Articles On Islam & Muslim

Looking for Freedom in the Middile East

2012-03-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Freedom is the utmost important right for every humans. The wave of ordinary people in Tunisia to take the streets for their rights from the country tyrant and succeed in doing so have made every tyrants all over the world shivering to their bones. They are running out of time and as usual this tyrants are turning to religion to save their seat of power.

Freedom is the utmost important right for every humans. The wave of ordinary people in Tunisia to take the streets for their rights from the country tyrant and succeed in doing so have made every tyrants all over the world shivering to their bones. They are running out of time and as usual this tyrants are turning to religion to save their seat of power.

Some of the reader in certain Asian country disliked what have been highlighted by writers that touch on human rights issue in Asian and especially Muslim majority country. However those that complains and even to the extend of threatening the safety of writers can be questioned their identities and intentions. Nobody in the right mind would like their human rights be taken away by power-hungry politician.

Bahrain, Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and many more the ordinary people are taking to the streets and their demand are simple ; BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS!

Those countries leaders proudly declared they are the beholden and protector of Islam but their reaction to the demands of the little people are outrages! Those ordinary people are beaten, shot with lived bullet and even bomb by the used of fighter jets and tanks just for the sake of a few greedy men.

Politician in those trouble nations been going around Muslim country asking for help by using Islam as a reason. There's none truth what so ever for this type of leader when they talk about Islam. If they really a true Muslim none of this would happen. People wouldn't be hungry or crime wouldn't be rampant or even no child be working to help their parents to put food on the table.

In Bahrain the leaders through their kin in Saudi been going around to other Muslim leader and ask to send arm forces to quash the uprising. They are pleading if Bahrain government of the day fall then it will be the end of Sunni Muslim. How stupid the reason sound. Sunni is Muslim and Shia is Muslim so what the problems. If Shia is deviate from the true teaching of Islam why does Iran and Syria been accepted into OIC. Even majority of religious scholar doesn't have the balls to declare Shia as a deviate teaching. So stop using Shia as the reason for you to hold to power!

Woman been jailed, some were raped, even kidnapped and nobody knows of this women fates. They are treated worst then an enemy combatant during war. Children became orphan because their mom and dad got killed by the police and army. All this incidents will create a long-term problem for those country even if democracy win over dictatorship.

Libya, just because of a single crazy man thousand had died and still many more to come. Even the NATO air force can't find this man and not because he been protected by Allah but he is hiding like a scary little mouse in a hole. If Muammar Khadafi a true leader he will be leading his men to the battle field. Please tyrants of the world don't ever quote from the great Prophet (pbuh) just for the sake of power. Leaders like Muammar Khadafi been slandering Islam since day one he got on to power. No true leader of Islam will shot a civil airline out of the sky. No leaders of Islam will jailed or killed religious scholar for advising the leader to be compassion.

Saudi Arabia should be the one that lead the Ummah to reform countries that are ruled by tyrants. Two of the holiest place on earth are with them but the Saudi political leaders been showing bad example to the Ummah and to other non Muslim society. Saudi shouldn't be the spoke person for those tyrants. Better yet Saudi should be the one that encourage those tyrants to let the people choose their fate.

The non Muslim countries been fooled by those tyrants which have tarnished the image of Islam. Those tyrants are worst than the terrorist leaders. They been lying and preaching Islam of their owned version. The ignorance of true Islam teaching among the non Muslim have made them assumed Islam as a religion that breed corrupt and power-hungry leaders. If true Islam been used those tyrants would already lose their head for cruelty done to the ordinary people. Leadership in Islam is not an easy task,a leader that stray away from the fundamental rights of the people would automatically be thrown out of his seat.

To the ordinary people in Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and all other countries that are taking the street the world are praying for you and may the people power would bring down tyrants from their pedestals.

Madina Charter The First Islamic Constitution For All

2012-03-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

Medina Charter was created by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the year 622 CE, it was the first written constitution in the Islāmic world. The Medina Charter contained every aspect of running a country from politic to the human rights administration. Do the Muslim majority country now really follow what the Prophet had laid down for mankind to follow?

The Medina Charter consists of 47 clauses. 23 clause governed the relationship between Muslims, between Ansar and Muhajirin, while the remaining 24 clauses governed the relations of Muslims with non-Muslims, the Jews and others. In addition to the charter of Medina, it is also known by various names such as Medina agreement, Dustar al-Madinah and Al-Madinah Sahifah. The Medina Charter form the constitution for Medina which was based from the regulations of Islāmic law to establish a pure Islāmic state that puts people of different races or ethnic groups in one country living peacefully.

