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Dr Kaukab Siddique | Editor-in-Chief Jamada al-Thani 3,1429/ June 7, 2008, #33

A scholarly and deeply illuminating look at Israel's "moral" and intellectual foundations. Analysis of Bernard Lewis, T. Friedman, Lerner, Coulter etc

Challenging the NEW Orientalism: Dissenting Essays on the "War Against Islam" by M. Shahid Alam, Pp.250.
Published 2006. $19.95.
Order from : ipi@onebox.com or call 800-568-9814

Some of the material from Israeli military sources is nauseating. One document records the gang rape of a Palestinian girl by Israeli troops. The Jews washed her before raping her because "Arabs are dirty."

Donate the book to your public library. Americans need to read this analysis by a great son of Bangladesh who is a distinguished professor at Northeastern University in Boston.

Obama's situation is pathetic. He is legitimizing Israel without the slightest sign of understanding the well documented fact that the Jews occupied Palestine by force of arms. He wants to give open ended support to occupation. It's a recipe for disaster. Islam is resurgent and Obama does not see the rising banners of global Islam.
Here is a quote from Obama at the AIPAC convention:

"Let me be clear. Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive, and that allows them to prosper — but any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided. "

See discussion below: Scroll down.

International Islamic Conference for Peace and Awareness: August 16: Baltimore, Maryland
Latest 3 Endorsements: From Top Islamic Activists from Georgia, Washington, Louisiana
[Listed in the order received.][See JAM4PEACE.org and talk to Br. Aziz to register. Seating is limited and JAM reserves the right to accept or reject endorsements.]

1. Ramsey Clark, leader of the anti-war movement in America. New York City

2. Syed Munawar Hasan, Secretary General, Jamaate Islami Pakistan. A top Islamic leader and peace activist. Karachi, Pakistan

3. Dr. Mohamed Khazaly Jabbie, Conakry, Guinea, West Africa. [Imam of mosque near the Haram in the holy city of Makka for many years.] Ph.D in Islamic Jurisprudence from Ummul Qura University, Arabia.

4. Sis. Hadayai Majeed, 1000 Peace Women Across the Globe, Atlanta, Georgia.
Hadayai Majeed (born Dora Spencer) is a member of Peace Women Across the Globe. This group of 998 women activists from all over the globe were nominated for the Noble Peace Prize in 2005. The goal of the peace women is to form an strong international network of activists and bring more attention to the role women play in ensuring peace around the globe. The role of women, especially grassroots women cannot be ignored or taken for granted.

5. We Hold These Truths [WHTT] [Christian peace and research movement, Arizona, California, New Mexico] Director: Charles Carlson

6. The Crescent and Cross Solidarity Movement [First Islamic-Christian alliance] [Idaho, California, Arizona]: Director: Mark Glenn. www.crescentandcross.com

7. Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
The International Committee to Support Imam Jamil al-Amin [former H. Rap Brown]
547 West End Place, SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30310
Contact person: Bilal Sunni-Ali

8. Give Peace A Chance Coalition (GPAC). Executive Director Br. Hodari Abdul-Ali. Washington, D.C. History maker re: First African-American Muslim to address mass gathering of Muslims and Dalits in India: Leader in peace making efforts in Sudan.

9. Dr. Hesham Tillawi
Current Issues TV
P.O. Box 61415, Lafayette, LA 70598 [See Dr. Tillawi's incisive article on the Palestinian scarf, Dunkin Donuts and Ms. Malkin below. Scroll way down.]

Jamaat al-Muslimeen [News] [Next 4 items only]
P.O. Box 10881
Baltimore, MD 21234

Masoud Khan: Victim of USA's friendship with India: Info now available online

A web site is now available to make the public aware of the ridiculous 90 year sentence slapped on Masaud Khan during the so-called "Virginia Jihad' case. The government has no case and the huge sentence was entirely arbitrary along with the sentences on other Virginia innocents.

