tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181620062024-03-13T15:32:01.053+00:00Mustaqim - Musings of a flying ImamI'm a German living in England, a Muslim and a pilot - in today's oppressive neo-fascist climate this means walking a tight rope. And it requires speaking out. I have done so through articles, pamphlets and books, many of which are available on my website Mustaqim Islamic Art and Literature. I am also a regular contributor to the Mathaba News Network. To facilitate responding to current affairs more speedily I have set up this blog and hope readers find it useful.Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-1509980585905389232024-02-15T11:04:00.001+00:002024-02-15T11:04:38.921+00:00Palestine after Gaza – Reality check primer<p> </p><div class="body markup" dir="auto"><p>Whilst the world watches
Palestinians dying and being maimed daily, politicians and the media
keep talking, warning of an impending humanitarian catastrophe as if
that was not already the case. Meanwhile, the extermination policy
pursued by Israel continues. Part of the problem is the public disbelief
that such large-scale destruction can ever be deliberate, and if so,
they try to assign the blame to a single psychopath at the helm,
Netanyahu. However, we are not dealing with a lone psychopath, we are
dealing with a psychopathic mindset which has taken hold at almost all
levels of the “civilisation” upheld by Pax Americana and of which the
brutally naked variety displayed by Israel is only a more extreme
version.</p><p>As outrageous as the slaughter is, the apparent inability
or unwillingness of most to do something to stop it is even worse. The
only way to explain this passiveness is to understand that those who are
not members of the psychopathic elites are thoroughly conditioned to
fear and obey them. Due to this uneven power relationship the narrative
has also been severely skewed. This article is aimed to dispel some of
the prominent misconceptions.</p><p><strong>History did not start yesterday</strong></p><p>Anybody
who views the onslaught on Gaza as an “over-the-top” reaction to the
jailbreak of 7 October 2023 has obviously not paid attention or fallen
for Zionist propaganda. But even those who talk about 75 years of
occupation miss the point that the colonising project did not start in
Palestine in 1948. Nor did it start with the British Mandate after WW1
and the collapse of the Ottoman caliphate (well prior to the Holocaust
usually cited as justification). In effect it started with the first
crusades which were an organised scheme by the allegedly Christian West
to enlist criminals and adventurers in order to conquer and plunder
far-off lands, ejecting and eliminating their people. The entire
European project and its prosperity is a spin-off of this campaign,
later expanding through the European age of colonialism into the
Americas, Australia, Asia and Africa. Israel is merely the last colonial
project of a self-declared superior race who considered the rest of the
world to be rightfully theirs to take.</p><p><strong>A land without people for a people without land</strong></p><p>A
myth and slogan both Nazi Germany and Israel have in common besides
many other commonalities. They may claim to need the land, to have been
disadvantaged or persecuted. Yet, earlier trauma cannot become a free
ticket to abuse. It is not unusual for the abused to become an abuser in
turn, in which case he must be stopped. No historic suffering can
justify the perpetration of genocide.</p><p>Conquerors rarely conquered
empty wastelands. The only reason the land claimed by them ends up
without people is because they removed them.</p><p><strong>The Biblical promise</strong></p><p><span>Those
who argue that it is most unreasonable and irrational in today’s world
for Israel to claim Palestine as their Biblical inheritance and birth
right from millennia ago themselves miss the point: the majority of
Israeli colonisers, whilst professing Judaism to some degree (the
majority are secular) and speaking Hebrew, are not Israelites and have
absolutely no connection to the land of Palestine. They are what Arthur
Koestler called the 13</span><sup>th</sup><span> tribe</span><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_edn1" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[i]</a><span>,
impostors from Eastern Europe who converted to Judaism for political
convenience and then hijacked the cause of Judaism to the extent that
even Jews of sound lineage (Sephardic or Oriental Jews) became
marginalised. These people, the Khazar, are more than likely the dreaded
Gog and Magog (Ja’juj and Ma’juj), Gog, son of Japeth, son of Noah, and
his descendants. They were infamous for the damage they inflicted on
their neighbours until Dhu-l-Qarnayn (Alexander the Great?) walled them
in. They would breach that wall at a time when, according to the Qur’an,
people would intermingle with each other like waves</span><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_edn2" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[ii]</a><span>.
Since their release, they have subverted every stratum of humanity.
Zionism, the subjugation and plundering of all other peoples, is their
ideology. Once we look at the history of the past thousand years from
this perspective, things begin making sense, from the crusades, the
knights templars, the Jesuits, the slave trade, exploitation through
interest and the invention of fractional reserve banking, the
industrialisation of labour (and everything else), to colonialism and
never-ending wars.</span></p><p><strong>A lone lunatic</strong></p><p>For
normal people who do not share the psychopathic mindset of Zionists,
the pure evil of their actions is hard to comprehend. It is therefore
easier to project this evil on just a few deranged personalities, such
as Netanyahu. But he did not occupy the position he holds out of a
vacuum. He has been put into this position by a society just as hateful
and evil as himself. A society founded on the dehumanisation and
destruction of the other, the forced displacement of the native
population and the perpetual punishment of any remnants of them in order
to prevent them from ever gaining independence or taking revenge.
Israel is a state founded in inequity and has absolutely no chance of
redemption unless it forfeits the Zionist claim of a chosen or superior
people distinct from all the rest.</p><p><strong>The right to exist</strong></p><p><span>Of
course, all people under God have a right to exist. Yet the apartheid
state of Israel does not. A state which preaches and practices the utter
destruction of its neighbours does not have that right. A state which
elevates the killing of children and women and men and doctors and
nurses and journalists and academics and any expression of culture other
than their own to official policy does not have a right to exist. Nor
does it have a right to “defend itself”, because it is the attacker, not
the attacked.</span><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_edn3" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[iii]</a></p><p><strong>The inherent weakness in the superiority complex</strong></p><p>Like
with any bully, Israel’s perceived strength is entirely dependent on
others believing in it. Anybody who thinks themselves superior and
invincible becomes out of touch with reality. This soon turns into an
apparent weakness. The myth of Israel’s army as the most powerful in the
Middle East was destroyed in a single day. The myth of its benign,
democratic, moral credentials has been buried during the ongoing
genocide. This weakness also translates to those who backed it
unconditionally throughout its (in historical terms) brief history. The
decline of Israel is a harbinger of the decline of the West as the
leading power on the globe, but like a fish out of water it won’t die
without flapping violently. The first casualty is the so-called
“rules-based order”, the fig leaf by which Anglo-American enterprise
gave itself a halo of respectability and legality when going on a
killing spree abroad in order to plunder resources.</p><p><strong>Greater Israel</strong></p><p>Israel
is not content with secure borders as many in the West naively believe.
Nor does it want a sovereign Palestinian state at its borders. “Eretz
Israel”, the “Land of Israel” extends well into Iraq, Lebanon, Syria,
Egypt and parts of Saudi-Arabia (Madinah).</p><p><strong>The colonial mindset</strong></p><p><span>The
resistance in Gaza demonstrated in only a few months that Israel can
easily be defeated and the land of Palestine can be liberated. Yet, at
this weakest point in Israel’s history, nobody grasped the opportunity
to deal with this cancer in their midst once and for all. Amongst the
Arab nations only Yemen, arguably the poorest, itself ravaged by war,
stood up for the Palestinians without compromise. Other resistance
groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria helped take off some of the pressure.
It suddenly becomes clear why the prophet of Islam, Muhammad peace be
upon him, singled out the people of the Levant and of Yemen for special
blessing at the end of times but not the Arabian heartland</span><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_edn4" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[iv]</a><span>.</span></p><p>It
is apparent to both Israeli and non-Israeli analysts that Israel cannot
survive a prolonged war. Even though they make large-scale use of
mercenaries, my estimates are that almost ten percent of their armed
forces have already been put out of action. A full-scale attack by
Hezbollah would flatten Tel Aviv and the rest of the country. Turkey has
a million men in arms ready at any time and advanced hardware. However,
all they would have needed to do is to send an aid flotilla to the
coast of Gaza flanked by warships and put NATO on notice that they
expect the alliance to defend them if attacked by Israel, a non-member.
There would be some inherent risk in this strategy, but if it failed to
deliver aid it would blow the cover of NATO forever. The USA is already
overstretched and cannot afford opening another front, be it with
Turkey, Iran or with China (over Taiwan). Yet every country is holding
back not realising, it seems, that if they allow the bully to get up and
recover, he is coming for them next. One at a time.</p><p>All of the
Muslim state actors colluded with Israel in one way or another, exposing
their utter dependency on Israel’s backers. Whether it be Saudi Arabia
and the Emirates, who are scared to lose their recent riches, or Egypt,
heavily in debt to America and dependent on aid, these countries will
not only fail to grasp the opportunity to rid themselves of a poisonous
neighbour, they don’t even see the opportunity – they are like a caged
dog waiting for daily rations. You open the door of the cage and he
prefers to stay put.</p><p>The same logic explains why, with a few
laudable exceptions, Muslims are also not at the forefront of direct
action against Israeli colonialism and American imperialism.</p><p><strong>Fair play and the two-state solution</strong></p><p>The
colonisers have a twisted idea of fairness: if they can’t get rid of
you completely, they might be willing to share what is rightfully yours,
at least for the time being. When a burglar takes over your house and
locks you in the basement, justice does not consist in him reluctantly
agreeing to let you run the basement following your own rules whilst he
retains control of entry and exit points. The only viable solution is a
one-state solution which will either be an oppressive Zionist state with
few or no rights for others or a non-Zionist Palestinian state with
equal rights for all.</p><p><strong>International law</strong></p><p>International
law and the international community are only international in the sense
that they are imposed globally, not however in a participatory sense or
by way of equal application. This legal framework served the dominant
power to demand total submission not only through force but also through
entrapment within rules serving its own purpose in the name of freedom,
democracy, human rights (all the way to imposing transgender anomalies
as the new normal). The Covid pandemic made it abundantly clear that all
nations on the globe were ruled by the same system, receiving their
dictates from the same elite, notwithstanding whether they were
right-leaning or left-leaning, communist or fascist. However, the Gaza
genocide and tacit to outspoken Western support for it have exposed the
hypocrisy of this rhetoric and, as Hezam Al-Asad, Ansarullah Political
Bureau member of Ansaruallah in Yemen has been quoted, in response to
America's claim that the seizure of a ship was a "flagrant violation of
international law": "International law was killed in Al-Shifa Hospital,
its remains scattered in Al-Rantisi Hospital, and buried under the
rubble of Al-Maamadani Hospital."</p><p>Whilst using international law,
as South Africa successfully did, to expose the hypocrisy of the
“rules-based order” and, sometimes, force the beneficiaries of this
order to abide by their own rules, the legal avenue alone will not bring
about justice in the face of brute force.</p><p>Muslims (as well as
most of other ordinary people) have been both physically and
intellectually disarmed, asked to apologise for the concept of jihad
(just war/resistance) whilst being at the receiving end of ongoing
unjust wars. You cannot fight oppression using the toolkit of the
oppressor, hence a liberation of the mind is first of all necessary.</p><p><strong>Existential threats</strong></p><p><span>Just
as Israel wants to portray the fight against oppression as an
existential threat, the global elite indoctrinates the world population
with the threat of an imminent demise unless everybody surrenders to its
mandates. Whilst struggling to survive the challenge they face in
Palestine, they have not retreated elsewhere and continue to try to
impose restrictions on the world population, handing ever more power to
unelected world bodies, such as the World Economic Forum or the World
Health Organisation. If the environmental crisis lobby was serious, they
would not obsess with cow farts but prohibit the use of explosive
weaponry. The Pentagon is, after all, the largest polluter on the planet</span><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_edn5" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[v]</a><span>.
As long as they keep dropping bombs, their apocalyptic warnings aimed
at restricting the free movement of ordinary people even further, ring
hollow.</span></p><div><hr /></div><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_ednref1" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[i]</a><span> Arthur Koestler, The Thirteenth Tribe. The Khazar Empire and its Heritage. London: Hutchison 1976</span></p><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_ednref2" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[ii]</a><span> Al-Kahf 99</span></p><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_ednref3" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[iii]</a><span> ICJ advisory opinion 9 July 2004</span></p><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_ednref4" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[iv]</a><span>
Narrated Ibn `Umar:The Prophet said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on
our Sham! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The People
said, "And also on our Najd." He said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings
on our Sham)! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The people
said, "O Allah's Apostle! And also on our Najd." I think the third time
the Prophet said, "There (in Najd) is the place of earthquakes and
afflictions and from there comes out the horn of Satan." Al-Bukhari,
Book of Afflictions.</span></p><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141632665?source=queue#_ednref5" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">[v]</a><span> Pentagon Fuel Use, Climate Change and the Costs of War, Crawford, Boston University 2019</span></p><p><span> </span></p><p><span><b>Flying Imam is now on Substack: https://flyingimam.substack.com/<br /></b></span></p><p><span><b></b> <br /></span></p></div>Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-50275170568837449822022-07-18T14:13:00.001+01:002022-07-18T14:13:30.129+01:00Conceptual Islam - new book published<p><b>Below are some selected quotes from my new title "Conceptual Islam - Escaping false paradigms" published on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B6LWWX3T/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=conceptual+islam&qid=1657873093&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Kindle</a>. A print edition may follow.</b></p><p>Most textbooks on Islam tell us that Islam is a way of life. The briefest of reality checks will tell us that Muslims’ way of life is today shaped by a plethora of other influences with Islam as an add-on. This apparent discrepancy has relegated the notion of true Islam into either the past as a praised, but lost historic example from the days of the prophet and his companions or into the future as a utopian dream of a return to the golden age "when the Mahdi comes". Neither offers much solace or hope for the Muslim struggling with the here and now.<br /><br />Conceptualising Islam means to move away from the narrow constraints of mere practices and to discover the underlying purpose. Naturally, Islam being a divinely inspired, or rather ordained, way of life, not a man-made system, such a road of discovery must always be guided by the teachings of both the Qur’an and the prophet. Yet, at the same time, it must not get stuck in the environment in which the Qur’an was first taught. Early Muslim scholars well understood this need for adaptability. Sadly, most of today’s Muslim scholars are only apt at passing on knowledge, not wisdom.<br /><br />My analysis postulates that we are trying to hold on to an Islamic paradigm whilst having willingly surrendered to non-Islamic (secular) concepts. Examples for these are heliocentricity, relativism or evolution. We inertly resent some of their teachings, because they challenge the divine origin and destiny of all that is, and that is exactly what they intend to do. Yet we have become unable to assess their merits and shortcomings since we have accepted "science" as the benchmark of truth, adding a little bit of "Islamisation" at the frills, instead of measuring its claims against the yardstick of revelation.<br /><br />Truth is absolute and cannot be divided. The claim that there may be many truths is an aberrant mind game defying basic logic. Whatever is true cannot, at the same time, be false, hence the opposite of an established truth cannot, at the same time, also be true. Relativism, therefore, is an erosion of truth.<br /><br />Power can be taken or given. Sometimes, power feels the need to be justified, at other times it views this as a weakness. However, power does not exist in a vacuum. It has both a source and a purpose. We need to understand where a given power is derived from and what it aims to achieve. <br /><br />Knowledge can be learned. Wisdom needs to be acquired through experience. Experience is gained from both success and failure. Too much success tends to make people careless, too much failure, on the other hand, despondent. The latter very much describes our present reality. Sadly, Western philosophy did not embrace the clarity of Kant (whose PhD certificate incidentally is headed with the Bismillah formula), but rather the materialism of Darwin, nihilism of Nietzsche and confusion of Heidegger. Where reasoning is applied consistently and consequently, empirical research ultimately reaches the same conclusions as those imparted through revealed knowledge.<br /><br />Secular science has replaced geocentrism with heliocentrism, that is, it has replaced the earth as the centre of the universe with the sun. Again, there is more to this than meets the eye. If the earth is not special, then man is not special; he evolved rather than purposefully having been placed there.<br /><br />Sun and star worship has always been a substitute for the worship of Lucifer, the false light made from fire who pretends to free man’s spirit and actions from the yoke of God, and thus making the sun replace the earth as the centre of our world is also symbolical of replacing worship of God with the worship of the devil.<br /><br /><br />In Islamic cosmology, there are seven heavens, our universe, ornamented with stars, being the lowest of them. ... Allah’s throne rests above all of them (carried by eight) and is the only permanent point of reference, everything in creation being subject to the cycle of life and thus circling around it. The circumbulation of the Kaabah is a visual representation of this fact on earth, with the black stone, besides representing a handshake between all Muslims, the first and the last of them, being a "portal" to other dimensions. The concentric circles surrounding the Kaabah of the faithful praying establish an energy field on earth which provides a measure of protection from harm. That the Tawaf was halted completely during the lockdown period of the alleged pandemic is therefore not insignificant, nor is the continuous barring of pilgrims from touching or kissing the black stone. It indicates a triumph of materialism over the spiritual, yet I am not aware of a single contemporary Muslim scholar having raised objections to these arrangements. <br /><br />Instead, the very same "teachers" of Islam who earlier insisted that the media and politicians who were peddling the Islamic terrorism narrative were corrupt, spreaders of immorality and could not be trusted, suddenly, when supporting the Covid-19 narrative and the permissibility of and need for the vaccination programme, tried to convince us that the same media and politicians only had our best interests at heart and worked tirelessly to protect us from a deadly virus...<br /><br />We now live in the age of the Dajjal, the great liar and deceiver. For centuries we have been lied to until it is hardly possible to distinguish the truth from falsehood. Good manners are deemed old-fashioned, immorality and rudeness considered liberating and progressive. Most of what we have been taught as reality is built on a lie. The fiat money we use has no intrinsic value. In the name of freedom we have been enslaved to an industrial process. Democracy sells us the illusion of power and influence whilst all relevant decisions are made without our involvement. In fact it is an adversarial system of competing parties which prevents cooperation for the greater good, just as the adversarial court system prevents the dispensation of true justice.<br /><br />The "divide and rule" method of control goes deeper than commonly thought. In computing it is known as digitisation: a real image or sound are reduced to binary digits from which a representation or semblance of the image is created for ease of control, in this case portability and manipulation. Society, likewise has been remodelled by breaking it down into constituents which can be more easily re-arranged.<br /><br />A further tool in the arsenal of the deceivers is virtualisation: reality is replaced by a projection of reality. Advances in communication technology have made us largely dependent on devices through which we perceive the world around us. Real friends are replaced by virtual ones, real relationships by commercialised encounters, real news by infotainment, real convictions by pseudo-beliefs.<br /><br />The solution can therefore not be based on the same false premises which lead to the problem. For Muslims, wanting to escape from the bondage of secular concepts, a complete rethink is required.<br /><br />Having been disarmed, dispossessed of land and deprived of sound Islamic education, it is difficult for the Muslim Ummah to find its feet. Some individuals or groups may be more fortunate in being able to limit the effects of the system around them, especially those living in rural areas, however for most Muslims living in cities this is extremely difficult. Since our scholars, mostly bought or blindfolded, have let us down, we need to rely on our own resources and mutual support. In attempting to do so, paradoxically, we depend on the very structures provided by the system which we are trying to evade or escape: the internet, smart phones, digital payment methods etc. Alternatives, such as barter trading, are limited to a locality. Resolving this contradiction appears an almost impossible task and must be given high priority. <br /><br />In economy, the debt- and interest-based exploitative system must be replaced with a charitable system of mutual support. For decades already, Muslims have tried to compete on the market place of financial instruments and derivatives, looking for novel legalistic interpretations to make the haram halal, such as alleged Islamic mortgages which are usually more expensive than others available from high street banks. If standard mortgages are taking advantage of the need of the poor, then “Islamic mortgages” do so to an even greater degree by charging them even more overall. The prophet of Islam was not sent as a lawyer or accountant, he was sent with justice. <br /><br />Never before in known human history has there been so much mass slaughter as since the advent of industrialised "civilisation". Contrary to history teaching, these global wars were engineered by a hitherto hidden power elite who used interest of a means to manipulate the economies of the world and enslave its people and used wars to consolidate their power. War and interest are inextricably linked.<br /><br />A sound analysis of a problem or correct diagnosis of a disease is a mandatory requirement prior to prescribing a course of treatment. It does not mean that a treatment is readily available or even that a cure exists or will be found. Yet, once a problem is known, solutions tend to present themselves over time.<br /></p>Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-20762629888054074682020-05-16T11:27:00.001+01:002020-05-17T19:58:29.294+01:00Foam of the sea<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000040; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Thauban reported that the
messenger of Allah said: <i>"It is near that the nations will call one
another against you just as the eaters call one another to their dishes."
