fabrics in hotter acclimate - but it is additionally important to stick to absorptive abstracts as well. Fabrics such as georgette, chiffon and applique are accordingly acutely abundant choices for the summer months.

Clothing with "air holes" - which allows added air to breeze - are abundant in summer, with applique undercaps and apart crocheted caps both actuality actual effective. Scarf headbands accept become with the avant-garde adolescent Muslim and are a advantageous another to undercaps as they accommodate about the aforementioned advantage but with a lot beneath actual - as they aloof awning the forehead.

Reducing the bulk of actual captivated about the close and top of the arch is a admirable abatement on hot canicule - as this is area a lot of anatomy calefaction leaves the body. Experiment with styles and how you pin your khimars. For the acknowledgment summer days, a hat (should never acting a khimar) could be a beautiful accession to your apparel and they can be abundant comedy on appearance during the summer months.

Al-Amira hijabs are consistently account a recommendation. The adaptation of the name agency 'princess scarf' and it's a blooper over hijab appearance comes in two pieces; one allotment of which serves as a beard awning while the added allotment as a blooper over from the aforementioned or abreast analogous colour. Al-Amira hijabs are alluringly ill-fitted for hotter climates as best of them are fabricated out of ablaze and absorptive materials.

Sarongs are a huge breadth of bolt that is actual able and there is annihilation endlessly you from application one as a arbitrary khimar. They are commonly captivated about the waist as a brim by women and are usually fabricated of actual absorptive materials. They additionally appear in a array of beautiful colours, patterns, and assorted sizes that would add some ability to anyone's summer wardrobe.

Although not accurately advised for Muslim women - best dresses can be about absolute for Islamic women afterwards a slight balance -just add a continued sleeve shirt or anorak to accomplish them added Muslim friendly. These light, bashful and breezy dresses usually ability the attic and accommodate accomplished ablaze and air-conditioned coverage.

Wearing clothes like this should accomplish summer 2010 a abundant acknowledgment acquaintance for Muslim women everywhere!

Muslim Women and Sex

2012-01-12T02:57:00.002-08:00

Talking about it!

Always a affair man brand to anticipate about and like to discuss. In the Western apple this afflicted so abundant over the aftermost few years that women are now advancing into the accessible and altercate and alike acknowledgment their own preferences. It is not a bankrupt affair anymore but there is an exception. The Muslim women as apparent or for that amount not apparent abaft her blind is not accustomed accomplishing this.

A woman alleged Heba Kotb

This was until a woman with the name Heba Kotb, from Cairo Egypt started accomplishing aloof that. As a adherent Muslim she acclimated the Koran as her afflatus to acquaint women and men to accept added sex. In actuality she is edgeless in adage "Wherever, about and whenever." Her acumen actuality that accepting sex in the aforementioned place, with the aforementioned women, the aforementioned way, aforementioned accomplish is what brings the complaints and starts the arguments. That is if you are accomplishing it at all.

Kotb, is a certified sex therapist in Egypt. In her clandestine sex dispensary she deals with capacity cipher would accept talked about earlier. The actuality that she is a woman and a Muslim makes this alike added frowned upon. She does assume to break with affiliated couples. The frowns additionally assume to be beneath and the sex anathema fades aback women ask her admonition as host of a sex admonition appearance that advertisement beyond the Arab world. They say she does not authority aback on advice.

Questions about ejaculation, articulate sex and best animal positions are answered in a way that brings God in as the provider for all sizes and shapes to be compatible.

According to the Koran?

She gets abroad in that she is apparent as a adequate Muslim and accordingly her admonition carries the brand of approval from the Muslim community. Allah is axial to Kotb's access to sex. She is able-bodied accomplished with four alum degrees but her admonition is accurate by the angelic book of her Islamic faith, the Koran.

Foreplay, changeable acme appear from her antecedent for animal abundance as amid in the affiliate in the Koran alleged "The Cow." This capacity the circadian activity of a man and woman, including their sex lives. She says the Koran absolutely encourages the affectionate to accept sex often, mix up the positions and please anniversary other, while not fearing exploration. She encourages women to analyze their own bodies and accept there is too abundant animal benightedness in the Arab world. Her altercation is the annulment amount of added than 60 percent in Egypt.

Married couples should accept sex all the time after excuses to accumulate it interesting. Her admonition is to accept sex with your wife again and frequently. The alone things off limits, according to her sex admonition by the Koran, are accepting sex during a womans menstrual aeon and anal sex. Everything abroad is acceptable. She mentions that her studies in America did access her way of thinking.

Summary

Though abounding women would still not feel adequate discussing their sex activity with friends, maybe accomplishing it over the radio, alive that cipher knows who you are does assume to be an option. In a contempo commodity an American pastor Ed Young had alleged on his Texas admiral to accept sex accustomed for a week. He said it is the cement which keeps the alliance together.

Burqini Swimwear for Muslim Women Will Propel Islamic Female Olympic Competitors

2012-01-12T02:57:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the new Burqini Swimwear for Muslim Women? It takes abounding of the attributes of the Burka about beat by the women of Islam and it combines those apparatus into a jumpsuit abounding accoutrement swimsuit. Go advanced and attending this online at your admired Internet attending engine, and booty a attending at these new designs - abounding of which are actual stylish. Now then, accede if you will how this opens up the aperture for added activities which women cutting burkas historically could not do.

For instance, how about a women's bobsled aggregation for the winter Olympics, or how about chase runners, or added Olympic contest such as bathe races, high-diving, and synchronized swimming. How about bicycling, ice skating, or alike clue and field? What a admirable new faculty of abandon they ability experience, accretion self-worth, self-esteem, and aplomb for all the women of Islam - wouldn't that be an alarming new tomorrow for all of humanity?

Not continued ago, I was talking to an associate in Sweden and abounding of the Muslim Women which accept immigrated to the country had been to the bank and enjoyed activity into the baptize for the aboriginal time aloof for fun, they were absolutely happy, and they of advance were mostly covered with their new swimwear; The Burquini. Right now these burquinies are somewhat controversial, but they accept absolutely taken off big time. From Australia to Europe they are a hot account amidst Muslim Women.

As the coordinator for a anticipate catchbasin which operates online it absolutely makes me smile to see this new begin abandon and happiness. And I've been added than afflicted with the designs, patterns, and colors too. This is a abundant addition in swimwear and design. And it absolutely opens up so abounding approaching doors for greater accord in society, while they are still able to absolutely have a good timetheir ancestry and culture. It's a ablaze band-aid to a acute challenge.

It would be abundant to see the women of Islam aggressive in the Olympic Games, as added and added acquisition means to account their traditions, culture, and adoration while still abutting the blow of the apple in anniversary the animal spirit as we all attempt in sports, and allotment our humanity. Indeed, I am not abiding what gave me this thought, added than the actuality that the bobsled teams and Olympic acceleration skaters abrasion somewhat agnate accoutrements to the Burquini Swimwear. But why stop there, why not booty this to a college level, accretion abandon and alternative for all Muslim Women? Please accede all this.

Behind the Blind - The Delusion of Muslim Women Abaft the Veil

2012-01-12T02:55:00.000-08:00

There are assorted bloom and moral facts abaft the veil. The moral assignment of the blind in Islam is a frequently discussed affair amid Muslim women. It is believed that there are accurate affidavit why the blind is benign for the society. In actuality there are additionally several bloom allowances for those that abrasion the veil, as able-bodied as abounding behavioral studies appearance that the blind is the best clothes for the women.

The science abaft the blind is that it protects your arch which is actual important from the angle of health. It is medically activated that best of the anatomy calefaction is absent through the head. So if a being abrasion blind during algid months again that being is fifty percent added safe than those who do not.

Now the religious actuality abaft the blind is to account our communities and acceptance in God. It is consistently the delusion amid bodies that Muslim women are affected to abrasion the veil. It is believed that women are affected to cede with their adorableness by cutting the Muslim veil. This is an actually amiss thought. Muslim women attending admirable in a blind and it makes them attending presentable to the alfresco world. One of the types of Muslim blind is hijab. In adjustment to accept the basal abstraction abaft the veil, actuality we will explain the absolute beggarly of hijab.

To accept the bright acceptation of abaft the blind let us explain what the hijab is. The aboriginal chat is 'H' which agency headscarf. It is the accepted cerebration of bodies that cutting a hijab agency to awning the face completely. However, the accuracy is that for able hijab it is abundant for a Muslim woman to awning her hair, close and bossom. The additional chat is 'I' which goes for intention. What do you anticipate about cutting hijab or what is the abstraction hidden abaft the veil? Is it a coercion or obligation? The absolute acumen for Muslim women to abrasion the blind is their acceptance in God. They accept that God tells them to chase the assumption of clothing. The added chat is 'J' which beggarly Jilbabs. It constitutes the alien garments. Jilbabs agency those clothes that we abrasion on top of our underclothes. Accouterment can be annihilation such as a shirt and pants, continued dress, continued skirt, a anorak etc.

When cutting a veil, it agency that we are adored by god and we are attention our modesty. The abstraction abaft the blind is that we account our communities and ourselves.

The Best Way To Acquisition Muslim Women Online

2012-01-12T02:52:00.001-08:00

There are some acceptable means to acquisition Muslim women online. Muslim sites associated with dating are able to abetment Muslims in award their ideal accomplice in a best acceptable way. These Muslim dating sites advance their acquaint to draw Muslim singles for abounding added things like chatting and friendship. It is important to agenda anticipation that affection Muslim dating casework do accumulate a abutting attending at all factors involving their website, some of which may not be accustomed by Islam religion. In that case warnings are reminders are generally implemented.

Aside from able implementations, the armpit that you plan to use to acquisition Muslim women charge be reliable in added ways. For instance, you charge be able to defended your aloofness with the use of accoutrement that acquiesce you to do things like alter, adumbrate or annul your contour entirely.

Next, you should be able to calmly look by category. For instance, there are some dependable sites that acquiesce you to seek alliance in added countries. There are additionally sites that accept avant-garde look accoutrement that can advice you attenuated bottomward your options based on age range, banking status, preferences and so on.

Once you've begin the best website for you, you may now assignment on your profile. Avoid aggravating to acquaintance a actual big cardinal of Muslim women - this will be beheld as SPAM by added users and aloof artlessly annoying. Review a scattering of profiles and baddest aloof about 5 to 6. Remember, you don't demand to be afflicted by massive responses nor actualization like every added man out there attractive for a partner.

Muslim Women Joining More Online Betrothed Sites in Search of a Partner

2012-01-12T02:50:00.001-08:00

A Muslim women or alike a Muslim man ability acquisition it adamantine to acquisition a abeyant accomplice in their day to day life. As captivation close to religious behavior and behaviour keeps alternation amid the sexes to a minimum.

The best accepted way of a adolescent distinct Muslim to accommodated and ally is to be alien to a abeyant by the way of affectionate involvement. This adjustment puts a lot of burden on the adolescent actuality and some acquire alliance beneath some obligation to parents involvement.

Arranged marriages ability not be as bad as abounding bodies think, already you accept that abiding alliance has been about apparently back man accepted the amount and accent of marriage, it seems analytic and helps in accepting a adolescent brace calm for procreation. As adolescent Muslims see that the affairs of award addition through affectionate captivation boring decrease, they feel the burden to augment their horizons.

With the actualization of the Muslim alliance and betrothed website, distinct Muslims are award that application these sites allows Muslim singles to break aural Islamic boundaries and calmly acquisition addition who accept agnate beliefs, values, belief and accepted goals and aspirations in life. Especially with Muslim women, whether distinct or afar are award that application Muslim alliance armpit to be a abundant another to added methods, as the web gives them privacy, and aplomb in actuality able to clarify through abounding profiles and absolutely acquisition what they are attractive for after activity affectionate burden but still befitting their religious behavior and religious cocky respect.

Muslim Women at the Gym

2012-01-12T02:49:00.003-08:00

Have you anytime wondered why that artful adult who aloof formed out abutting to you on the treadmill covers it all up back she leaves the gym? You apperceive she is a Muslim by the clothes she wears, but may ask yourself, why assignment that adamantine to accessory acceptable if no one is anytime activity to see it?

Being one of those ladies I can acknowledgment that catechism for you.

Working out is a anatomy of worship

In Islam, demography affliction of our bodies and attractive acceptable in our homes for our husbands are both actual important means we convenance our faith.

We are accomplished that our bodies accept rights: the appropriate to be fed, the appropriate to be clothed, the appropriate to rest, the appropriate to be taken affliction of in the best accessible manner. This includes exercise and a advantageous diet. For abounding Muslim women, accessory a gym consistently is an important allotment of accomplishing our body's rights.

Why is she accoutrement that artful Fernwood bod?

I was already asked, "Do you accept to abrasion your hijab (head scarf) in the shower?"

For Muslim women, that sounds like a asinine question. Being a woman who adapted to Islam, I realise that Islam and Muslim women's dress are generally a abstruseness to non-Muslims.

We abrasion the clothes we abrasion for the aforementioned acumen nuns abrasion their habits - as an announcement of religious devotion. No men added than our husbands and our actual ancestors associates are accustomed to see our bodies. We charge awning everything, including our hair, whenever we are alfresco our homes. Our active may accessory big in that bandage and our admirable artful bodies may be draped in an abaya (oversized abnormal dress), but we don't accept to abrasion them in the shower.

For women only!

Working out in a gym area men are present is not accustomed for Muslim women. Women-only gyms like Fernwood embrace assortment in a female-only ambience so are the absolute best for Muslim women who demand to accessory and feel their best.

