The job of a baker can be traced back thousands of years, there is no food in the world as basic as bread. So when a man, Khader Adnan, who bakes bread for a living now hangs between life and death due to near starvation it begs the question why?

Khader Adnan is not from Somalia where there is abject famine, he is not from Syria where there is untold oppression he is from the land of Al-Quds (Palestine) a place despite the horrendous tyranny of the Zionist state is not known for starvation. To answer the question one must understand that there is something as basic to a human being as the need for food and that is dignity. Once dignity is removed people are liable to do anything to protest their state of humiliation.

Khader Adnan was violently arrested on 17^th December, one presumes for his affiliation to Islamic Jihad, he has since been held under ‘administrative detention’. Which means he has not been charged with any crime, he is one of 300 Palestinians held like this. Khader maintains that he was tortured and humiliated by the Israeli integrators during the first days of his detention and thus has gone to hunger strike to protest against his imprisonment and arrest. Khader is not a man unused to arrest this is in fact his eighth time of imprisonment, but it seems this time he has simply had enough of the tyranny.

A letter released by his lawyers shows the hunger strike is not the actions of a weak man but that of man who is determined to use any means he can to show the plight of his people.  In it he says

“The Israeli occupation has gone to extremes against our people, especially prisoners. I have been humiliated, beaten, and harassed by interrogators for no reason, and thus I swore to God I would fight the policy of administrative detention to which I and hundreds of my fellow prisoners fell prey”

Khader Adnan has now been on hunger strike for over 64 days, the point at which the medical professionals will tell you he could die at any time.  Although Allah (swt) is the one that gives life and death, it is still a grave situation he is in. Despite his condition he is chained to his hospital bed. Even when his 4 year old daughter came to visit him he was only allowed to use one arm to hug her.

It is clear that the tactics used by the Israelis have been learnt from their masters in the Britain and America who use similar tactics. The case of Abu Qatada held without charge in the UK is no different to that of Adnan, although the media would have us believe he is a terrorist, he has never been charged just like Adnan.

As the life drains out of Adnan so it does out of the myth of Western standards for life and humanity. The kind of treatment that has been meted out to Khader Adnan has been going on for decades and no one has really cared.  It is the same kind of treatment that Bashar al-Assad has been using for decades, treatment that now is seen as being unacceptable. In the eyes of the world suffering is not something that is measured in human terms but in political mileage.

Living the life of a pious Muslim can be difficult is especially true when living in a majority non-Muslim societies like those in the West. Cultural practices, ideological viewpoints and everyday life at one point or another will contradict the teachings of Islam.  This contradiction is starkest at times of mass engagement in un-Islamic events or celebrations. Valentines is one such time, where Muslims are encouraged to partake in the sending of secret messages to those they admire or lust for. As has become the case with all celebrations in the Capitalist West there is a great deal of commercialisation that goes with Valentine’s day. This means it is difficult to go through everyday life and not come across the various card, gifts and chocolates littering shop shelves in anticipation of the big day.  The day when school children, office workers and the average man is told to declare their undying love for someone, anyone, a sad irony in a society known for relationship breakdowns.

Valentine’s day is the perfect opportunity for the liberals to push their version of personal relationship counselling to the Muslims.  On a day when everyone is encouraged to open up and let their inhibitions go, Muslims are also encouraged to go with flow and tell the person they have desires for in the hope they would feel the same. The whole notion of relationships is moulded into an aged old romanticised image of everlasting love, the reality is that Valentine’s is just another opportunity to spread the promiscuous sexual freedom of the Western world.

It is a fact that Muslims living in the West and indeed those living in the Muslim world have been affected by the culture of Valentine’s day the nuances may differ from place to place but the core ideas of sexual freedom is the same.  The idea that men and women should engage in relationships before marriage in order to find their true love, the notion that sleeping with the person you will marry is fine as you have committed yourself to them.   This kind of thinking is not limited to just Valentine’s day and the young it also affects the way Muslims go about marrying their sons and daughters. It is not uncommon to see parents agreeing to allow two prospective marriage partners to go ‘out’ with each other to see if they are compatible, something Islam clearly forbids.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (SAW) said,“When a person commits fornication there goes out of him the Iman (belief) and it hovers like a canopy over his head and when he quits this act the Iman reverts to him again” [Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud].

Unlike the West which lets the emotions, desires and fantasies run riot Islam builds relationships on trust and companionship. It envelops the love for someone in the sanctity of marriage and not an overpriced Valentine’s card or gift.  For those who are awaiting marriage there are clear guidelines on how to act with restraint and sabr and not fantasies for someone in their workplace or down their street.

Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala) says, “And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His Bounty” [TMQ An- Nur: 33].

The decelerations of undying love made on valentine’s are often short lived, with marriages and relationships falling apart for the smallest reason. It is not uncommon to hear the statement “I love you but I am not ‘in’ love with you” meaning the excitement and thrill of a box of chocolates on Valentine’s is not enough anymore.
Islam builds marriage between husband and wife on trust, loyalty, and responsibility. Responsibility for each other , their community and their families making them not a doting couple but pillars of the local community.  The companionship that stems from this is a sanctuary from all the problems of the world, whether they be of a financial or personal kind. The love in an Islamic marriage is a consequence of the companionship all these things bring and not the kind of love which can only be said with materialistic things.

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them (li-taskunoo ilayha), and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.” [TMQ Ar-Rum: 21]

Camp X-ray still open for bussiness

Almost 10 years after the first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo Bay , the world has long forgotten the 171 Muslim men who still languish there. Even promises to close the detention centre by Barrack Obama have not been realised as the US administration is unable to decide about their fate. Over the years the camp has seen prisoners of all ages and nationalities. Some effectively sold to the Americans by the Pakistani government under Musharaff, others were kidnapped from around the world and brought to camp X-ray. Guantanamo highlights the hypocrisy of America and her allies who claim to be the policemen of the world, yet in truth their actions are nothing short of being criminal.

Lone hacker does what corrupt goverments can never do, take on Israel

“I want to harm Israel financially and socially,” these are alleged words of a hacker who stole the credit card numbers of 400,000 Israelis last week. The hacker known only as OxOmar hacked various Israeli commercial websites and posted details such as Credit card numbers online. The Israelis have called it an act of terrorism and promised retaliation if the perpetrator is ever caught. Israeli is a world leader in new technology development and would have thought itself immune from such an attack, however the false image of invincibility that it uses as its main propaganda tool has been shattered by a lone hacker. The only thing lacking in the Muslim world is the political will to act like OxOmar at a state level and remove the hold Israel has on Palestine and the psyche of some Muslims.

If the reports of Muammar Gaddafi ‘s death are indeed true then it brings to an end a colonial experiment that lasted over 40 years. Since a young Gaddafi came to power in 1969 the British so instrumental in his demise, have been the guardian angels for a man who for years divided political opinions. He was the champion of socialist Arab nationalism, a tyrant, and murderer of this own people. For many in the political elites of the Western world he was both friend and enemy, but always a slave to their colonial interests.

There will be much rejoicing at the news of his death amongst Libyans across the world, and who could blame them for his reign was built on pure brutality. Those who fought so bravely to defeat Gaddafi and lost so many lives along the way have every right to celebrate. However the celebration of the Western media and politicians should be viewed as nothing other than sensualist propaganda, the kind Gaddafi partook in during his 42 years in power.

It is hard to believe that the same politicians that welcomed Gaddafi back into the fold of the ‘civilised’ world  not so long ago are now so overjoyed by his demise. However this is the way of Western politics something Saddam, Ben Ali , Mubarak and now Gaddafi have all found out.  The Western policy towards the Muslim world has always been one of pursuing nothing but their interests, in the words of ex-Prime Minister Lord Palmerston “We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow”.

These are words that still ring true over 150 years after being uttered, they aptly describe the attitude the British have had towards their colonial approach to foreign policy and there is nothing to suggest this is about to change. The NATO strikes on Libyan troops, the secret forays into Benghazi by MI5 operatives and Cameron’s triumphant visit to Tripoli not so long ago all show an ideologically defeated state’s desperate attempts to relive the days of empire.

The death of Gaddafi will be seen as the an opportunity to rebuild Libya in a manner which will serve the West for as long as Gaddafi did if not longer. The colonial self congratulatory back slapping will be replaced with attempts to subvert the revolution and ensure the interests of Western corporate are put before the people of Libya.  If anything the aftermath of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars serve as testament to the kind of ‘freedom’ Western intervention brings to a people.

The truth of British sponsored rendition and torture of Muslims at the hands of Gaddafi and their complicity in his reign could easily be lost in the smokescreen of sympathy Sarkozy and Cameron have been pedalling for the last few months. The legacy of Gaddafi should not only be formed on his atrocities and tyrannical reign but on the people who give him the political strength and backing to carry out such actions. If it wasn’t for Western interference in the Muslim world the likes of Gaddafi and Mubarak would have been removed decades ago.

The lesson from Gaddafi’s fall from grace is that tyranny can be removed at the hands of the Ummah, the lesson from his legacy is that the Western world should in no circumstances be trusted in shaping the future of the Muslims.

