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Qur’anic Concepts of the Ethics of Warfare:
Challenging the Claims of Islamic Aggressiveness
By DR JOEL HAYWARD
DEAN OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE COLLEGE, UNITED KINGDOM
CO-DIRECTOR, ROYAL AIR FORCE CENTRE FOR AIR POWER
STUDIES
HEAD OF AIR POWER STUDIES, KING’S COLLEGE
LONDON
A New Book On Islam
Islam A Primer for
Peace
by
Dr. Ronald Lee Cobb: a hristian
author, minister, therapist, counselor,
NATO peacekeeper in Bosnia and US
Army retired Colonel
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Dr. Ronald Lee Cobb
D. Min. Doctor of
Ministry from San Francisco Theological
Seminary, San
Anselmo, CA -
M.A. Master of Arts in Religion from
the University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kansas. M.Div. Master of Divinity from
Central Baptist Theological Seminary,
Kansas
City, Kansas
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George
Galloway, UK member of Parliament
with a fair question
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New
Islamic Directions
by
Zaid Shakir
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Legacy
of Peace Documentary
Legacy of Peace documentary is a production
of the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
The documentary is a journey of learning of
Islam and its relationship with Christianity
and Judaism and a gateway to a host of other
relevant and pertinent issues.
Click on the Image below to Explore the Legacy
of Peace Documentary
Click
here to watch the Legacy of peace on-line
"America
And Islam Are Not Exclusive...
Seeking
a new beginning..."
President of the United States of America
Barak Obama speaking in Cairo, Egypt, June 4,
2009
Click
to view the 9 minutes video
The
Essence of Religions and Duties of the Clergy "Religion
is like pure rain falling on earth and nourishing
life. It brings about beautiful flowers, trees
and vegetation. In the same way rain is necessary
for life, religion and morality are necessary
to maintain peace, serenity and hope. However,
the radicals and those profiting from religious
differences and conflicts pollute and poison
the rain. Thus, water--the source of life--turns
unhealthy. It is the duty of the clergymen to
keep faith pure and congregations healthy."
- The late Sheik Ahmad
Kuftaro, Grand Mufti of Syria -
InterFaith
in Focus
InterFaith
in Focus is a 15 minutes DVD video; it is excerpts
from the documentary film Legacy of Peace. We
invite you to wach it. If you desire a free
copy of this InterFaith in Focus DVD, please
email
us with your request so we can send you
one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Oz8M_FnV4&feature=player_embedded#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q9G0S8fADQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtgkcz87XbA&feature=player_embedded
In
defense of Prophet Muhammad
In her book,
Muhammad, a Biography of the Prophet,
Karen Armstrong wrote:
“But
the very idea that Muhammad would have found any
thing to be optimistic about in the carnage committed
in his name on September 11th is an obscenity,
because, as I try to show in these pages, Muhammad
spent most of his life trying to stop that kind
of indiscriminate slaughter. The very word islam,
which denotes the existential “surrender”
of the whole being to God, which Muslims are required
to make, is related to salam, “peace.”
And most importantly, Muhammad eventually abjured
violence and pursued a daring, inspired policy
on non-violence that was the culmination of his
prophetic career. In imagining that the holy war
was the culmination of his career, the fundamentalists
(extremists) have distorted the whole meaning
of his life. Far from being the father of Jihad,
Muhammad was a peacemaker, who risked his life
and nearly lost his closest companions, because
he was so determined to effect a reconciliation
with Mecca. Instead of fighting an intransigent
war to the death, Muhammad was prepared to negotiate
and to compromise. And this apparent humiliation
and capitulation proved, in the words of the Qur’an,
to be a great victory (fat-‘h)....If
we could view Muhammad as we do any other important
historical figure we would surely consider him
to be one of the greatest geniuses the world has
known."
-
Karen Armstrong, Muhammad,
A Biography of the Prophet. HarperSanFransisco,
1993.
The
100
A RANKING OF THE MOST INFUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY
By
Michael H. Heart
In
his Introduction in the book, The 100,
Michael Heart stated:
"This book is solely
involved with the question of who were the 100
persons who had the greatest effect on history
and on the course of the world. I have ranked
those 100 persons in order of importance: that
is, according to the total amount of influence
that each of them had on human history and the
everyday lives of other human beings."
His first choice of the
most influential persons of the world was Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him). About this choice,
this is what he said:
"My choice of Muhammad
to lead the list of the world's most influential
persons may surprise some readers and may be
questioned by others, but he was the only man
in history who was supremely successful on both
the religious and secular levels.
Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated
one of the world's great religions, and became
an immensely effective political leader. Today,
thirteen centuries after his death, his influence
is still powerful and pervasive." He
then concluded:
"It is this unparalleled
combination of secular and religious influence
which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered
the most influential single figure in human
history."
The
100, A RANKING OF THE MOST INFUENTIAL PERSONS
IN HISTORY, Michael H. Heart, Kensington Publication,
New York, N Y. 1992.
