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ISSUE NO.

9 | WINTER 2006-SPRING 2007 / 1427-28

Muslims
Have Their Mother
Teresa Too!
Review of:
“Believing as
Ourselves”

United Colours of
’Haj!

What is Zamzam Water?

“Know Thy Prophet”


A Free E-book with this Issue!
Free Online
Non-profit
Quarterly
P.D.F. Magazine
Editorial Team
Hayat Alyaqout [’Hayaat Alyaa’qoot]
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
hayat@i-mag.org I-MAG is a free online non-profit quarterly magazine. The first issue of the
Ibrahim Babelli [Ibraaheem Baabally] magazine was published in February 2005; three more issue came on a
Editor and Copy Editor monthly basis. A pause of three months followed for evaluating and reno-
ibabelli@i-mag.org vating the magazine. I-MAG became a quarterly in the Fall (September) of
2005.
Ahmad Konash [A’hmad Konash]
Visual Arts Sections Editor
konash@i-mag.org I-MAG is an acronym of Islaamic Magazine. I-MAG is pronounced in two
syllables; “I” as in “eye” and “mag” as in the first three sounds of maga-
Rym Aoudia [Reem Awdee‘]
Editor and Public Relations Coordinator
zine.
rym@i-mag.org
I-MAG aims at presenting a fair and objective image of Islaam. Our maga-
Hicham Maged [Hishaam Maajid] zine is not a dogmatic one, we believe in critique and critical thinking in
Editor and Special Tasks Manager hopes of presenting intellectual enlightenment in the areas that we cover
hicham@i-mag.org while adhering to the code of ethics of journalism.

I-MAG sees itself not merely as an electronic publication but rather as an


Graphics Designers, Layout Artisits, and intellectual enlightenment project that plays a part in the social economy;
Photographers: an economy in which responsible and free (free of charge and free of parti-
Ahmad Konash ality) information is the main merchandise.
Hicham Maged
Hayat Alyaqout
I-MAG’s slogan “Enlighten Your I” tells a lot about the magazine. “I” stands
for Islaam, but it also refers to the first speaker pronoun since we hope
Design and Typography Consultant: that we all would enlighten our “I”s or ourselves. “I” also refers to the “eye”
Tawhid Ar-rahman [Taw’heed Arra’hmaan] which the design of I-MAG for sure pleases.
tawhidarrahman@mac.com

Cover Design:
Ahmad Konash Contact I-MAG All articles published in I-MAG are the personal opinions of their writers. I-MAG
takes no responsibility for the views expressed in the magazine or the website in
Cover Photo: Website: www.i-mag.org general.
Mohammed Babelli
Complete P.D.F. Issues:
© All rights are reserved; no part of this magazine may be republished without a
http://issues.i-mag.org
written permission. Printing hard copies of I-MAG and distributing them is however
More information about our team: E-mail: info@i-mag.org allowed and welcomed. I-MAG is a free magazine, please do not sell it.
http://team.i-mag.org
Write in I-MAG:
http://join.i-mag.org

2 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


Table of
Contents

4 Sarah Wonders - Simply ’Haj


28
What is Zamzam Water?
30 In Depth:
Photo-Great: In the Footsteps of Ibraheem:
5 - Pebbles Sustaining the benefits of ’Haj
6 - Supplicators
7 - In All Languages, A ’Haaj 33 Capita:
Muslims Have Their Mother
8 Insight: Teresa Too!
One of Righteous Deeds: ‘Haj
38 Occidental View:
10 Photo tips: The Four Fundamentalisms
Gradiant Edges and the Threat to Sustainable
Democracy
33 14 Books In Focus:
“Believing as Ourselves” 41 Med-Aware:
Medicinal Uses of Honey
Pinnacle:
15 United Colours of ’Haj! 43 Graph-Art:
The White Moon Rose Over Us

Macrophone: 44 Fair View:


19 - When You Look at Me Uncovering the Context
20 - The History and Islaamic
Purification of ’Haj 47 Non-Profit Organisations:
22 - Are We Really A Minority? Bridges Foundation
24 - My ’Haj
15 26 - ’Haj: Enlighten Your Spirit 50 Issue’s Gift

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


SARAH WONDERS

Sarah
Wonders
Q.
Sarah is a nine-year-
old girl with an in- What is Zamzam water?
quisitive mind. She I heard it has healing properties, is
has a lot of ques- that really true?
tions about Islaam.
She attempts to
sort out the myth
from the stereotype In 1983, the Journal of the New England Water
from the truth. Works Association published a paper stating
When in doubt, she
asks. A. Dear Sarah,
Zamzam is a well in Makkah
that “A total of 34 elements have been found
with calcium, magnesium, sodium, and
chloride in the highest concentrations.

Illustration Exclusively illustrated by Nasser, designernasser@hotmail.com


In each issue, we that sprang 4000 years
will publish one of ago when Ishmael the son Hydrochemical study of Zamzam water
Sarah’s questions of Abraham and Hagar indicates that it is a sodium chloride
about Islaam and pounded the ground with water and of meteoritic origin.
the answer to it. his feet out of thirst while The four toxic elements arsenic,
his mother Hagar was cadmium, lead, and selenium have
running in the desert been found below the danger level
looking for water for her of human consumption.”
crying infant. Zamzam water is still water, but is
very unique.
If you have any question Allaah sent the Archangel
about Islaam, do not hesi- Gabriel who let the water The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) told the
tate to e-mail it to Sarah. spring under the feet of Muslims that Zamzam water is a
She will make sure that Ishmael. And ever since, the food for those who seek food, and a
you receive the answer to water has been springing. remedy for those who seek remedy.
it. :)
Scientifically, Zamzam water has
Sarah’s e-mail address is: some chemical properties and Yours in humanity,
sarah@i-mag.org minerals that make it unique. I-MAG Team

4 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


PHOTO-GREAT

Photo by
Pebbles Ahmad Kamal Mat Zain
[A’hmad Kamaal Mat Zain]

aremalzz@gmail.com
http://www.pasirmas.net

If you have any nice photos


that you would like to share
with us, please contact:
konash@i-mag.org

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


PHOTO-GREAT

Supplicators
Photo by
Mohammed Babelli
[Mu’hammad Baabally]

Mohammed Babelli is an
engineer by profession;
art lover by choice.

He started photography
at an early age covering
summer camping vaca-
tions.

He has developed his


photography techniques
over the years through
personal experience and
also joining other pho-
tographers on photogra-
phy sessions.

He has published a book


on Mada'in Saleh (avail-
able through Amazon.
com), and plans further
photography books
publications on other
contemporary subjects.
mohammed@babelli.
com

6 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


PHOTO-GREAT

In All Languages

A ’Haaj

Photos by
Ahmad Konash*
[A’hmad Konash]

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


INSIGHT

One of
Righteous Deeds:

By Harun Yahya* [Haroon Ya’hya]


info@harunyahya.com
'Haj
“Righteous deeds” (A‘maal ’Saale’hah) are Saying “I believe” yet failing to comply attain a better understanding of the ’Qur contracts which you have made; and to be
one of the key concepts of the ’Qura~n. with the commandments of religion does a~n, solving every kind of personal and firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and
not lead man to salvation. In the ’Qur a~n social problems of the Muslims; all these adversity, and in times of war.
In Arabic, the word “righteousness” Allaah states the following about this issue: are important righteous deeds. Such as do so are people of truth. Such
comprises the meanings of good, are the Allaah-fearing.” [Chapter of
beneficial and right. In Arabic, the verb “to “Do men think that they will be left alone The fundamental Islaamic forms of Alba’qarah: 2-177]
amend” (I’slaa’h) is also derived from the on saying, “We believe”, and that they will worship, such as saying prayers to Allaah,
same root. not be tested? We tested those before fasting, spending for the cause of Allaah, Yet there is another point that deserves
them, and Allaah will certainly know those and the pilgrimage to Makkah are also mention: what makes an act a righteous
Consequently, in English, every type of who are true from those who are false.” among the important righteous deeds: deed is not its result but the “intention”
beneficial and good work or action done [Chapter of Al‘ankaboot: 2-3] behind it.
for the good of religion is expressed by the The way a believer does righteous deeds “Righteousness does not consist in
word “righteous deed”. proves his mettle. His deeds indicate his whether you turn your faces towards That is why for an act to be a righteous
perseverance, stability, determination and the east or the west; what is righteous one, it should be done purely to seek the
In terms of the ’Qur a~n, on the other loyalty-in other words the depth of his is to believe in Allaah and the last day, approval of Allaah.
hand, each act and all behaviour designed faith. and the angels, and the Book, and the
to seek the favour of Allaah is a “righteous messengers; to spend of your substance, This is what really distinguishes a
deed”. In the ’Qur a~n Allaah informs us about out of love for Him, for your kin, for “righteous deed” from “charity”, a concept
The salvation of an individual is not the various kinds of righteous deeds. orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, prevalent in the ignorant society.
attained only through faith; righteous Communicating the message of Islaam for those who ask, and for the ransom
deeds, the signs of sincere faith, also save to people, striving for the prosperity and of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, A righteous deed is done to seek the
the soul. the benefit of the all human kind, trying to and practise regular charity; to fulfil the approval of Allaah; on the other hand, the

8 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


INSIGHT
concept of charity, in an ignorant society, last day. They are in parable like a hard,
is based on a spirit of social solidarity and/ barren rock, on which there is little soil:
or a personal desire to make a reputation on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it just a

© http://www.flickr.com/photos/66128034@N00/89090844/
as a “charity lover.” bare stone. They will be able to do nothing
with anything they have earned. And Allaah
The verses below explain why the deeds does not guide those who reject faith.
of believers are by no means similar to Those who spend their substance, seeking
alms-giving. “They perform (their) vows, to please Allaah and to strengthen their
and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and souls, are like a garden, high and fertile:
wide. And they feed, for the love of Allaah, heavy rain falls on it, and makes it yield a
the indigent, the orphan, and the captive, double harvest, and if it does not receive
(Saying) ”We feed you for the sake of heavy rain, light moisture suffices it. Allaah
Allaah alone: no reward do we desire from sees well whatever you do.” [Chapter of
you, nor thanks. We only fear a day of Alba’qarah: 264-265]
distressful wrath from our Lord.” [Chapter
of Alinsaan: 7-10]. Hence, the result of each deed always
rests with Allaah. Each task should be
If any acts ostensibly complying with done solely to please Him. A devoted
the definition of “righteous deeds” are believer who perform righteous deeds
not intended to seek the good pleasure all throughout his life, carries out the
of Allaah, they cease to be “righteous regular prayers and makes the pilgrimage
deeds.” This is simply because they are to Makkah will surely attain the gardens
done to please other people. of heaven and will be rewarded most
generously by Allaah in the hereafter.
This is, in terms of the ’Qura~n,
“associating partners with Allaah”, which
is a great sin. In the following verse, Allaah *The author, under the pen-name Harun
explains how an act of worship done to Yahya, has written more than 200 books
attain not the approval of Allaah, but other which are published in 37 languages all
people loses its value and becomes an over the world. Harun Yahya’s books
ordinary act. “Woe to the worshippers, appeal to all people, Muslims and non-
who are neglectful of their prayers; who Muslims alike, regardless of their age,
only want to make a show of piety.” race and nationality, as they centre
[Chapter of Almaa‘oon: 4-6] around one goal: to open the readers’
mind by presenting the signs of God’s
Similarly, spending, which is a righteous
eternal existence to them.
deed in the presence of Allaah, becomes
an ordinary act if done to demonstrate
one’s generosity in order to impress
Harun Yahya Website:
people. So does the pilgrimage to Makkah. www.harunyahya.com

Allaah describes the difference between Harun Yahya official bookstore:


spending to gain His approval and to www.bookglobal.net
satisfy one’s own desires:
“O you who believe! Do not cancel
out your charity by reminders of your
generosity or by injury,- like those who
spend their substance to be seen by
others, believing neither in Allaah nor in the

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


PHOTO-TIPS

GradEdges
By
Ahmad Konash
konash@i-mag.org "rounded"

. Idea
Imitate + Combine !
I don’t know if anyone of you have
ever seen really old black & white
photos, where all the edges around
the object are faded to black, or
darker.