Go to: http://FreeMasoudKhan.net/mediapress.htm

Br. Hammad Released

A devout African-American Muslim, Hammad Abdur Raheem, was quietly released earlier this year. He spent about 4 years in prison, about half of his sentence. There was not a shred of evidence against him connecting him to terrorism. The government linked him to the fabricated story of the "Virginia Jihad" group in its attempt to prove the existence of home grown terrorists.

Owing to restrictions on him, we thought it wise not to interview him at this time.

Outreach: Jamaat al-Muslimeen's Call in Virginia: 141 people Got Literature

June 6, 2008. At Dar al-Hijra Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia, Jamaat literature was given to 141 people after Juma' prayers. The documents introduced the forthcoming International Islamic Conference. They included Jamaat Rep. Br. Abu Talib's condemnation of police terrorism in New York, Dr. Siddique's analysis of Obama's betrayal of Rev. Wright as well as a report on the huge rally in Karachi, Pakistan by Jamaate Islami Pakistan's women supporters against the blasphemous Danish cartoons.

The Dar al-Hijra masjid is the stronghold of CAIR-ISNA and MAS etc but most people who come here are not interested in these groups and have the Islamic spirit of average Muslims. There is no other mosque in the area, so they don't have choice.

How the ISNA-CAIR-related Clique Exploits Muslims

The Dar al-Hijra Islamic Center, on June 6, had a "Muslim Brotherhood" type of khateeb, quite fluent at quoting Qur'anic verses. He explained that he had come all the way from Kansas to collect funds from Virginia's Muslims. Not that his Kansas Center is not rich. He mentioned that his Center is established on 13 ACRES of land and is doing well, but he has come [or been brought] to collect more.

ISNA-types have started a new Bida'. They use the Juma' khutba as a fund raiser as it gives them a captive audience. The June 6 speaker at Dar al-Hijra was ruthless. First he got the attention of the audience by talking of the glories of Paradise. Then into the descriptions of Paradise, he injected the Hadith that if you build a mosque, however small, Allah will build a house for you in Paradise.

He forgot to mention that the Prophet, pbuh, sacrificed everything he had, did Hijra, and then built a very stark mosque. This man has a 13 acre Islamic Center, and he is misusing the Hadith. This is how the "Muslim Brotherhood"-ISNA clique, is sucking every dollar from the Muslims to make sure nothing is left for Islamic causes.

The khateeb was very secularized and had no idea of the sacredness of the Qur'an: In the middle of reciting a verse, he injected mundane matters, as if he was ordering dinner. This is how it went: Qur'anic verse ---move up please --- Qur'anic verse.

While Muslims around the world are starving, the "Brotherhood" mafia is collecting more and more money for its "white elephant" projects.

Our America: by Kaukab Siddique
Prostrating to the Jewish Power Elite: Three Puppets Assure Israel of their Unconditional Loyalty: McCain, Hillary, Obama at AIPAC

In an independent country with a vibrant democracy and peoples' power, a politician would be cautious about showing unconditional support for a tiny power elite. The morning after his late night announcement of victory, Obama rushed to the Israeli [American only in name] power pack to abase himself. Even Bush has not bowed that low to American Jews and Israel. Hillary did likewise: in fact she spoke as if she was recommending Obama to her Jewish backers.

Remember, we are not anti-semitic. The Jews are our cousins, but one would have to be retarded not to see that a tiny power elite has a stranglehold on America's politicians and media. The American people have no say in this game of seeming democracy. This is a multi-million dollar drama which collects the followers of the American power structure, elects its leaders and presents them as "representatives" of the American people.

Hillary came near achieving some real power, with the backing of her husband. The zionists were alarmed. If Hillary were to win, it would mess up their plans. They have cleverly separated a Black man, who speaks vaguely and well, from his people, his pastor, his church and his teachers. Imagine a Black man in the hands of White and Black upper class elites devoted to the cause of Israel: That's Obama.

