By SHAMIM A SIDDIQI, NY

WORLD AT THE THRESHOLD OF HIS (S) APPEARANCE

AT the end of the sixth century AD humanity was facing a very depressed and deprived condition. There was no Guidance from its Creator and Sustainer to guide its destiny as all were “lost” or mutilated due to human interpolation. There was no Kingdom of God on earth to deliver justice and equity to human abode. There was no concept of human rights and no court of justice to take care of their violations every now and then. It was the age of tribalism and that of monarchy. Tribal rules and words of monarchs were the law of the day. Worst was the condition of womenfolk. In Christianity they were like the untouchables and in the pagan world of Hinduism they had no life of their own. They were forced to die alive with the departing husband and were totally deprived to inherit either from father or husband. Human rights were just for the ruling coterie and the rest of the people were treated like serfdoms. Two super powers, the Roman and the Persian Empires were dominant and fighting against each other for their respective supremacy at frequent intervals.

Simultaneously, there was no peace and security in the Arabian Peninsula except in and around the Haram. No trade route was safe either on land or on sea. Quraish of Makkah has the monopoly over the trade from Yemen deep in South to Syria in North and beyond as they were the custodian of Haram and thus Makkah became the Clearing House of trade. This was the situation when Muhammad Ibne Abdullah was born in Banu Hashim of Quraish in Makkah in 572 AD. The geopolitical and economic situation in and around the Arab lands was very precarious. There was no justice, no peace and no security. He was extremely worried to get the situation corrected. In this pursuit, he expended all his personal possessions and that of his beloved wife Khadija but to no respite till he was appointed as the Messenger of God in 610 AD after the departure of Prophet Jesus [pbuh], leaving a long gap of about 550 years when there was no Prophet of God and no Guidance for man as how to act, live and behave on this earth for living in peace and harmony with others.

HOW PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) CORRECTED THE SITUATION

The mission entrusted to him (S) by our Lord was to deliver the Guidance to humans in the form of the Qur’an as how to live, act and behave, establish His authority on earth and administer justice to mankind. To fulfill his (S) mission:

* He (S) called the humanity to the fold of its Creator and Sustainer who created this universe and what it contains and harnessed it for man and his species as His vicegerent on earth and be always obedient to Him;

* As His vicegerent, the humans are not the “masters of all that they survey” but its trustee and hence, to use them as He commands through the last and the final Book of Guidance that he (S) delivered to mankind in the form of the Qur’an;

* Man must always feel accountable to Him for the manner he uses His countless bounties of this cosmos - expecting either reward of His eternal pleasure in Jannah for his good deeds or constant punishment in Hellfire for misdeeds. Man will get this ultimate verdict of his Creator and Sustainer after death. This ever-consciousness was to keep his worldly life in moderation and fill his life with justice, peace and harmony for all.

* Presented his life, as the Messenger of God, to serve as model and to show how to live act and behave on this earth and live in harmony with self and others.

* Those who accepted his call/invitation, he (S) organized them into a Jamaah, trim and polish their character and prepared them to be the benevolent citizens of their society as father, as husband, as neighbor, as trader, as brother and sister and the hope of mankind, doing good to everyone honestly and sincerely to the extent that all the minorities, the deprived, the depressed and the have-nots feel contented. All were getting justice at par and living in peace and harmony with others.

* He (S) established a self-sustained welfare society for the poor, the needy, the orphans, the unemployed, the underemployed, the incapacitated – for the have-nots which the most developed nations of today couldn't establish so for anywhere in this world in spite of their best efforts and tall talks of establishing a modern welfare state. .

*Prophet Mohammad (pbuh] thus, established an Islamic society and a state where justice was prevailing everywhere free of cost; where minorities, both religious and ethnic, were enjoying their human rights at par with Muslims; where the womenfolk were meeting their “socio-economic-political” rights at par with men with no distinction at all; where peace was rampant everywhere so much so that an old lady could travel alone playing with gold in her hands from Sana’ to Hazermaut ( a distance of 1,000 miles) with no fear except that of God; where he (S) and his (S) Caliph had no body-guards and everyone even the aggrieved animals could meet him (S) with their “complaints”, if any, and get redress forthwith.

*Such was the benevolent society that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) established in the Arabian Peninsula within 23 years of his (S) appointment as the Messenger of God, in between 610 and the year 632 AD, with the help of the Guidance that came to him (S) from God in the shape of the Qur’an and the Team of the Trustworthy Da’ees that he (S) built painstakingly in that tribal society of old Jahiliyah. Humanity got its zenith in all respects within that brief period of 23 years. Since then it stands as a challenge to human endeavors to attain its equilibrium.

THE QUESTION:

Can any modern egalitarian societies of Europe, America or Asia show even a replica of that model established and demonstrated by Muhammad Ibne Abdullah (pbuh) 1400 years ago? Those who pronounced Islam as backward, and conservative can they produce a model like that in the context of modern world any where in this world? Communism died in pursuing that effort in Moscow and China has resorted to Socialistic Capitalism and, in consequence, is now reaping all the inherent evils of the materialistic system whereas Capitalism itself is counting its days sitting in the lapse of the Whit House, 10 Downing Street , the Ely se Palace , the Red Squire, and the Red Fort. When all the materialistic systems couldn't reach that zenith of mankind in their prime time what can be expected from them while they all are facing their lean period and all the secular systems are in the process of withering away.

In fact, humanity has lost its hold on the march of time as it has no sense of accountability in any of its affairs which was the corner stone of the society that Muhammad (S) built and the character that he (S) promoted and demonstrated to the world 1400 years ago. The modern man feels free to live as per his wild wishes desires and caprices with greed and lust and fill the earth with all kinds of injustices in every walk of human life. Hence it couldn't and cannot even produce a replica of that pattern of life. Materialism has lost the “battleground” to the Islamic System that was brought and established by Mohammad Ibne Abdullah (pbuh) through the Qur’an and accountability in the Akhirah. It has no choice but to recall the life pattern of Mohammad Ibne Abdullah (pbuh) and live the life that Qur’an recommends to live as obedient to the Creator and Sustainer and feeling always accountable to Him after death for all that man does on earth.

Human societies, both Muslims and non-Muslims, have NOW no choice but to surrender to the Sustainer of this cosmos, behave like the trustees of what they possess not masters and feel accountable to their Supreme Lord and live as per the pattern of life demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This is now the only way left for mankind to survive with justice, peace, honor and dignity for some time more. It is an open challenge both for the Muslim and the secular world to survive with respect in the community of nations. Hope the saner elements of both will think over this challenge and behave as God commands through the Qur’an, the last and the final Book of Guidance for mankind till eternity.

This is the last hope of mankind to survive. Muhammad (S) is now the only leader for mankind to follow till eternity. Will the arrogant leadership of materialistic world see it through? The fate of humanity hinges on this fatal question. Will the good sense prevail over their obstinacy and the urgency of time over their hate against Islam and the benevolent life pattern of Muhammad Ibne Abdullah (pbuh)?

Br. Shamim Siddiqi can be reached at TSidd96472@aol.com

His web is  WWW.dawahinamericas.com

AFTER Tunisia where an Islamic Party Al-Nahda won the election, now Egypt is another country conquered by Islamic groups with the power of ballet. In the first round of election in Egypt, 40% Voters casted in favour of the Freedom and Justice Party [a newly formed political party of Ikhwanul Muslimeen (Islamic Brotherhood)] and 20 % in favour of Al-Nour another newly formed party comprised Salafi group. Another Islamic group Al-Wassat, which advocates a strict enforcement of Islamic law, recorded 13%

All the indications and projections showed that the Muslim Brotherhood will have the lead in the country's first parliamentary elections based on proportional representation. It is because they are well organized, sincere, and have a lot of experience.

The initial stage of parliamentary elections were held on November 28-29, nearly ten months after former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular revolution in February.

The vote is seen as the first step in pushing the military rulers to transfer power to a civilian government.

Some Egyptians boycotted the elections, casting doubt on the credibility of any ballot held under military rule.

They fear the military council, led by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, is trying to retain power.

Ikhwan (The Brotherhood) has started the Islamic movement eight decades ago on the call of martyr Hasnul Banna. It has its deep root in the Egyptian society at large. The movement is led not only by religious scholars but by doctors, lawyers and professionals. It has long sought to move Egypt toward a more Islamic society implementing Al-Deen (the system of Islam) in all walks of life. A large number of its workers, scholars and leaders including one of its top mind Syed Qutub (a Mufassir of Al-Quran) were executed in the era of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The extra judicial execution and subjugations of Ikhwan workers were continued in Hosni Mubarak dictatorship.

