FLASH BACK: Muslims Gave Lives to Save Christians

Salah Farah

As has been echoed by Muslims through the ages, Islam means life for all with the exception of those who rebel against ALLAH. ALLAH (SWT) talked about the sanctity of

Harvard: Qur’an Verse One of the Greatest Expressions of Justice

Harvard University which was founded in 1636 made a remark which shocked many including Muslims when on 11th March 2015 it declared through the Harvard Law School that a verse in the Qur’an was one of the greatest expressions of justice anywhere in the world. The verse in question is Suratul Nisa (4:135) in which ALLAH said: “O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that ye do”. The Harvard Law School posted this verse at the entrance to its faculty library showing how much respect it has for it. Harvard University has the largest academic library in the world managed by some of the world’s critical philosophers. Harvard stated on its official website, "The words on these walls affirm the power and irrepressibility of the idea of justice." Of all scriptures of the world's major faiths, only the Qur'an had a quotation prominently displayed.

UNESCO: Islam is the World’s Most Peaceful Religion

Muslims over the centuries have chanted and chorused it over and over again that Islam is a religion of peace employing different media from lectures and debates to articles and broadcasts. But, the ill-informed ones have continued to argue-mostly citing the actions of a minority among the Muslims rather than looking at the original content of the Qur’an and Ahadith. The debate was however settled by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The United Nations body with 195 members which was founded on 16 November 1945 made an announcement  in July 2016 declaring Islam the most peaceful religion in the world which by implication means-more peaceful than Christianity, Judaism and others. The declaration came after a 6 month long study from January 2016 by some of the best researchers in the world in conjunction with religious leaders from different faiths. UNESCO carried out the study in collaboration with the International Peace Foundation which is chaired by a gentleman by name Robert McGee (not a Muslim). The officials were asked concerning the acts of group like ISIS who claim to be drumming for Islam and the response as given by Mr. Robert was, “Terror has no religion, Islam means peace.” Another key response given by officials at the gathering which was also attended by UNESCO officials was that Muslims are the greatest victims of the acts of these groups, how could they be possibly referred to as heroes of Islam. If UNESCO has said it, then the United Nations has said it; which means the world has said it and history has recorded it.

MISCONCEPTION 9: Muslims Worship the Ka’abah

Points:

1. Muslims pray facing the Ka’abah.
2. Muslims circumbulate the Ka’abah during Hajj (Tawaf).
3. Muslims love to kiss and touch the Ka’abah and the black stone.

Pay Nigeria Airways Pensioners Now!

Nigeria Airways Logo

After decades of government laxity and corruption, Nigeria’s national carrier Nigeria Airways Limited was officially liquidated in 2003 after 45 years of operation without the settlement of staff benefits by the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo in his first four year tenure. After years of wrestle by the new ex-workers of Nigeria Airways through various local and international trade unions, the Federal government agree to pay off the now pensioners in 2005. 

'Muslim' Countries That Support Trump’s Muslim Ban

Emir of Dubai and Emir of Kuwait

Donald Trump made it ‘a major campaign promise’ that when elected, he would keep Muslims out of America. Soon after he was sworn-in, he began to actualize his words. On 27 January, Trump issued an order banning the issuance of visas for people from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The nations were: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. There was a wave of protests in several places across the globe by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike rebuking the decision, four states in America filed a law suit against the Order calling it discriminatory and anti-constitutional. On 9 February, the Federal Appeals court of America ordered the halt of Trump’s proposal. That was how the non-Muslims reacted to the American move. 

On the Muslims side, some countries have not only hailed the Trump model, but have even gone on to replicate it in their own countries. On February 3, the Arab nation of Kuwait announced a migration ban from five Muslim dominated countries, the countries were: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan even though the Pakistani ambassador to Kuwait, Ghulam Dastadi has said that his country was not among the banned. There has been no protest so far against the decision by Kuwait as was seen against Trump. Another country that has hailed the Trump move is the UAE. The foreign minister of the gulf kingdom, Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan on 1 February defended Trump’s decision by saying, "The United States has taken a decision that is within the American sovereign decision. There are attempts to give the impression that this decision is directed against a particular religion, but what proves this talk to be incorrect first is what the US administration itself says ... that this decision is not directed at a certain religion." Al Nahyan went on to say that America should rather give priority to the Syrian Christians refugees. 

Of all the five Gulf Arab countries-which includes Saudi Arabia, only Qatar expressed condemnation for the ban. Qatar’s foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said of the ban while on a visit to Serbia, "When it comes to be addressed in a Muslim framework, I think this is something we will stand against". A senior police official in Dubai (UAE) identified as Dhahi Khalfan wrote on Twitter three days after Trump’s ban was announced, "complete support for Trump's ban. Every country has the right to protect its security ... Trump, what you're doing is right." 

Another country which was not expected to show indifference on the issue was Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation. Shortly after the ban was announced, President Joko Widodo said at a function, "We are not affected by the policy. Why fret?" Widodo’s spokesman, Johan Budi while defending his boss said, “Widodo has made sure that the policy of the American president does not have an impact on Indonesian citizens. Therefore, people are asked to remain quiet." It is not clear if other Muslim countries will follow this trend but, with the silence of the likes of Saudi Arabia which has continued to be an American ally; nothing is certain.

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Yusuf Islam Meets Turkish President

Yusuf Islam

Famous Islamic singer and song writer, Yusuf Islam, has visited Turkey to show his delight on the various virtuous actions of the Turkish government under Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The 70 year old was particularly referring to the Turkish government’s role in looking after the Syrian refugees and the assistance of Turkey in building the Abu Bakr Jamia Masjid in Cambridge, UK. Islam met Erdogan at the Presidential palace in Ankara on 8 February where the two reportedly discussed for over an hour. In the meeting, Islam who embraced Islam on 23 December 1977 expressed his joy at the failure of the attempted coup in July 2016. The Abu Bakr Jamia Masjid-the contruction of which is being assisted by the Dinayet (Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate) will have the capacity to take at least 1,000 worshippers. Erdogan, 62, also expressed his delight at Islam’s visit on social media as he wrote on his Twitter account, “My dear brother Yusuf, thank you for your visit and sincere conversation. Welcome to Turkey.”