Hillary was a danger to the power elite because she could take revenge for what a Zionist Jewish woman did to her husband. Bill Clinton himself seemed quite upset with the Democratic Party. He was right that never has a presidential candidate been abused and demeaned so systematically by the media. Keith Obermann, Chris Matthews, Larry King, Anderson Cooper went all out to destroy Hillary. She became "Bill Clinton's Wife," not a presidential candidate in her own right The hidden anti-woman venom came out. The humorists, hidden Zionists, Colbert and Jon Stewart, joined the attack in their supposedly funny late night shows. [The two funny men have also shown their intense hatred for Islam. Colbert had Islam-hater Salman Rushdie as his guest. Stewart suddenly went into a frenzy of abusive jokes about "suicide bombers."]

If Hillary had the guts, she would declare herself an independent candidate and uncover the Zionist underpinning of the election drama. She can't break the stranglehold of International Jewry which is allied so closely to corporate interests.
[Is it possible that some Muslims who have been supporting Obama will see their mistake now and return to the Qur'an and the Sunnah?]

What did Obama say to AIPAC? What's his track record? Here is a perceptive article by our friend Jeff Archer.

"UNBREAKABLE TODAY, UNBREAKABLE TOMORROW, UNBREAKABLE FOREVER"
Obama Pledges the Islamic City of Jerusalem to Israel Forever!

by Jeff Archer [San Diego, California]

During the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign, many people of the left supported Bill Clinton. The catch-phrase of the day was: "We know he's not ideal, but when he gets in office, he will change things. He has to be moderate to get elected." Then came the disappointment.
Throughout the Arab world, Clinton's election was heralded. Those who opposed the Iraqi embargo said that Clinton would represent a fresh look at the sanctions. It soon became evident that it was business as usual. Under the Clinton administration, more Iraqis died than in the two military actions by a couple of Bushes.
Here we go again. Barack Obama is the posterperson of the left and of those who want to see the Arab world get a fair shake in dealing with Israel. The same statements abound: "He'll change when he's in office;" "We know he's not ideal, but he represents a new look in politics." Many Arab-Americans are putting Obama on a pedestal. Unfortunately, that pedestal has already begun to crumble.
On June 4, 2008, it was announced that Obama had officially won the Democratic nomination for the office of president of the United States. His first public statements came in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC), the very powerful unquestioning pro-Israel lobby. Within minutes of the official proclamation of his victory, Obama was telling the world of his strong support of Israel. According to the article "Obama Pledges Support for Israel," from Al-Jazeera News of June 4, 2008:

Barack Obama, the US Democratic presumptive presidential nominee, has pledged to safeguard Israel's security if elected president in November.
Obama also described the US bond with the Jewish state as "unbreakable today, unbreakable tomorrow, unbreakable for ever" and said he spoke as a "true friend" of Israel.

"Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided," the Illinois senator said.

There should be no doubt where Obama stands in reference to the Arab world and Israel. The irony of his statement is that he stole it from a segregationist governor. George Wallace in the early 1960s took the stand to keep the state of Alabama segregated. His famous statement in defense of apartheid was, "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." It boggles the mind to see an African American presidential candidate use such a statement. But, it is also accurate because of the segregated society Israel represents.
Let's look at some of Obama's words over the past few years and it is evident that he represents the same imperialistic attitudes of the status quo: Evidently, Obama does not take into consideration two holocausts that were much more widespread: those of 100 million Africans during the years of U.S. slavery and the decimation of 30 million Native Americans on behalf of the Catholic Church and European settlers in North America. He has taken off the table the two most important aspects for Palestinians: the right of return and the status of Jerusalem. His views on matters of foreign policy are identical to those of the neocons.
There's an old saying: "Don't wish for something too much because you just might get it." In the case with Obama, many of his supporters will be very disappointed after takes office on January 20, 2009 (if elected).