The Salafis are political newcomers. However 30% votes in the first time and the first round shows its influence in Egypt.

An Ikhwan leader Sheik Abdel Moneim el-Shahat has called to apply only the broad principles of Islamic law allow too much freedom. He indicated the gradual and peoples participated transformation from one stage to another. However, Sheik Abdel Moneim el-Shahat, a leader of the Salafi movement, has called for immediate use of Islamic laws. Sheik el-Shahat and his allies are demanding strict prohibitions against interest-bearing loans, alcohol and fornication, with Islamic corporal law of punishment.

An Ikhwan Islamic scholar, Sayed Abdel Karim said “to give your vote for Islamists is a religious issue,” he declared at a campaign rally in Giza, across the Nile from Cairo, calling for “the rule of God, not the rule of the people.”

Ikhwan leaders denied coalition with Salafis in forming the future government.

The Brotherhood’s main speaker and the top candidate on his party’s list, leader Essam el-Erian, declared that the party believed only in non-sectarian citizenship for all, that Christians and Muslims should enjoy equal rights as “sons of the nation” in the eyes of a neutral state and that the next Constitution should protect free expression. And he pledged warm relations with any nation that respected Egypt’s “independence and culture.”

Israel's defense minister Ehud Barak said Saturday that initial results from Egypt's parliamentary elections are "very, very disturbing." However, in a statement on a Hamas website, top Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said that "the Egyptian people have voiced their confidence in the Islamists. ... We do believe that Egyptian support in the future will be more for our cause."

Indications show that any effort to stop and deny the people’s mandate by the Egypt army and America-Israel alliance will trigger the movement in Egypt. It will end up with not less than Iranian revolution where majority of the military generals were executed after people’s revolt and Islamic revolution.

E.Mail: TheMuslim.ca@gmail.com

Insha’Allah, or God Willing, I hope to shed some light on what I understand is a critical relationship between “ancestral religion”, culture and Christianity.  For this column I focus on “ancestral religion” and culture.  If the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung is correct, all this interplay of “ancestral religion” and culture now resides in our individual psyches.

Yet, I have come to understand a clear distinction between Islam and culture (of which one component is “ancestral religion”), or, the “way of life” of our fore-fathers.  Theologians tell us that all human beings are prone to practice polytheism, or “ancestral religion” – from the worship of trees, to rocks (i.e., inanimate objects) to human beings, even.    

I write about Hellenism and Hellenization for now.  The latter is an outgrowth of the former; there is a reciprocal relationship between the two, much like saying there can be no chicken soup without chicken.  The next column, Insha’Allah, is a critical relationship between Hellenism and Christianity.

If the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung is right, then this interplay between religion and culture is situated within our individual psyches; he notes we have “killed the gods – and now they return to us as mental diseases and psychological complexes”[1].  Psychological complexes are a good thing, as long as one recognizes or is conscious of it.   We all have a psychological complex of some kind, according to Jung.

There is the old adage that every one of us has to “wrestle with our demons” – that is, the gods, - in our individual lives.  I have come to know that there is a relationship between ancient Greek Philosophy – that is, the rationalistic notion that the gods (that is, Zeus, Poseidon, and so on) are responsible for our personality, or what motivates us – and the “ancestral spirits” or “demons” of Babylonian religion, or polytheism.  Whatever “religious” practices polytheists engaged in and continue to engage in, as a group, in their daily lives to summon the “demons” of the sky and the earth, the Greek philosophers “rationalized” it within their minds through their language.

I surmise that the ancient Greek philosophers materialized – through language – what is clearly “immaterial”, or matters pertaining to the “Unseen”.  The Ancient Greek philosophers tell us about “the gods” and their “interactions” with human beings - There is Zeus, the “Father of gods and men”; there is Poseidon, the god of the sea, or the “Earth shaker”, to name a few. The Greek philosophers were the first “rationalists” – they aimed solely to “grasp” through logic what is clearly ungraspable. 

Practicing Muslims believe in the “Unseen”; we know the “devils” are around us and we cannot see them, but are advised not to practice polytheism, thereby summoning them.   We ask Almighty Allah (SWT) to protect us from the Shaitan, or Satan, and his “minions”, the “devils”.   Almighty Allah (SWT) is the Supreme Guide for every single human being, and if anyone takes anything else for a guide in worship, then Almighty Allah (SWT) leads them astray.  And who is the Best Guide but Almighty Allah (SWT)?

Hellenism, and therefore, Hellenization, occupies a unique position in Western civilization – which is summed up in one word – rationality.  Anyone of us who have been “educated” in elite colleges and universities and who now occupy the highest echelons of government, whether it be law, religion, or the arts – have been “Hellenized” and have gone through the “process of Hellenization”.  Whether Hellenism or the process of Hellenization is either good or bad is not the issue here.   

What is Hellenism?  I use the definition of Hellenism put forth by Professor David E. Aune, The Walter Professor of New Testament & Christian Origins, The University of Notre Dame:

“The term ‘Hellenism’ itself is a modern designation for the dominance of Greek language and culture over non-Greek societies in the ancient world, particularly during the three centuries following Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) to the triumph of Rome … ‘Hellenism’ or ‘the Greek way of life’ is a one-word summary of Greek social and cultural identity’”[2] (italics mine). 

The prime objective of education is to impart the values of that civilization, many of which have come and gone.  The essential value of Western civilization at the highest peak of Hellenism is the Greek language; and the highest peak of Hellenization is the Greek culture.  Anyone who mastered the Greek language and who consciously admired Greek culture in those days, were classed among the elites, and, further, they thought of themselves as “superior” to those who were not educated in either Greek language or culture. 

Professor Aune provides a clear example of Greek society and culture and its effects on non-Greek society and culture (i.e, that of the Jews):

“The Greek conception of deity is strikingly different from that of the Jews (a non-Greek society).  For Greeks generally, the gods were immanent and active in the world, rather than transcendent and passive.  While the God of the Jews is considered the creator of all that exists, for Greeks the cosmos is eternal and the gods originate in time.  While Judaism conceives of God as omniscient and omnipresent, the gods of the Greeks are more powerful and wiser than humans, but can only be in one place at a time”[3].

 The professor goes on to illuminate the interplay of Greek cultural activities and non-Greek cultural activities:

“Greek religion tended to focus on sacrifice, prayer, processions, and festivals, and each city-state typically had its own distinctive religious calendar.  Greek sacrifice, performed both publicly and privately, centered on the slaughter of certain kinds of domestic animals, parts of which were burned on an altar and parts of which were eaten by those offering the sacrifice.  Sacrificial protocol involved the knowledge of what kind of animal each diety required (e.g., Athena preferred cows, while Demeter preferred pigs).  A further distinction was made between the sacrificial protocol for sky dieties and earth dieties…[4]”

The professor goes on to illustrate the apparent tensions between those who adhere to Greek culture and those who do not, in this case, the Jews:

 “There was such an extreme of Hellenism…and increase in the adoption of foreign ways, because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and no true high priest, that the priests were no longer intent upon their service at the altar”[5].  Jason of Cyrene, a Hellenistic Jew who lived around 100 B.C. and is said to have written a history of the Macabees[6], a Jewish rebel army, made the Jews conform to the Greek way of life[7].

I focus here on the Jews, whom Almighty Allah (SWT) Chose as His people.  Almighty Allah (SWT) introduced the Jewish people at the time of Musa (alahis-salam) to His Law (italics mine).  Now that Almighty Allah (SWT) Deputed the last and final prophet for all mankind – Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam) with another set of Laws for all mankind - those living now until the Day of Judgment, - all human beings, whether they be “Jew” or “Christian”, can eventually be practicing Muslims, if they heed to the true message of Islam.  

Both the elites and a large percentage of the common people of the Jews succumbed to Hellenization, or, the worship and adulation of the Greek gods, or the Greek “way of life”.  This acculturation, in turn, led to ignorance, that is, of God’s Law, given to Moses.  As time went by, however, the common people were so immersed in Greek culture that they eventually forgot it; they didn’t practice God’s Laws in their daily lives.  One author tells us that Hellenization played a key role to the erroneous conception among the common people about Jesus (p) and his relationship to God:

 “The Hellenization of a large segment of the Jews was the primary cause of their ignorance, which helped spread misconceptions concerning Jesus and his relationship to God.  Following the cultures of the Gentiles, the ignorant among them developed the god-complex and, as a consequence, forgot the absolute indivisible nature of God that distinguishes Him from the typical pagan diety[8]”.

 The common people abandoned God’s Laws given to Moses, and thus were eventually prey to the process of Hellenization. 

