Author: Mohammed Abbasi
The Ulema, Deoband and the (Many) Talibans
The Ulema, Deoband and the (Many) Talibans By : S Akbar Zaidi Historical scholarship tends to see a continuity in the Ulema of south Asia – from the Deoband seminary in the 19th century down to the Taliban of Afghanistan and north Pakistan today. Such an assessment unfortunately ignores the discontinuities and breaks that have taken place in the traditions of Pakistani Islam. It also ignores the fact that Pakistan is increasingly influenced more by the religious influences to its west than by a south Asian identity. An assumption is made in much of the academic and scholarly literature, usually … Continue reading The Ulema, Deoband and the (Many) Talibans
Millionaire gives away fortune which made him miserable
Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away every penny of his £3 million fortune after realising his riches were making him unhappy. By Henry Samuel in Paris Published: 8:16PM GMT 08 Feb 2010 Telegraph Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away his fortune He is in the process of selling his luxury 3,455 sq ft villa with lake, sauna and spectacular mountain views over the Alps, valued at £1.4 million. He will move out of his luxury Alpine retreat into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a simple bedsit in Innsbruck Mr Rabeder, 47, a businessman from Telfs … Continue reading Millionaire gives away fortune which made him miserable
What’s this “pact with the devil” that Pat Robertson says caused Haiti’s woes?
January 19, 2010 Dear Straight Dope: What “pact with the Devil” was Pat Robertson referring to that supposedly caused the recent earthquake and most of the rest of Haiti’s historic woes? And what is the reverend’s source of exact quotes from Satan himself? — Joanne SDSTAFF JillGat replies: How Pat Robertson got so chummy with the devil is a subject I’m not getting into. However, it’s interesting that the prince of darkness speaks in colloquial U.S. English. Here’s Robertson’s account of how the diabolical deal went down, as heard on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “The 700 Club”: Something happened a … Continue reading What’s this “pact with the devil” that Pat Robertson says caused Haiti’s woes?
Is it possible to loop or roll a 747 jet?
October 27, 1978 Dear Cecil: Is it possible to roll or loop a 747 or DC-10 loaded or empty? I have a bet with my roommate and he says the wings would shear off. I say it could because otherwise they wouldn’t allow it to fly people. Cecil replies: No one has ever tried to get fancy with one of the Big Birds, but there once was a Boeing test pilot who, in a moment of frivolity, took it into his head to execute a barrel roll in a 707. He made it, but he didn’t exactly endear himself to … Continue reading Is it possible to loop or roll a 747 jet?
Can you die from picking your nose?
August 20, 1982 Dear Cecil: Is picking one’s nose harmful? Sometimes when I pick mine, nasal hairs come out with the other stuff. In light of the filtering functions I have heard ascribed to these hairs, is there any damage to the olfactories? — Leo D., Dallas Cecil replies: The chief danger of picking your nose, Leo, is that you will gross your friends out of existence and wind up as a richly-deserving social pariah. Your sense of smell is probably not in any great danger. The loss of some nose hair, whether by picking or otherwise, is normal; the … Continue reading Can you die from picking your nose?
Double standards on human rights?
Where does Amnesty International stand on women’s rights after suspending Gita Sahgal for criticising links with Moazzam Begg? Rahila Gupta guardian.co.uk The Sunday Times last week carried an article in which the head of Amnesty International’s gender unit, Gita Sahgal, was quoted criticising the organisation for its close association with Moazzam Begg. At issue, she says, are his alleged sympathies with the Taliban in Afghanistan and, through the Guantánamo prisoners campaign Cageprisoners, his work on behalf of detained al-Qaida activists. In his defence, a copy of a letter sent to the Sunday Times posted on the Cageprisoners site, Begg distances … Continue reading Double standards on human rights?
Mightier than the kirpan?
I find it hard to justify knives being allowed in schools – be they Sikh ceremonial symbols or otherwise Hardeep Singh Kohli The Guardian What do you know about Sikhism? The men wear turbans. It comes from the north-west of India. It has at its heart the five “Ks”, the kesh (long hair), kara (steel bangle worn on the right hand), kaacha (undergarment), kanga (comb) and kirpan (a ceremonial dagger); all baptised Sikhs are expected to wear the five “Ks” daily. Sikhs are regarded as the best dancers in the world. This is all unequivocally true, especially the last part. … Continue reading Mightier than the kirpan?
Pussy cats?
Chilcot will change the way Muslims see the west
If there is any hint of whitewash in the Iraq inquiry, it will only exacerbate an already inflamed situation As we watch the unfolding drama of the Chilcot inquiry, we should be aware that this is not simply an act of domestic cleansing. Whatever the implications for our political and judicial institutions, it is crucial that the British people learn how we came to go to war. But Muslims are also waiting for the outcome of the investigation, and this makes the inquiry an opportunity that we can ill afford to lose. It is simply not true that the current … Continue reading Chilcot will change the way Muslims see the west
Mohammed Abbasi 