Muslims and Christians in Mindanao

I got a call from my mom on Monday, August 18 early in the morning. "Was attacked Kolambogan!" and finally my mom woke me up. The last days across the nation have seen how the forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front attacked the city of Cotabato, and there was no news of possible attacks in other parts of Mindanao especially Lanao. These attacks are related to the Muslim group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who wants to control and recover Mindanao from the Philippine Government.

Islam and Christianity

The Philippines has been referred to as the first nation Christian in Asia; brought by the Spaniards who colonized the country for more than 300 years. For hundreds of years, Spanish influences were adopted by Filipino natives in their own culture of food to the language. Each student in the Philippines say that Catholicism is the best gift that gave the Spanish colonizers.

However, not all Filipinos are Catholic or Christian, the majority of non-Christian Filipinos are Muslims. And the majority of Filipino Muslims live in Mindanao. Islam was introduced to the country much before that Ferdinand Magellan set foot on the Islands, and the early Filipinos were Muslims. It is the reason for the majority of Muslims in Mindanao is that the Spaniards were not able to colonize the area.

Mindanao, unlike other places in the Philippines is a big part of the mass of the Earth; While most of the Philippines Islands. It was therefore very difficult for settlers to have total control of Mindanao which he left to Muslims only. For years, Muslims live and controlled the entire Mindanao area, it is not until the beginning of the 1950s.

The coming of Christians

After the second world war; When the rest of the country was in crisis and devastation, Mindanao was opened to Christians to migrate. Referred as the "land of promise", Mindanao was the perfect place to start their lives all over again. The provinces of Bohol, Capiz Ilocos Christians for example received and hopes to improve themselves.

Christians began to buy land of Muslims who sold their properties at a very small price. It is not a surprise to see many Christian families, taking a large piece of land where planted crops such as rice and coconut. But peace does not lie, shortly after that Christians and Muslims fought each other.

Conflict in Mindanao

Muslims are worried about the fact that Christians became wealthy, but his own people became poor or poor. Christians began to control agriculture and other industries s as well as the policy of Mindanao, Muslims are now aware of the inequality between them and Christians.

Conflict began with land grabbing between camps, theft of crops and many others. Cases of Muslim raids each houses of money and again emerged from cruelty. Soon, civil Christians formed groups to deal with Muslims the most notorious group, "Ilaga" meaning "Rat". This and other anti-Muslim underground groups in the Philippines undertake to stop the Muslim Mindanao cruelties with some cleaning resorted to ethnic. This is one of the reasons why some Mindanao provinces are "Christianised" while others are Muslim. Take as an example, Lanao is divided into North and South (South); most of the residents of Lanao del Norte are Christians, while the South are Muslims.

Muslim sentiment

It is unfair to Muslims to be blamed for all the terrorism in Mindanao. They themselves are victims, and most of them tries to live a harmonious live with Christians. Muslims who want to avoid the conflict in Mindanao even moved to other parts in the Philippines such as Cebu and Manila and entered the trade to support their families. Always surface would be news of meeting Christian and Muslims, Muslims would feel anxious that will be to blame. Muslim civilians even help Christians by telling some news of future attacks by Muslim rebels.

Valerie is a freelance article writer. More Valerie articles in your site, please visit http://www.valcaulin.com

Do Muslims to reflect on the media of Social communication: is Facebook Haram?

In today's modern world, social media is very powerful and has an inspiring influence in the way we communicate and connect, and because it has impacted our society deeply, Muslims began to wonder about whether using some of its application like Facebook is haram (forbidden), mostly because the way our brothers and sisters commonly use it today. So, is Facebook haram?

Well, the counter question to ask is how do you use Facebook? In Islam, both the concepts of halal (lawful deeds) and haram (unlawful deeds) are crystal clear. Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him) said: "That which is Halal is clear and that which is Haram is clear, and between the two of them are ambiguous (mutashabihat) matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids ambiguous matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into ambiguous matters (eventually) falls into that which is Haram... Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah's sanctuary is His prohibitions..."

So, haram is clear, and Muslims "Facebookers" need to think deeply and ask themselves: What kinds of activities do they engage in on Facebook? Do they spend most of their time on Facebook watching "hot" pictures of their friends or they just simply read news and current events as they pop in on their newsfeed? What is their heart telling them about their deeds? Do they feel that their deeds from the later are pure and halal or do they have some doubt from the other part of their mind telling them that their deeds from the former is a little bit stain with some dirt of haram? It's very simple for Muslims to take note, logically, on whether they are on a good or bad track.

Again, Muslims need to ask themselves-why they are using Facebook. Does it derives any importance to their lives here in Dunya (the present world) or will it derives any reward for them later on Al-Aakhira (the hereafter)? Part of what makes a good Muslim is rationality-doing everything for the benefit of himself and his society.

Facebook has some benefits. Ayahs, hadiths, and Islamic resources can be easily updated on a Muslim's page and lo and behold, millions of people can view it and, hey, who knows, a Christian or an unbeliever may learn some teachings from the religion. Islamic pages such as Ayah of the Day, Hadith of the Day, and Jannah are some of the few pages that update Islamic resources on Facebook. In essence, please your heart with pure (halal) actions whether it's on Facebook or on twitter, and avoid doing any haram. Part of these harams include: uploading your "hot" pictures and flirting with random friends. So, as a Muslim, do you ponder over using Facebook? If yes, then go with your conscious and quit: it is haram.

Suhaib Mohammed is a freelance writer who writes on different niche. You can browse through his blog: http://www.suhaib7.wordpress.com to read on similar topic or a totally different one.

Everything about Muslims

There are thousands of millions of people of different races, cultures and nationalities around the world, all joined by the Islamic faith. It may be approximately 18% of Muslims in the Arab world, but Indonesia has one of the largest communities, and also found in important areas of Asia. Muslims can be also found in most of Africa, while significant minorities can be found in China, the Soviet Union, Europe, North America and South America.

What are the beliefs of Muslims?
These people believe in one, Incomparable Dios; his angels; the prophets who brought revelations to the humanity of God; persons responsible for their actions and the day of judgment; life after death and the total power of God about the fate of human beings. Muslims also believe in a sequence of prophets beginning with Adam and then include Noah, Ismael, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Joseph, job, Aaron, Moses, David, Elijah, Solomon, Jonah, John the Baptist and Jesus. Without however the last message of God to humanity, a reconfirmation of the eternal message-, as well as a summary of everything that happened before they were revealed through Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad.

What is meaning of Islam?
Islam is an Arabic word that means submission and is derived from a word meaning peace. From a religious perspective, this means complete submission to the will of God. The name of the Arab God is Allah, and this is used by Muslim Arabs as well as Christian believers.

To some people, Islam might seem extreme or unusual in modern society. This could be mainly because religion does not control the daily life throughout the West today, while Muslims always have religion in their minds and won't no division between sacred and secular. These people believe that the Sharis, which is the divine law, must be taken seriously and has by religion-related issues will continue to be very important.

How can an individual be a Muslim?
Declaring these words "there is no God apart from Dios, Muhammad is the Messenger of God." As a result of this statement, the believer will announce his belief in all the messengers of God, as well as the Scriptures that offer.

What is a Ka'ba?
This is a place of worship where God commanded Ishmael and Abraham to build more than 4 thousand years ago. This building had been built with stone in what seems most like the original location of a shrine that was created by Adam. Abraham was commanded by God to call all humans to go to this place and always pilgrims visit this place today would repeat the answer that Abraham made this call.

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Iraq Guerra - its impact on Muslims

Muslims and Christians have a history of conflict. Over the past decades when United States was wanted by the Nations of the Middle were thought to reduce conflicts. But the full support of United States that Israel has become suspect in the eyes of Muslims in the world. What impact on the Iraq war had Muslims around the world?

The war in Iraq was initiated with the purpose of finding the destruction en masse. It ended with the death of Saddam Hussein. After the United States decided to have democracy in Iraq. But didn't know how to do it. Can export democracy? Tried to United States of. It is still trying to. But it is only resulting from the war between Shiites and Sunnis. As a result Shiites and Sunnis around the world are blaming United States for the deaths of the Muslims. United States is known as an enemy of Muslims for no reason.

Muslims around the world have allegiances that cross the borders of the nation. Muslims empathize with others. Call for Jihad and are willing to kill those who believe that they are destroying Islam. Why educated Muslims be confused about the West is always an enigma for me.? What they want from the West is unknown to me. If you ask Muslims about what exactly they want from others, you can get confusing answers. The right path to must be live peacefully with others. But because some of them believe that West want to destroy Islam who are fighting a war.

The correct idea must be so that the United States make a Council of Muslim Nations and ask them which resolved the problem in Iraq. But it is easier said then done. The common Muslim think differently from the rulers. Also the rulers around Islamic countries do not want to splash in Iraq. If the new President can create peace in Iraq will be worth watching. It seems difficult.

The author writes text messages and advises and consults for content of social network myspace comments and myspace graphics.

The holy month of Ramadan - appealed to Muslims

The month of blessing has arrived again. This is the month of happiness and loads of blessings and unlimited bounties for all the Muslims globally from our Almighty Allah. It is the advent of a month that is filled with immeasurable blessings; the thirty days which necessitate a Muslim to observe one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting. This month helps all the Muslims to abstain themselves from all the bad deeds and to develop good habits in them.

Life is full of challenges and we confront it on regular basis. But Islam has given us a true bounty of Ramadan to meet the challenges with courage and confidence. Where this blessed month brings a chance for all the Muslims to change their habits and to develop good deeds, it also brings a chance to ask for forgiveness.

According to Allah, the gates of Heaven are thrown open, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained in this month. Our Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said,

"When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of Hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of Paradise are opened and not one of them is locked; and a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come forward, and you who desire evil, refrain.' Some are freed from Hell by Allah, and that happens every night." (Tirmidhi).

Another proposal of this month is the act of fasting, which was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Fasting is obligatory for all the Muslims. Fasting develops the skills of self-restraint and self-control in an individual, as the person fasting does not only have to abstain from food and drink, but s/he must also refrain from many other things: backbiting, gossiping, bad deeds, using abusive language etc.