. Tools
© http://www.anniewarren.com.au
I tried to combine that effect, with the
effect of a “graduated neutral density
filter” which is an optical filter used to Now if we have the
bring an overly bright part of a scene same effect of this filter,
into the dynamic range of film or sen- all around, wouldn’t
sor (like the photo on the left). that look nice? I think
I tried to combine both effects in one so. But you’ll have to . A camera (S.L.R. or semi S.L.R.)
thing, this tip is totally experimental, prove me wrong to say . A toilet paper centre cylinder
and I would really appreciate if you no. So, come on, let’s . A cutter
out there show me some samples if do it. . And some black paint
it works :)
© http://www.burnblue.com/blog

10 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


PHOTO-TIPS

. Steps 1. . Example
Again everyone, this is totally
experimental. I guess I am trying © Photographs by Ahmad Konash for i-mag.org
to re-invent something here. Let’s
hope we end up making something
sensible :)
2.
1- Get your toilet cylinder.
2- Cut the top of it, approximately
half of it. And make sure the edges of
the cut side is a bit rough.
3- Colour the top side of it in black.
4- Hold the piece that you made
against your lens, and make sure you
have a protective filter before you do
that. 3.
5- The cylinder will act like a light
tunnel, zoom in and out. Focus on
different objects until you find the
right catch, shoot it, and send it to
us :)

If you liked this issue’s tip, please


share your experiments with us. Send
your works to: konash@i-mag.org 4.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


ADVERTISEMENT

12 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


BOOKS IN FOCUS

“Believing as Ourselves”

J. Lynn Jones
Reviewed by: Ibrahim Babelli [Ibraheem Baabally]
babelli@i-mag.org

I recall how awkward I felt when I insisted on doing so despite the


saw Oum ‘Umar praying in the main indignations and the denouncements.
prayer hall at the Purdue University’s Wow. I did not know then whether
Muslims Students Association that was courageous or foolish.
(M.S.A.) mosque in West Lafayette, Years later, I discovered that Oum
Indiana. ‘Umar was neither foolish nor alone.
Most Muslim women, particularly new
After all, isn’t congregational prayer Muslim women, in the West either
required of men only? And shouldn’t did what Oum ‘Umar did, or at least
women pray in their own separate fought similar battles.
hall away from men’s gawks, ogles,
gazes, and stares? Many of them were scarred
– emotionally – in that very same
For someone who grew up in Saudi battle, or in others, and preferred
Arabia, seeing a woman praying in to withdraw from the Muslim
the same prayer hall with men, albeit community, some gave up on the
her taking a position clearly behind religion itself, some acquiesced, and
them, was bordering on perfidy. very few stood their ground.

Indignation and denouncement Jeffery Lang recounted in his book


ensued (mine were silent but others “Losing My Religion: A Call For
were not). Oum ‘Umar, however, Help” the sad story of an Arab man
would not be deterred. She kept on threatening new Muslim women
praying in the main hall, with men in a mosque in the U.S. to bodily
praying in the same hall, and in same remove them from the mosque if they

© Amana Publications
time. did not leave the men’s prayer hall,
and how this very action resulted in
Not only that, but Oum ‘Umar was the women reversing direction and
a full member of the M.S.A. and she renouncing Islaam.
voted in each board election, and

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


BOOKS IN FOCUS
A courageous exposition of those Muslims as can be, to emulate other
What is sad about this story, and and similar guises is eloquently native Muslims in every minute detail,
similar ones where a new Muslim written by J. Lynn (Jenny) Jones in irrespective of how trivial or important
or a Muslim-wannabe is faced with her book “Believing as Ourselves”, and whether it has an origin in Islaam
a stubborn and irrational behaviour published by Amana Publications in or not, to the point that they let go of
shoved in his/her face in the name 2002. what made them embrace Islaam in
of Islaam by individuals who are, But lest you think, dear reader, that the first place; their own identity.
generally, well-meaning but are either “Believing as Ourselves” is only Having diagnosed what ails new
narrow-minded or simply ignorant, about the said exposition, I shall Muslims, the author (I am here
is that it hurts the most vulnerable; quote to you from the author’s quoting Jeffery Lang from his
the ones who are most in need own introduction: “We are the introduction to the book): “…
of help, true companionship, and first of countless generations to reaches out to them with practical,
compassion. embrace Islaam, and, like the hard earned wisdom and carefully
earliest believers in Mecca, face thought out advice on how they can
What is more lamentable, in my prejudice, persecution, and pressures overcome the many distractions and
opinion, is that Prophet Mu’hammad innumerable from our own societies, hardships, and reclaim that “initial
(P.B.U.H.) never prevented women friends, and families. Unlike those determination, internal strength, and
from praying in the same hall with kindred predecessors, however, we sense of authentic faith that was
men. often find the waiting embrace of once theirs.””
the Islaamic community less than
He, (P.B.U.H.), did not even order welcoming. Instead of a haven of Sister Jenny’s tried remedy is, in her
that a curtain or a partition of any sort nurturing encouragement, where own words: “In order to experience
be placed between the men’s prayer our faith should continue to grow Islaam as we once did, as pure, and
area and the women’s prayer area and flourish, the reality of life among as strong, we must bring ourselves
in his mosque. Neither the Prophet Muslims can be harsh, and the back in the frame. We must step
(P.B.U.H.) nor any of his successors, inevitable disappointment that results back in honest appraisal of the
the Caliphs, separated men and from that realization is bewildering as pitfalls and trapdoors of “Islaamic
women in distinct prayer halls. well as damaging.” life,” be willing to turn within rather
than without, and we must, as J. Lynn Jones is a writer and mother of
So, either the contemporary Muslims It sounds like a cry for help, doesn’t Matthew Arnold wrote, “Resolve to two, She lives in a modest home under
are more pious than the Prophet it? be yourself; and know, he who finds the shadow of a grove of giant cedar
(P.B.U.H.) and his companions, or himself, loses his misery.”” trees in suburban Washington state.
that he, (P.B.U.H.), failed to warn Actually the book is not a cry for
his Oummah against this particular help. It is rather a help book for Title: Believing as Ourselves
vice of men and women praying in Muslims who have experienced, Author: J. Lynn Jones
Paperback: 176 pages
the same hall; either explanation are experiencing, or who might
Publisher: Amana Publications
would by summarily rejected by any experience what the author
Date: March, 2002
and every Muslim. Or – a more likely described if they are contemplating Language: English
explanation – particular societal rules the decision of embracing Islaam. I.S.B.N.: 978-1590-080-078
are being enforced under the guise of Book webiste: Amazon.com
Islaam. The author explains that new Muslims Publisher website:
try, in their drive to be as true www.amana-publications.com

14 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


PINNACLE

United
Colours
of ’Haj!

Study by and with Heart

Photo by
Lina Malaika
[Leenah Malaikah]

Lina Malaika is currently studying


graphics design at Dar Al-Hekma
College in Jeddah, K.S.A. Having
photography as one of her greatest
passions in life, she plans to pursue her
masters’ in this field.

These photos were taken during her


‘haj this year in Makkah, ‘Arafah, and
Mina.
linamalaika@hotmail.com

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


PINNACLE

United
Masses

Photos by
Mohammed Babelli*
[Mu’hammad Baabilly]

16 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


PINNACLE

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


PINNACLE

Of All Races

Photo by
Lina Malaika
[Leenah Malaikah]

18 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


MACROPHONE

© http://www.sxc.hu/photo/778226
When You Look

By Suzy Fouad* [Soozi Fu-aad]


suzyness@yahoo.com
at Me
Because I won’t let myself be controlled by So you see, we are the ones that are free and
a boy liberated
Real men are able to appreciate my mind We are not the ones that are sexually
And aren’t busy looking at my behind terrorized and violated

Hooded girls are the ones really helping the We are the ones that are free and pure
What do you see when you look at me choice Muslim cause We’re free of STD’s that have no cure
Do you see someone limited, or someone They think that the hood makes me look The role that we play definitely deserves
free caged applause So when people ask you how you feel about
That my husband or dad are totally tha hood
All some people can do is just look and outraged I will be recognized because I am smart and Just sum it up by saying “baby its all good ;) “
stare bright
Simply because they can’t see my hair All they can do is look at me in fear And because some people are inspired by
* Suzy Fouad was born and raised in the
And in my eye there is a tear my sight
U.S.A. to Egyptian parents whose number
Others think I am controlled and
one priority was nurturing a strong religious
uneducated Not because I have been stared at or made The smart ones are attracted by my
foundation in her. She came to realize that
They think that I am limited and un-liberated fun of tranquillity
there would always be a weakness in this
But because people are ignoring the one up In the back of their mind they wish they
foundation without the hijab.
They are so thankful that they are not me above were me
Because they would like to remain “free”
Despite being a hard decision socially, it was
On the day of judgment they will be the fools We have the strength to do what we think
an easy one spiritually, so she finally started
Well free isn’t exactly the word I would’ve Because they were too ashamed to play by is right
wearing the hijab at fourteen years old after
used their own rules Even if it means putting up a life long fight
much deliberation.
Describing women who are cheated on and
abused Maybe the guys won’t think I am a cutie You see we are not controlled by a mini skirt
In an effort to sort through the emotions that
But at least I am filled with more inner and tight shirt
occur when making such a commitment, she
They think that I do not have opinions or beauty We are given only respect, and never
turned to poetry writing. She has since gotten
voice treated like dirt
married and become an elementary school
They think that being hooded isn’t my See I have declined from being a guy’s toy
teacher.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


MACROPHONE

The History
and Islaamic Purification
of 'Haj
’Haj (pilgrimage) being a significant Unlike any other religion, Islaam is the To maintain organization for the
Dania Al-deen [Daaniah Addeen] entity of the foundation of Islaam, it is only religion that managed to maintain circumambulation of the Ka‘abah,
daldeen@gmail.com important to understand its history in its purity; hence it preserved its Prophet Abraham (P.B.U.H.) placed a
order to reflect on its value today. everlasting religious virtues. stone on the eastern side of it marking
The pre-Islaamic history of pilgrimage is the starting point.
Pilgrimage was established during the one of the many examples that illustrate
time of Prophet Abraham (P.B.U.H.). how Islaam preserved itself from the It is interesting to note that Prophet
Allaah says in the ’Qura~n: “And time of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) until Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.) explained
remember when We showed Abraham today. originally this stone was an illuminated
the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: This is one of the miraculous white colour brought down from
Associate not anything [in worshipping] characteristics of this beautiful religion of paradise but became a dull black colour
with Me and purify My House for those truthfulness. metaphorically representing the sins of
who circumambulate it [i.e. perform mankind. Hence, it is now referred to as
’tawaaf] and those who stand up for The Ka‘abah is of eminence to Islaam the Black Stone.
prayer and those who bow down and and ’haj due to it being the first building
make prostration [in prayer].” [Chapter dedicated to the sole worship of Allaah. On an annual basis, prophet Abraham
of Al’haj: 26]. (P.B.U.H.) would perform ’haj in Makkah.
It was ordained by Allaah for prophet This practice was continued by his son
Just as Islaam revived many important Abraham (P.B.U.H.) and his son, Ishmael Ishmael (P.B.U.H.) and followers until
rituals and concepts, pilgrimage’s role (P.B.U.H.) to build it. this day.
was re-established to its correct context
during the time of prophet Mu’hammad Allaah says in the ’Qura~n: “Lo! The During Prophet Abraham’s time,
(P.B.U.H.). first house (of worship) founded for the people progressively developed
mankind was that at Bakkah; a blessing and embraced Bid‘ah, which in turn
Prior to the purification of ’haj by Islaam, and guidance for all people”. [Chapter influenced pilgrimage to slowly drift
© lqta.com, Toptmy its purpose and practice was led astray. of A~l ‘Imraan :96]. Prophet Abraham away from its true essence.
(P.B.U.H.) was the first of mankind to
initiate and practice ’haj.

20 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


MACROPHONE
Instead of ’haj being intended for the ‘pure’ outfits and had to carry out the approximately 21 years to reiterate the
sake of Allaah, it became a display of circumambulation ritual fully naked. proper religious practices and establish
tribal leaders flaunting their assets and the authenticity of ’haj.
possessions to gain power and prestige. In prayer they incorporated clapping,
horn blowing, and whistling. Even Allaah says in the ’Qura~n : “There is
They had competitions over which tribes people were begging for food to be no lewdness nor wrangles during
were more generous. Their munificence throughout their journey to ’haj claiming ’haj” [Chapter of Alba’qarah: 197]. This
is presented by slaughtering scores of they are practising piety and leaving verse was declared in reference to the
cattle, specifically camels, which was a their trust in Allaah. dishonourable acts of the pre-Islaamic
representation of wealth and power. era.
At the time, poetry was practised by The acclamation of monotheism was
those who were exalted and contests distorted to saying “No one is your The intent in the action of each deed
and shows were presented at the partner except one who is permitted was restored to its solitary purpose of
Ka‘abah. by you. You are his master and the seeking utmost pleasure of Allaah.
master of what he possesses.” The
The tribal leaders competed with each tribes began the assimilation of idol Showing off during Pilgrimage deviates
other to receive acknowledgements worshipping as part of the religion. from the purpose of performing ’haj,
by the renowned poetic leaders. Their which nullifies the deed altogether.
methodology of worship to Allaah This marked the end of their Allaah says: “So mention the name of
became a disgrace. monotheistic beliefs and officially Allaah over these animals when they
categorized them as non-believers. By are drawn up in lines. Then, when
The pilgrimage ritual of ’Tawaf beginning with small Bid‘ahs, the initial they are drawn on their sides [after
(circumambulation of the Ka‘abah) was followers of Abraham set themselves up the slaughter], eat thereof and feed
lowered to a lustful event that lost all to becoming the enemies of Allaah. the beggar who does not ask, and the
sense of religious spiritual value. beggar who asks” [Chapter of Al’haj
There became a point when men and Finally, two and a half thousand years :36].
women circumambulated the Ka‘abah later, Prophet Abraham’s prayer asking
without any clothing, in response to Allaah: “Our Lord! Send amongst them Prophet Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.) assured
a ruling that cloths worn during this a Messenger of their own, who shall idols were smashed and deviant
ritual must be purchased with money recite unto them your A~yaat (verses) practices were eliminated. Once again,
that was not tarnished by earnings and instruct them in the book and monotheism became the theme of ’haj.
from usury, prostitution, theft, murder, the Wisdom and sanctify them. Verily This marked the revival of ’haj and the
gambling, etc. you are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise].” true and pure spirituality of the people.
[Chapter of Alba’qarah: 129] was
Any cloths worn by pilgrims had, in answered.
the eyes of the upholders of the law,
to be free from any doubtful money, To the salvation of the misguided * Dania Zafar Futhl Al-deen is an honours undergraduate college student in
irrespective of how little that might have people, Allaah sent Prophet international business and finance with a minor in government world affairs in the
USA.
been. Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.).
She is actively involved in the Muslim community and volunteers at various
This meant that there were scores of The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said: “Take your organisations such as Muslim Student Association, Muslim American Society, and
men and women who could not afford rites of ’haj from me alone”. It took him Council on American Islamic Relations.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