Somebody asked: "Is this because we will be few in numbers that day?"
He said: "Nay, but that day <b>you shall be numerous, but you will be like
the foam of the sea</b>, and Allah will take the fear of you away from your
enemies and will place weakness into your hearts." Somebody asked:
"What is this weakness?" He said: "The <b>love of the world and
the dislike of death</b>."</i> (Abu Daud) </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000040; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">There can be little doubt that
the prophet, peace be with him, was talking about <b>us</b>. </span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000040; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">In verse 6 of Surah al-Hujurat, Allah admonishes
us: <i>“</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #000040; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">O</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">h
you believers, if a sinner comes to you with information, <b>verify it before
you afflict people in ignorance and then regret</b> what you have done.”</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We
did not pay heed. We placed our trust in the sinners and took their word for
the truth without further verification. We closed mosques, even the Kaabah, cancelled
Friday prayers and Tarawih, and contemplated cancelling Hajj, because they told
us that we were in grave danger and might die. The love of the world and
dislike of death made us abandon our religion wholesale. Whereas this world is
temporary and death is certain, lockdown or not, as the Qur’an tells us in
verse 78 of Surah An-Nisa’: <i>“Wherever you are death will reach you even if
you were in fortified towers…”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">According
to official statistics just over 200 people have died with (<b>not from</b>)
Covid-19 (292 in the whole of Saudi Arabia). That’s about 25 per week. During Hajj
about 1700 people die of heat exhaustion or heat stroke (in a single week!), so
based on those figures we should never have allowed Hajj in the first place,
for such a large gathering in such a hot country is almost ten times more
dangerous than the new Corona virus.</span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">What has happened to our scholars? What has
happened to our leaders? It has become evident that they are no different from
the secular scientific advisers and political leaders and peddle the same
untruths about the unprecedented dangers from a virus hyped up by media
propaganda, by the very people whose news or information we were meant to
verify, knowing from their track record that they are immoral and sinful. Our
scholars and leaders can no longer be trusted to guide us.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000040; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Abu Hurairah reported that
whilst the prophet, Allah blessed him and granted him peace, was talking, a
Bedouin came to him and asked: <i>"When will the hour come to pass?"
He replied: "Wait for the hour when <b>trust will be destroyed</b>."
He asked, how it would be destroyed, and he said: "Wait for the hour <b>when
the rule will be entrusted to those who don't deserve it</b>."</i>
(Bukhari).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000040; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">In verse 57 of Surah Hud, Allah warns: <i>“</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Then if you
turn away, then I have already conveyed what I was sent to you with, <b>and my
Lord will replace you with another people</b> and you will not harm Him at all,
for my Lord is keeper of everything.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span><span style="color: #000040; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">And in verse 38 of Surah Muhammad: <i>“…</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">and if you turn
away He will replace you with a different people <b>who will not be like you</b>.”
</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We
have experienced a Ramadan like no other in Muslim history where our mosques
and the Kaabah have been placed into isolation. We are just over two months away
from Hajj season. If the Muslims of today do not reclaim their heritage and God-given rights
and over-rule those who have destroyed their trust, may Allah hasten His
promise and raise amongst us people who will restore justice.</span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: small; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Abdullah
ibn Mas’ud narrated that the prophet Muhammad, peace be with him, said: </span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“If
only one day of this world remained, Allah would lengthen that day till He
raised up in it a man who belongs to my family, whose name is like my name and
whose father's name is like my father's name, who will fill the earth with
equity and justice as it has been filled with oppression and tyranny”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">. (Abu Daud)</span></span></span></div>
Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-15326169447766379362020-04-22T20:21:00.003+01:002020-04-22T21:04:49.740+01:00The Crown has no Clothes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
By now, over a month into "lockdown", more people are beginning to speak out that the cure is worse than the disease. But hardly anybody seems to have figured out that the cure is in fact the disease. We have been made to surrender three fundamental human rights to governments who declared an unprecedented state of emergency world-wide on the recommendation of an unelected international body, the World Health Organisation: freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and, to a greater degree, freedom of speech. Because anything contradicting the official narrative is dismissed as harmful fake news and censored accordingly.<br />
<br />
We have given up those freedoms out of the fear of dying of a disease we were told was as infectious and deadly as none before. To reinforce the message, we are bombarded with figures in an endless television "news" advertising campaign which sustains the largest ever social experiment conducted in modern history. And the economic fall-out of the exercise is such that people will doubtless die, lots of them. But as of today, 22 April, the global death toll of people who died "with the virus", i.e. in whose death the virus might have been at least a contributory cause (not people who have positively found to have died "of the virus") stands at 182,114. Looked at in isolation, this is, of course, a large amount of people, more than a medium-sized town. But this figure has to be looked at in relation to a world population of almost 8 billion (approx. 7,779,550,000 as of today). And today alone, with, as I am writing this, only three quarters of a twenty-four hour complete, a total of 130,000 people have died on the globe. When the day has completed, this number will have reached almost 175,000 individuals, in other words, almost as many as have died with (not of) Corona virus during more than the last quarter. The number of new births, by the way, is twice as much, so the world population is still steadily growing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DSn7MnY7UM/XqCWOmZCrzI/AAAAAAAADq8/ZoQIxhZsvh4ZGBP77NmUix9pJo-poQHcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot_2020-04-22%2BWorldometer%2B-%2Breal%2Btime%2Bworld%2Bstatistics%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="414" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DSn7MnY7UM/XqCWOmZCrzI/AAAAAAAADq8/ZoQIxhZsvh4ZGBP77NmUix9pJo-poQHcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot_2020-04-22%2BWorldometer%2B-%2Breal%2Btime%2Bworld%2Bstatistics%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://worldometers.info/">Worldometers.info</a> gives a running count of what is going on in the world as far as statistics are concerned. 18 million people have already died this year, in the very same period during which 180,000 died of this dreadful virus. This means, the virus accounted for a mere 1% of deaths, the rest being attributable to other communicable diseases (4 million), cancer (2.5 million), smoking (1.5 million), alcohol (770,000), HIV (520,000), traffic accidents (420,000), suicide (330,000), malnutrition (300,000), malaria (300,000), seasonal flu (150,000) and mothers dying in child birth (95,000) to name just a few. In other words, the unprecedented virus has killed only about twice as many people as there were mothers dying during child birth, and only slightly more than the seasonal flu, but significantly less than traffic accidents, alcohol or smoking or even suicide. And these killed that many people every year, day in and day out, yet we didn't stop living or surrendered our freedoms. If there was an argument for banning people from leaving their homes, then traffic accidents would be a more powerful one than Covid 19. As an aside, there were more than 13 billion abortions world-wide this year, yet the world population, as already mentioned, continues to grow.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWKmCNPyji0/XqCWYfrRsZI/AAAAAAAADrA/kRYYN3FQsUovqEeK9Bh171sxDaJ8b9xawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot_2020-04-22%2BWorldometer%2B-%2Breal%2Btime%2Bworld%2Bstatistics%25281%2529%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="611" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWKmCNPyji0/XqCWYfrRsZI/AAAAAAAADrA/kRYYN3FQsUovqEeK9Bh171sxDaJ8b9xawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot_2020-04-22%2BWorldometer%2B-%2Breal%2Btime%2Bworld%2Bstatistics%25281%2529%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a></div>
So how have we been so easily fooled into compliance? The power of advertising. Death written across TV screens and public monitors from early morning till late at night. Subliminal "Stay at home" messages everywhere we care to look. Fear, a powerful tool of control, being spread far and wide, and people, afraid to die, desperately looking for a cure to a disease that is hardly out there and a solution to an engineered problem. And, of course, before we were all put under house arrest, we were already conditioned and isolated, real friends replaced with facebook ones, social gatherings replaced with social media, everybody on their own with their smart phone, which they will now willingly allow to be used as a tracking device.<br />
<br />
In Hans Christian Anderson's tale of The Emperor's New Clothes, the tailors' cunning trick only works because everybody in society has been conditioned not to challenge the established order and each, worried about themselves, goes along with the pretence. The same happens in this tale of deception and hype woven out of an imaginary plague visiting every house in the form of the evasive but ever-so persuasive Corona (Crown) virus. There are all the official news outlets singing from the same hymn sheet. There are politicians, professors and scientists preaching the danger of interacting with fellow human beings, and there is the co-opted opposition, which talks about lab-created viruses or even 5G-induced illness (and I am not belittling the dangers of 5G as another tracking and control tool), akin to somebody, in the fairy tale, who would challenge the tailors (or magicians) not by pointing out that they had not woven any cloth at all, but by protesting that the cloth they had woven was not of pure silk as they claimed, but of coarse cotton, that they cheated the Emperor knowingly in order to profit from their trade - thereby also perpetuating the myth.<br />
<br />
And unlike Moses, who exposed the magicians' tricks for what they were, today's Muslims are also part of the fabric of the Dajjal (false messiah, anti-christ) society: they are pleased to point out that quarantine was an Islamic invention (and so it was, but to deal with, for example, the plague, not with a media-created threat), and so were vaccines (no need therefore, to probe into what they contain and whether they might be more powerful in reducing the growing world population through inadvertent but intentional sterilisation effects, provided they are accepted large-scale or can be made mandatory). Not a whisper from Muslim "leaders" when told to shut mosques, cancel Friday prayers, do without congregational Tarawih prayers this Ramadan and potentially forego the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Kaabah has even been provided with a triple "face mask" in case it might get infected, pushing worshippers further and further back and away from it and towards the manifestations of the Bedouin complex of erecting tall buildings, which the prophet Muhammad spoke of as one of the signs of the last days, including what looks like the golden horn of the devil at the top of the Saudi version of the Big Ben clock tower, which was foretold to be elevated in the Najd, a tribute to Baal, the money god, the golden calf.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kICHO3U6HUc/XqCY5boN_zI/AAAAAAAADrY/T-iPXS_ZUwwVRxJhHCh2HTYovEiePz9xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kaabah-sealed-off.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="287" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kICHO3U6HUc/XqCY5boN_zI/AAAAAAAADrY/T-iPXS_ZUwwVRxJhHCh2HTYovEiePz9xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/kaabah-sealed-off.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wG23qM5B8gg/XqCXE0wa2lI/AAAAAAAADrQ/VUdhxFD_zYopLSgWMY8y7QbMQWVnM27hgCEwYBhgL/s1600/2-image-Makkah-Royal-Clock-Tower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wG23qM5B8gg/XqCXE0wa2lI/AAAAAAAADrQ/VUdhxFD_zYopLSgWMY8y7QbMQWVnM27hgCEwYBhgL/s320/2-image-Makkah-Royal-Clock-Tower.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
The man-made virus crisis may ease up (it is said to have peaked) and we will be told that it wasn't as bad as expected because "social distancing" worked so well. We will be sold tracking and vaccines by the same media which scared us half to death with this never-seen-before disease. The economic effects will last for years to come, many will die of starvation, unemployment and dependency on hand-outs will have risen, many small and medium-sized businesses will have gone to the wall, even some larger ones, creating more monopolies and concentrating more power in the hands of a few families running the banking system. Governments will have got even deeper into debt in order to help their wounded economies, and instead of issuing the necessary funds, they will borrow them from banks which, in turn, create them out of thin air. For this is another Emperor's New Clothes story, that banks lend out deposits. Who on earth has so much wealth that it is more than all the governments of the world, or rather, all the people of the world, can pay off in decades? The wealth does not exist. The money is created by book entry and backed up by an empty promise. And in the process, we have all been enslaved. For some time, some of us were bought out with a measure of luxury and entertainment. Now we are also imprisoned. The next phase, I guess, will be even less benign. Apologies for being bleak in outlook, but until somebody pulls the veneer of this charade and points at the emperor's nakedness, there is little hope for change. As for Muslims, we have plenty of preachers still, some more honest than others, but I don't see any leaders.Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-54157594165220142922019-06-30T10:06:00.000+01:002019-06-30T10:06:07.362+01:00Down to Earth - Video series about Islamic concepts<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Most textbooks on
Islam tell us that Islam is a way of life. The briefest of reality checks will
tell us that Muslims’ way of life is today shaped by a plethora of other influences
with Islam as an add-on. This apparent discrepancy has renegaded the notion of
true Islam into either the past as a praised but lost historic example from the
days of the prophet and his companions or into the future as a utopian dream of
a return to the golden age “when the Mahdi comes”. Neither offers much solace
or hope for the Muslim struggling with the here and now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In a previous book
(Surrendering Islam, co-authored with David Livingstone whose more recent book
Transhumanism is an important contribution to show how pagan religious ideas
disproportionately shaped the politics of our age), I have shown how we arrived
at this unfortunate state of affairs. As a historical treatise it examined the
reasons for having lost our glorious past and is a tale of betrayal. But it
does not show the way out. In the attempt to find solutions, serious rethinking
is required, namely to deal with ideas or concepts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Concepts are that
which is conceived, initially in the mind, then put into practice; hence the
term covers both abstract ideas and concrete plans or intentions. The prophetic
saying that “Works are by intention” springs to mind. If the intention is all
wrong, the works cannot bear fruit, no matter how diligently they are
performed. This is exactly the problem of today’s Islamic reality. Without clear
concepts about what Islam represents and aims for, all the effort at Islamic
revival is at best misguided and at worst counter-productive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Conceptual thinking
might eventually lead us to a solution to Islam’s ineffectiveness vis-à-vis the
dominant secular worldview by re-examining the deeper and wider meaning of
Islam. Conceptualising Islam means to move away from the narrow constraints of
mere practices and to discover the underlying purpose. Naturally, Islam being a
divinely inspired, or rather ordained, way of life, not a man-made system, such
a road of discovery must always be guided by the teachings of both the Qur’an
and the prophet. Yet, at the same time, it must not get stuck in the
environment in which the Qur’an was first taught. Early Muslim scholars well
understood this need for adaptiveness. Sadly, most of today’s Muslim scholars
are only apt at passing on knowledge, not wisdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In trying to re-establish
Islam as a living concept, we need to deal with paradigms. The concept remains
true, but the paradigms change. Paradigms are patterns or models of how things
are, theoretical frameworks within which we operate. They are derived from
concepts. One definition of paradigm is that of</span> <span class="oneclick-link">a</span> <span class="oneclick-link">framework</span> <span class="oneclick-link">containing</span> <span class="oneclick-link">the</span> <span class="oneclick-link">basic</span> <span class="oneclick-link">assumptions,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">ways</span> <span class="oneclick-link">of</span> <span class="oneclick-link">thinking,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">and</span> <span class="oneclick-link">methodology</span> <span class="oneclick-link">commonly</span>
<span class="oneclick-link">accepted</span> <span class="oneclick-link">by</span> <span class="oneclick-link">members</span> <span class="oneclick-link">of</span> <span class="oneclick-link">a</span> <span class="oneclick-link">specific</span> <span class="oneclick-link">community. Both concepts and paradigms are therefore ways
of making sense of the world around us. Concepts deal with the larger picture
and paradigms with the interactions within a given framework. To benefit us,
the two must agree, which is exactly the problem of why Islam does not “fit in”
in the globalised society around us no matter how hard we try to adapt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="oneclick-link">The key problem of Muslims today
is that we are trying to hold on to an Islamic paradigm whilst having willingly
surrendered to non-Islamic (secular) concepts. Examples for these are
heliocentricity, relativism or evolution. We inertly resent some of their
teachings, because they challenge the divine origin and destiny of all that is,
and that is exactly what they intend to do. Yet we have become unable to assess
their merits and shortcomings since we have accepted “science” as the benchmark
of truth, adding a little bit of “Islamisation” at the frills, instead of
measuring its claims against the yardstick of revelation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="oneclick-link">Like Moses, we have grown up in
the dazzling world of Pharaoh’s magicians. Like Moses, we are suspicious of its
pronouncements. But unlike Moses, we are unable to challenge their magic since
we try to compete with them or beat them at their own game rather than expose
and diminish the falsehood of their imposing achievement. Modern-day magic is
not conjured by sticks and ropes, it is conveyed through words and images.
Words are powerful, be they those of revelation or those of deception. Yet the
two are not equal – one swallows up the other. Beating the swindler at his own
game, therefore, is impossible and merely turns us all into pretenders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="oneclick-link">Conceptual thinking is what Allah
gave Adam as a distinguishing gift over other creation. He taught man language
in order to both comprehend and express concepts. The quest for meaning is thus
ingrained and essential to human nature and where it is abandoned, man sinks to
the level of or below that of the animal kingdom. Evolution teaches that man is
part of the animal kingdom, stripping him of his dignity. Neither is he central
to creation, being a mere accidental development from lower forms, nor is the
earth he inhabits central, being a mere rock floating in space. The secular
worldview permits worshipping God as a fiction of one’s imagination. What it
cannot tolerate is to elevate Him to the absolute supremacy a believer is
demanded to afford Him, because in the secular mind-set the existence or
non-existence of God is non-consequential.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Truth is absolute
and cannot be divided. The claim that there may be many truths is aberrant mind
game defying basic logic. Whatever is true cannot, at the same time, be false,
hence the opposite of an established truth cannot, at the same time, also be
true. Relativism, therefore, is an erosion of truth. The common accusation
hurled by secularists at believers is that they are fanatics. Yet, so are the
secularists, as neither are prepared to compromise their religion. Either is
only willing to tolerate the other as long as he doesn’t challenge their
supremacy. Thus, the status quo is not only a result of ideas but also of
power.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Power can be taken
or given. Sometimes, power feels the need to be justified, at other times it
views this as a weakness. However, power does not exist in a vacuum. It has
both a source and a purpose. We need to understand where a given power is
derived from and what it aims to achieve. Hence, simply wanting to usurp power in
the hope that this will change everything is a fallacy. The path to empowerment
is through education and, again, particularly through understanding concepts. Reviving
those concepts should, I hope, lead to empowerment of us Muslims, first
individually, then collectively. Entering battle unequipped is suicidal.
Seeking a confrontation with the wrong opponent equally so. Knowledge is a
source of power, and by that I mean knowledge of both the truth and how it has
been covered up. Wisdom is the art of applying knowledge correctly within a
given situation, taking account of all circumstances. Knowledge can be learned.
Wisdom needs to be acquired through experience. Experience is gained from both
success and failure. Too much success tends to make people careless, too much
failure, on the other hand, despondent. The latter very much describes our
present reality. After too many a lost battle, it becomes necessary to retreat,
regroup and go back to the drawing board.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With a view to
kick-starting this process I have recorded a series of short talks on Islamic
concepts to be screened on my Youtube channel and called them “Down to Earth”.