The main contents in the Charter were the declaration that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the head of state to all the people of Medina and any dispute shall be referred to him. All the people of Medina is forbidden to plant a hostile or envy among themselves, instead they should be united as one and be known as nation of Medina.
All residents are free to practice their customs and religious ceremonies respectively. All residents of Medina should coöperate in economic and if Medina to be attacked by outsiders all the citizen shall defend its. The Jews freedom are guaranteed as long as they obey the agreements listed in the charter.

The purposed of the Medina Charter was to face a plural society of Medina and was to establish rules that will be complied by all the people. The charter also provide elements to unite people of various races and to establish peace and eliminate any hostility that was occurring before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad to Medina.

The Medina Charter also determined the rights and duties of Prophet Muhammad and the local population. It's also provide guidelines for the Muhajirin (immigrants) recovery and providing help either material or non material to them after losing everything for leaving Mecca. Political union was also formed to defend Medina from any foreign enemy. The Charter give a clear guarantee for the right of the non muslim and the Jews.

Medina Charter was not only the first Islāmic constitution but it was also the first human right charter that provided the basic rights of every human living in Medina.

Medina Charter was created based on Holy Koran and Sunnah. Therefore the Holy Koran and Sunnah are the source of state law. The charter also was an instrument to unite the nation and a signed of a state sovereignty. Other principles that contain in the charter were; Freedom of movement and the right to live in Medina, rights and duties in terms of defending and maintaining the State. It also provide good relations and mutual help among all citizens and individual responsibility and government duty in upholding social justice. Some security laws such as penalties and so forth have been listed as Qisas. Religious freedom was also guarantee and the responsibility of states to non-Muslims. It also stated the duty of all parties toward bringing and upholding peace in the State.

It is justified to say the Medina Charter produced a form of government that adheres to the shura system (parliamentary system) where citizen can give opinions. The charter had a great impact toward the development of Islāmic civilization, especially in politics and the human rights of the ordinary citizen. The Medina Charter shows that Islam can be practiced in creating an efficient and just government.

However the Muslim majority countries all over the world now are facing with all kind of problems from their own making and its has nothing to do with the western power. The western countries succeed in developing their countries because they are implementing the rules and regulations that are suitable to them. But the Islāmic countries either copying from the west and failed because does not conform to the norms of the majority or created a new form of system that only suitable to the iron claws of the power hungry politician. In the end the people suffered and Islam which should be the way of living is only used during birth of a child, marriage and death!

The Muslim leaders does not even respect the human rights that the Prophet had lay down 1400 years ago. The rights of the people either muslim or non-muslim has been discriminate for years as if the Medina Charter been kept and locked in the dusty shelves. From Gamal Nasir to Muamar Kahdafi none has ever used or implemented the true Islāmic law in administering their countries. An Islāmic scholar and politician from Malaysia, who was disappointed with his country freedom of expression restriction once commented, "Sometime the european are more Islāmic than the Muslim!".

It is safe to say that not a single country of the Muslim majority countries or even the terrorist group such as Al-Qaeda are practising the true Islāmic governance that the Prophet taught and lived by. Maybe it is time for every leader to start reading the Medina Charter and give the people their rights as what Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught.

Apostasy: The Beginning of an Ending

2012-03-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

Apostasy for Muslim is a sensitive issue that can not be discussed to deeply without the present of scholars. But this article is not to discuss the problem of apostasy among Muslims.

Apostasy for Muslim is a sensitive issue that can not be discussed without the present of scholars. But this article is not to discuss the problem of apostasy among Muslims. This article will only provide religious rules concerning the question of apostasy. Hopefully those who do not quite understand what it is apostasy in Islam will find little enlightenment from the writings of this article.

First of all it should be stated that there are no compulsion for any one to convert from their religion to Islam and this is explain in the Holy Koran; "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing." (al Baqarah 2:256)

But for a Muslim by birth or by their own freewill had accept Islam as his religion, it is strictly forbidden for him to leave Islam and if apostasy do happen, he will have to face the consequences. This is explain in the Holy Koran :"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." (Ali Imran 3:85)

What is an apostasy in Islam? Apostasy occurs when a person does not comply to the teachings of Islam or to leave and to separate ourselves from religious believe. If a person legalize things that are forbidden by Allah and legalize things that Allah forbid, it is also tantamount as apostasy and shall be punished as an apostate.