The essential guidepost of Hellenism, according to many scholars involved in a critical study of religion and culture, is an educational process whereby the invader injects their social practices or “way of life” upon the natives’ (the Jews’) “way of life”, thereby disturbing their established “way of life”, that is, the worship of One God. 

Hellenization is the by-product of Hellenism.  Both the Jews and the Gentiles (non-Jews) came in contact with Hellenism and the cultural process of Hellenization.  I focus on the Jews now in this column; I focus on the Gentiles in the next column, Insha’Allah.  Logic follows, then, that I am a Gentile.  I no longer see myself as a Gentile; I am now a practicing Muslim.

Those who invaded the Jews, the Greeks first and then Romans, are convinced that their “way of life” is “superior to the Jewish way of life”.   The invaders are certain that, at some point in time, even after the invasion, the natives (the Jews) will come to know that their “way of life” is inferior to theirs.  Consequently, either the invaders will enact political policies, by force if necessary, to educate the natives (the Jews) to their “way of life”, or their parents, seeing the advantage of “re-educating” the native to the invader’s “way of life”, will make every effort to enroll their children at the invader’s educational institutions.     

 Hellenization is not only an educational but a cultural process.  The invaders, who recognize and tout themselves as “torch-bearers of civilization” colonize (almost exclusively, by force through violence) a region populated by “native peoples” (the Jews) whom the invaders regard as “backward” or “mentally and culturally inferior”, due to their “way of life”.  The invaders establish political, educational and economic institutions that aim to educate whom they regard as “natives” (the Jews).  The “native” then is faced with two choices: either to regard the invader’s “civilized way of life” as their own through assimilation or not.  Usually, the invaders’ political will manifests itself through either outright organized violence (by this I mean by cannons, guns, etc.), or through “soft power” – through the media, etc., that essentially cajoles the “natives” to slowly recognize it is to their advantage (whether political, economic or social) to adopt the invader’s “civilized way of life”, with the notion that by the passage of time the “natives” will come to understand it is to their advantage to adopt the invader’s “civilized way of life”.   Through this cajoling process more and more “native peoples” will eventually find the invader’s “civilized way of life” a legitimate vehicle to attain upward mobility (that is, political, economic and social status).  

I speak of the Jewish Nation in this column as the “natives”. The invaders were the Greeks, then Romans.  The Romans conquered Greece, beginning with Macedonia, in 197 B.C.  Within the next fifty years, the Romans captured all of Greece.  Then the Romans “borrowed Greek thought and culture”, spreading it throughout the Roman Empire[9].  The Jews were then subject to Hellenization.       

The modern-day notion of colonization, as reflected in the “Arab Spring” that seem to be spreading throughout the Middle-East at this time, is in no way associated with Greek language and culture, yet the process of acculturation is the same.  At some point in the future, the vast majority of Arabs will be educated according to the Enlightenment model of politics and society, and acculturated into the morals and values of the Enlightenment. 

The Enlightenment ushered in the notion of “popular government” throughout Europe in the 18^th century, but not without the de-Hellenization of Christianity, and thus its societies.  The language of the Enlightenment is not the language of Hellenization, of Greek language and culture; its philosophers took great pains to sever the language of Greek philosophy from that of Christianity. 

The language of Hellenization, of Greek language and culture, is no longer enforced uniformly via the invaders’ political state.  Critics of modern-day colonialism now say the invaders (i.e., the Europeans) with their notion of culture, or “way of life”, is upsetting the “native’s (everyone else’s) way of life”.  The language of modern-day colonialism is the deliberate imposition of the invader’s “culture” or “way of life – commercialism, technology, and the like; the language of “established religion” (i.e., Christianity) is no longer in use today.  Here in the United States, for example, young immigrants with “foreign languages” such as Spanish that hail from South America and other lands are often cajoled into learning the dominant language of English so as to be prepared to take advantage of the possibility of upward social mobility through American schools and universities that teach its own cultural values.

Thanks for reading.  Whatever is accurate in this column is from the Mercy of Almighty Allah (SWT), and anything inaccurate in this column is from my own self.

The writer is a recent revert to Islam and can be reached at:  hd72201@gmail.com  

AFTER his great grandfather had an intimate relationship with the woman who would become the grandson’s great grandmother, the grandfather was born. After the grandfather had an intimate relationship with the woman who would become the grandson’s grandmother, the father was born. The father had an intimate relationship with the would-be mother, and soon the son was born. Now, the son has a relationship with a man, not with a woman. As a homosexual, he rejects the opposite sex and will not have any biological son or daughter. He has discontinued his heritage. His babies will die before being conceived. They will never open their eyes in this world due to this “new, alternative lifestyle.” He has denied the universe the continuation of his generations to which his grandfather and great grandfather contributed. He betrayed this nature and broke the trust. He killed his future generation. He is a generation killer.

Now generation killers say we have the “right” to kill generations. Generation killers united all over Canada and most of the western world has procured “the right” to kill their generations; the “Charter of Rights” is in place. Several countries and states and provinces of the western world legalized the same-sex marriage. Family system (the union of man and woman, husband and wife) has collapsed. Now, sweet homes of this nation are filled with either two male partners, two female partners, or a parent without a partner (or single parent).

Furthermore, human rights situations all over the world will be judged in accordance with the society similar to us. The “human rights” situations in several Muslim, Latin American, and African countries are considered “worst” because they are not giving the “rights” to gays (the generation killers) to practice their lifestyle openly and publicly.

However, it is not the issue of “rights,” it is the issue of “responsibilities.” The responsibilities include trying to return back the same as the nature that produced you. It is a “natural charter of responsibilities” for all to follow. Gays deny it.

About one million participated in the shame-day, gay parade this year in Toronto City. Mayor Rob Ford didn’t participate, a good indicator. Some say that at least half the participants were merely supporters.  Even if we consider that only half a million people practice the homosexual and lesbian lifestyle, it is too many. We have already crossed the danger level.

Christian and Jewish Books of Scripture orders the death sentence to “generation killers.” “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13).

However, many Christians abandoned their faith and surrendered to this perverted but organized group. Jews (majority) maintain their straight life style; however, a group of Jews aggressively promotes and defends this life style for “Gentiles” (non Jews). You will see most of the Zionists bloggers defending and promoting the homosexual lifestyle.

Saying anything against homosexuality is “homophobic.” If you are a Muslim, then it is the “worst sin.” However, the first person to have stood against this lifestyle was Lot [Lut, the Messenger of God (peace be upon him)). He was the nephew of Abraham [the Messenger of God (peace be upon him)). Abraham (pbuh) sent Lot (pbuh) from Egypt to the city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Majority of Sodom nation was either practicing homosexual lifestyle or supporting it. This lifestyle was never practiced in the history before Lot (pbuh).

“And remember when We sent Lot [as a Messenger to his people, and he said to them: 'Do you realize you practice an indecency of which no other people in the world were guilty of before you? You approach men lustfully in place of women. You are a people who exceed all bounds. Their only answer was: 'Banish them from your town. They are a people who pretend to be pure’” (Al-Quran 7: 80-82).

The “new immigrant” Lot (pbuh), an “Egyptian Sodomian” but the Messenger of God, warned his newly adopted nation Sodom repeatedly. "These [the girls of the nation) are my daughters [to marry lawfully), if you must act (so)" (Al-Quran: 15: 71). The people of the nation denied it. They “democratically” adopted their “right” to fulfill their lust with the same-sex. They were the worshipper of “the lust.” Ultimately they were completely ruined and erased out from this world.

“Then We delivered Lot and his household except his wife who stayed behind, and We let loose a shower [of stones] upon them. Observe, then, the end of the evil-doers” (Al-Quran 7: 83-84).

“We let loose upon them a tempest which rained stones upon them, except upon Lot's household whom We rescued in the last hours of the night” (Al-Quran 54:34).

Now we are living in post “charters of rights” era when united generation killers are asserting and imposing their life style over whole nations. They are asserting themselves as they (and only they) have the “right” to be elected and represented in city, provincial and federal assemblies. And they have “right” to make law not according to the wish of people, family, and parents, but according to the agenda set by gay activists’ groups.

Wake up, Toronto, Wake up, Canada, before it is too late. I, a new Canadian, am just a Warner as Lot (pbuh) was. As Muslims, we believe and have faith in all the Messengers of God --Adam (first), Enoch (Idris), Noah (Nuh), Abraham (Ibrahim), Ishmael (Isma’il), Issac (Ishaaq), Jacob (Yaqub), Lot (Lut), Joseph (Yusuf), Job (Ayub), Moses (Musa), Aaron (Haroon), David (Dawud), Soloman (Sulaiman), Zechariah (Zakariyah), John (Yahya), Jesus (Isa), Muhammad (the last Messenger), and many others.  Peace be upon all of them.