More on Right Wing Bigot Michelle Malkin's Attack on the Palestinian Scarf Symbolizing Freedom
Mr. President, They Don't Hate Us Any More!!
By Hesham Tillawi, PhD

Headdresses have been a part of the human race since humanity first found itself on earth. Headdresses (or head coverings) have been used for protection from the elements, for ceremonial reasons, or to signify some sort of an official affiliation. Many headdresses worn today are often highly symbolic and deeply entrenched in tradition. The black and white Arab Headdress has, since the sixties, been identified with the Palestinian people even though it has been worn by many people in the Arab World. In the West, the Palestinian Keffiyeh became the symbol of freedom and resistance for many people fighting for many social, economic and, political issues. In the last Forty years as sympathy for the Palestinian cause has increased so did the use of the Palestinian Keffiyeh and other versions of it such as the scarf. People wore the scarf and the Keffiyeh in Anti-War Rallies, protesting the G-8 Summit, World bank and IMF meetings, G&L, Union protests, GreenPeace, etc... The Palestinian scarf became a universal symbol for people seeking freedom and justice in their lives. Don't blame the Palestinians if their claim to fame happens to be the longest oppressed people in modern history.

Dunkin' Donuts, abruptly canceled a coffee ad in which homemaking guru Rachael Ray wears a scarf similar to a Palestinian scarf, even though in actuality it was not even a scarf. This was the result of the efforts of one Philippino-American Michelle Malkin (hatemonger and Neocon wannabe) a commentator for Fox News who played a big part in lying to the American people into going to war in Iraq after 9/11 as part of the Neocons' planned war in the Middle East. Too intellectually challenged to do anything substantive, Malkin has made the business of bashing Arabs and Muslims her reason for being. Americans of Philippino decent know very well the danger of stereotyping and profiling as they look back at the concentration camps built in this country for Japanese Americans during WWII where Philippinos and other Orientals were imprisoned for no other reasons but their looks. "The keffiyeh, for the clueless, is the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad," Malkins wrote. Mixing fashion with politics, she went further in describing it as "hate couture". She and other bloggers (with similar small-minded-mindsets) thinking that they had found yet another way of kissing up to their Neocon masters threatened DD with a boycott. Sadly, DD--like so many other entities these days fearful of displeasing the Jewish lobby--found themselves 'Malkinized' and thus succumbed to the brief reign of terror and pulled the ad down, rewarding Malkin's lies and fear tactics.

In September 2001, during a joint session of Congress, President George Bush in answering why do they (the terrorists) hate us? said: "They hate our freedoms...our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech..." He said 'We must find the terrorists and stop them...' Well, my dear President, I hate to be the first one to tell ya, we lost to the terrorists, they don't hate us for our freedoms any more. When the bride of fear mongering--Malkin--terrorizes an American corporation and forces it to take down an ad just because the spokesperson appears to be wearing a scarf similar to a Palestinian scarf, we definitely lost the war on terror. Our freedoms you talked about that the terrorists hate us for? Gone, no more.

For many years now many Americans used the Palestinian scarf, to mean freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom period. Now however, thanks to the Neocons' totalitarian culture so much the fancy of Mz. Malkin and others like her we do not even have the freedom to wear a scarf. WE need to clean our house from terrorists before we presume to deal with someone else's house. Shame on Dunkin' Donuts for compromising our freedoms, a precious gem for which our Forefathers sacrificed everything to include them in our constitution and for which many of our people died to protect. Whatever happened to "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"?

I exhort my fellow Americans, indeed my fellow lovers of freedom and justice and REASON to wear your Pali-scarf proudly and head to the nearest Dunkin' Donuts. Don't give them your money, but instead just stand there in front of the store eating your favorite non DD brands while proclaiming your freedom.

If you like to donate scarves or money, please send them to:
Current Issues TV
P.O. Box 61415, Lafayette, LA 70598
Or visit our website to use PayPal www.currentissues.tv

Current issues with Hesham Tillawi can be viewed Live every Thursday at 8:00 PM Central Standard Time on Cox Cable system Channel 15 in Louisiana as well as Live on the Internet at www.currentissues.tv and can be contacted at Tillawi@currentissues.tv The show is also broadcast on Bridges TV via cable, satellite, and broadband and on Amazonas satellite World Wide. Current Issues the radio show airs live around the World on Broadband and shortwave 5.050 and many stations around the U.S. every Saturday 4-6 PM Central Time on www.republicbroadcasting.

