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Chapter 1Sincerity and Significance of Intentionsand All Actions, Apparent and HiddenBy Imaam Yahyaa Ibn Sharaf an-NawawiAllaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, the Exalted, says: "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salaat (Iqamat-as-Salaat) and give Zakaat, and that is the right religion.'' (98:5) "It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allaah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.'' (22:37) "Say (O Muhammad): Whether you hide what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allaah knows it." (3:29) 1. Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (radhiallahu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allaah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allaah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].Commentary: According to some Ahadeeth, the reason for this Hadeeth is that a person sent a proposal of marriage to a woman named Umm Qais, which she turned down saying that he should have to emigrate to Al-Madeenah for it. Accordingly, he did it for this specific purpose, and the two were married there. On account of this event, the man came to be known among the Companions as Muhajir Umm Qais. On the basis of this Hadeeth, 'Ulama' are of the unanimous opinion that the real basis of one's actions is Niyyah (intention) and everyone will be requited according to his Niyyah. It is true that Niyyah is founded in one's heart, that is to say, one has first to make up one's mind for what he intends to do and he should not express it verbally. In fact, the latter is a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) because no proof of it is found in Sharee`ah. The point which becomes evident from this Hadeeth is that Ikhlaas (sincerity) is a must for every action. In other words, in every righteous deed, one should seek only the Pleasure of Allaah; otherwise, it will not be accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. 2. Narrated 'A`ishah (radhiallahu`anha) reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "An army will raid the Ka`bah and when it reaches a desert land, all of them will be swallowed up by the earth.'' She asked; "O Messenger of Allaah! Why all of them?'' He answered, "All of them will be swallowed by the earth but they will be raised for Judgement according to their intentions.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: Everyone will be rewarded or punished according to his aim and intention. This Hadeeth also proves that the company of depraved persons is extremely dangerous. Whose army would it be, which has been referred to in the Hadeeth, and when will it invade Ka`bah, is a matter known to Allaah Alone. Such prophecies are a part of the Unseen world. Since they come in the category of the miracles of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam, it is necessary to believe in their veracity and occurrence. Believing in such prophesies is also essential because they were revealed by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala). 3. A`ishah (radhiallahu`anha) narrated that the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "There is no emigration after the conquest (of Makkah) but only Jihaad [(striving and fighting in the cause of Allaah) will continue] and good intention.* So if you are summoned to fight, go forth.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. * Intention according to An-Nawawi: It means that goodness which ceased to continue by the cessation of emigration can still be obtained by Jihaad and by intending accomplishing good deeds. Commentary: When a country or a region is regarded as Dar-ul-Islam (land of Islam), it is not necessary to migrate from it to some other place. It is, however, obligatory to emigrate from such regions which are Dar-ul-Kufr (land of infidels) and where it is difficult to adhere to Islamic injunctions. It is also evident from this Hadeeth that when it is not necessary to migrate from one Islamic country to another then it is also not permitted by the Sharee`ah to leave an Islamic country to settle permanently in Dar-ul-Kufr only for the reason that the latter has plenty of wealth and social welfare. Unfortunately, Muslims today are afflicted with this disease. The transfer of their capital and talent to Dar-ul-Kufr is indeed very disturbing because on one side these two factors are lending support to the economy of Bilad-ul-Kufr (countries of infidels) and on the other, obscenity and indecency that are common in such countries, are becoming increasingly common among the Muslims too. Another highly important reason for the prohibition of migration of Muslims to Dar-ul-Kufr is that it goes against the spirit as well as their readiness for Jihaad fee sabeelillaah (striving and fighting in the way of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala). This spirit and readiness must be kept always alive so that the Muslims may respond at once to the call of Jihaad whenever the need for it arises anywhere. 4. Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari (radhiallahu`anhu) reported: We accompanied the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam in an expedition when he said, "There are some men in Al-Madeenah who are with you wherever you march and whichever valley you cross. They have not joined you in person because of their illness.'' In another version he said: "They share the reward with you.'' [Muslim]. It is narrated by Bukhari from Anas bin Malik (radhiallahu`anhu): We were coming back from the battle of TAbook with the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam when he remarked, "There are people whom we left behind in Al-Madeenah who accompanied us in spirit in every pass and valley we crossed. They remained behind for a valid excuse.'' Commentary: What we learn from this Hadeeth is that if the intention and spirit of Jihaad are present in the heart of a Muslim but physically he is unable to take part in it for valid reasons, he will get the reward of Jihaad without even his actual participation in it. 5. Ma`n bin Yazid bin Akhnas (radhiallahu`anhu) (he, his father and his grandfather, all were Companions) reported: My father set aside some dinars for charity and gave them to a man in the masjid. I went to that man and took back those dinars. He said: "I had not intended you to be given.'' So we went to Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam, and put forth the matter before him. He said to my father, "Yazid, you have been rewarded for what you intended.'' And he said to me, "Ma`n, you are entitled to what you have taken.''