“God, having thus created man, put into him a light which is called reason, which was to unite the flesh, the sense, and the soul in a single end – to work for the service of God (emphasis mine – for Almighty Allah’s [SWT] Sake Only)[1]”.

I have only to thank Almighty Allah (SWT) for securing a copy of the Gospel of Barnabas, as I have read other books whose authors have said that this Gospel is the closest account of the true message of Jesus (peace be upon him!) as any Christian is able to examine, and for those of us who have reverted to Islam (through Almighty Allah’s [SWT] Guidance) this text is indeed an eye-opener.

 I must say at the outset that I mistakenly believed that, if this Gospel is authentic (and I leave that to present and future theologians), Jesus (upon whom be peace!) uttered these words out of his own desire.  This I no longer believe.  Nothing of what Almighty Allah’s (SWT) prophets, along with the last prophet and Messenger of Almighty Allah (SWT) for all mankind until the Day of Judgment – Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam), - said and done is of their own desire, or their own selves.  Had I not come to believe and trust in the Messenger-ship of Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam), I wouldn’t have come to understood proper Almighty Allah’s (SWT) Majesty and Power.  For He alone has the Power to do All Things. 

I and others who “grew up” with the Christian faith have at some time or other learned that Jesus (peace be upon him!) is reported to have said to his Companions “Love thy neighbor as thyself”.  Jesus (peace be upon him!) certainly did not utter these words of his own desire.  A correct understanding of this instance of Christian morality (or Christian ethics) is to say that Almighty Allah (SWT) Commanded Jibril (alaihis-salam), or whom I now refer to as the “Holy Spirit” to transmit this message to his Chosen prophet so that his Companions may come to know and understand this message and to consequently transmit this message to others.  I say here that I do not know the circumstances under which Almighty Allah (SWT) revealed this message to Jesus (peace be upon him!).  I had also arrived at a startling conclusion that to believe that Jesus (peace be upon him!) uttered these words out of his own desire, I would be committing shirk (or associating partners with Almighty Allah [SWT]) – thereby equating this prophet of Almighty Allah [SWT] with Allah [SWT] Himself).  May Almighty Allah [SWT] protect me from this!  This phrase I have come to know, if I am accurate, is associated with many principles underlying Greek philosophy (which I take now to be the systematic study of “human desires”). 

A similar Revelation regarding mercy and kindness to one’s neighbors is found within the Muslim tradition as well:

‘”Ibn ‘Umar (RA) reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, “Jibril, upon him be peace, continued telling me about (how important it is to do good toward one’s) neighbors until I thought he was going to tell me that they have a share in one’s inheritance as well.[2]”

Christians say that “God is Love” but that this Attribute of Almighty Allah (SWT) is not in the slightest manner associated with any human desire.  What I’ve said here will be of some import to the purpose of this column.  And I want to say here that I’m not writing this column to “show off” or to be recognized by anyone. 

I have encountered many gems of information within the pages of the Gospel of Barnabas. I have read it with great interest about this text since embracing the faith of Islam; however, the expressed purpose of this column is to elucidate somewhat on the quote mentioned above, as I believe it has much to say about the true essence of what it is to conduct oneself - in a manner that is pleasing to Almighty Allah (SWT) Only.

I am speaking of one of the most pressing of issues that I and others face in a world awash with materialism (which is now associated with the “culture of immorality”), and atheism; and here I’m speaking of what my true purpose of life really is. 

I have come to understand that the answer to this very question has oriented me to examine my “inner-life” (which many in the West refer to as a “conscience”) along with the manner in which I then conduct myself among others and also assist others in need.  It occurred to me that the above-mentioned quote has answered my question.  The answer to this question is not to be found in academic text-books.  I will say that those of us who struggle consistently to attain a strong Iman (or faith) in Almighty Allah (SWT) will come to cultivate this “inner light of reason” and come to know this true reality.

The answer is that each of us is here to worship the One, the Irresistible – Almighty Allah (SWT) – and then to struggle at the expense of our very selves to let others know what those who have Iman know – that ultimate salvation and thus the only route to what Christians refer to “the Kingdom of God” is worship Almighty Allah (SWT), Who is Alone and without partners in His Dominion.  To believe sincerely in Almighty Allah (SWT) and the Messenger ship of Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam) is to achieve success in this world and the next.  

The “True Reality” underlying this statement, taken from the Gospel of Barnabas, I believe, is that this “light of reason” can only come about and become stronger once a person worships Almighty Allah (SWT) – The One, The Irresistible – with a “pure” intention to worship Him without partners.  I believe, and have come to understand, that this “light of reason” is not linked with my desires – whether it be biological (in the case of food, drink, or lust), or social (whether it be for fame or to be recognized by others).   An “impure” intention is associated with our desires, as when we “intend” to do this or that during the course of the day. 

 Our desires are inextricably associated with human reason and logic, while a “pure” intention is devoid of human reason and logic.  A person who lives according to her or his “impure” intentions in order to attain what she or he wants will receive what she or he earned – the life of this world only.  Other people will recognize this person when her or his name is mentioned in company (usually after that person’s death).  A person who lives according to her or his “pure” intentions (and we strive to do so in our lives) – either through prayer or fasting or helping others – for the Pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT) Only – is focused on the Life to Come after death and will get what they earned.         

Every teacher eventually asked us, as children, what we wanted “to be” when we grow up.  Many of us may have said that we wanted to be a musician, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or any one of many professions out there.  Anyone who then invests themselves in, for example, becoming a doctor have spent four years in college, then maybe four years in medical school, and then maybe three years in “rotation” at hospitals as “interns”; you get the drill.  The one who invests themselves in this particular pursuit is without doubt “sacrificing” their own “selves” to attain this goal – they then have a purpose in life.  That person’s “purpose” is to become a doctor; and that person is “dead set” on attaining this goal.  If you then ask that person “why” that person want to become a doctor they may say they want to be the “best doctor” out there, or they want to be “recognized” as such; they may want to be an “excellent researcher” who “wows” her or his colleagues at medical symposiums with their medical research. 

 This person who strives to become a doctor “in the future” has at one point in her or his life made a “firm” but “impure” intention to attain this goal.  That person has only to use her or his “desires” to achieve this “goal”.

I add here that this “drive” for recognition by others is the strongest of all human desires.  The German philosopher Hegel has elucidated on this type of human desire throughout his writings; it is a very strong human desire indeed.  According to Hegel, a person is not “conscious” of her or himself without an “Other”, whether it is persons or inanimate objects:

“According to Hegel, the relationship between self and otherness is the fundamental defining characteristic of human awareness and activity, being rooted as it is in the emotion of desire for objects as well as in the estrangement from these objects…” (italics mine)[3]. 

This “drive” for “recognition” arises from our selves.  We “intend” to want others recognize us.  This is an instance of an “intention” mixed with “desire”.  

This “drive” for “recognition” occurs to us as an “end” towards which we direct much of our effort or action.  This “drive” is rooted in a “desire” to attain some “goal” that is not yet within reach.  “Desire” is a “feeling” that impels one to the attainment of something, either within “immediate reach”, or for objects “not seen” or “imagined”.   

Our imagination and drive for recognition, then, is rooted in our “selves” as “desire”.   These examples are instances of the philosophy of humanism.  This is referred to in some circles as our “social self”.

There are even times when interns work a whole day at hospitals during their own rotations, only to realize at the end of their shift that they haven’t eaten at all!  Thus there is a more primordial aspect of our “self” – our “biological self”.   We “feel” hungry and thus “desire” for something that “satisfies” our “appetite”.   

Modern philosophers and psychologists “define” modern man as a “cross” between two worlds – the “biological” and the “social”.  Yet there is no consensus among modern thinkers as to what man “really is”.  Is man exclusively “social” or “biological”?   One scholar quaintly describes this “split” between “biological” and “social” man in this manner, even venturing to declare that our definition of man is of our own imagination:

“Our modern view of the person is characterized by a tenuous modus vivendi between the insights of traditional humanism and those of scientific naturalism.  We need the traditional concept of the core self; it is the bedrock upon which our entire moral and legal system is based, yet we do not really believe that there is such a thing.  It is a phantasm, a chimera, at best a reification.  It works, but it does not exist (italics mine)[4].   

How is modern man able to reconcile the “core self”, that of traditional humanism, a philosophy that postulates that all values in this world are human values, and scientific naturalism? 