We may awning outside, but back we are home with our husbands we advisedly affectation our beauty. Someone DOES see that artful lady's body. And assurance me, all that adamantine assignment absolutely pays off.

Single Muslim Women - According To Men Yet Different

2012-01-12T02:48:00.000-08:00

Whether it be distinct Muslim women or men the Koran is addressed to all the Muslims and it says that the macho and changeable 'were created of the distinct body '.The women's appropriate as per the Islam adoration are the appropriate to access education, to assignment and earn, to own absolute property, adequation of rewards for according work, to accurate the assessment and to be heard, to debris alliance that does not please her and so on and so forth.

Women's dress as per the Islamic ability is based on the assumption of changeable modesty, abstention and chastity. Some of them abrasion a bashful dress which includes apart accouterment and a bandage over the arch and beneath the chin, and some abrasion a burkah which is a complete accoutrement from head, face bottomward to the toes.

Muslim women accept played a basic role in the Muslim community. Early Muslim women served the association through scholarships, teaching, nursing and added important activities. In Islam there is actually no aberration amid the men and the women as far as the accord to Allah is concerned, as both are adored in the aforementioned way for acceptable conduct and punished in the aforementioned way for bad conduct.

Single Muslim women accept assertive restrictions in the society. They cannot betrayal their beauty; they should not go to accessible baths and pond pools during the accepted hours area men additionally come. They charge lower their eyes and not see men with bad intentions. They should be accurate in the ball halls and gymnasiums and they should be accustomed to go to the abbey if they admiration so.

The alone Muslim country which armament the women to abrasion hijab is Iran. In added countries, the women are accustomed a best about the hijab depending aloft the amount of acceptance they accept in the account of the religious texts. The hijab should be beat alone back she goes out of her ancestors home. A Muslim changeable is appropriate to dress in a accurate way back she goes in the public. A Kashmiri Muslim woman wears a apart pheran up to knee length. They additionally abrasion bunches of ear rings, the weight of it will be accurate by a blubbery argent chain. On the whole, the women's bashful dress protects the association from affair and added actionable animal relations that advance to the breach up of families and bribery of the society.

Muslim men and women charge lower their gazes. They should not mix with anniversary other. There is no dating, dancing, or alloyed amusing gatherings in Islam. To advice the men and women to acquisition their best activity accomplice after dating in person, there are abounding dating agencies and online agencies which advice them to appear beyond -to-be ally sitting at home.

The avant-garde Muslims accept become broadminded and there is a lot of compassionate and little added abandon is accustomed to the adolescent bearing but at the aforementioned time the ability of Koran and the religious acceptance is kept beneath consideration.

Single Muslim women ashore amid talks of adequation and restrictions imposed.

American Muslim Women

2012-01-12T02:47:00.000-08:00

The Muslims are a boyhood in the American community, and they face abounding challenges. American Muslim women in the country face a lot of bigotry from their own Muslim community. Again they additionally accept to face the botheration of benightedness of Islam. There are additionally added cultural attitudes that accept been alien from some Muslim countries to abase women. Abounding bodies accept acquainted that these women accept not been advised according to the means of Islam. It says in the Koran that they charge be according to the Muslim men. It was additionally a archetypal provided to the association by Prophet Muhammed.

The benightedness of the adoration in the country has advance to abounding bodies fearing, American Muslim Women and if they are actual acceptable again their dress poses a problem. Just because a few of the Muslims are extremists, alike these women accept been attributed with such acts. They are additionally questioned about the adherence to the country if they are citizens. Best Muslims are looked at as advanced advance purveyors of terrorism, and the Muslim women of the country are additionally included amid this list. Abounding alone Muslims who are women accept been bedfast and addled by the government and additionally added citizens.

American Muslim women of advance face the gender discrimination. While abounding bodies about the apple anticipate that this does not action in this country, in actuality it does exist. The salaries these women accept are additionally actual beneath back compared to their Muslim macho colleagues. They are projected as animal altar by the media, and because of this abounding of them cannot accomplish what they demand in their professions. Those women who do work, additionally accept the prime albatross of attractive afterwards the home and the children. They additionally accept to advance the abode for their husbands, and adapt food.

The Muslim women in America do not accept any calm advice from their husbands. The women do not accept aerial positions of access and they are actual attenuate if they do. The women additionally face one different hurdle. That is they are discriminated by both Muslims as able-bodied as non-Muslims. They are taunted because some of them abrasion the hijab, and airing in accessible that way. They additionally face animal aggravation and abounding of them are not accustomed jobs because they are Muslim women. They are accessible targets because of their acceptable dress.

The Muslim women in America do not feel safe physically and emotionally. They are brought there best of the time, as brides from their home countries and abounding of them do not allege English. They are abused by their in laws and husbands as they are in a adopted land. There is additionally the botheration of xenophobia, which is the abhorrence of the Muslim immigrants. As the women appear from abounding countries beyond the world, they abatement beneath the immigrant category. They accept additionally been abhorrent for amusing as able-bodied as bread-and-butter problems that accept been faced in the United States.

The Acumen for Muslim Women Cutting Jilbabs

2012-01-12T02:45:00.001-08:00

The capital acumen for cutting Jilbabs (also knows as Abayas in the Middle Eastern countries) as a Muslim woman is that it is a bidding of Allah (God) as can be apparent by the afterward ballad from the Quran:

"O Astrologer (May Allah's accord and blessings be aloft him)! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw over them their cloaks (veils). That in the atomic so that they be recognised and not be molested." (Surah Ahzaab, Ballad 59).

Islam is a way of activity for the Muslim man or woman, they are declared to chase the bidding of Allah, Muslims accept the Astrologer Muhammad (Peace be aloft him) was an archetype to flesh and that they are should chase the way apparent by him, this is aggregate from how to sleep, how to eat, what to wear, how to get affiliated and aggregate abroad that a being needs to apperceive to alive a advantageous and accomplishing activity as a Muslim.

There are abounding altered sects aural Islam, who all adapt Islam abnormally according to their compassionate of the Quran and Hadith (the sayings and accomplishments of the astrologer Muhammad). This has led to some Muslims actualization added Islamic than others. The toughest attitude by Muslim advisers for women's dress, is for the accomplished anatomy to be covered with apart accouterment and the face covered with a Niqab and alike the eyes should be covered with a veil. The softest attitude is for a Muslim woman to abrasion a apart Jilbab or accouterment with a headscarf.

The way a Muslim woman is articular is by her cutting the Jilbab and Hijab (a headscarf), whilst added Muslim women may accept not to abrasion Islamic accouterment but are practicing Islam as they account applied or acceptable to them, which according to Islam is actual sinful. This can be apparent by the afterward adage of the Astrologer Muhammad (peace be aloft him):

"Many women are clothed but naked in reality. Such women will never access paradise nor will they aroma its fragrance."

Wearing a Jilbab or Abaya isn't accessible for a Muslim woman, abnormally in the West due to the stares and exact corruption that they sometimes accept to suffer. It is additionally adamantine for those women who adjudge to alpha practicing Islam and alpha cutting the Jilbab, whilst the blow of their ancestors abrasion western clothing, as they are usually ridiculed or alike asked not abrasion such accouterment that some chic as backwards.

Why Do Muslim Women Abrasion the Headscarf (Hijab)?

2012-01-12T02:44:00.001-08:00

'A woman's adorableness is in whom she is and her actions, not what she looks like or what she wears.'

Zohra Sarwari

This is a catechism that has arisen abounding a time. What is funny is all the altered answers that bodies will accord me, back I ask them this question. I accept done a analysis and these are the 5 best accepted answers that I accept gotten, appropriately far.

1. They abrasion it to be modest.
2. They abrasion it to obey their husbands.
3. They abrasion it because it is their tradition.
4. They abrasion it because it is their culture.
5. They abrasion it because they are affected to do it.

Well I abhorrence to acquaint you that none of these answers are correct. Would you like to apperceive the absolute acumen why Muslim women abrasion the headscarf (hijab)? It is because their Lord has asked them to abrasion it. It is a bidding from the Creator to the Muslim Woman.

"Oh Prophet, acquaint your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their alien apparel abutting about them. That will be better, that they may be accepted (as Muslims) and not be bothered."

(The Qur'aan: Chapter 33, Verse 59)

I achievement that this clears the delusion about why Muslim women abrasion the hijab. Of advance you accept some cases area the women are affected to abrasion it, but that is not the norm. Some women accept to awning up alike added for they feel that it ability accompany them added acquiescent to God.

I would like to action you a book that I wrote "Are Muslim Women Oppressed?" [http://zohrasarwari.com/are_muslimwoman_oppressed.html] This book will altercate in abyss about the Muslim Woman's role, her status, her accoutrements in detail, additional more. If you demand to apprehend a book that is accessible to read, and accept the Muslim Woman, again this book is for you!

Clothes Online For Muslims

2011-10-12T22:51:00.002-07:00

A variety of words are usually utilized to express the diverse styles and sorts of clothes worn by Muslims throughout the world. Often, the same type of clothing has many different names depending on regional terms or terms. Quite a few Muslims chosen to obtain their clothes while going in the Muslim world, or stitch their own. Yet the Internet is today allowing for Muslims from all over the world ready access to a growing number of online retailers.

Among the words employed to describe clothes for Muslim are Hijab, jilbab, abaya, jilbab, niqab, hejab, shayla, jubbah, thobes, kurta, shalwar or salwar kameez. A lot of people in the west will refer to the Muslim clothing as burqa. But in reality the burqa is less common amongst most muslim ladies. There are usually so several different opinions about what hijab is and precisely what it is not. Some Muslim ladies only wear black, some Muslim women covers their faces, some Muslim women wear specific regional types of clothing, and some Muslim women mix it all together. Clothes Muslim have grown to be really cool currently, the young are designing really cool blend for appealing Islamic attire. Muslim Online clothing Stores are blossoming, more and more fashionable, decent and modest clothes are being presented worldwide. I can nevertheless remember how in the earlier Muslim ladies had to have to design and visit the dressmaker to have something which is acceptable Islamically to wear. Nowadays the choice is big online.

Additionally the Muslim men are finding more and more selections for their Islamic attire online. The Modest clothing industry really accommodates for everybody now. One just have to visit marketplaces as eBay to check out the number of clothes Muslim accessories provided with worldwide shipping. The clothes Muslim are really elegant and it is often noticed that young Muslim girls will readily wear these cute floral hijab currently available compared to the plain black burqa which were the only choice of a years ago.

You can easily end that Muslim clothing is simple and attractive, giving it a rising acceptance among Muslim citizens at present. Most Islamic clothing are manufactured from cotton and hence they are the most suitable for the hot and humid conditions. As the Muslim clothes are available in most current fashionable style can be wear for many occasions and looks very different from traditional occasion cloths. and the Best place to buy these cloths online where one can buy their Muslim clothes at really low cost and these Muslim clothes are available in many different ranges so one choice as per its interest. So a muslim must try the Islamic clothing and feel the pride of wearing such excellent dresses

Australian Muslim - A Complete Review

2011-10-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Australian Muslims are the second largest minority group in the country after the Buddhists. At least 1.7 percent of the population is considered Muslim. These Muslims' origin can be traced back to several decades ago, when many of them came to Australia as camel trainers. They were all from the Middle East and they stayed since then. The number of Muslims in the country has diminished since 2001, as many of them have gone back to their home countries. Those living in the country still have ties with their home countries. The first generation Muslims of the country had cross cultural marriages, resulting in a different community.

There was a time after the Second World War, when there was an increase in the number of Muslim immigrants to the country. Earlier on they could not enter the country, but after the war, there was a need to improve the cultural as well as economic condition of the country. The Australian government was also very strict about not allowing the dark Muslim migrate to the country. Only the fair skin Muslims could migrate. They were mostly from Albania. It was only three decades ago that any Muslim from any country could migrate to Australia.

There are many Australian Muslims from the Middle East, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia. There is also a large number of Muslim students from all over the world, because of the high standards of education in the country. As the country needed a multi cultural face, they allowed all the Muslims from all over the world to live in the country. This has also allowed the Muslim community in the country to contribute a lot towards the society. First it was the camel trainers, who helped the Australians explore much of their land.

Then it is the Muslims in Australia who live there today. As they have strong ties with their home countries, they have opened a channel for trade through this opportunity. They export halal meat to their home countries, and they allow a lot of foreign exchange to pour into the country. For this purpose, the government has been very supportive. Most of the Muslim population in the country lives in the cities, such as Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. A very few of them live in the suburbs. There are also a number of mosques that have been built in the country.

The Muslim students too have contributed a lot as Australian Muslims. After they complete their studies at their own expenses, many of them choose good and honorable positions such as law, medicine, science and arts. They then contribute to the culture of the country. Majority or almost all of the Muslims in the country do not support the radical members of the community, and the latter have also been asked to leave the country. Many Islamic leaders work towards spreading the word of Islam in the right way. They also work towards integrating with the Australian society, as required.

Islamists Versus The World

2011-10-12T22:49:00.001-07:00

The war against terrorism bears some resemblance to the Cold War, the long-running war against communism. After Western democracies triumphed over communism, it became easier to analyze exactly how and why we won the Cold War. We did not defeat communism with military power primarily. We never physically destroyed or invaded the armies, navies or territorial integrity of the Soviet Union or Red China. Instead, communism fell from within due to its false doctrines and weaknesses. We out-produced communism and provided a better life. A market economy was chosen by the Red Chinese and then the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union let its satellite empire go and chose democracy for Russia. The military problems we encountered in Korea, Cuba and Vietnam did not prevent victory in the Cold War. Our economies allowed the West to spend more money for defense than the Soviet and Red Chinese governments could practically afford.