The first of those talks (episode 1: being grounded, staying focused) is
available <a href="https://youtu.be/hOn4yfvaZ2I" target="_blank">here</a>. My hope is that it will move the discussion from the “niceties”
of being a Muslim, to the substantial, and that this in turn might lead to a
genuine revival of Islamic thought in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Stay tuned.</span></div>
Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-85770701838468615532019-03-10T11:26:00.001+00:002019-03-10T11:42:20.104+00:00Shamima Begum – state abuse and victimisation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Politics in our so-called democracy has descended to such a
low level of shameless impudence that the voting public no longer care and any
serious commentator will find his words wasted in a media in bed with power. Nonetheless,
I venture to weigh in with my opinion on the topic of “jihadi brides”, so
symptomatic of how most of the civilised values – and the principles they were
built on – have been cast away or turned upside down in the post-colonial new
grab for territory and control. The media attention brought to the case of this
so unfortunate teenage woman who has lost three of her children, with the last death
directly attributable to the decision of home secretary “uncle Tom” Sajid Javid
to revoke her British citizenship, is full of copy-selling semantics and exotic
drama but fails to realise that it is dealing with a prime example of how the “war
on terror” has corrupted us all. To the gutter press, she is an “IS bride” who
is now somehow paying back for the exotic holiday she went on when the rest of
the British public had to slave away to pay their mortgage. In reality, she is
no bride at all and not going to get married any time soon – she is a casualty
of another illegal war our government ventured into and traumatised by the
experience for which she can hardly be held responsible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new mantra of regime change has changed international
politics forever, from Iraq via Libya and Syria to Venezuela. Western
governments have attributed to themselves the right to decide who should govern
a given country, rather than leaving that decision to that country’s people,
and out goes all the hype about democracy. A new twist is to try the
non-military approach to undermining sovereignty, and once the genie is out of
the bottle it can’t be put back. When Juan Guaido declared himself president by
virtue of the backing he received from a superpower having long wanted to make
Venezuela more subservient again, and when all the “allied” or bought countries
of the world followed suit in recognising him, he set a trend for similar
imposters in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Will post-Brexit Britain be
next to have a self-declared prime minister, backed by China maybe?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In trying to topple the legitimate government of Syria – and
the question is not whether it is popular or liked by everybody, but whether it
is legitimate; it is fair to say that the majority of British people do not
like Donald Trump or Theresa May either – the US-led alliance actively promoted
and armed rebel militias to bring civil war to the country, and this, though
not openly admitted, included ISIS who killed their victims, mostly Muslims,
with US weapons and ammunition. And to hide the dirty game from their publics
at home, the state-sponsored and controlled Western media (bribery works just as
well as censorship!) did not expose that a proxy war between the US, Russia and
China was being fought in numerous theatres of war from Afghanistan to Syria,
but elevated the IS brand in order to turn this murderous mess into a righteous
fight against those barbarous Muslims. On some impressible minds, however, like
that of schoolgirl Shamima, the propaganda had a damaging effect, scarring her
for life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lives of many British teenagers, Muslim or not, tend to
be quite bleak, with boredom at school and few prospects afterwards, and so
they look for distraction, excitement and adventure. Some find it in partying,
alcohol and drugs, others get sucked into the ever growing gang culture. Too
many young lives are destroyed in this way, yet whilst we punish those who were
caught actually committing crimes, we tend to think that they still deserve
being rescued and rehabilitated. Likewise for those youngsters who, for the
very same reasons, joined the armed forces young and foolishly, unaware that
they would be sent away as cannon fodder in wars which had no meaning to them.
To those who come back traumatised, even if they committed atrocities or
participated in torture, like in Abu Ghraib, we offer counselling and hope to
integrate them back into society, although the attempts often fail as indicated
by the high suicide rate amongst ex-servicemen. Yet here is a young British
teenager whom we want to wash our hands off, because she joined the wrong gang,
and it is so much easier to blame her instead of admitting to our own failings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her father humiliatingly apologised for her actions, but
neither he nor her, were responsible for the trends outside their control which
shaped their lives. As a young girl she went to a British school, duly
inspected by Ofsted. Does the school shoulder its responsibility for failing
her? I have not heard an apology from either her head teacher or the local
education authority. Will we get an apology from Prevent, that failed
anti-terrorism and anti-radicalisation strategy beloved by the home secretary?
After all, if the policy of spying on Muslims wholesale and alienating that
community and breaking down the dialogue between them and others had not failed
so utterly, this girl might not have been radicalised under their radar and
gone abroad. Instead we are pouring more money into strategies which have been
proven to cause more harm than good. And when the 15-year old travelled to
Syria on a British passport, do not the UK Border Agency share some blame who
are so obsessed with the politically charged topic of immigration that they don’t
give a hoot who leaves their shores and where to? And the security services?
Being heavily involved in Syria, they would surely be aware of naïve young
girls flocking into that country to serve in a lost cause? Remember, whenever
there is a terrorist attack on European soil we subsequently learn that the
perpetrator “was previously known to security services”. But they don’t care to
save individuals setting out to harm themselves – the security and
anti-terrorism industry is big business, and keeping the threat alive is
certainly more lucrative when it comes to job security in the services they
work for. So let them go to kill and get killed in order to become an example
of the dangers we face! Yes, this is the age of cynicism and prevention being
better than cure is not part of the equation when the cure (this includes the
privatised prison system) pays good money.</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So the government, busy with being the Brexit-joke
of Europe, opts for the easy route. No need to admit having, motivated by greed
and inflated ego, made a mess which is coming back to haunt us or to take
responsibility for the results and promise lasting changes: let’s just blame it
on the victim and feed her to the dogs. And in doing so, another of those
Western values we could once be proud of goes out of the window: British
citizenship is no longer worth the paper it is written upon, for the state can
disown you whenever you become a burden. And this is the fault Shamima’s father
should maybe admit to being culpable of: having thought that British
citizenship was sacred and worth sacrificing so much for, including his own
children. Had they not been socialised in the UK, he most likely would not have
had to see his daughter suffer and his grandchildren die.</span>Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-17109861614430697962018-07-29T16:37:00.001+01:002018-07-29T16:37:25.060+01:00Zionism and Judaism – two sides of the same coin?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Critics of Zionism and its excesses are usually keen to
stress that their criticism is not aimed at Judaism as a religion but at
Zionism as a racist and supremacist political movement. This claim of the two
being diametrically opposed to each other is eloquently expressed by Hajo Meyer
in a video interview with <span style="color: black;">David Zlutnick</span>,
quoted approvingly at electronic intifada<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>:
“<span style="color: black;">Zionism and Judaism are contrary to each other.
Because Judaism is universal and humane, and Zionism is exactly the opposite.
It is very narrow, very nationalistic, racist, colonialist, and all this. There
is no ‘National Judaism’. There is Zionism and there is Judaism, and they are
completely different.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, this distinction is not always as clear-cut as its
supporters would like to assert. Rather, Zionism is a product of Judaism and
would not exist without it. In some ways, their relationship is like that of a
worn-out marriage in which the partners are no longer particularly attracted to
each other, yet do not wish to divorce due to the benefits of retaining the
union. Or, maybe more aptly, Zionism is the prodigal son of Judaism who often
embarrasses his parents, yet they cannot get themselves to disown him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For sure, there are critics of Zionism within Judaism.
Amongst them Neturei Karta, a Hassidic Jewish movement who take issue, however,
not with the idea of Zion or Jerusalem as the centre of the world but with the premature
timing of the Zionist project: “the Torah forbids us to end the exile and
establish a state and army until the Holy One, blessed He, in His Glory and
Essence will redeem us.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
Of the many others who think the Zionist project “unwise”, Edward Corrigan
gives a long list.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a> But altogether there are
very few Jews outspoken enough to expose the bigotry of the Zionist project
publicly, such as Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, Israel Shahak or Israel
Shamir, and on the whole they are disliked and ostracised by their fellow Jews
due to their apparent lack of family loyalty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In many ways, Zionism is a natural extension of Judaism,
restoring to the wandering Jews the notion of a homeland coupled with political
influence. Its bold supremacism mirrors the ordinary Jewish elitism derived
from a self-perception as the Chosen People. The Talmud as the authoritative
Jewish interpretation of scripture abounds in differentiation between Jews and
Gentiles, with the former being given clear preference over the latter. A
bizarre aberration of this attitude occurs when secular Zionists want to claim
God’s special favours whilst at the same time seeing no need to believe in Him
or act upon His commandments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Jews speak out against injustices visited upon non-Jews
in Palestine, they frequently don’t do so because of a belief that Palestinians
should have the same human rights as Israeli Jews – hardly any of them supports
a single-state solution with equal rights for everyone –, but because they
sense that the unbridled aggressive arrogance of the protagonists of Zionism
will damage their overall reputation and standing in a world where Jews still
remain a minority in many places and depend on the good-will of their majority
host communities. They are also worried about the moral fall-out regarding the
future legitimacy of the Zionist state. In the words of Uri Avnery: “What will
be seared into the consciousness of the world will be the image of Israel as a
blood-stained monster, ready at any moment to commit war crimes and not
prepared to abide by any moral restraints. This will have severe consequences
for our long-term future, our standing in the world, our chance of achieving
peace and quiet. In the end, this war is a crime against ourselves too, a crime
against the State of Israel.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a>
Naturally, whilst being a critic of Israeli military tactics, he opposes calls
for a boycott of the country in response.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whilst the dream of Zion is as old as the diaspora and there
were earlier attempts to exploit Jewish identification with the Holy Land for
the benefit of British Imperial designs against the threat of continental
progress under Napoleon, Theodor Herzl and Benjamin Disraeli are recognised as
the founders of political Zionism as a distinct movement.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a>
Herzl is also said to have been the original author of the “Protocols of the
Elders of Zion”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a>. The Zionists aspirations
for political power were not immediately shared widely amongst European Jews
and their ideas of setting up an exclusive Jewish state were initially
ridiculed and rejected, but gradually gained currency, not least due to waves
of anti-Semitism purposefully promoted and aided by the Zionists.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a>
In his “Diaries”, Herzl noted: “The anti-Semites will become our most
dependable friends and the anti-Semitic countries our allies”. And Israel’s
first prime minister David Ben-Gurion went on record saying<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">: “<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="top"><span style="color: black;">If I knew that it would be possible to save
all the children in Germany by bringing them over to England, and only half of
them to Israel, then I would opt for the second alternative. For we must weigh not
only the life of these children but also the history of the people of Israel.</span></a><span style="color: black;">”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a>, showing his open contempt
for Jewish lives in furthering Zionist political ambitions. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neither Herzl nor Disraeli, or any of the prominent Zionists
of the founding years of the state of Israel, were defenders of the Judaism of
the Torah. But that does not mean they weren’t proper Jews. Most gentiles do
not realise that the God of the Bible is not the only God holding sway over
Jews in their synagogues. During their Babylonian captivity, Jews also learned
the dark arts of occult mysticism and magic which they developed into the
Kabbalah, in which all reality emerges from Zion, and the God of their belief
system is no other than the antagonist of the Biblical deity – Lucifer.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a>
He is the free spirit who liberates man from the shackles imposed by God and
the restrictions of a moral code, thus enabling man to become god-like himself
through enlightenment. It is this other god in whose service Jews became
prominently involved in freemasonry with its references to the temple of
Solomon in Jerusalem and in revolutionary movements as well as licentious movements
to undermine public morality, such as the one preached by Sabbatai Zevi. And it
is this aspect of Judaism, the racist elitism without further need for God and
His commandments, which gave birth to political secular Zionism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This mindset also accounts for Israel’s lack of restraint in
suppressing actual and perceived opposition. The most recent assaults on Gaza
were notable by their brutality with the full weight of a sophisticated and
well equipped army having been brought down indiscriminately on a defenceless
population. But they were no isolated occurrences as earlier massacres, such as
Shabra and Shatila, testify. In these incidents we see the destructive combination
of superiority complex and lack of moral constraint by which Zionism is so
often characterised.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whilst one might expect that Torah Jews, who may well be
repulsed by such atrocities, would see reason not only to distance themselves
from the worst of these crimes against humanity but outright disown their
Kabbalistic brethren, this rarely happens, because Judaism is not merely seen
as a religion but also as a race which they all share in spite of their
differences in beliefs and practice. The chosen people thus are no longer
chosen because of religious observance but because of the superiority of their
bloodline. The accusation of Israel being a racist apartheid regime is
therefore not merely polemic but supported by the very foundations of the state
of Israel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This multiple personality complex of Jewish identity lies at
the heart of why such apparently disparate people continue to stick together in
the face of criticism, however justified. It is this unity which does not
permit us to separate Zionism and Judaism as distinct, albeit interrelated,
systems. Amongst themselves, Jews may dispute the wisdom or otherwise of the
Zionist project, but vis-à-vis the wider world, generally perceived as hostile,
they are two sides of the same coin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we perceive the origins of Zionism in this deviant
occult strand of Judaism, we also gain an understanding of such apparent
contradictions as both Herzl’s and Hitler’s almost identical beliefs on racial
purity and shared love for Wagner<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a>,
the collusion between the Nazi and Zionist movements in the creation of
anti-semitism and transfer of Jewish people from Europe to Palestine<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a>,
and the hand of British foreign policy in recruiting both of these charismatic
proponents of their respective racist ideologies from within the intellectual
left-over of the collapsed and decadent Hapsburg empire in Vienna for the
purpose of bringing about the new dawn of global domination by Britain in an
age where steel and oil threatened the natural advantage of the hitherto
unrivalled sea power. Zionism always has been and remains a very British
god-child and a testimony to the influence of Sabbatean Judaism on the British
ruling classes. This is perfectly epitomised in Blake’s hymn Jerusalem having
almost become a rival national anthem for the United Kingdom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hence, in the metaphor of Zionism and Judaism as two sides
of the same coin we find that the Zionist side of the coin has become the more
recognisable one and the Judaic side has worn away to a large extent. Or,
returning to the prodigal son similitude, the son has established himself
firmly, and it no longer matters whether his parents disown him or not. No
longer dependent on them, he now exerts his influence upon them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the course of history, Jews in the diaspora have allowed
their religious identification as the people of the Torah to be eroded and
replaced by a racial identification of the Jewish people. This racial
perception of themselves strengthened the occult Kabbalistic elements within
their ranks, for whom blood and racial purity have always been more important
than scripture. Jews no longer represented a faith but became a nation, and,
arguably, a nation needed a state. To the disappointment of nostalgics like
Neturei Karta, this nation state could dispense with the need for a future
messiah. All that mattered was the here and now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of the indifference of Jews around the world to the
abuses by those who claim to represent them, Zionism has grown out of control
like a cancer which is not being reigned in by religious exponents of Judaism
(nor by the Western powers who sponsored its growth). If Judaism really wants
to be universal and humane and wants to be respected as different to its Zionist
offshoot, then non-Zionist Jews must stop turning a blind eye and replace their
complacent toleration of Israel’s excesses with a clear denunciation of
Israel’s racism as having no place in their midst. This does not necessarily
mean the need to call for Israel as a state and political entity having to be
dismantled, but would require support for a single-state solution where each
citizen, Jewish or not, has identical civil rights and duties. Obviously, this
means the end of a purely Jewish state in reality and its transformation into
an ordinary secular state with Jewish roots. Those who find this anathema
support the myth of Jewish supremacy and, in spite of their protestations, can
only be described as covert Zionists.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[Originally published in "Blood and Shekels" edited by Troy Southgate, Black Front Press 2018]</div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2014/08/zionism-nothing-judaism-holocaust-survivor-dr-hajo-meyer/">http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2014/08/zionism-nothing-judaism-holocaust-survivor-dr-hajo-meyer/</a>
accessed 03/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.nkusa.org/AboutUs/Zionism/opposition.cfm">http://www.nkusa.org/AboutUs/Zionism/opposition.cfm</a>
accessed 03/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/04/jewish-critics-of-zionism-and-of-israels-treatment-of-the-palestinians/">http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/04/jewish-critics-of-zionism-and-of-israels-treatment-of-the-palestinians/</a>
accessed 2/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.rense.com/general84/divisions.htm">http://www.rense.com/general84/divisions.htm</a>
accessed 03/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2009/09/uri-avnery-against-the-israeli-boycott/">http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2009/09/uri-avnery-against-the-israeli-boycott/</a>
accessed 03/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a>
For an extensive expose of the British origins of Zionism see Mark Burdman, How
Britain’s Biggest Racists and Financiers Created Zionism, <a href="https://archive.org/stream/HowBritainsBiggestRacistsAndFinanciersCreatedZionism-ByMarkBurdman/HowBritainsBiggestRacistsAndFinanciersCreatedZionism-ByMarkBurdman_djvu.txt">https://archive.org/stream/HowBritainsBiggestRacistsAndFinanciersCreatedZionism-ByMarkBurdman/HowBritainsBiggestRacistsAndFinanciersCreatedZionism-ByMarkBurdman_djvu.txt</a>
accessed 3/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a>
David Pidcock, Satanic Voices Ancient and Modern, Mustaqim 1992</div>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a>
Francis Nicosia, Zionism and Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, Cambridge
University Press 2008; Joseph Massad, Zionism, anti-Semitism and colonialism <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212249122912381.html%20accessed%203/05/2015">http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212249122912381.html
accessed 3/05/2015</a>; Zionism is also responsible for destroying the mostly
amicable relationships between Jewish and Arab communities in the Muslim world,
in some documented cases even by orchestrating terror against Jews, such as the
1950 Baghdad bombing campaign designed to get Iraqi Jews to migrate to Israel,
see “Jews in the Arab World” in <a href="http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/03/zionism-and-anti-semitism/#identifier_18_42824">http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/03/zionism-and-anti-semitism/#identifier_18_42824</a>
accessed 4/05/2015 </div>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a>
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Ralph
Schoenman, The Hidden History of Zionism, Veritas Press 1988</span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a>
Livingstone & Bleher, Surrendering Islam, Mustaqim 2010</div>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a>
Leah Garrett, A Knight at the Opera: Heine, Wagner, Herzl, Peretz and the
legacy of Der Tannhäuser, Purdue University Press 2011; <a href="http://thinkclassical.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/is-wagner-spiritual-father-of-zionism.html">http://thinkclassical.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/is-wagner-spiritual-father-of-zionism.html</a>
accessed 3/05/2015</div>
</div>
<div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=18162006#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a>
cf. Ben Hecht, Perfidy, 1961; reprinted by Milah Press, Jerusalem, in 1997</div>
</div>
</div>
Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-34260115432979464292018-07-07T20:52:00.002+01:002018-07-26T14:32:25.067+01:00Translating the Word of God: Choices when rendering the Arabic Qur’an into “plain English”<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="right" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span dir="LTR" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In line
with the importance of the Qur’an as the sacred scripture of Muslims,
translations of the Qur’an into English are plentiful, starting with the work
of George Sale in 1734<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Koran - </span><span class="ilfuvd"><span dir="LTR">The Alcoran of Mohammed, Translated
into English immediately from the Original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes,
taken from the most approved Commentators” </span></span><span dir="LTR" style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">and
followed by another three dozen at least, penned either by orientalists or
Muslims, through the centuries to follow. Arguably the most popular amongst
Muslims in the UK is the translation of Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall “The
meaning of the Glorious Qur’an”, first published in 1930, alongside with that
of Abdullah Yusuf Ali “The meaning of the Holy Qur’an”, first published in
1934. Understandably, the language employed by either of them sounds somewhat
dated today, which can get in the way of understanding. The Qur’an describes
itself as a book of guidance, but trying to follow it in a language no longer
spoken is akin to trying to follow the instructions of your SatNav in a foreign
language. This was especially highlighted to me in my work with Muslim young
offenders who wanted to turn to the Qur’an for inspiration but found the
language barrier too great to overcome. Therefore in 2004 IDCI in Birmingham published
my “The Meaning of the Glorious Qur’an, An Explanatory Translation by Muhammad
Marmaduke Pickthall. Fully revised new modern English edition” and “The Meaning
of the Holy Qur’an, English Translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Fully revised
new modern English edition”, in which I carefully adapted the text and replaced
some of the more archaic expressions with modern ones whilst tying to remain
true to the style of the original translator. The former has since seen several
editions and has become the translation of choice for many. Yet, for me it has
always remained a compromise in that editing somebody else’s translations
brings numerous constraints. More than a decade later my own translation “The
Wise Qur’an, the Eternal book of Guidance translated into plain English” has
been published, also by IDCI Birmingham.<b> </b></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The term
“plain English” is what was represented my key objective in preparing this
translation. Many translators have in the past tried to enhance the esteem of
the Qur'an by choosing a distinguished, learned and complicated language, often
in an attempt to parallel Bible translations. The result has been that the
message was lost on the ordinary reader. Furthermore, translators have been at
pain to achieve the greatest possible accuracy. This being a worth-while
objective, even more so when dealing with the divine word, it very often
destroyed the clarity of expression as a result by keeping the translation too
literal. It is my belief that those who would like to explore the fine details
of the Qur'anic text best do so by learning Arabic as it is entirely impossible
to consistently mirror in another language the full richness and detail of the
original.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In any
case it is a fallacy that there should only be one authoritative translation
into a given other language. Since a full understanding, and thus transferring,
the complete content of a Divine text cannot be given to any human, there must
by necessity be several translations, some focusing on the meaning, some on the
literary and poetic style, for example. Furnishing another translation does not
imply that existing ones are inadequate, but simply that they are unsuitable
for the intended purpose.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">My
attempt at translating the Qur'an was therefore not a scholarly exercise, but
an effort to make its words of guidance and wisdom reach as large an audience
as possible and enable them absorb its meaning and the images it contains in a
language they can relate to as their own. The Qur’an states that it was
revealed in “clear (or plain) Arabic”. For its meaning to be transferred to
another language, in this case English, one must equally strive for the same
clarity of expression which speaks directly to the soul without requiring the
mind to engage in complicated decoding first.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">An
important condition for translating the Qur’an is that one’s own interpretation
does not overtake the wider meaning. Language is open to interpretation, and
interpretations differ in accordance with time and culture. For that reason,
the Qur’an cannot be correctly implemented without reference to the life
example of the prophet Muhammad, peace be with him, who not only transmitted
the Qur’an but also demonstrated its practicability and viability. To include
this dimension, classical writings on Tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) were
extensively consulted when preparing this translation.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Yet, one
must also avoid the mistake of making the translation of the Qur’an itself into
a commentary by substituting words in order to force their interpretation. The
Qur’an speaks for itself, and as far as possible the words and phrases chosen
by the Creator should remain unchanged. Adaptations are, however, required
where a literal translation of the Arabic sentence would violate the syntax of
the English and thus sound outlandish.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">To
illustrate the approach described above I would like to give a few examples of
the choices made when completing the translation.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">As for
clarity of expression being achieved by not adhering unnecessarily closely to
the word sequence in the original, the phrase “did you not see the water which
you drink” is appropriately rendered as “take a look at your drinking water”.