[Al-Bukhari]. Commentary:1. This Hadeeth leads us to the conclusion that if Sadaqah (charity), goes to a needy son of a Muslim, there is no need to take it back from him for the reason that the father had intended to give it to a deserving person. The former gets the reward for it on account of his Niyyah (intention). This however, will be reckoned as Nafli Sadaqah (voluntary charity) because the obligatory Zakaat (Sadaqah) cannot be given to the donor's own dependents. 2. It is permissible in Sharee`ah to make someone a Wakil (attorney or agent) for Sadaqah. 3. It does not amount to disobedience on the part of a son to take his father to a competent authority or scholar to know the legal position on any issue, in the same way, as mutual discussion and debate on matters of Sharee`ah does not amount to insolence. (Fath Al-Bari, chapter on Zakaat). 6. Aboo Ishaq Sa`d bin Aboo Waqqas (radhiallahu`anhu) (one of the ten who had been given the glad tidings of entry into Jannah) narrated: Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam visited me in my illness which became severe in the year of Hajjat-ul-Wada` (Farewell Pilgrimage). I said, "O Messenger of Allaah, you can see the pain which I am suffering and I am a man of means and there is none to inherit from me except one daughter. Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?'' He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "No". I asked him, "Then half?'' He said, "No". Then I asked, "Can I give away one-third". He said, "Give away one-third, and that is still too much. It is better to leave your heirs well-off than to leave them poor, begging people. You will not expend a thing in charity for the sake of Allaah, but you will be rewarded for it; even the morsel of food which you feed your wife''. I said, "O Messenger of Allaah, would I survive my companions?'' He said, "If you survive others and accomplish a thing for the sake of Allaah, you would gain higher ranking and standing. You will survive them ... your survival will be beneficial to people (the Muslim) and harmful to others (the enemies of Islam). You will survive others till the people will derive benefit from you, and others would be harmed by you.'' Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam further said, "O Allaah, complete for my Companions their emigration and do not cause them to retract.'' Sa`d bin Khaulah was unfortunate. Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam lamented his death as he died in Makkah. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: In spite of all their love for it, the Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam did not like to die in a city from which they emigrated for the sake of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. For this reason Sa`d (radhiallahu`anhu) was afraid of dying in Makkah. The Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam prayed for the accomplishment of Sa`d's emigration and expressed regret over the misfortune of Sa`d bin Khaulah. The latter died in Makkah. Conclusion:1. The Hadeeth lays down that in the course of a disease which seems to prove fatal, one cannot give more than one-third of the property in charity. 2. It is also emphasized that one gets reward even for what he spends on his wife and children. 3. One can report to others his ailment or to seek treatment and ask them to supplicate from him. 4. In the matter of Sadaqah (charity), which one gives to seek the Pleasure of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, his closest relatives. should always have priority and preference over others. 7. Aboo Hurayrah (radhiallahu`anhu) narrated: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "Allaah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts and accomplishments". [Muslim]. Commentary: This Hadeeth highlights the importance of sincerity and good intention. It is, therefore, essential that every noble action should be based on these two virtues; and heart should be free from all such things that destroy noble deeds. Hypocrisy, ostentation, greed for wealth, riches and other wordly things fall in the category of such evils. Since the true condition of heart is known to Allaah alone, the true position of one's actions will be known on the Day of Resurrection when one will be requited for them by Allaah. In this world, one will be treated according to his apparent condition while his insight will be left to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. 8. Aboo Musa Al-Ash`ari (radhiallahu`anhu) reported that Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam was asked about who fights in the battlefield out of valour, or out of zeal, or out of hypocrisy, which of this is considered as fighting in the cause of Allaah? He said: "He who fights in order that the Word of Allaah remains the supreme, is considered as fighting in the cause of Allaah".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: Since one's action will be evaluated in terms of intention, so he alone would be a Mujahid (warrior in the cause of Deen) who fights to glorify the Name of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. 9. Aboo Bakrah Ath-Thaqafi (radhiallahu`anhu) reported: The Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said: "When two Muslims are engaged in a combat against each other with their sword's and one is killed, both are doomed to Hell". I said, "O Messenger of Allaah! As to the one who kills, it is understandable, but why the slain one?" He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam replied: "He was eager to kill his opponent". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: This Hadeeth leads to the conclusion that one would be punished for such sinful intention for which he has made a firm determination, and for the commitment of which he has adopted necessary measures, even if he does not succeed in committing it because of certain obstruction. Thus determination is different from a suggestion of the devil. The latter is excusable while one is accountable for his determination. However, what is mentioned in the Hadeeth will happen when Muslims fight among themselves for worldly honour and prejudices, and no religious issue would be the cause of their conflict, because in the latter case, it is possible that both might be depending on their own Ijtihad (exercise of opinion) for which they may be excused. 10. Aboo Hurayrah (radhiallahu`anhu) reported that: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said: "The reward for Salaat performed by a person in congregation is more than 20 times greater than that of the Salaat performed in one's house or shop. When one performs Wudu' perfectly and then proceeds to the masjid with the sole intention of performing Salaat, then for every step he takes towards the masjid, he is upgraded one degree in reward and one of his sins is eliminated until he enters the masjid, and when he enters the masjid, he is considered as performing Salaat as long as it is the Salaat which prevents him (from leaving the masjid); and the angels keep on supplicating Allaah for him as long as he remains in his place of prayer. They say: 'O Allaah! have mercy on him; O Allaah! forgive his sins; O Allaah! accept his repentance'. This will carry on as long as he does not pass wind". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: This Hadeeth shows that although it is permissible to perform Salaat individually in market places and houses, but its collective performance in the Masjid is 25, 26, or 27 times more meritorious, as mentioned in other Ahadeeth. 11. `Abdullah bin `Abbas (radhiallahu`anhu) reported: Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said that Allaah, the Glorious, said: "Verily, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allaah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allaah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allaah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allaah writes it down as one bad deed". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: What the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam relates to Allaah is called Hadeeth Qudsi (Sacred Tradition). Such Hadeeth is revealed to the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam by means of Ilham (inspiration). This Hadeeth mentions the magnitude of Divine blessings which He bestows upon His faithful slaves on the Day of Resurrection. 12. `Abdullah bin`Umar bin Al-Khattab (radhiallahu`anhu) narrated that: He heard the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam as saying: "Three men, amongst those who came before you, set out until night came and they reached a cave, so they entered it. A rock fell down from the mountain and blocked the entrance of the cave. They said: `Nothing will save you from this unless you supplicate to Allaah by virtue of a righteous deed you have done.' Thereupon, one of them said: `O Allaah! I had parents who were old, and I used to offer them milk before any of my children or slaves. One day, I went far away in search of grazing and could not come back until they had slept. When I milked as usual and brought the drink I found them both asleep. I hated to disturb them and also disliked to give milk to my children before them. My children were crying out of hunger at my feet but I awaited with the bowl in my hand for them to wake up. When they awoke at dawn, they drank milk. O Allaah! If I did so to seek Your Pleasure, then deliver us from the distress caused by the rock'. The rock moved slightly but they were unable to escape. The next said: `O Allaah! I had a cousin whom I loved more than any one else (in another version he said: as a man can love a woman). I wanted to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused. Hard pressed in a year of famine, she approached me. I gave her one hundred and twenty dinars on condition that she would yield herself to me. She agreed and when we got together (for sexual intercourse), she said: Fear Allaah and do not break the seal unlawfully. I moved away from her in spite of the fact that I loved her most passionately; and I let her keep the money I had given her. O Allaah! If I did that to seek Your Pleasure, then, remove the distress in which we are.' The rock moved aside a bit further but they were still unable to get out. The third one said: `O Allaah! I hired some labourers and paid them their wages except one of them departed without taking his due. I invested his money in business and the business prospered greatly. After a long time, he came to me and said: O slave of Allaah! Pay me my dues. I said: All that you see is yours - camels, cattle, goats and slaves. He said: O slave of Allaah! Do not mock at me. I assured him that I was not joking. So he took all the things and went away. He spared nothing. O Allaah! If I did so seeking Your Pleasure, then relieve us of our distress.' The rock slipped aside and they got out walking freely". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary:1. It is permissible to pray through our virtuous deeds. But to make someone a medium for it, is an innovation in Deen which should be avoided for two major reasons. Firstly, there is no evidence in Sharee`ah to support this. Secondly, it is against the practice of Khair-ul-Qurun, the best of generations. (This term is used for the first three generations of Muslims, the one in which the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam lived and the two following). 2. Preference should be given to the service of parents, even over the service of one's own wife and children. 3. To abstain from sins out of fear of Allaah is a highly meritorious act. 4. Labourers should always be treated fairly. If someone has paid to a labourer less than his due, it should be paid to him in a decent manner. 5. Any supplication which is made sincerely, and with real sense of humbleness is granted by Allaah. 6. Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala sometimes helps His pious men even in an unusual manner, which is termed as Karamat (wonder or marvel). Thus, like the miracles of the Prophets, wonders of the righteous people are also true. But miracles and wonders both appear with the Will of Allaah.