War News from Pakistan
Attack on Danish Embassy: Is it part of a larger war? What most people don't know about the Role of Denmark
by our Pakistan Observer

On June 2, 2008 the embassy of Denmark in Islamabad came under attack. A car bomb blew down the entire wall and outer structure of the embassy. At least 6 people, including two police officers, were killed and 22 wounded. Thirty cars parked in the area went up in flames. The main structure of the embassy remained untouched.
Security forces sealed off the entire embassy enclave. The Norwegian embassy closed down.

On June 5, the armed Islamic movement known as al-Qaida took credit for the attack. In a message on a jihad-oriented web site, al-Qaida representative in Afghanistan, Abu Zayd, said that the attack was carried out because Denmark refused to apologize for the insulting cartoons it published of Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him. Observers say the attack will increase al-Qaida's popularity in Pakistan. Huge numbers of Pakistanis have been demonstrating up and down the country against the Danish cartoons.
The Pakistani government told the U.S. army chief that this attack is an isolated incident [see next report]. However our information shows that the situation is quite different. On March 1, 2008 the Danish Prime Minister Andrus Fogh Rasmussen visited President Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. In his speech, Rasmussen paid the highest tribute to Bush. In addition, he endorsed all the military operations Bush is carrying out against Muslim countries including the subversive moves to undermine Sudan through DARFUR.
About Denmark's military action against Islamic groups, Mr. Rasmussen said that Danish troops are fighting in Afghanistan's Helmand province. About Denmark's military units in Afghanistan, he was very specific. He said; "We are in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban." He announced that Denmark would increase its military forces in Afghanistan by 50%. He said that he "wants to encourage others" [European countries] to do the same. He said he wants "education" and "democracy" but was not able to explain how military occupation of an Islamic country can lead to education and democracy. [Source for info: CNN]

Denmark's attacks on the Prophet, pbuh, and its military activity are two aspects of the same reality.

Closer Relationship between U.S. and Pak Military in Major Move Against Islamic Forces
This was how it was expressed in non-Muslim terminology.

Mullen, Kayani hold counter-terror talks
Nato commander wants closer ties with Pakistan
Agence France Presse
ISLAMABAD: US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen held counter-terrorism talks with Pakistani army top brass Wednesday, two days after a suicide bomb killed six people in the capital, officials said.

Mullen met Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani for a second time following his arrival Tuesday on a two-day visit, his third trip to nuclear-armed Pakistan since February.

The meetings come amid concerns in Washington over peace talks between Taliban militants and the new government in Islamabad, which came to power after defeating the party loyal to President Pervez Musharraf in February elections. Mullen is not scheduled to meet Musharraf or the new political leadership, said US embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton, adding: "There is no plan for that.

The emphasis of the visit is military-to-military cooperation." Colton said Mullen and his Pakistani counterparts were "going to be continuing their discussion on military-to-military cooperation and specially their cooperative role in the war on terror."

"They are going to be discussing terrorist threats here and around the world as well as military exchanges and all the other areas of cooperation between the two strategic allies." Pakistani military officials confirmed that Mullen held talks on Wednesday with Kayani and with Pakistan Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Tariq Majid, but gave no further details. The US general is also set to meet national security adviser Mehmood Durrani, the former Pakistani ambassador to the United States. A senior security official told AFP late Tuesday that the peace dialogue with Taliban militants in the rugged tribal region along the Afghan border would figure prominently in talks between the two sides. The United States and Western allies have warned that the new government's efforts to strike peace deals with extremists will lead to an increase in cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. Separately, the new commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, US General David McKiernan, said Wednesday he wanted to develop a close relationship with his Pakistani counterparts to improve security along the troubled frontier.

"The NATO mandate does not extend into Pakistan," McKiernan told a news conference, adding: "I intend on developing a close relationship with Pakistani counterparts so we can work easily for security along the border."

The commander of the 53,000-member NATO force, which works alongside a 20,000-strong US-led coalition, is meant to meet with Afghan and Pakistani officials every few months but the last two meetings were cancelled.

"All I can say is I want to re-energise that process," McKiernan said. "One of my early trips I intend to make is to Pakistan to meet General Kayani to discuss how do we get energy into (the) tripartite process."

US intelligence officials have pinpointed Pakistan's tribal belt as a safe haven for extremists from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, from which the militants could launch fresh attacks on Western targets.

Pakistani officials suspect the Taliban were responsible for a suicide bombing on Monday outside the Danish embassy in Islamabad, but said the attack was likely a one-off that would not impact the negotiations.

June 2, 2008: Photo shows one of a series of rallies held in Islamabad to call for the return of "disappeared" who are said to have been taken away by General Musharraf's men. Sis. Amina Masood, forefront of the picture, carrying her disappeared husband's photo, has organized this movement to retrieve the "disappeared" citizens of Pakistan. From a teacher, she has evolved into a human rights activist. Her efforts link up with the lawyers' movement which is calling for rule of Law and the restoration of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who was removed by General Musharraf.

AFGHANISTAN: from New Trend's media monitor
Small Taliban Groups Attacking NATO Across the Country: Guerrilla Warfare: U.S. Air Attacks Prevent Victory

June 6, 2008: U.S. air attacks on suspected Taliban positions are preventing a Taliban victory. The air attacks cannot defeat the Taliban, who manage to evade most of them, but they do prevent open Taliban mobilization which would put an end to the Karzai regime. Some of the air attacks are successful. The most recent one killed 10 Taliban fighters.

In response, Taliban are attacking NATO in small guerrilla groups. These pin prick attacks have put the most advanced military forces in the world on the defensive. The news agencies are picking up a steady stream of NATO losses but U.S. media do not report the war.

On June 4, a martyrdom operator carried put a spectacular attack on a Canadian military convoy in the Spin Boldak area [south of Kandahar]. Three Canadian troops and two Afghans from the Shi'ite-Communist groups formulated by the U.S. [known as the "Afghan National Army"] were killed. Two Canadian armored cars were destroyed in the attack. Two days later, Taliban representative Yusuf Ahmad told the Pakistani media by phone that the martyr's name is Ikram and he was Hafize Qur'an [one who has memorized the entire Qur'an].
[The same day the Foreign Minister of Poland, Ruslov Sikorsky, arrived in Kabul but his visit was kept secret because Karzai is insecure even in Kabul.]

Associated Press reported on U.S. and NATO losses in Taliban attacks during May but none of them made it to U.S. TV channels. Some of reports indicate human suffering. For instance, Sgt. Davy Weaver had almost completed his third tour of duty when, on May 20, the Taliban blew up his Humvee and he was killed.

Iraq: U.S.-led Shi'ite Forces Run into Heavy Resistance: Hundreds killed by Islamic Fighters
from our Iraq observer

June 7, 2008. The city of Mosul continues to fight back against large scale attacks by Shi'ites armed and trained by the U.S., funded by Iran and led by Al-Maliki himself. The resistance organized by al-Qaida-in-Iraq killed more than 500 Shi'ite troops in May and has already killed 160 in June as it beat back attacks by Shi'ite forces from Baghdad and Basra. [For some of these figures see icasualties listing.]

U.S. forces lost only 19 killed and 54 wounded in May as they let the Shi'ites do the fighting for them.

On June 5, U.S. forces realized that guerrilla forces can melt away and regroup when U.S. troops were attacked in Kirkuk and lost 3 killed. [In June already 8 U.S. troops have been killed, with a total killed now of 4092 killed and 29,000 and more wounded.]

On June 6, a Muslim woman walked into a Shi'ite police station just outside Ramadi and carried out a martyrdom operation, killing a number of police officers and wounding others. Muslim women are increasingly joining al-Qaida-in-Iraq.

The U.S. continues to use air strikes against Muslims who are resisting. In the latest incident, the U.S. air force dropped a large bomb, at least 500 pounds, on a home with "suspected militants" in it, killing 4 people.

A U.S. marine accused of involvement in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha has been acquitted.
Iran and the U.S. are working together to suppress al-Qaida n Iraq. The danger of al-Maliki being toppled has been averted owing to Iranian support which pumped ONE BILLION dollars into his regime. [As we go to the "press," June 7, CIA agent Nouri al-Maliki is back in Iran. Every step he takes is orchestrated by the U.S., it is reliably learned.]