Likewise, the single letter word “wa”, meaning “and”, is often used in the same
way as a comma in English and when it occurs in a list, the repetitive
insertion of “and” will make the sentence difficult to follow.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Another
example is prepositions which differ between languages, and to use the same
preposition just to “stay close to the original” actually distorts it. Previous
English translations of the Qur’an describe the gardens of paradise “underneath
which rivers flow”, conjuring the image of some kind of sewage system. The
Arabic word “below” is used in connection with rivers because the river bed is
below the earth surface, but in English rivers flow “through” the land, since
different cultures have different concepts of space and time. Thus in English
children, for example, play “in the street”, which does not mean the inside of
it but the inside of the space between buildings which is defined by the
street. In German, on the other hand, they play “on the street”, the street
here being defined as the actual road surface. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Likewise,
when we are told in the Qur'an to travel "in" the earth, we use
"on" the earth in English.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Another
difficulty when translating between languages belonging to distant geographical
environments is that it is not always possible to use the same equivalent of a
word throughout. On the one hand, Arabic has a multitude of names for an
object, for example a camel, for which English only has one or two. On the
other hand, the reverse is also often the case, and the same Arabic word needs
to be represented by a different English word dependent on context. A “kafir”
is, for example, both the one who rejects the truth and the one who rejects the
blessings he received. In the latter case he needs to be described as
ungrateful. So in the Qur’anic statement “if you were to count the blessings of
Allah you could not enumerate them - man is unjust and ungrateful” it would be
wrong to use “disbelieving” instead.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I
avoided the word “disbelief” altogether and used “rejection” instead, because
the concept is of somebody who rejects the truth after having been exposed to
it. As for “abd”, literally a slave, I used “servant”, although man is not just
in the service of God but also owned by Him. I made this choice not only
because of the tarnished image of slavery but because it allows to retain the
correlation between the noun and the verb, so Allah’s “servant” (Abdullah) is
somebody who “serves” Him, rather than just “worships” Him, as the concept of
worship in the Qur’an is much more extensive than the English word implies.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">If this
translation were aimed exclusively at Muslims who are already familiar with key
Arabic terms, then it would be legitimate to leave many such terms in Arabic
without translating them (and such a translation has been published by Aisha
Bewley in 1999: “</span><span class="sims-lpo-header-title"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Noble Qur'an: A New Rendering of Its Meaning in
English”</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">), but because I wanted this translation to
make the Qur’an more accessible not only to Muslims but also those who have not
previously encountered the message of Islam, I decided to opt for a translation
of terms wherever possible, even if such a translation is not always adequate
to convey the complete meaning, for example, I have rendered Salah as prayer in
spite of the different associations various cultures attach to this word.
Whilst the Qur’an is the foundation of Islam, it is not possible to learn everything
about Islam exclusively from the Qur’an, less so from a translation, and an
exploration of the meanings of key Islamic terms will need to be pursued
elsewhere.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I have
made an exception from this rule of translating key technical terms of Islam in
two cases in particular: Zakat and Injil. A simple translation, like the often
used “poor tax” or “poor due”, does not do justice to the concept of Zakat
which forms the third pillar of Islam. Zakat is a specified share of surplus
wealth to be redistributed to a specified group of disadvantaged members of
society. Due to its obligatory nature it is more than charity, yet it is not a
tax, because it can, and preferably should, be given directly to the recipients
without the involvement of the state. So in this case I have left the Arabic
term without further explanation. I have also left Injil as the revelation
given to Jesus, because it is not equivalent to the Gospel, the latter representing
third party accounts about his life rather than the actual revelation he received.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">A
particular difficulty in translation is posed by idioms and metaphors. Where
there is a direct correlation, the familiar idiom should be used. For example,
the woman who untwists her thread after having spun it is, in fact, the woman
who undoes her knitting after completing it, and to cling to the literal
wording means losing the power of this well-known expression. Other idioms have
become common but are based on earlier incorrect translations, so for example,
the “camel fitting through the eye of a needle” is based on a mistranslated
Biblical metaphor. Etymologically the term “jamal” used in the Qur’an, which
also means camel, here means a thick rope, and the expression makes a lot more
sense with this meaning, so in spite of everybody having heard the camel
version, I chose to move away from it.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Finally,
there is the issue of tense: Many future events are described in the Qur’an in
the past tense, because in the knowledge of God they have already happened, and
present tense is used to convey a sense of regularity or immediacy also for
events of the past. Whether this appeared equally strange to Arab listeners at
the time of first revelation we do not know, but in order to make the text more
approachable, all those who have previously translated the Qur’an into English
have substituted those tenses with the ones one would normally expect in a
continuous narrative.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">These
are not always ideal choices. As a result of settling for one option above
another, some of the depth of the meaning of the original will be lost,
especially where the Arabic word has layers of meaning. Here, only the dominant
meaning can be conveyed, and to access the fine nuances of alternative
interpretations the reader would have to consult a book of Tafsir (exegesis).
Similarly, when legal rulings are derived from the Qur’an, these cannot be
based on a translation but require full consideration of the original wording
and its context. Where it is possible, however, to leave an ambiguity in place,
it is best to do so. A day in the Qur’anic text often means a time period
rather than a day, but this inference is also possible in English, so there is
no problem in keeping to the six “days” of creation, for example. Ultimately,
every translation of a perfect text such as the Divine revelation will be a
compromise, and I pray that I will have achieved my aim of introducing the
reader of my translation to some of the beauty of the original without
diverting from its meaning but, most of all, make it easy to read and
comprehend and allow it to speak both to the intellect and the heart.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The “Wise
Qur’an” is available from <a href="https://idci.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=78c9d28e70149384d0a0cf8ee&id=0bc7b6467d&e=b458fd59c8" target="_blank">IDCI</a> or on <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Wise-Quran-Translated-into-Plain-English-Dr-Mustaqim-Bleher-PB-14x19cm/163132635954?hash=item25fb767b32:g:YakAAOSwoudbPKxp" target="_blank">ebay</a></span><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">.</span></b></div>
Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-32106928479430532502016-07-02T21:25:00.002+01:002016-07-02T21:25:54.865+01:00Ramadan Reflections on Muslim MannerismsA time for reflection, Ramadan is also the month of community, and this is the aspect we appear to lack most. Like most aspects of Islam, Ramadan has by now been heavy commercialised with branded offers directed at individuals who are asked to compensate for the lack of genuine Islam in their lives by purchasing Islamic merchandise. Individual Muslims appear to have adopted the same consumerist attitude, expecting service provision by Muslim institutions on the one hand, and marketing their own understanding of Islam aggressively to anybody appearing to be in any way different to them. Having already succeeded in turning the general non-Muslim public of the countries in which we reside against Islam by our poor and selfish portrayal of this otherwise most convincing religion, we are now doing an equally good job of turning fellow Muslims off Islam or at least off frequenting Muslim-run venues, including, or first and foremost the mosques.<br /><br />You go to Juma prayers to endure a khutbah sermon preaching a narrow-minded message in dreadful defective English by a "sheikh" fancying himself as everybody's God-sent teacher. You might enter the mosque for nightly tarawih prayers in the hope of spiritual uplifting and leave totally deflated because you encountered some of those whose sole purpose of being there seems to pick on your dress code or the way you pray. If you chance upon going to the mosque on the 27th night of Ramadan, the most likely candidate for the auspicious laylatu-l-qadr or night of power, expecting to benefit from some extra recitation of the Qur'an, you will most likely find yourself caught up in the midst of a charity auction instead where worshippers are almost pressurised into parting with money they sometimes don't have, after all, you can pay by credit card! Should you stay at home, you won't miss out altogether if you mobile phone number is registered in a Muslim name. I received three SMS messages from the same charity begging me not to miss out on the blessings of laylatu-l-Qadr, the final one just after midnight telling me that we had entered the last third of this night and there was still a chance to give.<br /><br />Having started Ramadan at a different date than those who sent the message, this wasn't my 27th night anyway. I have written numerous times before about this issue here. For more than two decades now, the starting and ending of Ramadan has become a sad show of political allegiance. We are meant to start the lunar month based on the sighting of the moon, but we now "see" the moon based on predetermined dates like those in the Ummalqura calendar of Saudi Arabia. Arguably this takes the unpredictability - and excitement - out of major Islamic events of the year, but the justifications are dishonest to the core. Some pretend to see the moon when it cannot possibly have been there - by the same token I could open my fast early by closing the curtains and pretending the sun had set! Some claim to have a scientific formula for arriving at the most likely date for the moon to be sighted but sadly get their calculations terribly wrong due to an only cursory understanding of astronomy. By the same token online prayer time tables are usually out of sync by at least a few minutes, because they only account of longitude and latitude but not elevation of the place they provide timings for. In May this year the so-called "International United Hijri Calendar Congress" decided on "a common calendar" which has Islamic festivals falling on the same date across the globe, by ignoring "İhtilaf-ı matalia" or local variations. They, too, call this a scientific approach, except that for the moon to be seen all around the world at the same time the earth will have to be flat!<br /><br />Interestingly, the reformists and the dogmatics, such as ISIS (although the latter is an American financed subversive movement to both discredit Islam and facilitate intervention in the country's proxy war with Russia fought over Syria amongst other places) have more in common than it first appears. They are obsessed with rules and control. They love corporate Islam which dictates to individual Muslims what is halal and what is haram and they cannot tolerate diversity. And due to their overbearing influence, that which is truly halal becomes obscure and frowned upon and that which used to be haram becomes halal by attaching the appropriate certificate or label to it. Islamic banks, for example, which charge higher interest rates than the high street, or halal meat, pre-stunned for the convenience of the automated slaughter process, available now in endless flavours in all supermarkets. If you still want the real item, where the animal is cared for both during its rearing and during slaughter, you'd have to do it yourself. Or you'd have to restrict yourself to a piscatorial and vegetarian diet.<br /><br />There are more Muslims in the world now than ever before. Islam has gone mainstream and we've become just like everybody else. So how do you teach your children to hold on to their religion when it no longer makes much difference? You buy them Islamic articles to replace the lost identity. Nasheeds, for example, abound now which, in spite of being spiced up a little bit by their exotic Arabic phrases or fleeting references to the divine, could quite happily be played in a disco. You can buy Islamic T-shirts, Muslim hoodies, designer hijabs and even attend Muslim fashion shows. The ISIS brand is out there too with T-shirts and other bric-a-brac. And you can fill the empty void left in your home by the departure of spirituality with so-called Islamic art, from wall decor to carpets.<br /><br />Hijra, emigration, is a very important concept in Islam and essentially means moving away from a place where Islam is besieged to a place where it can be freely practiced. It also means moving away from that which is sinful in general. Might it be time to commence hijra away from the modern-day Muslims who have happily carved out a market niche for themselves in a world otherwise ruled by forces of evil? Prophet Muhammad, peace be with him, said: "Islam began as a stranger and will become a stranger again, so give glad tidings to the strangers." He was asked, "who are the strangers" and replied: "Those who correct the people when they become corrupt." He is also reported to have said: "They are a small group of people among a large evil population. Those who oppose them are more than those who follow them."<br /><br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-86652043047205476322016-02-16T19:44:00.003+00:002016-02-16T19:45:12.275+00:00Latest "London" Luton chaosThe Flying Imam has been busy, well, flying, and had little time for writing. Most of these flights, unfortunately, were not as pilot in command but as passenger in commercial airliners, never particularly glamorous or exciting. My most recent experience at Luton, or "London" Luton, as it likes to call itself, presently undergoing major refurbishment, compels me to break the silence. If "London's third airport" were an indication of what the capital of the UK was like, then it wouldn't even get a mention amongst the top ten capitals of developing countries: as things stand, the experience is infinitely worse than catching a coach at one of the seedy bus stations of old.<br />
<br />
Luckily my flight was well before office hours, for normally the roads to that airport are choked so badly that you are at a constant risk of missing your flight. The drop-off point for the airport, called "Priority drop-off" by Luton airport and described as "closest to departures" and "right outside the terminal building" and "super quick", is actually a five to ten minute walk in the (not so) fresh air before you reach the security check for departures, but the price has gone up to a minimum of £2.50 for a maximum of 10 minutes, not exactly "good value" as claimed by the airport. I have flown to many capital cities of Europe where the main airport, not some remote budget airline alternative at a distance of some 50 miles or 2 hours in traffic (UK roads are best characterised by the predominance of brake lights ahead of you), grants drivers up to 10 minutes for free for dropping off passengers right outside the airport doors. So looking at Luton's "good value", rip-off-Britain easily comes to mind.<br />
<br />
Going through security offered me a new experience on this occasion. Customarily you have to throw away any drinking water due to its highly explosive nature, empty your bag of laptops and other electronic devices, take off your outer clothing and often your shoes, put them all into various separate trays, an acrobatic juggling act to be accomplished in the air whilst slowly moving along in a lengthy queue of passengers not being provided with even an inch of desktop space to rest their items on before it's their turn, and then try to collect them all again at the other end of the x-ray machines. I have seen many a confused and stressed passenger leaving valuable items behind, from mobile phones to identity cards.<br />
<br />
This time, however, there was the body scanner Luton has been blessed with as part of their "upgrade". This is not the backscanner x-ray type which produces a naked silhouette of the passenger but the radio-wave millimetre (revolving door) scanner, which depicts potentially problematic items (such as metal plates implanted in bones) on a stylised stick figure. The scanning process is not particularly fast and therefore contributes to lengthy queues ahead of the scanner - a potential security risk in itself due to the ensuing frustration and confusion -, and it is at the discretion of security staff who is directed through it. For whatever reasons, they issued such an invitation to me, which I declined.<br />
<br />
We have been taught and conditioned not to question the wisdom of officials and believe that whatever they ask us to do is either in our own interest or in the interest of safety, however ill-defined. There have been many occasions where I have inadvertently boarded a flight with a pocket knife in my jacket pocket whilst at other times being quizzed about a harmless item in my hand luggage, such as a usb hard drive. So I could quite happily walk through the body scanner and then pick up my jacket complete with pocket knife afterwards. Or, at many airports, I could steal a real metal knife from one of the restaurants or airport lounges. The whole process is more about control and intimidation and pretense. It certainly is neither efficient nor would deter any real die-hard terrorist who, most likely, would have a helping hand from within the system.<br />
<br />
In the past, security staff would, at their discretion, do a pad-down search for some passengers, especially if the metal detector frames you walk through were set too sensitively. These vary from airport to airport, some will not even pick up the keys in your pocket, whereas others are set off by the zip closure in your trousers. Now, if you refuse the scanner experience, you are told that you will have to be taken away for a "private search", essentially the very same pad-down procedure, but in an adjacent separate room to which you are escorted so you look like a proper delinquent to other passengers. When staff shout loudly that you will have to undergo a private search, this is probably intended to raise fears in you of being strip-searched to further deter any non-compliance. The other novelty of the arrangement is that you have to counter-sign a sheet on which your name and flight number have been recorded, for monitoring purposes.<br />
<br />
The worrying aspect about the modified procedure is, in addition to being a lot more time-consuming, that whilst you are whizzed away and kept confined to be "searched", your belongings remain scattered about in a multitude of trays with no control over what ends up where and with whom. I pointed that concern out to security staff who "reassured" me that theft was rare and in any event would be recorded on camera! Having re-gathered all my things on this occasion I proceeded to the boarding gate.<br />
<br />
Luton is home of "EasyJet", a budget airline which has tried hard, and to some extent managed, to present itself as a serious airline rather than a cut-throat rogue, and it was EasyJet I was flying with. I no longer fly Ryanair on principle as, besides the constant hard sell during the flight, it appears to pride itself in being an airline which would probably prefer to run its operations without passengers if at all possible, and the petty-mindedness of some of their underpaid staff I have experienced in the past is hard to describe. Anyway, EasyJet it was.<br />
<br />
I have been a passenger of quite a few of their flights over the months and must, regrettably, state that their attempt to compete with the flag carriers has been seriously knocked back, especially by their ground staff and procedures. Maybe they have actively been recruiting former Ryanair staff. This is also not helped by the fact that they have outsourced their once excellent customer service to India and South Africa and you can now encounter operatives who noticeably struggle to comprehend much of what you are calling them about.<br />
<br />
So unless you end up being one of the first people in the queue, a boarding agent will approach you and tell you that your hand luggage has to go in the hold because there is not enough place for it in the cabin of the aircraft, to which the logic answer would be that if there isn't enough space to board passengers and their hand luggage, then the plane is not fit to carry that amount of passengers. The reality is that the airline wants to promote the sale of their priority boarding (or rather "priority waiting") tickets and "Easyjet plus" card membership. "Plus" card holders are allowed two items of hand luggage on board and this, naturally, goes at the expense of ordinary passengers who are increasingly asked to put their hand luggage in the hold. My own economic sense in this regard tells me that if faced with the option to either pay a surcharge for a budget airline flight or upgrade to a flag carrier, I would do the latter.<br />
<br />
So, two flights out of one, a not so gentle man or not so lady-like boarding agent comes along - mine was called Sarah - and grunts at you that your bag has to go in the hold, sticks a pre-printed laminated card in your face which tells you not to leave any valuables in it, and attaches a barcode label so that you can then leave the bag at the steps of the aircraft and board without. Now the crux is the advice not to put your bag in the hold whilst it contains any valuables, obviously for insurance reasons, because you are now left to contemplate how you are going to carry keys, cash, mobile phones, ipads and various other meaningful items without having been provided with even a plastic bag to put them in. To be fair, the job description of EasyJet boarding staff probably only tells them how to present you with a problem, not how to offer a solution. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgA1olkEe64/VsN7vOYDDpI/AAAAAAAAAGY/fX8XZuFE8dU/s1600/EasyjectLuggageLocker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgA1olkEe64/VsN7vOYDDpI/AAAAAAAAAGY/fX8XZuFE8dU/s320/EasyjectLuggageLocker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EasyJet: "Absolutely no space left in luggage lockers"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Having already performed the juggling act at security, I was ill-inclined to repeat it and board the aircraft with various gadgets balanced on my head or strapped to my limbs. After all, the whole idea of a luggage case is to neatly hold your valuables - unless, of course you are in the habit of only wheeling worthless stuff about! So it occurred to me that the most valuable item my luggage now contained was the freshly attached barcode label, for without it I would not be reunited with my belongings after landing, and I decided to discretly remove it on the way to the aircraft. Once that had been accomplished, however, there was little point removing anything else and I proceeded to take my bag on board with me where I found that in spite of staff assurances that there was absolutely no room left, the overhead lockers near me stared at me with unfilled spaces even after I had stowed my trolley bag away.<br />
<br />