Next: Chapter 2 - Repentance

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Israel's Latest Invasion of Lebanon and Western Culpability By Dr. Habib SiddiquiIt should be quite obvious by now that Israel's latest invasion of Gaza and Lebanon had very little to do with rescuing her fallen soldiers. As I write, the rogue state, run by some of the worst war-criminals of our time, has killed some 750 unarmed Lebanese civilians - mostly women and children, destroyed mosques, bridges, roads, houses, schools, hospitals and much of the infra-structure of southern half of Lebanon. As in 1996, the terrorist state has massacred scores of civilians in Qana this past weekend (July 30, 2006). Israel has bombed Red Cross center and ambulances, and a UN observation post killing 4 observers. She has displaced a million people inside the country, some of whom are forced to take shelters in even prisons. Infants have been forcibly separated from their parents, and the elderly from their care-taking children. Relief supplies are difficult to get to the internally displaced refugees. Nothing is immune from Israel's bombing campaign.If a small fraction of these crimes were to be committed by any invading state, in contravention to international laws, Christ-loving Bush and Blair and their European friends in the NATO would be screaming aloud demanding cease-fire, failing which they would threaten the invading nation with all kinds of actions - UN sanctions, embargo and war. But when it comes to crimes of Israel, these western warlords are her greatest cheer-leaders and are insanely, as if demon-possessed, unperturbed by gruesome killings and massive destruction, wreaked by the pariah state. Like psychopathic and megalomaniac serial killers, they want to see more Muslim blood, more destruction, literally hell on earth and not cease-fire, because to them Muslim lives and properties are cheap and expendable. What a display of compassionate conservatism by Bush and Blair! As Michael Schure, an ex-CIA analyst and the foremost expert on al-Qaeda, has said, Bush and Blair through their both overt and covert supports of such monumental crimes against Muslims have repeatedly shown that they are the worst enemies of Muslims. They have given credence to everything that their adversaries -- conveniently depicted in the West as the 'bad' guys, the so-called terrorists -- have been saying about the West. No bones about it. Truly, it is not OBL and al-Zawahiri that is radicalizing Muslims throughout the world, but these two white-collar Christian warlords that epitomize evil and hypocrisy. With world leaders like these, who needs OBL to bring the Armageddon on earth?Exchange of prisoners between contending parties is not new. It takes place all the time. Even Israel has, in the past, negotiated such exchanges. Moreover, the demand of Hizbullah and Hamas to exchange captured Israeli soldiers for Muslims prisoners held by Israel is justified given the fact that it is Israel that for decades has been holding thousands of Palestinian prisoners and hundreds of Lebanese citizens -- many of whom are women, children and (even) infants -- some literally kidnapped.Remember that although Israel was forced to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000, some 22 years after its invasion, she continued to hold onto the Sheba Farms in defiance of UN Security Council resolution 425, and refused the release of 300 Lebanese prisoners including a number of Hizbullah leaders. Israel also refused to handover to the Lebanese government the map of land mines planted in south Lebanon. She continued to violate the air, water and land sovereignty of Lebanon. Even the plea of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora with the Bush Administration to pressure Israel did not produce any result. So, when all the options for a peaceful resolution of these legitimate concerns were balked at by the Zionist regime, Hizbullah captured two Israeli soldiers when they violated Lebanese sovereignty on July 12. Like any honest dealer, Hizbullah promptly called for the exchange of prisoners. Unfortunately, Israel does not care about the fate of those soldiers. She used the event as a pretext for something more sinister, something that remained unfulfilled from the Zionist blueprint for six-decade long history of annexation and annihilation, massacre and manipulation - all sanctioned as 'kosher' acts by her goy western patrons. The current murderous campaign of Israel inside Lebanon cannot, therefore, be grasped without an understanding of statements of its founding fathers -- all conniving individuals, if not homicidal terrorists, some later to be honored as ministers and presidents in the pariah state of Israel.In 1919, the World Zionist Organization submitted to the Versailles Peace Conference, held near Paris its official plan for the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. The submitted map included the southern part of Lebanon to the Litani River, the Syrian Golan Heights, and the West and East banks of the Jordan River. Theodore Herzl, the father of modern Zionism, said of his negotiation with the German Chancellor: "He asked what territory we wanted to have, whether as far north as Beirut or even beyond that. I said: We will ask for what we need - more