The Prophet said, "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink" (Bukhari).

The observance of fasting during Ramadan constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. The experience of fasting is intended to teach Muslims self-discipline and self-restraint, and understand a little of the plight of the less privileged (e.g., the hungry, thirsty and the poor). Furthermore, Ramadan fasting is not just about disciplining the body to refrain from eating and drinking from pre-dawn until sunset, but is also about exerting control over the mind. This involves restraining anger, doing good deeds, exercising personal discipline, and preparing one to serve as a good Muslim and a good person. Fasting during Ramadan is prescribed for every healthy, adult Muslim whereas the weak, the sick, children, travelers and menstruating women are among those exempted. Muslims observing the fast are required to abstain not only from eating food and drinking water, but also from consuming oral medicines and injecting intravenous nutritional fluids.

The aim of fasting is to get spiritual happiness besides material welfare and to explore a true sense of happiness within us. This month is a blessed month and gives us a message to be pious to to get closer to Allah.

In the Quran, Allah says:

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you that ye may ward off (evil) (2:183).

Fasting is an action, which, we are told, will act as a shield for us when we most need it.

Allah's Apostle said,

"Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins" (Bukhari).

Ramadan is the month, when all the Muslims should have to pay their yearly Zakat from whatever he/she has earned. Paying Zakat is obligatory in Islam and every one has to follow its procedure strictly. Care for the poor relatives, neighbors and other deprived people is also ordained upon the Muslims in the form of Zakat. A small portion of wealth, left accumulated in the previous year, is to be distributed among the deserving people, thus creating a sense of gratitude among the rich towards the Almighty and at the same time a sense of fulfillment among the under-privileged towards the Almighty, as well as a sense of brotherhood towards the giver of the charity.

Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

"There is Zakat applicable to everything, and the Zakat of the body is fasting" (Tirmidhi).

Fasting also fill in Muslims, the spirit of charity. Abstaining from food and drink gives a firsthand experience to the more privileged as to what the less fortunate may have to endure the year around. Hence, it encourages us to donate more to charity and to give out of the wealth to those who cannot afford the same luxuries that they do.

Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said,

"He who gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast, or who equips a fighter, will have a reward equivalent to his" (Tirmidhi).

Fasting is pure worship. The fact that he is abstaining from food and drink both in public and in secret shows his honest faith and strong love of Allah, and his knowledge and feeling that Allah is all-knowing of everything. For this reason Allah has made the reward for fasting greater than for any other type of worship. Fasting promotes the passions for patience, humility and a sense of submission to the Creator. Additional prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran and the regular prayers is rewarded manifold. The chief merit of Fasting is that it is an act based upon pure love and devotion to Allah and there is not an iota of show and exhibition of one's piety in it. The act of fasting is completely hidden from the view of the people and this is a moral training for the next whole year.

Achieving Taqwa is one of the most important wisdom of fasting. Fasting brings on Taqwa as it lessens the desire of the stomach and mutes the sexual appetite. Whoever fasts frequently would overcome these two desires more easily. Strengthening willpower and acquiring patience.

We should fear Allah and obey His every Command throughout this month. Fasting is never done for any material or worldly gain. Fasting is done mainly for the spiritual upliftment. It develops "Taqwa" in Muslims. The Prophet (PBUH) called Ramadan the month of patience as it increases one's will power to control his desire and the selfishness of his soul. This training allows him to be strong in following Allah's commands.

Yet another blessing of this month is that every good deed done in it, whether it be good to others or reciting the Quran, carries an extra weight of blessings

The Prophet said, "(Allah says about the fasting person),

'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times'" (Bukhari).

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Ameen, ameen, ameen." It was said, "Messenger of Allah, you climbed up on the minbar and said, "Ameen, ameen, ameen." He said, "Jibrael (peace be upon him), came to me and said, "Whoever witnesses the month of Ramadan and is not forgiven, so he enters Hell, may Allah cast him away. Say Ameen." So I said Ameen."

Another factor, which distinguishes Ramadan from other months, is the advent of the Night of Power or Lailat-ul-Qadr. The Night of Power is said to be the one in which Allah writes the decree of His creation. In verses three to five 5 of Surah Al-Qadr, God says:

"The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn."

The month of Ramadan is a chance to make up for the time lost around the year in other work and revert to Allah, beg forgiveness for the sins done around the year, and finally, a chance to better the life waiting in the Hereafter. It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Emaan, purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him.

All those who have performed their spiritual duties towards the Creator and the created and have accomplished the mission ordained upon them in this month, have got every right to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, as a day of successful culmination, but of course, not before paying Fitra, a simple obligatory gesture of kindness towards the poor, to enable them to enjoy the holy day.

Children must be encouraged to start fasting at an early age to begin the regiment and instill desire.

Common Errors made during Ramadan

Excessive spending: Ramadan should be a time to avoid being wasteful, and learning to be prepared in facing harder times by distinguishing the needs from the luxuries. Unfortunately, many people go beyond their limits to spend during Ramadan, whether in the varieties of food that they savor each night, or by the other types of spending.

Staying awake during the night and sleeping during the day: Meditation for soul upliftment can be practiced in the month of Ramadan with determination. Some people sleep during most of the day when they are fasting or else engage themselves in activities. Ramadan is not a time of being lazy. In addition, some may spend a great portion of the night indulging in eating and drinking and socializing

Reading the Quran too fast: Some insist on finishing the whole Quran once or more, even if they have to read very fast. Although reading the Quran many times is desirable, this should not be done hastily, especially during the Tarawih prayer without pondering upon its meaning.

Eating too much: This month gives us a message to realize about the poor and needy people. Filling appetite more than required is not the mandate of Ramadan. There are few people who eat too much in the month of Ramadan. It is been observed that the people eat more in the month of Ramadan than in any other month. But Allah is only pleased with those, who eat less and charity more in this month.

There is no need to consume excess food at iftaar (the food eaten in the period immediately after sunset to break fast), dinner, or saheri (the light meal generally eaten about half an hour to one hour before dawn). The reasons for this are two-fold. First, and most importantly, such a lifestyle contradicts the principal aims and spirit of Ramadan. Over-eating can be seen as a reflection of weak discipline and irresponsibility. Secondly, the body has regulatory mechanisms that reduce the metabolic rate and ensure efficient utilization of body fat. Furthermore, most people assume a more sedentary lifestyle while fasting. The net result is that a balanced diet that consists of less than the normal amount of food intake is sufficient to keep a person healthy and active during the month of Ramadan.

We must beg for Allah's forgiveness because we have broken so many of His rules and covenants and disobeyed His commands during the year.

Ramadan is meant for SPIRITUAL development through fasting. Physiologically, by fasting the body eliminates toxins efficiently and the mind becomes clear for "power thinking" so that one may ponder on the meaning of the Qur'an, Hadith and the necessity of Zikr. One must also do some self-analysis to monitor and correct one's behavior if necessary. With meditation, the mind becomes quiet and so should our tongues!

This is the month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our Creator. It is the spring season for goodness and virtues when righteousness blossoms throughout the Muslim communities. This month brings us a message to follow equality and brotherhood and to raise the positive image of Islam.

For all of us, who ever hurt any ones heart must seek forgiveness from that person, because it is a rule of nature that nothing is worst then hurting human and only asking for forgiveness from that person can heal the heart. According to our Holy Prophet, the only thing which has no forgiveness by Allah is to hurt human.

Therefore, It's my pray to Allah for all the Muslim brothers and sisters that may He gives us a true sense of understanding for our religion. May He show us the right path to follow. May Allah help us all to make every fast this Ramadan a shield in the Hereafter and an intercessor in the grave. May Allah guide us towards making this Ramadan a source for gathering numerous blessings and getting our major and minor sins forgiven. May Allah guide us on the right path and help us to understand the true essence of Islam and our aim of life. May Allah brings happiness and shower his blessings on us and may our wishes come true. Ameen.

Munir Moosa Sewani is one of the notorious, prominent and creative names in the field of Education since 10 years. He is a Master Trainer In Special Education, Post Graduate, Teacher Educator and a Teacher. He is a Freelance Writer and Photographer too. He is an author of the famous self-published storybook for children named as "The MORAL STORIES FOR CHILDREN" and has also written course book for Secondary Classes. He has written almost more than 80 articles on social, health, educational and cultural issues, which are internationally recognized, acclaimed and published on most of the famous world wide websites, magazines, newsletters and newspapers, particularly Khaleej Times and Dawn Newspaper.

George W. Bush: Un Presidente Will no acobardarnos a militantes musulmanes

When Islamic terrorists began their assault on America on September 11, 2001, I knew that this was not any normal attack. Feeling deeply moved by what happened, led a car rental from Florida to New York, where I worked to zero in the first week after the attack.

President Bush arrived on the second day I was working with the Salvation Army. I had the honour to be in this House Holy with rescue, police and firefighters of New York workers. President Bush was quick to express his gratitude to all present for their efforts to rescue and immediate response to the victims of the tragedy.

After forty-five minutes of shaking hands and respectfully greeting and thanking everyone separately the President with megaphone in hand, said: "America is with the bent knee". Apparently he has not had turned into his megaphone. Many people shouted him "we can hear you!"

Then, President Bush said, "you can not hear me, but I can hear you." And who knocked down these buildings are going to listen to every one of us! "It was then the crowd erupted in shouts with fists well and raised to the sky,"use!"" United States! "USA!"

I have never experienced and I have witnessed a more patriotic moment in my life. Adrenaline was flowing all their strength and they were made of goose bumps all over my body.

Since that time our loved President aggressively went after terrorists. Desire however he would have focused more Pakistan etc. (perhaps where Bin Laden is hiding) and Saudi Arabia (where many of these terrorists ideologically breed) instead of going to Iraq.

Yet to our political system and the limitation of the number of years that a President can serve in Office, oil rich Saudis seem to continually win favor with Washington to finance political campaigns are not cheap. Perhaps this explains why the President welcomed them on his ranch shortly after his election. Not to mention the several missing pages of the 911 report in Saudi Arabia.