We have become accustomed to low cost air travel - often made possible by public subsidies to the airlines through local-authority-controlled or regional airports who make most of their money not from flights but from parking - and assume that bad service is part of the package. It is time that more passengers complained about the raw deal they are getting and remind both airports and airlines of the still valid principle that "the customer is king", for if the current trends of blatant disregard for their needs continue, given that the time spend going to and through the airport already by far exceeds the time spent in the air, there comes a point when walking to your destination might prove quicker and less stressful, and that would present airline staff with the unenviable prospect of having to sit in their aircraft on the ground waiting for passengers who no longer want to be harassed every step of the way.Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-70739768580240944152015-09-04T14:51:00.001+01:002015-09-04T14:51:59.741+01:00Migration complexityCross-border migration and the refugee crisis are dominating the news after a number of high-profile and totally avoidable tragedies, the latest that of a father losing his wife and children after being abandoned on a boat by people smugglers when the half-hour journey from Turkey to Greece became too perilous. He commented that his family's death should be a wake-up call to the world, and everybody is lining up to cash in with their political agendas on this highly visible emotional image of suffering. Political correctness reigning supreme, nobody blames the father for having put his family in harm's way. I do. But first a number of qualifiers.<br /><br />Refugees across the world are the outcome of the ruling elite of the current leading Western nations running the world as if it was their exclusive birth-right. Exploiting other people's resources in order to fund an unsustainable consumer culture aimed to buy the acquiescence of their own population in return for ever more games and gadgets, and using military power to force this one-directional flow of wealth, they have wrought havoc all over the globe, generating poverty, fear and despair and thereby displacing people. America and her allied cronies in Europe have shook up the Middle East, toppled governments and financed and trained militias for their own economic and Israel's political ends, and the increase in refugees is a direct result. Britain, as did others, has funded ISIS and other rebel groups in Iraq and Syria as part of their proxy war against Russia and China in the hope that they would topple the Syrian government, just as they erstwhile funded Iraq to fight Iran, funded the Mujahidin and al-Qaida to fight Russia in Afghanistan, then topple Libya, and so on. In this context, David Cameron and the rest of the British government are directly to blame for the death of this Syrian and many other families.<br /><br />The United Nations with its non-representative Security Council and the International Monetary Fund with its majority Western shareholders are relics of the past when European colonial powers divided the world among themselves without any consideration for indigenous populations, drew artificial borders to suit them and, in most cases, subsequently installed minority puppet governments heavily dependent on their economic and military support against their own subjugated populations in the fiefdoms they had carved out in this manner after the First World War. America continued the tradition having become the dominant power after the Second World War, but wherever possible replaced direct rule and military occupation with indirect rule and economic manipulation, propagandistically termed Free Trade, and intervening militarily only when deemed necessary. After too many people believed the propaganda lies and took the idea of freedom at face value, and with their imperial reach weakened, the USA are now reverting back to direct rule and military occupation.<br /><br />Today, Americans and Europeans often talk as if there is something morally wrong with people from Africa or Asia wanting to share the spoils of their alleged hard labour, forgetting that American and European affluence represents in most cases the pay-off of colonialism and slavery and that therefore the colonised and enslaved of the world actually have a greater right to those riches than the colonisers and slave masters. British slave owners were compensated for the losses when slavery was finally abolished, slaves were not.<br /><br />From a true global perspective - not the one world propaganda of the global village which merely means that no corner of the world should remain out of reach of Western domination - fortress Europe is unsustainable as is the exploitative modern lifestyle fuelled by compound interest being the foundation of our economic system, where there is always more to pay back than there was in the first place, requiring the disappropriation of others. So when it comes to the problem of global migration, I can only blame the West for its own conjured demons.<br /><br />Yet, none of this absolves the father of the family currently making the headlines or numerous others like him. Sure, there are people smugglers unscrupulous enough to abandon a sinking boat with the passengers on board or to park up a lorry full of migrants, leaving them to suffocate. They cash in on a dream for which there is ample demand. The problem, when it comes to the migrants themselves, many of whom are from Muslim countries, is that they were malcontents to start with. The youth in many of these countries does not want to work for a better future, they simply want to take what others have already worked for. They don't want to build their country, they want to abandon it. In many cases, they are not running away from poverty or war but are running to an imaginary destination of full and plenty sold to them on Western television screens.<br /><br />In what happened off the coast of Turkey is indeed a wake-up call, not just for Europe, but most of all for the migrants themselves: the risks are not worth it. A father lost the family he wanted to give a better life to. His parents still live in a part of Syria not ravaged by war. If he feared for his family's safety, then they had already managed to cross over to Turkey, a country having taken in a huge number of refugees and treating them as brothers rather than outcasts. Instead, he chose to leave the safety of Muslim Turkey to cross the sea in an unsuitable dinghy to Greece, an orthodox Christian and much poorer country. No doubt, Greece was thus never the intended final destination, it was meant to be a stepping stone into the European Union for moving on to Austria, Germany, the UK or Scandinavia. Thus, even if this family originally fled war-torn Syria, once they left Turkey, they were no longer refugees but economic migrants who had fallen for the myth that happiness can be bought at a department store. This father miscalculated and destroyed what he had in the vain hope of obtaining what he was never going to get anyway.<br /><br />None of this absolves the British government, but future would-be Muslim migrants would do well to ponder on the advice of our prophet, peace be with him: "Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul." (Abu Hurairah, al-Bukhari 6081). Or: "Whoever makes the world his more important matter, Allah will confound his affairs and make poverty appear before his eyes and he will not get anything from the world except what has been decreed for him. Whoever makes the Hereafter his most important matter, Allah will settle his affairs and make him content in his heart and the world will come to him although he does not want it." (Zaid ibn Thabit, Ibn Majah 4105).<br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-53525943560576431662015-07-08T11:46:00.002+01:002015-07-08T11:46:45.149+01:00"Islamic State" and the state of IslamFor a long time Islam's adversaries have been salivating at the opportunity to manipulate Islam from within. As early as 1981, A.J. Quinnell made this the subject of his novel "The Mahdi" in which Western security services try to groom a Mahdi whom they control in order to direct Muslim behaviour. The plot is not as far-fetched as was suggested by critics back then. Having created a modern-day version of the assassins of old and calling them Islamic State has been a master stroke and done more to discredit Muslims and Islam than any other covert mission since Lawrence of Arabia helped incite the Arabs against the Turks to pave the way for the Zionist state whilst the Arabs mistook him to be their advocate. Likewise, with IS, you would think that only the blind can fail to see who is behind fanatics with strong self-righteous "Islamic" rhetoric, armed to the teeth with American hardware, but persistently abstaining from ever criticising, never mind harming, Israeli interests, whilst happily burning a Palestinian flag as a sign of misguided nationalism. But alas, there are many Muslims who seem to prefer walking around with their eyes closed.<br /><br />Whereas IS was purposefully created not just to discredit Islam but to provide the pretext for Western engagement in a proxy war with Russia over Syria in violation of international law, it would be rash for Muslims to dismiss them as if their effects did not reach well beyond the region in which they operate. Hate preachers with views close to those of IS abound throughout the Muslim world, financed by the petrol dollars of Saudi Arabia, the beneficiary of Lawrence's British sponsors and key ally of the United States and, by implication, Israel. During the first decade of the 19th century their Wahhabi forebears ransacked Mecca, Medinah and Ta'if under the leadership of Saud ibn Abdul Aziz with a violence against Muslim men, women and children everything as brutal as their IS successors today, destroying tombs and burial grounds, mosques and madrasahs. Whilst the Ottoman caliphate eventually regained control, the rebel group managed to hold out in the Najd and eventually, with the help of British cunning that hailed the end of the caliphate, installed themselves back in the holy land where they have styled themselves the custodians of the holy places whilst continuing to dismantle and destroy Muslim heritage ever since, turning cherished relics of Muslim history into hotels and parking lots and exporting a version of Islam which aims to throw away fourteen centuries of its rich history under the pretext of referring back directly to the source.<br /><br />In today's world where Muslims put money before God, mosques and scholars can readily be bought, and petty-minded sectarian preachers are commonplace. They replace Islam as a means of mundane and spiritual guidance to further the personal growth of its adherents with a pharisaic set of obsessive rules relating to dress code and appearances; they replace the richness of the Qur'anic message with a narrow literal and anthropomorphic interpretation; they dismiss centuries of diligent effort by Muslim scholars in trying to extract meaning from divine revelation with an arrogant claim to be sufficiently qualified to go back directly to the prophet, yet in their attempt to destroy the complex edifice of Islamic learning with jabs at Muslims' alleged blind following of their scholars and Madhhabs they reach no further than blindly following the neo-Madhhab of their very own saint, Ibn Taymiyyah. As for him, their prime targets for persecution are other Muslims who differ in their understanding of what Islam stands for, whereas they happily appease those of other faiths. The aggressiveness and self-righteous confidence with which they impose their message on fellow Muslims makes especially young people, who are still unsure about their faith and their place in the world, fall prey to the imagined certainty and security only dogma can provide.<br /><br />That Muslims globally have been so easily duped or, where they were aware of the facts, have generally failed to respond meaningfully to the challenge, shows that the wounds of colonialism and the scars from having lost the caliphate run a lot deeper than is apparent at first glance. By having been robbed of their own administrative, judicious and educational structures, Muslims have been reduced to an array of individuals without a cohesive community structure. Fragmentation has deprived them of a political voice. In Christendom the separation of church and state was accomplished by "reform" from within. The secular establishment which became the heir of a disempowered church then proceeded to force the same banishment upon Islam by removing the state, the public space of Islamic expression, from them. Regaining that state remained an delusional vision of Muslims for almost a century, obscuring the fact that once Islam had been relegated to the personal space alone, the ensuing multitude of opinions of what constituted Islam would ensure that concerted action and agreement remained well out of reach. Now, as a last blow, we've been handed the physical reality of an "Islamic State" which is as unislamic as could possibly be.<br /><br />A structure, once knocked down, is hard to rebuild from its ruins, but if we were to endeavour just that, we would first need to remove the rubble. Next, we would need to have a clear design of what we are going to put in its place. In line with this analogy, Muslims today require a frank discussion about what kind of future they want to build for themselves. As was the case when Islam was first introduced over fourteen centuries ago, thorough education about its values and principles is required prior to trying to rebuild its administrative and judicial system. Thus, what we need most, is a return to an Islamic identity shaped by values rather than by mere rules and regulations. A "halal" mortgage, for example, which costs more than a mortgage from a non-Islamic finance provider may be cleverly construed to be technically in accordance with Islamic rulings, but since it is even more exploitative than the mortgage condemned by virtue of the Islamic prohibition on interest, it cannot be justified morally. The prophet of Islam, peace be with him, introduced social justice and cohesion, and the God who sent him must not be reduced to a mere accountant preoccupied with the length of an individual's beard, how high he raises his hands during prayer or the technicalities of financial instruments. His divine attributes represent values to aspire to. Islam, therefore, is characterised by both the submission to the divine and commitment to fellow human beings. The first relationship defines personal spirituality, whereas the latter governs each and every individual's actions. Men and women are judged by how beneficial they are to their fellow men and women, not by how devout they portray themselves.<br /><br />For any building to last it has to be erected on strong foundations. The Muslim ummah needs to take stock. It is in urgent need of a thorough survey of its foundations to ascertain which parts have remained intact and which need strengthening. This task will require the dedication of the most talented of its experts and scholars. It will also take time, and with constantly being put under pressure from outside and within, it is questionable whether there remains sufficient opportunity for such an essential self-inspection. Nonetheless, a people divorced from its history becomes a people without identity and without a joint future. To prevent this, Muslims need to re-engage with their history, not gloss over it, and learn lessons from the discussions and disputes of old instead of pretending they never happened. The idea that we could just reach back to a golden time preceding that history, that we could reconnect with the prophet's generation, whilst ignoring all that came in between, might sound tempting to the simple mind, but in reality it means that we deprive ourselves from the lessons learned through all the mistakes which were made since then and thus end up condemned to repeating them all over again. We would be well advised to instead avail ourselves of the wealth of solutions which were also developed in those intervening years. It is the height of folly for a generation to think that they are so unique that they can learn nothing from their predecessors.<br /><br />Barring the actual appearance of the Mahdi, we will not be able to recreate the conditions of the time of the prophet, peace be upon him, because no prophet will henceforth be present in our midst. We will thus try to emulate his example without the direct input of prophetic guidance, just as the generations of Muslims did after his death who were arguably more knowledgeable about, and more devout in, their observance of his example. To suggest otherwise is pure arrogance. To insinuate that we are better placed to resolve the resulting challenges than they were is buying into the Darwinian myth of modernity that mankind is continually progressing to a higher state, whereas the prophet, peace be with him, quite clearly warned that the best community was that of his own time, then that which followed them, and so on through the ages. If we think ourselves better than them by pretending that we are better placed to interpret a source from which we are so infinitely more distant, then we most clearly suffer from a serious bout of superiority complex. And this is exactly what describes the attitude of IS and other fanatics desperate to compel everybody else to accept their understanding of Islam as the only permissible option.<br /><br />Thankfully it is said that the body of Muslims will never be able to unite on error, which is why Muslim leaders and scholars must make it a priority to come together to reject bigotry and affirm inclusiveness and mutual tolerance. The threat to what remains of the fabric of Islam is real but for the protection promised by the Almighty himself, Who also warns us: If you turn away, He will replace you with a different people who will not be like you (Qur'an 47:38).<br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-63723727620635063642015-02-24T09:22:00.003+00:002015-02-24T09:22:36.451+00:00A very British pursuitTwo MPs from opposite parties, Jack Straw (Labour) and Malcolm Rifkind (Conservative), have been found to be more interested in advancing their own good fortune than that of the British public who elected them. This in itself raises questions of whether the British parliamentary system is fit for purpose. Being an MP is not a voluntary position. Elected members of parliament are paid a handsome salary plus expenses to free up their time for representing their constituents. They should not be busying themselves with seeking earning opportunities elsewhere whilst preaching austerity to the masses. In other countries we call cash for access corruption, in Britain it is business as usual.<br /><br />Yet the double standards do not end here. Had those two MPs been Muslim, there would have been a massive media outcry about them undermining British values and possibly renewed claims of Trojan horses and disloyalty. As it happens, these two MPs do not share the same political persuasion, but they are both Jewish. In today's Britain religion is brought into focus when you are Muslim. When you are Jewish, it is not good taste to mention religion in connection with wrongdoing.<br /><br />This one rule for one and one rule for another approach goes across the board. Over the past few days there has been hysteria about three Muslim school girls leaving the UK allegedly to join the pretended Islamic fighters of ISIS in Syria. In total it is estimated that some five hundred Brits have gone to Syria to join the fighting originally started by Western security agencies in order to topple president Assad's regime. Note cause and effect coming into play here. Nobody even reports, however, that hundreds of British Jews join the Israeli Defence Force every year, a racist army defending its exclusive claim to stolen land through state terror. Muslims returning from Syria are intercepted and held as terrorists. Jews returning from an illegal war in Gaza settle back into life as if they had merely been on holiday.<br /><br />Children in school are taught that the Nazis spied on their own people to seek out potential collaborators with the Jews and that they ridiculed the Jews through caricatures in publications like "Der Stürmer" in order to dehumanise them. Under the latest round of anti-terror laws, the same school children are told to report anything suspicious they might notice about Muslims, and all public agencies, schools, hospitals, GP surgeries etc. have a duty to report perceived radicalisation, in other words to spy on their fellow citizens. Caricatures intended to dehumanise Muslims are hailed as examples of freedom of speech.<br /><br />Then there is this ongoing prodding in the media and by various campaign groups against circumcision and halal slaughter as elements of the Muslim faith as well as the head scarf. Some European countries have already passed laws against those practices, then granted their Jewish citizens an exemption so as not to be guilty of anti-semitism. For the record, Arabs, the cousins of the Jews, are Semites, and Moses was married to an Arab lady from Midian. Also for the record, the Nazis were the first in Europe to outlaw kosher slaughter, undoubtedly guided by animal welfare concerns alone.<br /><br />And just for the record: this article isn't about Jews. Or Muslims. It's about double standards, a quintessentially British trait it seems. As Churchill put it: A nation has no permanent enemies and no permanent friends, only permanent interests. And it seems that whilst remaining on the sidelines of Europe, Britain is leading the continent in this hedonistic and utilitarian approach to politics. So why blame MPs for living up to such engrained British values? Let those who keep lecturing Muslims on adopting British values hold them up high as examples of true integrity!<br /><br /><br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-55858832688673197932015-01-19T10:12:00.002+00:002015-01-19T10:12:43.760+00:00Why Muhammad Matters<i>Seeing prophet Muhammad, peace be with him, is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons again, I am reproducing here in full a chapter I wrote for the book Mystics, Scholars and Holy Men (Edited by Troy Southgate), first published in 2014 by Black Front Press, London.</i><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reforms to the UK school curriculum since the 1970s changed
the teaching of history from a focus on facts about people and events to one of
concepts relating to socio-economic processes and societal conflicts. This
deconstruction of history has sometimes been taken to an extreme where it is
claimed that historic developments could be simulated and predicted provided
all the right input variables were known or available. Reality, however, does
not match those expectations. In fact, in spite of the curriculum shift,
history itself tends to cling very closely to the inherent meaning of “his
story”, in other words, events are shaped by people, and individuals matter
well beyond the circumstances in which they were found. Looking at history
through the people who shaped it therefore remains a valid approach.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An individual’s reach or realm of influence differs both in
geographic extension and in time. Some have made more of an impact on the wider
world than others. I would argue that as religion is a key ingredient of human
identity and frequently overrides other aspects of an individual’s personality,
leaders of religion, in particular their founders, have had more of an impact
on the lives of people than their secular political leaders, although the roles
do frequently overlap. The influence of the founders of major world religions
extends over centuries and even millennia, whereas that of secular political
leaders, even the greatest military conquerors or strategists, often struggles
to leave a mark for more than a few centuries beyond their own lifetimes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some religions have tribal, some have regional and a few
have global appeal. A universal claim is more often found amongst monotheistic
traditions which, due to their common unification of the godhead share a
principal understanding as well as many derived features. Their leaders are
often seen as having come in succession of each other at different stages
during human historical development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
those traditions, prophet Muhammad is the last chronologically, but his
influence exceeds that of his predecessors. For those who follow his teachings,
his relevance needs no further elaboration, but why should followers of other
religious paths, or those who claim to be able to do without religion, be
interested in his words and actions?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The religion he brought, Islam, literally translates as
finding peace through submission, and does not claim to be a new religion as
such but a continuation of the call for exclusive devotion to the one god. What
is unique in its call is that from the outset it has been addressed to mankind
at large rather than a tribe, nation or region. This universal call meant that
the spread of Islam was not limited by any boundaries of race or territory. Of
the monotheistic traditions only Christianity has a similar universal claim,
but it was the result of political events after the lifetime of its founder,
Jesus Christ, who himself only claimed to have been sent to the Israelites. The
claim of Islam to universality was pronounced by Muhammad himself and within
the scripture he brought, and the rapid spread of the Muslim empire during and
after his life bears witness to this understanding by him and his followers
alike.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A world religion which is two billion strong and gaining
even after one and a half millennia since the death of its founder deserves
serious investigation by any historian or person wanting to have a deeper
understanding of human development. Its two key ingredients are the Qur’an and
the life example of the prophet Muhammad; thus it cannot be understood without
a study of his life. Irrespective of the religion itself, however, if the case <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>made above holds true that people shape