immigrants, the more land." (The Complete Diaries of Theodore Herzl, p. 701) That was probably in late 19th or early 20th century, before his death. Now let us see what the founder of Zionist state of Israel, David Ben Gurion, wrote in his diary on May 21, 1947: "The Achilles heel of the Arab coalition is the Lebanon. Muslim supremacy in this country is artificial and can be easily overthrown. A Christian state ought to be set up there, with its southern frontier on the river Litani. We would sign a treaty of alliance with the state. Thus, when we have broken the strength of the Arab legion and bombed Amman, we could wipe out Trans-Jordan; after that Syria could fall. And if Egypt still dared to make war on us, we would bomb Port Said, Alexandria and Cairo. We should thus end the war and would have paid to Egypt, Assyria and Chaldea on behalf of our ancestors."[1] He also said, "The present map of Palestine was drawn by the British mandate. The Jewish people have another map which our youth and adults should strive to fulfill -- From the Nile to the Euphrates."Moshe Dayan told the Times of London (June 25, 1969) that, "Our fathers had reached the frontiers which were recognized in Partition Plan. Our generation reached the frontiers of 1949. Now the Six-day generation (referring to those who participated in 1967 war) has managed to reach Suez, Jordan and the Golan Heights. This is not the end. After the present cease-fire lines, there will be new ones. They will extend beyond Jordan - perhaps to Lebanon and perhaps to Central Syria as well."From the sample of statements of Zionist leaders, shared above, it is not difficult to fathom why Israeli Prime Minister Olmert preferred invasion of Lebanon over negotiation to exchange prisoners. Israel has always been a colonial enterprise that thrives on opportunities for practicing state-run terrorism and colonization against Arabs.[2] The capture of Israeli soldiers provides that criminal justification to destroy and slaughter, let alone an opportunity to set up a client state in the plundered territory that would safeguard Israel's so-called inalienable rights to intervene. Invasion comes rather easy with Israeli warlords. To these hawks, Barak's 2000 pullout from the 'Security zone' was a mistake and needed to be corrected. They want a 'Buffer zone.'Taking advantage of civil war inside Lebanon, arisen out of power struggle between various Lebanese factions and foreign meddling, Israel occupied south Lebanon in March 1978. She withdrew in June after transferring control of the territories to her surrogate Christian South Lebanese Army (SLA). In 1981, fight broke out between Israeli-supported Christians and Syrian forces, and Beirut was heavily bombed by Israel. In June 1982 in a genocidal mood, Ariel Sharon's Israel Defense Forces (IDF) invaded Lebanon to eliminate the PLO. According to western analysts nearly 18,000 Muslims were killed, about a million rendered homeless, another half-a-million awaiting death in Israeli seized territories of southern Lebanon. After destroying much of Beirut and southern Lebanon, and aiding in the massacre of thousands of refugees in the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps, the IDF partially evacuated from occupied Lebanon (holding onto what it described as the 'southern security zone' that ran along Israel's northern border and extended 18 miles deep into Lebanese territories in the south) and let multi-national forces from U.S., Britain, France and Italy to enter into the arena. These so-called "peace keepers", instead of really preserving and working for peace as neutral arbiters, took the side of Israel and her surrogate forces among the Falangists. Worse still, the U.S. Sixth Fleet fired mortars that killed hundreds of Muslim civilians, destroyed villages, towns and mountains that were lived by the Shi'a and Druze. Such atrocities and betrayals brought about the emergence of resistance fighters of Hizbullah, born in families of the Shi'ite victims and out of the ashes of south Lebanon. As the USA and France acted more like proxies to pro-Israel forces in the region, the U.S. Embassy (April 1983), and French and U.S. Army barracks (October 23, 1983) were attacked by these resistance fighters killing nearly 300. By the time the Civil War ended, Hizbullah, with its militia, refused to disarm in fighting the Israeli presence in the security zone. The Lebanese government with a weak military was in no position to contest IDF and found it prudent to overlook Hizbullah's efforts to securing the southern border. Thus, the latter had a de facto approval from its constituency. [A poll conducted by the Arab-American Institute as recently as April of 2006 showed widespread support for Hizbullah. Only 6% of Lebanese people agreed to a disarmament of the group.][3] Hizbullah also did a superb job building clinics, hospitals and schools, paving roads and constructing homes, and rebuilding houses and other infrastructure in war-torn Lebanon. These activities earned them immense popularity in the south and made them a major political and social force to be reckoned with.The presence of the IDF and its surrogate SLA in the south was a source of constant irritation for Lebanon and her people, and led to hostilities with Hizbullah and the Lebanese