Improvements in communication allowed people in communist regimes to realize the truth: Western countries were inventive, wealthier, freer, more productive and robust than the controlled profitless economies of the communist world. Freedom and democracy work better than one-party state tyranny. Individuals and companies make wiser decisions about the goods and services they produce and consume than the state.

Today, advanced powers in the world enjoy a similar advantage over Islamists, the radical terrorists. The world's advanced nations surpass the capabilities of the terrorists in almost every facet of life. The 9-11 attacks took Western technology and turned it against symbols of Western superiority, but didn't really threaten our culture. Islamists and their sympathizers intensely dislike Western superiority in so many aspects of life, because their warlike religious doctrine states they - not Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists, agnostics or Buddhists - should triumph over other religions.

After Mongols and Crusaders clashed with the Muslim world, Islam lost power and prestige to the surrounding regions. The West learned from Muslims, but Muslims disregarded our "infidel" knowledge. Fundamentalist Muslim forces eventually destroyed Islam in Spain. We've contended with Islamist thinking before.

Much of the oil wealth acquired by Arabs in the 1970s and 1980s ended up in Western banks. The Muslim banking system still lags far behind. Despite their oil wealth, Middle Eastern countries did not absorb commensurate technical and scientific expertise and are still reliant upon Western technology, personnel and weapons. Muslim nations rank far below developed nations in measures of education, research, medicine, economic development, productivity, infrastructure, democracy and transparency. While the rest of the world embraces the social equality of women, the Muslim world for the most part does not. In some areas such as the prevention of crime, substance abuse and lewd conduct, Muslim countries surpass non-Muslim nations.

We do not have to militarily defeat Islamists or build up friendly Muslim states to preserve our dominance. Tiny Israel is able to defend itself and prosper. Left to themselves, American-hating sects, tribes and nations fight each other - and then they don't hate us as much. We need not fear the economic or political power of the Islamists, because they have very little of it.

Yes, terrorists will periodically arise from their caves and hiding places to strike us. We must defend our people and interests. We are learning about Islamic terrorists and how to defend ourselves. We, together with tolerant Muslims and all the emerging nations, will eventually defeat them. Islamists cannot surrender, because they are too de-centralized and have no organization capable of making such a decision. Their attacks are too random, infrequent and spread-out across the entire world to bring any one advanced nation down. The world will eventually sicken of their futile attacks, just as the bombings in Northern Ireland eventually disgusted the world and came to an end. We may be in for 30 more years of this terrorism, but eventually the terrorists will see the futility of their actions. The entire civilized world and all religions will increasingly turn against them with a vengeance. Their unpleasant underground lifestyles and the dirty methods they use to recruit suicide bombers will take their toll. Muslim clerics will declare holy war against them. Meanwhile, Islamists cannot stop the march of advanced technology, emerging market economies, democracies or a world hoping to live better and more securely. To a large extent, it's a matter of time.

The Rottweiler Pope, the Danish Cartoon, and Muslim Moderates

2011-10-12T22:48:00.001-07:00

It's now a couple of weeks after the pope made his speech. A few days ago I listened to an interview with Clinton (former American president, in case anyone has forgotten). His view on the pope's remarks and the Danish cartoon: they make it more difficult for Muslims moderates.

I thought about Clinton's evaluation (he's not someone I dismiss casually). And my thinking brought me to remembering what I'd heard about the impact of the Danish cartoon on Danish Muslims. According to that report, the discussions sparked by the cartoon moved the Muslim community forward by at least three centuries - because before that, the Muslim views were not challenged and until that happened, they could not be changed.

So have the Danish cartoon and the pope's remarks hurt or helped Muslim moderates?

First, the cartoon and the remarks are not one and the same.

The Danish cartoon (to these nonMuslim eyes anyway) is a small mild portrayal of a grizzly truth - the use of the Muslim prophet as justification for bombings and other violence against innocent civilians, including Muslims. The pope's remarks are more blunt and directly confrontational: violence done in the name of religion is against the nature of god. He was called a Rottweiler long before he made these remarks. His remarks - deliberately forceful, provocative - did bring to mind the image of a Rottweiler. Big teeth. A strong bite. One often has to be careful around Rottweilers.

That brings me to a question. Why did the Danish cartoon spark greater protest?

Well, a cartoonist is a more vulnerable target, doesn't have the authority of a huge organized religion behind him. Also, the cartoon came first. Plus, there is the question of whether anyone can make an image of the prophet. Masses of Muslims acted in outrage that anyone dared to make such an image - and totally ignored the message of the cartoon. (The offended chose to ignore that there are numerous other images of their prophet, against which they have not protested, and that the violence done in the name of the prophet creates a very vivid image in people's minds.)

But I still haven't answered my own question. Have the cartoon and the pope's remarks hurt or helped Muslim moderates.

My guess is they've helped. Someone had to do this work. The Danish cartoonist and the pope have drawn a lot of fire and anger away from Muslim moderates. More of them may actually have gotten more courage to speak out. Plus moderates may have moved further in their thinking in response to the cartoon, the pope's remarks, and all the discussion this has generated. In fact, another guess I have is that there are more Muslim moderates than before. (That remains to be seen.)

So far I have no evidence - but I do know that Christians have become increasingly moderate over time, as the Christian fundamentalists have been challenged over and over.

Of course irate fundamentalists (Christian and Muslim) may be ever more allergic to the moderates. But at least in Canada, the very conservative Christians are much more moderate than a generation ago. A similar shift may take a couple of decades in the Muslim world, but that's what I see happening.

****

In the short run, what would I see?

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" - so said Shakespeare, or perhaps it was some other famous British writer. I think the comment popped into my mind becuse people who are losing may get ever more angry. It doesn't mean they will win, or that they should win. A spurned woman doesn't increase her chances of winning back her beloved if she rages. On the contrary. And eventually a lot of spurned people learn.

I'm back to a central point. The more that people around the world do to break the shell of Muslim self-righteousness, the better.

So for now at least, based on my own assessment and knowledge, I will disagree with Clinton, though our goal is the same - the success of Muslim moderates.

****

UNDERLYING IDEA:

"It is a fact readily acknowledged, that for humans, an idea is much more powerful than a fact." I don't know who said that - but I remember how those words struck me when I read them. One idea: just as ideas can close our minds, they can open them to new worlds and visions. Ideas pull things togheter or keep them apart. They help us organize experiences, help us make sense of things - or block us from making sense of things. So I hope you got something from what I've written. Comments and further thoughts welcome.

The Muslim Headscarf

2011-10-12T22:47:00.001-07:00

Muslim women wear the Muslim headscarf for religious reasons which means obeying the commandments of God. In Islam, the words of God are that the women should be modest and follow the principle of clothing. She should cover her beauty. At home or among family or in front of her husband there is no need to wear the Muslim headscarf. Many Muslim women wear the headscarf. Some of the women wear both head covering as well as the face veil which is called niqab. While other wear simple head scarves known as khimar. In some of the Muslim countries women have to wear the burqa and chador that covers them from head to foot. All these types of the Muslim headscarf which is said to follow the laws of God are called Hijab.

The Muslim women wears the hijab or other Muslim headscarf so as to maintain the modesty that Muslim religion teaches. With the development of technology and the effect of westernization, various types of head coverings have made entries in this arena, even for many Muslim women, hijab no longer remained the center of focus. This new trend has been named as liberation in some spheres while other considered it modernization. There was a time a few years back in non-Muslim world, due to great misconception, hijab was being symbolized as radicalism. That was the time when many conscious Muslims made all attempts to restore their religious and ethnic identities. As a result, today all over the world, Muslim women gladly embrace the modest ways of dressing by using Muslim headscarfs such as jilbabs, abayas and hijabs.

In the opinion of various Muslim women scholars, political activists, and scientists if a woman covers her head, it is not an indication of fundamentalism or oppression. In fact, by covering their heads they please God - the creator of the whole mankind. Many Muslim women represent their faith by proudly and confidently wearing the Muslim headscarf in public.

Nowadays it gives many Muslim women self-esteemed by wearing the headscarf. They are neither afraid nor ashamed to wear hijab in all conditions. In fact they feel confidence and honoured to be successful and educated women that can make an impact on others as well. Wearing a headscarve is not only a simple Muslim practice but covering the head in other religions such as the Jewish tradition is equally important. Also the reason behind wearing the Muslim headscarf is to keep women modest and protect them from the eye of men who have immoral thoughts.

Reflections on The Islamic Legitimacy of the Muslim Uprisings

2011-10-12T22:46:00.001-07:00

As revolutions and uprisings sweep the Middle East from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and elsewhere most Muslims everywhere are energized by a wave of hopeful change in a region that has suffered far too long under the stultifying rule of "presidents for life." However, some Muslims are more hesitant and view the waves of protests as unsanctioned rebellions against legitimate rulers.

To begin to analyze the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa, each of the movements in the various affected countries would have to be assessed on a case by case basis. Conditions in each country are unique and therefore any blanket statement would likely not only be inaccurate, but also irresponsible. What follows are some considerations that would have to be part of any meaningful discussion of the Islamic legitimacy of the various movements that can potentially reshape the political map of the Middle East.

First of all, we have to bear in mind that classical treatises and writings dealing with Muslim political theory will not give us the entire answer to the question of the Islamic legitimacy of the ongoing uprisings in the Muslim world. This is so because those writings occurred in a sociopolitical environment that differs totally from the current one. Especially significant in this regard is the advent of the modern nation-state and its associated concepts of state sovereignty, legitimacy, allegiance, citizenship, the social contract and the national interest. Each of these concepts, in the modern setting, differs from its premodern conceptual counterpart, or was unknown in the premodern world. Hence, the writings of premodern Muslim scholars, no matter how brilliant, cannot give us full insight into the social, political and cultural issues that Muslims are currently dealing with.

Secondly, the nature of the neocolonial arrangements that prevail in many Muslim nation-states, where a "comprador bourgeoisie" "manages" the indigenous masses on behalf of a foreign power renders the entire question of the legitimacy of the state a controversial point. In other words, if the state is merely a front for foreign control, and the policies it pursues are oriented to serve the interests of a foreign elite, first and foremost, it is meaningless to discuss the allegiance people owe to the state without asking a deeper question. Namely, if in reality allegiance to the state is a sort of de facto allegiance to a foreign non-Muslim power, how can questions of allegiance to the state have any definitive meaning or relevance from an Islamic perspective?

A third issue of significance is the hegemonic nature of the modern state and its ability to exert control over the lives of its citizens in ways that were inconceivable at the time medieval Muslim political theorists were writing. Generally speaking, the modern state controls the economic life chances of its citizens, it defines the parameters of political participation, it controls the scope and nature of education, it can intrude almost at will into the private lives of its citizens, it can determine the conditions of mass incarceration (i.e. the Japanese Internment Act, or the current Drug War in the United States) and, if it chooses, it can tyrannize the citizenry with impunity, as by definition the state monopolizes the legitimate use of force in the society it presides over.

The upshot of the preceding passage is that the expanded reach of the modern Muslim state demands an expanded basis for defining allegiance and legitimacy. In earlier times, when the lack of information and security technology limited the scope of state power, it was natural to limit the scope of state legitimacy to questions revolving around primarily religious issues. However, the deepened reach of the state demands that examinations of legitimacy and allegiance begin considering questions such as economic security, political participation, and basic human dignity along with related matters. If these issues are motivating Muslims who are challenging the legitimacy and efficacy of their states, they have to be considered by the religious scholars and authorities who are assessing the appropriateness of those challenges.

Furthermore, by accepting the legitimacy of the sovereign state, we accept, implicitly, that all of the citizens share an inherent equality. That being the case, the state is not the property of an individual, or an oligarchy or any other elite. Rather, it is the property of the people. That being such, if the people rise up in response to the abuses of the state, that uprising by definition cannot be considered illegitimate. An example given by the noted political theorist Hannah Arendt can be mentioned here to clarify this idea. We cannot consider an angry mob occupying a bank to be similar to an angry group of students occupying a building on the campus of a public university. The first group is encroaching on private property, while the second "own" the university as much as the faculty and administration who may oppose their actions own it, by right of their enrollment.

Considering this understanding of legitimacy, as it relates to the modern state, those who dogmatically adhere to the traditional Muslim view of legitimacy are confronted with a conundrum when arguing against the right of Muslims to engage in even peaceful protest against oppressive regimes. Either they must reject the legitimacy of the modern nation-state for their Islamic critique of Muslim popular revolutions to be meaningful, or they must abandon their Islamic critique in favor of the critiques of legitimacy that have arisen with the advent of the modern state. It is theoretically difficult to have it both ways.

When we do consider existing Muslim writing on these issues there are caveats that normally escape discussion. Let us consider, by way of example, the issue of the legitimacy of revolt against an established "Muslim" ruler. There are those who claim that any rebellion against a Muslim ruler is unsanctioned. However, we do not find this opinion in the writings of the traditional scholars. This opinion is close to the conservative Sunni view. However, even the Sunni view is conditional, and rebellion is sanctioned in the case of the ruler openly rejecting Islam or sanctioning laws or practices that violate accepted Islamic laws or principles, and it is not feared that a greater tribulation will befall the believers should they rise up.