Mohammad (saw) has warned us against the naivety of being fooled again by the West into building a future for the Muslims of Libya.  He (saw) said:

“a Muslim is not bitten from the same hole twice” [Muslim and Bukhari]

For those who remember the first Chechen war (December 1994 to August 1996) it was symbolic of the little guy teaching the big super power a lesson of a lifetime. The fact the Russians had just a few years earlier learnt such a lesson in Afghanistan didn’t seem to stop them coming back for more.

The history of conflict in Chechnya is much akin to that in Afghanistan, a honourable Muslim people continually fought by colonial enemies, but never bowed and forever firm in their will to defend their lands.  A will that led  Dzhokhar Dudayev to declare independence from Russian in 1994. The then mostly sober Yeltsin decided it was a step too far and a military operation began to bring Dudayev into line.

The Russians threw everything they had behind what was a very unpopular conflict in Russia, the thought of fighting their own people did not go down well with the Russian masses.  The battle for Chechen capital Grozny would go down in History as one of the biggest military failures of modern times. Where the Russians had military might and numbers, the Chechens has an inspirational leader in Dudayev and they had Islam.

Day after day the Russian claimed to be controlling Grozny after reducing it to rubble when the reality on the ground was hundreds of Mujahedeen shouting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ outside the Presidential palace. Russian Tanks littered the streets sent into urban warfare without adequate air support facing an enemy that would not relent.  The battle for Grozny cost Russia much, troops, tanks, helicopters and probably most costly of all its air of invincibility.

The people of Chechnya  have paid a heavy price every since no real peace has come to the region and they have been the victims of the most heinous of crimes. A much forgotten people even amongst the Muslims, Chechnya  has slowly drifted firmly into Russian control since Putin came to power.

Remembering the battle of Grozny it is sad to see Chechnya  in such a sorry political state today. The brave men who defended the city so many years ago have been replaced by a group of Russian stooges who care nothing for their own people.

The current leader of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov  a Putin favourite has just turned 35 and to celebrate his birthday, he has invited Hollywood celebrities to come party with him.  It wasn’t too long ago that he invited a host of ex-footballers to come and open a 30,000 capacity football stadium in Grozny.  With the likes of Maradona, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Alessandro Costacurta, and Luis Figo in attendance it was an all star cast.

Those celebrating his birthday with him included Hollywood actress Hilary Swank , Jean-Claude Van Damme and Vanessa Mai who was reportedly paid $500,000 just for showing up. Much has been said about such celebrities supporting a man who has a poor human rights record, the lure of big money seems to be too much for failed A-listers.

Kadyrov  the son of a treacherous father who aligned himself with the Russians is obsessed with his own self publicity rather than the affairs of the Ummah. Much like Mubarak and Gaddafi he feels he can never be taken from power, maybe one day he will learn the same lesson they did.

When asked about wasting his peoples money on his lavish lifestyle, Kadyrov replied ‘Allah gives it to us’ the arrogance is evident.  The likes of Van Damme care little about where the money comes from they are willing to do anything for it, Van Damme even went as far as saying “I love you Mr Kadyrov!”. They say money can’t buy you love but for Kadyrov it seems it can.

Kadyrov a self publicist and a man who has learnt much about preserving an image of himself from his mentor Putin should take heed of the words of Allah (swt):

“I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them.” [AL-ARAF, 146]

As for the people of Chechnya I would still like to believe they are more like the brave souls that did so much to defend Islam so many years ago. Their sacrifices may have been forgotten in this world but for Allah (swt) they will be eternal.

BBC news coverage from the time can be found here and here. (I do not in any way endorse the views of the BBC on the matter. Unfortunately there is some russian voiceovers on the videos )

In 1928 the Women’s suffrage movement in the UK finally secured the vote for women over the age of 21. This was a long struggle of almost 60 years to attain what would be used for the next eighty plus years as a battering ram to hold the rest of the world to account. The UK  was now a civilised and equal society when, there was much to be proud of, with the British empire dwindling the legacy of the suffrage was something to hold onto when it came to the false superiority complex the British has developed during the time of Empire.

The superiority complex still exists to this day and has out grown the shores of Britain, it is something that plagues most if not all of the Western world.  The savages are no longer Indian peasants who must be moulded into British officer loving Chai Wala’s, the 21^st century ‘barbarians’ are the Muslim masses.