forces. In April 1996, during Israeli "Grapes of Wrath" campaign to destroy Hizbullah guerrillas, Israeli artillery gunners shelled a United Nations base in Qana, east of the port city of Tyre, killing more than 100 civilians sheltering there. That massacre at Qana galvanized the western leaders to arrange a ceasefire. Fighting between the Hizbullah and the IDF resumed again in June of 1999. In May 2000, under the new Prime Minister Ehud Barak, the IDF started to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon turning over its positions to its ally - the SLA. However, amidst incessant pressure from the Hizbullah, SLA collapsed, leading Israel to accelerate its withdrawal, which it accomplished by late May. Nonetheless, she held on to the Sheba Farms. On Sunday, July 30, 2006, under new Prime Minister Olmert, the IDF repeated the war crimes of 1996 through missile strikes in the village of Qana. Villagers had gathered in a shelter in one of Qana's buildings, probably thinking that the massacre of 1996 would not be repeated by savage Israelis. But they were wrong. Lebanese Red Cross officials said that 58 people died in the Israeli assault on the village, including 34 children. Rescuers dug through the debris to remove dozens of bodies. (See http://habibsiddiqui.unibd.org for pictures of war from Lebanon).In 1996, Qana was the price Lebanon had to pay for world leaders to end the killing. But this time, with the US and its neoconservative, pro-Likud, Bible-believing leadership (with members in the Senate and Congress, with rare exceptions) firmly behind Israel's war-crimes, no such ceasefire is in the making. So, when the rest of the world cries out foul and is saddened with savagery of Israel, and demonstrates for ceasefire, leaders like Bush, Blair and Condi Rice show how evil western leadership has become. Their behavior is immoral, demented, sadistic and criminal. Truly, if we are looking for a modern-day Nero, we have it in these blood-thirsty maniacs.In their delirious mindset, these warlords and war-criminals have forgotten that when the doors of negotiation, seeking fairness and justice, are shut down, radical elements -- prone to seek alternative ways to redress their grievances -- always emerge. If that happens, don't mumble 'why they hate us?' It is events like Qana that produces recruits for 9/11, 7/11 and 7/7.The current events in the Occupied Palestine and Lebanon once again have shown the utter moral bankruptcy of the West and its leadership, especially of the USA and the UK. Hypocrisy is its hallmark. The West can preach equality, liberty, democracy and human rights, but they truly don't mean them when it comes to vast majority of non-whites. So, when Israel commits monumental crimes against Arabs, violating scores of international laws and UN charters, the USA and her western allies have consistently cheered and supported her criminal activities. It is a high time for conscientious human beings around the world to demand trial of President Bush of USA and Prime Minister Blair of UK in the International Court of Justice for aiding in the massacre of hundreds of civilians in Lebanon and the Gaza strip (let alone causing deaths and destruction in Iraq), failing which, I am afraid, the UN and its agencies will increasingly be viewed, and justifiably so, only as a club to inflict pain on victims and never to redress their grievances. It is said that when criminals and demons rule our world, it is better for human beings to be dead than alive. How long will humanity let these modern-day Neroes to rule our world? August 1, 2006----------------------------------------------------------[1] See also: Ben-Gurion, A Biography, by Michael Ben-Zohar, Delacorte, New York 1978.[2] Vladimir Jabotinsky, considered the spiritual godfather of many Likudniks, said, "Zionist colonization must either be terminated or carried out against the wishes of the native population. This colonization can, therefore, be continued and make progress only under the protection of a power independent of the native population - an iron wall, which will be in a position to resist the pressure to the native population. This is our policy towards the Arabs....A voluntary reconciliation with the Arabs is out of the question either now or in the future. If you wish to colonize a land in which people are already living, you must provide a garrison for the land, or find some rich man or benefactor who will provide a garrison on your behalf. Or else-or else, give up your colonization, for without an armed force which will render physically impossible any attempt to destroy or prevent this colonization, colonization is impossible, not difficult, not dangerous, but IMPOSSIBLE!... Zionism is a colonization adventure and therefore it stands or falls by the question of armed force. It is important... to speak Hebrew, but, unfortunately, it is even more important to be able to shoot - or else I am through with playing at colonizing." ((The Iron Wall, 1923)[3] What must be done in Lebanon by Dr. James Zogby, Arab American Institute, Washington D.C.Dr. Habib Siddiqui (saeva@aol.com) is an anti-war activist. His essays appear in a number of websites and newspapers. He has written six books. His book on "Islamic Wisdom" is now available in the United States and Cananda.