The philosophy of “secular humanism”, I contend is the most attractive of all human philosophies that I believe is a direct contradiction to Revelation:

“Secular Humanism is a secular ideology which espouses reason, ethics, and justice, whilst specifically rejecting supernatural and religious dogma as a basis of morality and decision-making”[5]. 

The philosophy of “scientific naturalism” tells us that the body and the five senses are not created by Almighty Allah (SWT) but are “aligned” or “intertwined” with “Nature” by virtue of the philosophical doctrine of “scientific naturalism”.  Scientific naturalism is a world-view or belief that “Nature is all there is”, setting the stage for believers of this philosophical approach to utilize the faculty of reason alone to explain “observable effects” exclusively by referring to hypotheses of “natural causes”, without the aid of “spiritual explanations”.  A key foundation of this philosophical approach assumes that “…nature had to do its own creating, and that the means of creation must not have included any role for God”.  Students of this approach to science “…are not supposed to approach this philosophy with open-minded skepticism, but to believe it on faith”[6]. 

It is Decartes’ dualistic conception of the human being as mind/body that sets the stage for the modern definition of man; in other words, this mind/body dualism sets the stage for a “conscious self” within a “body”.  Yet most of us would conclude that we are somehow “one” by virtue of our intentionality and purpose:

“’This experience of unity of body, mind and spirit is itself no mere illusion.  Philosophical arguments have undermined any theory that purports to demonstrate that the human being is, in fact, two distinct realities, namely, a “person” and a (sub-personal) body.  Any such theory will, unavoidably, contradict its own starting point, since reflection necessarily begins from one’s own conscious awareness of oneself as a unitary actor”’[7].

Zaid Shakr, one of many influential Muslim scholars in the United States today, once remarked that Decartes was the “first doubter”.  It seems to me that he arrived at his philosophy – that man is a “self-thinking subject” and everything else is “extension” by doubting his Creator. 

 At the intersection of the mind (reason) and the body (sense) is the spirit, or ruh that Almighty Allah (SWT) “implanted” into the soul of every human being through His Infinite Knowledge Only.  This spirit, or ruh, acts to unite the mind and the body.    This spirit, or ruh, is the “light of reason” mentioned in the Gospel of Barnabas.  And we recognize this “light of reason” only by worshipping the One that put it there – Almighty Allah (SWT).   This “light of reason” is not akin to “human reason”, as exemplified by logic.  As a matter of fact, this “light of reason” is devoid of logic.  Yet this “light of reason” is the vehicle through which the human being “works for the service of God”.  For this “light of reason” to grow within our breasts, our “intention” to “work for the service of God” must be pure, for the Pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT).

May Almighty Allah (SWT) Guide me to strive, with my utmost ability, to worship Him Alone with a “pure” intentional heart, as long as I am alive.

The writer is a recent revert to Islam and can be contacted at:  hd72201@gmail.com     

“I FIRMLY believe that truth of any good deed is incomplete unless it is not opposed. There was never a single good deed from good people on this earth that was accomplished without being disputed and criticized.  I doubt the truthfulness of any good idea or deed if it were not opposed from any section of the society.” (Translated from a quoted speech in Urdu delivered by Late Nawab Bahadur Yaar Jang, a Muslim politician in a British India, and resident of Muslim State of Daccan Hyderabad)

Dr. Zakir Naik

I attended the “Journey of Faith Conference” in Toronto first time last year when one of the speakers Zakir Naik was banned from entering into Canada to participate in the conference. I may not endorse and agree with all the viewpoints of Dr. Zakir Naik.  However, it is a fact that Dr. Naik is a well known Islamic scholar, an expert on Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Farsi scriptures, and many other faiths existing in this world.  He knows and understands Christianity and Hinduism more than any Christian and Hindu. Before his prominence, late Ahmed Deedat of South Africa was the most knowledgeable person on comparative religions. Dr. Zakir Naik’s preaching of Islam is solely for peace and salvation of humankind in this world and hereafter. His TV channel’s name is Peace TV. He is extremely focused on his mission and message.

National Post first reported and published with the sources from Zionist Jewish organizations and Tarek Fateh, an Islamophobic and a full time Islam-basher, on the Islamic Conference “Journey of Faith,” and that started a campaign against one of the key invited speakers, Dr. Naik.

It was said that Dr. Zakir Naik said some good words for Osama Bin Laden. But if this newspaper could get a chance to check the date and year of his statement and its perspective, the paper should first ask Minister of Immigration to ban several ex US presidents, secretary of states, and several American politicians, because they had a much better relationship with Osama Bin Laden, his friends, and other Afghan Mujahid leaders than anyone else.

Former CIA director and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote in his memoirs From the Shadows that the U.S.  intelligence services began to provide financial aid to the rebel factions in Afghanistan six months before the Soviet deployment. On July 3, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed an executive order authorizing the CIA to conduct covert propaganda operations against the communist regime. Carter signed a presidential finding authorizing funding for  anticommunist guerrillas in Afghanistan as a part of the Central Intelligence Agency program called Operation Cyclone led by their elite which would later include the massive arming of Afghanistan's Mujahideen (that includes later joined Arab Mujahideen, and Osama was one of the key Mujahid).

Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Robert Gates should be top in the list to ban to enter into Canada and attend any conference because of their overt and covert relationship and support with Osama Bin Laden and all key Afghan and Arab Mujahideen and who were later responsible for the 9/11 attack in USA.

Dr. Zakir Naik was not banned in USA to attend conferences where 9/11 actually happened. He was banned to attend the Journey of Faith conference in Toronto, Canada. It was not just because of National Post’s hysterical article and ignorant Minister Jason Kenny’s behaviour. He was banned because of his clear, transparent, and cool message of Islam that appeals to hearts and minds of Christian world. Wherever he will go and will speak, he will clear the cloud and open the curtain to see the light of Islam. Even in his absence, several Canadian Christians converted to Islam at the stage last year and this year too.

Bilal Philips

Now Toronto Star, a propagator and promoter of gay agenda in this country, started the noise against this year’s Journey of Faith conference, and the reason is one of the speakers, Torontonian Canadian religious scholar Bilal Philips.

“The most virulently anti-gay speaker this year is Bilal Philips, a charismatic Jamaican-Canadian religious scholar who embraced Islam in 1972 in Toronto, where he was raised. In a Thursday interview, Philips cheerfully advocated death as a punishment for males who “confess” to homosexual behaviour, or are seen performing homosexual acts by four reliable witnesses, in countries governed by Islamic law” —Toronto Star Page GT1, July 1, 2011.

In the last year Journey of Faith conference, Rob Oliphant, an open gay MP from Don Valley West attended the conference for few hours and asked Said Rageah, the organizer of the conference to allow him a few minutes to speak. Mr. Rageah was allotted a few minutes in busy and extremely tight program schedule.  Mr. Oliphant, open same-sex married gay, didn’t find any difficulty to go, attend, and even speak in the conference. But here Toronto Star writer has a big problem. He doesn’t tolerate any “anti-gayism” statement.

Let me analyze Bilal Philips’s statement even it is true as it is quoted. He is not allowing public to kill gays. If the writer misunderstood it, he must correct it. Killing of any person without authority and jurisprudence is haram (illegal) in Islam. Mr. Bilal Philips knows it. He is suggesting death penalty by the jurisprudence “in countries governed by Islamic law.”  There is not a single country on this earth at present is governed by 100% Islamic law. There may be one or two countries where a partial Islamic law is implemented. The truth is that majority of Muslim countries are governed by ant-Islamic laws or non-Islamic laws. Muslim states without Islam or partial Islam are most dangerous and brutal states. The migration of large numbers of Muslims from those Muslim states is solely due to non-Islamic Muslim rulers’ destructive governance.

Here Mr. Bilal Philips is suggesting a law for the future Islamic governments who will decide to implement Islamic law in their countries. Although, there is no clear-cut verse in Qur’an that categorically suggests killing of homosexuals, sayings of Prophet Muhammad suggests three types of sentences, and among that one is death.  Bilal Philips is suggesting, based on his opinion on the Qur’anic/Prophetic principles of society. He is not advising the Islamic judiciary to kill any gay person they found, but what he is “suggesting” is judicial punishment of death sentence for those who confess or are seen “performing homosexual acts” by “four reliable witnesses without any doubt.”

The essence of Islamic laws is to protect the life of human beings. And it happens that sometimes killing of a person can save thousands and sometimes millions of lives. The Islamic judiciary can punish a person with death sentence to save others’ lives.