history, then this individual has shaped the history of mankind for longer and
more deeply than any other to this date. In any comparison between influential
historic personalities, he will come out on top on more than one count. Thus in
Michael Hart’s 100 ranking of the most influential persons of history he tops
the list.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hence, a study of his life is not only of benefit to religious
followers, but ought to be instrumental to anybody who wishes to understand the
ingredients and dynamics of lasting success with relevance for both the
understanding of human society and psyche as much as for, let’s say, leadership
training. After all, we study the methods of successful scientists even if we
want to apply them to a different scientific discipline than their own, or the
war strategy of successful campaign leaders even if we profoundly disagree with
their objectives or politics. There are, of course, numerous aspects to the
prophet’s success, and thus his life can usefully be studied from several
angles, be it religious devotion, temporal leadership, oratory and power of
persuasion, military strategy and so on. Hence it should not come as a surprise
that amongst the disciples of Muhammad are some of the greatest minds of our
time who confessed to having learnt from his teachings without having followed
him religiously, such as Goethe, Kant or Napoleon, to name only a few.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This short contribution is no place for an extensive
analysis of a complex biography. Nor is it intended as an exemplary list of
achievements of my chosen hero. Rather, I would like to pick specific traits of
his personality and events in his life from which I believe important lessons
or even universal truths can be derived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me start with his birth. Although of good lineage,
Muhammad was born an orphan – proof that “misfortune” of birth or even the lack
of a standard stable family setup is no impediment to subsequent success and
greatness. Out of the window goes the lament of those who wish to continually
put their lack of achievement down to the social conditions of their birth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good upbringing, on the other hand, matters. To protect him
against disease and in order to learn a good standard of Arabic, Muhammad was
sent out of town as a baby to be nursed by a desert tribe famed for their
skills of teaching eloquent speech and good manners. And good character as well
as polite speech is what the prophet was known for throughout his life. Before
opposing him for his message calling to good morals, justice and a rejection of
all kinds of idols and corrupt practices, the inhabitants of Mecca valued his
honesty and nicknamed him the Trustworthy (al-Amin). Even when they had declared
war against him and his followers, some still entrusted their property to him
for safekeeping.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me list some of the character traits which made this man
a great example for humanity of all times: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First and foremost, modesty and humility. Even as the leader
of the largest army hitherto known in Arabia he did not live in pomp, did not
put any distance between himself and his people and continued to do his own
domestic chores. A stranger once came to the mosque of the prophet where he was
sitting amongst his companions and had to be directed to who he was as he could
not distinguish him from the rest by his clothing or by virtue of any special
position within the mosque.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He taught by example. Never did he issue an instruction
which he did not also comply with himself. As a result, his followers loved him
dearly and were prepared to sacrifice everything for him. He was known to spend
long periods in prayer and reflection, often praying all night, yet another
important aspect of good leadership was that he never asked of anyone more than
they could reasonably do. When he led prayer in public he often kept it short
if women or children were among the congregation. He also taught that the
sermon during congregational prayers on a Friday should be kept short and to
the point, a lesson sadly not adhered to by many preachers of our time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nor was he a leader who would simply give orders. When the
Muslims were digging a trench around Medina to fortify the town against attack,
he was digging with them. When decisions were to be made, he consulted them. In
battle, he was within their midst, not ordering them from behind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rarely did he get angry, and never without cause, nor did he
indulge in frivolous pastime and excessive laughter. He was serious at most
times, but always welcoming and offering a smile. He had a listening ear and
time for people in spite of huge responsibilities. Naturally, he did not drink,
gamble or waste time with other trivial pursuits. Most people with great
potential today are prevented from developing it because of “killing time” with
useless entertainment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Muhammad was not interested in power or wealth. He did not
seek to advance his own family at the expense of others. He did not use the
office of state to enrich himself personally. His key concern was to build a
just society and leave a legacy of having taught his followers thoroughly in
the knowledge of the Divine and the practice of good conduct.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Justice and fair treatment were important to him. When it
came to judging disputes, he did not automatically give preference to the
adherents of his own religion over those who rejected his message. He decided
cases on merit, irrespective of whether the antagonists were Muslims, Jews,
Christians or polytheists, and with no regard to their social standing or
possessions. The bias of many a judge or jury today was alien to him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The city state of Medina was the first in history which gave
legally protected status to minority communities through a contract between the
dominant Muslim and the remaining other belongings. Long before Magna Charta,
which was issued by a ruler under duress, Muhammad gave his new state a written
constitution voluntarily. The rights of citizens of all types were subsequently
further detailed in the ninth chapter of the Qur’an.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Islam also, for the first time in history, insisted that all
business dealings ought to be recorded in writing rather than be trusted to the
reliability of a handshake alone. And, of course, the revelations of the Qur’an
and the teachings of the prophet were also written down, leaving no room for
dispute of their authenticity, and they have since formed the basis of a
complex legal system governing all aspects of life, known as the Sharia, a term
sadly misunderstood due to the ignorance of anti-Muslim polemics.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The prophet was an exemplary family man. All his family
members were full of adoration for him, both during his life and after his
death. It is those we live with, who know us best, and their testimony speaks
of a kind and caring husband and father. Domestic violence had no place in the
prophet’s household.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He taught to respect the elders and be merciful to children.
Yet even here, he put right before status. In today’s Muslim societies,
leadership is held by people due to their age, excluding the youth. Contrary to
that, in the second battle against the Romans dispatched to Syria the prophet
put a young man, the twenty-year old Usama bin Zayd, in charge of a large army
which included some of his long-standing companions more than twice his age, purely
on account of his excellent leadership qualities. On another occasion, whilst
he was having a meal with some people, there was an elderly man sitting to his
left and a young boy to his right, and as it was customary to pass food to the
right and not wanting to offend the person senior in age, he asked the young
boy’s permission to pass the food to the older person first, and when the boy
declined the request, he observed the correct custom and passed the food to the
youth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot has been said about Muhammad’s polygamous marriages.
Leaving aside that multiple marriages were nothing unusual at the time – and
nobody seems to want to chastise the old testament prophets for the same
practice –, the fact is that he was married to a single woman, senior in age to
him, for most of his life, and for the most part his marriages after her death
were for strategic reasons to make peace between certain tribes or to take care
of widows without support. His youngest wife, Aisha, was chosen to be a teacher
of the nation through her attentive observations on their domestic life, since
the teachings of Islam were not only to govern the public domain but also the
private conduct of Muslims within their homes. Notwithstanding all the outrage
uttered by orientalists and other polemicists against Islam, she was happy in
her marriage according to her own testament, something that cannot always be
said for many emancipated women of the modern age. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, of course, he gave all his women the
security of marriage, none of them being short- or medium-term or even casual
relationships as is the order today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Much can be learned from Muhammad’s skills in nation
building, the way he formed alliances, the way he fostered unity of the state,
the way he provided his people with aspirations to do their utmost for the
common good and to focus on the future, indeed the life hereafter, rather than
on the status quo or temporary affluence and success. He did not create a
personality cult around himself, he was first amongst equals. Nor was he vindictive.
When his army conquered Mecca, from which the Muslims had been exiled for many
years and by whose inhabitants they had been fought viciously, he forgave them
wholesale once they had offered peace and support.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another outstanding quality of the prophet’s character was
his generosity. Whatever he had, he shared. When anybody asked from him, he
gave without fear of poverty. He taught his followers that the upper hand is
better than the lower and encouraged them to give openly in charity even if
they were often needy themselves. He also taught only to give what is good, as
simply discarding unwanted goods does not count as charity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Muhammad’s prophethood commenced when he was forty years
old. He died at the age of sixty-three, so in the short span of twenty-three
years he so completely transformed a whole nation that within another two
decades they became a dominant global force on the planet, supplanting the
long-established and mighty Persian and Byzantine empires and spreading rapidly
into the Far East, Africa and Europe. This amazing achievement was founded on
revelation and exemplary character. About the prophet, the Qur’an testifies
that “you are of an amazing character”, and he himself stated that he was sent
to perfect good conduct as well as that his mission was that of a teacher. For
anybody wanting to succeed, in this life or the next, there are valuable
lessons to be learned from him during all the varied situations life confronts
us with. There are brilliant teachers and role models in all walks of life, but
as a perfect all-rounded role model for how to become a good, successful,
beneficial and content human being with the correct balance of the mundane and
the spiritual, Muhammad, God’s final prophet stands apart like a lighthouse in
a dark, stormy sea. To see its light, which has remained undiminished through
the ages,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and to follow it implies
salvation, and in that Muhammad matters not only to me, or fellow Muslims, but
to mankind at large.</div>
Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-57719197001749943562014-12-11T18:44:00.002+00:002014-12-11T18:50:45.072+00:00UK weather warning: thought crimes and imminent immigrant terror on the riseI've almost grown tired of writing about it, but when and where will it all stop? Can't we have an early election to save ourselves from more aerial bombardment (via the airwaves) with rhetoric intended to frighten the British public into supporting an incompetent and untenable government? Of course, it's not the unnecessary and excessive national debt or the bail-out to the banks on which tax payers' hard-earned money was spent which resulted in spending cuts elsewhere, it's immigrants who come here for the sole purpose of cashing in on those generous benefits that have already been taken away from us all! Of course, it's not the spy cameras expensively installed every hundred metres of road network with a view to trying to make motorists pay more than their fair share into local and national government coffers that we should be afraid of, it's terrorists endlessly scheming to take away the freedoms our government has already curtailed! The coming election is fought by a bankrupt Tory party on UKIP territory, and since both Labour and Liberals have been completely discredited by their contribution to the previous and this government respectively, a Tory-UKIP coalition may well be the likely outcome, so Cameron, that patronising public schoolboy face reading his worn-out script might be able to cling to a slice of power after all.<br />
<br />
Whilst he might be able to salvage some of his personal fortunes, the damage to British society will be irreversible. The Department of Education, following on from its Trojan Horse fiasco, issued new guidelines that schools must actively promote British values, and names these as "democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs". Democracy - it would be nice if we could have some please! A simple right of veto of the most unpopular government policies would even do. Rule of law - the court system is in shambles and most people can no longer afford justice whilst increasingly laws are being replaced by administrative orders and cases are being decided in camera. Individual liberty - not even at home with "my home is my castle" being replaced with encouragement to "spy on your neighbour", after all, they might be illegal immigrants, benefit frauds or potential terrorists. Finally, mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs - who writes this stuff? The whole country is on a witch hunt demonising Muslims. The entire security industry is built on suspicion and fear of the other. So if these are core British values, then the British Isles are adrift in the ocean and about to sink for good.<br />
<br />
Today, a 35-year-old woman in Luton has been jailed in excess of 5 years for posting opinions and pictures on facebook. She was charged with "terrorism" offences after an undercover police officer encouraged her to boast a little more about what she might want to do as part of her jihad fantasies. The judge decided that she was guilty of radicalising others, more so given that she had pictures with her children posing with toy guns and swords. Meanwhile mothers up and down the country are busy buying guns and war games for their children as Christmas presents. Better not take pictures with them holding those! You never know who gets hold of them and how they might be used against you.<br />
The hypocrisy of it all - was the undercover police officer charged for radicalising this woman? Will the British government face charges for having covertly and openly intervened in Syria as a sovereign nation state and having encouraged people to get involved until the tide turned against them? Are the media going to be charged for the gruesome pictures of weapons in action they show us daily in order to keep us on our toes? But justice has been done, and the tax payer can foot a bill in excess of £200k to keep a woman locked up who did not pose any real threat to anyone, whilst burglars, sex offenders and pedophiles (including within the echelons of power), murderers and other criminals go unpunished due to a lack of police resources which have all been allocated into criminalising motorists, because that's where the revenue is, and Muslims, because it pays political dividends.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong. Extremism and radicalisation exist in every community. As Muslims we have our sad share of hotheads and narrow-minded fanatics, many of whom make life unbearable for ordinary worshippers at the mosque by appointing themselves as a kind of religious thought police instructing women on their dress code and men on the length of their beards. We have learnt to ignore them, but the media love to put them back on a pedestal and give them publicity. And the police and their failed Prevent strategy thrive on them as it allows them to justify their own existence: look, see, there are people with terrorist minds and inclinations in our midst, so when you pay our salaries to keep you safe it's money well spent.<br />
<br />
In fact, this kind of extremism is state-sponsored. It is sponsored by the Saudi-financed Salafi movement working for dominance in Saudi-financed mosques. It is sponsored by the CIA (don't mention torture, it's an anti-terrorism device and hence cannot be a crime) who created the movement in first place as a useful tool to create strive in countries in whose politics they want to interfere. And it is sponsored by the British government with many of them on the MI5 and MI6 payroll in order to keep the terror threat alive by means of entrapment. Once you remove the terror convictions which were due to either thought crimes or incitement by undercover agents or the guilty pleas achieved by the threat of extradition to the United States the actual threat diminishes into insignificance. Hang on, they will say, people have lost their lives or been injured in attacks inspired by Islamic extremist views. Leaving aside whether 7/7 was an inside job or not, we're talking a handful of casualties. IRA attacks caused slightly more casualties than that, but dear not call it Catholic or Christian terror. Our armed forces are responsible for an even larger number of casualties in wars in places most people can't even pronounce as well as the deaths of uncountable foreign civilians - state terror comes to mind. Following that, ordinary muggings resulting in death are much higher up the list as are death due to alcohol-related crimes. If we look at road accidents, the numbers go through the roof, but are in themselves dwarfed by diabetes and cancer. I'm not trying to trivialise ideologically motivated crimes, but for anybody looking at the real world it should be shamefully apparent that the excessive focus of politicians and media on so-called Islamic terror threat is highly imbalanced and disproportionate. So not only has our government lost British values, it has also lost touch with reality.<br />
<br />
But there is, of course, system to their madness. This focus channels the frustration of British citizens against an perceived external threat, the immigrant, and an enemy within, the Muslim, rather than the government or its employers, the banks. And amidst repeated calls for making cuts and the reality of unemployment and eviction from their own homes, Brits will turn to the demagogues with the strong words to protect them against those aliens at the gates and in their midst. This is election campaigning on a grand scale, which brings me back to the beginning: if we can't democracy anyway, can we possibly bring the elections forward and save ourselves all that drama?Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-11354302877701930152014-07-27T12:23:00.000+01:002014-07-27T12:23:01.334+01:00Gassing in Israeli perpetrated holocaustVictim turned perpetrator:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76480000/jpg/_76480318_76480317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76480000/jpg/_76480318_76480317.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28456967" target="_blank">BBC caption:</a><br />
<span style="width: 624px;">"Israel has used gas to clear tunnels it says were dug by Hamas in order to infiltrate Israel"</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fa4u02_qh34/U9ThCIKW45I/AAAAAAAAAFA/pG7cxAanSWA/s1600/TERRORIST-STATE-S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fa4u02_qh34/U9ThCIKW45I/AAAAAAAAAFA/pG7cxAanSWA/s1600/TERRORIST-STATE-S.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-7781921340363133932014-07-23T19:45:00.000+01:002014-07-23T21:01:48.104+01:00Evicting the bailiffsThere is a quiet revolution brewing in England. For years, banks, having defrauded the public through bailouts, also have defrauded ordinary people of their lives' savings by repossessing their homes under various pretences. But now, people are fighting back.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1438482753079318/" target="_blank">Tom Crawford's case in Nottingham</a> is one which has brought a lot of this to the fore. In a desperate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WedSGlpSSO8" target="_blank">YouTube message</a> he asked for help when he discovered that after having paid off his mortgage for a quarter of a century he did not own a penny in his home because the building society had, without his knowledge, converted the mortgage from an endowment mortgage to an interest only product. And now they wanted him out of the home where he brought up his children and at a time when he was looking forward to retirement after having just recovered from cancer. To his shock he also discovered that there almost 250 such repossession actions a week going through the court in his medium-sized home town of Nottingham alone.<br />
<br />
Nottingham, of course, is known to most people for the story of Robin Hood who with his "merry men" fought the injustice of an oppressive tax collecting regime. Today it is not royalty who extract the last pound of flesh from hard-working citizens, but the banking system, with courts and governments at their knees to assist them. And a new band of merry men and women has emerged who travel the country to stop bailiffs from taking possession of homes and also assist those threatened with eviction in fighting the banks in court, using every legal loophole available and, increasingly, challenging the courts themselves under common law.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MqEXWb2T_w/U9AB8IgxQvI/AAAAAAAAAEo/WZ2ikSz5GY8/s1600/IMGP5076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MqEXWb2T_w/U9AB8IgxQvI/AAAAAAAAAEo/WZ2ikSz5GY8/s1600/IMGP5076.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Although the bailiffs were due to arrive early in the morning, people travelled from all over the country, as far as Scotland hundreds of miles away even to send a clear message to the banks and building societies, courts and local governments, and their bailiff stooges that enough is enough. The usually quiet cul-de-sac in which Tom lives was filled with about 250 people united by having made the journey purely to support Tom in his plight and prevent the bailiff from getting anywhere near his property.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7pm4CLVdJeU/U9ABYqE_MxI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Evg6TiL-ErI/s1600/20140723_092827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7pm4CLVdJeU/U9ABYqE_MxI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Evg6TiL-ErI/s1600/20140723_092827.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The police are usually on the side of the oppressor, but faced with large crowds they only drove past a number of times in a riot van to assess the situation, and the bailiff never turned up, scared of a public show-down. Some of the supporters left after mid-day, but many stayed on until the evening, just in case the bailiff would still try to force entry.<br />
<br />
A lot has been written about the victims of the banking crisis, but here people had begun to fight back, using alternative media as the means to communicate and spread the message, and succeeded in preventing an eviction.Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-46040323451911833872014-07-21T19:23:00.000+01:002014-07-21T20:44:49.124+01:00Setting Gaza up for destructionWestern governments and media are guilty of abominable complicity in the genocide and ethnic cleansing carried out by Israel under the pretence of being under threat. They are trying to sell to a repulsed public the unpalatable slaughter of innocent and defenceless men women and children. The true voice of the people, expressed through the only democratic tool available to them, demonstrations, is being hidden and played down. Many demonstrations have been banned, <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/19/paris-gaza-police.html" target="_blank">most notably the one scheduled for Paris</a>, but also others for "purely administrative" reasons, and those which take place receive minor coverage, if any, in spite of huge turnouts.<br />