MACROPHONE

By Eman M. Shurbaji
[Eemaan Shurbajy]
eshurbaji@runner.csub.edu
Are We Really A Minority ?
Muslims in the West Are More Prevalent Than You Think
The term “minority” is thought-provoking Muslim women are easily seen Yet this is also true of the men. Muslims; the star swimmer on the
and complex. What exactly is a throughout the Bakersfield area. It has Approximately 10% of the Muslim women’s swim team, a Muslim girl from
minority? Do numbers or percentages become all too common to see women male population frequently attends Turkey!
contribute to a minority status? wearing head scarves while shopping the mosque. A local Imaam recently
Or are minorities simply those at a or driving around. Muslim women are commented that only 25% of Muslim You cannot tell if a person is a Muslim
disadvantage in a society? also seen in high school and college men attend Friday prayers. Attending simply by looking at them. You cannot
campuses, studying and hard at work. Friday prayers is an obligation upon all tell by their name, occupation, or socio-
Women in the West today are viewed Muslim men! economic status. With the movement
as minorities. This is not due to sheer At the local university, California State of Muslims across towns, cities, and
numbers, for women constitute more University, Bakersfield, Muslim students When attending classes at the local countries; with the rise in the number of
than half the population. Women are have been quoted as numbering over university, I have seen so many Muslims converts, one cannot make conclusions
viewed as a minority simply because 200 individuals out of a total student enrolled in those classes. Many of the simply by “looking at someone.”
they have been at a disadvantage population of about 6,000 students. foreign exchange students come from
historically. They have faced much There is an active Muslim Students’ Muslim countries. And yet many a time, I have met people
turmoil in the West with respect to Association, though usually no more who have Muslim ancestry. I have
attaining rights and privileges, and are at than ten people show up to weekly I have met Muslims from literally every stumbled across people of Iranian or
the forefront of challenging sexual and meetings. corner of the globe -I must constantly Turkish ancestry-a likely indication of
gender discrimination. remind myself that the people of the Muslim decent-who are now Christians.
On Fridays, the number of Muslim men Muslim Oummah vary in their features I have met people with names such
Muslims, too, are a minority in the West. (and women) who show up for Friday and skin tones. The young, fair Russian as “Aishah” and “Bilaal” who are not
In the U. S. we number at an estimated prayer is miniscule; usually no more than lady in one of my communications Muslims, yet trace their lineage to Africa
2% of the population. Yet such numbers five or six men are evident. classes-- who was quite vocal and and the Caribbean.
require careful consideration. outspoken in class - I came to discover,
At the local mosque, the women’s area was a Muslim. Of course, there are also the children
Bakersfield, California is a city that rarely reaches full capacity. This is true born to a parent or parents who are
provides a good case study example. even on Fridays and during Rama’daan. The most popular math tutor in the Muslim, yet know little about their
The city boasts diversity and is growing For Ramad’aan If’taars, only a handful tutoring centre, is also a Muslim. The religion. They don’t even know what
immensely. As one of the fastest of women are seen in the mosque. And chair of the Business and Accounting Islaam is. Generation after generation,
growing cities in the nation, it attracts it always the same women one sees at department, is a Muslim man; the very people can lose light of who they are
people from across the country and the the masjid. best math students are those of Indian and where they come from. People can
world. This of course, includes Muslims. background, and are coincidently also lose their faith.

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MACROPHONE

The number of practising Muslims He contends that Muslims should stop


is surely the minority out of the total trying to hide their identities and take
number of Muslims in the West. active roles in their communities. Only
There are degrees of religiosity easily then will we be able to rise out of our
witnessed among Muslims here. Some presence as numerical minorities, and
will not eat pork but will drink; some perhaps encourage others to join us in
see no harm in dating and pre-marital our faith.
relations; some rarely venture into the
mosque or attend Islaamic events. Those who shunned or hid their religion
can go back to the religion of their
Still others have little or no association forefathers. And all others, despite
with Muslims out of distrust or fear! their race or ethnic background; their
There are plenty of Muslims-by-name previous religious convictions; their
who claim to be culturally Muslims, yet former lifestyles, can return to the
do not practice Islaam regularly in their religion of Fi’trah: the religion of Islaam.
lives.

Though the actual number of Muslims


in the United States is definitive, there
are definitely more than the estimated

© lqta.com, Ahmad Konash


10 million. Factors such as the slightly
higher birthrate among Muslim women
(especially Arabs) and conversions must
also be considered.

One cannot simply go to the mosque,


find a certain number of people there,
and equate it with the number of
Muslims in a city or town. The city of
Bakersfield, for example, has many
more Muslims than those who go
regularly to the mosque.

The very meaning of the word “minority” *Eman Shurbaji is a junior student at
is subtle and calls for attention. Though California State University,Bakersfield.
Muslims may be minorities numerically, Her interests include biology,
our values transcends times and communications, and Islaam. She is
peoples. Our values -values such as active in the local Muslim community.
honesty, loyalty, and integrity -are prized
among the majority of all peoples.

The European Islaamic scholar Tariq


Ramadan holds to the belief that
Muslims should present Islaam as a
universal message in the West.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


MACROPHONE

By Kais Gzara [’’\Qays Gzara]


kxgzara@rasgas.com.qa

On the occasion of this past ’Haj Saudi Arabia, on a job assignment. and realized the great achievement of mistreat women; and the more I tried to
season, I could not help but recall my Prophet Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.), the last read the ’Qura~n and understand (not
own ’Haj experience, including my path Within weeks I felt a sudden urge to messenger of Allaah, and how noble, just read), the more I found out who we,
towards Islaam. go to Makkah for ‘Umrah, then ’Haj, charismatic, and truthful he must have the Muslims, really are.
then ‘Umrah again, and again. And the been; and the intrinsic ever-lasting
I have come a long way, and after intensity of that first moment I laid my powerful and appealing call of the After ‘Haj, I started attending the
having explored the many dark and eyes on the Ka‘abah has not faded revealed ’Qura~n, to Islaam. Friday prayer, whereas in the past
evil sides of temptation, greed, and away since. my reasoning was clouded by self-
ignorance, remaining absurdly blind and My ’Haj experience helped me realize demeaning superstition, that led me to
insensitive to the consequences of my There is something so special, peaceful, it is never too late to get back on believe in the propaganda and falsehood
actions; I finally came to realize I was and magnetic about the Ka‘abah with track, and I am now trying to become that such Imaams preached hatred,
wasting my life and hurting others, and I people of all walks of life circling it and a better person using the ’Qura~n as violence, and ignorance.
lost all respect for myself. praying around it; people from the my guide, after having also realized
farthest reaches of the earth, a rainbow in retrospection, how much Islaam is Instead I was blessed to find myself
It is then, at a time the devil could have of people of all colour, race, culture, distorted in the eyes of many other listening and learning from some of the
rightfully claimed to have taken control, tongue, gender, and riches, showing people, sometimes Muslim people as most noble, pure, and truthful people
having addicted myself to a lifestyle that humility, asking for forgiveness from the well: alive. They came prepared, exposed
knew no bounds and no taboos, after only One that forgives, and praying in facts, kept things in balance, explained
having adorned my actions before my unison, fearing the day we shall account Some people incorrectly think Islaam what Jihaad was really about, and
own eyes and masked their true nature; for our actions. invites people to killing other innocent demonstrated how the teachings of the
it was then, and I cannot explain how or people, or that Islaam encourages Holy ’Qura~n are directly relevant to this
why, that an invisible hand pulled me out I could not help but ask, why are they poverty, or that Islaam encourages 21st century and to everyday life.
from the deepest and lowest reaches here, who told them to come here, what ignorance instead of developing
humanly possible, and brought me to is it that made them embrace Islaam; science, or that it gives men the right to Enemies of Islaam, who were at a time

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MACROPHONE
my ‘friends’ when we shared a reckless be none else than the messenger of
existence, still try to test my faith and Allaah.
motives until today, by tempting me
with premeditated and deliberate Call it a ‘coincidence’ or what you may,
‘spontaneous kind and insincere’ it nonetheless remains true, that I was
verbiage, and by fomenting and guided to Islaam when I was precisely
breeding doubt and scepticism. forty years-old, and that I have long
since paused and reflected on Allaah’s
They remain puzzled as to how a words from chapter of ‘Ala’h’qaaf’:
‘highly-educated’, ‘rational’, and [46:15-19]
‘successful’ person like myself, gifted
with scientific prowess above average NOW [among the best of the deeds
by existing standards, decided to which] We have enjoined upon man is
change course and follow ‘non-sense’. goodness towards his parents. In pain
did his mother bear him, and in pain
But the truth is that nobody talked me did she give him birth; and her bearing
into it, except for Allaah himself, and him and his utter dependence on her
that I embraced Islaam with a most took thirty months, and so, when he
critical mind, and I can confidently attains to full maturity and reaches forty
tell you today that I have been unable years, he [that is righteous] prays: “O
to find any flaw, or absurdity, in the my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may
’Qura~n and the religion of Islaam. forever be grateful for those blessings
of Thine with which Thou hast graced
I have approached the matter from every me and my parents, and that I may do
scientific perspective available to me, what is right [in a manner] that will meet
and every single time my faith has been with Thy goodly acceptance; and grant
strengthened: This shall be the subject me righteousness in my offspring [as
of future articles, whereby I intend to well]. Verily, unto Thee have I turned
show rationally, that the ’Qura~n is in repentance: for, verily, I am of those
indeed the word of Allaah, and that who have surrendered themselves unto
Prophet Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.), could Thee!”

* Kais graduated from Ecole Polytechnique (France) and Princeton University (U.S.A.), and later travelled the
world working for the oil industry (Italy, France, Libya, Angola, Texas, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar).

© lqta.com, Ali Al-Mubher


This provided Kais with a ‘window’ on the world, and a unique insight into this animal called ‘man’. His curiosity
led him to broaden his problem-solving capabilities, to comprehend human behaviour and dark side(s).

Kais truly embraced Islam only late 2002, partly following a self-assessment and a private search for the truth, and
partly waking to an inner clock (probably much like what ‘born-again Christians’ experience). Today he still enjoys
reading the ’Qura~n with a critical mind, using his academic background to challenge its contents and grow his
faith.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


MACROPHONE
© http://www.sxc.hu/photo/208750

Pilgrimage is one of the oldest liturgies who submits and surrenders himself/
that humans perform with the aim to herself to the will of Allaah Almighty and
achieve salvation. worships Allaah Almighty alone. It is not
restricted to the followers of Prophet
In Islaam, pilgrimage is known as Mu’hamad (P.B.U.H.) .
’Haj, and it follows on the footsteps of
Prophet Abraham (P.B.U.H.) (Ibraheem Origination and Degradation of ’Haj
in Arabic), which he proclaimed Allaah Almighty inspired Prophet
according to the revelation from Allaah Abraham (P.B.U.H.) with the revelation
Almighty. to preach for worshipping one God,
hence the Taw’heed.
Conceptual and linguistic meanings of
’Haj Together with his son, Prophet Ishmael
Islaamic creed known as ‘Aqeedah is (P.B.U.H.) (Isma‘eel in Arabic), he laid
based on a fundamental belief called down the foundations of Ka’bah and
Taw’heed which is the equivalent term erected thereafter the First House of
for monotheism. Taw’heed literally Worship of Allaah Almighty on Earth.
means: there’s no one to worship but
Allaah Almighty. Arabs are the descendants of Prophet
Ishmael (P.B.U.H.) whereas Jews are the
In Arabic, the word Allaah is the term descendants of Prophet Isaac (P.B.U.H.)
that describes The Creator of this (Is’haa’q in Arabic), who was Prophet
universe; it proclaims the oneness of Isma‘eel’s half-brother. However, as