In other words, Bilal Philips is saying that an Islamic society will not tolerate homo-sexual acts in public (where minimum four witnesses see the sexual performance) to save future generations. That means from Bilal Philips’s viewpoint (as it was quoted in Toronto Star): 1. There is no danger of life of any homosexual from public in anywhere of the world 2. There is no danger of life of any homosexual by the judiciary of those Muslim States not governed by Islamic law. 3. In future, when Islamic laws will be implemented in any country, all those homosexuals who will perform homosexual acts in private will be saved. 4. Only those homosexuals living in Islamic law-governing society will be punished who will perform homosexual act in public (four witnesses required for proof).

In conclusion, Bilal Philips’s viewpoint is not endangering any homosexual life in near future. However, the promoters and propagators of gay culture and gay agenda are endangering the life of whole human race, particularly white species (due to large acceptance of gay lifestyle in whites).

Two non-Muslims participants of the conference reverted to Islam. They announced Shahadah (witnessing) for Islam on the stage of Journey of Faith Conference, Toronto, July 2, 2011. Sheikh Said Rageah (left) is taking the oath.

The family came to existence after a marriage and relationship between a man and woman. Women gave birth to children, and men struggled for livelihood and sustenance of next generation. They fulfill the responsibility as nature assigned to them. They returned back to this world, the most precious thing, the human race. They help God in producing and nurturing the beautiful people of all colours and races. Homosexuals refuse to fulfill the responsibility to contribute to this world the children and future generations of human race. In other words, they kill the babies before birth. It is the generation killing. Homosexuals are endangering the life of generations.

Furthermore, homosexuals are also endangering the life of existing human beings because the homosexual acts invite the wrath of God. It is historically proven that the nation of Lut (Lot) (peace be upon him) had been completely destroyed after the disobedience and denial of the message of God to Lut (Lot) (peace be upon him) to stop this nonsensical heinous crime.

“And we sent Lut as a Messenger: Remember that he said to his people, "Have you become so shameless that you commit such indecent acts as no one committed before you in the world? You gratify your lust with men instead of women: indeed you are a people who are transgressors of all limits!" (Al Qur’an: 7: 80-81)

“The people of Lut (Lot) belied the warnings. Verily, We sent against them a violent storm of stones (which destroyed them all), except the family of Lut (Lot); them We saved in last hour of the night, As a Favour from Us;, Thus do We reward him who gives thanks (by obeying Us) (35) And he [Lut (Lot)] indeed had warned them of Our Seizure (punishment), but they did doubt the warnings!”  (Al-Quran: 54: 33-3)

Mankind witnessed this disaster. Earlier God has warned and it is still recorded in the Jewish Bible (or Old Testament of Christian Bible):

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman.  It is abomination” (Leviticus 18:22)

“If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13).

Thousands of Christian and Jewish preachers firmly believe in these verses of the Bible and attend seminars and conferences. Did Toronto Star ever have the courage to criticize and try to stop them from attending or speaking?

It is ironic that the lifestyles of “generation killers” are allowed, promoted with full positive media coverage, and heavily funded by the city to organize parade and festivities ten days long; however, the lifesaver Islamic Conference in the Conference Center and by its own expense gets negative coverage, opposition, threats, and not allowing the visa to speakers.

I hope things will change, the world will change, and sooner or later humanity will come into light from the darkness.

MR. Rob Ford’s viewpoint on homosexuality and gay agenda was not hidden. He never showed complexity in the issue. He will be considered an open and vocal opponent of gayism. Last October city election, when his opponent mayoral candidate George Smitherman was kicking off his campaign by kissing his male partner, Mr. Ford was bluntly expressing his dislike of these lifestyles. We all know that the gay community with their gay agenda was united behind Smitherman and overwhelmingly voted for and supported him. However, those who believe homosexuality is a curse on the society and an engineered lifestyle to destroy the family, human beings and a path of extinction of human race, supported and voted for Rob Ford openly and wholeheartedly. I have attended a Ford election campaign gathering in the Cypriot Community Center in our neighbourhood Thorncliffe Park, organized by the taxi-cab drivers of the city. One of the cab drivers’ leader was speaking in Punjabi and asking the audience, “Would you like to vote a gay or man?” Everyone was clapping. Mayor Ford was smiling when someone translated it into English.

Abdul Haq Ingar, a Muslim community activist and vice president and Director Communication of Islamic Society of Toronto (Masjid Dar us Salam), Thorncliffe Park, and the Liberal party employee at Queens Park openly supported Mr. Smitherman. However, despite his door to door canvassing and appeal to vote for Smitherman, the community rejected Smitherman. Mr. Rob Ford won from all Muslim-populated, high-rise buildings of Thorncliffe Park, Don Valley West.

This year Mr. Rob Ford hasn’t participated in the gay parade and festivals in Toronto despite the history of participants of past mayors despite their liking or disliking of gays. Ford’s absence created bitterness in the LGBT community and their supported media and groups. Not attending and participating in gay festivities are considered as a “shame” for “pride” banner holders. However, fifteen city councilors of Toronto City marched in the parade, including three Ford allies, Michael Thompson, Cesar Palacio, and Gary Crawford. Parade participants were shouting, “Where is the Mayor?” and “Shame.” Dozens of marchers and watchers brought an unflattering photo of his disembodied head, as Toronto Star reported.

Pressure on Ford had been building since he said during a media scrum last week that he planned to be at his family cottage near Husntsville on the Canada Day weekend. However, Ford and his office had not explained why he wasn’t able to attend during the 10-day pride festival. Deputy Mayor Dough Holyday has said Ford should attend at least one event to counter accusation of homophobia. Ford didn’t responded to all those requests and queries. But as a matter of fact, his message was loud, clear and obvious when he first announced the excuse “because of family gathering at his cottage.”

Family gathering was symbolic, and the message was that “you value no-family lifestyle, and we value family gathering.”

Mr. Rob Ford did the right thing. He preserved his vote bank and confidence level of pro-family large constituency of Toronto. Less than one percent of population openly supports or belongs to LGBT community. Mr. Ford should listen to more than 99% of the population of Toronto, which wants to live a normal family life and also lead, guide, and educate the next generation to retain and preserve this lifestyle.

The family came to existence after a marriage and relation with a man and woman. Women gave birth to children, and men struggled for livelihood and sustenance of next generation. They fulfill the responsibility as nature assigned to them. They returned back to this world the most precious thing, the human race. They help God in producing and nurturing the beautiful people of all colours and races. Homosexuals denied this responsibility. They denied their own existence. They never thought that they were not dropped off directly from the sky; instead, they were born from the union of their father and mother and a long pain and struggle of their parents. By denying their responsibilities to do the same, homosexuals disrespect their parents, their forefathers, and Adam and Eve.

Homosexuals refuse to fulfill the responsibility to contribute to this world the children and future generation of human race. In other words, they kill the babies before birth. However, after denying this core and most difficult responsibility, the gay community stood firm and united to get all the rights for themselves. In last one decade, we Canadians proved that all the rights belong to gays, and all the responsibilities belong to families who are nurturing and caring for children.

LGBT community has rights to rule, to govern, to make laws, to develop education curriculum, and to decide what is right and what is wrong for the families and whole society. A less than one percent but very organized minority is dictating their terms of values, cultures, education, and lifestyles on all others. They have obtained a right and responsibility to rule over families. Families are speechless. They are silently and inactively watching the gays’ power dominance on the society. The defeat of Smitherman was good sign and first right step for those speechless people.

One of the Zionist bloggers posted one of my articles and suggested that gay parade organizers not support Palestinians in their parade as it appears obvious that Muslims are against gays. I say to this blogger that we Muslims are not nationalists. If we were nationalists, we should promote gay culture in other nations, particularly in white nation/race, and we should be glad to see white race is extinguishing fast by going against family and by adopting family-killing cultures. Contrary to nationalist thoughts, we Muslims, who stood firm on the principal of Qur’an, on the principal of Tauheed (unity of God, unity of universe, and unity of human beings), believe that we are all children of Adam and Eve. And we strongly believe that this world is a beautiful garden of God, and white flowers are equally important to retain this beauty as brown, yellow, or black flowers.

Furthermore, gay parade organizers and participants don’t support Palestinians for their love of Palestine, Islam, Qur’an, and Allah. They love because a few citizens of Palestine belong to their community. This gay love for Palestinian gays is not hidden. Queers against Israeli apartheid dropped a banner above the Wellesley subway station saying, “Support Palestinian Queers; Boycott Israeli Tourism,” Toronto Star reported.

However, it is true that most of the opposition coming against gay parade is not because of their lifestyle, but because of their showing of solidarity with Palestinians and is purely political.