As for the Saudis some covert operations not discussed perhaps. Perhaps the Saudi royal family is terrorised by their own Islamic fundamentalist terrorists and search our friendship to navigate the complexities at home in Riyadh.

The good, however, must go to Iraq is the terrorists, citing the Koran are now coming from all over the world we on foreign soil where are soldiers quickly to deal with them.

Ideologically I support President Bush unconditionally in its relentless pursuit of Muslim terrorists. As he has said:

"America never run..." And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders.

"If America shows weakness and uncertainty, the world is derived to tragedy." "It will not happen on my watch."

"We have learned that the terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of force;" they were invited by the perception of weakness. "And the surest way to prevent attacks against our own people is to engage the enemy where he lives and plans."

"If we have to our enemies to justice or do justice to our enemies, Justice will be."

"We do not tire we will not falter and an error will not occur."

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Los musulmanes pueden poseer perros

There is one important news in United Kingdom at the time (again) made me wonder about the religion, faith and tolerance.

The issue is about an advertisement for a postcard for a phone number is not emergency police. The postcard includes a puppy black playing with a police hat. The postcard dealers had strong resistance from Muslim traders who refused to put the poster in their window. His argument is that the Prophet Muhammad stated dogs (and especially black dogs as the advertising) to be impure animals which need to be killed. They feel that placing the postcard in their shop Windows would be against the Quran (Holy Book used by the faith of Islam).

The response of the police was to apologize for causing offense to Muslims. I found strange, because surely all-purpose recognize diversity cuts both ways? If Muslims want recognition for their practices and unique beliefs, surely must they also recognize the unique beliefs and practices of those around them? It isn't the point of recognizing diversity? I do not think that the solution is to apologize and withdraw the postcard. Not would have it been more appropriate to keep the postcard for those audiences that may be associated with him and also have an independent postal can associate Muslims?

I'm not an expert on Islam and decided to read about this issue with dogs. From a Web site that addresses the issues that the Prophet Muhammad had with dogs, it seems that there is no statement in the Quran about dogs. Statements Mohammed apparently done on dogs listed in Hadith (oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic prophet).

It seems that Mohammed had a bad experience with a black dog, and as a result expressed his dislike of dogs and especially black. She was then accepted as gospel together with the Qur'an because it was attributed to Mohammed.

If this is the case and Mohammed had a bad experience with sparrows, then sparrows would have probably been unclean animals in Islam.

It made me think of a story about a woman who always cut fish in half when she cooks for her family. One day she scolded his daughter to put a whole fish in the pot, and challenged him to his daughter. The woman said that her grandmother had always cut the fish in half, and he was right. The daughter then questioned his grandmother about this habit, and the grandmother said I "I really cannot recall." "Perhaps was the pot too small?"

People don't think in what is said to believe, especially when it comes to religion. Only accept everything at face value.

An Islamic scholar in Canada gave guidelines Muslims owning dogs. This is allowed, but clearly only when the dogs are regarded as working animals, including the work of the police. Even if the fact that the man is an Islamic scholar is removed from the response, advice makes complete sense in terms of hygiene and domestic animals. This does not mean that I do not like dogs. Really like dogs and cats - please do not send the RSPCA called at my door!

If the people of diversity and the police had done their homework, he would have been able to report first and then also Muslim traders on the real problem with dogs in Islam and about what the Koran really says (or in this case not to say) about dogs. They would have then been able to provide acceptable alternative postcards and also educate the public about the consequences of having dogs as pets. Instead he offered apologies for the wrong reasons and biodiversity has not really been able to recognize.

I wondered: what is misunderstood under the guise of Islam and the Koran, simply because people choose to believe every word that someone says without questioning it?

And it is not exclusive of any particular faith this believing without question. I have had people I deal with because I believe in reincarnation. I was told that I have to make my peace with Jesus who died for my sins (i.e., it gave me a license to be imprudent because he will take the consequences in my name and I get off the hook?) for more than two thousand years.

My question is: If the reincarnation does not exist because it is not described in the Bible, where Jesus is hidden during the last two thousand years? Where he will return to come and "save me" from my own actions?

God gave us the mind to explore and collect information, so we can make our own decisions. We will honor God and use our minds.

Elsabe Smit is the coach of intuition. She helps people who lack vision, clarity and purpose remove blocks, develop your intuition and its objectives. What is consuming its energy? Visit http://www.TheIntuitionCoach.com for a free new start Quiz.

Confront anti-Muslim prejudices; Muslims are fighting a mirage

Coverage of Muslims and Islam is a bread and butter media commodity. First amendment guarantees and free speech provisions in western countries limit censorship based upon sensitivities of a particular religious group. Favorable coverage and dispassionate, objective editorial regarding Muslims and Islam is not an entitlement in the real world of the free press. Such is usually accomplished through paid advertising. Journalistic integrity competes with ratings and circulation value, and responsible reporting from one perspective is unwarranted media bias from another. Such happens when people think for themselves. Thus, it stands to reason that negative portrayal and contemptuous commentary of Muslims, and Islam in western media is an inextricable certainty of the industry, particularly in light of global events. Although it frequently angers Muslims, and evokes protest and condemnation, it is unlikely to go away. Nevertheless, as Muslims our concern is legitimate and the matter requires attention. The question is what type of attention?

Despite condemnation, various public relations overtures, civil rights actions and legal maneuvers, the anti-Muslim comment has not vanished. When will it end? How can we stop it? The truth is, there is no foreseeable end in sight, and if we continue to employ the same reactionary methods to change public opinion, or quell anti-Muslim statements, the problem will only exacerbate. Part of the conundrum is our reluctance to assume collective accountability for our condition. Another cause of the problem is conspicuous absence of Quranic and Prophetic guidance in our choice of tactics.

Slander, ill treatment, and negative perception of Muslims are not simply public relation challenges requiring conventional image re-tooling. Or a mere civil rights dilemma remedied by protest and letters to the editor, and certainly not just a constitutional infraction requiring a Bill of Rights refresher course. There are numerous geo-political, theological, and socio-environmental factors which determine how Muslims living in the United States are spoken of, spoken to, and treated. Overstating the scale and breadth of ill sentiment toward Muslims in America is counter productive. Disregarding the root causes is irresponsible. Ignoring it completely is a missed opportunity. Expecting positive results while failing to employ an Islamic ethical approach is a fantasy existing only in the quilt of our minds woven together with the threads of wishful thinking.

Ill sentiment and verbal attacks against Islam and some Muslims in the United States does occur. However, considering that there are about 5 million Muslims in America, the ratio of reported incidents of anti Muslim bias reported by CAIR is 40 out every 100,000, which is too low to warrant priority one status.

Countering verbal disparagement with protest is a tactically flawed approach. In this year alone; there has been at least three major incidents (the cartoon satirizing our Prophet (SAWS), the Pope's repeating a centuries old quotation, and the eight Imams who were unceremoniously escorted off an airplane) of verbal or public insult of Islam, the Prophet (SAWS) or Muslims. In each case there was protest, vociferous indignation, and demands for retraction or apologies. Yet, in each case, indignation yielded no measurable improvement of Muslim image or cessation of anti-Muslim bias or speech. Additionally, the principal sentiment fueling the response was anger. In all but the last incident, response resulted in the loss of innocent life. It is ironic that anger is the very emotion that warrants suppression according to the islamic ethical code.

A greater irony is that in each case, media characterization of Muslim response was replete with words like, "rage", "fury", and "anger". I personally do not recall any headlines that captioned; "Muslims love for their Prophet caused them to... "or the love of Allah fuels protest", or, Muslim expresses their love for Islam by boycotting...." Thus from a strategic perspective, response netted negligible dividend. To consider whatever dialogue that followed as tangible gain is a misleading since doctrinal polemics between Islam and other faiths have existed for over 1400 years. In the game of image politics, celebratory elation when a detractor agrees to your petition to dialogue is a sophisticated and sanitized form of humiliation. It messages a craving for legitimacy. The compulsive rush to defend criticism implies that there is truth in it.

Islamic canonical law does not prescribe recrimination as a response to verbal affront which carry no judicial or legal consequence. Unflattering words are not repelled by the same; on the contrary, evil is only repelled by justice. "Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!" Ibn Abbaas said: "Allah (God) summons the Muslim community to exercise patience when angry, benevolence in the face of ignorance, and pardon when offended. If people did that, Allah would protect them from the Devil" . If countering verbal disparagement with protest and reciprocal assault is righteousness, then to do the opposite constitutes unrighteousness. Obviously, such a hypothesis contradicts Prophetic guidance. The example of the Prophet (SAWS) in responding to verbal disparagement against himself, His Lord, or Muslims was to exercise restraint.

The dangerous theological implications of the protest approach seem to escape consideration. Understandably we are frustrated by the incessant degrading, slaughter, and humiliation of Muslims. However, although anger, insult and frustration are causes of moral infraction in Islamic law, they are unacceptable justifications for it. Otherwise, emotion would outrank divine injunction as the primary criterion of good conduct. Such a notion is heresy according to orthodox Muslim theology

Prioritization of anti-Muslim bias as a premiere issue over Muslim intra-religious hostility and sectarianism transposes the divine contractual assignment of Islamic law. It creates a reverse moral assumptive whereas intra-religious sectarianism is an acceptable paradigm while anti Muslim bias is not. The latter is declared intolerable to the degree of public protest, indignant response, and central billing in Friday sermons, while the former warrants no such attention, although it ranks amongst the category of major sins in Islam. Stoicism in the face of verbal invective is virtue while the Muslim slander of Muslim is depravity and Muslim on Muslim killing approaches heresy. "Slander of a Muslim is depravity and killing him is heresy".

Therefore, by what moral rationale do we address anti-Muslim sentiment in the press, which by itself bears no spiritual penalty for Muslims if left unattended, and not devote similar attention to Muslim on Muslim killing and slander which register sin by occurrence, and sin when allowed to continue. "Verily the believers are a single brotherhood therefore make peace between your brethren and fear Allah so ye may receive mercy" .