Saladin
-- Man of the Millennium
Both
Christians and Muslims admire Saladin, who has
become a celebrity of history. The Millennium
issue of Times Magazine (Dec 31, 1999) devoted
a full artistic (inside
front cover) page of Saladin’s
face for his chivalry and noble character. Saladin's
traits and virtues were purely a reflection
of the teachings of his faith.
To
learn more about Saladin, click here or on the
title of this paragraph.
Islam's
Concept of Promoting Good and Rejecting Wrong,
“al Ma’roof and al Munkar”
Dr.
Muzammil H. Siddiqi*
As
human societies evolve, some of their actions
become recognized as good and accepted and other
deeds as bad and rejected. In Islam, one of
the lesser pillars (Fardh Kifayah) is enjoining
(Ma’roof) the doing of what is right and
forbidding (Munkar) the doing of what is wrong.
The Arabic phrase for this lesser pillar is
known as 'al Amr bil Ma’roof wa Annahi
ahn al Munkar.' The word Ma’roof comes
from the word Urf, which means something has
been acknowledged and admitted, and the word
Munkar comes from Nukr, meaning rejected or
unknown.
In line of what is part of human nature, Islam
teaches Muslims to promote what is good, 'al
Ma’roof' and rejects what is bad and immoral,
'al Munkar'. According
to Dr. Siddiqi: “Al
Ma'roof is any thing known to all people as
good and beneficial, such as the safety measures
at home, at the work place and in traffic, penalizing
the criminal, saying the truth, etc., and 'al
Munkar' is any thing recognized by all people
as bad and unwanted, such as intoxication, harming
neighbors, committing crimes, steeling and lying.”
Dr.
Siddiqi further states: “Islam
is a universal religion. It accepts what is
globally acknowledged by all people as good,
and considers it good, and it rejects what is
globally recognized by all people as bad or
immoral."
Muslims
in the Holy Qur’an are commanded over
and over to enjoin al Ma’roof and forbid
al Munkar. Here are two examples. Allah said
in Chapter 3, The Family of Imran (The Family
of the Virgin Mary):
“Let there arise out
of you a band of people inviting to all that
is good, enjoining ‘al Ma’roof,’
the doing of what is right and forbidding ‘al
Munkar,’ the doing of what is wrong.”
Qur’an, 3:104.
“You are the best
of people evolved for mankind, enjoining the
doing of what is right, and forbidding the doing
of what is wrong, and believing in God.”
Qur’an, 3:110.
These
principles and commandments further reinforce
the claim that Islam cannot clash with any good
custom or civilization. On the contrary, it
agrees with people's standards; it builds on
what is good and helps to eliminate what is
bad and evil.
*Dr.
Muzammil Siddiqi is a renowned Muslim scholar
in North America. Presently, he is the Chairman
of the Shura Council of Southern California,
President of the Fiqh Council of North America
and ex-President of ISNA, and the Director of
Orange County Islamic Society.
A
Historic day at the Crystal Cathedral,
Garden Grove, California
Shaykh
Salah Kuftaro and Dr. Robert Schuller, 9/17/2000
Use Realplayer to view the following video
To
down load a Real Player click on the next
link: http://www.realplayer.com/
Please
note: for dial up systems, it can take up
to 14 minutes to down load. File size: 5.4
MB.
Click
on the image below if you have DSL, Cable or faster
and higher resolution system. File size: 27MB.
Making
History:
Christians and Muslims Working Together
"Invite
(all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and
beautiful preaching; and discuss with them in
ways that are best and most gracious."
Qur'an, 16:125.
This
wonderful passage lays down the Islamic principles
for interfaith and out-reach work. Wisdom and
discretion, gentleness and consideration, are
the grounds from which gracious work will surely
change hearts and minds.
Meeting people on their own level and introducing
Islam to them with examples relevant to their
own knowledge, which may be very narrow or very
wide, without dogmatic or offensive disposition,
is surly a complaisance of the verse above.
The Institute of
Arabic and Islamic Studies proudly presents a
16 minute interfaith video clip, "Making
History," portraying discussions between
Shaykh Salah Kuftaro, Chief Director of Abu Anour
Islamic Foundation, Damascus, Syria, and Dr. Robert
Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral, Garden
Grove, California and the host of the world wide
TV show, "The Hour of Power." This video
was aired in 200 countries around the world on
17th September 2000.
"I apologise to Islam
for the Christian Crusades of 1065, let us begin
a new crusade of comrade and friendship, we are
in the same camp." -Dr.
Robert H. Schuller
An historical and unprecedented
event took place at the Crystal Cathedral, garden
Grove, California on September 10, 2000. For the
first time two preeminent leaders of Islam and
Christianity met to share the common ground of
their two faiths, which represent more than one
half the world population. Dr. Robert Schuller,
founder of the Crystal Cathedral and Pastor of
the Hour of Power worldwide TV program welcomed
Sheik Salah Kuftaro, Chief Director of the Abu
Anour Islamic Foundation and the son of Sheik
Ahmad Kuftaro, the Grand Mufti of Syria on both
his Sunday televised services. Sheik Salah Kuftaro
appeared on both the 9:30 and 11:00 services and
told the 6000 Christian/Muslim/Jewish congregation,
with many religious leaders: "Islam
is not a new religion, but that which completes
the Religions of Christ, Moses and Abraham.The
fountain of these religions is Almighty Allah."