In Islam An apostate is a person who turned away from the light to the darkness. In Islam those who commit apostasy should not be left in a fallen state from a believer into the unbeliever. For apostasy there is law that governed this particular act.

What are the sanctions that are provided by the law of Islam? These sanctions can only be conducted by the state not by the ordinary public. Things are not taken lightly regarding apostasy in Islam. Apostasy has been determined to fall under the penalties of hudud.

Hudud law which covered only serious offences such as stealing and murdered. Apostasy has been regarded as serious offense therefore the punishment provided is death but certain condition should be fulfilled by the authority before could carry out the death sentence.

When the incident of apostasy occurred among individual Muslim, an apostate then become the responsibility of the government to ensure that the perpetrators of the apostate repents. First action is to separate him from the public. The government must persuade through advice and motivation the apostate to return to Islam, and if that effort fails, the death sentenced would be carried out.

Such executions have occurred in the era of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) such as Abu Bakr, Umar and 'Ali radhiallahuanhum. The action taken is based on the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad that means:"any man who becomes an apostate from Islam, then tell him to repent and if he return to Islam free him, and if not then beheaded him, and any woman who becomes an apostate from Islam, then tell her to repent and if she return to Islam free her, and if not then beheaded her."

Islāmic law also stated that the marriage of an apostate is not valid. If he was married before becoming apostate then his wife must leave him.The slaughtering of animal for food by an apostate is forbidden to be consumed by Muslims. Apostates also cannot accept any inherited estate, and if he has property then the
property also cannot be inherited by his Muslim relatives.

When a Muslim has become apostate, whether due to his "iktikad" (faith) or speech or conduct, meaning he has committed a criminal act not only to himself but to his family and the Muslim community as a whole. Therefore it should be understood Islam never compel others to convert oneself to Islam but once a Muslim there shall be no change of heart.

Understanding Concept of Shahadah in Islam

2012-03-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

The five pillars of Islam are the foundation for Islam. A Muslim is not a true Muslim if he ignored any of the five pillars and Shahadah is number one.

“On the authority of Abu Abd. Rahman Abdullah, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: ‘Islam is built upon five [pillars]: testifying that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayers, giving zakat, making pilgrimage to the House and fasting the month of Ramadan.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The hadith clearly stated that the five pillars of Islam must be known, met and practiced by every person claiming to be a Muslim.

This article will only touch on the two testament or the Shahadah alone. Many out there does not understand the concept of Shahadah. The meaning of Shahadah, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is indeed the Messenger of Allah."

The testament is called the Shahadah which are divided into two. The first testament is "La ilaha illalah" meaning no other God but Allah. The second testament is "Mahamadan Rasulullah" meaning " Muhammad is the messenger of Allah". The testament are also called the testament of "Tauhid"

Each person that willingly and without compulsion pronounce the Shahadah is considered as a Muslim according to Islāmic law. As a Muslim that person has a right and duty according to Islāmic law and he must also adhere to all the rules and regulations of Islāmic teaching.

It is not compulsory for anyone to know the truth or sincerity of the person pronounced the Shahadah. We are only have legal responsibility for the act that can only be seen and hear by the naked eyes and ears.

Several conditions must be fulfilled before the saying of Shahadah can be done. It is mandatory to know the meaning of Shahadah. Shahadah uttered must be done with the tongue and say it completely. Therefore Shahadah cannot be performed by a third party. The person must believe with the meaning of Shahadah and must not have a sense of distrust toward the Shahadah he recite. Person who recite Shahadah should practice and fulfilled all the requirements and to reject all things contrary to the purposes of which are contained in the Shahadah.

The concept of Shahadah must be learned and understood by each Muslim either born as a Muslim or newly convert. This is important because when a person deeply understood the concept of Shahadah, his or her faith (Iman) will become firm and stronger to practice every duty and obligations that have been set by Allah in the five pillar of Islam.

A true Muslim that understood the concept of Shahadah will performed the five obligations, i.e: the five daily prayers which are the pride of Islam. He will also perform the giving of zakat or loosely translated as alms. He will also performed fast during the fasting month of Ramadan. He will also perform the hajj if he capable at least once in a lifetime. He will also restrained his desire from committing grave sins and he will always try to avoid any act which has been forbidden by Allah.

A true Muslim will proof his declaration of believing in Allah and prophet Muhammad through the five features obligations above, which are the main tool to build oneself as a true Muslim and led a successful life on earth and the hereafter life as Allah promised.

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is indeed the Messenger of Allah"