This Sunni position, which gives priority to stability over justice, evolved over time and is informed by well-known historical realities. However, it is not universally accepted among the Muslims. The Shi'ah and the Mu'tazila, both hold that a rebellion in the pursuit of justice is lawful and even encouraged in some instances. This is particularly the case when the injustices being challenged are clearly unsanctioned by the laws or principles of Islam. Hence, the scholarly consensus needed to declare as absolutely forbidden the current protests is lacking.

Similarly, a simplistic application of the verse, "If two parties of the believers fight each other make peace between them..." (49:9), to challenge the protests would be difficult in places like Egypt, because two parties amongst the believers were not fighting each other. The protesters were nonviolent in their actions and intent. Any violence was initiated by the supporters of the government, or the state security forces, while during the periods the protesters resorted to violence it was clearly in self-defense. As soon as the violence being used against them abated they returned to their nonviolent protests. Their peaceful protest was guaranteed by Article 54 of the Egyptian constitution, while Article 57 clearly condemned as unconstitutional the violence the pro-Mubarak goons were employing against them. Hence, to declare their movement as illegitimate would be difficult from either an Islamic or a constitutional basis.

This brings up a related point. In that the protesters were speaking out against the excesses of tyrannical, authoritarian powers, they are engaging in the best Jihad. The Prophet, peace and blessings upon him, mentioned, "The best Jihad is a just word in the face of a tyrannical ruler." In light of this Hadith, what Islamic argument can validly be made to deny the people their right to speak out against the tyranny of their rulers?

Others argue that these rebellions are sowing the seeds of instability in the region. It should be borne in mind that the seeds of instability are being sown by the governments themselves and the rapacious elites and foreign powers that benefit from their rule. The political repression of the people and their economic exploitation is the source of any instability, not the action of those protesting against those abuses. The protesters are themselves the fruit of the seeds being sown by the ruling elites. Hence, any efforts to identify the source of any instability must go to the source of that instability and not focus on its effects.

Finally, we can add, that as Muslims we should not see ourselves as being eternally trapped in a world where we are the helpless objects of the actions of others who have constructed institutions that are antithetical to our values and interests. The nation-state system in the Muslim world is less than one hundred years old. As an institution it has debatable legitimacy and authenticity according to Muslim political thought. The way its sociopolitical role in Muslim societies has evolved has been shaped by un-Islamic realities such as colonization and the Cold War, and by un-Islamic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and now the World Trade Organization. To declare this arrangement beyond question, criticism or challenge is not only unjust, it is a betrayal of Muslim history.

This issue is one that requires an analysis that goes far beyond what we have been able to articulate in the limited space available here. Hopefully, we will be able to engage in a fuller analysis elsewhere. In the meantime, we pray that God blesses the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and elsewhere to fulfill their aspirations to enjoy a dignified existence in lands where the nobility and honor conferred upon them by God is celebrated and cherished.

The Deeper Implications of Muslims Targeting Innocent Civilians

2011-10-12T22:45:00.001-07:00

This article, written in the immediate aftermath of the failed New York City bomb attempt [1], will examine some of the theological implications of Muslims violating civilian immunity. I have written elsewhere why attacks against innocent civilians are in opposition to fundamental teachings of Islam. Unfortunately, there are some Muslim ideologues that sanction such actions and a growing number of Muslim civilians and noncombatants are being killed by their coreligionists, in Iraq, Afghanistan [2], and elsewhere. For these reasons, the argument that follows is more than merely hypothetical. This article is being reprinted in the aftermath of an alleged plot to mail bombs to Chicago-area synagogues from Yemen.

Western military commanders, politicians and philosophers who have sanctioned the widespread bombing of civilian populations -owing to the industrialization of war and its being wedded with nationalist ideology during the 19th and 20th centuries- realize that their actions involve a dangerous moral leap. The following passage from Phillip Meilinger's work on the moral implications of modern warfare illustrates this point:

The Fall of France in 1940 left Britain alone against Germany. The ensuing Battle of Britain, culminating in the Blitz, left England reeling. Surrender was unthinkable, but it could not retaliate with its outnumbered and overstretched army and navy. The only hope of hitting back at Germany and winning the war lay with Bomber Command. But operational factors quickly demonstrated that prewar factors [emphasizing precision bombing of military objectives] had been hopelessly unrealistic....Aircrew survival dictated night area attacks, and, in truth, there was little alternative other than not to attack at all. Moral constraints bowed to what was deemed military necessity, which led air leaders down a particularly slippery slope. [3]

That slippery slope led to wanton massacres of civilians that were unprecedented in history and they culminated in the nuclear incineration of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Muslims who would sanction gross violations of civilian immunity, owing to strategic desperation, are entering on a similarly slippery slope. However, there is a huge difference between the norms that govern western strategic thinking and those defined by Islam. Namely, western norms are socially constructed while those defined by Islam have their origin in revelation -the latter as understood by Muslims. Hence, from a Muslim perspective, and that perspective is critical for the argument we are making, western norms are subject to change with changes in social, political, economic and especially technological considerations, while Islamic norms are transcendent. [4]

The idea of total war, which holds that there is no distinction between the combatant and noncombatant elements of an enemy population, and that both groups can legitimately be targeted by an armed force, is ancient. The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), as documented by Thucydides, involved both the mobilization of entire populations for the war effort and likewise the eradication of entire populations, such as the inhabitants of Milos. During the Middle Ages, the Mongol invasion of the Muslim heartland of Asia could be described as a campaign of total warfare that left unimaginable death and destruction in its wake.

The existence of total war campaigns during early historical periods is accompanied by efforts to extend immunity from violent conflicts to civilians. Plato, various Roman philosophers, Medieval Christian theologians, orders of knights and in the early modern period, theorists such as Francisco de Victoria and Hugo Grotius all advocated various degrees of civilian immunity from the scourges of war.

In the western intellectual tradition, thinking surrounding this idea during various historical epochs was associated with prevailing views of just and unjust actions as well as the self-interest of relevant societal actors, as opposed to clear and deeply rooted scriptural pronouncements. This was true even among Christians. Hence, we do not see meaningful discussions on limiting the destructiveness of war among Christian theologians until the 4th Christian Century with the work of St. Augustine.

In Europe, changing conditions and circumstances have led to changing positions on the issue of civilian immunity. For much of the latter Middle Age the prevailing European views were dominated by ideas emerging from the Catholic Church's Peace of God movement, and the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. The advent of the nation-state in the aftermath of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 would introduce a new epistemology to govern thinking around strategic affairs, even though Medieval Christian thinking still informed attitudes and policies related to civilian immunity, at least until the French and Industrial Revolutions.

These nearly simultaneous developments led to the idea that the civilian infrastructure needed to support a modern war effort was so essential to its successful prosecution that it transformed civilians into combatants. As a result, beginning with the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War, conflicts in the West would witness the erosion of civilian immunity -at least until the aftermath of the World War Two.

Unlike the situation prevailing in non-Muslim lands, the idea of civilian immunity among Muslims has been rooted in clear scriptural pronouncements from the prophetic epoch. Qur'anic passages establishing the sanctity of innocent life (Q. 5:32) and not expanding hostilities to noncombatants (Q. 2:190) coupled with prophetic strictures against killing women, children, monks, and other noncombatants created the basis for a strong and enduring Muslim ethic governing civilian immunity. Although there have clearly been instances when some Muslim rulers and commanders have not respected that ethic, it has generally remained a restraining factor throughout Muslim history. [5]

Among its greatest fruits has been the existence of large non-Muslim populations in historical Muslim empires, the general lack of forced conversion of non-Muslim populations, a lack of genocidal massacres undertaken by Muslim armies [6], and the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and other faith communities in areas such as Andalusia, Bosnia, Palestine and Iraq, historically.

As changing geopolitical and technological realities dictate changes in the norms governing the intentional targeting of civilians in western strategic thinking, there is no inherent damage to the integrity of western secular thought. Indeed, the socially constructed nature of those norms only serves to reinforce the secularity of the process whereby they are arrived at and the analytical methods governing their assessment. This is not the case for the transcendental Islamic ideal governing civilian immunity. When it is abandoned by Muslims, a critical aspect of the religion itself in abandoned.

As Dr. Tim Winter (Abdul Hakim Murad) [7], expanding the work of John Gray [8] and others, argues, when that abandonment occurs in the modern context, it is precisely because the transcendental Islamic ideal has been forsaken or lost. Muslims who target civilians are robbed of any moral high ground in their struggle with opposing forces and are left naked before the bitter winds of political expediency. If expediency demands suicidal murder, bombs in mosques and marketplaces or in the heart of western cities then in the view of those who have entered upon this vile path, so be it.

At the heart of the Islamic ethic regarding the sanctity of innocent life is the following verse in the Qur'an, alluded to earlier:

Owing to that [first instance murder] we ordained for the Children of Israel that whosever takes an innocent life for other than retribution for murder or murderous sedition in the land it is as if he has killed all of humanity, and whoever saves a life it is as if he has saved all of humanity. Our Messengers have come to them with clear proofs, yet even after that many of them exceed limits in the land. [9] (Q. 5:32)

This verse emphasizes that the immunity extended to innocents is a principle that was upheld by all of the Prophets. Hence, the specific mention of the Children of Israel, who were the recipients of a long line of Prophets, and the mentioning of the Messengers at the end of the verse.

The idea that to discard the immunity that is extended to innocents is to abandon an indispensible part of the divine law is emphasized by Imam al-Qurtubi in his commentary on this verse (Q. 5:32). He states:

The meaning is that whoever makes it lawful to take the life of a single innocent person has made everyone's life lawful, because he has rejected the divine law [establishing the prohibition of killing innocents]. [10]

Abandoning the divine law when one makes the blood of innocent people lawful to shed is emphasized from a deeper perspective by Imam Fakruddin al-Razi in his commentary on the same verse. He states:

When he [a murderer] resolves to intentionally kill an innocent person he has given preference to the dictates of his bloodlust and anger over the dictates of obeying God. When this prioritization occurs, in his heart he has resolved to kill anyone who opposes his demands, were he capable of doing so. [11]

The murderous campaigns undertaken by some misguided Muslims that have led to the massacre of thousands of civilians in the Muslim world and that are now threatening the innocent people in this country are not manifestations of Jihad, as some claim. Rather, they are a mirror image of the godless murderous mayhem and carnage this country has inflicted on the innocent civilians of many Muslim countries, and, as explained above, it involves an abandonment of the prophetic legacy.

Every Muslim who is concerned for the future of his or her faith and the future of the prophetic legacy in the world is morally obliged to work in whatever capacity he or she can to stop attacks that target innocent civilians by any party -Muslims or members of other communities. The basis for this moral obligation is powerfully stated by Imam Razi in his commentary on (5:32). He mentions:

If all of humanity knew that a single individual intends to exterminate them they would undoubtedly try their utmost to prevent him from obtaining his objective. Likewise, if they knew that he intends to kill a single person then their seriousness and exertion in trying to deter him from killing that person should be just as great as it would be in preventing their own mass murder. [12]

The reason for this is that the life of a single innocent person has the sanctity of the lives of all humanity. This is an ideal we cannot let die. If we allow it to die who will revive it? Human history has shown how quickly we can begin a free fall into murderous madness once we have entered upon the path that justifies murdering innocent civilians and other noncombatants. If the American military and the warmongering interests supporting it are guilty in this regard we condemn them in the strongest terms, and if our fellow Muslims are guilty we must likewise condemn them.

The only difference between the two cases is that when the American military kills innocent civilians it is violating principles of human rights and worldly conventions, which, as we have seen with the current arguments justifying torture, are subject to change or being discarded altogether. When Muslims do it, we are betraying our faith and the legacy of the Prophets, peace upon them, who have left us a wealth of timeless, enduring wisdom.

Notes:

[1] I am not assuming that Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American who has been arrested in association with this bomb plot is guilty. The investigation is ongoing and his guilt has yet to be established. The affair does provide an occasion to discuss the issues that are raised in this essay.

[2] This statement does not discount the existence of black or psychological operations that are undertaken against Muslim civilians by the security apparatuses of Western powers at war in the Muslim world, along with their agents and surrogates. However, it is undeniably true that an increasingly large number of the attacks against Muslim noncombatants are being undertaken by Muslims themselves.

[3] Quoted in Ward Thomas, The Ethics of Destruction: Norms and Force in International Relations (Ithaca, London: Cornell University Press, 2001), 90.

[4] The transcendental nature of Muslim norms does not deny the human effort that went into translating those norms into policy. Hence, like their medieval Christian scholastic counterparts, Muslim theologians struggled to define the scope and limits of civilian immunity.

[5] For an insightful study of the generally peaceful nature of Islam's spread among non-Muslim peoples, and its respect for them see Professor Thomas Arnold, The Spread of Islam in the World: A History of Peaceful Preaching (New Delhi: Goodword Books, 2001).

[6] The most notable exception to this assertion is the Armenian Genocide that occurred in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. This controversial tragedy occurred during the waning years of a Muslim world governed by a viable Islamic tradition, and after Turkey had been transformed into a nationalist, quasi Islamic state led by the Young Turks. By that time, the Sultan was a powerless figurehead. For most of the Ottoman reign Armenians were a self-governing minority that enjoyed the protection of the rulers in Istanbul.