:
God who deserves to be worshipped the centuries passed, people began to
alone forget the commands and reverted back
to idolatry.
Furthermore, it is a well-known term
among both Arabs of other religions, Several centuries later, degradation was
such as Jews and Christians; and not introduced for the first time by some
only among Muslims. Arab merchant named ‘Amr ibn Lu’hay.
When he travelled outside Arabia to
Enlighten Prophet Abraham (P.B.U.H.) and all
Prophets/Messengers of Allaah Almighty
Syria for his work, he found people
worshipping statues, same as the time
Your Spirit to mankind came with this universal
message based on the fundamental
before Prophet Abraham (P.B.U.H.)
received the revelation from Allaah
constitution; the Oneness of the Creator. Almighty. When he returned back to
Thus, the term “Islaam” means literally Makkah, he brought back with him idols
submission to Allaah Almighty. and placed them in the sacred place of
By Hicham Maged [’Hishaam Majid] Consistently, the term “Muslim” is Ka’bah for worship.
hicham@i-mag.org linguistically used to describe the one

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MACROPHONE
Taw’heed suffered further and idolatry (P.B.U.H.) to Allaah Almighty after Almighty should always be at the centre of day celebrated as ’eed Ala’dhaa. This is
gained ground as time passed. Upon he finished building the Ka’bah. This Muslim daily life. the symbolic sacrifice in place of Prophet
the dawn of the seventh century C.E., supplication is mentioned in the Holy Ishmael (P.B.U.H.), and in the normal life,
the Ka’bah was encircled by about 360 ‘Qura~n, chapter of Alba’qarah, verse 129: Furthermore, scientific research proved it should be done by scarifying things that
statues in addition to other notable idols that almost everything in the Universe might make us happy on the short run but
founded throughout Arabia, such as Allaat, “Our Lord! And raise up in their midst a circles around a main centre; starting from contradicts the orders of Allaah Almighty
Al’uzzah, and Manaat. messenger from among them who shall Galaxies, passing by Earth that circles even if people don’t like this act.
recite unto them Thy revelations, and around the sun and ending with protons
Consistently, immoral acts defiled the shall instruct them in the Scripture and in circling around the nucleus within the Conceptual values of ’Haj
scared rites with corrupted add-ons such wisdom and shall make them grow. Lo! atom. Rites of ’Haj in Islaam are not only
as, drinking wine, circumambulating naked Thou, only Thou, art the Mighty, Wise.” performed to commemorate Abraham’s
around Ka’bah and finally adultery. They all act within this circular movement religion, but also to help Muslims fulfil their
Rites in ’Haj and daily Muslims life in the same anti-clockwise direction universal mission for urbanising Earth as
Commemorating ’Haj I do believe that the rites of ’Haj have Muslims follow in ’Haj which symbolises the viceroy of Allaah Almighty on Earth.
Prophet Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.) found many symbolic meanings. I shall try to the unity with Nature.
himself in the same situation of his great- explain some of them briefly for ’Haj and ’Haj is not just the fifth pillar of Islaam,
great-grand-father, Prophet Abraham. normal/daily Muslims life. 4 .Sa’y: Muslims walk to and fro between rather it is a comprehensive worship
(P.B.U.H.); born and raised in a pagan the hillocks of Al’safa and Almarwah during that collects the other four; it contains
community where idols used to be 1. I’hraam: Muslims leave their wealthy life ’Haj, not only to remember Hagar’s frantic Shahadah (testimony to the Oneness
sculpted everywhere and sold by his tribe, just to obey the orders of Allaah Almighty search for water for the baby Ishmael of God), prayers, fasting and Zakaah
’Quraysh, for worship. by performing pilgrimage to Makkaah. (P.B.U.H.) but also to declare submission (mandatory alms), either physically or
Thus in the normal life, they are called to for the will of Allaah Almighty if they faced financially. That is why Allaah Almighty
As a very mindful man, he couldn’t accept change their life if it contradicts with Allaah hard times in their daily life. They are mandated that only Muslim men and
that such sculpted statues -by the hands Almighty orders and heed the ones that called to make this journey to overcome women, who are financially and physically
of people- can be responsible for creating fulfil such orders. This is called Hijrah. problems and not to fall into desperation. able, to perform ’Haj at least once during
this universe; rather, there must be an the lifetime.
almighty power capable of creating the Consistently, wearing this simple dress 5. Standing upon ‘Arafaat: This is the most
sun and the moon, the day and the night, (white one) highlights the unity of Muslims, important of the rites: where more than 2.5 Furthermore, it truly explains a
the darkness and the light, and the four and their equality in front of the Creator. million people from different nations and fundamental –and misinterpreted- term of
seasons. colours stand upon ‘Arafaat, asking Allaah Jihaad. In the Islaamic ‘A’qeedah, Jihaad
He kept on rejecting such worship and 2. Talbiyah: During ’Haj, Muslims are called Almighty the forgiveness. It’s something literally means fight against the evil. ’Haj is
used to seek the truth according to the to say “Labbayk Allaahum Labbayk” near to the Judgement Day. In their one of the ways to perform it.
Abrahamic religion till at the age of 40 which means “Here I am, O God, at Thy normal life, they should always remember
years, when Allaah Almighty inspired him Command!” Talbiyah is the answer for the that there is a hereafter succeeds the Quotes
with the revelation. He was chosen to call that Allaah Almighty instructed Prophet Judgement day. “All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An
be the Seal of the Prophets to preach Abraham (P.B.U.H.) to say, when He Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab,
for worshipping One God, hence again ordered him to proclaim the ’Haj to people. nor does a non-Arab have any superiority
Taw’heed. It is the full submission to the Almighty. 6. Throwing Pebbles: Muslims are called to over an Arab; also a white has no
After liberating Makkah, Prophet Thus in their daily life, they are called to stone the devil by throwing seven pebbles superiority over a black, nor does a black
Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.) purified the Ka’bah answer the orders of Allaah whenever they at a statue representing the devil. Thus in have any superiority over a white except
from the statues in addition to the main hear and wherever they are. their normal life, they are called to fight, as by piety and good action.”
idols. Furthermore, he - under revelation much as they can, his calls that attempt to
from Allaah Almighty - restored the rites of 3. ’Tawaaf: Muslims are required to pull them back to the dark way of evil. -- Part of Prophet Mu’hammad’s Farewell
the Abrahamic religion; the pure origin. circumambulate around the Ka’bah seven Sermon which he (P.B.U.H.) orated during
This was the divine acceptance of the times counter clockwise during ’Haj. 7. U’d’hiyah: Muslims are called to finish his Farewell ’Haj on the ninth of ‘Thul’Hijja,
supplications made by Prophet Abraham Consistently, the commands of Allaah ’Haj by scarifying an animal during the in the tenth year of Hi’jraah /632 A.D.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


MACROPHONE

By Nadia Ali* [Naadiyah ‘Aly]


nadiafreelancewriter@yahoo.com
Simply
'Haj
“And ’Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the commence the ’Haj. known worldwide as ‘Eed Ala’d’ha. The
House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that humankind For ’Haj, both time and place are of streets of Mina have decorated camels

© Khalid Ali
owes to Allaah, those who can afford the paramount importance. Commencing the offering rides on this auspicious day.
expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision ’Haj must be initiated with the declaration of
and residence);” (Chapter of A~l ‘Imraan: 97) Niyyah (private intention) of performing the All pilgrims must pelt the largest Jamrah
’Haj. (stone edifice), which symbolizes the
’Haj certainly is a journey of a life-time; it devil, seven times. This stoning is a ritual
The men are now known as a ’Haj, and
takes Muslims on a pilgrimage to Makkah Traditionally, ’Gusl, Niyyah and changing commemorating Abraham’s fight against the
woman are known as ’Haajah, which are the
(in Saudi Arabia) where barren deserts and to I’hraam attire take place at the Mi’qaat devil and it is symbolic of getting rid of bad
Arabic word for a male pilgrim and a female
red mountain ranges form part of the historic (an assigned place for officially declaring thoughts, or evil deeds.
pilgrim, respectively.
birthplace of Islaam. pilgrimage status).
Male pilgrims either have their heads
These are the steps every pilgrim must
Given as the fifth pillar of Islaam, the The pilgrim, however, is at liberty in declaring completely shaved or shorten the hair,
make to perform the ’Haj. It confirms their
Pilgrimage (’Haj) to Makkah formally begins the ‘’Haj any time and anywhere prior to whereas women trim their hair only.
commitment towards Allaah Almighty and
on the eighth day of Th>oo Al’hijjah (a lunar arriving at the Mee’qaat.
willingness to abandon material goods, for
calendar month) and lasts for five days. It Next, pilgrims go to Maakah where
the sake of His service.
is required for every Muslim to perform it at Day One: 8th of Thoo Al’hijjah they perform ’Tawaaf Al-ifaa’dah by
least once in his/her lifetime given that they Pilgrims travel to Mina where they camp circumambulating the Ka’bah seven times,
Fast Facts
have the ability to do so. and prepare for the next day by praying and pray two rak‘aahs and perform Sa‘y. The
• The World Factbook 2006 estimates that
supplicating. pilgrimage status can no be annulled, and
1.3 billion people are Muslims
To Begin the ’Haj men are allowed to don normal cloths. At the
• According to the Ministry of ’Haj More than
To perform ’Haj, pilgrims enter a state of Day Two: 9th of Thoo Al’hijjah conclusion of Sa‘y, pilgrims return to Mina.
2.5 million pilgrims are expected at the ’Haj
holiness known as I’hraam by performing Pilgrims make their way to ‘Arafaat where
1428/2008
’Gusl (special bath) which signifies the state millions of Muslims spend the day glorifying Day Four: 11th of Thoo Al’hijjah
• ’Haj for 1428/2008 is expected to be
of purity for the mind, body and soul. They Allaah, repeat supplication, repent and ask Pilgrims return to the Jamaraat (plural of
around 18th - 23rd December.
then change into clothing that reflects this for forgiveness. Jamrah) area where they have to pelt the
state and to show that all are equal before each Jamrah seven times. Most now leave * Nadia Ali is a Freelance Writer with six years
Allaah. After sunset, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah Mina before sunset to go to hotels in Makkah experience of writing on various genres such as travel,
where they spend the night outdoors under for the last day of the ‘Haj. children’s topics, entertainment and lifestyle.
Women usually wear long gowns (either white the stars, continue their pious deed, and
or black) with ’Hijaab while men must wear prepare for the next day by collecting pebbles Day Five: 11th of Thoo Al’hijjah She is Internet-savvy and can generate concise, lively
clothes that are not tailored. Men wear a two- to stone the devil. After dawn they return to All that remains to do now is perform the and compelling articles. She is the author/co-author/
piece set of white towel/cloth that they wrap Mina. farewell ’Tawaaf, which is the final act of ’Haj editor of over 150 print and online articles with writing
around their upper and lower body. Now Day Three: 10th of Thoo Al’hijjah that precedes departure from Makkah. experience for magazines, e-books, online websites
both men and women are ready to formally Back in Mina it is the day of sacrifice, and and publications.

28 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428
IN DEPTH

In the Footsteps of
Ibraheem:
By Aisha Stacey*
Sustaining the benefits of 'Haj
hmstacey@msn.com

Although there are more than 1.2 facing medical science today. on the footsteps of Ibraheem and his she ran back and forth between the
billion Muslims in the world today, total submission to Allaah, along with hills of Marwah and ’Safa in search of
only a very small percentage of us will It has been implicated in diseases the unquestioning trust (Tawakkul) travellers or wayfarers. But Hajar had
be blessed with the ability to perform and ailments ranging from coronary of Hajar, is a beacon of light and a total trust and Ibraheem’s behaviour
’Haj. heart disease and hypertension to source of guidance for us all. reflected only true submission.
headaches, insomnia and obesity. When Prophet Ibraheem, his wife
Once we have left the tranquil In a modern world where stress Hajar and newborn son Isma‘eel In modern psychological terms it
confines of Al’haram and resumed often leads people to seek the travelled to what is today Makkah, could be said that both Prophet
our busy and often stressful lives, advice of psychologists, can ’Qura~n it was a dead valley: There was no Ibraheem and Hajar had achieved self
the closeness we felt to Allaah and and Sunnah form the basis of a cultivation and no water; it was a actualisation.
the unity of Muslims that is palpable psychology that relies on more than desert.
during ’Haj may have unfortunately scientific precepts and empirical Prophet Ibraheem left his family there. Self actualisation refers to the
quickly become a warm but distant evidence? He left with them some water and development and fulfilment of one’s
memory. few dates and walked away. Hajar unique human potential. It is a
Islaam can form the basis of a truly followed him and asked three times if theory in the humanistic branch of
In lives that are beset by trials and comprehensive psychology; one he was going to leave them in such a psychology that emphasises the
tribulations we are apt to become that recognizes the Fi’trah [the desolate place. He didn’t answer. capacity for human growth and an
easily enmeshed in worldly concerns innate needs] of human nature and innate desire to satisfy a variety of
and stresses. presupposes that man is inherently Hajar then asked him: “Has Allaah needs.
good and searching for the tranquillity ordered you to do so?” When Hajar
In today’s chaotic world, sustaining that comes with true submission to heard that the answer was yes, she Abraham Maslow developed what
the benefits of ’Haj may seem almost Allaah. replied “then He will not forsake us”. he called a hierarchy of needs. At
unattainable, but sustainment is, in the base of the pyramid are the
fact, possible. So how do we keep the stress When the hassles and stresses of physiological needs – food, water,
and uncertainty of this Dunya from life threaten to engulf us it is befitting sleep.
The total fulfilment that comes from overwhelming us and still retain the to take a moment to reflect on the
being close to Allaah and the great benefits of a ’Haj Mabroor (accepted Tawakkul of Hajar. She was alone in Level two of the pyramid moves on to
joy and sense of belonging that ’Haj)? the desert with a new born baby, few safety and security – shelter. The third
comes from being a part of the dates and a small amount of water. level takes into account social needs;
great pilgrimage are feelings that are One way is to reflect on the journey of belongingness and the need to be
sustainable. Prophet Ibraheem and his wife Hajar. Imagine the turmoil that must have affiliated with and accepted by others.
been going through her mind. We
Stress is the most common ailment ’Haj, often referred to as following know that she was desperate when According to Maslow only when the