He added, Prophet Muhammad said: "We
the Prophets of God are brothers, and the likeness
of me and the prophets before me is like that
of a beautiful building with one stone of it missing.
I am the final Prophet and the final stone of
this building." Sheik
Salah further said: "We,
Muslims and Christians are in one camp."
Regarding the Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheik Ahmad
Kuftaro, Dr. Schuller remarked: "I
met the Pope on several occasions. I have never
met a man of such spirituality and profound wisdom
as that of your father. He is a spiritual giant."
Dr. Schuller then said:
"Your father told me
that the 17 million population of Syria are all
Christians. Could you elaborate on that?"
Sheik Salah said: "My
father is absolutely correct. A
Muslim cannot be a true Muslim if he or she does
not believe in the Prophet hood of Jesus, Moses,
or any prophet of God. We Muslims honor, reverence,
and are inspired by Jesus, Moses, Abraham, as
much as by Muhammad, and the rest of the prophets
of God."
When Dr. Schuller asked
his guest, "Why
is it that Muslims kill Christians and Christians
kill Muslims?" Sheik
Salah said: "Heavenly
Religions are like the rain. When the rain first
comes it is clean and pure, but when it reaches
people, we (people) pollute it. In Islam, we learn
that no one person shall be killed for no reason,"
and he he recited
the verse:
"If
any one kill a person, it would be as if he kill
the whole people, and if any one saved a life,
it would be as if he saved the whole people."
Qur'an, 5:32.
Sheik Salah also said: "A
Muslim must treat a Christian or a Jew with respect
and kindness and in the same way he would treat
a Muslim." He
related that Prophet Muhammad, before he ate his
meal, he used to ask whether or not his Jewish
neighbor had received a portion of the food. he
would not eat unless he makes sure that his neighbor
had received a portion of the food.
Sheik Salah said: "A
building without maintenance deteriorates fast,
especially when it is abused. Likewise, the building
of our faiths gets abused. We the clergymen have
the duty to ensure that this building is pure,
beautiful and well maintained."
Dr. Schuller then apologized for the Christian
Crusader war and called on his son, Robert and
Salah to start a new campaign of friendship, he
said: "I
Pray that you (Salah) and my son (Robert) start
a new crusade of comradeship and friendship, I
apologize to Islam for the Crusades that the Christians
started in 1065, we are in the same camp."
Joint
Statement on the Danish Cartoons
By
Guirguis
Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary of the
Middle East Council of Churches
and
Prof, Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad AL-Rifaie, President
of the
International Islamic Fourm for Dialogue, January
17, 2006
We
were informed, with great sorrow and aversion
of the shameful pictures and words used lately
by the Danish mass media against Islam. A matter
considered as a gross attack on the Muslim beliefs
and a provocation of their religious feelings
and violation of their deep-rooted traditions.
While
we strongly condemn these senseless violations,
we stress that such devious actions are an evil
source for feeding of the phenomenon of world
terrorism, and a subversive horn of establishing
culture of the conflict among followers of religions,
and the diverse cultures
and civilizations. As well as it is an atrocious
manner for planting essence of enmity and hatred
among people. We stand for working together to
spread the culture of love, justice, peace and
safe coexistence in our diverse societies and
among people of all religions
and cultures.
Hence,
we call upon the respected Danish government and
upon the world responsible institutions to reprimand
the agencies that instigated this
reckless religious discord, and to prevent
any future irresponsible actions of this nature.
For a historical
perspective of the Danish Cartoons, please also
click on,
When
Hate-Crimes Don the Guise of Freedom of Speech
Use
Realplayer to view the following few minutes video
"We Respect Your Faith"
Ex-President George
Bush in his address to the nation and the Joint
Session of Congress on September 20, 2001 spoke
about Islam and Muslims. Here are some of his
remarks.
"The
terrorists are traitors, in effect, to their own
faith, trying to highjack Islam itself. I want
to speak to Muslims throughout the world: We respect
your faith, it is good and peaceful. It is practiced
freely by many millions of Americans and many
more foreign countries that America considers
as friends, and those who commit an evil in the
name of Allah, blaspheme the name of Allah. The
enemy of America is not the many Muslim friends,
it is not the many Arab friends, it is a radical
network of terrorists. The terrorists practice
a fringe form of Islamic terrorism that has been
rejected by Muslim Scholars and the vast majority
of Muslim clergies. A fringe movement that perverse
the peaceful teaching as Islam. I ask you to uphold
the values of America. We are going to fight for
our principles and our first responsibility is
to align by them. No one shall be singled-out
for an unfair or unkind words because of their
ethnic background or religious faith."
-
Ex-President George W. Bush |
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