The East India Company may be long gone but the attitude remains, especially when it comes to ‘women’s rights’ . The Muslim world is constantly lectured about its treatment of women and how their rights must be observed. Democracy is seen as the solution to all the ills of the world add to that a little liberalism and any society can be made into a modern Utopia for women.

Bearing this in mind it is not surprising that when the  Kingdom of the Saud Family announced it was planning to allow women to vote it would make news in the UK.  Cue the BBC having it as their top story with an image of a woman in Niqab, just to push home the negative stereotypes of Muslim women. Where I see a sister worshiping Allah (swt) the Western world sees a woman imprisoned by Islam.

The vote has nothing to do with how the West views women, if political participation was really the concern than a look at the Arab Spring would have removed any doubts. With women in Niqab and Hijab partaking in direct political opposition in Bahrain, Syria, Egypt , even Saudi etc   there is little doubt that Muslim women are engaged in politics. Even when the segregated demonstrations in Bahrain were broken up by British tear gas there was little concern for Muslim women getting killed.

The whole debate of women getting the vote is more to do with spreading liberalism and western values to Muslim women worldwide.  Muslim women don’t need stooges like Abduallah to give them the vote it was a right afforded to them over 1400 years ago. What Muslim women need is the correct system in which to enact that right, the Islamic system.

Liberation for all Muslims is under Islam and not some Western backed kingship. As for the image of the Muslim women in Niqab, it would be totally unfair not to respond in kind.

As the photo above shows less than 90 years after fighting for the vote British woman are dumped in the gutter along with the Kebab wrappers.

A report written by Unicef has slammed UK for failing its children due to parent’s obsession with materialism, who are paying more attention on buying their children products rather than spending quality time with them . The report comes in the same week the massive new Westfield Stratford City shopping centre opened at the 2012 Olympics site and Christmas products started appearing in stores up and down the country.

Westfield which cost in the region of £1.4 billion to build, saw 100,000 people attend its opening day spending £4 million in the first few hours of business; despite the recession consumerism is alive and kicking. It exactly this kind of love of the material products that Unicef says has come to symbolise British parenting, with parents making up for not being at home with the latest toys and designer clothing.

In a society where the reason most parents work long hours is for either personal career benefit or to be able to keep up with the Jones’, the findings of the report is no surprise. All parents are doing is trying to give the child the same feeling of elation they get from material products, the sad fact is children would rather have love than ‘things’.

There is an apparent contradiction in values the society pushes, the horror at the findings of the report contradicts the push by government to get more mothers back to work. From a very young age children are taught the true worth of a person is the career they pursue, and the material objects they acquire. This is not just coming from the parents but from the education system and society as a whole.

It is therefore little surprise that when these young people become parents they would rather pursue the career they have been told gives them worth than spend time with their own children. Add to this the selfish attitude of needing ‘me’ time that some parents have, children can quickly get put to the back of the list.

Even Unicef as an organisation in a bid to gain publicity for their organisation use celebrities who epitomise the materialistic lifestyle to promote their organisation.  These are people who have only made it in life by being rich, granted they are trying to give something back but it sadly shows that in a Capitalist society even the idea charity has to be sold to the masses.

As Muslims it can be easy to fall into the same trap that non-Muslim parents find themselves in. With work and the pursuit of a career impinging on family life. We can sometimes convince ourselves that if children are doing well at school and attending madrasa that all is well.

A good Islamic education is the foundation of any child’s upbringing and giving the concepts about life is the job of the parents and not someone else. It is easy to feel that putting them through an education at the local Mosque absolves the parents of doing anything else. Islam encourages parents to give their children a good Islamic education:

Amr bin Sa’id or Sa’id bin Al-‘As t narrated that Allah’s Messenger (saw) said,

“A father gives his child nothing better than a good education.”

(Tirmidhi 4977 and Baihaqi)

However if children see their own parents engulfed by the material things of this life then this too will shape their minds as they grow older. If the quest for the new car, the new watch and the latest gadget obsesses you then it will shape the mind of your children in the same way.

It is the unfortunate nature of living in a non-Islamic society that one of the greatest dangers to the mind of children is materialism. Whereby their actions and life goals are shaped by personal benefit and tangible pleasure.

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas, Mohammad (saw) said :

“If the son of Adam (the human being) had two valley of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam’s son except dust, and Allah forgives him who repents to Him”

Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 444

Man can never be satisfied with what the dunya provides for him, it is a lesson we should all learn and one we should teach our children. We should yearn for the day our children correct us and encourage us to become more Islamic and not for the day their good education brings them and us material benefit.

Ten years is a long time, a time in which people, nations and the world can change dramatically. One single event rarely defines the future but it can shape the proceeding years in a profound manner.