30 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


IN DEPTH
bottom needs have been fulfilled can Lastly he asked for food, for Modern medicine and science are
we advance to the higher levels. sustenance and even then he gifts from Allaah for the benefit of
connected it to ‘Ibaadah. humankind but they will always be
Next in the hierarchy comes the need “….and provide them with fruits so limited and fallible.
for personal growth, self esteem and that they may give thanks.” Chapter
acquiring the skills and knowledge to of Ibraheem [14:37] If we are able think of ’Qura~n as a
reach self actualization, the highest psychological text book a cure will
level. As human beings we would assume always be possible because the
that to survive we must first satisfy words of Allaah beseech us to live
The level at which we actually physiological needs but this is not the our lives in the most natural way, in
perceive reality and have moments of case. submission to His will.
great joy, satisfaction and tranquillity.
According to the Fitrah, the first need In the year 2007 the world is a chaotic
After Prophet Ibraheem had left his that must be satisfied is our need for place in which we often deceive
family and reached a place from Allaah. After that in accordance with ourselves into thinking there is no time
where they could no longer see him, the natural laws of a universe created to reflect and draw closer to Allaah.
he turned around, faced the place by the One God all our needs will be
that would be the Ka‘bah and made fulfilled. To achieve self actualisation, to be the
Du‘aa- to Allaah. best that we are able to be and feel at
Ibraheem knew that, and Hajar peace we must acknowledge our true
“O our Lord I have made some of my knew that. All the Prophets of Allaah Fi’trah.
off spring to dwell in an uncultivable can be said to have achieved self
valley by Your Sacred House, in order actualisation. True peace and tranquillity comes only
O our Lord that they may perform from submission to Allaah.
’Salaah, so fill some hearts among Allaah created us and He knows

© Muhammad Babeli
men with love towards them and absolutely everything about us, He When we find ourselves in
provide them with fruits so that knows what is good for us and what circumstances beyond our control,
they may give thanks.” Chapter of is bad. when despair and psychological
Ibraheem [14:37] “…it may be that you dislike a thing torment are overwhelming us, the
that is good for you and that you like only way out is to acknowledge that
At this time; at this most crucial a thing which is bad for you. Allah the circumstances are truly beyond
point in the life of his family Prophet knows but you do not know.” Chapter our control and in the hands of
Ibraheem inverted Maslow’s hierarchy of Alba’qarah [2:216] Our Creator and Sustainer: Allaah
of needs. Almighty.
To have complete and unwavering
The first thing he asked for was that faith in our Creator and know with That closeness we felt to Allaah during
his family be able to establish the full certainty that our purpose in the ’Haj is achievable even away from
’Salaah (prayer). His first desire was life is to worship Allaah is true self Al’haram. The change that can occur
that they feel connected to Allaah and actualisation. after an accepted ’Haj is definitely
take refuge in the tranquillity that is sustainable.
characterised by submission to Him. Psychology is able to give us a
glimpse into the truth about ourselves,
He then asked for the people to love as researchers, scientists and * Aisha Stacey is an Australian revert to Islam currently residing in Doha Qatar. She
them, he wanted to secure their social academics discover the full beauty works for the Fanar Islamic Cultural Centre as a writer/researcher and is studying for
needs so that they had a sense of and truth of what Allaah has created. a double degree in psychology and security studies.
belongingness.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


Do you wonder
why we spell
Arabic Words
Different than
other Publications?

Do you wonder why some Arabic names have


another spelling between square brackets?

I-MAG Others
Allaah Allah
Islaam Islam
Mu’hammad Mohamad Check our Arabic phonemes transcription
’Hijaab Hijab guide to learn how we transcribe Arabic
’Qura~n Qur'an sounds in to the English writing system:
Madeenah Madinah
Makkah Mecca
In Shaa- Allaah Insha'Allah www.i-mag.org/arabic.pdf
Oummah Ummah
’Hadeeth Hadith

32 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


CAPITA

Muslims have their Mother Teresa Too!


Alsumait rescues Africa
through Development Go to
http://books.i-mag.org
and download an E-booklet with photos on
Direct Aid efforts in Africa.
Interview and translation by I-MAG team Photographs Courtesy of Direct Aid.

R ana, a then Ph.D.


student at Purdue
University, once said to
Tell us about the beginnings: How did you How did your family cope with your jungle. Their love for Africa grew with
learn of Africa’s need for relief work? continuous travel? every trip they made to the point that my
I-MAG’s copyeditor Ibrahim Allaah willed that I visit the Republic of From day one, I tried to make my family youngest daughters requested from her
Babelli “You Muslims have Malawi in 1980; a sub-Sahara African involved with charitable work. When they fiancé, as an unwritten betrothal condition,
no mother Teresa.” Babelli country, which was known earlier as became intimately aware and involved, that they go together to Africa, which he
answered “That’s right. We Nyasaland. Islaam was introduced to they did not mind my continuous and agreed to.
have Abdulrahman Alsumait Nyasaland about 500 years ago and more lengthy travel, and they used to join me
[‘Abd Alra’hmaan Al’sumai’t] than two thirds of the population became several times during the year in Africa Do you stay in Madagascar when you go
instead.” Muslim. However, the number of Muslims to Africa?

T he Kuwaiti doctor who


quit a bright career in
medicine in the beginning
dwindled steadily until they became about
17% of the population by 1980, and the
overwhelming majority of the remaining
But the fact that I used to spend about
ten months per year in Africa, not one
shot but dispersed throughout the year,
I used to make Madagascar my abode in
Africa. For the time being, however, I am
heading to Kenya for, probably, a year, and
of the 1980s to help Muslims knew hardly anything about resulted in estrangement of members of then move on to another country.
Africans to help themselves Islaam. Thereafter, we decided to establish my family, particularly the very young ones,
is considered a role model the ‘Malawi Muslim Agency’, which who could not recognise me when I would Tell us about the organisational structure of
amongst many Muslim. became the ‘Africa Muslim Agency’ and return home. the Direct Aid Society. How many people
Alsumait who is now 60 finally the ‘Direct Aid Society’. does it employ in Africa and in Kuwait?
years old and diabetic won Thereafter, I decided to have all my In Kuwait, our work force is made up of
several prestigious awards, Was your first African trip to Malawi? And children spend the entire summers with sixty employees only. In Africa, however,
and what did he do with what was the purpose of that trip? me in Africa without enrolling them in any and due to the large number of schools
the money? Donated it Yes, indeed it was. The purpose of the trip specific program; they just came with me we operate, we have about four thousand
to Africa of course, for was to oversee the launch of a charitable wherever I went: We travelled on foot, employees.
benevolence is both his project. dwelled through deserts and slept in the
mission and passion.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


CAPITA
Do you have a process installed for my shoes when I was in Sudan. I feigned Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences. relief organisations, and the Human Appeal
financial control and accounting? indignation when he insisted that I should Pray tell us about this award. International, based in Ajman, was the first
We have installed in place a rigorous repay this expenditure, irrespective of my national society to receive the award.
seven-tier accounting system. The first position as the chairman of the board. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid
tier is field accounting, which takes care Almaktoum [‘Hamdaan Bin Raashid In how many African countries does the Direct
of overseeing the financial aspects of our He did not flinch, even when I made Almaktoom], the Minister of Finance and Aid Society operate?
projects, since we carry out the work him come to my office and threatened Industry in the United Arab Emirates, We currently operate in thirty two countries.
ourselves and do not rely on agents or him and tried to bully him. His argument established an award eight years ago Each country has its own office with dedicated
representatives. was simple: The regulations stipulate to honour individuals, universities, staff overseeing administrative, financial and
an authorisation from the board for establishments and research centres contractual aspects of our work there.
Each field accountant is responsible expenditures that are not prescribed; it is all over the world for their outstanding
for bookkeeping and controlling money Which countries are you giving priority to in
that is sent from us and forwarded opening new offices?
to beneficiaries, in addition to filing At this stage, we have suspended the opening
monthly reports. Monthly reports are of any new office in light of the unusual
sent to segment managers who oversee circumstances that befell charitable work
expenditures, and who then forward the throughout the Muslim world. But we remain
reports to the department of control and active through our existing offices.
field accounting.
Please tell us about the achievements of the
The reports are inspected for irregularities Direct Aid Society so far.
by this department using previous years More than six thousand and five hundred
reports and field reports from inspectors. shallow wells were sunk to provide clean water
for African villages. We have now more than
The controlled reports are then forwarded one hundred and thirty eight hospitals and
to the general accounting department, clinics that received over four million patients.
which prepares a detailed report about
each and every one of our offices in Africa We also established eight hundred and
and sends out the reports to our offices forty schools that house about half a
there. million students, in addition to colleges and
universities in Zanzibar, Kenya and Somalia.
Then there is internal and external auditing, We are supporting more than fifteen thousand
in addition to the special accounting office orphans throughout our operational bases,
that reports to the chairman of the board. and may of those orphans have already
graduated as physicians, engineers and
We heard of one accountant whom you academicians.
put to the test but he did not change his not the amount that matters. achievements in the field of medicine, with
stance. Pray tell us about this story. particular emphasis on genetic research. How do you prioritise your charitable work?
Once, an auditor who works in the second I was so pleased with his integrity, even Our strategy focused, since the start,
tier of our accounting system called me when faced with threats from the chairman This year’s award was the give for the on education. I believe that only through
to report an expenditure that I made and of the board, that I hugged and thanked first time to charitable organisations education can impoverished nations escape
did not fall under the category of approved him, and gave him – from my private funds based within the United Arab Emirates the vicious cycle they have been stuck in.
expenses. – a one month salary bonus. or international that work on providing
aid and relief to needy areas. Direct Aid You opined during an interview broadcasted
The money he was referring to was about Earlier this year, you were awarded the Society was the first recipient of this through Al-Jazeera that Zakaah (mandatory
a quarter of dollar and was used to mend prestigious Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid prestigious award among international alms) may be used in relief efforts of all types.

34 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


CAPITA

Direct Aid In
Action

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


CAPITA
Do you still hold this opinion?
I used to argue that if Muslims did indeed
pay Zakaah no Muslim would stay poor.
Now, I believe that Zakaah on stocks
being traded at Gulf counties stock
markets would be sufficient to alleviate
poverty throughout the world; Muslim and
otherwise.

How do you assess African acceptance


to your mission? And with the widespread
activities of missionary Christians, is their
any change in African attitude towards
your efforts?
Some Africans, like any other people,
accept our presence and help, whereas
others don’t. We neither force our beliefs
upon them nor do we take advantage of
their needs to impose any system or set of
rituals or morals upon them.

Africa is a beleaguered with troubles and


military conflicts throughout. Do you fear
for your life?
I was shot at many times, and an anti-
personnel land mine exploded beneath our
feet during the civil war in Mozambique. I
was in Somalia during the civil war in that
country during the period of 1991 to 1992,
and was shot at repeatedly. I also received
many death threats throughout the years
we have been working in Africa. But
danger is a part of our mission, and we do
not complain.

Do you provide relief aid to Muslims only,


or do you include non-Muslims in your
efforts? And is it true that you cooperate
with Christian organisations?

The laws of Islaam, as dictated our


Prophet, mandate that we do not
Direct Aid In Action
discriminate in helping people, irrespective
of their religion. Not only that, but the
mandate covers non-humans as well, for
the Prophet (P.B.U.H) related the story of a

36 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


CAPITA
prostitute who was absolved or all her sins walking barefoot and wearing rags and not Would you like to say something to our Contact Info Postal Address:
because she saved a dog who was about covering her head, which went against the readership? Tel. (Kuwait): P.O. Box 1414
to die from thirst. We always cooperate tradition of her non-Muslim tribe. I sincerely hope that our brethren in (00965) 252-835-5 Safat, 13015
with Christian organisations, and with And the saddest? humanity would learn, first hand, our Fax (Kuwait): State of Kuwait
priests, for the common good. We The saddest recollection is holding a dying culture and civilisation to learn the truth (00965) 252-839-9
E-mail:
maintain cordial relationships with many infant in my hands, and this happened about us, and not to stop at what our
amanakw@hotmail.com
other non-Muslim societies as well. quite often. I try to control my emotions enemies say about us. Once the true website:
and conceal them, but later I would hide knowledge has surfaced, then let our www.labaik-africa.org (Arabic)
Following 9/11 and the vicious attack on away and cry like a baby. brethren in humanity judge our work for
Islaamic charity work, how was the Direct what it really stand for.
Aid Society affected?
We are an Islaamic society that faced
backlash similar to the backlash that faced
all other Islaamic societies after 9/11.
For example, our teachers and preachers
have been expelled from many places.
Nowadays, if any ruler or a politician
wishes to get rid of anyone, under
whatever pretence, it suffices to invoke
the terrorism accusation; the accused is
always guilty under those circumstances
and the accuser is not obliged to provide
the proof.