As with the terror threat, hyped through high profile cases of potential planned attacks which on closer inspection frequently turn out to have been instigated by the intelligence agencies and the police themselves in order to produce a crime they can subsequently "discover", the territorial expansion of Israel is supported by shameless propaganda. Military intervention has previously been justified in many Arab countries (and now the Ukraine) for "human rights violations" which pale into insignificance compared to the cold blooded murder of Gaza inhabitants by the Israeli "Defence" Force. Having brought about a Israel-phone government in Egypt after much turmoil, the likely scenario is that Gaza refugees will eventually be pushed across the border, making room for a further land grab by Israel. Meanwhile the ISIS threat is being created in the Levant to give Israel an excuse of intervention.<br />
A <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-doctor-mads-gilbert-evokes-conditions-in-a-gaza-hospital-9617586.html" target="_blank">letter from a Norwegian surgeon in Gaza's As-Shifa hospital </a>gives a graphic depiction of the Satanic inhumanity of Israel's indiscriminate and overwhelming fire power and the Palestinians' dignity in coping with the impossible consequences. But this is not the story the oh-so-independent and balanced Western media want to tell. They want to show us images of dangerous fanatic guerrilla fighters threatening to march all the way to Washington, London and Paris after annihilating peace-loving Israelis whom they deny the right to exist! I've just been alerted to this interesting image being used in making us scared of militant Palestinians:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76356000/jpg/_76356166_30d7cfb1-cf96-42c8-9fdb-eec686425377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76356000/jpg/_76356166_30d7cfb1-cf96-42c8-9fdb-eec686425377.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
This AFP (Agence France Press - the French are really at the forefront of Zionist propaganda in this most recent Israeli operation) was used, for example, in a<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28371966" target="_blank"> BBC online special report</a> on the Middle East "crisis" and Hamas.<br />
Now I don't know who is fooling whom here - a blurred background prevents us from obtaining any clues as to where the photo was shot - but judge for yourself, how representative are the blond and blue-eyed and Afro-Caribbean faces under the masks and the white hand on the trigger of your average Palestinian? Worthy of Hollywood, but disgraceful when used to justify the extermination of helpless people.<br />
<br />
<br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-33749358537963532502014-07-14T16:27:00.002+01:002014-07-15T03:13:14.832+01:00The Times of Trojan HorsesI must have done something right: that neocon "think" tank (they can't really think for themselves) in the United States called <a href="http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/gatestone_institute" target="_blank">Gatestone Institute</a> had singled me out for its venom in an <a href="http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4357/uk-muslim-prison-chaplains" target="_blank">article </a>about radical prison imams although I've been on parole for more than a decade now, but it was my anti-Zionist views broadcast on various media channels that really vexed them. I first heard of it when the Mail on Sunday wanted to run with the story and then, after I had supplied them with the facts, thought it better not to. Then The Times jumped onto the band wagon, and today, in spite of having obtained my prior comments and thus knowing all too well about the falsehoods peddled in her sources, Katie Gibbons penned her front page article "Prison imams linked to radicals", then picked up in the lead article inside the paper called "Inside Islam". It's part of the vilification of Islam of late where the public are asked to believe that the country is at the verge of a Muslim take-over, with Trojan horses packed with jihadi warriors hiding in schools, prisons, and many other places we never suspected to be used for the subversion of the state, maybe hospitals next, or GP's surgeries (there is a large number of Muslims GPs and surgeons and they might also harbour radical ideas: material for your next article, Katie!).<br />
<br />
The Times did, of course, the decent thing to avoid libel action: they asked for my comments beforehand, only to ignore them in their entirety (although Katie texted me: "Thank you very much, you raised some very interesting points that I will include in my article") and then added the word "allegedly" and the disclaimer that I denied ever having held the views attributed to me. This is what press freedom is all about: you can slander people provided you do it right. Not expecting to be invited to write a response, I reproduce my email to Katie below and the articles in today's edition of The Times for reference.<br />
<br />
This is what I sent to Katie Gibbons after publication:<br />
"Dear Katie,<br />
I read your article on prison imams in today's "The Times" together with that on the archbishop's comments and the lead article trying to tie the two together. It's a real pity that you didn't have the courage to buck the trend. There was little chance of coming up with much useful and truthful when using discredited sources like the Gatestone Institute or Quilliam, politically funded propaganda tools designed to decry every Muslim who does not support the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine as extremist, leaving indeed very, very few moderates amongst the adherents of Islam wordwide. I suppose, the Times can now also proudly join the ranks of these hate-mongerers who are "often in error but never in doubt".<br />
Of course, your article played technically save by adding "allegedly" to the views ascribed to me and acknowledging that I denied ever holding them. Between colleagues, however (I've been a card-carrying journalist for some four decades now), let me tell you it is never good practice to smear someone's reputation against better knowledge, and I hope you will never find yourself at the receiving end of such treatment. My Hindu colleagues at the prison chaplaincy would have warned of bad karma having been incurred as a price of landing this front page piece, whilst my Christian lead chaplain would have prayed for your guidance.<br />
You and your editor may want to argue that you are doing this in order to stem the tide of radicalisation, but indeed you are doing the exact opposite: the tiny minority of highly vociferous radicals who are finding it difficult to obtain a supportive audience for their rhetoric amongst Britain's mosques thrive on such publicity. Often this scurge has been groomed and planted by our own security services (e.g. Morten/Murad Storm, recently serialised in one of your sister publications) as agents provocateurs, and just as often they are financed by Saudi Arabia, a regime rarely criticised because it is counted among our allies and a lucrative business partner - hypocrisy reigning supreme as always. By giving those elements the exposure they crave you are lending them a louder voice instead and by lumping everybody else together with them you are suffocating the voice of the bulk of ordinary Muslims. As for the "moderate" Muslims you wish to create and support, in the understanding of Gatestone and Quilliam they can only be the ones who consider the Qur'an outdated and Islam a cultural remnant of bygone times and, of course, bend over backwards to support Israel in everything she does, Muslim Zionists effectively to join the ranks of the Christian Zionists so dominant in neocon policy circles . If these are your ideal Muslims, I'm afraid you are woefully out of touch, not only with Muslims but also with the British public and British values: next Saturday's national demonstration will give you an idea of how the British people do not want to the lend their name to the holocaust waged against a defenseless population in Gaza just because their democratically elected government is portrayed as radical and that Israel finds the threat of peace a hindrance to her territorial ambitions.<br />
Back to the good work done by chaplains of all persuasions and denominations in prisons: they are there not to proselytise but to give pastoral support and aid rehabiliation, and with the prison system already bursting at the seams, to pull the rug from under them as your article has done is highly irresponsible, as without their platinum work your front page would soon again have to be dealing with prison unrest, not radical imams.<br />
Kind regards,<br />
Sahib"<br />
<br />
And these are the articles all that relates to:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFKuhnQz_bM/U8P1aBkrriI/AAAAAAAAAEI/gP12GsLe9cw/s1600/TimesArticle140714_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFKuhnQz_bM/U8P1aBkrriI/AAAAAAAAAEI/gP12GsLe9cw/s1600/TimesArticle140714_1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkEHLq_hf6U/U8P1e5AgjBI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/WdbMZJUodeY/s1600/TimesArticle140714_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkEHLq_hf6U/U8P1e5AgjBI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/WdbMZJUodeY/s1600/TimesArticle140714_2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-25725699212799103812014-07-06T10:06:00.001+01:002014-07-06T10:06:06.280+01:00On caliphs and holy warLet's start with a proviso: these observations are written on the assumption that what we are told about developments in Iraq and Syria are at least partially true. This is not always a safe assumption to make. Britain, that self-styled peaceful post-imperial nation is at war and has been on numerous battle fields uninterrupted since the First World War she now celebrates (and upon which occasion her prime minister now wants <a href="http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/newspaper/home-news/ramadan-messages-political-leaders/" target="_blank">Muslims to sell poppies for Remembrance Day</a>), and being an experienced belligerent her propaganda machine is well oiled. Her former colony in the Americas is cut of the same cloth. Both nations are also experts at undercover and clandestine activities to further their ends. We remember some lies, such as Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction or the Kuwaiti incubators, but most lies we are dished up as news go undetected.<br /><br />When today's super powers were fighting proxy wars all over the place, in Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine, to name a few of the battle locations, we are told on this side of the conflict that we are defending freedom, sponsoring democracy and assisting populations under attack. The Arab Spring was sold to us as a spontaneous war of liberation by Arab nations tired of tyranny in order to justify intervention, and all that Western military assistance brought them in Egypt, Libya and now Iraq and Syria is untold suffering, chaos and more tyranny. The dangerous Talibans and al-Qaida whose brands have become a household name were created, trained and marketed by the same mindset and people who sell us MacDonalds and CocaCola. Words and deeds rarely match when it comes to power politics. As a Hadith of the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, states: War is deception.<br /><br />So here we are presented with another Islamic bogie man: the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (as-Sham), variably abbreviated as ISIL and ISIS. Leaving aside such confusion about its short name as a minor trademark problem whilst developing this new brand, here are its key selling points [with brief comments in brackets]: it started as a break-away faction from al-Qaida since al-Qaida has lost the pure Islamic way and got corrupted [in other words, Muslims all over the world have since realised that al-Qaida was a set-up to justify military intervention]; it is a militant Sunni group which loves killing Shia even more than it loves killing infidels [in other words, it is yet again a means of dividing rather than uniting Muslims]; it disrespects traditional borders and wants to create an Islamic state spanning multiple Muslim countries, starting with Iraq and Syria [and incidentally those borders drawn up by the West after the First World War no longer serve its purpose any more either whilst opening the border between Iraq and Syria allows the United States to bring in additional support from its bases in Iraq into Syria where its war with Russia hasn't been going all too well]; it has a self-declared caliph who demands unconditional support from all Muslims [and has never been elected or appointed by them but rose to fame out of ignominy after having been incarcerated in a US prison in Iraq]; it represents the uncompromising face of Islam which harshly squashes any opposition [and continues to present Muslims as barbaric and the Shariah, a complex legal system of statute and case laws, as limited arsenal of gruesome punishments].<br /><br />Now there are a couple of ways to cut through the fog and get to the truth in most matters. Firstly, actions speak louder than words, or as Jesus said: by their fruits you shall know them. Secondly, go with where the money is, or the old Latin adage Qui Bono - who benefits? Looked at from those angles, most ideologically justified wars we are asked to support with our ever increasing taxes and concurrent cuts in services are strangely related to economic interests, more often than not oil, be it in Iraq, Afghanistan or even Sudan. They also frequently serve perceived strategic interest, first and foremost the protection of that so-called only democracy in the Middle East, Israel, that outlying member state or colony of Europe [did you ever wonder why a country in Asia takes part in the European song contests and is handled at by the European desk of travel agents?]. Here is the picture of an Israeli coin showing a map of "Greater Israel", encompassing the Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and parts of Saudi-Arabia. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhsBONW3IOo/U7kPrYf7ujI/AAAAAAAAADQ/jQyB7gbAxXw/s1600/GreaterIsraelCoin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhsBONW3IOo/U7kPrYf7ujI/AAAAAAAAADQ/jQyB7gbAxXw/s1600/GreaterIsraelCoin.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a>It illustrates why removing traditional borders is maybe not quite the threat to the New World Order it is supposed to be. And seeing that America the Great is so powerless in the face of this massive advance of Muslim jihadists, maybe our well armed friend and ally Israel can be asked or enticed to stem the tide for us?<br /><br />But let's not jump the gun quite yet. Let's look at the new Muslim caliphate from an Islamic perspective. Of course, ever since the old Ottoman Turkish caliphate was destroyed by the plotting of First World War victors, Muslims have yearned for a common state, for re-establishing unity, for having Islamic principles represented rather than national interests [which in turn were more often than not sold and surrendered to outsiders]. Is this newly declared Islamic state the new Medinah for Muslims to which every individual should make Hijra (migrate) similar to the Jewish migration to their promised land under the right of return? Naturally, Muslims in other parts of the world remain cautious since he who lives by the sword will die by the sword, and with this new caliphate having emerged out of factional warfare, the dangers are tangible. But it is not just out of cowardice that the Muslim masses aren't flocking to pledge their allegiance to the new caliph of Baghdad, once the seat of an Islamic caliphate under the Abbasides prior to the Ottomans.<br /><br />Surah an-Nisa' (the Women) of the Qur'an lays out some of the key guiding principles for warfare as sanctioned by Islam. Incidentally it also set down inheritance and other rights of women one and a half millennia ago at a time the women of the British Isles could not dare dream of emancipation or even civilisation. One of the reasons why Western media seem obsessed with only acknowledging Muslim women when they are either allegedly being oppressed or stoned to death for adultery is that to provide information about the real status and dignity Islam affords them would inevitably embarrass them greatly: women's liberation in the West is a myth - yes, they are now allowed, or rather compelled, to work like men, but they also continue to be exploited by an industry selling its products through undressing them for potential buyers and forcing them to live up to an unnatural and unhealthy image of what their advertising agencies perceive as model beauty. Whilst Britain contemplates to emulate French laws forbidding Muslim women to cover up, she neglects her own. When England (inevitably) loses in football, there is a concomitant <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2671696/Clip-woman-anxiously-watching-football-reveals-domestic-violence-rises-England-exit-World-Cup.html" target="_blank">rise of domestic violence</a> against women by a third. Incidentally, Surah an-Nisa' also talks about orphans and institutes, one and a half thousand years ago, child protection rights, whereas here we are only starting to find out how much child abuse has gone unnoticed and unreported in recent decades.<br /><br />But since this post will become far too long if we were to start comparing the Islamic and the "democratic" way of life in more depth, let's keep to matters of belligerence. Verse 75 of Surah an-Nisa' provides us with the justification for "jihad", stating: <i>And what is the matter with you that you do not fight in the way of Allah and for the weak amongst the men and women and children who say: our Lord, take us out from this town of wrongdoing people and assign us a protector from You and assign us a helper from You?</i> The justification for applying military force in Islam is to protect the weak amongst men, women and children suffering from oppression. It is for this reason that in the early days of Islam the conquering Muslim armies were welcomed as liberators. It is the same justification, Western governments want to now appropriate for themselves when they try to justify military intervention in the name of freedom and democracy.<br /><br />Against this reality, the new caliph's ISIS perform miserably. Their actions increase fear and terror amongst innocent men, women and children and make them flee from their advance. Furthermore, warfare in Islam does not only have to be justified in its objectives, it also must follow clearly pronounced moral principles. For example (verse 92-93): <i>And it is not permitted for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. ... And whoever kills a believer deliberately, his reward is hell where he remains forever, and Allah is angry with him and curses him and has prepared for him tremendous punishment.</i> Of course, the British-sponsored Wahhabi and American-sponsored Al-Qaida movements got round this prohibition by the instrument of "Takfir", declaring that somebody not sharing their own interpretation of Islam is not really a proper believer and may therefore be killed. As if in anticipation of this diversion, the next verse of the Surah, verse 94, provides a direct answer to such connivance: <i>Oh you believers, when you go out in the way of Allah then make sure and do not say to anyone who offers you peace 'You are not a believer', desiring the offering of this world when with Allah there is plenty of gain; you yourselves were like this before, then Allah bestowed His favours on you, so make sure, for Allah is aware of what you do.</i><br /><br />Again, this is not the place to write a detailed study "On War and Peace" as ordained by Islam. But based on this cursory inspection of Qur'anic injunctions and not even having touched the wealth of advice given by the prophet of Islam on the matter, the new group allegedly spearheading the Islamic revival has failed the test. By your fruits you shall know them. Now back to "Qui Bono". Who benefits when Islam is given a bad name? Who benefits when Muslims are driven out of their homes and add to the sea of refugees already consisting of <a href="http://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/alerts/9342-alert-world-unhcr-statistics-reveals-that-around-70-of-the-refugees-around-the-world-are-muslim" target="_blank">70% Muslims</a>? Who benefits when there is suddenly a renewed interest to support the failing interventions of the USA and Britain in Iraq and Syria? Who benefits when the countries surrounding Israel get further destabilised? Who benefits when Western security agencies are given more powers due to renewed security concerns, forgotten that only very recently they were found out to having been spying on their own people? Who benefits from a permanent state of war?<br /><br />The jury is out but it shouldn't take all too long to reach a verdict. Provided, as I said at the outset, evidence and information we have so far is reliable.Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-8633224026627782692014-06-24T13:34:00.004+01:002014-06-24T13:34:55.508+01:00Breaking long fasts too earlyThe Muslim world is in turmoil, and the minutiae of ritual observances may not be the most important thing on many people's minds. Yet, it is through gradually altering these ritual that a religion is changed and separated from its origins over time. Most noticeably this affects those rituals which are performed jointly, such as the Hajj or fasting in Ramadan. The annual squabble over when to start or end the fasting month has caused confusion and discord within the ranks of believers and made Muslims the ridicule of outsiders who are astonished how Muslims manage to see a new moon crescent at a time when it cannot possibly be there.<br />
<br />I have written about this so many times that I grow tired of driving home the point. Ramadan as a lunar month CANNOT start on the same day everywhere on the globe any more than sunset happens to be at the same time wherever you go. Neither the moon nor the sun will be bent to predetermined conceptions of when they should rise and set. They vary dependent on locality. The obsession of starting and ending the month with Makkah in Saudi-Arabia is as unhelpful as the suggestion that we should follow them in Tarawih prayers every night as it is being broadcast live. They will pray Tarawih when we in Europe haven't even broken fast yet, and likewise, their moon crescent might rise to start the month on a different day to ours. Instant modern communications do not change those facts, leaving aside the other fact, that Saudi Arabia has fixed the starting dates for the months in its Umm ul-Qura calendar well in advance and always manages someone to see the moon to confirm the expected dates, whether it is actually there or not. Thus they always almost are the first to welcome the new moon, and since they pay handsomely for people to tow the line, most mosques around the globe do not take a closer look whether the moon is actually out there or not. It's essentially politics and nothing to do with religion. As a consequence, we miss out on the blessings of Laylat al-Qadr, as we look for it on the wrong day, and we end up fasting on Eid or celebrate Eid when we should be fasting.<br />
<br />But there is another nuisance which has cropped up with easily available technology poorly understood: most of us will these days base our fasting on a mosque timetable which makes us break fast a few minutes too early. In days gone by, mosques in the UK obtained their prayer times from the Royal Observatory who may not have cared much about fasting but at least knew about how to calculate accurate sunrise and sunset times for any given location. Today, most mosques pull those times from the internet based on Google maps by going to an Islamic website where they enter longitude and latitude data but are not given the option to include information about elevation above mean sea level. To Google the earth is flat. This reduces the amount of data required to produce a result, and for location finder or navigation purposes it is entirely adequate. Not, however, for prayer times and fasting. If you were to sit at the foot of a mountain and watched the sun go down and then managed to quickly get to the top of the mountain without having to climb it first, you would see the sun still there waiting to set. Thus your sea level prayer times can be anything from five to ten minutes out if you happen to live at higher altitudes.<br />
<br />
We don't need to go to the observatory to compensate for this difference. With IT technology, Muslims with the appropriate knowledge have created calculation formulas doing that job for us and devised <a href="http://www.mooncalc.talktalk.net/ptc/" target="_blank">computer programs</a> which can accurately calculate the correct times based on correct longitude, latitude and elevation inputs, adjusted for the preferred calculation options of different madhhabs, e.g. whether Asr should start when the shadow of an object has reached its length or double its length or how the time between sunset and sunrise should be allocated in climatic zones where twilight persists through the night, like the northern regions of the UK. Our real problem is not technology but a lack of understanding it coupled with laziness. It's so much easier to just pull those times off the internet, and if they're wrong, well "it isn't my fault, they should have checked before publishing them".<br />
