Picture of the Day

See funny pics members have posted:  Picture of the Day

Imam Hussein in History

The revolution that Imam Al-Hussein made was not a rebellion against a legal ruler; it was a revolution against a tyrant dictator, Yazid Ibn Mu`awiyah, who deprived the Ummah of its right to choose its rulers [by succeeding his father to the caliphate]. Besides, he was notorious for being corrupt and dissolute. The majority of the Sunni scholars and others agreed to that, and Ibn Hajar mentioned so in his book As-Sawa`iq Al-Muhriqah. By his revolution, Imam Al-Hussein’s aim was not at all to support the Shiites, though the tragedy of Karbala’ (the place where Imam Al-Hussein was martyred) was a turning point in the history of the Shiites, for since then they were no longer a mere political group supporting the People of the House (Prophet Muhammad’s descendents), butrather they became an independent school that had its own beliefs, jurisprudents, social organizations and system of rule.

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The American Enemy

The American enemy looks at us contemptuously, for it has succeeded in disintegrating the Muslim Ummah and subjugating it. It seeks to dominate our Muslim Ummah altogether; hence, it has launched a fierce war against Islam and the Muslims in the name of combating terrorism and extremism. It has launched such a war against Afghanistan, and it is launching it now against Iraq. It has launched it also against Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, Libya, Iran, Sudan, Bosnia, Kosovo, et cetera.

The aims behind the American invasion of Iraq were far beyond destroying a tyrant regime. Such invasion is the first step towards dominating the whole Muslim Ummah, with its religion, territories and wealth. America wants to occupy Iraq in order to press on Syria and Lebanon, so that they end their support to the Palestinian-Lebanese Islamic Resistance. This will be in the favor of the American-Zionist aggression launched against the Palestinian people. It also seeks to dominate the Gulf region wholly, though the Gulf states already present it what it wants.

America wants a complete surrender on the part of all the Arab states, even to the extent that it can review the religious curricula taught to our children in schools.

By occupying Iraq, America also seeks to press on Turkey and Iran by threatening to establish a Kurdish state that may lead to the disintegration of Turkey and Iraq and be a preliminary step towards dividing Saudi Arabia. In that way, it could redraw the map of the region as it wants.

All of us know that the Iraqi regime was tyrant and corrupt and that no Muslim would defend it. But America has taken the corruptness of such a regime as a pretext to strike Iraq, target its people, and destroy it altogether. It does all that in order to put an end to Islam and dominate the whole world.

Hence, we should take a decisive attitude and declare our clear-cut refusal to the American invasion and occupation of Iraq. Our religion requires us to do so and our Muslim Ummah needs this.

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U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice; military apologizes

I think that this type of action is long overdue and that the Military (at least some battle groups) need special education on the who is the enemy. Seems to me that far too many soldiers look at this just like the extremists, that it is a religious war or war against Islam. It is not. It makes me wonder just what propoganda exactly is the military feeding them before they put them out on the battle front?

The occupation of Iraq had little to do with terrorism itself, although it has now become the terrorist training grounds of the world thanks to Pres. Bush.

Soldiers need to understand that they are fighting an insurgency (low level guerilla war) not a religion or a monolithic group of religious zealot terrorist thugs. There are about 26 known terror and insurgent groups in Iraq alone since the invasion and dismantling of the Iraqi army. Some are riding the coat tails of religion and many more are political dissidents and insurgent fighters (formerly Iraqi military).

Shooting up a Quran is like me putting up a Bible and using it for target practice. Its very symbolic of underlying intentions (be it an individual or campaign).

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Islam Foretold in Genesis

we acknowledge that Abraham married his slave girl Hagar and bore his first born son Ishmael. After Sarah became jealous she demanded that Abraham remove hagar from the household. Abraham brought her to the desert (todays Makkah) where he left her provisions and the Angel brought forth a well to help care for her in the desert. That well still exists today and is called ZamZam. The Angel promised that Ishmael (in accordance with Gods promises to Abrahams first born and his offspring) would become a great nation. This meant not simply a tribe and as seen in biblical terms, as seen with the same promise given to Isaac later and subsequent promises, God would use Ishmaels offspring to bring forth a Prophet that would be great among all of the nations.

Ishmaels offspring eventually brought forth the Prophet Muhammad to seal Gods promises to the nations and all previous Prophets and Messengers (including those sent to the Hebrews and later the nation of Israel, including the Messiah Jesus). This “seal” confirms the truth of all previous Prophets and Messengers, corrects where the people have changed their message and teachings, ends the chain of Prophets God sent to humanity until the day of Judgment and fortells of the return of the Messiah.

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Glossary of Islamic Terms, Phrases and Abbreviations

We have an extensive glossary of Islamic terms, phrases and abbreviations. To view them please visit this link: Islamic Terminology, Definitions of terms, abbreviations and phrases we often use.

The Art of Debate

The Art of Debate

Here are some methods and etiquettes of debating issues.

Clarity: Avoid use of terms which can be interpreted differently by different readers. When we are talking to people who substantially agree with us we can use such terms as “rednecks” or “liberals” and feel reasonably sure that we will be understood. But in a debate, we are talking to people who substantially disagree with us and they are likely to put a different interpretation on such words.

Evidence: Quoting an authority is not evidence. Quoting a majority opinion is not evidence. Any argument that starts with, “According to so and so…” is not based on objective evidence. Any argument that starts with, “Most biologists believe…” is not based on objective evidence. Authorities and majorities can be wrong and frequently have been.

Emotionalism: Avoid emotionally charged words–words that are likely to produce more heat than light. Certainly the racial, ethnic, or religious hate words have no place in rational debating. Likewise, avoid argumentum ad hominem. Personal attacks on your opponent are an admission of intellectual bankruptcy. Also, slurs directed at groups with whom your opponent is identified are usually nonproductive. Try to keep attention centered on the objective problem itself. There is a special problem when debating social, psychological, political, or religious ideas because a person’s theories about these matters presumably have some effect on his own life style. A suggested solution is to make a general statement rather than one referring specifically to the opponent. In other words, rather than saying “and that’s why you are such an undisciplined wreck” say, “a person adopting your position is, I believe, likely to become an undisciplined wreck because …”

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Why is divorce in the hands of the man only?

I feel I am a free woman, and can do whatever I want. And if a man treats me or my kids wrong, it’s my human right to divorce him.

This site tells us that the man is in charge of the woman. That he is ‘more perfect in reason’ and ‘more farsighted’ than the woman. In life, I have found this to be untrue, at least in many of the cases I’ve seen. There are jerks, just as there are unreasonable women. So why be in such favor of the man?

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The Dehumanizer

Dehumanization is a psychological process whereby opponents view each other as less than human and thus not deserving of moral consideration.

Protracted conflict strains relationships and makes it difficult for parties to recognize that they are part of a shared human community. Such conditions often lead to feelings of intense hatred and alienation among conflicting parties. The more severe the conflict, the more the psychological distance between groups will widen. Eventually, this can result in moral exclusion. Those excluded are typically viewed as inferior, evil, or criminal.

Christians dehumanizing Muslims, Jews dehumanizing Palestinians, Muslims dehumanizing Jews and westerners, Muslims dehumanizing Muslims, Americans and Israelis dehumanizing Irani’s and on and on.

How often do we dehumanize each other? With or without realizing it?

The solution to humanities problems is not in branding groups evil, inferior, criminal, not deserving of basic human rights or considerations.

Dehumanization is bigotry, racism and injustice in the name of a self righteous moral superiority complex.

I would go so far as to call it a psychological disorder of the dehumanizer and the dehumanized.

Either way, the intentional dehumanization of others is just plain evil itself.

The cycle must stop.

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The Five Kakkars

The five Ks (Kakkars) of Sikhism are derived from the five sons of General Kuldeep Kakkar, a prominent and highly respected military commander of the Kakkar tribe. The five brothers were revered as fierce warriors and championeers of righteousness and truth who were key warriors in the fight to eventually overthrow the Moghul Empire.

The transformation of Sikhism as the Khalsa Panth was formally launched by Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Baishakhi (New year) day in the year 1699. The new community was termed the Khalsa Panth or the ‘Pure Sect’ as its followers were required to be far more strict in observing the tenets of their reformed faith.

The followers of the Khalsa were required to observe five visible symbols of membership, edified by the virtues of the 5 great Kakkar Warriors. These signs as we know are:

1) Unshorn Hair (Kesha)
2) A curved dagger (Kirpan)
3) A comb (Kangva)
4) A steel bangle (Kada)
5) A pair of shorts (Kachha).

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