The Direct Aid Society aims to develop


rather than provide relief and/or aid. When
did you start providing relief efforts?
Providing relief was not our goal when we
started our work in 1980, but one cannot
stand around watching when people are
dying of hunger; what is earmarked for
development could very well be used for
relief. Our goal has always been to help
the development of the places where we
work.

What is your happiest recollection from


your work in Africa?
My happiest recollection is of the orphan
Zaynab Qara when she graduated from
medical school and was ranked on top
of her graduating class throughout all of
Kenya. This was the same Zaynab that
I first met when she was nine-years old

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


OCCIDENTAL VIEW

The Four Fundamentalisms


And the Threat to
Sustainable Democracy
(Part 1 of 2)

By Robert Jensen*
rjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu

The most important words anyone said Before we head there, a note on the 2002 http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/ Fundamentalisms
to me in the weeks immediately after short-term crisis: I have been involved nss/2002/ and the 2006 update http:// One way to come to terms with these
September 11, 2001, came from my friend in U.S. organising against the so-called www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/, forces is to understand the United
James Koplin. “war on terror,” which has provided cover and review post-World War II U.S. history States as a society in the grip of four
for the attempts to expand and deepen http://www.zmag.org/CrisesCurEvts/ fundamentalisms. In ascending order of
While acknowledging the significance U.S. control over the strategically crucial interventions.htm. threat, I identify these fundamentalisms
of that day, he said, simply: “I was in a resources of Central Asia and the Middle as religious, national, economic, and
profound state of grief about the world East, part of a global strategy that the Read and review, but only if you don’t technological.
before 9/11, and nothing that happened Bush administration openly acknowledges mind waking up in the middle of the night
on that day has significantly changed what is aimed at unchallengeable U.S in a cold sweat of fear. But as scary as All share some similar characteristics,
the world looks like to me.” domination of the world. these paranoid, power-mad policymakers’ while each poses a particular threat to
delusions may be, Jim was talking about sustainable democracy and sustainable
Because Jim is a bit older and For U.S. planners, that “world” includes a feeling beyond that fear - a grief that is life on the planet. Each needs separate
considerably smarter than I, it took not only the land and seas - and, of much broader and goes much deeper. analysis and strategies for resistance.
me some time to catch up to him, but course, the resources beneath them - but
eventually I recognized his insight. space above as well. Opposing the war-of-the-moment - and Let’s start by defining fundamentalism.
going beyond that to challenge the whole The term has a specific meaning
He was warning me that even we lefties It is our world to arrange and dispose of imperial project - is important. But also in Protestant history (an early 20th
- trained to keep an eye on systems and as they see fit, in support of our “blessed important is the work of thinking through century movement to promote “The
structures of power rather than obsessing lifestyle.” Other nations can have a place the nature of the larger forces that leave us Fundamentals”), but I want to use it in
about individual politicians and single in that world as long as they are willing in this grief-stricken position. a more general fashion to describe any
events - were missing the point if we to assume the role that the United States intellectual/political/theological position
accepted the conventional wisdom that determines appropriate. The vision of U.S. We need to go beyond Bush. We should that asserts an absolute certainty in the
9/11 “changed everything,” as the saying policymakers is of a world very ordered, recognize the seriousness of the threat truth and/or righteousness of a belief
went then. by them. that this particular gang of thieves and system.
thugs poses and resist their policies,
He was right, and today I want to talk This description of U.S. policy is no but not mistake them for the core of the Such fundamentalism leads to an
about four fundamentalisms loose in the caricature. Anyone who doubts my problem. inclination to want to marginalise, or in
world and the long-term crisis to which summary can simply read the National some cases eliminate, alternative ways to
they point. Security Strategy document released in understand and organize the world

38 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


OCCIDENTAL VIEW
After all, what’s the point of engaging in that human reason can know everything, at least a passing acquaintance with the while also declaring a commitment to
honest dialogue with those who believe in but that we can give up attempts to know phenomenon and is aware of its threats. universal principles, but reject offering
heretical systems that are so clearly wrong everything and be satisfied with knowing commitment to arbitrary political units that
or even evil? what we can know. That is, we can be But religious fundamentalism is in the modern era have been the vehicle
content in making it up as we go along, not necessarily the most serious for such barbarism and brutality.
In this sense, fundamentalism is an cautiously. One of the tragedies of the fundamentalist threat loose in the world
extreme form of hubris, a delusional modern world is that too few have learned today. That critique applies across the board, but
overconfidence not only in one’s beliefs but that lesson. because of our power and peculiar history,
in the ability of humans to know much of Certainly much evil has been done a rejection of national fundamentalism is
anything definitively. Fundamentalists, no matter what the in the world in the name of religion, most crucial in the United States.
specific belief system, believe in their especially the fundamentalist varieties, The dominant conception of that history
In the way I use the term, fundamentalism ability to know a lot. That is why it can be and we can expect more in the future. is captured in the phrase “the city
isn’t unique to religious people but is so easy for fundamentalists to move from But, moving up the list, we also can see upon a hill,” the notion that the United
instead a feature of a certain approach to one totalizing belief system to another. clearly the problems posed by national States came into the world as the first
the world, rooted in the mistaking of very fundamentalism. democracy, a beacon to the world.
limited knowledge for wisdom. For example, I have a faculty colleague
who shifted from being a dogmatic Nationalism poses a threat everywhere but In addition to setting the example, as
The antidote to fundamentalism is humility, communist to a dogmatic right-wing should especially concern us in the United soon as it had the capacity to project its
that recognition of just how contingent our evangelical Christian. States, where the capacity for destruction power around the world, the United States
knowledge about the world is. in the hands of the most powerful state in claimed to be the vehicle for bringing
When people hear of his conversion they the history of the world is exacerbated by democracy to that world.
We need to adopt what sustainable often express amazement, though to me it a pathological hyper-patriotism that tends
agriculture researcher Wes Jackson calls always seemed easy to understand -- he to suppress internal criticism and leave These are particularly odd claims for a
“an ignorance-based worldview,” http:// went from one fundamentalism to another. many unable to hear critique from outside. nation that owes its very existence to
www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display. What matters is not so much the content one of the most successful genocides
v/ART/2004/10/03/42c0db19e37f4 an but the shape of the belief system. Such In other writing (Chapter 3 of Citizens of in recorded history, the near-complete
approach to world that acknowledges that systems should worry us. the Empire http://www.amazon.com/exec/ extermination of indigenous peoples to
what we don’t know dwarfs what we do obidos/ASIN/0872864324/thirdcoastact- secure the land and resource base for the
know about a complex world. That said, not all fundamentalisms pose 20/002-3901788-0263217) United States.
the same danger to democracy and
Acknowledging our basic ignorance does sustainability. So, let’s go through the I have outlined in some detail an argument Odder still when one looks at the U.S.
not mean we should revel in stupidity, but four I have identified: religious, national, that patriotism is intellectually and morally practice of African slavery that propelled
rather should spur us to recognize that we economic, and technological. bankrupt. Here, let me simply point the United States into the industrial world,
have an obligation to act intelligently on out that because a nation-state is an and considers the enduring apartheid
the basis not only of what we know but Religion and Nation abstraction (lines on a map, not a naturally system - once formal and now informal
what we don’t know. The fundamentalism that attracts the occurring object), assertions of patriotism - that arose from it.
most attention is religious. In the United (defined as love of or loyalty to a nation-
When properly understood, I think such States, the predominant form is Christian. state) raise a simple question: To what we And odd-to-the-point-of-bizarre in the
humility is implicit in traditional/indigenous Elsewhere in the world, Islaamic, Jewish, are pledging our love and loyalty? How is context of imperial America’s behaviour
systems and also the key lesson to be and Hindu fundamentalisms are attractive that abstraction made real? in the world since it emerged as the lone
taken from the Enlightenment and modern to some significant portion of populations, superpower and made central to its foreign
science (a contentious claim, perhaps, either spread across a Diaspora or I conclude that all the possible answers policy in the post-WWII era attacks on
given the way in which modern science concentrated in one region, or both. are indefensible and that instead of any challenge in the Third World to U.S.
tends to overreach). pledging allegiance to a nation, we dominance.
Given all the attention focused on religious should acknowledge and celebrate our
The Enlightenment insight, however, is not fundamentalism, I’ll assume everyone has connections to real people in our lives

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


OCCIDENTAL VIEW
While all the empires that have committed wages, and, (3) goods and services are The government can’t stay out because Focusing exclusively on economic growth
great crimes -- the British, French, allocated by markets. it’s in from the ground floor, and assertions and income generation as a development
Belgians, Japanese, Russians and then the that government intervention into markets strategy is ineffective, as it leads to the
Soviets -- have justified their exploitation In contemporary market fundamentalism, is inherently illegitimate are just silly. accumulation of wealth by a few and
of others by the alleged benefits it brought also referred to as neoliberalism, it’s deepens the poverty of many; such an
to the people being exploited, there assumed that most extensive use of Adding to the absurdity of all this is the approach does not acknowledge the
is no power so convinced of its own markets possible will unleash maximal hypocrisy of the market fundamentalists, intergenerational transmission of poverty.”
benevolence as the United States. competition, resulting in the greatest good who are quick to call on government http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/
- and all this is inherently just, no matter to bail them out when things go sour media%2005/
The culture is delusional in its commitment what the results. (in recent U.S history, the savings-and-
to this mythology, which is why today one loan and auto industries are the most That’s where the data lead. But I want to
can find on the other side of the world The reigning ideology of so-called “free outrageous examples). highlight the power of this fundamentalism
peasant farmers with no formal education trade” seeks to impose this neoliberalism by reminding us of a common acronym:
who understand better the nature of U.S. everywhere on the globe. And then there’s the reality of how some TGIF.
power than many faculty members at elite government programs - most notably the
U.S. universities. In this fundamentalism, it is an article of military and space departments - act as Everyone in the United States knows
faith that the “invisible hand” of the market conduits for the transfer of public money what that means: “Thank God it’s Friday.”
This national fundamentalism rooted in the always provides the preferred result, no to private corporations under the guise of The majority of Americans don’t just
assumption of the benevolence of U.S. matter how awful the consequences may “national defense” and the “exploration of know what TGIF stands for, they feel it in
foreign and military policy works to trump be for real people. space.” their bones. That’s a way of saying that
critical inquiry. a majority of Americans do work they
A corresponding tenet of the market And then there’s the problem of market generally do not like and do not believe is
As long as a significant component of the fundamentalist view is that the government failure - the inability of private markets really worth doing.
U.S. public – and virtually the entire elite should not interfere in any of this; the to provide some goods or provide other
– accept this national fundamentalism, the appropriate role of government, we are goods at the most desirable levels - of That’s a way of saying that we have an
world is at risk. told, is to stay out of the economy. which economists are well aware. economy in which most people spend
In other words, economic fundamentalism at least a third of their lives doing things
Economics This is probably the most ridiculous aspect - the worship of markets combined with they don’t want to do and don’t believe
Economic fundamentalism, synonymous of the ideology, for the obvious reason that steadfast denial about how the system are valuable. We are told this is a way of
these days with market fundamentalism, it is the government that establishes the actually operates - leads to a world in organizing an economy that is natural.
presents another grave threat. After fall rules for the system (currency, contract which not only are facts irrelevant to the
of the Soviet system, the naturalness of law, etc.) and decides whether the wealth debate, but people learn to ignore their
capitalism is now taken to be beyond accumulated under previous sets of rules own experience.
question. should be allowed to remain in the hands
of those who accumulated it (typically in On the facts: There is a widening gap * Robert Jensen is a journalism
The dominant assumption about corporate ways immoral, illegal, or both; between rich and poor, both worldwide professor at the University of Texas
capitalism in the United States is not and within most nations. According to U.N. at Austin and board member of the
simply that it is the best among competing We should recall the quip that behind statistics, about a quarter of the world’s Third Coast Activist Resource Center
economic systems, but that it is the only every great fortune is a great crime) or be population lives on less than $1 a day and http://thirdcoastactivist.org/. He is
sane and rational way to organize an redistributed. To argue that government nearly half live on less than $2. the author of The Heart of Whiteness:
economy in the contemporary world. should stay out of the economy merely Race, Racism, and White Privilege and
obscures the obvious fact that without The 2005 U.N. Report on the World Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle
In capitalism, the government - that is, without rules Social Situation, aptly titled “The Inequality to Claim Our Humanity (both from City
(1) property, including capital assets, is established through some kind of Predicament,” stresses: “Ignoring Lights Books).
owned and controlled by private persons; collective action - there would be no inequality in the pursuit of development is His website
(2) people sell their labour for money economy. perilous. http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/%7Erjensen/

