hajimokhtar1@hotmail.com
The Sin Of Extremism Is Neither Common To All Muslims Nor Limited To Islam
Is Progress Measured In Physical Terms Or In Terms of Quality Of Life?
All one has to do is log-on-to www.msn.com and then in the search field type in "moon landing hoax" and one will come across detailed articles supporting or rejecting 'Man's Landing on the Moon'.
(Quote) "It is now common knowledge throughout the world that the Apollo Moon landings were faked by NASA back in the 60's, although many gullible people still accept NASA's claim of landing men on the Moon, without bothering to carry out any research, or investigation, to see if NASA are indeed telling the truth. There are some who will NEVER accept the Moon landings were faked, regardless of how much factual evidence of a fake is put before them. Those who will not accept that Apollo was a fake, have been brain washed into believing 33 years of lies emanating from NASA, whereby they become brain damaged, and lose touch with reality. We've all come across them from time to time as they reiterate their ridiculous statements like, "I can see the flag through my telescope", or "I saw the rocket lift off, and the TV pictures, so it must have happened". They also make stupid remarks like "What about the Moon rock brought back by the Apollo astronauts". How do WE know its Moon rock, its only NASA's word, and if it is, then it was brought back by scoop and return probe, NOT ASTRONAUTS." - www.geocities.com/nasascam
Whether the landing on the moon is true or false one still wonders why have there not been any follow-up trips or anything further about the moon? How come we are only able to offer space rides that can only go just beyond conventional flights. If we did really land on the moon, then further landings would be logical for research and colonisation. But if it was a mere publicity stunt to impress the world then of course it has to end there. So the question that arises now is, "Are we about to be taken for another ride over a Mars landing?" If we are, then I don't think that there will be any problem over making a perfect computerised movie of it. q Haji Mokhtar Stork
Topics /Main Page Of Islamic Preview
The Jews Have A Knack Of Keeping Alive Their Sufferings
From an Islamic point of view the Jews are indeed blessed and cursed in many ways. All one has to do is look up the Qur'an and one will see how they fell out of favour with God. When you look into their long line of Prophets and Messengers, you will find that they always had to face disobedience and rebellion. Deliverance by Moses was only met with disbelief during his short absence. In the case of Jesus, he was considered an imposter and as such nailed to the cross. You can't find a single Jewish Prophet that did not have to wage war to secure Jewish freedom.
Under Nazi rule they were singled out for extermination. One wonders why was this so? And if you examine the history of any nation you will find that the Jews had a stranglehold on the economy of that nation. This was the situation in Europe. What about Asia? Countries may have been under British or Dutch rule but if you look carefully the Jewish presence was always there in the background. Take for example Malaya. The University of Malaya's first founding Vice Chancellor was a Jew. The Straits Times at the time was owned by another Jew. We had David Marshal another Jew as Chief Minister of Singapore.
From Britton and Europe they moved to America, and it is from America today that they continue to pull the strings of the world to suit their goals and objectives. And to keep alive this picture of "suffering" and "persecution" one movie after another is made from time to time to remind the world. The latest is the Pianist, a touching movie of the "eternal sufferings of the Jews" being relived over and over again. In that movie there is a Jewish statement which goes something like this, "Why don't the Jewish bankers in America make America get involved in the war....." This is what we actually see taking place today over Palestine.
And if you watch the HBO movie, Band Of Brothers you will observe a distinct difference in the original footage during the war of Nazi-Jewish concentration camps when compared to this movie, where exaggerations over the number of Jews were held. I wonder what it would be like if Muslim nations were able to make movies over the "Creation of Israel" and the "Eternal sufferings of the Palestinians" which seem to outdo time in comparison to the Jews? Maybe in the long future, the Palestinians might be able to keep alive their "eternal sufferings". Most probably the Bosnians, Iraqis etc might follow suit.
The West has HOLLYWOOD to be grateful for that. India has BOLLYWOOD, while the Muslims can only come up with third grade stuff confined to their boundaries. The only two notable ancient movies so far have been The Message and The Lion of the Desert (involving western actors). There is no doubt, the Jews are a blessed people. As the Chosen People Of God they have dominated the global scene from the beginning of time. However, no nation has really been comfortable with them. Their assimilation into other nations has always been to serve their own interest, and in this respect Henry Ford in his book was concerned with their entry into America. Today, there is not a single election in the West that is not determined by the Jewish lobby. America is a model of Jewish dominance. Even Colin Power has Jewish ancestry.
Germany which tried to get rid of the WALL as a reminder of Nazi Germany is constantly being reminded of its Jewish suffering. In Switzerland the banks are reminded of how much Jewish money lies in their banks. Even the POPE is reminded of his neglect of Jews during Nazi occupation (and sodomy of young boys by Catholic priests etc) - scenarios which constantly arise when someone says something against the Jews. Marlon Brando had a taste of it at Hollywood.
The Jews truly have a knack of keeping alive their sufferings from Biblical times right up to the present, and under such circumstances you can't expect much from them. Even the U.N. and world nations have failed. There are countless resolutions that can NEVER be implemented in relation to Israel and Palestinians in comparison to what happened to Iraq. In fact, when discussing the issue of the Jews with a British Jew (lawyer) many years ago, I was bluntly told that having undergone so much suffering throughout their (Jewish) history, the Jews would most probably nuke America if it tried to impose its will upon them in Israel. It would most probably be done from the inside with so many Jews in power. Even in Iraq there have been unconfirmed reports of Jewish pilots blowing up mosques.
Well, as the saying goes, "every dog has its day", I guess that no matter what America does (Its the New Roman Empire of today), and how much weapons Israel may possess, I cannot avert the decree of God eventually. If we did not believe in this then it would be pointless believing in God in the first place. So as Muslims we must believe in such (God's accountability etc), and when it comes as it did to previous great civilisations, I guess no mercy will be shown to today's heroes. To verify this statement, all one has to do is to look up the Sayings of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and one will come across the return of Christ and the killing of Jews from the gates of Damascus right up to Jerusalem. And should a Jew take refuge behind a rock, it will cry out, exposing the Jew. The only refuge a Jew will have on a temporary basis is behind the "burning bush" (a type of tree....can't remember its name).
Muslims that this ultimate humiliation cannot be postponed. And no matter what step America or its allies and Israel might take, they will not be able to deter what has been ultimately predicted. So I guess all this further infuriates the kafir and prompts them to see to it that another Islamic Renianance never takes place. Of course this state of affairs will continue to persist so long as Muslims take a long nap and fail to live up to expectations. However, once they do wake up, its going to be a tough struggle keeping alive, and if they can succeed in that, then the rest will reflect Islamic predictions. HMS - May 03
The Issue
Of IslamQuote: "They tinker with it, remodel it and reform it to make it palatable with Western norms and their own desires, and have the impudence to call it Islam." - Adam b. Mohd Ibrahim.
Quote: "They take hold of it (Islam) like a piece of iron, put it into the furnace and then beat it into whatever shape they want to." - al marhum, Sheikh Shahidullah Faridi.
This is a common phenomenon with world-wide forums discussing Islam. Sometimes you get the feeling that some of these people are paid as agent to undertake this task Some use such platforms to vent their anger and hatred towards their own Islamic countries under the disguise of reforming Islam. Others have no Islamic qualifications whatsoever but can be found speaking at these forums. However, there are some individuals who do sincerely try to bridge the gap, often to the displeasure of modernists, liberalists, feminist movements etc, because Islam is Islam and it cannot be tinkered with but only finely tuned. The problem is not Islam but with Muslims. They become used or in turn try to use others to achieve their own goals and objectives under the disguise of reform, democracy and freedom of rights.
In their efforts to promote Islam in a liberal sense, you will find many trying to be apologetic and accommodating, notably over what took place on September 11th. The truth is, what took place then has nothing to do with Islam. It deals with humans and their fundamental rights to existence. Islam merely became a tool to be exploited by its enemies internally and externally.
On the other extreme we find Muslims wanting to turn the clock backwards. We most definitely can't go back to living like the way the Prophet and his Companions did physically but we most certainly can carry forward the value system that Islam has established. Rigidity and the refusal to adapt to a world undergoing challenges has been the main cause for this. It roots lie in the very manner Islam is taught throughout the world, where the process has virtually not undergone any changes in thought and application to meet the demands of the modern world, and as a result of this, we find all kinds of champions of the faith, willing to go to the extent of even killing fellow Muslims just because they don't share their ideology or point of view. q Haji Mokhtar Stork
Topics /Main Page Of Islamic Preview
Topics /Main Page Of Islamic Preview
According the Catholic Encyclopedia: "The Crusades were expeditions undertaken, in fulfilment of a solemn vow, to deliver the Holy Places from Mohammedan tyranny.
The origin of the word may be traced to the cross made of cloth and worn as a badge on the outer garment of those who took part in these enterprises. Medieval writers use the terms crux (pro cruce transmarina, Charter of 1284, cited by Du Cange s.v. crux), croisement (Joinville), croiserie (Monstrelet), etc. Since the Middle Ages the meaning of the word crusade has been extended to include all wars undertaken in pursuance of a vow, and directed against infidels, i.e. against Mohammedans, pagans, heretics, or those under the ban of excommunication. The wars waged by the Spaniards against the Moors constituted a continual crusade from the eleventh to the sixteenth century; in the north of Europe crusades were organized against the Prussians and Lithuanians; the extermination of the Albigensian heresy was due to a crusade, and, in the thirteenth century the popes preached crusades against John Lackland and Frederick II. But modern literature has abused the word by applying it to all wars of a religious character, as, for instance, the expedition of Heraclius against the Persians in the seventh century and the conquest of Saxony by Charlemagne.
The idea of the crusade corresponds to a political conception which was realized in Christendom only from the eleventh to the fifteenth century; this supposes a union of all peoples and sovereigns under the direction of the popes. All crusades were announced by preaching. After pronouncing a solemn vow, each warrior received a cross from the hands of the pope or his legates, and was thenceforth considered a soldier of the Church. Crusaders were also granted indulgences and temporal privileges, such as exemption from civil jurisdiction, inviolability of persons or lands, etc. Of all these wars undertaken in the name of Christendom, the most important were the Eastern Crusades.
According to Harun Yahya in his book Global Freemasonry states, "No matter how much some may insist that the Crusades were military expeditions carried out in the name of the Christian faith, fundamentally, they were undertaken for material gain. In a period when Europe was experiencing great poverty and misery, the prosperity and wealth of the East, especially of the Muslim in the Middle East, attracted the Europeans. This inclination took on a religious facade, and was ornamented with the symbols of Christianity, though, in actuality, the idea of the Crusades was born out of a desire for worldly gain. This was the reason for the sudden change among Christians of Europe from their former pacifist policies, in earlier periods of their history, towards military aggression."
 The Crusaders wreaked havoc in Jerusalem. The Mediaeval engraving shown above depicts certain scenes of the horror. |
"The founder of the Crusades was Pope Urban II. He summoned the Council of Clermont, in 1095, in which the former pacifist doctrine of the Christians was abandoned. A holy war was called for, with the intent to wrest the holy lands from the hands of the Muslims. Following the council, a huge army of Crusaders was formed, composed both of professional soldiers, and tens of thousands of ordinary people."
"Historians believe Urban II's venture was prompted by his desire to thwart the candidacy of a rival to the papacy. Furthermore, while European kings, princes, aristocrats and others greeted the pope's call with excitement, their intentions were basically mundane. As Donald Queller of The University of Illinois put it, "the French knights wanted more land. Italian merchants hoped to expand trade in Middle Eastern ports... Large numbers of poor people joined the expeditions simply to escape the hardships of their normal lives." Along the way, this greedy mass slaughtered many Muslims, and even Jews, in hopes of finding gold and jewels. The crusaders even cut open the stomachs of those they had killed to find gold and precious stones the victims may have swallowed before they died. So great was the material greed of the crusaders that they felt no qualms in sacking the Christian city of Constantinople (Istanbul) during the Fourth Crusade, when they stripped off the gold leaf from the Christian frescoes in the Hagia Sophia."
"The Crusaders reached Jerusalem in 1099. When the city fell after a siege of nearly five weeks, they carried out a level of savagery the like of which the world has seldom seen. All Muslims and Jews in the city were put to the sword. In the words of one historian, "They killed all the Saracens and the Turks they found... whether male of female." One of the Crusaders, Raymond of Aguiles, boasted of this violence: Wonderful sights were to be seen. Some of our men (and this was more merciful) cut off the heads of their enemies; others shot them with arrows, so that they fell from the towers; others tortured them longer by casting them into flames. Piles of heads, hands and feet were to be seen in the streets of the city. It was necessary to pick one's way over the bodies of men and horses. But these were small matters compared to what happened at the Temple of Solomon, a place where religious services are normally chanted ... in the Temple and the porch of Solomon, men rode in blood up to their knees and bridle reins."
"In two days, the Crusader army killed some 40,000 Muslims in the most barbaric manner. The crusaders then made Jerusalem their capital, and founded a Latin Kingdom stretching from the borders of Palestine to Antioch. Later, the crusaders initiated a struggle to maintain their position in the Middle East. In order to sustain the state they had founded, it was necessary to organize it. To this end, they established military orders, the alike of which had never existed before. Members of these orders came from Europe to Palestine, and lived in a type of monastery where they received military training to fight against Muslims. One of these orders, in particular, was different from the others. It underwent a transformation that would influence the course of history. This order was the Templars."
"The Templars, or, their full name, The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ and the Temple of Solomon, was formed in 1118, that is, 20 years after the crusaders took Jerusalem. The founders of the order were two French knights, Hugh de Payens and Godfrey de St. Omer. At first there were 9 members, but the order steadily grew. The reason they named themselves after the temple of Solomon was because the place they had chosen as a base was the temple mount where this ruined temple had been located. This same location was where the Dome of the Rock (Qubbet as-Sakhrah) stood. However, within a short time these poor soldiers became very wealthy. Christian pilgrims, coming from Europe to Palestine, were under the complete control of this order, and by whose money they became very rich. In addition, for the first time they set up a cheque and credit system, similar to that of a bank. According to the British authors, Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, they established a kind of Medieval capitalism, and led the way to modern banking through their interest-based transactions."
It was these murders who were responsible for Muslim and Jewish deaths, and it was the great Islamic leader, Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders in 1187, at the Battle of Hattin. Later he rescued Jerusalem and then put the Templars to death for the murders they had committed, while pardoning large number of Christians.
"There is no doubt that their political power made the monarchs of Europe uneasy. But there was another aspect of the Templars that also made the clergy ill at ease: the order had gradually apostatized from the Christian faith, and while in Jerusalem, had adopted a number of strange mystical doctrines. There were also rumors that they were organizing strange rites to give form to these doctrines."
 Templars fleeing the Church were given refuge by the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce. |
"Finally, in 1307, the French king Philip le Bel decided to arrest the members of the order. Some of them managed to escape but most of them were caught. Pope Clement V also joined the purge. Following a long period of interrogation and trial, many of the Templars admitted to heretical beliefs, that they had rejected the Christian faith and insulted Jesus in their masses. Finally, the leaders of the Templars, who were called "grand masters," beginning with the most important of them, Jacques de Molay, were executed in 1314 by order of the Church and the King. The majority of them were put into prison, and the order dispersed and officially disappeared."
According to a thesis based on various historical documents, a significant number of them took refuge in the only kingdom in Europe that did not recognize the authority of the Catholic Church in the fourteenth century, Scotland. There, they reorganized under the protection of the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce. Some time later, they found a convenient method of disguise by which to continue their clandestine existence: they infiltrated the most important guild in the medieval British Isles-the wall builders' lodge, and eventually, they fully seized control of these lodges.
The wall-builders' lodge changed its name, at the beginning of the modern era, calling itself the "Masonic lodge." The Scottish Rite is the oldest branch of Masonry, and dates back to the beginning of the fourteenth century, to those Templars who took refuge in Scotland. And, the names given to the highest degrees in Scottish Rite are titles attributed centuries earlier to knights in the order of Templars. These are still employed to this day. In short, the Templars did not disappear, but their philosophy, beliefs and rituals still persist under the guise of Freemasonry. This thesis is supported by much historical evidence, and is accepted today by a large number of Western historians, whether they are Freemasons or not. [Global Freemasonry - Harun Yahya]
The New World Order is nothing but a continuing Crusade against the peoples of the world, notably against Islam and Muslims, under the banner of the Skull & Bones, another disguised order of a continuing line beginning with the Templars, Freemasonry etc. The Catholic vow adopted by early Christians, which later underwent change through the Templars have now taken on a more heretic Zionist stance similar to that of Dajal (the Antichrist), where political, military, and material dominance of the world is the goal.
The slaughter of Muslims in Bosnia, Kosova, Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq and the indifference of the West and the U.N. is just a continuation of the Crusades. What we see taking place today is no different from that of the Crusades of days gone by. The only difference is the boldness and force introduced to bring about submission and subjugation to just one ungodly view.
Today, it is also the battle of the minds, where institutions controlled by these Crusaders distort the facts to support their case. We find the media, movies and even situation being created to support the notion that Islam and Muslims are evil. The Romanian Prince, Vlad Dracula was commonly known as Vlad "Tepes" (tepes means the impaler in Romanian) he was well known for impaling his enemies, notably the Muslims, and collecting their blood in jars and having feasts near their bodies. Tom Cruise as Lestat and Brad Pitt as Louis acted in one such Dracula movie.
This is not all, Spanish Troops being sent to Iraq to support the Americans there bear 'Moor Killer' badges. The Guardian reported that a row broke out in Spain after the country sent its first troops to patrol Iraq wearing on their shoulders the Cross of St James of Compostela - popularly known in Spain as "the Moor Killer". Patches bearing the cross, the symbol of a saint who allegedly guided the Medieval Christian recapture Spain from the Muslims, are to be worn by a 2,000-strong Spanish brigade in central Iraq, who will patrol the sacred Shia city of Najaf. While newspapers and radio stations reacted with astonishment at the choice of symbol, politicians avoided the argument. "If we start debating this subject the risks surrounding the mission will only be increased," said a spokesman from the opposition Socialist party, Jesus Caldera. "To put the Cross of St James of Compostela on the uniforms of Spanish soldiers supposes an absolute ignorance of the society in which they will have to carry out their mission," fumed El Mundo newspaper in an editorial. "It would be difficult to come up with any symbol more offensive to the Shia population than this cross."
Apparently, if you are from the West or belong to a Western nation, then nothing that is done by their leaders is considered wrong, whereas if it was a Muslim nation, then everything it does becomes wrong. They may make a few statements on and then, go through an inquiry, but in general they share the same view regardless of who is going to take office after them, and that is, Islam and Muslims must never be allowed to rule the world again. As for the rest of the 'uncircumcised lot', well they like sheep will fall into line, as they all share a common interest. Islam and Muslims don't fit into this picture because the Qur'an is too explicitly clear concerning the miscreants, which actually angers them. And this is one of the reasons why Christianity or any other religion has come out firmly over the issue of Palestine. The moment they do so the Zionists will be on their backs over sodomy, the holocaust, and Jewish funds in Europe during Nazi rule. So you (a nation) either join them to survive or are marked out as an enemy.
In the same manner, the powerful are allowed to develop weapons of destruction, because they are civilised, while the rest are a threat to their existence. Well, it a matter of time.....if you do believe in God, then the truth must prevail. How quick that comes about also depends to a great extent on our own conscience and willingness to reform, otherwise, it could be doomsday that resolves our situation. [Haji Mokhtar Stork]
Is Progress Measured In Physical Terms Or In Terms of Quality Of Life?
How do you measure a nation's progress and development? Is it measured in terms of skyscrapers, material wealth, the number of times you enter the Guinness Book of Records or the quality of life that one enjoys?
Progress and development has been generally viewed in material terms, thus leading to a materialistic society without any morals, civic-mindedness, or respect for others, except their own goals and ambitions. This simple example illustrates this: I usually stop at the last Petronas petrol station just before reaching the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). It was here that I had the opportunity to have a chit chat with the owner of the petrol pump (a lady). I praised her for her artistic approach to decorating her station as well as the surrounding area. One could see that she was a cultured person and that she had travelled abroad.
She thanked me for my remarks and then went on to say, "I wonder when will our society change their habits. I make sure my man cleans the toilets every now and then, but yet many will enter them and do their 'business' and leave without flushing the toilet. What kind of people are these? I grow nice beautiful plants to make the place look welcoming and people stop by and steal my plants. They rip them from the ground and take them away. I wonder when will our society ever become civic-minded and civilised? It really annoys me!"
Why do people behave in such a manner? Is it due to their upbringing? Did they not receive an education? Yes, if you speak about being civic-minded and civilised then it has a lot to do with the way you are brought up and the education you receive. I remember the occasion when I visited the 17th World Orchid Conference & Show in Malaysia. There was this lady who kept touching the orchids when it was clearly forbidden to do so. When I pointed this out to her, she replied, "If I don't do so now, I will never be able to do so." Does this not represent a selfish point of view?
If you are at the airport you can see Malaysian running to reach immigration counters, even at times jumping queue. Foreigners from India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, China all have the same habits. What's the hurry? If they board a plane, they take in luggage that cannot even fit into the plane's compartment. How cares? As a Malaysian, I have hardly heard a person saying, excuse me? when trying to get by. He or she would just brush or push her way through. And if you held a door open for someone to enter, most probably you won't receive a thank you. Does it cost you any money to say excuse me or thank you? The answer is 'No!' So why can't we add some character to our behaviour alongside material prosperity?
Some people view life in terms of material wealth. They will go through all means to acquire it and will in fact feel very proud of having done so. Every day is an opportunity. Just like they bribe god with offerings, sacrifices, and supplications for continued prosperity, they go about thinking that people too can be bought easily. Their prosperity is artificial. It is worldly. This is their paradise and heaven with nothing waiting for them in the Hereafter. It reminds me of a person who continually keeps plucking my flowers to offer an offering to his God. I said to him, "Do you think that God will accept your offering knowing that you took these flowers without my permission? Your act is an act of stealing, so how can God who is pure accept such from you?" The man looked at me in amazement. He had not looked upon things in this perspective. All he know was that he had to make a daily offering to God and that had to be fulfilled. In the same manner one will find Muslims turning up for Friday Congregational Prayer. Most will park their cars in a haphazard manner, sometimes even blocking traffic. How can such a person expect his prayers to be answered when he turns up for prayer in such a manner?
Today many are concerned with their image of power and prosperity. How they achieve this does not count. How many people have to suffer to make them prosperous does not figure out in their calculations. Well, they may appear to be prosperous but there is always someone waiting to ambush them, because prosperity achieved in this manner brings nothing but heartache and sorrow.
If we take a look at the world at large, there are wealthy nations who dominate and control the world but yet their citizens live on canned dog food and sleep in parks. The same can be said of some developing nations who enjoy nuclear status. Their peoples also live in abject poverty. Overall it can be said that morality and righteousness is on the decline and one of the most effective ways of ensuring decency in modern times is by enacting laws and enforcing them strictly. This has been achieved to a great extent in the West and in Singapore. If one is depending on persuasion to achieve this goal it will not work because society in general has no conscience. It is the law that keep them in check and later moulds succeeding generations into accepting it as a part of their culture. However, this method is not full proof, because people are law abiding when at home. As soon as they leave their boarders they revert to their evil ways.
Religion too has failed to bring about these desired results because it focus has shifted to a more physical state rather than a spiritual state. Whether it be Islam, Hinduism, Christianity etc, most have forgotten the spiritual significance of purification and awareness over every physical act they perform. Actions which are intended to raise the quality of life in terms of awareness and responsibility become mere ritualistic acts directed for self glory and material gain. Such is the decadence of life these days, where people has removed their robes of honour which Allah has bestowed upon them, preferring in its place the identity of being scavenging, ravaging ferocious animals.
There are many ways we can improve the quality of life. For example: 1. Don't do to others what you would not want others to do to you. 2. Remember, what goes up must come down. Every action has a re-action. We refer to it in Islam as accountability. 3. Recounting one's actions and reflecting upon them can help make you a better person. 4. Try placing yourself in the other person's shoes. 5. If you truly believe in God, then know that this world was not created to serve your own needs only. q Haji Mokhtar Stork
Topics /Main Page Of Islamic Preview
Abayah, Hijab (Veil), Purdah, Jilbab - 2002
The Abayah: Lt. Col. Martha McSally, America’s highest-ranking female fighter pilot at the time instituted lawsuits against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over having to wear the abayah (the Saudi Cloak) when leaving the U.S Base in Saudi Arabia. She calls the policy unconstitutional and says it improperly forces American women to conform to other religious and social customs.
However, according to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the Saudi government does not require non-Muslim women to wear a dark robe known as an abayah. The official guidance, issued by the Saudi Embassy in Washington, says foreigners should dress conservatively, but they are not required to wear the robe, U.S. officials said. Muslim women on the other hand are not encouraged to wear the abayah in Saudi Arabia; they are compelled to wear it by the mutawah (religious officers).
Later, the U.S. military in a policy reversal declared that it will no longer require servicewomen in Saudi Arabia to wear the Muslim-style head-to-toe robes when venturing off base. Instead, wearing the robe, known as an abayah, "is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged," according to an order issued by Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, e-mailed to commanders in the region Saturday.
The Jilbab (Outer-Garment): The Arabic word of over-garment is jilbab, and it is a garment which Muslim women wear over and existing garment, or a woman’s head covering, or a garment that covers her head and bosom but not her face. It may be part of an ordinary dress or it may be a kind of overcoat. Maulana Muhammad ‘Ali in his book The Religion of Islam states that had wearing the veil been compulsory it would have been revealed in the Qur’an. As such, there is no Qur’anic injunction concerning it. It was a recognised practice that women come to mosque unveiled. It is even acknowledged by Islamic jurists that women should not veil themselves at prayer or on pilgrimage. However, she is required to dress according to requirements established by Islam according to the Qur’an.
It is also a well-established fact that there were no screens in the Prophet’s Mosque to segregate the sexes. The only separation was that women stood in rows some distance behind the men. During Pilgrimage it is all the more unavoidable and at times does cause unease when women end up praying in from of men, who disapprove of such conduct. Instead revelation from Allah in the Qur’an requires both men and women to keep their looks cast down. Allah has revealed, “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; and they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; and they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hand possess, or male servants free from physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you believers! Turn you all together towards Allah that you may attain bliss.” (Surah Nur 24:30-31 – Yusuf Ali).
Mahmoud Ridha Murad in his book Islamic Dress Code For Women takes on an extreme approach. Let us view his translation of Surah Ahzab 33:59 “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (except eyes to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed.” The same verse translated by Yusuf Ali reads: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): That is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested….”
Mahmoud Ridha however acknowledges that the covering of the face and the hands was the practise of the Prophet’s wives and other pious women during the time of the Prophet. He then quotes Asma’ (r.h.) as saying, “We used to cover our faces from men.” (al-Hakim) – (Mahmoud Ridha Murad, Islamic Dress Code For Women, p. 12).
What this signifies is that it was a cultural practise and not a Qur’anic injunction. A’ishah (r.h.) is reported to have said, “May Allah grant the women of the Ansar His Mercy, when Allah revealed His words. ‘And they draw their head-covers over their Juyub’ - they tore a portion of their wrapping garments and used them as Khimar (headcloth).” (Bukhari) – (Mahmoud Ridha Murad, Islamic Dress Code For Women.).
When we examine the above it will be noted that:
1. Words in brackets are the author’s own interpretation, which are intended to project a desired effect as is the case with (except eyes to see the way). The ‘casting of a cloak over the body’ makes no mention of the face explicitly and as such is assumed based on cultural practice. All other Qur’anic verses quoted by the author of Islamic Dress Code have not only enforced the wearing of the veil but have more or less confined women to their homes: “And stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like that of the former times of ignorance.” (Surah Ahzab 33:33). What has been overlooked is that this precise verse has also been viewed in relation to the Prophet’s wives, they being exceptional and above other women. As such, such verses are exclusive to the household of the Prophet but have been accepted as indicators for Muslim society by other scholars. If we are to accept the premise that ‘all women must stay at home’ or ‘be confined to their homes’, then how come they were involved at the battlefield attending to the wounded?
2. The word Khimar (headcloth) could represent ‘Muslim-style head-to-toe robes’ worn by women in Saudi, with both face and hands exposed. No mention is explicitly made here about ‘only the eyes being exposed’.
The Veil: It has to be noted that the wearing of the veil by Muslim women is cultural. It is not a Qur’anic requirement because there is no explicit command concerning it. What has been expressed in the Qur’an is ‘the lowering of one’s gaze’, the wearing of an ‘outer-garment’. Prayer, which forms the highest act of worship, requires that the face and hands be exposed.
Finally, it must be noted that Islam does not prohibit women from wearing the veil nor does it legalise it. The misinformed West views veiled Muslim women as being oppressed. Well, this would depend to a great extent on the individual. One wonder why should they object to it when it was prevalent in Judaism. According to Rabbi Dr. Menachem M. Brayer it was the custom of Jewish women to go out in public with a head covering which, sometimes, even covered the whole face leaving one eye free. (Menachem M. Brayer, The Jewish Woman in Rabbinical Literature: A Psychosocial Perspective - Hoboken, N.J: Ktav Publishing House, 1986, p. 239. He quotes some famous ancient Rabbis saying, “It is not like the daughters of Israel to walk out with heads uncovered” and “Cursed be the man who lets the hair of his wife be seen....a woman who exposes her hair for self-adornment brings poverty.” Rabbinical law forbids the recitation of blessings or prayers in the presence of a bareheaded married woman since uncovering the woman's hair is considered “nudity”.
Dr. Brayer also mentions that “During the Tannaitic period the Jewish woman's failure to cover her head was considered an affront to her modesty. When her head was uncovered she might be fined four hundred zuzim for this offence.” Dr. Brayer also explains that veil of the Jewish woman was not always considered a sign of modesty. Sometimes, the veil symbolised a state of distinction and luxury rather than modesty. The veil personified the dignity and superiority of noble women. It also represented a woman's inaccessibility as a sanctified possession of her husband. The veil signified a woman's self-respect and social status. Women of lower classes would often wear the veil to give the impression of a higher standing. The fact that the veil was the sign of nobility was the reason why prostitutes were not permitted to cover their hair in the old Jewish society. However, prostitutes often wore a special headscarf in order to look respectable. Susan W. Schneider, Jewish and Female - New York: Simon & Schuster, 1984, p. 237.
In Christianity, it is also a well-known fact that Catholic Nuns have been covering their heads for hundreds of years, but that is not all. St. Paul in the New Testament stated the following: “Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head - it is just as though her head was shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.” (I Corinthians 11:3-10).
St. Paul's rationale for the head-scarf is that it is a sign of the authority of the man, who is the image and glory of God, over the woman who was created from and for man. St. Tertullian in his famous treatise 'On The Veiling Of Virgins' wrote, “Young women, you wear your veils out on the streets, so you should wear them in the church, you wear them when you are among strangers, then wear them among your brothers...”
Among the Canon laws of the Catholic Church today, there is a law that requires women to cover their heads in church. Some Christian denominations, such as the Amish and the Mennonites for example, keep their women veiled to the present day. The reason for the veil, as offered by their Church leaders, is that “The head covering is a symbol of woman's subjection to the man and to God”, which is the same logic introduced by St. Paul in the New Testament. (Donald B. Kraybill, The Riddle Of The Amish Culture - Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989, p. 56. This means that Jews and Christians used to not only wear a head-scarf but they also wore a veil at times. From all the above evidence, it is obvious that Islam did not invent the veil nor did it endorse it.
The Qur’an urges the believing men and women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty and then urges the believing women to extend their head covers to cover the neck and the bosom. The whole exercise and objective in Islam is to guard the modesty and honour of women and nothing more. Those endorsing the veil have given their own interpretation to strengthen their cause, whereas we know from evidence already mentioned that it was a cultural practise of the Arabs.
Imam Shafi’e adopts the stance of prayer as the highest and noblest act a person can perform, where both face and hands are not covered as the basis of what needs not to be covered The Qur’an also provides effective punishment to those who slander the reputation of women. “And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations)- Flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors.” (Surah Nur 24:4).
Finally in Surah Nur 24:60 Allah has revealed concerning aged women: “Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage - there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One who sees and knows all things.” It is one of the great ironies of our times that undue exposure of the body has been accepted as being decent while those who want to cover themselves with a head scarf and outer-garment are considered backward. [Note: The HIJAB in the West means the Headscarf and not the Veil, whereas the Arabs consider it to be the VEIL]. q Haji Mokhtar Stork
Topics /Main Page Of Islamic Preview
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The Shroud of Turin, as seen by the naked eye, is a negative image of
a man with his hands folded. The linen is 14 feet, 3 inches long and 3
feet, 7 inches wide. The shroud bears the image of a man with wounds
similar to those suffered by Jesus. The shroud is unquestionably old. Its history is known from the year 1357, when it surfaced in the tiny village of Lirey, France. Until recent reports from San Antonio, most of the scientific world accepted the findings of carbon dating carried out in 1988. The results said the shroud dated back to 1260-1390, and thus is much too new to be Jesus' burial linen. |
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The section of the shroud showing the face
reveals dramatic features
when viewed as negative image.
Here is an artistic impression of what the
face
matching the image might have looked like.
COPYRIGHT 1931 GIUSEPPE ENRIE
This frontal image (above) shows the forearms, wrist, and hands. There appears to be a large puncture wound on the wrist. This is significant because if nails were placed through the palms of the hand, this would not provide sufficient support to hold the body to the cross and tearing of the hands would occur. Only if the nails were placed through the wrists would this provide sufficient support to hold the body fixed to the cross.
We can also see a large blood stain and elliptical wound on the person's right side (remember, in a negative imprint left and right are reversed). From studying the size and shape of this wound and historical records, we can deduce that this wound could have been caused by a Roman Lancea. This lance is pictured in Slide 13.
In addition, by measuring the angle of dried blood on the wrist, one can reconstruct the angle at which this person hung from the cross. He mainly hung from a position 65 degrees from the horizontal. But there is another angle of dried blood at 55 degrees. This shows that this person tried to lift himself up by 10 degrees. Why? Medical studies show that if a person just hangs from a position of 65 degrees in would start to suffocate very quickly. Only if he could lift himself up by about 10 degrees would he be able to breathe. Thus he would have to raise himself up by this 10 degrees by pushing down on his feet which would have to have been fixed to the cross. He would then become exhausted and fall down again to the 65 degree position. Thus, he would continue to shift from these two agonizing positions throughout crucifixion. That is why the executioners of crucifixion would break the legs of their victims to speed up death. If they could not lift themselves up to breathe, they would suffocate very quickly.
Topics /Main Page Of Islamic Preview
This is the difference between Islam and other religions. The Qur’an is explicitly clear about covering one’s self, behaving well and performing righteous deeds. Therefore, if a person in Islam fails to observe these rules and regulations imposed by Allah it merely denotes rebellion and a lack of faith, especially those who know, or maybe those who try not to know.
It will be noted that Muslims come in a variety of flavours, with some willing to only accept, that which suits them, claiming the rest to be outdated or backward. Then there are those who prefer ignorance as a means of avoiding what is obligatory upon them. Then there are those who remain in the fold of Islam by name only. In all cases one will observe that if any have to turn up in court, they will be found wearing a skullcap, a sign of their sudden change to piety.
Many Muslims take pride in achievements, or the way they dress, or the way they act, without realising that such never enjoys Allah’s pleasure, the reason being that Allah Himself has not approved such. However, if the person is conscious and aware but for some reason does not comply with some aspect of His Laws, well, that may be a temporary measure, provided the individual always seeks forgiveness and asks for Allah’s help so that one ma be strengthened in faith to submit to His commands. But people usually do not think like this. They act as they please.
From Ibn Masud (r.a.) who said that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Among that which reached the people from the words of the earlier prophethood: If you feel no shame, then do whatever you wish." (Bukhari). The Prophet (s.a.w.) informed us that this statement was part of one of the previously communicated teachings from Allah and that it was passed around among the peoples until it reached the beginning of this nation. So if you possess no shame, then do as you please.
Ashajj Ibnu 'Asar said: Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) said to me, "You have two attributes which Allah loves." I said, "And what are they." He (s.a.w.) said: "Maturity and shame." I said, "Have they been with me since long ago or just recently?" He (s.a.w.) said: "Since long ago." I said, "Praise be to Allah who put in my nature two attributes which He loves." (Bukhari).
It is quite amazing to see pop singers winning awards and thanking Allah for their success, when such a profession is not listed for reward by Him. It is equally deceptive when we find Muslims organizing events similar to beauty pageants for Muslim women to participate. What we have is a contradiction of Islamic values being perpetuated in the name of modernity and liberalisation of Islam. This is the mischief that the Qur'an speaks about being spread throughout the earth after Allah has put it in order.
The Qur’an projects this lack of obedience similar to cows grazing, and where they leave droppings wherever they go. For humans to be depicted in this manner is a disgrace, because we are not animals. But yet Allah adds that the cow is even better than a human, because it gives out milk, whereas the human being is ever ungrateful and rebellious.
The Muslim View In General: Speaking as an individual, I do not believe in violence, as it does not really achieve much except to bring about fear, insecurity, death and destruction, but at times it is unavoidable and often is the result of injustices imposed upon people and nations by the powerful as well as those with invested interest.
It all began with Palestine. For the last 30 years the Palestinians have been denied the right to establish a state of their own. Not only were they rob of their lands but they were subjugated to brutality and extermination. Continued American support for Israel has led to the conviction that there is no hope for peace except through war, terrorism and violence.
Muslims on the whole are a patient lot. Their aspirations for peace and tranquility over the decades have now been replaced with desperation in an ever-increasing unjust world. Moderation has now given way to violence and terrorism, thanks to American Foreign Policy. This in turn has placed many moderate Muslim/Arab governments at risk. Their continued support for America now threatens their very existence. It can be said that their days are numbered if the Palestinian issue is not resolved quickly. This is unfortunate because had America fulfilled its obligations to the world, moderate Islam would have overpowered extremism. But this is not the case today. Instead, it has fuelled the belief that only violence can bring about change, and that moderation is a waste of time.
America is to be blamed for this situation. In fact it was there in the background all along i.e. double standards and false dealings. Where there once was some kind of hope, even though in truth it did not exists, Muslims in general today have come to a conclusion that they can never get a fair deal in life. Today terrorism flourishes as a result of America’s owns aggression and that of Israel’s. If at all terrorism succeeds it will be the result of American policy. The Position of
Arab-Muslim Governments: It is very obvious from the actions of Arab-Muslim leaders that are placed in a very difficult situation. They either have to support America or be against it, and in the process also end up becoming brutal and unjust. They do so for survival sake. Each day voices are rising against them and it is a matter of time before they are toppled.
Almost every Arab nation has to live on American handouts or through security arrangements with America. In this way they are bullied and subjugated to the dictates of America over its own interest in the region and that of Israel. Those Arab-Muslim leaders that do not fall under this orbit (Libya, Syria, Yemen, Sudan etc) mere cling on to power by sheer force. There is no democracy. Instead you have despotic leaders and rulers who are equally brutal in the quest to remain in power.
All these leaders have their own angles of interest, which in turn is manipulated by a greater interest in the form of America. It’s the same old principle applied by the Jews at Madinah to weaken their Arab opponents prior to the Prophet’s arrival and the consequent revealed verse, “And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah extends to you, and be not divided amongst yourselves’ And remember with gratitude Allah favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace you became brothers: And you were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make His Signs clear to you: That you may be guided.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:103).
This is very much quoted verse by all Muslim leaders and scholars with nothing much happening as a result of their own stubbornness, where each and every political individual or ruler expects others to ‘hold on to his view’ as being the ‘right view’, which in truth is nothing but serving their own respective interests. And as a result of these narrow interest, the Ummah continues to churn and boil through one manipulation after another, which no doubt serves Western interests. May Allah have mercy on us, because when that day of reckoning arrives every Muslim nation will experience what Bosnia experienced. Like the Shah of Iran, many will have to run. Those who do not have the money to run will have to bear the consequences, even if they did not have anything to do with it, because in this matter, the Qur’an is explicitly clear over ‘promoting good and prohibiting evil’. There is no middle road in this matter.
The American-Israeli View: It has always been the Jewish- American goal to dominate the world. You can’t blame them for this. In the Qur’an we have Surah Hadid (Iron), which refers to strength and power. After having been eclipsed by the Muslims in the past the West especially America is not going to all this to happen again. So it is always going ahead and keeping ahead with the times, always making sure that no Muslim nation on this earth will be allowed to become powerful or a threat to its own existence. All one has to do is look up the Qur’an to realise that the Word of Allah is never false.
They (American and Jews) worked hard to get were they are and you cannot get angry with them over it. Indigenous people often accuse outsiders of raping their lands and wealth when in truth they are downright lazy and corrupt. And having defeated Communism, the only battle left is Islam.
The globe has all along been divided into two major camps. On one hand you have the West and its allies and on the other Arab-Muslim nations. The Koreans, Japanese, Australians, Taiwanese, to name a few, have no choice but to side with America to save their own skins. Other nations do so for economic reasons. This is evident from events in Iraq. They are all pawns in a game, where both the interests of America as well as their own are being played out. In this fashion many ‘American Outpost’ have been established to ‘keep an eye’ on any nation that does not go along with American policy.
Arab-Muslim nations (their leaders) on the other hand, as a result of their weak state, have to either go along or get booted out of office. This reminds one of the ‘bad old days’ of South Vietnam and even the era of Saddam Hussein, where one moment you are in favour and the next moment either prosecuted or killed off, when you fail to play the game.
Human Endurance: The Arab-Muslim World has undergone tremendous change within a short period of time. This is only natural. If you are one of those who has witness the confiscation of your land, the brutal killings of your parents, family, relatives, and friends, what can you expect to flourish in its place? With the passage of time, each succeeding generation only produces more bitterness and hatred. If you ever come to such people and speak to them about patience, forgiveness and moderation, they will most probably kill you!
This is the problem most moderate Muslims face. How can they achieve this goal when there is no respect for justice or human beings? It is this very situation over Palestine that led to the bombing of the Twin Towers on September 11th, 2002. The former Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamed was right when he said that to resolve terrorism we have to get down to the root causes of it. Fighting terrorism without addressing the real issues merely intensifies the resolve of the aggrieved to get even and to seek revenge at any cost.
Religious Concepts That Have Enhanced Terror: I replied to a Saudi magazine, Islamic Future Vol. XIII, No. 80, 28th August 2002, which had quoted the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr. Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi as saying, “That the fact that the Palestinians are forced into suicide bombings confirms the gravity of the injustice inflicted on them. He asked, ‘What can a man do when injustice becomes heavy and he finds none to ward it off from him? In that case he is forced into legitimate defence of soul, honour and land’. Those who say that this is an act is haram (forbidden) by the Shari’ah should first ask what motivated it. Why must young people sacrifice themselves? Injustice breeds an explosion and a person who is severely wronged may sacrifice himself. Honourable people prefer to die than to live in humiliation."
In my argument I had forwarded the age-old accepted belief that killing one’s self intentionally in a premeditated manner was forbidden in Islam. I based this on the Qur’an as well as on the Ahadith, where intentions are very important and the outcome only known to Allah.
Legality was further given to the killing of civilians by Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi at the 11th session of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, convened in Stockholm during the first weak of July 2003. Seven categories were listed as legitimate causes for martyrdom operations: 1. Colonial terror. 2. State terror. 3. International terror. 4. Political terror. 5. Terror that is permitted by Islamic law. 6. Terror that is prohibited by Islamic law. 7. Martyrdom operations. The justification of the unfortunate killing of innocent civilians was attributed to the fact that the occupiers of Palestine by Israel, were in fact reservists and supporters of an illegal occupation of land that did not belong to them.
When you add this to Usama’s religious edict (fatwa), it reflects a tremendous change in attitude not only amongst Muslims but also amongst the scholars of Islam. There has to be a reason for this deviation from a path that was moderate for centuries? The only valid reason that can be given is the failure of the West and the UN to bring about justice. It is this failure and continued oppression that has driven people to extremism.
When such a situation exist moderates abandon the middle path. The position on the whole hardens. Reasoning is lost and is replaced by emotions, hatred and anger. When this takes place, Islam becomes a mere tool towards achieving an end. This situation become more aggravated when the common man on the street witness’s one resolution after another passed at the UN against Muslim nations but nothing done to fulfil resolutions passed against Israel.
So just what options do Muslims have under such circumstances? Of course I am not in favour of violence. I have spoken out against it many times. I once told a group of Arab students that they may achieve their goal as martyrs in Palestine, but with the death of every martyr how many more Palestinians will be killed and bombed? So what is the purpose of this approach, where an individual gains martyrdom and then contributes to further destruction and death of his own people. Where is the wisdom of this? Why not adopt the Japanese approach to recovery as a form of Jihad rather than to go out killing yourselves as suicide bombers? The answer was: If you have suffered the way we have suffered, where our parents, family members, homes and land were taken from us, you will not be speaking like this? Well, if the world continues like this, by the time two generations pass by, we are sure going to see a new breed of terrorists, who will consider themselves in terms of value as chicken ready for the slaughter! May God have mercy on everyone when that day arrives or when the situation is reversed.
Bringing About Change For The Better: I can understand why some Muslims abroad have to become apologetic. They live in a foreign land and need to do so. Others do so for a living serving false masters, where they sell the “word of Allah for a miserable price” (Qur’an). At the time the Korean interpreter was beheaded by the terrorist, I remarked, “Why did they (the terrorists) need to do this? It makes them no better than the aggressors!” The Abu Gharib Prison exposures had already proven many points. It had in fact enhanced the cause of the terrorists (a term used by the West, whereas to the terrorists, they were liberators). What were they trying to prove by such a ghastly act? The a few days later, we were told on television that this Korean was in fact held captive a month earlier and that information of this was withheld! On listening to this, you begin to think again? What kind of allies did the Koreans have in America, and here they are going to send more troops?
Modernisation has brought along with it many complexities. Today, things become exposed within minutes. There is money in this. People are elected and deposed off when objectives are fulfilled. People get appointed to high positions not for their truthfulness, but for serving their corrupt masters. So are we to lower ourselves to such an extent that we are prepared to say what Allah did not say? I think that the wisdom of keeping silent serves a better cause if one is a coward, rather than to go saying all kinds of nonsense to impress the enemy.
If we truly want to bring about peace, then we must speak the truth with wisdom, so that the aggressor may realise his mistake and the oppressed can gain justice. If the peoples of the world elect sincere governments and resolve the Palestinian issue justly, it will ultimately put an end to all forms of terrorism. (Haji Mokhtar Stork)
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