Mubarik ho: Its been smooth sailing yesterday
An SMS from a friend last night: Congratulations on peaceful protest in Karachi today. Proud to be a karachiite!It has come as a pleasant surprise after 48 hours of watching voilence on TV. Ishrat ul Ebad's briefing on Wednesday seems to have worked (DAWN).
Fingers crossed it stays this way after Jumma prayers.
posted by Zunaira @ 11:14 AM
4 Comments:
Question: The cartoon issue is looming large all over the Muslim Ummah. People
have responed variously: both peacefully and violently. Personally I am really
disturbed at this outbreak. It seems that we Muslims are a continuous target
for the West? What should be the correct and balanced response in this regard?
Also how can we express our selves in this matter.
Answer: These are indeed testing times for the whole Ummah and the morals it
upholds. In defending the honour of our Prophet (sws), the most important thing
is never abandoning the ethics that he taught us. Keeping that basic principle
in mind, the few things we could do as a people are:
1. Use "our freedom of speech". They say the pen is mightier than the sword.
We can all write. We should learn to use the advantages of the age we are living
in. Letters, e-mails, blogs, etc. in magazines, journals, and other fora are
far more effective than banners and walks. Two important things to keep in mind
are:
a) never to lose our moral superiority (by ensuring that our writings have no
invective, abuse, or foul language and that they are based on academic and logical
arguments)
b) never to resort to violence or vandalism so that we can show through our personal
character that these are not the things that our beloved Prophet (sws) taught
us.
2. We can arrange talks and invite scholars and academics to a) explain to us
how our religion is not based on terrorism so that we can pass on these arguments
and facts to the world in a decent and ethical manner b) talk about the limitations
on freedom of expression accepted internationally so that we can also point up
the inconsistencies of those who have violated their own principles in this matter.
We should also emphasize to all our addresses what the difference between freedom
of expression and abuse of freedom is. For example, in Pakistan, for example,
when we allow Christians their right to disseminate their message on trinity
on the TV on Christmas or when we allow Bernard Lewis's works to be distributed
here in Pakistan, we do demonstrate our maturity as a people who are willing
to accept freedom of expression. But an academic critique on our religion or
the Prophet (sws) (to which our scholars duly respond every now and then) is
very different from ridicule, which is indecent, oppressive and criminal.
3. We must have the correct attitude in handling the issuse: In the Meccan period,
when Hamzah (rta) (not a Muslim then) demonstrated his familial "honour" by avenging
his beloved nephew (the Prophet [sws]), we all know what the Prophet said. He
told his uncle that what would please the Prophet was not revenge but change.
And Hamzah changed -- to become a Muslim. Thus in showing our love for the Prophet
(sws) how many of us will make the decision to bring about some real change in
our own lives and to help each other to become better Muslims and better human
beings? (Maybe begin with - not end it with - regularity in prayer?).
May Allah be with all of us. And peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our most
beloved Prophet (sws), who when pelted with stones at Tai'f while spreading the
message of God for you and me forgave those who hurt him and insulted him in
the hope and with the prayers that they might see the truth later.
Studying Islam
www.studying-islam.org
Italian minister puts cartoon on T-shirts
ROME, Feb 14: Italy’s Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli has had T-shirts made emblazoned with the anti-Islam cartoons in a move that could embarrass Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government.
Mr Calderoli, a member of the anti-immigrant Northern League, told Ansa news agency on Tuesday that the West had to stand up against Muslim extremists and offered to hand out the T-shirts to anyone who wanted them.
“I have had T-shirts made with the cartoons that have upset Islam and I will start wearing them today,” Ansa quoted Mr Calderoli as saying.
He said the T-shirts were not meant to be a provocation, but added that he saw no point trying to appease extremists.
“We have to put an end to this story that we can talk to these people. They only want to humiliate people. Full stop. And what are we becoming? The civilisation of melted butter?” Mr Calderoli said.
The League has long opposed mass immigration into Italy and its leaders say violence over the cartoon shows the dangers of allowing Muslim immigrants to settle here.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg of the religious war Islamist extremists have declared on us,” Mr Calderoli told reporters earlier this month.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi last week urged Mr Calderoli to take a more moderate stance on the issue, the Italian press reported, but the minister said he had no intention of keeping quiet.
“As for Berlusconi, seeing as he has compared himself to Jesus Christ, I would call on him to follow (Christ’s) example and think about evangelising Christian values and not be evangelised by Islam,” Mr Calderoli was quoted as saying.—Reuters
Mr Calderoli has been told to resign. Outtaboy Italy!!
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
Post a Comment
<< Home