40 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


MED-AWARE

Medicinal Uses of

Honey
By Doha Babelli* [’Du’ha Baabally]
dbabelli@kfmc.med.sa
© http://www.sxc.hu/photo/526379

to use (cauterisation) branding with fire.” (about 38.5%) and glucose (about 31.0%).
(Albu’kaary: Volume 7, Book 71, Number The remaining carbohydrates include
584) maltose, sucrose, and other complex
carbohydrates.
“Use the two remedies, namely, honey and In addition, honey contains a wide array
’Qura~n.” (Ibn Maajah: Volume 3, Book 31, of vitamins, such as vitamin B6, thiamine,
Number 3443) niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid.
Essential minerals including calcium,
“A man came to the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and copper, iron, magnesium, manganese,
said: “My brother has some abdominal phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc
trouble.” The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said to him as well as several different amino acids
For more than three thousand years, honey with honey, and prescribed it for strep
“Let him drink honey.” The man came for have been identified in honey.
has been used to treat a variety of ailments throats, coughing, and to dry up phlegm.
the second time and the Prophet (P.B.U.H)
through topical and oral application.
said to him, ‘Let him drink honey.” He came Honey also contains several compounds
Muslims expanded the usage of honey in
for the third time and the Prophet (P.B.U.H) which function as antioxidants. Known
Assyrian relics, for examples, show that medicine, guided by the revelation in the
said, “Let him drink honey.” He returned antioxidant compounds in honey are
honey was used as a medicine, and similar ’Qura~n:
again and said, “I have done that ‘ The chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase,
medical usage was reported in ancient “And your Lord inspired the bee saying:
Prophet (P.B.U.H) then said, “Allaah has and pinocembrin. Unlike most other
Egyptian annals, which stated that honey “Take your habitations in the mountains
said the truth, but your brother’s abdomen sweeteners, honey contains small amounts
aids the healing process of wounds and and in the trees and in what they (men)
has told a lie. Let him drink honey.” So he of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino
in treating abdominal and urinal ailments, erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the
made him drink honey and he was cured.” acids, and antioxidants.
in addition to its use for ophthalmologic ways of your Lord made easy (for you).”
(Albu’kaary: Volume 7, Book 71, Number
application. There comes forth from their bellies, a
588) The specific composition of any batch
drink of varying colour wherein is healing
of honey will depend largely on the mix
Ancient Chinese medicine prescribed for mankind. Verily, in this is indeed a sign
The medical benefit of honey was of flowers consumed by the bees that
the usage of honey for treating smallpox for people who think.” (chapter of Anna’hl:
ascertained by science, which identified produced the honey.
patients. Honey was applied to affected 68-69)
many of the healing effects of honey.
skin to accelerate the healing of erupted
Honey has a density of about 1.5 kg/litre
pustules and help reducing scarring. And by the following Hadeeths (sayings) of
Composition of Honey (50% denser than water) or 12.5 pounds
the Prophet (P.B.U.H):
Honey is a mixture of sugars and per US gallon.
The ancient practice of medicine in India “Healing is in three things: A gulp of
other compounds. With respect to
included honey for treating cataracts. The honey, cupping, and branding with fire
carbohydrates, honey is mainly fructose Typical Honey Analysis:
famous Hippocrates used to treat wounds (cauterising).” But I forbid my followers

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


MED-AWARE
• Fructose: 38% honey is commonly between 3.2 and 4.5. health risks to children (with the exception Folk medicine, however, relied –
• Glucose: 31% This relatively acidic pH level prevents of juvenile diabetics) and is generally successfully – on honey for the treatment of
• Sucrose: 1% the growth of many bacteria. Honey also likeable, it is an ideal treatment for enuresis. many a disease, by applying and observing
• Water: 17% helps in scar tissue reduction by regulating For best results, however, honey must and documenting.
• Other sugars: 9% (maltose, melezitose) collagen production via slowing down be administered to the child after having
• Ash: 0.17% hydrogen peroxide release at the wound. emptied his/her bladder prior to going to Recent and oN.G.O.ing modern research
bed, or before leaving home in the morning. and techniques are shedding new light on
The analysis of the sugar content of honey Hydrogen peroxide in honey is activated Honey may also help adults and the elderly the efficacy of honey for treating various
is used for detecting adulteration. by dilution with body fluids. As a result, whose need to visit the water cabinet may maladies, including some bacterium strains
hydrogen peroxide is released slowly interrupt their sleep repeatedly. A spoonful that have developed complete resistance to
Medicinal Uses of Honey and acts as an antiseptic. Unlike medical of honey before going to bed, on an empty penicillin and any of its derivatives.
Honey is an essential and attractive nutrient hydrogen peroxide, this slow release does bladder, helps significantly. Diabetic patients
for many factors, both nutritional and not cause damage to surrounding tissues. must be careful with honey consumption, This medicinal effect of honey is best
medicinal. Honey is: Honey aids in the treatment and prevention however. described by Allaah in the ’Qura~n: “There
• Gentle on the digestive system; of gangrene in diabetic feet when used comes forth from their bellies, a drink
• Largely made up of simple sugar, which is topically. The osmotic and antiseptic effects of honey of varying colour wherein is healing for
quickly digested; make it an ideal treatment for sore sufferers mankind. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for
• Not harmful to the kidneys at all; Another medical use for honey is in the of pharyngitis and laryngitis. people who think.” [chapter of Anna’hl: 69]
• Calming to the nervous system without prevention and treatment of the dental
side effects; cavity, particularly for malodour. Honey is Honey is an essential ingredient in skin care References
• Of agreeable taste to most. hygroscopic and antiseptic, and is rich with products, both for beauty treatments and 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey
fluoride; an excellent combination for oral face masks and in medical applications 2. EA. van der Weyden, “Treatment of a
Honey’s medicinal usage is in both hygiene. such as the treatment of acne and venous lega ulcer with a honey alginate
prevention and treatment, such as in: abscesses. dressing,” Br J Community Nurs. 2005 Jun;
Honey is also used in the treatment of Suppl: S21, S24, S26-7
Honey is known to have some significant conjunctivitis, in addition to several other The regular application of honey every 3. P. C. Molan., “Establishing Honey as a
nutraceutical effects (or positive long- corneal maladies. three days, with other ingredients, to the Recognised Medicine,” The Journal of the
term health effects resulting from honey’s face delays the appearance of wrinkles. American Apitherapy Society, spring 2000,
consumption). In addition to its primary Honey is a potent medicine for stomach A mixture of honey and olive oil has been Vol.7, No. 1
carbohydrate content, honey often contains ulcer and diarrhoea, when used under successfully used to rejuvenate the hair 4. R. White, “The benefits of honey in
polyphenols, which can act as antioxidants, medical supervision. by providing nutrients for hair bulbs via wound management,” Nursing Standard,
which prevent oxidative stress to cells massaging the scalp with this concoction. November 16, Vol. 20, No.10, 2005
throughout the body. Antioxidants in honey The osmotic effect in honey makes it 5. VN. Golychev, “Use of honey in
have even been implicated in reducing the suitable for the treatment of enuresis For a long time, honey has been used conservative treatment of senile cataracts,”
damage done to the colon in colitis. (involuntary bed-wetting) for children above to treat a variety of ailments without fully Vestn Oftalmol. 1990 Nov-Dec, 106(6),
the age of five, particularly at night or when understanding the medicinal effects of it. 59-62
Furthermore, some studies suggest that the child is playing outdoors
honey may be effective in increasing
the populations of probiotic bacteria in The affected child swallows a spoonful * Dr. Doha Babelli is a consultant in family medicine working for King Fahd Medical City. She has
the gut, which may help strengthen the of honey, either in the morning or before obtained an M.R.C.P. in family medicine from Liverpool, UK, an M.S. degree in family medicine from
immune system, improve digestion, lower going to sleep, depending on the child’s King Saud University and a diploma in autogenic therapy.
cholesterol and prevent colon cancer. condition.
Prior to joining King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, Dr. Babelli worked at King Khaled University
Honey is used to treat burns, cankers Due to its osmotic effect, honey absorbs Hospital in Riyadh for seventeen years. She is a medical consultant for several publications,
and skin ulcers because it acts as an significant amount of water and retains it both paper and electronic. She is the author of several medical books (in Arabic), including: A
antiseptic/antibacterial agent. The pH of for a long time. And since honey poses no Comprehensive Medical Encyclopaedia, Facts on Diabetes, Children Safety Seat, Osteoporosis,
Natural Beauty, and Autogenic Therapy.

42 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


‫ﺩ‬
GRAPH-ART

If you have any


nice designs that
you would like
to share with us,
please contact:
konash@i-mag.org

The White Moon Rose Over Us


By
Ahmad Konash
konash@i-mag.org

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


FAIR VIEW

By Abdelwahab Elmessiri [‘Abd Alwahhaab Almiseery]

The importance of national dialogue, in I also wish to express admiration the ’hijaab. Referring to jurisprudential And if the need for rigour is such
the absence of which we lapse into a for Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni opinion is not a matter of asserting in literary criticism, then how much
conflict that depletes all energy, cannot [Faaroo’q Hunsny]. anyone’s monopoly over jurisprudence more so when it comes to religious
be overemphasised; hence calls for but a matter of rigour, the importance jurisprudence?
change, for reform of the constitution, I am aware of the efforts expended by of which, as a literary critic, I am well
for new parties to be established, for his ministry to restore Ancient Egyptian, aware. Hence I sought the opinion of a friend,
emergency laws to be annulled so all Coptic and Islaamic monuments, and to not a man of religion but better informed
political trends can participate in the safeguard antiquities from theft. In my field, without rigour, meaning on such issues than me, about the issue
democratic process without fear and knowledge of different approaches, of the ’hijaab. Islaamic juridical tradition,
without attempting either to retain power Like him, and like many from my theories and techniques of criticism, he said, asserts that “when a woman
for life. generation, I know little about opinions can be no more than amateur reaches the age of menstruation the
jurisprudential opinion on the issue of impressionism. only parts of her body that might be

44 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


FAIR VIEW
revealed are her face and palms. Analysis of contemporary Egyptian takes precedence over the individual no one, designations that originate from a
This view is generally supported by the discourse tells us that “backwardness” matter the degree of creativity of which definition of secularism as the separation
following ’Qura~nic injunction: ‘And and “regression” -precisely like the latter is capable. The individual between religion and state.
tell the believing women to lower their nah’dah, “renaissance”, and istinaarah, belongs to society and not the other
gaze and be mindful of their chastity, “enlightenment”- are non-religious terms way round. Yet some radical intellectuals This is a crude view of the world and of
and not to display their charms [in that belong to a social and cultural rush headlong to embrace the call human nature, an intricate, complex thing.
public] beyond what may [decently] be framework. This is the context within for absolute artistic freedom without The religious is interwoven with the political,
apparent thereof; hence, let them draw which we should discuss the statement. grasping its anti-human philosophical the economic and the psychological.
their head coverings over their bosoms. import.
And let them not display [more of] their Those who describe the ’hijaab as a When a Palestinian freedom fighter attacks
charms to any but their husbands, or symptom of backwardness, the minister Those who defend freedom of an Israeli settlement are his motives
their fathers, or their husbands’ fathers, religious, or are they political, economic and
or their sons ... “ (Annoor: 31). There social? The answer is that his motives are
are other ’Qura~nic verses (Ala’hzaab: complex. He is impelled by a combination
33 and 59) that are in keeping with the of things.
above injunctions.
Those who separate religion from other
“These verses”, my friend continued, aspects of life believe its appearance in
“refer to the values of modesty and They speak of the freedom of expression public life is a symptom of backwardness.
decency as opposed to the arrogant Their frame of reference is the Western
physical flaunting of the pagan era, and of creativity as absolutes, wielding secular, as well as the so-called Arab
which reduces woman to her body, and them in the face of anyone who objects nah’dah, project.
underscores her physical attractiveness
[sex appeal in modern parlance], to any opinion. Society, however, is a Think of the ill-fated proposal to celebrate
thereby cancelling out her humanness, complex entity, with a consciousness the bicentennial of the French Expedition
her personality, as well as her social role to Egypt - i.e., the invasion of Egypt by
as a mother and a wife.” of its own that takes precedence over the military forces of the French Revolution
As the supreme guide of the Muslim the individual no matter the degree of - considered by some the starting point
Brotherhood suggested, everyone of advancement towards Western
knows that the ’hijaab is an Islaamic creativity of which the latter is capable. enlightenment:
obligation, yet the issue has taken on
exaggerated proportions. Egypt, he the promoters of the celebration did not
went on, has bigger and more pressing seem to realise that the French Expedition
issues to address, such as poverty, to Egypt was the beginning of the Western
corruption and tyranny. colonisation of our country that continues to
try and undermine our heritage and exploit
Given that the minister, like me, is not being one of them, weigh their words expression and construe art as an us for its own benefit.
well-versed in religious matters I fully carefully. absolute withhold the designation of
believe him when he says he was not absolute from religion and moral values. They overlooked the two revolutions against
passing a religious judgment. They speak of the freedom of expression They conceive of religion as a private the French sparked from Alazhar, just as
and of creativity as absolutes, wielding matter, isolated from the world of they overlooked Sulaymaan Al’halaby,
In which framework, then, are we them in the face of anyone who objects politics, economics and sociology. who assassinated Kléber, who had taken
understand his statement? I think I may to any opinion. over from Napoleon as commander of the
not be off the mark when I claim he was Hence, when a given phenomenon French occupation forces, and the Azhar
passing a cultural judgement. Society, however, is a complex entity, is addressed, it is treated as either a scholars who refused to collaborate with the
with a consciousness of its own that religious phenomenon or a non-religious occupiers.

