The world’s most powerful investors have been advised to buy farmland, stock up on gold and prepare for a “dirty war” by Marc Faber, the notoriously bearish market pundit, who predicted the 1987 stock market crash. The bleak warning of social and financial meltdown, delivered today in Tokyo at a gathering of 700 pension and sovereign wealth fund managers. Dr Faber, who advised his audience to pull out of American stocks one week before the 1987 crash and was among a handful who predicted the more recent financial crisis, vies with the Nouriel Roubini, the economist, as a rival claimant … Continue reading ‘Buy farmland and gold,’ advises Dr Doom!

People around the world have been covering themselves from head-to-toe in brightly coloured powders in celebration of the Hindu Holi festival, or festival of colours, which marks the arrival of spring. The Indian city of Mumbai today exploded with a riot of pink, red, green and yellow as revellers took to the streets and temples to cover each other with the abir pigment. The Holi, which dates back to the seventh century, traditionally takes place on the day of a full moon in the month of Phalgun (March in the Gregorian calendar. The colours represent the triumph over evil in … Continue reading HAPPY HOLI – Colour runs riot at Hindu Holi festival

Sheikh Salman al-Oadah I went on an outing with my children. Our main intention was to swim and for the children to have their fair share of recreation and of my quality time. It was also a chance fir me as a father, to have my rightful share of the joy of being with my children, for truly we need our children as much as they need us, if not more. I found myself busy on that day with all sorts of little tasks – like making sandwiches, setting the picnic table, and handing out sweets. It was a beautiful … Continue reading The Many Facets of Happiness

Imam Zaid Shakir- Thomas Friedman: Prisoner in a Glass House In a recent New York Times Op-ed entitled “www.jihad.com”, Thomas Friedman states that Muslims lack the moral courage to condemn the murderous outrages of “jihadi” extremists. Part of the reason for this moral failure, in his view, is because the West has not demanded that Muslims take responsibility for their societies, beginning with a strong condemnation of their violent extremists. Without such a condemnation, coupled with concerted action, America’s efforts to rebuild the Muslim world in her image will prove a futile endeavor. Mr. Friedman posits that very few Muslim political … Continue reading Muslims are challenging Extremists – Its time you challenged your own extremists!

This is the second part of a three part rebuttal of Robert Spencer on the topic of dhimmitude.  Check out part 1 here, here, and here. This article is lovingly dedicated to my sweetheart, Robert Spencer. The Conspiracy During the Middle Ages, a forged document–known as the Pact of Umar–came into existence; it stipulated certain very restrictive conditions that governed the lives of non-Muslims living under Islamic rule.  Robert Spencer outlines these humiliating conditions: This Pact is worth close examination, because it became the foundation for Islamic law regarding the treatment of the dhimmis. With remarkably little variation, throughout Islamic history whenever Islamic law … Continue reading The Protocols of the Elders of Mecca; The Final Word on the Pact of Umar!

The new US defence logo has provoked controversy on the internet after right wing commentators said it resembles the Islamic crescent and star design. As well as resembling the Islamic flag, it has been said to bear a “scary” likeness to the campaign symbol President Barack Obama used in the electoral race against Senator John McCain in 2008, according to right-leaning blogs and websites. The circular red, white and blue sign, which has also been compared to the communist hammer and sickle symbol, first appeared on the Missile Defense Agency’s website in the Autumn. It was designed by TMP Government, a … Continue reading US defence logo is Islamic Crescent and Star! Christian Fanatics run scared

We will defeat the terrorists. Our security is backed up by democracy and a strong economy When I was elected president more than a year ago, Pakistan was in a grave condition, strained by terrorism and a ravaged economy. Countering the effects of a decade of dictatorship requires bold actions, some of which are unpopular. I am working with parliament to run a country, not a political campaign. The goal of our democratic government is to implement policies that will dramatically improve the lives of Pakistanis. In time, good policies will become good politics. Our economic crisis demanded an unprecedented response. On … Continue reading In Pakistan we are fighting for our lives

Holi brought colour and music (not always without the admixture of the mildly intoxicating bhang) and allowed Indians in and beyond the Indo-Gangetic plains to transit from harsh winters to harsher summers. —AP Photo In the early days of the Indian republic, the end of February and beginning of March would usher the humming of Kaafi and Piloo on the radio, in the temples, in parks and auditoriums. For as long as one can remember, the two ragas have been associated with the singing of perennially magical Holi songs, which celebrate the romance of the impish god Krishna and his … Continue reading A depoliticised democracy begins to breed fascism

An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sâbireen wa Dhâkirat by TaHa Publications The Definition of Patience Sabr is an Arabic word which comes from a root meaning to detain, refrain and stop. There is an expression in Arabic, “so-and-so was killed sabran,” which means that he was captured and detained until he died. In the spiritual sense, patience means to stop ourselves from despairing and panicking, to stop our tongues from complaining, and to stop our hands from striking our faces and tearing our clothes at times of grief and stress. What scholars have said about patience Some … Continue reading Sabr ( Patience ) By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Farooq Sulehria The Supreme Court of Bangladesh, on January 3, not only bucked an apparently prevalent trend in the Muslim world, but also dismissed a stereotype: Islam’s incompatibility with secular democracy. By ordering a ban on the abuse of religion for political purposes, the court paved the way for a secular Bangladesh as envisaged in the constitution framed by the country’s founding fathers back in 1972. Bangladesh was once East Pakistan, a province that commanded numerical majority in Pakistan. From the point of view of the feudalist ruling elite from Punjab, East Pakistan was swayed by dangerous ideas such as … Continue reading Muslim Secularism triumphs?