“We shouldn’t be funding any political message at all,” said Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, the chair of the community development committee. Earlier he demanded a written guarantee from gay festival organizers that the controversial Queers Against Israeli Apartheid would be banned from participating in pride events. QAIA voluntarily agreed to stay away, and, in May, the council approved funding on the condition that organizers ensure all participants adhere to the city’s “anti-discrimination policy.” It means that just saying that Israel, the most apartheid state that ever existed on this planet, an “apartheid state” in this so-called free-speech country, is a crime and such criminals must be denied any funding. Some Dyke March participants were carrying anti-Israeli apartheid signature, and it was noticed that about 30 pro-Palestine activists were expressing pro-Palestine by displaying banners and placards. To punish the gay parade organizers for not stopping anti-Israel display, the city may not fund the pride with the $130,000 dollars in grant the city promised. A quarter of the festival’s budget comes from the city government.

Few parade participants are also displaying message to raise awareness about the lack of LGBT rights in Iran and Latin America. But this was not the concern for Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti. Displaying any message against Iran and Latin America is a “freedom of speech” and displaying against apartheid Israel is a “political” and “hate crime.”

Jawed Anwar can be reached at themuslim.ca@gmail.com

CAN you imagine that a banana without its peel would be safe? The banana would be bruised and smashed. The same is true for mangoes, papayas and all other good fruits with peels. Fruits stored without peels would be attacked by insects, bugs and will be contaminated with germs and bacteria. They would be unsafe.

Visit a jewelry store. See the costliest items of gold and diamonds. They will be secured in locked cases. Store keepers will show those costly items of jewelry when they believe in the reliability of customers. An insecure display of costly jewelry may attract more robbers than buyers.

Women are like precious gems. Furthermore, they cooperate with Almighty God to produce the most valued creature, human beings, and hence elevated their position as mothers.  Good men on this earth respect women and their dignity and treat them as mothers, sisters, and daughters. But among men, there are thugs who are insane, lusty transgressors. Good women try their best to keep their dignity, and one of the defensive tools is modest dressing. To avoid being attacked and assaulted by bad men, good women try to be modest in dressing and covering as much possible.

If you go to the history of great people and great civilizations, you will find women in Hijab and Niqab. The most popular woman of Hindu scripture is Sita. Ravan, the kidnapper of Sita, the wife of Ram witnessed later after her release that he had not seen any part of Sita’s body except her feet. That means Sita’s face was covered. She was in Niqab. Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus was fully covered. Even today, nuns of the Church follow the dress code. They cover everything except face.

When the last messenger of God, Muhammad (s.a.w), came, he revealed and preached the same lifestyle as it was practiced before by Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus, and their supporters. Aisha (a.s.) and Fatima (a.s) followed the same dress code as was followed by Mary.

Now you witness the media, organized perverted minority groups campaigning against women’s right to choose to wear Niqab and now campaigning in support of women in sluttish dress.

Recently the Toronto police officer's comment came during a campus safety information session held at York University in January in which two police officers were giving safety pointers to students. One of the tips given to women by an Officer was to avoid dressing in a promiscuous fashion.  He said that women could avoid rape if they didn't dress like "sluts."

Whatever, the dressing is not and shouldn't be excuse for rapists. They must be punished in all circumstances.

The officer’s use of words may not be appropriate; however, it is a fact that the dress of early twentieth century’s European sluts is now the fashion of the day of Europe and North America. Society at large accepted this perversion as a norm.

The police officer should be praised for his wise advice. Instead, we see he has been condemned and isolated from various segments of the society. The officer himself has apologized and Toronto Police Service issued an official apology and explanation. Thousands of women gathered for a "slut-walk" in slut dress in protest of the Toronto police officer's comment in all over North America.

However, in essence, the police officer’s comment was correct and in compliance of the law of nature and religious teachings. The "slut-walkers" are misleading the society, particularly young girls. They should watch their behavior. Promiscuity was never and can’t be a good sign for any healthy society. It leads to destruction of mind, body and soul and ultimately the collapse of family and society.

“God, having thus
created man, put into him a light which
is called reason, which was to unite the flesh, the sense, and the soul in
a single end – to work for the service of God (emphasis mine – for Almighty Allah’s [SWT] Sake Only)[1]”.

I will say at the outset that I was misled into believing modern philosophy, a body of
human knowledge relating to the secular world, to be sacrosanct.

I take the opportunity to cite a quote from the English translation of the Gospel of Barnabas to emphasize
my error in judgment.

The quote cited above is so simple but profound for myself and those who yearn for a faith in the Oneness of Almighty Allah
(SWT) and a sincere belief in His final prophet and Messenger for all mankind until the Day of Judgment – Muhammad
(sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam). I say all this as a personal reminder for me and, hopefully, for our readers.

The ramifications of this quote has strengthened my conviction that modern philosophy is  subordinate to the True Reality,
that is, the Revelation from Almighty Allah (SWT) that is reflected in the sayings and actions of the last prophet and Messenger of Almighty Allah (SWT) for all mankind – Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam).

I now understand modern philosophy in its proper perspective.  What do I mean by this?  I say here that Revelation- the Noble Qu’ran and the Sunna of Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam), the final prophet and Messenger for all mankind until the Day of Judgment - is heretofore my guide; Revelation is heretofore my purpose for living here in this mortal world and is the bedrock of hope for felicity in the Here-After.  Every other worldly pursuit, whether it is the vocation of philosopher or plumber, is secondary.

I have deliberately singled out “modern” philosophy – typified by the European Enlightenment - whose fundamental core is
the conviction that the individual is “an agent of change” by virtue of his new-found ability to “subordinate” and “control” Nature, chiefly for selfish ends.  Antecedent to this “subordination” and “control” of Nature is the conviction that man’s “mysterious soul[2]” is “intelligible” with the aid of the “mental faculty” of human reason alone, so as to achieve some “mastery” over his fate.

I now understand, with more certainty, that “modern” philosophy is a body of work written by men who sought to “unravel” for themselves the “inner workings” of Nature and his “mysterious soul”, via the scientific method in order to explain, to his satisfaction, his relationship to Nature and society with the aid of the “mental faculty” of human reason alone.  This new understanding of human reason as a “mental faculty” characterized as “’an original spontaneity of thought”, an agency, a force, an “immediate activity’” engaged in “the power and task of shaping life itself’”[3].   And this new understanding of reason as a
“mental faculty” ushered in an historic rise of modern science, commerce and industry the likes of which the world has ever experienced.
The zeitgeist of the European Enlightenment (for it is in Europe that this “intellectual climate” occurred and achieved “perfection” within the late 19^th century) revolutionized man’s relationship to Nature.  Man’s relationship to Nature is
reflected in his discovery of “Nature’s Laws” with the aid of human reason.  “Sir” Isaac Newton’s   achievements, as reflected in his “Laws of Motion”, readily come to mind.
But man’s use of his reason as it pertains to “imagined” political and social “realities” – as typified by the systematization of modern political science, along with the social sciences, is troublesome at best, and it is within this quarter of
intellectual activity that we witness the “elasticity” of human reason.
We witness the “elasticity” of human reason when we consider that the philosophical architects of the European Enlightenment assumed the responsibility of understanding human reason as a “tool” or “instrument” to “fashion” for themselves “imagined”
relationships between man and the modern political state and to society.  And it is here, within this intellectual activity, that an earnest effort to “understand” the “mysterious soul” with the aid of human reason gained prominence and legitimacy.   This
attempt to “explain” man’s “mysterious soul” is human reason “run amok”.

It is now safe to say that, because of the “elasticity” of human reason, everyone is a philosopher today.  Ask two people to
explain to you the genesis of some “social phenomena” or other, such as “racism” and you will get two totally different answers.  There is one answer to this genesis of racism:  it is a disease of the heart.

The nature of “evil” is now a question to be answered via human reason.  “Evil”, more than ever during this period of
intellectual history of Europe, must be “intelligible” by human reason.  The answer to a question beginning with the
question “Why” is now answered cavalierly by human reason alone.

I say that the zeitgeist of the European Enlightenment – typified by the “elasticity” of human reason as it pertains to
the political and the social sciences, is subordinate to this “light” of “reason” to which the Gospel of
Barnabas refers.  Its desired effect – this “elasticity” of human reason, is to “dim” or threaten my “light
of reason” within my heart.  In short, philosophy for me can be a dangerous thing.
I’m in no way asking myself and others to dismiss or disregard “reason” as a “faculty of the mind”, for to do so is to withdraw from the world; Almighty Allah (SWT), in His Infinite Mercy, has “equipped” us, so to speak, with five senses, typified
by organs of sight, hearing, touch, smell and speech.  What I’m saying here is to understand that, at the end of the day, the “light” of “reason” is of more significance than our “mental faculties” called “reason”. Almighty Allah (SWT) has granted us the ability to think so as to navigate the world around us and consequently engage in worldly pursuits.   Human reason, typified by the “faculty of the mind”, can easily question Revelation. This is my personal reminder.

