Obama's Israel Problem

What is it about Israel that causes the American president and politicians to be afraid of criticising Israeli policies? 
By: Ian Buruma

On a rare foray outside his native Texas, Governor Rick Perry accused US President Barack Obama of "appeasement" towards the Palestinians.
Former New York City Mayor Edward Koch supported a Catholic Republican congressional candidate against a Jewish Democrat in New York, because the Republican supports Israel through thick and thin - and because Obama had voiced reservations about Israel's expansion of settlements on the West Bank. In Koch's words, Obama "threw Israel under the bus". The Republican won.

Growing Frustration in Egypt

Egyptians are becoming increasingly angry and frustrated about the slow pace of political change. The July 14 statement by Jose Manuel Barroso, head of a visiting European Union delegation, that the revolution "is not over yet...and is facing many challenges" captured the mood. Since July 8, the "Day of Persistence," protesters have continued sit-ins in three major cities. And on July 12, Maj. Gen. Mohsen al-Fangari of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued a stern warning against continued "disruptions to public order," which only aggravated the situation.

Why Mubarak's Trial Could Mean the End of Egypt's Youth Revolution

The trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is being hailed as a landmark moment in Arab, if not world, history. And, in a certain sense, it is. The image of the once indomitable dictator wheeled into a courtroom on a gurney, flanked by the sons who might have been his heirs, but are now his co-defendants, affirms the primary achievement of Egypt's revolt: namely, Mubarak's ouster. For many Egyptians, the January uprising was always about ending Mubarak's stifling 30-year rule and preventing him from pharaonically installing his son Gamal as his successor.

The evils of unregulated capitalism

Remedy for the US economy: end the wars, rein in military and drug costs, and raise taxes - at least on the very rich.
Just a few years ago, a powerful ideology - the belief in free and unfettered markets - brought the world to the brink of ruin. Even in its hey-day, from the early 1980s until 2007, US-style deregulated capitalism brought greater material well-being only to the very richest in the richest country of the world.
Indeed, over the course of this ideology's 30-year ascendance, most Americans saw their incomes decline or stagnate year after year.

The Month of Rajab - Part 3 - Innovations in the Month of Rajab

Bid’ah and innovations in the month of Rajab

 

Innovation in religion is one of the serious matters which go against the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not die until after the religion had been perfected. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

  

“… This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” [al-Maa’idah 5:3]

Islam and slavery

I often hear Christian missionaries criticizing Islam and accusing it because Islam permitted slavery, and saying that this is a transgression against man’s freedom and rights.

How can we respond to these people?

 

Praise be to Allaah.

 

Discussing slavery and asking questions about it on the part of those who promote Christianity and try to divert people from following the religion of Islam is something that annoys the wise person and makes him point the finger of accusation towards the ulterior motives that lie behind these questions.  

That is because slavery is well established in Judaism and Christianity, where it has taken unjust forms.

They have many books which discuss that in detail and condone it.

 Therefore it makes you wonder: how can these churchmen call people to Christianity when Christianity condones and legitimizes slavery? 

In other words: how can they stir up an issue when they themselves are up to their necks in it?! 

The issue of slavery is completely different when discussed from the angles of Christianity and Islam, and when compared with the situation that prevailed at the advent of Islam. 

Hence we must discuss this topic in some detail with reference to what is said in Judaism, Christianity and contemporary culture on this matter, then we will speak of slavery in Islam. 

Many lies have been fabricated about Islam on this topic, at a time when criminals with lengthy track records are safe and nobody points a finger at them. 

Sufism and Quantum Physics

There are parallels in Sufism and in quantum theory. A view of the world is very similar to the views, held by Sufis and modern physicists. In contrast to the mechanistic world view of the Westerners, for the Sufis all things and events perceived by the senses are interrelated, connected, and are but different aspects or manifestations of the same ultimate reality. For Sufis “Enlightenment” is an experience to become aware of the unity and mutual interrelation of all things, to transcend the notion of an isolated individual self, and to identify themselves with the ultimate reality.