Ulfah of the Noble

Truth revealed??

2009-01-25T22:19:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to write something on Islamic concept of Siyasah for quite some time, but I just couldn't find the time..and till now I am still not ready to dive into such heavy topic of discussion without being backed up by extensive and vast amount of literatures and proof. Yes, yes I do have the gross structure of how the discussion is going to be. Time, time that is all i need (sigh). And it would be my reply to a comment from someone towards my article on Islamic leadership.

In simple words, Siyasah means politic and politic means leadership. I'm not trying to bring in the issue of any political PARTIES, but enough said that politic is all about strategy and influence; whereby one create strategies, lay out the plans and influence people to act according to his conscience.

If I am allowed to give my humble comment on the recent SRC General Election, it is a good example of in-campus politic. It's not a secret anyway that the candidates influence the people to elect him/ her to be a leader
because he/she thinks he has the capability to be a leader. No doubt he has his own mission & aim to become a leader, and no doubt he will use his charms to make sure others will
look at the world through his eyes and internalize the very same dreams he has.

Sounds evil though, but that is the reality of politic (haha). It's not evil actually. What's wrong in it when the leader is a Muslim and aspire to place Islam at it's rightful place, lead the ummah to worship Allah and such???...
Indeed,nothing wrong in it.. But regarding the method of choosing a leader in Islam, I'll elaborate some other time insyaAllah

And regarding the enquiries which I have received, questioning the relationship between me and SRC.. umm let us just put that matter to rest, believing that probably this time around, we are not destined to be together :)

A monstrous failure of justice!

2009-01-23T13:34:00.000-08:00

From Wiki..

Guanatanamo Bay is a bay located in the southeast of Cuba . It is the largest harbor on the south side of the island and is surrounded by steep hills creating an enclave cut off from its immediate hinterland.

1903 Cuban-American Treaty: USA assumed territorial control over Guantánamo Bay under the , which granted the USA a perpetual lease of the area.

The current Cuban government considers the U.S. presence in Guantánamo to be illegal and the Cuban-American Treaty to have been procured by the threat of force in violation of international law

1898: Establishment of The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, surrounds the southern portion of the bay. Since 2002 the base has hosted a detainment camp for suspected militant combatants from Afghanistan and from around the world, but specifically not for captives taken in Iraq, who qualify for POW (Prisoner of War) status.

The detainees have been classified by the United States as "enemy combatants."

A report from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of several activities which, it said, were "tantamount to torture":

exposure to loud noise or music, prolonged extreme temperatures, or beatings.

It also reported that a Behavioral Science Consultation Team (BSCT), also called 'Biscuit,' and military physicians communicated confidential medical information to the interrogation teams (weaknesses, phobias, etc.), resulting in the prisoners losing confidence in their medical care.

April 2004: Cuban diplomats tabled a United Nations resolution calling for a UN investigation of Guantanamo Bay

29 June 2009: After claims were made that detainees were not entitled to any of the protections of the Geneva Conventions, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Hamdan v. Rumsfeldthat they were entitled to the minimal protections listed under its Common Article 3.

May 2007: Martin Scheinin, a United Nations rapporteur on rights in countering terrorism, released a preliminary report for the United Nations Human Rights Council. The report stated the United States violated international law, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

2008: Presidential campaign, Barack Obama described Guantanamo as a "sad chapter in American history" and promised to close down the prison in 2009. After being elected, President Obama reiterated his campaign promise on 60 Minutes and the ABC program "This Week."

12 January 2009: Associated Press reported that Obama plans to issue an executive order during his first week as president to close the detention center, although the closure may not be complete within his first 100 days as president. The fate of the remaining inmates would then be determined.

20 January 2009: President Obama stated that in fact he would sign the documents to close Guantanamo Bay,

Midnight on 21 January 2009: P.Obama ordered the government to suspend prosecutions of Gitmo detainees for 120 days in order to review all the detainees cases to determine whether and how each detainee should be prosecuted.

22 January 2009: President Obama signed an Executive Order stating that Gitmo would in fact be closed within a year

So why is the Guantamo Bay Detainee Camp is such an important issue to us Muslims?....

Stunned by the Q~

2009-01-13T02:23:00.000-08:00

Daripada Abu Musa r.a. (Allah telah meredhainya) katanya: Aku dan dua orang lelaki dari kaumku telah masuk kepada Nabi s.a.w.. Salah seorang daripada dua lelaki berkenaan berkata: Lantiklah kami menjadi ketua wahai Rasulullah!. Yang seorang lagi juga berkata demikian. Lalu baginda bersabda: “Sesungguhnya kami tidak melantik dalam urusan ini sesiapa yang memintanya atau bercita-cita untuk mendapatkannya” *Bukhari & Muslim

Hadis nombor 1897 kitab Terjemahan Hadis Sahih Bukhari Jilid I,II, III dan IV;

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a. dari Nabi s.a.w., baginda bersabda: “Sesungguhnya kamu sangat mengaharapkan jabatan pemerintahan, tetapi di hari kiamat hal itu menjadi penyesalan. Amat baik perempuan yang menyusukan anaknya dan amat buruk perempuan yang berhenti menyusukannya”.