Since verbal disparagement against Muslims and Islam is an inevitable occurrence, Islamic spiritual etiquette emphasizes preparing in advance for its contingency and utilizing deflective buffering if and when it happens. "Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs!" Hence, no shock or dismay should follow slanderous, negative, or degrading statements about Muslims especially in environments where we are religious minorities, such as the United States. As a rule Muslims should resist grieving over verbal insult, "Let not their speech, then, grieve thee. Verily We know what they hide as well as what they disclose

When verbal and media denigration occurs, there are scriptural analgesics that buffer and counteract psychological, emotional, or spiritual irritation. "And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity)" . Dignified detachment rekindles spiritual fortitude and prioritizes inner jihad. Self control and spiritual focus does more to convey the noble attributes of Islamic teachings than hypersensitivity and angered reaction to disparagement. It brings forth divine assurance of blessing and guidance which in significantly more rewarding than emotional capitulation to antagonist sentiments. "Those who, when afflicted with calamity say: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return. They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from God, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance". Blessings and mercy is better than anguish and consternation.

Frenzied retort to anti-Muslim speech underscores the need for Muslim moral attentiveness, and bolsters the argument for reform. Not reform of Islam as suggested by many, but reform of the Muslim heart so that behavior response conforms to Islamic teachings and pleasing the Creator takes precedence over pleasing the created. If there is truth in the verbal invectives launched against us, then reminder is a timely utility since remembrance benefits the believer. If it is false, with no basis in truth, we praise Allah that we are free of it. Demanding that people not insult or speak ill of Muslims only bolsters animosity. It may occasionally silence the tongue, but it has little effect on the heart of the antagonist. Public criticism when muffled turns into whispers (was'wasa) which though lower in decibel, is exponentially more insidious. Let's leave response to insult to Allah and concentrate on our own salvation. "If good fortune comes to you, it grieves them; and if evil befalls you, they rejoice in it. But if you are patient in adversity and conscious of God, their guile cannot harm you at all: for, verily, Allah encompasses [with His might] all that they do. " The sooner we do this, the better. Otherwise we will find ourselves inducted into a war of words in which entry itself assures moral casualty.

©Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad

Imam Luqman Ahmad is second gereration, African American Orthodox (Sunni) Muslim. He has been an Imam (Muslim Cleric) for the last 10 years and is also a freelance writer. He can be reached at imamabulaith@yahoo.com

¿Quién posee Nigeria - cristianos o musulmanes?

Nigeria, a country blessed by the Almighty God, is made up so many parts. All of these parts are associated with one form of religion or the other. However, there are two prominent religions that are practiced by the larger population of the country - Christianity and Islam. For obvious reasons, these religions have been struggling to maintain a leadership position or superiority over the others.

The government at the centre has always been watching the religious drama as it unfolds on daily basis. Most leaders have often been tempted to take sides with the ugly development thereby soiling their hands in the murky waters of religious extremism. In places, where the Christians are in majority, Muslims cry foul, alleging marginalization and same thing happens in places where the Muslims are in majority. In such areas, introducing oneself as a member of one religion where the other is in majority is to say the least, creating animosity.

In situations as bad as this, the central government is expected to remain neutral and unbiased arbitrator in matters of this nature. A perfect example is the seizure of all the Christian (Mission) schools by the Federal Republic of Nigeria years back. It should be noted that, the Federal Government of Nigeria acted in line with true "federalism", the nature of these schools notwithstanding. Nationals who do not subscribe to the Christian religion will be free to acquire Western Education without engendering religious jealousy. Though, without apology, the Federal Government of Nigeria, it should be noted, acted in the interest of national unity to create an environment where Muslims and Christians will feel free in a plural society, attend the same school, and interact socially, without being maligned.

The on-going debate on the government's introduction of "Islamic Banking System", which has already put the two religions (Christianity and Islam) at loggerhead is an issue that calls for public attention. The Nigerian Banking Sector which has been experiencing myriads of reform policies lately, which are carefully initiated and carried out in its leadership position, has not witnessed the kind of heat this new reform is generating.

Right thinking Nigerians have remained apprehensive over the issue due to the power of religion to create division. The planned introduction of Islamic banking model into the Nigerian financial landscape is one of the issues that have raised so much dust as result of the term "Islamic" that is attached to the name. The things that happen in this country on daily basis have made the proponents of a single and indivisible nation under the name "Nigeria" to have a rethink. As a result, there is a debate on the issue of "nomenclature" whether or not the proposed non-interest banking should maintain the name "Islamic Banking". Pundits have said that the term "Islamic Banking" will only succeed in stoking the fires of mutual distrust in a peculiar religion-sensitive environment like Nigeria. It is also seen that adopting the controversial name will be a grave violation of the nation's secular status.

The on-going debate which has actually generated so much trouble. The Christians in one hand, are accusing the Muslims of enjoying cheap popularity by allowing the government to place Islam above and against other religions in the country, especially on their purported bid to Islamize Nigeria (see Daily Trust, Monday July 4, 2011, page 30 and Thursday July, 7, 2011, pages 26-27). The Muslims, on the other hand, are accusing the Christians of being ignorant and at the same time, deviating from real Christianity, if they agree with the present Nigerian banking system that promotes extortion.

Debunking the claims of the Christians that "Islamic Banking" is a way to Islamize Nigeria, the Muslims claim that their voices have not been heard over the years in the activities of Nigerian government especially, in policy making, because according to them, Nigerian government has been operating on the English Christian Laws. The question that most Nigerians have not failed to ask as a result of this unsubstantiated claim is, "When did English Laws translate into Christian Laws?" English Laws, as we know, came as a result of British colonization of Nigeria, not through religious (Christian) imposition. It should be noted here that the Christians in Nigeria are not at home with everything in the Nigerian Constitution because, there are so many things in the law that run contrary to Christian ethics. In other words, Christians and Muslims should learn to accommodate the plurality of the Nigerian nation and desist from unwarranted utterances that could cause chaos. Everybody (no matter the tribe, or religion) is needed in building a united Nigeria. Christians and Muslims are expected to live in peace with one another. Every good invention or discovery to advance the nation is highly appreciated. When one part discovers a thing, the other parts benefit without subjecting the up-coming parts to servitude.

The claim that the concept of "Islamic Banking" is ominous is an understatement, because it is truly not in the national interest. A critical look at the nomenclature tells us that Islam takes the credit of banking reformation in Nigeria even when all the people working day and night in building the solid banking system are not Muslims. As a person, I have always liked people initiating good projects and programmes that will not only unite Nigeria but help in taking her to the next level. This system of "non-interest" banking as advocated by the leadership of Nigeria's apex bank is a welcome idea, but the religious colouration of it is not proper. In other words, the apex bank should develop a listening culture where people's contributions in the way it runs the activities of the banking sector should be valued. This will kill the idea of a section of the country raising shoulders over and above the others for having their names written in gold, even when the hand holding the pen and the paper belongs elsewhere.

However, the idea of one's voice not being heard in a nation like Nigeria suggests selfishness. Nigeria belongs to all of us and contributing to its growth should always be a collective work. This is why removing the religious colouration from this system of banking will go a long way in safeguarding against any form of discrimination, as the approach of the apex bank is a poor demonstration of sensitivity to the unity of Nigeria. The government should as a matter of urgency, suspend the action of the apex bank until a compromise is reached, since the idea of an "Islamic Banking" for a country like Nigeria is capable of playing one religion against another. Also, having studied the issue at hand, the government as well as the apex bank should consider the following as a way out:

1. A better, but unifying nomenclature should be adopted and the concept of "Islamic Banking" dropped hence it is capable of over-heating the already charged political and religious atmosphere of the country. It will also help in uniting all the different religious groups without engendering jealousy or religious bickering.

2. New banks should be established which will completely carry out the Islamic Banking System. This will create the needed difference from the already existing system of banking operation in Nigeria. This idea is also healthy because it will give room for competition and enhance customer's banking choice.

3. Government should create room for religious organizations to participate in the banking sector by way of owning and managing banks to their own tastes and standards. This will help in creating an enabling environment for those who hide under the cloak a country to champion or further the course of a particular religion to have a level playing ground that will expose their expertise in handling financial matters.

4. If the establishment of new banks is not possible at the moment, already existing banks will be given the option of choosing between the present banking system and the proposed "non-interest banking" system. This will alleviate the fear of imposing a particular religion over a right thinking and free citizens of Nigeria.

Nigerians should understand that the nationality of this country is not built on a particular ethnic or religious group, therefore, learning to accommodate one another means that issues of national interest should always be weighed against all odds before they are adopted or implemented. However, the accusations and counter-accusations from these religious bodies should be put to rest because they are truly unhealthy to our cooperate existence. Nigeria belongs to neither the Christians alone nor to the Muslims alone. Let us learn to love, cherish and accommodate one another. God bless Nigeria!

Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.

He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.

You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or: 234 80 8181 829.

Websites: http://www.cenbank.org, http://businessunit.blogspot.com

Why Do Muslims Kill Apostates?

Un hombre afgano enfrenta actualmente la pena de muerte para la conversión al cristianismo del Islam. El ex musulmán conocido como Abdul Brahman ha sido acusado de apostasía y encarcelado, pero todavía está por ser acusados formalmente bajo leyes islámicas.

En los Estados Unidos la semana pasada, talk shows y grupos de defensa reunieron sus partidarios, que inundaron la casa blanca y la Embajada de Afganistán con denuncias contra el Islam. Elogiables, el incidente ha provocado una protesta internacional rápida de líderes mundiales. El Presidente Bush, él mismo ha expresado cómo "profundamente agitada" es sobre la pena de muerte que se avecina.

Y una vez más Islam la cal luz por todas las razones equivocadas.

Grupos antimusulmanes han sido muy rápidos capitalizar los sentimientos actuales. Una plétora de literatura de odio contra el Islam rápidamente ahora está circulando en Internet, acusando a los musulmanes de frenando injustamente a sus compañeros que deseen optar por la religión.

Islam es acusado de ser un culto chovinista e intolerante cuyo crecimiento fenomenal sólo está ocurriendo porque los musulmanes no pueden salir de la religión. Los musulmanes están siendo retratados como dígitos dispuestos atrapados en una religión cuyas garras tienen que soportar silenciosamente durante el resto de su vida.

Los más creativos incluso han descrito el Islam como "Hotel California". Puede retirar en cualquier momento te gusta pero nunca puede dejar.

¿Pero estas acusaciones verdaderos? ¿Es el Islam realmente unforbearing hacia los seguidores de otras religiones, especialmente apóstatas? ¿Puede uno realmente "desproteger"?

No hay coacción en el Islam

La verdad del asunto es el Islam es una religión que nunca se ha visto obligada a. La idea que una conversión en el Islam es una forma de calle en la que uno nunca puede activar desde es un mito mucho disipado. El Corán prohíbe a los musulmanes a la fuerza el Islam en un individuo. Los musulmanes pasados y presentes en gran medida han convertido en Islam fuera de su propia libre voluntad.

Un ejemplo muy claro de este comando es el siguiente verso coránico traducido de Surah Al-Baqarah:

2:256-"No debe no haber ninguna coacción en religión: verdad destaca claramente de error: quien rechaza mal y cree en Alá ha captado el asidero más fiable, que nunca se rompe. Y Alá oyen y sabe todas las cosas.

Otro verso coránico que los eruditos musulmanes han señalado que es la siguiente de Surah Al-Hijr, que dice:

15:2-3 "Una y otra vez a aquellos que no creen, desean que habían cedido (a la voluntad de Dios) en el Islam. Dejarlos solos, para disfrutar (las cosas buenas de esta vida) y para complacer a sí mismos: deja esperanza (falsa) divertirles: pronto tendrá conocimiento (les undeceive). "

Nuevamente, ninguna autoridad ha sido cedida a los musulmanes para matar específicamente los apóstatas del Islam no debe significan ningún daño. Apóstatas son considerados bastante no musulmanes.

Compulsión no hará sentido en el Islam. El Islam es una de las fuerzas de más rápido crecimiento en la tierra hoy. Uno de cada cinco personas en este mundo es musulmán. Una religión fuerte como Islam podría no han prosperado sin sincera devoción y fe de sus seguidores, especialmente durante la época tumultuosa como las numerosas persecuciones musulmanas durante la época de Mahoma y varias cruzadas en la edad media. A veces como aquellos, muchos podrían simplemente dejaron Islam para el confort de la paz y prosperidad.

Pero no lo hicieron. Se quedaron más tiempo y el Islam es lo que es hoy. La prosperidad y el crecimiento del Islam en el futuro todavía dependerá de esa misma fe y sinceridad - no coacción.

Así que ¿por qué los musulmanes piden la muerte de apóstatas?

La práctica de otorgar muerte a apóstatas que se deriva de una vez en la historia donde los judíos y los paganos árabes introduzca el Islam con la intención de perturbar y engañar el bienestar de la religión. Segun señaló historiadores y estudiosos musulmanes, estos hipócritas que pretende abrazar el Islam para cometer saqueos y causar daño a la comunidad musulmana una vez que son aceptados en. Después de realiza su trabajo, dejaría Islam tan rápido como había abrazado.

En casos como estos, la pena de muerte habría sido la disuasión definitiva para frenar esa conducta delincuente y potencialmente dañina hacia el Islam. Tenga en cuenta que el Islam es una religión que fue muy bajo la persecución y la evitación de esas actividades fue absolutamente crucial para la comunidad de supervivencia. Esa es la razón por qué hay varias evidencias en el profeta refranes (Hadith) donde se concede permiso para matar a estos tipos de apóstatas.

Además de eso, también eran apóstatas altamente peligrosos como Musylama Al-Kaththab, que se había reunido un ejército en el actual Omán poco después de la muerte del profeta Mahoma. Su intención era aniquilar totalmente a los musulmanes de la faz de la tierra. Si no había impuesta la pena de muerte en apóstatas, como él, Islam no hubiera sobrevivido.

Pero esto ya no se aplica en el contexto de los tiempos actuales, especialmente en las sociedades multiculturales que vivimos. Lamentablemente, las sociedades como Afganistán han decidido mantener la sentencia de muerte.

Las sociedades musulmanas más tolerantes como los de Singapur, Malasia e Indonesia han permitido a los musulmanes a abandonar la religión-libre de perturbaciones similares. Sin embargo, los musulmanes que deseen abandonar la religión a veces son asesorados por las autoridades religiosas y miembros de la familia.

Pero ¿cuál es la necesidad de tal asesoramiento? ¿No es una forma de perturbación demasiado?

Perder a un miembro de la familia es siempre un acontecimiento triste. Del mismo modo cuando la comunidad musulmana está a punto de perder a un miembro de la familia, naturalmente intentarían impedir que ocurra. Esperemos que cambian sus mentes.

Barreras similares y a veces castigos están presentes en otras religiones también. Por ejemplo en el cristianismo, los miembros han sido explícitamente dijo matar apóstatas con sus propias manos.

Deuteronomio 13:6-9 "si tu propio hermano, o tu hijo o hija o la esposa que amas, o tu mejor amigo secreto atrae a usted, diciendo: dejemos ir y adorar a otros dioses (dioses que ni usted ni sus padres han conocido, dioses de los pueblos que te rodea, ya sea cerca o lejos, de un extremo de la tierra a otro, o dioses de otras religiones), no ceder a él o escuchar de él. Le no muestran piedad. No le sobra o le protegen. Ciertamente le debe poner a la muerte. Tu mano debe ser la primera en poniéndolo a muerte y luego a manos de todas las personas".

Deuteronomio 17:3-5 "Y él debe ir y adorar a otros dioses y arco abajo para ellos o para el sol o la Luna o todo el ejército de los cielos,.... .y debe piedra tal uno con piedras y tal debe morir."

Apostasía no es ajeno al Islam. Líderes musulmanes en la edad han vivido pacíficamente con apóstatas y seguirán así por lo que en el futuro. Irónicamente, es nuestra tolerancia y benevolencia que puede ser la clave para hacer retroceder. No violencia y la indiferencia.

El autor es un editor de http://www.ewadah.com, un sitio que discute los temas más recientes sobre el Islam y los musulmanes. Pásate por el sitio para más artículos escritos por él.

La diferencia entre sunitas y chiítas musulmanes 1

The immense carnage of WWI was caused by one gunshot in Yugoslavia, "The shot heard round the world." The Apocalypse, the sudden violent end of life on Earth forever has now been set in motion by people ignoring their 100 things in common and focusing on their 1 difference.

Prior to 911, how many Americans knew where Afghanistan was? Today, Feb. 23, 2006, how many Americans know the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni Muslim? The cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad triggered a world wide Muslim stampede which is now escalating into an Iraqi civil war between the Shi'a and the Sunni Muslims, and the Christian Americans are caught right in the middle of it. If the Sunnis win, then they will free Saddam Hussein, and he will likely go into exile with his Swiss Oil Billions in a friendly Muslim country, until his triumphant return to power in Iraq, as did the Ayatollah returning to replace the American Iranian puppet the Shah of Iran. Had George Bush spent 3 cents on 1 bullet and executed Saddam in his rabbit hole, this never would have happened. Imagine Scott Peterson coming into court in his underwear, constantly standing up and calling the Judge a puppet of the Americans, and winning. Saddam Hussein has got to be laughing his head off at George Bush right now, Mr. "Mission Accomplished.", the son of his father Abu George, Mr. "Read my lips, no new taxes." Unfortunately the Democrats are such weaklings, like Hubert Humphrey Dumptey and Walter Mondale that they can't knock out the Republican Party that has already knocked itself out on the domestic and world stage, plunging America into bankruptcy and making it the black sheep of the World. Don't worry because soon it will all be over.

Earthlings are the laughing stock, the comedy channel of the Universe. Many Americans today are wondering why the Bushes, whose oil company was financed by the Bin Laden family and who sit on the board of directors of their puppets the Saudi Royal family are now selling the American ports to the Muslim United Arab Emirates. The question is, "Who is pulling whose strings?" The House of Saud is obviously funneling billions into the Bushes Swiss bank accounts for keeping them in power and safe from Osama Bin Laden, the well known video star. Video did not kill the radio star. To say this is to blaspheme Howard Stern. Yeshua aka Joshua aka Jesus aka South Park Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi with a black hat and a black coat and long sideburns aka pais who created the Universe and everything in it, according to 2,000,000,000 Christians. 1,000,000,000 Christians believe that the successor to Joshua Goldstein was Peter aka The Pope aka His Holiness "Mr. Infallible", Mr. incapable of error. Another 1,000,000,000 Christians don't believe this. This disagreement over the successor to Jesus has led to countless wars and murders and raping and pillaging of innocent Christian men, women and children. It is so easy to see insanity in others but impossible to see it in ourselves. Yesterday my friend Isabelle attended a Hermes scarf club luncheon. One woman brought 30 of her 400 $500 Hermes scarves for show and tell. The Hermes head scarf is $5,000. The female Miami stevedores love their new uniform, burkas. The Jebusites and the Hittites are making a comeback at Disneyworld, which was recently purchased by the House of Saud aka the BarbJennaBush Development Corporation. Who needs screenwriters when truth is stranger than fiction?

So, what separates Sunni Muslims from Shiite Muslims other than their battle for the power, control and oil of Iraq? Well, the Prophet Muhammad lived about 1,400 years ago on a planet 5 billion years old with human skeletons named Lucy 4 million years old. A Prophet is a person, like Joshua Goldfarb, who speaks to God and gets the game plan. Today he would either be a schizophrenic undergoing electro shock therapy and a lobotomy or a best selling author. The Prophet Muhammad could not read or write, and he did not speak directly to God of Mount Sinai, aka Allah, God the Father, The Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Adonai, Yehovah, Elohim, Hashem, etc. Instead he spoke to the same Angel Gabriel who brought the good news to the Virgin Mary aka Mirriam Goldstein that God the Father had impregnated her with his Holy Spirit and she was about to give birth to the Messiah immaculately.