Posted by Dr.Layth at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

TAQWA is a central concept that has been frequently mentioned in the HolyQur'an, especially in verses that deal with individual behavior in socialrelations. Some of the common English translations of the word taqwa are"piety" and "heed" or "God-fearing."Each of these translations gives only a partial understanding of this word'strue meaning because it is an attitude that combines many feelings, such asfear of God, heeding, and above all being God-conscious.Is Taqwa Simply Fear?The term fear, when used to refer to God-consciousness in the Islamiccontext, does not mean being scared of God because being scared excludes anyfeeling of love or respect.Fear of God means to fear His disobedience and punishment, on the Day ofJudgment, and to fear forgetting Him and losing His blessings.Another partial meaning of fear, which is nobler, is the fear of displeasingGod, the One Whom you love. For example, when two people love each other,you find each of them trying their best to please the other and to avoideven forgetting their anniversaries or birthdays. If this is the attitude ofhumans toward each other, then it is more appropriate that people fear God'sdispleasure. People should love God most because they owe everything to Him:their lives, property, and, above all, His guidance to know and worship Him.So, fear of God is not founded on a vengeful concept of hate and fear ofGod. It is actually based on love, which leads to a feeling of fear of God'sdispleasure.*God-Consciousness*The meaning of taqwa was clarified in a statement made by Umar BinAl-Khattab, the second Caliph after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).Umar compared being God-conscious to a person going through a narrow pathwith thorns while he is trying to snatch his clothes in order to protecthimself from any harm.In Arabic, clothing is used as a metaphor for a person's character and thethorns are a metaphor for the temptations in life, such as greed and wantingto get money from any source whether legitimate or illegitimate, ortemptation towards illicit relationships.This similitude means that the person goes through life trying to protecthis moral and pure character, which was endowed on him by God, from allother diversions, deviations, or temptations that surround him.God-consciousness is the core of taqwa because God-consciousness isacknowledging, feeling, and realizing God's presence at all times, andknowing that He is looking after you and knows what you are doing and evenwhat your soul whispers to you. This feeling results in trying to go throughlife according to God's orders and being ashamed of doing wrong in Hispresence, which is at all times.So a person who has taqwa tries to avoid both: things that displease God andthings that may harm himself or others. This is explained beautifully in astory that took place during the reign of Umar Bin Al-Khattab. A simpleteenage girl had a mother who sold milk and in order to increase the amountof milk and earn money easily her mother added water to it. On seeing hermother, the girl advised her not to cheat but the mother said that they arealone and Caliph Umar cannot see them, so the girl told her that Umar cannotsee them but the God of Umar can see them.This story shows the degrees of God-consciousness and that reaching a highdegree of God-consciousness is not necessarily measured by how often aperson feels it on going to places of worship, but by a person tries to beconscious of God's presence at all times.*Taqwa and Divine Love*For centuries, philosophers and writers have tried to explore divine lovebut found that there are some feelings that just cannot be translated intowords, especially when a person moves to higher degrees of divine love.Divine love in Islam is not a type of superficial love but it is considereda mutual genuine feeling between God and man, which is referred to in theQur'an: "... Allah will bring a people whom He will love them and they willlove Him ..." (Al-Ma'idah 5:54).The Qur'an connects divine love to taqwa in a verse that says what means: "...Verily, then Allah loves those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)." (Al Imran3:76).This shows that divine love is not only manifested in pure acts of worshiplike prayers, but it is also reflected in different aspects of life. That iswhy following the path of God is the real test for the genuineness of divinelove.Following this path that God has established for man results in a sense ofdependence upon God and a sense of gratefulness to God for all His bounties.Divine love requires commitment and steadfastness so a person can beprepared to face the different trials and tribulations in life. It alsorequires responsibility and sacrifice of some of the person's time,property, desires, and even a person's own life if necessary.Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also mentioned that one of the thingsthat a person must achieve in order to feel the sweet taste of faith in hisheart, is to love God and His Messenger more than anything else.This divine love is also the foundation of love for other creatures in theuniverse because the deep and profound love for humans and other creatureswould not be felt by someone who does not truly love God.*Translating Love into Good Deeds*Various verses in the Qur'an explain the characteristics that a personshould have in order to receive God's love.One of those traits is taqwa or God-consciousness.Also, people who constantly repent to God deserve His love: Truly, Allahloves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purifythemselves ..." (Al-Baqarah 2:222), which means that the door for repentanceis open if a person sins, and not only does God accepts those who repent,but He also loves them.A third characteristic is constant self-purification. The Qur'an says: "...And Allah loves those who make themselves clean and pure ... " (At-Tawbah9:108).People who do good were also mentioned in several verses:Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers). (Al-Baqarah 2:195)." ... certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him." (Al Imran3:159)." ... And Allah loves As-Sabirun (the patient)." (Al Imran 3:146).People who are just or judge in equity are also mentioned in the Qur'an asreceiving God's love: "Surely Allah loves those who judge equitably"(Al-Ma'idah 5:42).