<br />There is a very easy task I would like everybody to do before Ramadan: check the actual sunrise and sunset times for your location in the local newspaper or some other source based on the official almanac and compare them to the sunrise and sunset/mahgrib times provided in your mosque's Ramadan timetable. If they differ by more than a minute or two, ask you mosque how they obtained their data.<br />
<br />We're fasting almost eighteen hours in the UK during the summer, so we shouldn't deprive ourselves of its full blessing by skipping the final few minutes before the sun has actually set.<br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-31996940693329727892014-06-10T10:24:00.001+01:002014-07-07T14:49:41.139+01:00The politics of extremismEducation has once more become a battle ground for all the wrong reasons. With Ofsted inspections under the label of "Trojan Horse enquiry" Muslims, who have been living in Britain for generations, have been labelled a fifth columnists again who cannot be trusted. How did we end up in such a mess?<br />
<br />
Talking of mess, let's address the current state of education in the UK first. When the first Muslim schools were set up it was not out of a desire to take over the state but because mainstream schools were failing their children. The government and Ofsted did not like the idea of Muslim faith schools and tried to portray them as not providing a proper education. TV crews wanted to film pupils at prayer and were disappointed when we insisted for interviews to be conducted in the science lab. On one occasion we had to take Ofsted to court - and won. Mainstream schools have become infinitely worse since then, whereas most Muslim schools do rather well in academic league tables. The early Muslim schools were often criticised for a lack of qualified teaching staff, a lot of classroom work having been done by unqualified teachers. With schools now largely removed from council control since Thatcher started that trend, this state of affairs has since become the norm: schools are becoming "academies" where teachers need not hold qualified teacher status, assistants take care of most of the interaction with pupils because they are cheaper and headteachers are mainly concerned with finance, not with providing pastoral care or educational leadership. Money is all that matters. Children have become more assertive and unruly, teachers are losing control, bullying is ripe, drugs are wide-spread, educational standards are dropping and exam standards have to be adjusted downwards to prevent wholesome failure of a majority of school leavers. Don't take my word for it, enough has been written elsewhere on the poor standard of literacy and numeracy, the inability of most Brits to speak a second language (or often to speak or spell their own language well), the inadequacies of the teacher training system, the money minting by a whole industry which has sprung up to cater for pupils' "special educational needs", the collapse of higher education due to a focus on money not content, the burden of non-repayable student loans in a world where graduates no longer find jobs, and so on, the list is endless. All is not well in the state of Britain.<br />
<br />
What brought us to this sad state, as well as the mismanagement of the economy, the disastrous involvement in fighting other people's wars in far-off places, the erosion of public services, and all that is wrong with society today, are successive governments who, irrespective of professing to be Tory, Labour or Liberal, have one thing in common: they do not serve the people but serve at the altar of Mammon, being paid agents for banks and multinational corporations. UKIP is financed by the same people for the same purpose, but as the only perceived alternative out there it is gaining unprecedented support to the extent that mainstream parties feel threatened, and the next general election is only a year away.<br />
<br />
UKIP's campaign rhetoric has two main ingredients, both negative rather than constructive: anti-European and anti-immigration. They know as well as any other politicians that pulling out of Europe is no longer an option (and they happily take up highly paid seats as members of the European parliament although it is a talking shop bereft of real power), and they equally know that Britain would collapse without immigrant workers, many of whom are highly skilled, and given the state of the British education system, this is not going to change in the foreseeable future. But it is always nice to blame someone else for your own misery.<br />
<br />
In damage limitation and to save their skins (and incomes), the other parties have to jump on the bandwagon, and as they are solidly pro-European and do not really want to give the electorate the wrong ideas or even a choice in that matter, they have to outdo UKIP on anti-immigration talk. By staging a Trojan Horse scenario where Muslim pupils are "groomed" and indoctrinated to undermine our democractic values and take over our "free country", they've found the ideal focus for falling over each other in asserting the need to stem back the tide of perceived Islamic radicalism, fundamentalism and terrorism. Since relations with Muslims are already irreparably damaged through the disastrous "Prevent" strategy, this was an easy choice to make. There is a steady supply of labour from East European countries, so Muslims are perceived as dispensable, and since Islam is not a race, Muslims are free game without potentially falling foul of the law. That is something the BNP successfully taught the Tories, so who says minority parties do not have any influence in British politics!<br />
<br />
David Cameron has long been spelling out his personal crusade, his agenda to stem back the tide of multiculturalism. He must have leaped to the opportunity to respond to the dubious letter which surfaced just in time to point the finger at Muslims who it seemed had integrated a little too well within the schools of their home town, Birmingham. Mistaking the mantra of democracy for something real, they were accused of wanting to have the schools run in a manner they thought would suit their children, wanted their children to be taught what they believed was worth teaching, wanted to protect their children from ending up on the scrap heap so many of the other schools are turning out year after year. And the media were more than happy to oblige, here was a battle ground to arouse passion, the very minds and lives of our children were at stake, soon those Muslim children would come guns blazing or threatening to blow themselves up unless they were allowed to read books about creationism, challenge homosexuality as the only sound and accepted lifestyle for modern Brits or maybe just wanting to outdo the mythical white middle class in exam results. Primed with this ideological view of the enemy, it was easy for Ofsted officials to "raid" schools and find proof of misdemeanour, like some disagreeable books in a library - let's burn them! Nay, let's burn the governors and teachers on the stake too, long live the inquisition!<br />
<br />
The fall out of this modern day Don Quichote prime minister fighting his windmills, however, will be less glamorous than he hopes for. The electorate do not like him even if he tells them to dislike Muslims instead. But the broken fences might not be mended again. The reputation of the British education system will be irreparably damaged, teachers will be even more demoralised, foreign students will want to spend their money elsewhere, skilled labour will emigrate as Britain turns progressively into a society of closed and petty minds. The generation of Muslims whose children are now going to school identified with Britain, they believed the lies about getting involved and reaping the benefits, they volunteered their time to become school governors, they supported mainstream parties in the hope that they could be reformed. For the majority of them their justification for remaining in the UK was to provide their children with a high standard of education. Their children will more likely be disenfranchised and totally non-committed to the system that failed them, did not equip them for the future, did not provide them with jobs, stigmatised and criminalised them and denied them their potential.<br />
<br />
So Britain, once an empire, wants to be an island where you can get arrested for having books on your shelf which do not tow the official line, where special branch officers at airports and ferry ports abuse their powers under anti-terrorism laws to pull aside Muslim travellers and ask them about their political opinions, where thinking for yourself is discouraged and alternative views must not be expressed in public unless yoi want to be monitored as a potential risk to national security on account of such thought crimes. It is a strange world indeed, where "war is peace" and the Conservatives have a Communist mindset, where freedom of speech, the erstwhile moral baton to hit Muslims with, has given way to an obligation to conform. To quote Khalil Gibran: "Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion".Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-87105642446183815512014-04-22T20:31:00.001+01:002014-04-22T20:31:12.224+01:00Dr Naseem - may Allah grant him paradiseMy dear friend and elder Dr. Mohammed Naseem died earlier today aged 90. He counts amongst the best Muslim leaders the UK has ever had. The former GP and Justice of the Peace and Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque was an independent thinker, never antagonistic but also never compromised. He had the courage of conviction and a good grasp of politics, economics and community issues. Tributes have mentioned his standing for the Respect party which he supported when the Islamic Party of Britain no longer fielded candidates, but he was a founder member of the Islamic Party long before that and its home affairs spokesman and did not shy away from standing for the Islamic Party of Britain in Bradford South during the General Election of 1992. He did not do so for the vote but in order to campaign and make a point. He understood the damage the interest-based fractional reserve banking was doing to the country and tried every avenue to educate people about it and to affect change. As a Muslim leader he was non-sectarian and once told met he felt it was best to view today's Muslims akin to "The people of the book", people who held on to the Qur'an but had in many ways failed to understand or apply its message. He was a strong supporter of the anti-war movement against Britain's illegal invasion of Iraq and, unlike many of his contemporaries, neither allowed himself to be co-opted by government or to be cowed into silence by the anti-Muslim hysteria and fear-mongering following 9/11 and 7/7. Dr Naseem remained an activist until the very end. If only the Muslims of Britain had more leaders of his calibre instead of self-serving opportunists, we would be in a much better state today than we are. May Allah reward him ample for his dedication and selfless service. I wish his family to bear this immense loss with patience and prayer. Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-7357212276583981302014-02-27T15:19:00.003+00:002014-02-27T15:19:50.614+00:00Scottish pound-dependenceIt is only right that the debate about Scottish independence should focus on the question of currency, yet it still entirely misses the point: No matter how they vote in the forthcoming referendum, Scots will not be set free. The question so hotly debated at present as to whether a potential independent Scotland should retain the pound and form a monetary union with England is one where, as so often in the so-called democratic process, only false options are presented, the alternative to keeping the pound being to join the Euro. Two sides of the same coin, really, for either way Scotland's future prosperity or lack of it will be decided by financial institutions which are not subject to any form of democratic control.<br /><br />A country, or more to the point: a people, which does not control its own currency cannot be deemed an independent or free country. Monetary policy is the tool by which the political will of a nation is made to yield to the interests of private owners who create artificial scarcity or abundance to dictate its economic and political climate. By a clever process of officially sanctioned and legalised fraud, almost all of today's nation states are in debt. To whom, one might ask? Who is that illustrious lender whose assets exceed the resources of all the countries in the world? Of course, no real assets were ever involved. Through the process of fractional reserve debt-finance bankers have bought whole countries with fiat money that never actually existed or, rather, was never backed by any real wealth as such. True independence means to take that control back from them and return sovereignty, political and financial, to the people. A vote on Scotland's independence, whilst it would present such an opportunity, will never be allowed to go as far.<br /><br />I put these matters to Alex Salmond years ago in a public meeting, long before the Scottish parliament had even been instituted, and his answer was telling. He understood very well that government could create its own money rather than mortgaging the wealth of the nation to private interests creating the same money for them - for in either case the money is created backed by nothing except the creditworthiness of the nation -, but he wasn't ever going to see eye-to-eye with me on these matters, "he had been trained as a banker", he said, and therefore held different views. Prior to becoming a politician Salmond had worked for Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), that very bank which the taxpayer had to bail out to cover their losses and which will be sold back at bargain prices to the private sector once those losses have been absorbed and it becomes profitable again. These kind of bail-outs remove the last justification for charging interest on "money created out of nothing", i.e. on lending in excess of the bank's actual assets, namely, that since the bank takes a commercial risk it should be allowed to charge for it. In reality, the bank creates the money on the back of the nation's ability and willingness to absorb such risk whilst still having the audacity to charge citizens and government bodies for doing so.<br /><br />Like most politicians, the loyalties of Scotland's "First Minister" are to the banking fraternity which has catapulted him into position, not to the people whom he claims to represent, and if the fragmentation suits them, Scotland will get its political independence. As for financial and monetary independence, it would probably require a revolution instead of a referendum, and today's Scots no longer have the appetite for politics outside the ballot box. So Scotland, whichever way the vote goes, will remain dependent on the pound or the Euro, but either way on the goodwill of its bankers.Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18162006.post-72134308522805928092013-10-31T21:32:00.001+00:002013-10-31T21:32:08.765+00:00When Tommy met MoI've just reviewed the recently broadcast BBC "documentary" entitled <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03ghfyp/Quitting_the_English_Defence_League_When_Tommy_Met_Mo/" target="_blank">"Quitting the English Defence League: When Tommy met Mo"</a> about Tommy Robinson, the ex-leader of the English Defence League (EDL), engaging with a Muslim from Luton, Mohamed Ansar (Mo), and eventually joining up with the Quilliam Foundation, that self-proclaimed "moderate Muslim" think tank set up by the Conservative Party as part of their Prevent strategy which would make Abdullah Quilliam, an early British Muslim convert with rather radical views, turn in his grave. I think Tommy found a suitable home, because he can continue undermining Islam there without having to be tainted with the brush of racism.<br /><br />The BBC production was the typical set-up of false dialectics where you get two allegedly opposing views, in this case anti-Islam and "moderate", "reformed" half-baked apologetic Islam shadow boxing to confuse the viewer since it matters little who wins: both agree that Islamic extremism must be eradicated and then proceed to push all of mainstream Islam under that label unnoticed by the not-so-observant viewer. It reminds me of one of the broadsheet newspaper articles back in the late 1980s commenting on the campaign I then led for the recognition of Muslim schools, which stated that in the Yorkshire community the Muslim school in focus was located, most were "Muslim fundamentalists: they pray five times a day". In other words, to be a moderate Muslim, you must not be a practicing Muslim but renounce the validity of Islam as more than just a relic of inherited culture.<br /><br />The only real Muslims in the film set were Mo Ansar and Salma Yaqoob (of the Respect Party), and sadly even Mo, a well-intended ordinary Muslim representing no-one but himself had been compromised during the programme to pay homage to the new religion of heterophobia by stating he had fought countless years for gay rights. I will come to that later.<br /><br />To help Mo in informing Tommy about Islam and Muslim, the BBC engaged a number of so-called scholars. I won't waste my time talking much more about Tom Holland, brought to fame or disrepute, depending on how one looks at it, by his Channel 4 "documentary" (Islam: The untold story) where he managed to conclude that the historical Muhammad might not really have existed, because when he looked for him in all the places where he had never been, he could, unsurprisingly, find no evidence of him there. But I am utterly disappointed by the equally appalling display of ignorance of the Muslim apologists the BBC managed to include in its line-up of "scholars", amongst them Usama Hassan, Ibrahim Mogra, Maajid Nawaz and Mohammed Shafiq. Like sheep led to slaughter they all take the bait (or the pay cheque) of responding to the tired worn-out polemical questions by which Islam is intended to be discredited with a chorus of relativism, chiefly that Islam must be seen in its historical context, in other words, what was valid at the time of its revelation does no longer hold true today and must be "moderated" by the superior insights of modern Western secular "scientific" examination. The Qur'an, according to this view, is in need of re-interpretation in order to reform an Islam not fit for the modern age.<br /><br />The key attack on Islam comes, as usual, from the Western obsession with sexuality which looks for deviant practices in the exotic Muslim societies for the gratification of its own wild phantasies. Nothing much has changed from when the first Western travellers to the Ottoman empire came back with imagined drawings of hammams or harems full of exaggerated libido. Until today, the veil is the one Islamic emblem which excites its Western adversaries the most.<br /><br />So here is Tommy "competently" quoting from the Qur'an to make his point that Islam permits "sexual slaves" and thus encourages the grooming of white under-aged girls by Asian Muslims. The verse in question is verse 3 of Surah 4, An-Nisa' (Women): "And if you fear that you cannot do justice to the orphans, then marry from the women permitted to you, two, three and four, and if you fear that you cannot be fair, then one or one who is in your possession, that is closer to you avoiding transgression." (my own translation). And none of our alleged scholars seems to ever have bothered to either read the verse in full or consult any one of the classical books of Tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis). Yes, the verse mentions those "in your possession" or slave girls, but it does not give licence to have illicit sex with them, it merely permits to marry from amongst them (and thereby setting them free from slavery!). In other words, it advises Muslims that if they cannot afford to marry someone of their own status and do justice to them, there is nothing wrong with marrying from amongst those lower in status within society. Verse 25 of the same Surah gives a more detailed account of the same injunction, leaving absolutely no room for misinterpretation: "And who amongst you does not have the means to marry free believing women, then from amongst what is in your possession of the believing servants, and Allah knows your faith best, you all share a common origin, so marry them with the permission of their family and give them their marital gifts appropriately, as long as they are chaste, not given to prostitution nor fornication, so when they are married and then commit adultery, then their punishment is half that of free women; this if for him amongst you who fears hardship, but to have patience is better for you, and Allah is forgiving and merciful." (my own translation). Instead, our scholars perform mental and rhetorical somersaults to explain why historically this verse was not quite as bad as it may now appear, when really, there is nothing at all to apologise for.<br /><br />Then there is the other favourite angle of attack, the Shariah law, those "barbaric punishments" Islam metes out which have no place in a civilised society, like cutting off the hand of the thief and stoning the adulterer. Once again, our scholars agree that the Qur'an and the teachings of the prophet are outdated. Now, I wonder what the parents of those young girls groomed by Pakistani predators would have to say about that. They most likely would like to have them flogged to death and tell you that a prison sentence is simply not good enough for them, and I am equally sure that Tommy and the rest of the EDL would have to agree with them. It's funny, how perspectives change when you replace the perpetrator's human rights with those of the victim. And would the McCann family weep if the abductor of their daughter lost a hand so that he could not steal another little girl? Of course, there are necessary safeguards, well established in Islam: a thief may not be punished for steeling out of necessity, an adulterer may not be stoned without actual evidence, available only if the act was performed in full public view, in other words, gross public indecency. Islam does not permit spying behind close doors, unlike the modern secular state obsessed with wanting to know every secret of every man, both out of fear and a desire to control, a fact easily demonstrable by the proliferation of surveillance cameras or the recent scandal of the United States intelligence services tapping into the private mobile phones of the leaders of their own allies. Nor does Islam permit the execution of a just punishment within an unjust society, only when society itself follows high standards can the individual be held to account in accordance with them.<br /><br />And finally, I promised to come back to it, there is the litmus test of the modern axiom "You are either with us or against us": Do you support homosexuality? Here, the heterophobic lobby with support from members in all echelons of power is not contend with you saying that you cannot prevent adults from doing whatever they want in the privacy of their own homes but would rather not want them to push their devious sexual tastes down your throat or teach them to your children. No, you have to wholeheartedly pronounce that you acknowledge that their chosen lifestyle may well be superior to yours and that anybody not favouring their practices is in need of treatment. What has become of freedom of choice: Do we who choose to be heterosexual no longer have the right to consider our choice as preferable to that of others. Must we all be compelled to applaud something we distaste? But leaving aside the decadent insistence of all strata of Western society on elevating an unnatural practice to the level of the normative, does Islam discriminate against homosexuals? Not at all. Islam forbids sex outside marriage irrespective of your sexual orientation. So if we ask sexually active heterosexuals who have not been able to marry to abstain and control their desires, why is it so wrong to ask the same of those with homosexual inclinations? That Islam does not permit two people of the same sex to marry is not unique to our religion. To date there is still no European country permitting homosexual marriage; instead they have created that legal half-way house of civil partnership. Because they, too, recognise that marriage has as one of its purposes procreation, something two people of the same sex cannot possibly do, which is why I called it unnatural a few moments ago. Nor are homosexuals the only people to be precluded from marriage. The law does, for example, consider some adults unfit for marriage due to mental incompetency or legal incapacity. The reason, once again, is the sacredness of the family taking priority over sexual licence.<br /><br />These few examples should suffice. I can understand that being subjected to endless propaganda large parts of ordinary Muslim men and women (and the same goes for ordinary non-Muslim men and women), whilst having a gut feeling that something isn't quite right, do not know how to counter the polemical and emotionally charged arguments thrown at them. But I can't understand why our "scholars" are so completely spineless. Unless it is a case of "follow the money".<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mustaqimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745994427737303141noreply@blogger.com6