The Prophet Muhammad had a scribe, and he dictated his prophecies to the scribe and 50 years after the Prophet died the Muslim Bible Writers came up with the Muslim Holy Scriptures: The Hebrew Old Testament, The Christian New Testament and the Koran. Perhaps they did not notice that in the Old Testament it says that the Messiah will kill every non Jew and the Christian New Testament says that the Messiah will kill every non Christian upon his arrival on a flying white horse from Heaven.

So, what separates Sunni Muslims from Shiite Muslims? God of Mount Sinai, in his very first commandment carved by Him personally in stone says, "Do not worship, bow down to or idolize or revere anyone on Earth." The Muslims revere the Prophet Muhammad as the Christians revere the Prophet Jesus as the Jews revere Knicks tickets and corned beef sandwiches on rye with kimel, Jesus' favorite dish. The Prophet Muhammad had a son in law named Ali ibn Abi Talib aka Imam Ali. The Shiites believe that he was the leader of Islam after Muhammad, the proper successor to Muhammad, and follow his heirs. The Sunnis do not. They believe that the true successor of Muhammad was his lieutenant Abu (father of) Baker. Bob Dole is a UAE port lobbyist. Prior to Jesus usurping power from the Roman Gods and Goddesses upon his election as God at the Council of Nicaea 300 years after his death, the Roman Empire and the Greek Empire worshipped their own Gods and Goddesses including the Greek Goddess of Love Aphrodite renamed Venus by the Romans. I'm your Venus, I'm your fire, I'm your desire.

In the fairy tale, Uranus was castrated by his son Cronus. Jesus, the Prince of Peace says, "I have not come to bring you Peace, but the sword, to turn son against father..". Uranus' severed testicles fell into the sea and fertilized the ocean water which began to bubble and from the concoction was born an 18 year old naked Goddess Aphrodite. Venus was painted by Sandro Boticelli. You can pick the painting up on eBay for $325 million. They do accept Pay Pal. Jesus stars in his own cable show "Jesus and Pals" on South Fork. The New Testament does not contain one word of description of Jesus yet his likeness appears on the cross in every Catholic Church to scare the Hell out of every Catholic child. Jesus never said the word Hell in his life. Every time he says Sheol or Gehenna in the Holy Bible the modern Bible Writers substitute the word Hell to scare the Hell out of every Christian child. Fear and guilt are the classic brainwashing techniques. Gehenna was where the Jewish and non Jewish people sacrificed their first born children alive on fire altars 2,500 years ago just south of Jerusalem. Sheol was the place underground where both the good and the bad spirits went to live together after death according to Jesus Christ in the original Greek manuscripts of the New Testament.

According to the Shi'a Muslims depictions of Muhammad are verboten. According to the Sunni Muslims they are allowed. This controversy stirred up by the cartoon is the root of the now exploding Iraq civil war. Cartoons are a form of art as old as hieroglyphics and paintings by our ancestors on cave walls. After the last American Civil War there were cartoons of carpetbaggers being hung from trees and donkeys branded with the emblem KKK. The triple K's were disgruntled Americans from the southern states numbering in the millions who crucified blacks, Jews and Catholics and set the crosses on fire less than 200 years ago. Our ancestors were sadistic and masochistic freaks and we are their clones. Don't worry because soon it will all be over.

The only thing on Earth that sells better then sex is the right to commit murder and the Religions have the market cornered. Islam rewards the murder of Christians and Jews with eternal paradise in Heaven with God and 72 virgins, crystal clear springs and unlimited wine with no side effects. (Koran Sura 9:29-30, Sura 56). Jesus is soon returning to throw all of the non Christians into the fire and to Rapture the Christians into Paradise for doing this for him. (Matthew 13:36-43). The Jewish Messiah is coming soon to smash every non believer into a million pieces like a potter's vessel and conquer the world for the Jews. (Psalm 2). Every single nuclear scientist knows that nuclear world war III and its aftermath nuclear winter then ultraviolet summer will have zero survivors. The only way for us to survive is through world peace. The Temple of Love - The World Peace Religion, makes Peace among and unites Christianity, Islam, Judaism and everyone else by tying them together with their common threads and resolving all of their differences once and for all. The problem is that selling Peace to bloodthirsty Earthlings massacring innocent children because fairy tales command them to is like trying to teach great white sharks not to eat fish. At least they don't eat pork.

Karen Fish is a writer currently living in Los Angeles California. The Temple of Love http://www.thetempleoflove.com/ The World Peace Religion

Muslims and Identity in the United States

"Country of a man is not a given area of land, mountains, rivers and forests, but is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." - George William Curtis

Does every day, thousands of Muslims in North America are faced with the same question and predicament wishing to address: "I'm a Muslim American"? Or am I a Muslim American? ". This identity crisis has plagued the Muslim communities in North America, leading to confusion among young Muslims who should his loyalty; Should his loyalty to America first or it is due to the land his parents came from? It is very important to the Muslim communities to establish that one should owe his own loyalty to several different principles, such as the States of Tariq Ramadan in many of his speeches, include a hyphen between the two identities rather than having one to replace one identity in the other. It is important to establish this distinction between the two types of identities one can take, as the identity that Ramadan suggest that it is very essential to ensure the future as loyalties that is inside provide the necessary elements for the future of Islam in the West.

Muslim communities in the West need to pave the way for the conversion of the identities of many young Muslims and older living within their communities with little contact with other identity of non-Muslim communities. In the book of Ramadan, Ramadan strongly inspects the isolation level currently held in Muslim communities in the West, where the loyalties of the Western Muslims are heavily focused on loyalty to Islam only. This can be seen when he writes it is necessary that the Muslim communities in the Western world to avoid isolation and participate in societies in which they live, in order to address the many problems facing these communities. Ramadan believes that this can be dangerous, as the lack of loyalty towards where a Western Muslim lies in that it can lead to isolation. The isolation resulting from this lack of loyalty to a country can prevent Muslim communities allowing their problems to be taken seriously and addressed. In addition, this lack of loyalty can lead to a lack of the necessary interaction between the communities of Muslims and non-Muslims can be meant to prevent social, economic and cultural benefits in Muslim communities. Ramadan said that Muslim communities in the West should establish interactions with others around them, as this may lead to political, social and cultural achievements. Therefore, it is important for Muslim Americans in the West to establish loyalties to their respective countries proud and take full advantage of the rights that are able to exercise. Establishing the loyalty within Muslim communities in the United States, Muslims of all ages should feel obliged to contribute to the very intricate political system, allowing them to address the issues, wanting to improve. Finally, Ramadan mentions that establish a loyalty to the country of a Muslim in the West also can contribute to the improvement of the Muslim community, as doing so can help to establish an identity among the non-Muslim communities. Muslim communities did not establish an identity among the non-Muslim communities, which contributes to the reality addresses why Muslims have been recognized as anti-American in the United States recently. The reality is the fact that Muslims have failed to correctly illustrate that there is true loyalty to the United States exhibition. In result, a population of Americans believes that Muslims are indeed, anti-American. Consequently, they succeed finding the will to address the problems and issues they face today in Muslim communities. Of as a result of this, it is necessary that Muslim communities established loyalties to their respective countries in order to ensure future of Muslims and provide improvement of Muslims in the West.

Still another facet and prospect of loyalty, where Ramadan fails to consider that it is necessary for the construction of the future of not only Western Muslims, but Muslims around the world. Ramadan cannot examine the degree of decrease of loyalty to those who are currently losing young Muslims. Reality points to the fact that young Muslims in the West not now for illustrating that they are truly loyal to the West. Ramadan addressed this to some extent, where he states that the loss of a Muslim identity can lead to the loss of future resources that can be beneficial to resolve problems within Muslim communities in the future. This can be taken a step further, where the loss of loyalty of young Muslim men to the countries in which they came from can lead to the loss of bright reflection can accelerate the path to solve the problems in the Muslim world. Therefore, it is important to the Muslim communities in the West to ensure the loyalty of young Muslims, which in turn can be used to convert to a longing, desire and the desire of these young Muslims to address currently evident problems in the Muslim world. This can be seen very clearly in a part of the Muslim community in Detroit, where according to Yahoo! News, communities of young Muslims have been test protests to condemn the deadly reprisals by the Syrian security forces against peaceful demonstrators. This can be represented as an example of how you can convert as well as loyalty to desire to solve problems in the Muslim world. Thus, one can really see how loyalty of the Western Muslim country where it comes is important to solve the problems which currently takes place in the Muslim world.

Examine the consequences of the use of loyalty of the Muslim West, one can really see how these loyalties are essential for the future of the only Western non-Muslim, but for Muslims around the world. Consequently, it is necessary for a call to action to be thrust to establish loyalties discussed in this essay, what is important to distinguish between what he calls the Ramadan as a "with guiones-identidad rather than an identity which replaces the other." This can be achieved by providing educational seminars and lectures to illustrate the importance of these loyalties and identities to ensure the future of Muslims in the West and around the world. In this way, the Muslim communities in the West will have success in Muslim force to work to establish these loyalties and identities within their communities.

El Papa y los musulmanes

We all know that the United States of America is cosidered for Muslims as the enemy. The holy war or "Jihad" brought by the Binladin group is against United States. And most of us believed September 11 Terror as part of Jihad. This is because the United States of America backed by the Israel in his war against the neighboring Muslim Nations, and then United States also attacked other Islamic Afghanistan and Iraq Nations. And now, if the were problems by declaration of the Pope would be not settled, Jihad another could happen again, this time against the Christians, especially the Roman Catholic Church.

The Pope said in his lecture, "the Emperor comes to speak on the subject of jihad, holy war." "He said, and I quote," show only what Mahoma brought that it was new and there you will find bad things only and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached "." They said that the statement of the Pope is clear evidence of his ignorance of the Islamic doctrine that the Qur'an teaches peace, tolerance, justice, equality and no force to the religion. And are now demanding the Pope immediately withdraw and issuing an apology for his statements on Islam and its criticism of the concept of Jihad.

With this, the Catholic Church now faces major problems: (1) their relationship with Islam and Muslims; (2) His doctrine of the infallibility of the Pope.