[7] See Abdal-Hakim Murad, Bombing Without Moonlight: The Origins of Suicidal Terrorism (Bristol, England: Amal Press, 2008). Murad convincingly demonstrates how Muslims who engage in wanton attacks against civilians are merely extensions of a deeply-rooted history of such violence in western civilization. Likewise, he shows how Muslims who would justify such violence openly reject the Islamic tradition of patience and restraint in strategic affairs.

[8] See John Gray, Al Qaeda and What It Means To Be Modern (New York: The New Press, 2005). Gray argues that the philosophy of al Qaeda owes more to the positivism of Saint-Simon and Comte than to any traditional Islamic influences, and its organizational structure is a reflection of 21st Century globalization.

[9] Their exceeding limits lies in the continuation of their murderous ways.

[10] Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Qurtubi, al-jami' li ahkam al-Qur'an (Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi, 1995), 3:147.

[11] Muhammad b. 'Umar Fakhruddin al-Razi, mafatih al-ghayb (Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi, 1995), 4:344.

[12] Ibid., 4:344.

The Core of Logic For the Arab and Muslim World - Part II

2011-10-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

My advice to readers is, if they do not concentrate, it is recommended to stop reading this article. In this part, we discuss the highest knowledge in Islam. In applying logic to belief, I would give the following demonstration which should logically, leads to One God existence which is the core of Islamic religion.

The example given according to Aristotle, Averroes and Avecina, was the discussion of propositions and classification of these propositions, was ""Every man is just" and its counter two propositions 1) the negation by saying "No man is just" as opposites like white and black, good and evil, and 2) "Every man is unjust" which is contrary to the basic statement. The significance of the contrary proposition according to Averroes was demonstrated by the example which is not contrary proposition, is "Death is bad" as opposed to "life is good" because both are true propositions, therefore, contrary propositions is One must be true first, and the other false. What we believe, therefore, is the most contrary while others have general meaning of the contrary.

To give more concrete example, in the argument of the uttering [the speech] and its mental perception in tems of negation or contrary, we have to ask: Is belief in the contrary of a given proposition or belief in its negation stronger or weaker than the original statement. Or to apply it to belief: Is belief in the contrary of a given proposition or BELIEF in its negation is [greater] stronger. And is there stronger than both propositions?

In the Arabic language which colors Islamic belief of "Tawhid" or "Oneness" of God. The Qur'anic statement by uttering " La Ilaha Illa Allah" Which means there is no god except One God, the statement demonstrates new type of proposition which is "negation of the negation" This means that this type is stronger than both the negation and the contrary assumptions together. Logically then, philosophers reach to the natural conclusion that God exists at the beginning and end of propositions.

Note: I owe a great debt to for those who discussed previous the three terms thoroughly in there commentaries and writings, namely, Aristotle, Averroes, Avecina, al-Ghazali, and Butterworth. In addition to summeries of Moses Maimonide and Thomas Aquinas. The proverb saying "we stand on the shoulders of the Great philosophers", may be applied here.

An Untapped Market - The Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:41:00.002-07:00

For the last eight years or so Falken whose product conceptions are globally distributed and best known under the Clean Plus brand, has been slowly establishing beachheads in the Muslim world.

Defying the prevailing conceptions of many that Islam was a threat, the company has plowed huge time and cash into backing its belief that the problem in these states was not one of extremism but of sclerotic over regulated economies that stifle entrepreneurship and isolate people from the global economy, depriving them of jobs, services and hope for a brighter future.

Advantaged to a great degree from its decade old policy of pricing to global market by adjusting for differences in purchasing power coupled to its willingness to establish distribution platforms to service these markets, the news is all good. It is nevertheless undeniable that these markets are not for the tender of heart or body.

Recent years have seen an emergence of FLKI's target middle class throughout the Muslim world. FLKI has relentlessly encouraged this capitalist trend working and supporting the establishment of distribution platforms, retail offerings and targeted advertising and promotional campaigns bridging the cultural gap with extraordinary success.

FLKI recognized nearly a decade ago that the Muslim world was getting younger and that it would have to create 100 million new jobs by 2020 to meet surging demands. Unique in the industry the company offers top products at purchase power adjusted prices. FLKI product concepts have experienced great success and brand identity positioning them globally for an increasing brighter future.

Slowly markets such as Turkey, Dubai, Malaysia, Egypt and Pakistan have begun allowing space for commerce and global trade. Local entrepreneurs and businessmen coupled to FLKI marketing and development staffers have begun to take advantage of these changes.

The result is a significant growth in sales of FLKI product conceptions, outpacing and seemingly by far, that of its competitors.

The signs of FLKI's managerial decisions and proactive development of distribution for its product conceptions can be found everywhere in the Muslim world. "We believe that while the western outlook for these countries looks grim, that an economic renaissance has begun" said Manuel Garcia, communications officer.

One and a half billion consumers have to generate some clout. As they move up the economic ladder FLKI is well positioned to benefit from what it believes will be a blending of traditional and moderate Islam with the opportunities and material benefits of liberal capitalism. They'll want goods they know, goods they have seen for years, goods that work and are priced to their budgets.

FLKI's policies have already created waves in the industry. The growth of its activities in the Muslim world is encouraging reconsideration from competitors. This is encouraged by FLKI since competition is essential to grow the market from the niche market it represents today to one more representative of the $ 4 trillion economies this group of countries will represent by 2015.

Defying traditional thinking and the gurus of the global economy is no novelty to FLKI a company that I have, as an analyst, covered since 1997. My thoughts are that FLKI doesn't expect to turn a tide in just a few years. Instead that it knows that change is possible and probable and that building a strong tie with the critical middle will help it prosper. I believe that the company is again standing on the right side of the historical evolution and that its sales and profits will underline its progressive policies.

Muslims Must Change

2011-10-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

This article was published in Asia Times Online.

Yes, I am a Muslim. Yes, I am a Pakistani. I am proud of my religion, my race and my country. I have written about British Imperialism; I have written about US Imperialism. But today, I am going to write about the ignorance and weaknesses in the Muslim world itself. Why? Because we, the Muslims, cannot improve until we look more deeply into ourselves and have a self-critique, which till today, we have been shy to do so. Yes, our ancestors were great people. They were great thinkers, excellent preachers, meticulous teachers, first-rate scientists, admirable healers, thorough explorers, fabulous leaders, splendid warriors and above all, God-fearing humans. Some of them did make mistakes and some did cross the line. But to err is human. And there are also black sheep in every community during all ages. Overall, their mettle and abilities were recognized by the world over time.

The question is: Are we the same people? Past is past. We have basked a lot under the glorious sunshine of our history. But, it's time to move on. If we do not realize our mistakes now, it might be too late tomorrow.

In the past several hundred years, apart from a few exceptions, we failed to produce great thinkers, notable architecture, any distinguished pieces of art etc. We did not discover and we did not invent. We did not even take forward our religious and cultural thoughts and stopped thinking "out of the box". The result is that we do not have any notable leader in the Muslim world, while extremism within is on the rise. We look to the West to get inspired. Yes, the same West many of us have grown to hate. We despise them, yet we love them. We want to stay away from them, yet we wish to immigrate and reach their land. We criticize them for their dressing, yet we dress like them. We condemn them for immorality, yet we indulge in sins equivalent, if not graver, than those committed by them. We criticize their rulers for oppressing the Muslims, yet our own rulers oppress us. We disapprove them for being hungry for money and yet, there is no account of the amount of corruption prevailing in our own societies. We loathe them for using their women as sex symbols, and yet our own women are scared to go out into the streets alone. And finally, we detest them for racism, and yet our own minorities are tyrannized by us.

What are we? Who are we? Are we clear in our thoughts? Are we focused? We know where we are coming from, but do we know where we are headed? We call ourselves Muslims but we do exactly opposite to what Islam preaches. The truth is that we are just Muslims by birth and that itself is no achievement at all. How many of us have read the Quran and understood it? Apart from saying a few prayers, that for some become a routine exercise with time and lose the real essence, how many of us really understand why we are bound to pray five times a day? How many of us have tried to practically implement Islam into our lives? Had we done all that, we would have been a lot different than what we are now.

The solution is simple, yet hard to achieve: Muslims must change. Yes, we must change in our thoughts and in our actions. We must stop pointing out the worst in others and begin cleaning up our own backyard. We should take what best others have to offer to us, and share with them the finest that we have. In short, Muslims must try to become Muslims first.

All Religions of This World Have Failed Pt 2

2011-10-12T22:40:00.001-07:00

"Religion is not interested in the transformation of human beings. Religion is show. Religion is song. Religion is dance and a false worship. Religion is ritual, but religion is not the cultivation of a human being, that that human can refl ect God in our actions, in our character, in the way we deal with our children, and our wives and our community and our world. We have failed."(The Hon. Louis Farrakhan 10-17-2004)

In this article we will review some of the histories of the people of the book(Ahl Al-Kitab).

As Muslims we are taught to believe in all the prophets of the past and their revealed word(scripture). We are further taught not to make any distinction between them.

"Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which has been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit." (HQ 2: 136)

"The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. They all believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers. We make no difference between any of His messengers." (HQ 2: 285)

The Holy Qur'an teaches us that throughout the ages the merciful ALLAH has raised prophets and messengers when humanity has went off the path of divine favor.

We are taught that every time the prophet left or died the people fell down into their former behavior, while still claiming to be followers of their prophet and his message. So, after the people went back from whence they were called Almighty God raised up another prophet to correct them, but usually the people would reject the new prophet in favor of the former prophet, while not recognizing that the new prophet only bears witness to the former and desires to take you to the next level.

It is similar to how we advance in school. When we master our lessons and graduate to the next grade we don't go back and say our last teacher was wrong and the new teacher is right or reject the next grade, because we learned much in the last grade.

Moses and the Children of Israel

"O Children of Israel, call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations." (HQ 2: 122)

The children of Israel under the leadership of Moses, according to the Holy Qur'an, were brought out of a terrible circumstance in Egypt by Moses(Peace be upon him) and were being prepared by God to lead the nations in righteous conduct. However, they ultimately didn't fulfill their part of the covenant with God as the following words show: "And when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: You shall serve none but Allah. And do good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to orphans and the needy, and speak good (words) to (all) men, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you, and you are averse." (HQ 2:83)

ALLAH kept sending prophets to warn, guide and renew the followers of Moses to the purity of his teachings. Yet, some prophets were killed, rejected or their teachings distorted by the scholars afterwards.

Finally, The Qur'an teaches(2:87) ALLAH took his favor away from the children of Israel and prepared another prophet to teach another community.

Jesus and the Christians

"And with those who say, We are Christians, We made a covenant, but they neglected a portion of that whereof they were reminded." (5:14)

Next we come to the history of the Christian community and their response to their prophet Jesus. (I am fully aware that the Christian belief is that Jesus was not a mere prophet and is God or the son of God, however I am not taking up that subject for the purpose of this article.) Jesus(Peace be upon him) came in the tradition of the prophets sent before him. He came to remind the Children of Israel of the supremacy of Almighty God, correct the errors that crept into the teachings of Moses and take them a step further in the revelation of the wisdom of God.

After the death of Jesus and his message going through Rome many changes would take place which would interpret his message quite differently that what he taught when he was among us. History teaches us that much of the doctrines that have been accepted as Christianity was formulated after the death of Jesus and was made official by vote at the Nicene Council in 325 AD.

After the emperor Constantine "accepted" Christianity he had a vision of the cross and Latin words translated which meant "With this sign we conquer". Jesus said, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." (Mark 7:6)

We see in history of the bloodshed committed by the European Christians against the people of the earth including the Native Americans and the Africans. Jesus didn't teach the people to be bigoted towards others, enslave them or kill others that are different.

I am not trying to pick on those who are Jews or Christians and proclaim the Muslims to be some holy righteous people, because as we will see in the next section the Muslims followed the way of those before them step by step as Prophet Muhammad prophesied.

As was seen in the history of Moses, ALLAH took his favor away from those who call themselves followers of Jesus and re-revealed his message 600 years later to Muhammad ibn Abdullah and in the land of Arabia to make them a nation of obedience to God and a example to others.

Muhammad and the Muslims

"And thus We have made you an exalted nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you." (HQ 2:143)

In the year 610 at the age of 40 Muhammad(Peace be upon him) began to receive revelations which would later be compiled as a book called Al-Qur'an. He found his people in a low degraded state and over a 23 year ministry he transformed his people, united them into a nation and made them an example for the world. The Muslim world at that time was know for leading a sleeping humanity to the exploration of the sciences, medicine, mathematics and knowledge.

Soon after the death of the Prophet the Muslims would face circumstances that would divide them and lead them off the path of divine favor. For over 1400 years the Muslims have been arguing over who had the rights to "successor ship" to Prophet Muhammad. I put successor ship in quotes, because no one truly succeeds a prophet but another prophet raised by God. However, the Muslim community needed to fill a leadership void created by the death of Muhammad.

There was disagreement between who should be the leader of the Muslim Ummah(community). Some agreed with the selections of Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khataab and Uthman ibn Affan. However, there was another group who believed that Ali ibn Abu Talib, the prophet's relative and son in law, was the fittest person for the job. I will not be debating the arguments of both sides in this brief writing. To make a long story short, there were major disagreements which led to bloodshed and war among Muslim brothers and sisters, which have lasted till this day unfortunately. Two major sects of Islam(Sunni and Shiite) were created in the aftermath of the division and bloodshed.

The Prophet Muhammad warned the Muslims against killing each other in the following words:

"Once the sword is unsheathed among my followers, it will not be sheathed until the Last Day."

The Muslim world is currently manifesting major deviation from the path of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah. The followers of Muhammad have joined the followers of Jesus and Moses in deviation from the path of Almighty God ALLAH and divine favor.

The Holy Qur'an reminds Muslims, Christians and Jews of the ignorance of their division from each other.

"And surely this your community is one community, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me. But they became divided into sects, each party rejoicing in that which was with them. So leave them in their ignorance till a time." (HQ 23:52-54)

Thank you for reading these few words.

Obama Urged to Address World's Muslims From US Mosque

2011-10-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama pledged to address Muslims from a Muslim country within 100 days of taking office. But delivering the speech in a mosque on U.S. soil promises a bigger impact. Muslim Americans support efforts to improve relations with Muslims overseas. But the president also must engage Muslims at home. We need him to be our president, too.

He could begin by making his address to Muslims worldwide from a mosque on American soil. Why not Masjid Al-Fatir, the mosque in the president's Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago?

Muhammad Ali, the former heavyweight boxing champion, built that mosque. He's an American Muslim respected throughout the Muslim world. The president never visited an American mosque during his campaign. Because of anti-Muslim bigotry, he felt it necessary to keep a public distance from American Muslims. Terrorists and extremists who "defend" violence against the United States in the name of Islam fuel fear, bigotry and negative Muslim stereotypes. Their killings and disregard for human life is an affront to all, most especially to American Muslims.

Muslims are grateful for the steps President Obama has taken to lessen the hostilities abroad. He banned torture, ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the CIA's secret interrogation centers. He also appointed special envoys to three trouble spots in the Muslim world. He gave his first television interview after taking office to Middle Eastern station.

The last presidential administration treated American Muslims as virtual enemies of the state, discouraged our civic involved and suppressed our voices. We were isolated and rendered invisible. Isolating the terrorists and extremists is an urgent task with which no one disagrees. But it's vital to U.S. interests to engage American Muslims as partners in building relationships with the Muslim world. This is not only a matter of respect, but a matter of our common interests.

American Muslims are a global village made up of diverse communities of African Americans and immigrants from many nations. Among Muslims, they are one of the largest groups of highly educated professionals in the world.
Tens of thousands are physicians and surgeons. Others serve in higher education. Many proudly serve in the U.S. military. I personally know at least six Muslims in Chicago who played critical roles in key Muslim governments. Many are directly connected with the ruling elites of the countries of their birth.

Part of the change that American Muslims hope for is to be valued as an asset by their country rather than viewed as a liability. We long for a president who will welcome our voices and our public service. Nearly 3,000 prayer locations, mosques and Islamic centers serve an estimated six million Muslims in the United States. We invite our president to stand with us publicly and vigorously battle against Islamophobia -- the bigotry he tasted during his campaign and we experience daily.

The choice of a U.S. mosque for the president's address would affirm what he stated at his inauguration: that Muslims are part of the fabric of our nation. More importantly, it would acknowledge that the key to repairing relations between America and the Muslim world are those who know both best: American Muslims.

The Beginning of Islam and Moderate Muslims

2011-10-12T22:37:00.001-07:00

I am watching the current dialogue with Muslims and the Muslim world with hopeful anticipation along with most people in the world. The religion of Islam continues to be one of the most misunderstood faiths in the world due to the misrepresentation by the adversaries of Islam and often by the very followers themselves. The religion of Islam and Muslims have been under a microscope since the horrible incident of September 11th. I have been told personally by a few that I have made them uncomfortable, because of my Islamic affiliation. Pressure internally and externally are now causing the Muslim world and Muslims in general to reexamine the way we have practiced our faith.

I have noticed that during this recent dialogue with Muslims there are still some misconceptions regarding Islam and Muslims. I believe these are innocent misunderstanding, but they feed into a larger stereotypes of Muslims.

One of the most common misunderstandings concern the actual origin of Islam and Muslims. President Obama recently said in his speech to the Muslim world via Egypt that, "He wanted to return to where Islam began." Some may say what is wrong with his statement and why are you making such a big fuss over nothing. I do not personally believe that he meant anything by it, but this is not the Muslim position regarding our origin in the world. First not all Muslims are Arabs, but some Muslims, around 18%, happen to be Arabs and live in the Middle Eastern region. The rest of the Muslim family live in Indonesia, Africa, Europe, America, China and all in between making up the estimated 1.5 million Muslims world wide.

Secondly, Muslims nor the Qur'an teach that Islam had it's origin 1400+ years ago or in the geographical area of Arabia. Islam as we are taught is a principle of submission to the will of the Creator of the heavens and the Earth. It is an eternal principle that is seen in nature, the universe and humanity. It is for this reason that we believe all the prophets taught the same way of life-submission to the will of God.

The world has taken it for granted that Islam is of Arab origin despite them only representing around 18% of the whole. Islam is seen in the sun obeying the will of the Creator and giving light. Islam is seen in the planets floating in their orbit in an orderly fashion. Islam is seen in the Bee being a Bee. Islam is seen in the bear being a bear. The human being was created with the nature of Islam and to reach greatness by bowing to the will of the Almighty God Creator ALLAH. This is verified in the Holy Qur'an Chapter 30:30. So, it is for the aforementioned reasons that we do not say Islam has an origin other than God himself.

My second reason for writing this post is to rhetorically ask the question what is an moderate Muslim and why does Islam have to be moderated? These statements are made implying that Islam and/or the Holy Qur'an are some inheritantly wicked, hostile or backwards system. So, it is up to others outside to show Muslims the correct civilization. It is clear to everyone that the practices of Muslims, particularly in the Mid East need reform. This I will announce from the mountain tops without shame.

The Muslim world and Muslims in general have deviated from the path as foretold by Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him). So, the Muslims need to be reformed, but it is not for their adversaries to dictate to them. Just as Christianity went through a dark age and has now come of age so must Islam come through it's own cleansing process. Martin Luther and John Calvin both disagreed with how Catholicism(Christianity) was being practiced from the leaders to the followers. Therefore they protested thus creating the protestant movement in Christianity. I believe the same is in store for Islam. Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) taught is that innovation would enter the religion of Islam. The true principles and practice of the Holy Qur'an, without the interpretations by the scholars, would offer light to all of humanity.

This is an interesting time for the Muslims in the entire world. This dialogue amongst Muslims will lead to much good-self examination, self analysis and then self correction. Prophet Muhammad said that the sun would rise from the West. This means that as the sun represents light to the Earth, the truth of Islam will shine from the West to the East. Muslims in the East will have to start showing more respect to the Muslim communities that are being developed in America that could be an example to them to solve their problems.

Thanks for reading

Agency Dating Muslim - A Boon For Today's Computer Savvy Muslims

2011-10-12T22:35:00.001-07:00

Agency Dating Muslim is an online dating agency that connects Muslim men and women from all over the world. It helps Muslim singles across the globe find their suitable partner.

The word 'dating' brings a grimace in the face of conservative and conventional Muslims. Agency Dating Muslim sites provide a safe and secure environment for Muslim singles worldwide. These sites are very easy and hassle-free for today's Muslim youth as they can approach agency dating Muslim sites and address their needs. These sites allow single Muslim men and women find their partners from their own place and neighborhood.

Agency Dating Muslim sites take the form of a marriage broker. It helps fix marriages between a man and woman, apart from getting help from friends and relatives. Today, online Muslim dating agencies are so popular and sophisticated. For this reasons, Muslims from all over the world have started using these sites. It is like a home for marriage platform.

For Agency Dating Muslim sites Muslim ethnicity and castes are irrelevant. These sites facilitates Muslim singles choose a companion from their own choice of background, age, qualification and nationality. It makes it possible for Muslim men to chat or speak with their chosen life partner to learn about each other interests and feelings.

Muslims are severely restricted from physical contacts between an unmarried man and a woman. Agency Dating Muslim sites are very well tuned with Sharia or the Muslim law. It helps a Muslim man and a woman to meet each other without making physical contacts. This helps Muslim single women a lot as they can know about their life partners even before they could make a commitment.

Agency Dating sites also provide a second chance for divorced Muslims. It offers an ideal place for separated Muslims talk about the dissolved matter once again without even meeting each other in person.

In countries like America and United Kingdom, Muslim population is influenced by the style of dating that is common in that culture. Agency Dating Muslim sites still, with all those changes in the society, follow and abide by the Islamic law. Most Muslims strictly maintain their Islamic law and faith. It is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an that Muslims should marry a person who belongs to same religion or culture as this would make them understand each other better and lead a happy life. Marrying outside Islam is possible only with the help of the parents or guardians, as young Muslims are easily mislead. Muslim parents should become a part of this procedure and guide their children in finding suitable partners.

With the dawn of computers and internet facilities in the poor countries and the third world countries, Agency Muslim dating sites have reached almost every part of the Muslim world. These sites provide free subscription and anyone can easily register their names and get benefited from these sites.

For these reasons, Agency Dating Muslim has become an ideal place for Muslims to meet their ideal partners without going against the law of Islam and the society. The aim of Agency Dating Muslim is to provide an ideal environment for the Muslims that best suits the Islamic society, as marriage in Islam is considered as the greatest blessing in a Muslim's life.

Muslims and Identity in the United States

2011-10-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

"A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." - George William Curtis

Everyday, thousands of Muslims in North America are faced with the same question and predicament that they wish to address: "Am I an American Muslim? Or am I a Muslim American?". This identity crisis has plagued Muslim communities all over North America, leading to confusion amongst young Muslims to whom do they owe their loyalty; Do they owe their loyalty to America first or is it owed to the lands that their parents came from? It is very important for Muslim communities to establish that one should owe his own loyalty to multiple different principles, as Tariq Ramadan states in many of his speeches, include a hyphen between one's two identities rather than having one replace one identity within the other. It is important to establish this distinction between the two types of identities one can take on, as the identity that Ramadan suggest is very essential in order to secure the future as the loyalties that constitutes within provide the necessary items needed for Islam's future in the West.

Muslim communities in the West need to pave the road for the conversion of the identities of the many young and older Muslims that live within their communities with little contact with other non-Muslim communities identity. In Ramadan's book, Ramadan heavily scrutinizes the level of isolation currently held in Muslim communities in the West, in where the loyalties of those Western Muslims are heavily focused on loyalty to solely Islam. This can be seen when he writes that it is necessary for Muslim communities in the western world to prevent isolation and be involved in the societies in which they live in, in order to address the many issues these communities face. Ramadan deems that this may be dangerous, as the lack of loyalty towards where a Western Muslim resides in can lead to the isolation. The isolation that is derived from this lack of loyalty towards a country can prevent Muslim communities from allowing their problems from being seriously taken and addressed. Furthermore, this lack of loyalty can lead to a lack of necessary interactions between Muslim and non-Muslim communities, which can be signified to prevent social, economic, and cultural benefits to Muslim communities. Ramadan states that Muslim communities in the west should establish interactions with the others around them, as this can lead to political, social, and cultural gains. Thus, it is important for Muslim Americans in the West to establish loyalties towards their respective countries, and take pride and take complete advantage of the rights that they are able to exercise. By establishing such loyalty within Muslim communities within the United States, Muslims of all ages shall feel compelled to contribute to the very intricate political system, allowing them to address the issues, which they wish to improve upon. Lastly, Ramadan mentions that establishing a loyalty towards a Muslim's country in the West can also contribute to the betterment of the Muslim community, as doing so can help establish an identity amongst non-Muslim communities. Muslim communities fail to establish an identity amongst non-Muslim communities, which contributes to the reality which addresses why Muslims have been recognized as un-American in the United States recently. The reality presents the fact that Muslims have failed in properly illustrating that there true exhibition of loyalty to America. As a result, a population of Americans believes that Muslims are indeed, un-American. As a result, they fail to find the willingness to address the problems and issues currently faced in Muslim communities. As a result, it is necessary for Muslim communities to establish loyalties towards their respective countries in order to secure Muslims' futures and provide the betterment of Muslims in the West.

There still lies another facet and perspective of loyalty, in where Ramadan fails to examine which is necessary for the building of the future of not only Western Muslims, but Muslims all over the world. Ramadan fails to examine the diminishing extent of loyalty to which young Muslims are currently losing. The reality points to the fact that young Muslims in the West currently fail to illustrate that they are truly loyal to the West. Ramadan addresses this to some extent, where he states that the loss of a Muslim identity can lead to the loss of future resources that may be beneficial to solving problems within Muslim communities in the future. This can be taken to a farther extent, where the loss of loyalty of young Muslims to the countries in which they came from can lead to the loss of bright think tanks can accelerate the path to solving problems in the Muslim world. Therefore, it is important for Muslim communities in the West to ensure the loyalty of young Muslims, which in turn can be used to be converted to a longing, wish, and desire for these young Muslims to strive to solve the problems currently evident in the Muslim world. This can be very distinctly seen within a portion of the Muslim community in Detroit, where according to Yahoo! News, communities of young Muslims have been staging protests to condemn the deadly retaliation of the Syrian Security Forces against peaceful protestors. This can be depicted as an example of how one's loyalty can be further converted to longing to solve problems in the Muslim world. Thus, one can truly see how a Western Muslim's loyalty to the country where he comes from is important to solving the problems currently held in the Muslim world.

Examining the implications of using Western Muslim's loyalty, one can truly see how these loyalties are essential for the future of not only Western Muslim's, but for Muslims around the world. As a result, it is necessary for a call to action to be thrust upon establishing the loyalties discussed in this essay, importantly distinguishing between what Ramadan calls as a "hyphenated-identity rather than an identity which replaces the other. This can be achieved by providing education seminars and lectures illustrating the importance of such loyalties and identities for securing the future of Muslims in the West and around the world. In doing so, Muslim communities in the West will be successful in compelling Muslims to work to establish these loyalties and identities within their communities.

Acceptability of Online Marriage in the Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:33:00.001-07:00

Marriages are celebrated with the rites and rituals that are accustomed to your religion and are finalized with the affirmation of your vows, to adhere to your promises and stand by your partner through thick and thin. The traditional way of performing a marriage ceremony is unique to all religions, but what differentiates Muslim marriages apart from the rest, is the frustration of perceiving the ideal bride, considering the fact that only until a few years ago arranged marriages were the only practices that were recognized as a binding of respect and significance.

Influenced by the west, many Muslims resort to online dating sites as a median of finding true love and at the same time abide by the rules that have been passed down from generations. The concept of getting to know your match online works similarly to arrange marriages, with the only difference being that with online dating sites you're exposed to a higher number of prospects, which is a great opportunity to expand your search locally or globally, while keeping your parents and loved ones in the loop.

Many followers of Islam are still hesitant about the acceptance of these kinds of marriages in their faith and to clarify; the only concept that is deceiving to the Muslim faith is casual dating and by using Muslim matrimonial sites, you are simply viewing profiles in order to narrow down your search for the perfect mate. Muslim matrimonial sites are inclined towards their religion and the anonymity is such that all your personal details will remain with you and whom you choose to share them with. In this way you can ensure that there is no-one prying on you without your consent.

Unlike other matrimonial sites, Muslim online sites allow you to search for singles based on criteria such as a person who practices their faith 5 times a day or the categories they belong to i.e. Niqab, Hijab etc. The other misconception about searching for a mate online is the dilemma of misrepresentation and people who act fraudulently to make their profiles seem more appealing. There may be times where you may encounter specimens of this type, but is common to practically everything we do in this day and age. In the end you need to understand that most of these Muslims are out to meet eligible singles and those who share a common stream and your approval is essential to seal the end result.

Time is of the essence with anything we do and with the help of online matrimonial sites you do not have to travel with your entire family for miles to meet an individual and realistically not all prospects live in your neighbourhood, which may not be the most cost efficient strategy. The first criteria for Muslim matrimonial sites is that you belong to the same faith, which eradicates any surprises from the start and makes sure that the path you've chosen to find your mate is confined to your religion.

The rate of divorce in our modern society is well over 50% and getting to know someone, while abiding by the terms of your religion is definitely a great way to secure a blissful future.

The Core of Logic For the Arab and Muslim World - Part I

2011-10-12T22:32:00.001-07:00

Building on the logic roots of issues dealt with by philosophers on civilization progress and liberal arts universities in Europe, Liberal arts in the Arab and Muslim world have to learn from the European experience and style of thinking including dialectic and logic in studying philosophy which combined old and new logic. The old logic of Aristotle and al-ghazali, and the new logic of Ibn Sina (Avecina), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), where the first emphasizes the theological philosophy, and the second two emphasize Aristotlae Prior Analtics, Posterior, Analytics Topics and sophistical refutations, known after Arab, Jewish, and Christian Philosophers translations of Averroes and Ibn Sina, Moses Maimonides, and Thomas Aquinas.

The above statement is suggested as proposal for the questions examine both theology and philosophy. While Islam does not and cannot ignore religion in any aspect of life as ethical standards, it can tolerate liberal sciences in arts and humanities following philosophical assumptions about the nature of things or the matter and motion, because the idea of Double Truth Theory, where the hierarchy of intelligence on the top explains that philosophic truth may contradict, though not negate or invalidate religions truth even when reason and revelation being separate domains. The first intelligence by which all orders are based in terms of creation, which viewed as eternal process by which God is the One and Only Who is responsible for the order and nature of the universe which does not negate Islamic belief of Oneness of God.

The idea that "there is Only One God" cannot be proved logically except with belief in revelation. However, the negating of this statement or opposing it may say "there is no God," also cannot be proved logically. In both cases philosophy dealt with this issue in terms of cause-effect or the highest in hierarchy of ranking things or in terms of subject-predicates anology.

For Averroes, the Qur'an in fact, requires the intellectical elites (Ulama) to pursue philosophy Where the core is logic. There are few of these intellectuals who can distinguish between demonstration on the one hand and not demonstration on the other in a true argument. Because demonstration term followed creation of the matter first to be demonstrated by logic. The example given by philosophers is the wood and metal, in the form of a door of a house or put in the house, where no demonstration of objects can be done unless they are formulated in a shape, size, weight, and motion. This remind us of substance (Existence) and existing things. In liberal arts, and sciences the argument is not how and why the substance was created [Including human beings], but how they demonstrate their existence on earth.

In Islam Qur'an, as well as Torah and Bible, expresses its truth, by three levels corresponding to three main intellectual classes, namely, demonstratively, dialectically, and rhetorically, demonstrative as valid reasoning from necessary creation, as Aristotle, Averroes, and Avicena demonstrated in their thought on matter and existence as the highest form of rational discourse and only produces perfect knowledge. It is also, the only one guarantees unity of truth.

However, the other two (dialectical and rhetoric) forms of discourse have an important social and cultural functions [through religion]. To help people in Arab and non Arab in the Muslim world to live according to their God's will. Unfortunately the two forms in both worlds can describe intellectuals in these countries since the days of al-Ghazali. Which neglect to follow the demonstration form of logic in the argument.

The idea of existence in philosophy is well understood that revelation is the best, though, philosophic wisdom ought not to be thought of those who are not fit for it. As this results in errors lead to fragmentation of sects and heresies. Furthermore, the wisdom of revelation is supreme in that it addresses itself to all in appropriate ways and degrees. Take for example, study of biology [or mathematics, or physics] does not seek to prove who gives life, but only deals with the nature of life demonstration through organs in humans, plants, and animals. The idea was in fact supported by Avicena in his study of biology. For him, things exist either by nature or essence or choice and will, and both are true and good.

One more point to this argument, Avecina's declaration that the creation is necessity for life to begin and to end., where this idea was rejected on theological basis by al-Ghazali followers. The points which created and elecited strong and diverse reactions among philosophers are immortality of the soul, the eternity of the world and the relation between religion and philosophy which diverse philosophers in the process of reconciling reason and revelation.

Going back to the title of this article, we suggest for the Arab and Muslim world not to neglect the three forms of logic, especially the dialectical and rhetorical forms when dealing to initiate arts and sciences. And encourage them to begin demonstration principles of the matter of creation which I think, does not contradict theological values or negate the existence of God's creations, but negate or contradict behavioral practices demonstrated logically or otherwise among the various divisions of sects. By applying the three forms, the demonstration, the dialectical and the rhetorical will enhance practicing logic of philosophy, and the possible logic in the other two. Where the first is pure logic which is demonstration, while the others are combining contrary and rhetorical beliefs in any any religion.

Celebrations in the Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:31:00.001-07:00

I am far from an expert in the Islamic faith. I was raised Anglican Catholic and my expertise in my own faith is lacking, let alone a faith I am only beginning to try to understand. I raised my children in the Anglican faith and now that they are adults, each has made their personal choice as to faith.

Surprisingly, to me anyhow, my eldest son converted to Islam about two years ago. This roused my here-to-for dormant interest in the Islamic faith. To further clarify, my interest in Islamic holidays was peaked when I realized that my son was not celebrating Christmas (understandable), New Years, birthdays, and other celebrations he had grown up with. This seemed to be with or without regard to their significance with respect to the Christian faith.

I don't know if you have ever read the Quran. It is relatively brief in comparison to the King James Version of the Bible. The Quran has 114 Surahs (chapters for lack of a better word). Many professing the Islamic faith have memorized it and I am given to understand that committing the Quran to memory is everyone's goal. But I digress! What, if anything, do the Islamic faithful celebrate?

My research revealed 2 great celebrations or festivals in the Islamic faith. They are 'Idul-Fitr and 'Idul-Adha. I will describe for you, to the best of my ability, the meaning and timing of each of these.

The first, 'Idul-Fitr, ("Festival of the Breaking of the Fast") occurs at the end of Ramadan. Ramadan, by way of explanation, is the 9th lunar month in the Arabic calendar, and this month was always known as Ramadan even before the existence of Islam. In the Islamic faith, this month is devoted to fasting from dawn to sunset each day. The fasting includes abstaining from food, water, and sexual relations. Additional elements of devotion are expected as well, such as reading the entire Quran, seeking forgiveness of past sins and performing good deeds, to name a few. The basis for Ramadan as a month of fasting and retrospection is Surah 2, verse 185, for those who might have an interest in further research. The celebration of 'Idul-Fitr has the following components:

* Donations to the poor
* Celebrants wear the best clothes (often new) that they have available
* Early morning communal prayers
* Feasting and visiting relatives and friends

The second, 'Idul-Adha, (Festival of Sacrifice) occurs on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month in the Arabic calendar. This festival acknowledges Abraham's (Ibrihim's) willingness to obey God's (Allah's) command to Abraham to sacrifice Ishmael, his only son. The celebration of 'Idul-Adha has the following components:

* Recite the Takbir ("God is Great") before prayer on the first day and after prayers on each of the succeeding three days of the festival
* Celebrants wear their best clothes
* Sacrifice an animal for food or donate money for the purchase of food and share with the poor so that no one goes hungry

These are the two principal celebrations in the Islamic faith and of course, there is significantly more to learn about them than I can possibly provide in the brief span of this article, but I hope I have succeeded in giving you some insight into these Islamic celebrations.

The Sense of Temporality in Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:30:00.001-07:00

With the founding of Islamic principles the sense of the time has taken an opposite idea to that previously spread among the Arabs.

This different view is summed up in a Muhammad Hadith: "Do not curse time, because God is the time." Even taking into account the fact that the word al-Dahr expresses the idea of not measurable time, this statement may interpreted as enigmatic and singular, especially in contrast with the strict monotheism of Islam.

Actually it is perfectly understandable if we see a negation of linear and impersonal time. The very personality of the Islamic God, with absolutely and unpredictable freedom is transmitted to the cycle time: behind the passing of days, there is always a principle that in itself is immutable and unaffected.

The idea of Islam as Dahr as one of the leading powers that governs the flow of the universe and in this description is underlined and in time there is a freely act of what they define as divine providence.

We have a sort of attractive force that is manifested in the world of the sky, an endless become all consuming, while the other force is set essentially as a reflection of that does not change but because of that is subjected to all the mutations.

The clear distinction between Zaman and Dahr, allows us to better understand some feature of the Islamic traditions particularly related to the complex relationship that exists between the duration of God and human time.

The return set out by Islam to a lunar calendar, with fluctuating between 29 months and 30 days and moving in the true season of the year represented a return to the undefined time and his continued mobility, and this led to not consider the temporal flow as a linear and fate always equal to itself, by perceiving the contrary, the presence of a primordial and immutable principle which is not party to the passing of days. This approach is a whole difference with the Christian idea of the living presence of God in the human history with His sorrowful vicinity than the Islamic God.

Al Qaeda Listens as Pope Endears and Challenges Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:29:00.002-07:00

Removing his shoes and standing in silent prayer beside a Muslim cleric inside Istanbul's Blue Mosque, Pope Benedict XVI created an indelible image of his willingness to open a dialogue with the Islamic world.

At the same time, the pope did not back away from his suggestion, made two months ago during a lecture at Germany's Regensburg University, that Islam had a problem with violence. (Tom Hundley, Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent)

The Pope who previously angered the Islamic world by quoting a 14th Century Byzantine emperor who said that most of the Prophet Mohammad's contributions to religion were "evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." showed off his diplomacy skills in Turkey and thereby won the hearts of those who previously fought him.

During his four-day stay in Turkey the pope avoided direct references to Islam, but his message was consistent:

"Above all, we wish to affirm that killing innocent people in God's name is an offense against him and against human dignity," the pope said in a joint declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the Greek Orthodox church.

The Pope continued to pursue religious equality and reciprocity globally, urging the Muslim world to allow Christians freedom of religious expression and the right to build churches in Islamic lands. Minorities in majority Muslim nations have basic human rights too and should be afforded religious freedoms like the rest.

"I think the best index of the success of the trip is that it provoked a response from Al Qaeda," said Rev. John Wauck, a professor at the Santa Croce Pontifical University in Rome. "That means it bothered them."

A message from Al Qaeda denouncing the pope's visit as a "crusader campaign" against Islam and an attempt to "extinguish the burning ember of Islam" in Turkey appeared on several militant Islamic Web sites.

"Al Qaeda doesn't want to see reconciliation. They want to see inter-religious conflict," Wauck said. "Their response showed that whatever the pope is doing, it's working."

The moment that defined the pope's message was the simple act of standing side-by-side in prayer with the grand mufti of Istanbul, a moment that was replayed on evening news broadcasts and front pages around the world.

"The image you're left with is that the pope is not hostile to Muslims. It made clear that whatever disagreements he may have theologically and intellectually with Islam, he is not anti-Muslim," Wauck said.

The pope's approach to a dialogue with Islam has been carefully calculated, according to George Weigel, a Catholic commentator and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington.

"The pope knew exactly what he was doing [in his Regensburg lecture]," Weigel said. "He decided that it was time to put a challenge to the Islamic world that only he, as pope, could put."

"The congenial pope," declared an editorial in Hurriyet, one of Turkey's leading newspapers. The rest of the Turkish media have been similarly charmed.

