BOUQUEST AND BRICKBATS

This has reference to the article titled ‘outdoing Hitler’ by Clifford D. May, in Islamic Voice March 2008. He writes that radical leaders manipulate words, images, and ideas, and that persons like Hitler who was evil, comprehend the mechanics of mass movements to achieve the ends, no matter how vile or inhuman. He finds parallels to such evil men in Osama Bin Laden, Mahamood Ahamedinajad, Hassan Nasurulla and other militant jihadists alleged to be doing exactly the same evil.

As everybody knows, the root causes of unrest in many parts of world are domination, aggression, invasion or such acts which curtail freedom. The mass movements started with idealism to resist injustice may eventually end in radicalism. Radicalists may exploit poverty, faith etc to achieve their goals. The non -violent struggle for India ‘s freedom under Mahatma Gandhi against British Colonialism is unique in world history. The small country of Vietnam adopted a different strategy to fight against America. The resistance movements in Iraq and Palestine are branded as ‘Jihad’ even without properly understanding the dimensions of Islamic Jihad. In the words of Ramsey Clark, former US Attorney General and civil right activist, ‘The War on terrorism is really a War on Islam’. In Iraq, after invasion more than one million people died and an equal number wounded, and more than double the number are refugees. It is not only radical leaders who manipulate words, images and ideas. Radical writers, can also do similar damages.

This has reference to the concern raised by Br. Akhtar Mahmood in October 2007 edition of IV. I believe that Dr. Maher Hathout is referring to the fact that Qur’an considers itself as Qur’an al-majid, i.e. “glorious” as opposed to “holiness”. In regards to the Jahannam (Hell), whether it is permanent or not, the word “for ever” in the Surah 98, Ayat 6 is either referred within parenthesis or omitted in the Quranic translations. Any word that is mentioned within the parenthesis has been added by the translator in an attempt to interpret this ayat. And Allah knows the best. Here are few references.

1. Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures.

2. Muhammad Asad
Verily, those who [despite all evidence] are bent on denying the truth - [be they] from among the followers of earlier revelation or from among those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God - will find themselves in the fire of hell, therein to abide: they are the worst of all creatures.

I read the letter published in February 2008 in Islamic Voice on Dr Zakir Naik and his comments on Sania’s dress. I am shocked to see this attitude of Muslims towards their own scholar. Here is the the verbatim answer of Dr. Zakir Naik on Sania Mirza’s Dress.

“ I as a Muslim, remind you the command of our beloved Prophet (Pbuh) “ It is enough for man to be evil that he reviles his Muslim brother. It is haram upon you the honour and the blood of your Muslim brother.” (Sahih Muslim vol. 4 Hadith 2564). Nowhere has Dr. Naik said that “so the skirts she wears can be ignored “ In fact he has said in clear words that what she wears is wrong. It is an allegation upon a Da’ee of Dr. Naik’s calibre by attributing to him what he has not said. Look what the Qur’an has to say about it: And those who annoy Believing men and women undeservedly bear on themselves a calumny and a glaring sin (Surah Ahzab ch. 33 , verse 58). It is very unfortunate that these days some pseudo-Muslims are slandering Dr. Zakir Naik by quoting him out of context.

This is a very bad trend for the community that we do not honour our scholar who has been speaking tirelessly on behalf of our battered community and defending it against allegations hurled in the media and in political corridors. Dr. Zakir Naik has made a notable contribution to the removal of misconceptions about Islam. Hence it is unIslamic to malign a da’ee in this manner.

Introduction of the Children’s Quiz (Islamic Voice March 1, 2008) is a welcome step. Instead of just one or two winners, more winners could be given the prize.
The First Quiz published in March 2008 issue has inadvertently carried ‘First Quiz-2007’. It should have been 2008.

I visited your website-www.islamicvoice.com, by chance. There are scores of Muslim websites, but many do not cover some topics. Here are my suggestions which can be included in your website: Well researched articles on Islamophobia, questions and answers on Islam, stories from Muslims who were approached by missionaries, books for sale and for free downloading which would help non-Muslims understand and answer their questions on Islam. Why not also come up with past and present books about the CIA, US history of terrorism worldwide, books on US-CIA, MOSSAD tortures and modus operandi, books written about victims of the CIA, etc?

Sir, I began reading Islamic Voice two years ago when I was just 16. It has provided me immense knowledge. It has enabled me to approach Islam in a more rational way. I am indebted to it for helping me to become a better Muslim and human being. I would like to know if there are any correspondence courses on Islam at affordable expense.