If the Pope will not issue an apology, the Muslims might consider a Jihad against the Christians or the Catholic Church in particular. Imagine the bombed-out churches by suicide bombers or configure them to shoot like what happened to the two churches in the West Bank last September 18, 2006. And this will be a war worse: Christian vs. Muslim.

And on the other hand, if the Pope issued an apology, it directly contradicts his doctrine of the infallibility of the Pope. Remember that the Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is free from error. Issue an apology to Muslims about what he said in his lecture is a clear acceptance of his mistake and is proof that his doctrine of the infallibility of the Pope is false and this will be used by other Christian religion to criticize its doctrines.

The Muslims made it clear that the authorities of the Catholic Church not be has failed to resolve this problem only explaining the intention of the Pope to criticize Islam and his Jihad. The Muslims are asking for is personal apology from the Pope not by their channels. If you are concern about the relationship between Christians and Muslims, it must act immediately or worse things will happen.

Sustines e. Laplana (SELaplana: http://www.selaplana.com ) is the first Pinoy Blogger and EMarketer in Southern Leyte, Philippines that blogs on technology, society and reviews and promotions of products and has the blog of cell phones for sale ([http://cellphones-for-sale.blogspot.com]).

Confronting Racism in the Hearts of Some Muslims

Too often Muslim-Americans have learned to accentuate the race. This is done primarily to avoid being seen as nationalist or racist so goes against the teachings of the Islam itself very. However exacerbate the race is also accentuate conditions directed towards a community have the most powerful racism (white supremacy is called in America) as police brutality, discrimination in employment and a legal system unfair and biased that he often mistreats the poor and oppressed to name a few.

However, there is a tendency to forget the many verses of the Qur'an that admonish humanity to house the racism in the first place. We must remember as Satanás became the first racist in history by refusing to submit to the man, simply because man was created from the clay of the Earth and created the fire without smoke, that Alá him punished for this reason and sentenced him to the infernal.

As Allah condemns racism, it also gives victims of racism permission to fight against it. However, one cannot fight him, if they are well prepared or are taught to fear that it has before it. When Satan expressed his racist hatred of the man and swore to be eternal enemy of man, Alá gave man tools to fight against it.

The first tool that gave was the ability to recognize Satans tactics through our intellect and other senses. Once used, then we will formulate strategies designed to prevent that racist agents of Satan to promulgate his form of racism. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that anyone who has a grain of mustard of pride in his heart would never enter into paradise, and that pride was to have a disregard for the truth and a contempt for a people. Satan is exhibited towards Adam (peace be upon him) and the entire human race. The philosophy of racism is exposing this. In America is called white supremacy only because who have greater power to enact his racism in others that are powerless members of a minority are classified as white. In Saudi Arabia is could be called Saudi Arabia supremacy in Chinese supremacy Chinese and so on. Allah does not ignore the racism of Satans, but him punished for it. For this reason and others will be discussed in the second part that we should be able to eliminate the tendency to accentuate the Muslim race among African-Americans if he or she is going to overcome and rise above internalization of the harsh effects of racism.

Many Muslims who come from abroad have shown his disinterest in directly on this issue. This can be experienced by your lack of participation in the areas of helping homeless people, the drug addict or convict former routine who found Islam in prison and now needs a support group to keep their faith after his release. This can also be seen by the large annual conventions that can attract thousands of Muslims take issues such as having a beautiful Ramadan or love his neighbor, but refuse to deal seriously with the oppression and social injustice around the world that are often in charge of racism. When I say "deal seriously with" I am referring to identify problems, adopt a plan of isolation, develop a strategy to correct them, monitor their progress and blame individuals for their strategic application.

In this series of "Made to Sunni Muslims - face racism in the hearts of some Muslims" God willing we can try to do.

Amir Makin is an activist, speaker and author of the book
A worthy Muslim Koranic tools to overcome oppression and imperialism in order to the Justice of the Institute

http://www.aicpublications.com/featuredbook.html

Does pope Apologizes to Muslims, But Why?

Following the Pope's quote and reference to a former a Byzantine emperor who didn't think highly of Mohammad, Muslims reacted by bombing 5 churches in the West Bank and killing an Italian nun in Somalia. Now there is the heart of Islam for you!

Make no mistake about it, Islam is not a religion of peace. On the contrary, Islam is all about intolerance, violence and control. Muslims who kill to uphold their religion are ignorant and powerless spiritually. Muslims are intolerant and violent because they know their religion is impotent.

Historically throughout the world people have converted to Islam by compulsion, threats of being killed and brutality for resisting the faith. The irony however is the Muslims doing the acts of violence and seeking to manipulate humanity to embrace their man-made religion truly have no faith in the god they profess to defend himself and his prophet. Allah is certainly NOT the God of the Bible who is loving and long-suffering with all people.

If Muslims truly believed in Allah, they would allow him to fight their battles instead of taking matters into their own hands. Obviously Allah doesn't care about killing people. Hence they do it for him. Nevertheless what should we expect from a religion who does not know their god as a loving father. Thus they are spiritual orphans on edge seeking to somehow be validated in their personhood.

I pity my Muslim friends and truly pray for their salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ that they may know the loving heavenly Father above who loves them despite their present darkness and deception.

Muslims tell their sons they must die for god. On the contrary, God the Father through His Son Christ Jesus already died for humanity. Jesus died for us, so we can live wholeheartedly for Him. God is not a killer. God is a life-giver!

The history you ignore is sure to repeat itself. Jesus said "You will know a tree by its fruit." The evident fruit of Islam is Muslim terrorists throughout the world ready to kill anyone who does not agree with them or embrace their religion.

Love rejoices in the truth. If Muslims cannot hear the truth and must resort to violence to run from it, this should not be grounds for us to stop speaking the truth. We have who have an obligation to humanity to speak the truth without compromise. The Pope therefore should never have apologized.

Paul Davis is a life coach (relational & professional), minister, popular worldwide keynote speaker, creative consultant, humor being, adventurer, explorer, mediator, minister, liberator and dream-maker.

Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us "How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams!"

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also brought revival to many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations.

Paul's Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul for coaching or speaking at: RevivingNations@yahoo.com 407-967-7553.

For additional info: [http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV], http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com

Estate Planning for Muslims in Singapore Made Easy

The Wassiyah (will be Islamic) along with the planning of inheritance for Muslims not are widely practiced. The most common observations are:-

"The Koran already specifies my distribution of assets through Fara'id".

O

"There is no need to write a will." "There are Fara'id".

Muslims are encouraged to make a will be Islamic.

"Is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if you leave any goods that he make a legacy to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable use;" This is due to those who fear Allah. If someone changes the legacy after hearing it, the guilt shall be on those do change, Alá for he hears and knows (all things). But if someone fears partially or irregularities by the testator and make peace between (stakeholders), there is no wrong in him; Allah is Oft forgiving. "Most merciful."
Al - Baqarah (2: 180-182)

The first observation is true that, at the request of the Sharia Court, it will issue the certificate of inheritance known as "Sijil Warisan" after the death of a Muslim in Singapore. The distribution of Fara'id actions reflected in the certificate of inheritance for the distribution of the assets of the deceased.

FARA'id described in Al - Quran in the fourth chapter of verses of An-Nisa (women) 7, 11 & 12. and in the Hadith of Sahih Muslim in the 11th book, Kitab Al - Fara'id.

Application of Fara'id and other Sharia laws

Mr. Ahmad, a Muslim convert was divorced from a previous marriage 2 years ago with a 10-year-old son. He became a year ago and remarried shortly thereafter. From this marriage he has a daughter, while responsibly to his son from his previous marriage. Mr. Ahmad expected to send his son to College in the future. He wants to give to his son in the case of his death.

The distribution after the death of his estate is distributed under Fara'id:

The assets of Mr Ahmad after his death will be divided into 8 shares as follows:

1 Wife will get 1/8
2 Daughter will get 4/8
3 Baitulmal will get 3/8

** Baitulmal is the institution which acts as trustee of the Muslims. Takes care of assets that could benefit the members of the Muslim population.

Son of non-Muslims of Mr. Ahmad may not inherit as your beneficiary, unless an Islamic will provide up to 1/3 of their property. As a Muslim convert, his entire family before his conversion is excluded as legal beneficiaries under Sharia law. This is specifically mentioned in Kitab Al - Fara'id.

Book 011, number 3928(first_ver_se_ver_):
Osama b. Zaid said Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: it has no right to inherit from a non-Muslim to Muslim, and a non-Muslim is not entitled to inherit from a Muslim.

3/8 from estate of Mr. Ahmad will normally go to Baitulmal.

In Singapore, the Faculty of jurisprudence of Shafie allows a non-Muslim receive up to 1/3 of a Muslim death roots as part of the Wassiyah (will be Muslim).

It is prudent to every Muslim family to do an Islamic will in his estate and legacy planning.

Some of the other vehicles for the distribution of the wealth of a Muslim in Singapore are:-

Hibah - a gift during life.

Tired Sepencarian (shared Active size) - by customary law is a claim on the estate by the spouse who died up to 50% of total assets, deceased.

Islamic trust - personal or business assets may be held in Islamic Trust for the benefit of specific beneficiaries

Wassiyah (will be Islamic) - the designation of the executor to the estate of help to avoid conflicts between family members and accelerate the process of soft protection.

With this knowledge available, it will only be a matter of search the right Planner roots with the adequate experience in this area of work to help a Muslim plan your estate.

Reza Kamarudin has been in the financial advisory business since 2007. He is passionate about the planning of the estate because of the value it brings to the family unit and how succession planning advocates love and the dignity of the family.

Reza Kamarudin
Finca Planner and Manager of business,
Singapore estate planning,
http://www.estateplanningsingapore.com
Reza@estateplanningsingapore.com

Muslims Are Losing Ground

Salmon Rushdie may have been the first to flee the wrath of angry Islamic hardliners but now whole nations are on the alert. It is an easy thing to hide one man but nations are another matter. World reaction is followed by world opinion and depending on how much dust has to settle, following close behind is worldwide action. That action has been everything from hunting down major terrorists and dangerous extremists to digging for the root causes for all this anti anything that isn't Muslim.

Immediately after 9-11 President Bush sought to encourage Americans and warn the perpetrators of the attack in New York. We rallied around his comments with ears fully opened and hearts still burning with grief. Almost un-noticed in the melee of words and emotions he also said, that we knew the Muslim religion was a peaceful religion. Do we really know that? Up to that propitious moment in our history we knew pretty close to nothing about the Islamic faith. Since those remarks were made there has been a rush to correct our general lack of knowledge about Islam. So what do we know now?

The first person to cast doubt on the peaceful religion remark was Franklin Graham the son of evangelist Rev Billy Graham. He simply pointed us to the Quran where it can be seen in black and white that the cost of not converting to Islam could be our lives. The first reaction to Graham's divulgement was a little shy of a good old tar and feathering. Since then we have poured over the newly offered enlightenments put forth by authors, preachers, news people and others. Graham has been vindicated, our president has been a good deal less vociferous on the peaceful religion idea, and we have had a non stop crash course on the entire subject via the shock network from, Indonesia, Spain and London.

College freshman still argue that more wars have been fought and more lives have been lost to religion than for any other reason. Only a little more learning and they eventually stop sounding that obviously exaggerated claim. Most of the lives lost in war had to do with territory, politics, fascism and all the other reasons on a long list of which religion is but one. But how many converts are won as a result of religious wars and bigotry? Why can't the Muslims take a hint from this? How many people really wanted to be Catholics during the Papal inquisitions? How many got converted to Christianity because of the crusades? How about a modestly conservative, very few if any, for a fair answer?

About as much time as it takes to get a college degree has passed since 9-11 and Americans have been immersed in both its details and its concomitant effects. We have all figuratively earned our degree in the effects of terrorism. We have had our education bolstered with remedial courses from the subways of Spain to the underground of London. If we have learned nothing else we can at least say with surety that Islam is not a peaceful religion. It assuages us little to be reminded so often that there are extremist Muslims and moderate Muslims, when we know their guide book puts forth a mandate to take the extreme.That information leaves us with only two lousy choices. One is to be ever watchful of the extreme Muslims and the other is to hope the moderate Muslims don't get to serious about the Quran's extremes.

Perhaps a better question is what have Muslims learned? Has the slaughter of unsuspecting, un-armed and un-prepared people added any converts to Islam? Has it caused anyone to rush to join their ranks? The world consensus may be hard to accurately measure but it seems safe to say that not many are taking the bait.

We still live in a world where people don't like being blown up for holding an opposing view or for not being inclined to become adherents to one religion or another. I think that is why we call it civilization. Most people like to come slowly to their conclusions about God. Most folks still prefer spiritual experiences rather than human coercion. Most people would prefer a gentle Jesus to a poisoning Jim Jones. Even the cults have sense enough to feign love to the unsuspecting to lure them into their folds. What nation or what culture has ever been found to eagerly accept a religion that thinks blowing people up is pleasing to God? Why don't Muslims see they are doing more to harm their cause than time and forgiveness may ever be able to repair?

Rev Bresciani is the leader of a non-denominational ministry in the New Orleans area. He has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote, Hook Line and Sinker or What has Your Church Been Teaching You, published by PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book about to be released by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. Rev Bresciani has his own website which is, http://americanprophet.org

Muslims Are NOT Our Enemies!

Vivimos en tiempos oscuros, mis amigos, y la reciente violencia trágica en el Líbano es una indicación de cuán oscuras cosas han vuelto!

Es difícil concebir, desde esta distancia, lo que debe haber sido como para nuestras hermanas y hermanos en el sur de Líbano, que sufrió un bombardeo militar de mes! La carnicería, la destrucción, la miseria y la inhumanidad han dejado ninguno de nosotros afectado, y sin embargo... nos damos cuenta de que esto es sólo un capítulo corto en una mucho mayor y más miserable historia que todavía no ha llegado a su conclusión!

El futuro inmediato es desconocido, pero las indicaciones son en ninguna manera alentar. De alguna manera Israel ha proclamado su ataque a Líbano a una victoria, mientras que Estados Unidos continúa postural para un ataque a Irán. Y alimentando esta locura es una creciente cantidad de propaganda, viniendo de un número de direcciones, representando este conflicto como una guerra entre religiones - Dios no permita!

No estoy seguro de cuándo ocurrió esta transformación, como en el caso de los ataques en Líbano y Gaza, los temas iniciales fueron razonablemente claros. Ambos conflictos interesados controversias sobre la integridad de las fronteras territoriales y la liberación de los presos - un total de tres prisioneros israelíes sobre un lado y alrededor de 9.500 presos palestinos, además de un número de prisioneros libaneses, por el otro.

Estas fueron las cuestiones. No estoy diciendo que son fáciles cuestiones a resolver, pero que no son difíciles de entender. Son cuestiones importantes - históricamente y políticamente - pero no son cuestiones religiosas, excepto en la medida en que el nivel de abuso humano involucrado es un delito a todas las religiones!

¿Cómo es entonces que la violencia en el Medio Oriente se ha convertido en una guerra de religiones? Es mi creencia de que la única explicación para esto es que debe haber algunos poderosos grupos con un interés en dividir la población Islámica de cristianos y judíos.

Creo que es deliberada, como la retórica y la propaganda y la manera de los medios de comunicación ha torcido eventos, incluso en este país, es demasiado bien-pensado-mediante y demasiado sistemática para ser el resultado de un simple malentendido.

Creo que hay fuerzas en el trabajo - fuentes poderosas y bien financiadas en el trabajo - intentando dividir el pueblo cristiano de sus hermanos y hermanas islámicas cristiano de musulmanes, musulmanes de cristiano, musulmán de judío. Y la verdad es que estas fuerzas actualmente están demostrando para ser muy exitosa.

Como algunos de ustedes sabrán, ejecutar un número de sitios Web y tienen un número de suscriptores a mis webs de todo del mundo, especialmente de los Estados Unidos - alrededor de 5000 en todos. Cada día, parece, recibir correos electrónicos desde algunas de las personas en mi lista de correo, diciéndome que musulmanes quieren matarlos!

¿Cada día recibir estos mensajes de correo electrónico, y cada día volverá a escribir: "hermano, dime por favor cuál de nuestros hermanos islámicos está intentando matarte? Hermano, ¿realmente sabe cualquier pueblo islámico? Si así, han solicitado ellos por qué quieren matar?'

La respuesta volver siempre es básicamente la misma: 'no, personalmente no conozco ningún pueblo islámico, pero he estado leyendo mucho sobre Osama Bin Laden!'
'Hermano', respondo, "si tuviéramos islámicas, creo que tendríamos mucho mejores fundamentos para creer que la gente de Occidente está tratando de destruirnos! Afganistán no declarar la guerra a América. No fue Irak que invadió Estados Unidos. No fue Líbano ni Palestina que invadieron Israel. Y personalmente no creo que Irán está a punto de iniciar la violencia contra nadie!'

De alguna manera todo ha sido trenzado! Todo se ha convertido al revés! Israel, el país militarmente más agresivo en el Medio Oriente, de alguna manera siempre es visto como la víctima. América, el país más poderoso del mundo, de alguna manera se ve como terriblemente vulnerables al ataque!
Es retórica, la propaganda, una torsión de los hechos y un número de francamente radica en que nos han traído hasta este punto. Y sabemos muy bien donde este camino va a tomar nosotros si seguimos en él - en más violencia y derramamiento de sangre.

Por esta razón, le pido esta noche, mis hermanas islámicas y hermanos, por favor, resistir la tentación a ustedes cortado de sus amigos cristianos. Esto pido humildemente, reconociendo que tanta gente musulmana en esta comunidad siente bajo asedio y las víctimas de los prejuicios y por buenas razones. Aun así, le pido, por favor no te rindas con nosotros.

Tenga paciencia con aquellos entre nosotros que están luchando contra el peso de la propaganda que pretende dividir a nosotros. Nos dan otra oportunidad, por lo que podríamos estamos contigo contra esta violencia y crueldad que amenaza con fagocitar a todos nosotros.

Como he dicho, no es nuestras respectivas religiones que nos condujo a esta violencia. Irónicamente, creo que nuestros valores religiosos comunes pueda llevarnos fuera.

Los cristianos, musulmanes y judíos, a un nivel de fe, son todos finalmente comprometido a la paz - a la paz y del respeto mutuo. Estos son valores que son sagrados para todos nosotros. Tal vez algunos de nosotros han olvidado esto. Con toda la violencia y crueldad, hemos olvidado Quiénes somos y lo que creemos. Por favor, diálogo con nosotros y nos ayude a recordar.

Yo estaba fascinado al leer acerca de algunas investigaciones recientes realizado por un Pape de profesor de la Universidad de Chicago en los Estados Unidos. El profesor hizo un perfiles detallados de Hezbollah suicidas, tras la invasión israelí de 1982 de Líbano. Lo encontré Pape sorprendió a muchos - es decir, que de los 38 suicidas que estudió en detalle, sólo 8 eran Islámica. Tres eran cristianos. La inmensa mayoría, parece que eran personas de fe. Lo que les Unidos no era su religión común, sino un compromiso común para resistir la ocupación.

El estudio me recuerda nuevamente que estas guerras no son sobre la religión, y sin embargo, como he leído sobre personas cristianas e islámicas trabajando juntos allí en violencia, creo, cuánto más deberíamos podremos trabajar juntos por la paz - para la reconstrucción del Líbano, para poner fin a la ocupación Palestina y para poner fin a este derramamiento de sangre.

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'Lucha' padre Dave Smith - párroco, trabajador de la Comunidad, luchador profesional, padre de tres.

Dave es sólo australiano en órdenes sagradas para activar boxeador pro para ayudar a financiar su trabajo. Es párroco de Dulwich Hill, tiene un cinturón negro de artes marciales de sexto grado y ha recibido numerosos premios por su trabajo con los jóvenes.

Obtener una copia gratis de vista previa de su libro, 'Sexo, el anillo & la Eucaristía' al signo hasta para el boletín de Dave en http://www.fatherdave.org o simplemente enviar un correo electrónico a

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