"He came here with a lot of baggage, and I didn't know whether he would be able to overcome that," said Binnaz Toprak, a political scientist at Istanbul's Bogazici University.

"But in the end the pope presented himself not only as a religious leader, but also a diplomat," Toprak said. "The Turkish public will be pleased that we made a nice show of Islamic tolerance and Turkish hospitality, and [the pope] gave an image to the world that he is in favor of dialogue."

And so too should the rest of the world be in favor of religious dialogue. Though we may have our religious differences, certainly there is room for tolerance and dialogue. We can disagree without being disagreeable. Let us love one another and learn to live together peaceably despite our differences.

Keep listening Al Qaeda! You just might learn something about the unconditional love of God, heart of the Father in heaven, and how to build bridges with humanity on earth. God is not a killer; He's a life giver.

Inventions in the Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

On a recent visit to Istanbul, I noticed a new structure in the historic Sultanahmet area where the Ayasofya, the Sultan Ahmet (Blue Mosque), the Hippodrome and several other imposing monuments are located. Some of these trace their history back to the 3rd century BC. The new structure housed the 1001 Inventions exhibition that traces the forgotten story of a thousand years of science from the Muslim world from the 7th century onwards, and how it was impacted by discoveries from other civilizations- the Indian, Persian, Greek and Chinese.

On entering the exhibition I watched a film that showed the many technological feats that had been achieved in the Muslim world, including those that formed the precursors to modern day inventions such as the very film that I was watching. Ibn al Haytham, an eminent philosopher and mathematician observed light coming in from a small hole made in the shutters of a window. Further observation and experimentation led to the invention of the Camera Obscura, the first camera in history. This has led to the sophisticated digital imaging processes of today, including the making of films and their projection on screens, apart from the science of lasers, optics and bio-luminance.

The exhibition itself was an eye opener of a different kind. Beginning with the Elephant Clock, built about 800 years ago by al-Jazari, at a time when the Muslim world spread from Spain to Central Asia, the Clock not only tells the time, but brings together Greek water principles with an Indian water timing bowl set on an Indian elephant, topped by an Egyptian Phoenix and flanked by a Chinese dragon and Arabian figures, including that of the Emperor Saladin. The exhibition also covered inventions in the field of mathematics, libraries, medicine, hospitals, surgery and surgical instruments, town planning, architecture, code breaking and cryptography, weaponry, post and mail, astronomical instruments such as the Astrolabe, among many others.

On the Turkish Airways flight on the way back from Istanbul to Mumbai, I remembered that the first person to make an attempt to fly was Abbas ibn Firnas in the 9th century, and not the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, as is generally believed. Firnas was renowned as a poet, astrologer, musician and engineer, and his dream was to create a flying machine that was capable to carrying a human into the sky. He managed a number of short flights over the desert region before attempting two famous flights in his home region of Cordoba. For his first flight, he wrapped himself in a loose cloak stiffened with wooden struts and jumped from the minaret of the Great Mosque of Cordoba. The cloak helped him to glide downwards, much as if he was wearing a parachute or seated on a hang-glider. He got away with minor injuries.

The next flight machine made by Ibn Firnas was from silk and eagle feathers. Taking off from a hill and watched by a large crowd of people, he flew to a significant height and stayed aloft for over ten minutes. He then plummeted to the ground and broke not only the wings of the machine, but one his own vertebrae. At this time, the seventy year old Firnas realized the role played by the tail of birds when they land - an observation that is very relevant to landing systems in flying machines of today. Thus, once again, as in the watching of the film, I realized that Ibn Firnas had been a little bit responsible for my ability to see and experience the exhibition in Istanbul!

However, there is a question which the exhibition fails to address - What happened to science, technology, invention and innovation in the Muslim world from the 16th century onwards, when Europe took over as the leading inventors in the world? (Even though scientists of the Muslim world helped lay the foundations of the European Renaissance). And perhaps even more important, what is the role of scientists in the Muslim world today?

In early 21st century, the 20 Arab countries combined, contributed roughly 0.55% of the world's published scientific literature. From 1980 to 2000, only 370 patents were issued to inventors in nine Arab countries. In the same time span, South Korea received 16,328 patents. However, countries in the Middle East have recognized the need to encourage experimentation and innovation in science and technology. As a result, there has been a surge of Science and Technology parks in the region during the last few years. As of 2007, there were 30 parks dedicated to information and communication technology (ICT), 15 biotechnology parks and 12 engineering parks established in the Middle East. UAE and Turkey have the largest number of Science and Technology parks.

An interesting project, launched in the Arab World is a study to a sequence 100 Arab genomes at high resolution by the end of 2010. The project was launched in 2008 by Saudi Arabia and then taken over by the newly established Center for Arab Genomic Studies in the UAE. The project has tremendous potential for creating new diagnosis systems, as well as treatment plans. However, whether it will be able to revolutionize medicine as the great physician of the 9th century Al-Zahrawi did, remains to be seen.

Is the Gospel on Fire in the Muslim World?

2011-10-12T22:28:00.001-07:00

A number of news sites -- including faithtelegraph.com -- there are more and more headlines touting "revival" in the Middle East. Surprised by the word "revival"? Perhaps you aren't aware that, yes, there are in fact Christian churches in the Middle East that exist and can be "revived" by a move of God. Indeed, in Erbil, a "Kurdsman Church" was officially recognized by the government. This was apparently a "historic breakthrough." Moreover, some missionaries are projecting 10,000 churches in Iran next year!

As often seems to be the case when there is a new move of God in a new part of the world, signs and wonders abound. Muslims turning to Christ report having dreams in which "Jesus" appeared to them. Does that seem far fetched? Consider the Apostle Paul, who came to Christ through a vision (of sorts) or the Emperor Constantine who saw a cross before him, resulting in the transformation of the Roman Empire into a Christian nation. God is not above (or below) using dreams and visions to reach unbelievers in extreme (or even nonextreme) circumstances.

Whatever the case may be, the transformations are apparently stunning. Former Muslims have contrasted their previous desire to kill for their faith with the incredible love they now have through Christ. One man even recalls wanting to kill his wife because she did not cover her hair! (Tough marriage.)

So what, if anything, has changed? There have obviously been big political changes in the Middle East in recent year (e.g., the Iraq War). Those closest to the events in question, however, attribute this phenomon to, interestingly, prayer. Who'd have thought?

To take just one example of a Christian church on fire in the Muslim World, consider Dubai. Yes, Dubai, home of some of the world's most luxurious hotels and tallest buildings, is also the home of the biggest Christian church.

More than 75% of the Country is Muslim, and Islam is the official religion. In addition, it is illegal to share the gospel with Muslims. Moreover, printing the Bible or other evangelistic materials is not permitted, and there are harsh penalties for converting people from Islam.

Still, relative to other Muslim countires, Dubai is remarkably tolerant of the Christian Church. Like everything else in Dubai, Kings Revival Church is huge: 7,000 members, 24 pastors and 14 services, including 4 in English. It probably comes as no surprise that King's Revival is the largest evangelical church in the Middle East.

The church apparently does not balk at the restrictions on sharing the gospel, taking the attitude of being open to whatever God has for them in the circumstances they are in. And God reportedly has a lot for them: There are reports of remarkable miracles -- cancers being cured, the blind seeing. And the church supports charity and 170 pastors in the Middle East and throughout Asia. It seems likely that Kings Revival and other local churches in the Arab world are responsible for increasing reports of "revival."

The International Faith Telegraph

Addressing the Need For Women's Banking Services in the Muslim World

2011-10-12T22:19:00.001-07:00

Throughout the Muslim world, banks and financial institutions have experienced a significant rise in their number of female customers in recent years. The number of banks and investment companies created specifically for women has skyrocketed across the Middle East. Estimated to control around $246 billion of the region's wealth (projected to hit $383 billion by 2011) , women in the Middle East are regarded today by international banks as financial powerhouses.

The recent rise in this market can be attributed to the increasing role of Muslim women in the workplace. Responsible for controlling household and family finances for decades, women have also experienced new empowerment and freedom in how they spend their money. With new opportunities for education on the rise and more and more women entering the workforce, women have become crucial target customers to the financial industry. Banks can tap into this growing market by providing banking services to their growing number of female customers and by training their sales and customer service personnel to better sell and service this important customer segment.

The Role of Women in the Muslim World
It is not a new concept for Muslim women to be in control of the family finances, but now they are empowered to step out of the home, cash in hand. They have money to spend and invest and they are looking for the same opportunities made available to men. A 2007 study by the International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World Bank, found that a third of women-owned enterprises in the United Arab Emirates generated over $100,000 a year, compared to only 13% of American women-owned firms.

Women on the Home Front
Today, many Muslim women have significant liquid assets, partly because of Islamic inheritance law. Islamic law dictates that a married woman's wealth is her own; spending on the household is her husband's responsibility. Muslim women are legally entitled to inherit and bequeath property, holding their wealth in their own names even after marriage, without obligation to contribute that wealth to their husband or their family.

Because Muslim women do not have to rely on their husbands as their only source of funds for domestic and household purchases, they have traditionally managed most aspects of household finance. Today, women throughout the Muslim world play an even more active role in the financial transactions of their families, giving them more of a say in terms of purchasing power and decision-making authority. With these responsibilities, women require banking services that both understand their needs and can help them to manage the challenges they face in making the best financial decisions for their families.

Women in the Workforce
Throughout the Muslim world, women are entering the workforce and even starting their own businesses now more than ever. According to recent reports, women currently run about 16,390 businesses. In recent years, women have slowly become more accepted in the workplace and have even come to occupy senior government posts, including ministerial appointments and executive positions in the private sector. Once regarded as delicate beings that need to be protected, Muslim women today are being empowered to seek financial independence.

In 2009, Financial News released its annual list of the 100 most influential women in finance and for the first time, four Middle Eastern women were among the names included. Chosen for their profound impact and exemplary leadership in their industry, these women represent the gender shift in this part of the world. Haliza Abd Rahim, head of project management for BMB Islamic UK, leads a team that oversees $10 billion of assets for some of the Middle East's wealthiest families. Maha Al-Ghunaim is chairman of Global Investment House, the leading asset management and investment banking companies in the GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Soha Nashaat, head of Middle East, North Africa and Turkey for Barclay's Wealth, of the UK-based Barclay's Group, has been building Barclay Wealth's Dubai hub since 2006, becoming one of the major wealth management recruiters in the GCC in 2009. Nahed Taher cofounded Gulf One Investment Bank in 2005, making her the first woman to head a bank in Saudi Arabia.

Identifying Women's Needs
As women continue to manage their financial responsibility and independence throughout the Muslim world, the need for new and specific banking products and services for this market has also emerged. Forced to wait in line with men in many male-operated financial institutions for decades, women throughout the Muslim world now seek a private, personal and comfortable banking environment. Women today enjoy financial institutions that cater to their unique needs and offer enhanced, targeted, financially compelling, and more personalized services than they have ever experienced before, such as credit cards and loans.

Banks can cater to this market by offering women extra privacy in their financial affairs and a more relaxed atmosphere in which they can discuss their needs. Banks can create exclusive areas within their branches that enable women to carry out their banking transactions with greater comfort and privacy. Banks can also attract new customers by offering women additional benefits, including exclusive health privileges at renowned hospitals and health clubs, and shopping discounts with special privileges at select stores for perfumes, clothing, accessories, books, and much more. Financial institutions truly dedicated to expanding services to women will open female-only branches.

Financial institutions can also reach this lucrative demographic by employing more women. Many Muslim women would prefer to discuss their financial affairs with another woman who understands their concerns through personal experience. An entire staff-tellers, bankers, wealth managers, branch managers-made up of women would be welcomed by their female-only clientele.

Training
While women-only financial institutions have been in existence for decades, this is a new initiative for many institutions. The transition will require time and education. The most effective way for banks throughout the Muslim world to reach this growing market is to implement a top quality training program, customized to the needs of women. A training program will help all employees at a bank to become familiar with this growing demographic and understand the importance of being sensitive to the needs of these new customers. A well-educated staff will prove to their clients that the bank is aware of the impact of women throughout the Muslim world and is ready for a change.

Additionally, a training program will teach bank employees how to successfully communicate with their female customers while providing outstanding sales and service. Learning professional customer services skills will help employees listen to their customers' needs and answer any questions, helping their female customers to feel relaxed and confident in their banking experience. Through training, employees also will become familiar with the products and services available for their female customers, such as current account, savings accounts, investment accounts, credit cards, auto finance, real estate and much more. Most importantly, employees will learn how to sell these products; following proper policy and procedure, protecting themselves, their banks, and their female clients.

Final Word
The shifting role of Muslim women in their homes and in the working world provides a new market for financial institutions. In order to tap into this growing segment of the financial industry, banks need to understand the unique banking needs of this vital customer segment and implement a sound training program to best sell and service them. Through training, banks can build a knowledgeable, professional and sensitive staff that is prepared to serve women throughout the Muslim world as this market continues to grow.

Dr. Linda Eagle is Founder & President of The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy-a 22-year-old education and consulting firm dedicated to serving Banks, Credit Unions, Money Services Businesses (MSBs) and all areas of the Global Financial Community with thousands of generic and customized training programs in areas such as BSA/AML, Regulatory Compliance, Teller Training, Systems Training, Sales and Service Training, and many more.

Sånt som Nadia Jebril

2011-10-05T12:19:00.001-07:00

Sånt som Nadia Jebril