Posted by Dr.Layth at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

THE pre-Islamic Arabs attached less importance to the person of a womanthan that of a man. Thus, if the culprit was a man and the victim a woman,retaliation could not take place. The Qur'an abolished this inequality, andcrimes against the woman were placed on the same level as those against theman, whether they concerned person or property or honor.One may even say that in certain cases the rights of women are held to bemore important. For instance the Qur'an (24:4-5) decrees that if a manaccuses a woman of immorality and does not produce proof, he is exposed notonly to the penalty prescribed for a false accusation, but to be declaredfor perpetuity as unworthy of giving an evidence before a tribunal (this inaddition to the Divine punishment in the Hereafter, which however may beeffaced in case of repentance). There is almost a consensus of opinion thatrepentance erases the sin in the eschatological sense, yet the ineligibilityto giving evidence remains constant in spite of the recognized repentance.The Qur'an seems to require the purging of society from the evil ofinconsiderate talks, particularly in matters where injury is easy to inflictand difficult to remedy.The perfect and complete individuality of the person of the woman ismanifest in a most striking manner in the matter of property. According toIslamic law, the woman possesses a most absolute right over her property. Ifshe has attained majority, she may dispose it of according to her willwithout reference to anybody else, whether it be her father, brother,husband or son or any other person. There is no difference in this matterbetween a man and a woman. The property of a woman cannot be touched even ifher husband or father or any other relative has liabilities exceeding hisassets. Similarly, these relatives are not held responsible if she contractsdebts. A woman has the same rights as man for acquiring property. She mayinherit it, receive it in gift or donation, earn it by her own work andtoil; and all this remains hers and hers alone. She is the absolute mistressof her property to enjoy it or to give it to whomsoever she likes as a gift,or to dispose it of, by sale or any other legal means, at her will. Allthese rights are inherent in a woman; there is no question of obtaining themthrough special contracts, with the husband for instance or by an awarddepending on somebody else.The right to inheritance requires some explanation. A pre-Islamic Arab womanhad no right to inherit from anybody, either her father or even her husband.The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not pay attention to this questionduring the first 15 years of his mission.The chroniclers mention that in the year 3 Hijra, a rich Ansarite, Aus IbnThabit died, leaving a widow and four daughters of tender age. According tothe customs prevalent then, only male adults, capable of taking up arms in awar, had the right to inheritance; and even a minor son had no right to theproperty of his deceased father. So, the cousins of Aus took possession ofall that he had left, and the family overnight became completely destituteand deprived of the means of livelihood. At that moment a passage of theQur'an was revealed, promulgating the law of inheritance which is ever sincepracticed by Muslims, and even by some other communities, such as theChristians of the Levant. According to this law (4:7-12; 4:176), differentfemale relatives have obtained the right to inheritance: wife, daughter,mother and sister in particular.With regard to inheritance, Islam makes no difference between the movableand immovable property; everything must be divided among the rightful heirs.In order to avoid evil caprices, Islam has also prohibited the bequest ofproperty by testament to strangers and the deprivation of near relatives. Infact the latter do not require to be mentioned in a will; they inheritautomatically.A will cannot even diminish or increase the rights of individual relativesto inheritance, the rights being fixed and determined by the law itself. Thewill is valid solely in favor of "strangers," i.e. those who have no rightto inherit directly the property of the deceased. Islam has fixed themaximum, which one can bequeath by will, and that is one-third of the wholeproperty, the two-thirds going to near relatives. A will for more thanone-third is valid only if the heirs unanimously accept it at the moment ofthe distribution of the heirloom.The law of inheritance is complicated enough, for the shares of differentheirs vary according to individual circumstances; the daughter alone or inthe presence of a son, the mother alone or in the presence of the father,with children or without them, the sister alone or in the presence of thebrother, father or children of the deceased, inherit in differentproportions according to individual cases. It is not our intention todescribe it here in all the details. The shares of female heirs may howeverbe mentioned briefly.The wife gets one-eighth if the deceased leaves also a child; otherwise shegets a fourth. The daughter when alone gets a half, several daughters gettwo-thirds which they divide among themselves in equal portions — all thiswhen there is no son. in the presence of a son, the daughter gets half ofher brother. The mother, when alone, gets a third, in the presence offather, child or brothers and sisters of the deceased she gets one-sixth.The sister does not inherit if the deceased leaves a son: but when alone,she gets a half; two or more sisters get two-thirds which they divide amongthemselves equally. In the presence of a daughter, the sister getsone-sixth; in the presence of a brother, she gets the half of what he gets.There are also differences between the shares of full sisters, consanguinesisters and uterine sisters.

Posted by Dr.Layth at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments