Strategy to Doctor Islam | Building Moderate Muslim Networks

By Omar Javaid

The famous American think tank RAND (www.rang.org), which seems to have immense influence on global policy framework of the so called developed world, has published a few reports on how to restructure Muslim societies. The notable one is ‘Building Moderate MuslimNetwork’. This report outlines a comprehensive strategy on how to use the Cold War experience to discredit the traditional orthodox interpretation of Islam, and popularize an interpretation which is compatible with modern western ideological framework. 

The phrase ‘War of Ideas’ has been explicitly used for this clash in this report. As the title suggests the idea is to build network of so called ‘Moderate Muslims’ and make them role models for the rest of the public to follow. These ‘Moderate Muslims’ are the ones who believe in Islamic Liberalism or an interpretation of Islam compatible with Liberal philosophical discourse. This would mean that those intellectual, academics, thinkers, politicians, public figures, celebrities, even so called religious scholars who endorse such an interpretation of Islam would be provided with various plate forms and mediums to connect and influence the remaining population through their ideals, beliefs, world view, values, life style, etc, while rendering the traditional and orthodox Muslims as obsolete and irrelevant.

جمہوریت اور انسانی تاریخ

-شاہنواز فاروقی

افلاطون نے کہا ہے کہ سیاست کے مسئلے کا حل یہ ہے کہ یا تو فلسفی کو حکمران بنادو یا حکمران کو فلسفی بنادو۔ مغربی فکر میں افلاطون کی اہمیت یہ ہے کہ وائٹ ہیڈ نے کہا ہے: سارا مغربی فلسفہ افلاطون کی فکر پر حاشیے یا Foot Note کی حیثیت رکھتا ہے۔ بعض لوگ اس رائے کو مبالغہ آمیز کہتے ہیں۔ بالفرض اگر یہ رائے مبالغہ آمیز بھی ہے تو بھی اس سے مغربی فکر میں افلاطون کی مرکزیت واضح ہے۔ مغربی فکر میں اتنی مرکزیت کی حامل شخصیت نے ریاست اور سیاست کو چلانے کا طریقہ یہ بتایا ہے کہ علم کی بالادستی کے بغیر ریاست و سیاست کو کامیابی سے نہیں چلایا جاسکتا۔ افلاطون سقراط کا شاگرد تھا اور سقراط کا صوفی ہونا تقریباً طے شدہ نظر آتا ہے۔ افلاطون نے بھی فلسفے کی تعریف یہ بیان کی ہے کہ فلسفہ دانش کی محبت ہے۔ یعنی فلسفہ خود تو دانش نہیں ہے مگر وہ دانش کی محبت سے پیدا ہوتا ہے۔ 

Book is Out: Clash of Civilizations in Traditional Islamic Discourse

Authored by Shahnawaz Farooqui; 
Preface by Hamza Ali; 
Edited & translated by Omar Javaid;
Edition: 1st

About the Book: The subject of clash of civilizations is known to Muslim thinkers since many centuries; Let it be Imam Ghazali r.a., Akbar Ala Abadi, Allama Iqbal r.a. etc, all of them have extensively discussed about the subject in the literature they had produced. This book introduces the subject of clash of civilizations from the perspective of the respective thinkers, and argues that no matter how irrelevant for west it maybe, the subject is and would remain significant for the survival of the Muslims. This book proves that there is indeed a clash, specifically of ideas, between the Muslim world and the west, which also have a history of a many hundred years; and to understand the importance of this subject has never been this crucial for Muslims as it is today.

Visit the following link to purchase
https://www.createspace.com/4143420

The Women Rights Hoax

By Omar Javaid

Both men and women are living together since the very beginning of history, they have lived and survived in equal proportions throughout, and even today their proportions in the world population of around 7 billion is almost equal[i]. This makes a curious mind eventually asks after looking at the present day mantras from women empowerment and liberation, that how come womankind has survived since thousands of years in equal proportions, despite all the supposed atrocities, oppressions, and wrath of men's domination, if there is any? 

There can be multiple answers to this question: 

1) If the hypothesis of men being 'brutally against women's wellbeing' is correct then definitely we can assume that she has the capacity to survive those hardships as otherwise her percentage in population must have been significantly lower than that of men, which eventually would have increased her importance or value due to scarcity but more men would be left without partners which would have in turn caused frustration, rage and subsequent conflicts and disturbance in the society. If the hypothesis of men being brutal 'in relative terms' is false then we should ask what really the fuss is all about?

2) If the birth ratios of men would have been less than women, which is not really the case in reality[ii]  then we could have assume that men's brutal attitude actually serves a noble purpose rather, i.e. to balance out the proportions among the population of both genders, as otherwise there would have been more women than men on the planet, their value would also have decreased due to abundance; and an even larger number of women would have left without partners (read husbands), 'an even larger' because survivability of male is lesser then women, to be very precise 1.07 male births are there for each female birth but while the babies turn into adults, the ratio is reduced to 1.01 males per female[iii].

So what the fuss is really all about, let us then find out ...

Taliban: the New Super Power?

By Shahnawaz Farooqui, Translated by Omar Javaid

At the time of invasion of Afghanistan it was clear in the minds of Americans that they will enjoy a quick and comprehensive victory against those who were alleged to be terrorists, blood thirsty savages, threat to the civilized world, a burden on the face of this planet and were declared disqualified for any possible negotiation. The contrary has proven to be true today. Instead of winning the war Americans are now facing a devastating defeat, and have found themselves on there knees to negotiate those who were declared as blood thirsty terrorists [in fact Americans are the ones who have proven worthy of wearing the titles they tagged Talibans a decade ago]. This is evident from the manner in which every day in America we see any high ranking government official telling to the world that they are negotiation with the Taliban. Interestingly the Taliban's are denying with an equal intensity of receiving Americans on a negotiation table. This makes one feel like Afghan Taliban are the one who deserve to be called the superpower of the world ; a true turning of tables indeed. It is important to ask at this point that what have actually caused this historic flip and that Americans are know found to be a defensive and humiliating state, as never seen before. The history tells us that such a situation arises in a battle field only when one party knows that they don't have much cards left to play with ... After 10 years of spendthrift of their military, technological and economic resources, Americans have now realized that they are running after a ghost, therefore they are now left with no option other then to beg in front of Taliban to get to a mutually agreeable situation.

Conspiracy Theories and their popularity in Muslim World

Blasphemy Law and Wests Double Standards

By Shahnawaz Farooqui (Translated by Omar Javaid)

After 9/11 western world has developed a habit of ridiculing the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Pope Benedict started it; Danish newspapers came next and took the controversy to new heights by publishing derogatory caricatures of Prophet (SAW). The newspaper of other European nations followed the trend.

Latter the Facebook event ‘Draw Muhammad day” (Naozubillah) broke all the records. Today we are witnessing another controversy which is perhaps connected with the same trend: the matter of Asiya Bibi, the Christian lady,who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for derogating Prophet of Islam (SAW). Not a small incident though, perhaps of international significance as Pope Benedict has raised his voice against this case. USA has offered refuge to this lady as well. All of this makes one ask “If we don’t call derogation of Prophet (SAW) as developing habit of the western world … then what?”

Bigmouths of the West and Clash of Civilizations

By Omar Javaid Inspired from the writings of Mr. Shahnawaz Farooqi. 

Tony Blair in his speech to the Foreign Policy Center[1] highlighted that it’s the values of Islam and the west which are on a course of clash.

“Others found themselves caught between colonization, nascent nationalism, political oppression and religious radicalism. Muslims began to see the sorry state of Muslim countries as symptomatic of the sorry state of Islam …”

“This is, ultimately, a battle about modernity. Some of it can only be conducted and won within Islam itself … It is the age-old battle between progress and reaction, between those who embrace and see opportunity in the modern world and those who reject its existence; between optimism and hope on the one hand and pessimism and fear on the other. That is what this battle is about; it is a battle of values and progress; and therefore it is one we must win.”[2]

This would perhaps be an elaboration of his earlier statement “This is not a clash between civilizations. It is a clash about civilization …”[3] I am sure that many would agree with Tony here, as Islamic as of today doesn’t really look much like a unique civilization; however one must not forget the past and the potential hidden underneath the skin. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi seems to be at variance with Tony Blair on an occasion when his tongue slipped uttering the following historical statement:

“We must be aware of the superiority of our civilization, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and - in contrast with Islamic countries - respect for religious and political rights.” [4]

“The West will continue to conquer peoples, even if it means a confrontation with another civilization, Islam, firmly entrenched where it was 1,400 years ago.”[5]

If readers disagree then they would also have to disagree with Giovanni Berlinguer when said:

"Silvio Berlusconi has gone abroad and launched into eccentric and dangerous calls for conflict between civilizations... using terms that no statesman worthy of the name has used in these recent terrible weeks for humanity."[6]

And with the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who would agree with Berlinguer:

"These remarks could, in a dangerous way, have consequences,", whose nation holds the EU presidency, was quoted as saying. I can hardly believe that the Italian prime minister made such statements ... rather than bringing civilizations together, they could feed a feeling of humiliation."

Later Silvio Berlusconi argued that there were attempts to misinterpret his statement against Islam, note the word Islamic Civilization in the following statement as well:

“They have tried to hang me on an isolated word, taken out of context from my whole speech ... I did not say anything against the Islamic civilization... It's the work of some people in the Italian leftist press who wanted to tarnish my image and destroy my long-standing relations with Arabs and Muslims.”

George W. Bush also is reported to have said in his reaction to the event of 9/11, “… this nation is [now] at war with Islamic fascists …”[7] and said (in another of his speech) “This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while.”[8]

When the direct attacks from various notable figures weren’t sufficient to wake most of the secularized Muslim population from the mesmerism of the west, Attorney General Ashcroft pounded another blow when he said “Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you.”[9]

General Wesley Clark took in it even further on 13 May 2002 while speaking at Seton Hall University, he said:

“They killed in the name of God. But they are not the first. This began in pre-history; the tragedy is that it persists today. Some would characterize the events of 9-11 as a clash of civilizations, and a conflict of religions. And to many it seems a simple and satisfying explanation. But others would suggest, correctly in my view, that such an interpretation is both wrong-headed and dangerous. They recognize a civil war within Islam itself, as contending factions compete for power. They would argue that we must influence the struggle where we can, by supporting greater attention to the secular structures in the Islamic world, and by encouraging our own American Islamic community to speak out in support of America’s democratic values.”[10]

Although Wesley Clark denied that there would be any clash of civilization kind of a thing, however after reading in between the lines he is highlighting nothing but the same clash in its purest of sense.

---

[1] http://fpc.org.uk/

[2] Tony Blair's speech to the Foreign Policy centre, 21^st March 2006: Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/mar/21/iraq.iraq1

[3] Ibid.

[4] EU deplores 'dangerous' Islam jibe, reported on BBC world on 27th September 2001. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1565664.stm

[5] “In quotes: Berlusconi in his own words” published on BBC World on May 2^nd 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3041288.stm

[6] EU deplores 'dangerous' Islam jibe, reported on BBC world on 27th September 2001. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1565664.stm

[7] “The day the enemy became 'Islamic fascists'” by By Kari Huus and Tom Curry. Published on MSNBC on Aug. 11, 2006. Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14304397/

[8] Remarks by the President Upon Arrival in the south lawn on September 16th 2001. Source: http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010916-2.html

[9] John Ashcroft, as reported by Cal Thomas, 2001, Crosswalk.com News Channel  

[10] Commencement speech by Wesley Clark at Seton Hall University (13 May 2002): Source: http://securingamerica.com/node/1030

'A Ray of Hope'

by Shahnawaz Farooqi, translated by Omar Javaid

Iqbal said about a century ago:

"Bujhi Ishq Ke Ag Andhair he (Its Pitch black darkness as fire of passion is no more)

Muslman naheen rakh ka dher he" (Muslims are rather a pile of ashes, as they are no more)

When he exclaimed these lines, Muslims were really 'a pile of ashes' amongst other nations. This was despite their population of 150-200 million, in other words every tenth person was a Muslim in the world back then; however today a lot has changed. Firstly Muslims cannot be called 'ashes', even if we would had to, then it would rather be a mountain of ashes instead of a mere pile. This is so because according to a report prepared by 'Pew Forum', an institute of American origin, the total population of Muslims has increased to 1.57 billion, a ten fold increase since Iqbals time, or in other words every fourth person in the world is a Muslim today. This report comprises of statistics of 232 countries, which further describes existence and influence of Islam and Muslims in the world as too critical to be ignored. It further states that among non-Muslim countries the population of Muslims is around 320 million. In Europe 3.8 million Muslims resides … in Germany their number is around 1.5 million which is greater then the population of Lebanon. In china 22 million Muslims resides which is greater then the population of Syria. In Russia this number is 60 million which is greater then the population of Jordan and Libya combined. This report also states that 60% of Muslims lives in Asia, 20% in Middle East and northern Africa, and 15% live around Saharan Africa. That's too much for a pile of ash … probably making the lines of Iqbal obsolete?

Indeed it has as when Iqbal said so, only 1½ of Muslim countries had gained independence, one was Afghanistan and half of Ethiopia; the rest of the Muslim population was under the rule of imperial forces of that time. However today there are more then 57 independent Muslim countries … over and above, these countries today own 70% of the oil reserves of the world, 80% of the known gas reserves, and apart from that Muslims countries are also rich with other natural treasures.

Can we still term Muslims as a pile of ashes? Despite their colossal population in the world? Why any one would like to call 1.57 billion people a pile of ash? … Let's pause and go back to Iqbal, who is rather concerned with the fire of passion primarily, which when extinguished produces a pile of ash … is it really the case today, has the fire extinguished completely?

Let us be very clear that we shouldn't be judging Muslims by their quantity rather should do so by their quality. The fire hasn't extinguished completely rather there are clear evidences that it has started to spread. In other words, we must accept today that Muslims have some essence of excellence remaining, which is evident from defeat of Russia in Afghanistan in the last decade and today we can see America loosing the ball game in Afghanistan … it's only a matter of confession from America's side, that it will be recorded as a fact in the course of history of mankind. This is such a great success that if Iqbal would have been alive today then his revolutionary spirit would have taken new leaps, he wouldn't have then complaint that fire of passion is no more and rather Muslims are like a pile of ashes. After looking at what Muslims have done to two Superpowers, he would have rather said

Jali Ishq Ki Agg woh noor hai (The Fire of Passion and the emerging radiance)

Muslman naheen Jalwa-e-toor hai (It's not Muslims rather a beacon of light)

This is not Iqbal, but these lines resembles to his thoughts …

Let us now focus a bit more on Muslim demographics.

The present 1.57 billion of population will be close to 2 billion in 2025 and 3 billion in 2050. And if it kept on increasing then by the year 3000 it would be around 5 billion i.e. if today every fourth person is a Muslim then, very soon every third person would be a Muslim, and in a little while very second person would be a Muslim. However it is just not a matter of quantity which we should be noticing, the quality is what would make the difference, particularly when the spirit of religion is alive; and In order to confirm this, let's see compare it with other religions.

If we talk about Hinduism, million and millions of people are associated with it; however its existence is no more then in a form of a culture. On the other hand Christianity claims it self to be the largest religion of the world, however in reality it's nothing more then a part of history as true followers of Christianity are only a negligible fraction of the whole. Buddhism also has nothing to offer other then its 'frozen spirituality', and as far as Judaism is concerned then it's also being gradually evaporated from the face of this planet in term of its true identity. Contrary to this every aspect of Islam is alive in some form … let us see how?

Assuming if among 1.57 billion people only 10% offer Salah then its about 150 million people, if half of the population still observes fasting then we are talking about 750 million people, Sir! As far as the matter of Pilgrimage is concerned, today it has exceeded to more then 3 million people per annum. And if we talk about things which are prohibited or allowed (Halal or Haram) then majority of the Muslim population abide to the said rules. Now if we ask, other then Islam which of the religion is alive today to this extent, then the answer is quite clear. Among the apostates (read hidden-apostates) or Non-Muslims, those who hate Islam, do so because they see it alive unlike other religions. Today Islam is not like mere a part of tradition, culture or part of history, for that matter, unlike other religions, it's a lot more then that …

Sometime back the spirit of Jihad was also seemed very much lost, and there wasn't any hope of its revival either. However the spirit of Islam among Muslims was alive (read asleep) and the situation in Afghanistan catalytically awakened its spirit sleeping since many ages. The power of Jihad has even brought a superpower to its knees, and another one is very close to it. On the other hand, the spirit of Hijab was also close of being lost among Muslim societies; however until recently it has emerged as an international phenomenon. Mosques are also getting increasingly populated by youngster for the same reasons. These are all big and radical changes, if so then it's a little surprise that we call Islam being radicalized ;) … guess what, half of the Muslim population is indeed comprises of youngsters. This is indeed another clear proof of Islam being revitalized. According to a poet:

Jale Ishq Ki Agg woh noor hai (The Fire of Passion and the emerging radiance)

Muslman naheen Jalwa-e-toor hai (Don't call them Muslims rather a beacon of light)

Clash of Civilization - A Lecture by Shahnawaz Farooqi

This is a very concise though elaborative presentation on the subject of 'Clash of Civilization', which is on one of the fundamental issues faced by humanity today, particularly in those parts of the world which are dominated by imperialistic forces of the west. This Presentation is delivered by Shahnawaz Farooqi, who is a renowned Pakistani journalist and commentator.  

A Breaking News

by Shahnawaz Farooqi, Translated by Omar Javaid

If Americans had a News of similar proportions, which Muslims have at this point in time, it would have really sparked hundreds of hours of exclusive coverage on every news channels ... thousands of discussions of different lengths would also have been aired, and around a thousand interviews of experts, politicians, analysts etc would have become a part of memory of viewers … all in a very short period of time. In addition to that, hundreds of documentaries of various lengths would have been made on the subject or been in the process of being produced. Last but not the least; this news would also have pushed Hollywood to start production of five to six mega budget movies. 

So what’s the news?

Dear Readers! Americans and allies have been defeated by the freedom fighters/Mujahideens in Afghanistan. A news of historical proportions, isn’t it…!!! 

A few years back, one fine day Americans learnt something similar … that Russians have been defeated by Mujahideens in Afghanistan; and when the news came, it sparked a parade of discussions, columns, interviews, documentaries and feature films, et al, like we are anticipating that it would have been the case now …

However despite knowing this, the behavior of Muslim Ummah is quite contrast and dumbfounding. They have a news of historic proportions, as already said, though it’s not making a headline, not even in an evening newspaper...  This could be the height of our journalistic incapacity and intellectual slavery of independent media, and the same is also true for the entire Muslim Population, perhaps. Telling it is … we don’t even know how to even celebrate triumph … but why?

Some think that it’s the unavailability of sufficient financial resources, though I disagree. The problem, my friend, is with our priorities and misconceptions. We know people who can spend millions, if not billions, to erect Madrassahs or Masjids, however if you ask for their support to establish an independent TV channel, then they might not even spare a rupees. “It’s not a religious activity, isn’t it … would it bring bounties in Akhirah?” 

It is questioned due to a common perception that mass media is a means to spread vulgarity and negativity etc; public clings to this perception despite realizing that media is indeed the most effective and efficient tool to manage and form perceptions or opinions. Ironically, concordantly, millions believes blindly that the ‘picture (read distortion) of reality’ shown by media is indeed ‘Reality’ and what it ignores either doesn’t exist or is irrelevant. This fact is saddening with far reaching consequences.

Albeit the sorry state of print or electronic media in general, we do have some exceptions to talk about. Take Al-Jazeerah for instance; doing a splendid job despite the rule of monarchist and dictators in the Middle Eastern countries it operates, where waking and radicalizing the population is more difficult then it seems. Al-Jazeerah, however have accomplished the unimaginable, and we must ask how?

Al-Jazeerah exposed the aggression of Israel, and it not only reported the details on bombings and attacks by oppressive force(s) (extra ‘s’ for its supporting allies), but also revealed the human sufferings caused as a result, the pains and suffering of people whose family members have been martyred, how they has been treated by authorities … it also reported the economic difficulties faced by them as a result, and eventualities on future of their children. Al-Jazeerah uncovered these issues with such a detail that it was never done before, sparking a reaction against Israelis and Americans.

If all the print and electronic media of Muslim world would have the spirit Al-Jazeerah had, then the ball game would have been very different, knowing the fact that the American and Allies in Afghanistan have been defeated. Our media could have then played a pivotal role in uplifting the moral of the Muslim Ummah, and would have in turn achieved a psychological victory against the so called imperial masters.

Muslim Ummah has been a sufferer of inferiority complex since a long time; blind folded by a perception that we are deprived of resources, wealth, technology, etc, which is why western civilization have all the power and might … but remain ignorant to the fact that an Ummah who can defeat two super powers in just twenty years, must have some extraordinary qualities.

People generally believe that Americans are fighting Afghans in Afghanistan, but that’s not really the case … in reality it’s a war being won by ‘Faith’ against ‘state of the art technology’, on one side and on the other, triumph of ‘intense desire to die for a cause’ (read martyrdom) against ‘world’s greatest military might’; it is undeniably changing the face of the history forever…

Despite all this, Muslim Ummah is unaware of the glory, and ironically we don’t even have a tool to wake ourselves from the slumber.