The historical period of intellectual activity termed “The Enlightenment”, I believe, distracted me from the True Reality:  that Almighty Allah (SWT) “equipped” me, by reason of His Infinite Mercy, this precious “light” of “reason” that can only be strengthened through His Laws or Commandments – one of which is prayer, or salaat.   This “reason” or “faculty of the mind” as the modern philosophers allude to, deluded me into thinking that it is “unreasonable” to devote myself entirely to Almighty Allah (SWT) through the five daily salaat.

Many of us now find it “unreasonable” to struggle to read the Holy Qur’an with sincerity of heart, for the Pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT). Many of us now find it “unreasonable” to hate the things that are offensive to Almighty Allah (SWT) for His Sake Only.  Many of us find it “unreasonable” to be dutiful to our parents for sole purpose of gaining Almighty Allah’s (SWT) Pleasure.  I now hurry for the morning prayers, or fajr, at the masjid with other brothers, whenever Almighty Allah
(SWT) Allows it.
I can no longer apply questions of “Why is so-and-so” to the Revealed Truth as enshrined in the Noble Qu’ran and the Sunna
of the final prophet and Messenger for all mankind until the Day of Judgment – Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam). This is my personal struggle I must uphold with all my strength.

I now understand clearly that generations of impious persons defaced or distorted the Shari’ah that Almighty Allah (SWT), in His Infinite Mercy, revealed to prophet Musa (alaihis-salam) for Bani Israel.    Almighty Allah (SWT), in His Infinite
Mercy for all of mankind, entrusted His final prophet and Messenger Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam), with His Laws and Commandments that will remain accessible to all who believe in Almighty Allah (SWT) and the final prophet and Messenger of Almighty Allah (SWT) – Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi- wa-salam), until the Day of Judgment.
The “reason” or “rationality” to which I adhere is the “light” that Almighty Allah (SWT) created for each human being to know who their Lord, or Rabb is.

I have now come to understand that modern philosophers refer to “reason”, or “rationality”, as a “faculty of the mind”.
The truth is that the “light” of “reason” that Almighty Allah (SWT) “implanted”, by His Infinite Mercy, within my heart is meant to inform my moral conduct in this mortal world.  Actions are based on intentions.

I now know that “reason” or “rationality”, in Truth, is not primarily a “faculty of the mind”, for this classification inevitably leads to a brain-body duality.

That “rationality”, characterized in modern philosophical circles as a “faculty of the mind” is a modern description and is associated with the French philosopher Rene Decartes, who arrived at his conclusion by doubting his Lord, Almighty Allah (SWT).   Decartes’ “description” of “rationality”, I now understand, is a distraction from the Truth, for the Truth is that, in Reality, “reason” defies description; that, in Truth, “reason” is not a mental concept.  In Truth, the most significant “reason”, or
“rationality” is that “light” implanted by Almighty Allah (SWT) through His Infinite Knowledge and situated in the heart of
every human being.  And I’m not referring to the “heart” as the physical heat beating in our chests.

Whenever I decide, as a matter of faith, that I value
this “reason” as a “faculty” above the “light” of “reason” that  lead to a faith in Almighty Allah’s (SWT) Oneness, along with His Commandments, I join others who believe that success in this world, whatever the endeavor, lies in felicity in the Hereafter. I am ever more careful not to “tilt” or “exercise” my “mental faculty” of “reason” over and above this “light” of “reason”  I now
guard myself against pride, for fear of disregarding the Oneness of Almighty Allah (SWT), as enshrined in the Sunna of the last prophet and Messenger for all mankind to the Day of Judgment – Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam). It is
pride that aims to disrupt my “light” of “reason”.
Some days ago I watched an interesting discussion on MSNBC, with Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, concerning the dearth of disparity between men and women, both financially and socially.  Among them in attendance were other commentators who chimed in on the possible “reasons” why such a disparity exists.  The foundation for this discussion is a book – part memoir and part manifesto for women - written by Ms. Brzezinski:  Knowing your value:  Women, Money and Getting What You Want.

I learned so much at a recent Jumu’ah that I wish to share it with my readers.  The Imam began his sermon by referring to the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson.  The Imam focused on the phrase “…the pursuit of happiness”.
He refers to this “pursuit of happiness” as a red herring, a myth, something not to be believed.   There is no need, the Imam said, to “pursue” happiness.  The Imam wished to tell us that “happiness” is not an “endless pursuit”.

Mika Brzezinski wants to remind women that they must find their worth, their value.  Women, she argues, must find
their worth in order to find “happiness”.  What Mika is saying here is that women are “worthless” within American
society.  They don’t say what they want.  They don’t tell their bosses (we are speaking here of men) they are worth more than they are paid for their jobs.  They don’t understand they are not worthy of demanding for better pay.  Men outpace women in this category.

Women are thus engaged in “endless pursuits” for “happiness” within a society wherein they gain their “worth” from the opinion of others, chiefly men.

One commentator, a man, remarked that a woman must demand her worth to her boss, even if she comes off as “too jerky”.

A woman need not “misbehave” or “act inappropriately” when demanding better pay.

A woman’s happiness, her moral conduct, is not an “endless pursuit”.  The source of a woman’s happiness is the Noble Qu’ran and the Sunna of Muhammad (sallalahu-alaihi-wa-salam).  Almighty Allah (SWT), in His Infinite Mercy, grants a woman her worth.  It is true that a woman must interact with her co-workers, etc., but the source of her worth is ultimately not to be found
in human relationships.
I am grateful to Almighty Allah (SWT) for all the scholars of the Muslim tradition, among them the Imams at the local masjids.

I implore any Muslim who yearn for religious knowledge to read with zeal at least one Tasfir, or commentary of the Holy Qu’ran. I refer here to Maa’iful Qu’ran, written by Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi and translated for English readers by
Profs. Muhammad Hasan Askari and Muhammad Shamin.

May Almighty Allah (SWT) Bless the author of the Ma’ariful Qu’ran, for it is only within the opening pages of this Tafsir where I finally understood there is human knowledge through reason, that is, the “orderly” interpretation of a collection
of sensory information we gather from our sense of touch, smell, taste, hearing and speech.   Then there is a dimension of knowledge, or Wahy, that is limitless, unlike that of human reason.

Maulana Shafi’s explanation of the two “chambers” of “reason” or “rationality” at the opening pages is  revealing.  I use the word “chambers” here for ease of understanding, and must be understood at face value only.

I use this classification here to illustrate that human “rationality”, that is, the “faculty of mind” that is human reason and nourished daily by the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and speech, undoubtedly has its limits, for
there is knowledge that our five senses cannot grasp[4].  In other words, Revelation, or Wahy, begins where human “rationality” or human “reason” ends.  Human reason must not ask “Why” questions as it pertain to Revelation.  This is the limit.
For whatever reasons, modern philosophers “sidestepped” or dispensed with the “light of human reason as identified with this “light” within the human heart, this “light” that will only grow brighter through a person’s communication with Almighty Allah’s (SWT) Revelations, in favor of human reason alone.  And this precisely should not be so.
A failing to understand Revelation with human reason alone chiefly because it is devoid of logic provides no justification for dispensing with Revelation altogether.

Isn’t it the case that Almighty Allah (SWT), in His Infinite Mercy, equipped every human being with human reason and
logic?  Surely this is the case.  Yet natural philosophers, for whatever reason (and Almighty Allah [SWT] is the Judge in this regard), contended that “Nature” itself designed them.  Consequently, natural philosophers harked to “Nature” to somehow reveal its contents and to explain our “mysterious souls”.  They have declared that “Nature” has somehow “equipped” human beings with human reason and logic, echoing an evolutionary design.  In other words, their ideas once convinced me
that my existence on this Earth is simply an accident.
For, like human reason, whereby we gather information about the world around us through the five senses and of which we are “certain”, Revelation, or Wahy, gives way to a “certainty” or “rationality” for the human being, provided that she or he believes in, among the key articles of the Muslim faith, Life after Death:

“To begin with, it is totally senseless to discuss the issue of Wahy with a person who, God forbid, does not acknowledge the very existence of God.  But, for a person who believes in the existence of Allah Almighty and has faith in His perfect power, it is
not at all difficult to understand that Wahy is a rational need, that it is possible and that it is there for real”(italics mine) [5]

The writer is a recent revert to Islam and can be contacted at:  hd72201@gmail.com