Maulana Maudoodi and Indian Muslims
a brief note by Kaukab Siddique

A distinguished Bangladeshi brother, S. A. Hannan, has asked me to comment on some abusive attacks on Maulana Maudoodi [rahmatullah alaih] published on line on several discussion groups.

Syed Abul 'Ala Maudoodi was undoubtedly among the greatest Islamic scholars of the 20th century c.e. He taught the Muslims of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to understand the relevance of Islam to our times in rational and scientific terms. His contributions to Islamic learning in our times are simply too many to be listed. Suffice it to say that the modern Islamic movement at least in South Asia would have been unthinkable without him.

This does not mean that he should not be criticized. He wrote to me: "I have never considered myself above criticism." He wanted Muslims to pick up from where he had left and to carry on his work, and not to come to a stop as if he is the last word.

However, criticism to be legitimate has to be honest. If stories are fabricated about him, or his writings are taken totally out of context, that cannot be considered criticism. That is abuse and propaganda. I am not surprised that some people have an irrational hatred of Maudoodi. He was not only a scholar but the leader of an organized and disciplined Islamic movement. Thus he was able to challenge the enemies of Islam on a daily basis. He was repeatedly sent to prison and the Pakistani media for decades would not mention the fact that he even existed, in a futile effort to stop the spread of his ideas. He had well placed enemies among a variety of groups who opposed the emergence of an Islamic view of life.

For the specific issue under review, remember that Maudoodi was himself an "Indian Muslim" though he became a leader of international dimensions. In the three volumes of Musalman awr Maujuda Siyasi kashmakash, he criticized the movement for Pakistan while he provided the idea of Pakistan and the Pakistan movement all its ideological tools. His contention was that the strategic issue is not Muslim nationalism but the emergence of a viable Islamic political state. If Pakistan emerges and it is not Islamically structured and does not provide Islamic justice, he thought, it would jeopardize not only its own existence but that of the Muslims of India too.

He wrote that for him one square mile of land governed by the Law of Allah was more important than all of India. Obviously such writing can be taken out of context and used against him. The Pakistani secularists claim that he was against Pakistan. It's a ridiculous claim for one who knows the writings of Maudoodi and in any case becomes merely a part of historical polemic when one realizes that Maudoodi and Jamaate Islami fought for the independence and ideology of Pakistan as no other group did.

Many of the Muslims of India cherish Maudoodi's ideological writings and those who read him know that he was unflinching in his support of India's Muslims even after he left India. Islam is not a national religion and Maudoodi was not a national leader.

The person you have quoted is not a scholar or even a known person. He is quoting out of context from Dr. Israr [an intellectual pygmy as compared to Maulana Maudoodi] and the Munir Report written by a bunch of secularists who supported the "Ahmeddi" [Qadiani] sect and wanted to sentence Maudoodi to death for his x-ray study of the fake Qadiani religion.

The person you quote has evidently not studied anything written by Maudoodi and is picking up quotes from here and there.
I had the honor of reading all his books. I then translated and put together a selection of his writings which I titled Come Let Us Change this World. I remember strolling with him in the little garden in front of his office as he looked at and approved the manuscript of this book. Here is a quote from this book which criticizes Muslims and lead him to be hated by narrow nationalists and racists:

"The nation known as Muslim today has forgotten, and by its conduct has led the world to forget, the fact that Islam actually is the name of a movement which started with a purpose and some principles. And the word 'Muslim' was meant for the group which followed this movement and went forward with it. The movement has been lost sight of. Its purpose has been forgotten. Its principles have been broken one after the other and its name, having lost all its significance, is now merely used to denote racial and social allegiance. So much so that it is used even on occasions where the very purpose of Islam is negated, where its principles are demolished and where, instead of Islam there is all that is not Islam." [Muslaman awr Mawjuda Siyasi Kashmakash, Part II, pp. 40-41.] [p.88 of my translation]

I hope you are doing well in Dhaka. I love Bangladesh. I visited several times and will visit again, inshallah.

2008-06-08 Sun 10:47:51 cdt
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