A question was fired at me : "If you were given a post, would you COMMIT?"
Confidently I answered "Accepting a post means accepting an amanah (trust). Not fulfilling an amanah indicates munafiq. I am a muslim thus I will commit"

It was not until the next morning, when I was actually stunned by the Question!! How could I unshakenly answer that way when I don't even know my true capability??

Many people accept a post for power. Many people accept a post for money. Many people accept a post for influence. Many people accept a post for glamour. Many people accept a post to satisfy their ego. Many people...

How many people accept a post with the sense of humbleness and worry? How many people are alarmed merely by the Day of Judgement, when and where all his responsibilities will be investigated in great details?...

Ya Allah protect me from being a self-destroyer..

Ada apa dengan Khaybar??

2009-01-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

Castle of the tribe head

Fortresses of Khaybar..

Battlefield of Rasulullah and the muslims

Khaibar Khaibar Ya Yahud Jaisyu Muhammad Saufa Yaud
kHAYBAR KHAYBAR O jEWS, THE ARMY OF MUHAMMAD WILL RETURN

or

khaybar khaybar ya sahyun, hizbullah qadimun
kHAYBAR KHAYBAR O YOU ZIONISTS, ALLAH'S PARTY IS COMING!!

The first one is a chant that is very famous nowadays especially when the issue of Palestine attack quickly climbs the list of 'hot topics of the day'.. although i am sure they don't gossip about this in the hair saloons. But I did wonder why Khaybar??

What is Khaybar?
An oasis lying about 95 miles (150 km) north of Medina (ancient Yathrib), Saudi Arabia. It included several Jewish town, the largest Jewish settlement in Saudi Arabia

Who are the residents of Khaybar and what do they do for living?
The Jewish Banu Nadir tribe of Medina, expelled from Medina about 625, moved to Khaybar. They were a rich community of traders, farmers, and manufacturers of silk garments, metal work implements and weapons.

When did Khaybar fall into the hands of Muslimeen?
In 628 Rasulullah conquered Khaybar and put to death many of its leaders. He took a wife, Saffiya, from Khaybar, after beheading her husband Kinana al Rabi of the Bani Nadir. Kinana was killed after being tortured to learn the location of the treasures of Khaybar

Were the Jews allowed to stay in Khaybar?
Rasulullah allowed some Jews to live there, supposedly exacting a tribute of 50% of their crops. In 642, the caliph Umar expelled many of the Jews of Khaybar, but a Jewish community persisted there, especially around Katiba at least until the twelfth century.

How did Battle of Khaybar started?
The jews breached the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah by bribing Arabian tribes to go to war against Muslims.

Some facts on Battle of Khaybar, please??
1800 Muslims against vs 10 000 Jews! But the Jews were defeated, with Allah's permission. Rasulullah met with Ibn Abi al-Huqaiq, al-Katibah and al-Watih to discuss the terms of surrender; the Jews of Khaybar were to evacuate the area, and surrender their wealth. The Muslims, would cease warfare, and not hurt any of the Jews. After the agreement some Jews approached Rasulullah, with a request to continue to cultivate their fine orchards, and remain in the oasis. In return, they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. Rasulullah accepted the proposal.He also ordered the restitution to the Jews of their holy scriptures.

What is the significance of Islam's victory in the Battle of Khaybar?
The agreement with the Jews of Khaybar served as an important precedent for Islamic Law in determining the status of dhimmis, (non-Muslims under Muslim rule)

Read more on battle of Khaybar here

IIUM Mega Assembly- Palestine

2009-01-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

Zionism established

2009-01-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

On January 9 1976, Muslims cried when Israel opened the third illegal settlement in five weeks in Syria’s Golan Heights, which Israel had occupied since 1967. 33 years later which is today; 9th January 2009 again the Muslims cry when it marks the 14th day thousands of Palestinians were killed following the Israeli attack on Gaza. Throughout the historical 33 years, the Muslim land (Palestine) was cruelly taken away by Israel bit by bit, immortalizing a very heart-breaking series of events in the Muslim Ummah’s calendar.

The UN Human Rights Council commented on this by saying "Israel is committing a shocking series of atrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenceless population - attacking a population that has been enduring a severe blockade for many months."

As true Muslims, we regret America’s decision to support Israil’s brutality. As true muslims, we lament over other superpowers’ stand who choose to keep quiet and be indifferent towards this delicate matter.

Are we expecting the kuffar to show some degree of sympathy and empathy to the Muslims with the sole reason of humanity? If yes, then truly we are not heeding what Allah has clearly stated in the Quran in Surah Baqarah verse 120

And the Jews will not be pleased with you, nor the Christians until you follow their religion. Say: Surely Allah's guidance, that is the (true) guidance. And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper

At a glance, the very idea of defeating Israel seems like an extremely impossible mission to be carried out. Definitely, a rational mind cannot give an intelligent reasoning as to how worthless rocks and stones could ever beat the vicious tissue-damaging high speed bullets? How could explosive nuclear power be shielded by fragile thin film of dusts that fill the air of Gaza? How could starving Palestinians fight ferocious Israel soldiers? But, Allah firmly states in Surah Anfal verse 65--.

It is obviously wrong to leave our Palestinian brothers and sisters to endure the torture, while we close our eyes in ignorance to their suffering and agony. However it is also unintelligent if all the Muslims from around the globe travel to Gaza to engage in a physical battle with Israel. We need to understand our responsibilities and we need to have a sound strategy in approaching this matter. Thus few methods of helping the Palestinians have been identified which include
-excellently fulfilling our moral (akhlaq), social and academic responsibilities
-giving strong financial support to Palestine
-boycotting product and services from Israel (e.g banking)
-OIC members should stop using American dollar
-Muslim Ummah has to be truly aware that unity is important and disunity is perilous
-making sure the invaders are brought to justice

We should firmly belief in Allah’s promises and bear in our minds that we are the agent of change. Palestine belongs to the Muslims but we are the one who should strive to ensure it will not be taken away from us.

IIUM GRAND ASSEMBLY

2009-01-07T16:41:00.001-08:00

Hayek

2009-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a talk given by Bro Mior. He introduced us to a thinker and an author of many political and economical books. Very much interested to find out more about him, I search for any information regarding this man and his books and I found a synopsis from University of Sheffield's web:

Hayek has been one of the key liberal thinkers of the twentieth century. He has also been much misunderstood. His work has crossed disciplines - economics, philosophy and political science - and national boundaries. He was an early critic of Keynes, and became famous in the 1940s for his warnings that the advance of collectivism in western democracies was the road to serfdom. He was a key figure in the post-war revival of free market liberalism and achieved renewed notoriety and some political influence in the 1970s and 1980s as one of the chief intellectual inspirations for the New Right in Britain and the United States.

This book traces Hayek's intellectual formation in Austrian economics and English liberalism. It analyzes the main themes of his thought such as the idea of a market order, the nature of knowledge, the limits of government, and his critiques of socialism and conservatism, and assesses the originality and internal coherence of his account of liberalism and modernity as well as his interventions in policy debates. It argues that Hayek the social scientist has to be disentangled from Hayek the ideologue in order to appreciate the importance and implications of some of his insights into the nature of modern societies.

Theory of Capital
The Road to Serfdom
Socialism and War
The Fortunes of Liberalism
The Trend of Economic Thinking
Essays on Political Economists and Economic History
The Fatal Conceit

Different orientation..

2009-01-04T03:16:00.000-08:00

2008-12-26T23:34:00.000-08:00

Have We not expanded thee thy breast?-
And removed from thee thy burden
The which did gall thy back?-
And raised high the esteem (in which) thou (art held)?
So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief:
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour hard,
And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention.

Have We not expanded for you your breast,
And taken off from you your burden,
Which pressed heavily upon your back,
And exalted for you your esteem?
Surely with difficulty is ease.
With difficulty is surely ease.
So when you are free, nominate.
And make your Lord your exclusive object.

Bukankah Kami telah melapangkan bagimu: dadamu (wahai Muhammad serta mengisinya dengan iman dan hidayah petunjuk) ?
Dan Kami telah meringankan daripadamu: bebanmu (menyiarkan Islam) -
Yang memberati tanggunganmu, (dengan memberikan berbagai kemudahan dalam melaksanakannya)?
Dan Kami telah meninggikan bagimu: sebutan namamu (dengan mengurniakan pangkat Nabi dan berbagai kemuliaan)?
Oleh itu, maka (tetapkanlah kepercayaanmu) bahawa sesungguhnya tiap-tiap kesukaran disertai kemudahan,
(Sekali lagi ditegaskan): bahawa sesungguhnya tiap-tiap kesukaran disertai kemudahan.
Kemudian apabila engkau telah selesai (daripada sesuatu amal soleh), maka bersungguh-sungguhlah engkau berusaha (mengerjakan amal soleh yang lain),
Dan kepada Tuhanmu sahaja hendaklah engkau memohon (apa yang engkau gemar dan ingini).