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


FAIR VIEW
They isolate the occupation from its society in its grip? wear the veil because of “religious” reference of this society (as a system of
historical and social context; when a pressure may be valid; they should belief for Muslims and as a civilisation
scholar does that, he or she can impose Whenever I revisit Damanhoor, my bear in mind, though, that whereas for both Muslims and non-Muslims).
any interpretation on the phenomenon hometown, I find civil society there these pressures may originally have It is this frame of reference that
under study. active, indeed thriving. Many of those been religious in nature they have now protected the country from colonial and
who are in charge of N.G.O.s, some of acquired the dimension of custom, consumerist infiltration.
Thus they turned French Expedition which are undeclared, are veiled young which is what makes for the social
into a sign of advancement and the women. pressure. To reduce the ‘hijaab to its religious
resistance, it only follows, into a sign of dimension and isolate it from social
backwardness, which is not too different I am familiar with the work of one of The ‘hijaab is an expression of adhering dimensions reveals the analytical
from the West’s referring nowadays to these N.G.O.s which specialises in to one’s identity, as well as a form of shortcomings of those who turn it into a
the Palestinian resistance as “terrorism”, providing dialysis equipment for kidney resistance to imperialism. symptom of backwardness.
and designating ’Hizb Allaah, ’Hamaas failure patients.
and Jihaad as “terrorist organisations”. There is an economic aspect to ‘hijaab, When I was a young boy in Damanhoor
The veiled girls who run the N.G.O. which is undoubtedly a rejection of I was dazzled by the neon lights of Cairo
The promoters of this discourse do obtain funds for their project from the the consumerist model. When my wife and would count how many new neon
something similar when they turn the prosperous and also from relatives and I returned from a sojourn in the signs I could spot in my town as a sign
’hijaab into a symbol of backwardness. resident in the U.S. US in 1979, the Open Door policy had of advancement.
overtaken Egypt.
They isolate it from its social, historical Who, then, is more advanced, the When I grew up I realised, of course,
and human context, having derived unveiled young woman or these veiled Our combined monthly salary was how reductive and naïve my criterion
the signifiers of advancement and young women? approximately LE180. When my wife was.
backwardness from a Western model. went to buy a handbag and a pair of
The religious is interwoven with the shoes, she found they cost LE150. As St Paul the Apostle says in his first
But are things that simple? Take, for political, economic, social and historical, epistle to the Corinthians “When I was
example, a non-veiled young woman and the veil must be considered in Her comment was that girls now had a child, I spake as a child, I understood
who frequents the Gezira Club, where this context. While many consider only two solutions in face of inflation: as a child, I thought as a child: but when
she plays tennis in shorts and swims it a religious obligation we must not either they could resort to the Thai I became a man, I put away childish
in a bathing suit, goes dancing at forget that it has also become a solution (prostitution) or ‘hijaab ; she things” (I Corinthians 13: 11).
discotheques, is fluent in a foreign social convention. Every society has predicted they would opt for the latter.
language and speaks Arabic pidginised its own dress code, a language of Why then should we not mature
with English or French. costume defined by society and not by Although she identified the economic and dispense with reductive criteria,
individuals. dimension of ‘hijaab, she did not reduce contemplating our reality with eyes not
She indulges in consumerism on a the phenomenon to it. glazed over by foreign fogs that blind us
grand scale and knows nothing of the This code determines what is to be from perceiving the rich, complex truth
real Egypt, the Egypt of the poor, the revealed or concealed of the body, Egyptian women chose the Islaamic in all its interwoven material and non-
struggling and the wretched. and the appropriate attire for given solution because Islaam is the frame of material dimensions?
occasions. Was there any girl who had
She does not participate in any political the guts to reveal her stomach, whether
movement. Is such a young woman in the East or the West, a decade ago? * Abdelwahab Elmessiri is an Arab thinker and writer. He has a Ph.D. in English and
more advanced than a veiled one who comparative literature from Rutgers University, U.S.A. He published scores of books
lives in the true Egypt, amid its people, And is there anyone who would now and articles. Amongst which is “The Encyclopaedia of Jews, Judaism, and Zionism”
aware of their concerns, one who is dare object to this style of dress? which has eight volumes and is a result of 25 years research and critical inquiry with
politically active, contributes to building a team of 30 researchers.
the nation and does not indulge in the The complaint made by some women This article is published in
rampant consumerism that has Egyptian that they find themselves obliged to collaboration with www.elmessiri.com

46 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS

Bridges
© www.bridges-foundation.org

Foundation:
Peace making through Education

Religion has always been taken as Making through Education”. that deal with many sensitive issues like
a ground to initiate wars throughout Bridges Team Jihaad, the Status of Women in Islaam,
the history of humanity, so why Allaah It is composed of several working groups Human Rights, and the Veil (Muslim
Almighty (God) created us in different that are linked dynamically to each other. women’s outfit). These presentations were
races? Those groups are subdivided into the presented to thousands of people in the
following: United States and Europe correcting many
Fadel Soliman [Faa’dil Sulaymaan], the misconceptions about these topics.
former Imaam of the American University 1. Board of Trustees: Dr. Jamal Badawi,
at Washington DC, the former host of Dr. Murad Wilfried Hofmann, Abdul Wahid • International Institute for Training
“the Islaamic Show” in Channel 30 at Pedersen, Waleed K. Basyouni and Dr. Presenters (IITP): an institute that trains
the American TV, and the former host of Zaghlool Elnaggar. Muslims on how to present Islaam to
“let the ’Qur a~n speak” at the American non-Muslims appropriately, answer
radio, explains this diversity from the Holy 2. Director: Fadel Soliman is a member the questions raised, and handle the
’Qura~n which states: of the “Egyptian Academy of Scientific misconceptions they have about Islaam,
Research of the ’Qura~n and Sunnah”. He all with honesty and professionalism. The
“Oh, mankind! We created you from male is an expert presenter of Islaam, having training is acquired through a 15-hour
and female and made you into nations and lectured about Islaam in the U.S.A. and workshop after which each attendant
tribes that you may know each other.” other countries throughout the world. receives an attendance certificate.

Diversity, then, is a blessing that people 3. Presenters: Ahmed Saad, Rasha Yusuf, Our programs have had strong impact in
are abusing by attacking the home and Iman Taher, Mazyad Al-Khadledy (English), the past in different places, such as the
land of each other. Mohammed Gad-ALLAH (German), Department of Defence, the Department of
Khadijah Machadow (Portuguese), abd Correction, many universities, high schools
Goals and Objectives peace making process all over the world. Issa Chao (Chinese) and churches in USA, the book fair of
Bridges Foundation was established to Frankfurt during the Arab league, and
bridge people from different religious, Logo and Slogan Methodology many other events.
ethnic, and cultural backgrounds The logo clearly refers to the goals and Bridges Foundation has the following two
throughout inter-faith and inter-cultural objectives of the foundation. It consists divisions: Bridges Workshops
activities. of five persons joining hands; the black Bridges Foundation organises workshops
headed is an African, the blue is European, • Public Presenters for Peace (PPP): a - categorised under the IITP programme
We believe that educating each other the green is an Australian, the red is an group of certified presenters who are - which help you to give presentations with
about our differences is the best way American and the yellow is an Asian. specialised in presenting the true values of strong impact, increase your confidence
to interconnect people, increase their These are the colours of the Olympic rings. Islaam to non-Muslims, in all languages, in your own ability to make presentations,
tolerance towards each other and facilitate Furthermore it reflects our slogan: “Peace through several power point presentations and use your specific abilities to make

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428


NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS
great presentations about Islaam, which took place on March 27th, 2006 at “The Fog is Lifting” is the main title for a carries those three meanings.”
answer difficult questions and refute the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel. series of documentaries about Islaam.
misconceptions. They are subdivided into 3 parts: “The word Muslim in the Arabic language
The program included a delicious dinner, doesn’t mean literally a follower of Prophet
The syllabus is divided into three main entertainment, keynote speakers, open • Part I: Islaam In Brief (which covers Mu’hammad, it means someone who
levels: discussion and dialogue and cultural topics like Meaning of Islaam, Does God submits himself to the will of God and
presentation about Islaamic concepts. exist?, Freedom of Religion, Original worship God alone.”
Level 1: Presentation Skills, Islaamic • Keynote Speakers: Rune Engelbreth Goodness, The Purpose of Life, The Six
Beliefs, Rituals and Concepts Larsen and AbdulWahid Pedersen. Main Beliefs in Islaam and The Five Main - Fadel Soliman, director of Bridges
a. Presentation skills and Public speaking • Presentation: “The Fog is Lifting” by Deeds of Muslims.) Foundation and Workshop’s presenter.
skills; Fadel Soliman. • Part II: Islaam: a religion of peace or a
b. Presenting Islaamic Beliefs; • Entertainment and Dinner: Omar religion of war? Contact Info
c. Presenting Islaamic Rituals; Marzouk from FBI (Funny Business Inc.), • Part III: Islaam and Women. Tel. (Egypt): (00202) 670-555-3
d. Introducing Islaamic concepts. performed in both Danish and English. Tel. (U.S.A.): (001) 718-928-944-5
During the event, Bridges Foundation The documentaries will be produced in 14 Fax (U.S.A.): (001) 708-810-347-4
Level 2: How to answer, How to refute introduced the 1st Danish Journalist who different languages in the subtitles and are E-mail: info@bridges-foundation.org
a. Basics of answering questions of non was a martyr of Mussolini’s fascism, presented by Fadel Soliman, Aesha Nawaz website: www.bridges-foundation.org
Muslims; named Knud Holmboe. and Suhaib Webb.
b. Refuting misconceptions Prophet
Mu’hammad; The Copenhagen Marriott Event Quotes
c. Refuting misconceptions Women; “Submission, Purity and Peace; the
d. Refuting general misconceptions. Islaamic meaning of the word Islaam

Level 3: Practical Training and Coaching in


Bridges Foundation’s Workshops
the field
A two sessions’ practical training:
a. Practice presenting Islaam;
b. Coaching in the field.

Being organised in Cairo, Alexandria and


Dubai with more than 3,500 trainers, those Evaluation had been applied at the end
workshops fulfil the needs for majority of the event which showed that 55% of
of Muslims; either being tour guide in the Danish Journalists in attendance had
Islaamic countries, workers in international changed their mind towards gaining more
companies, students in international respect for Prophet Mu’hammad (P.B.U.H.)
universities and others who interacts with had increased.
non-Muslims.
The Fog is Lifting
The Danish Cartoons Controversy Islaam seems like a mystery for many
In an attempt to narrow the gaps between people around the world especially after
Muslim and non-Muslim journalists and 9/11 which resulted in making people
intellectuals after the Danish Cartoon more eager to find an educational,
Crisis, Bridges Foundation and Royal interesting and comprehensive
Danish Food Industries held an event documentary about Islaam. They, however,
Under the patronage of his eminence, could hardly come across one that fits all.
Dr. ‘Ali Gom‘ah, the Grand Mufti of Egypt

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ISSUE’S GIFT

Imagine this: You are at work, in Directly and indirectly, our Prophet and modeled their lives on his. overhear strangers maligning the
the shops, on a bus. You overhear () is maligned everyday; at work, Imagine this: You are at work, in Prophet Mu’hammad (). What
strangers maligning someone you in the shops, as well as on the the shops, on a bus. You overhear do you do?
don’t know. What do you do? bus. He is maligned by the media, strangers maligning someone you
Nothing? by politicians, by strangers, by don’t know. What do you do? Directly and indirectly, our Prophet
family even; but how do we react Nothing? () is maligned everyday; at work,
Or this: You are at work, in the when he is the target of these in the shops, as well as on the
shops, on a bus. You overhear lies and distortions? Do we react Or this: You are at work, in the bus. He is maligned by the media,
strangers maligning someone you angrily or simply keep quiet? shops, on a bus. You overhear by politicians, by strangers, by
cherish; your mother, your father, strangers maligning someone you family even; but how do we react
your husband, your wife. What Sadly, we do both. We do so cherish; your mother, your father, when he is the target of these
do you do? Defend them? Set because he is a stranger to us. We your husband, your wife. What lies and distortions? Do we react
the record straight and demand claim to love him but our behaviour do you do? Defend them? Set angrily or simply keep quiet?
an apology, even at the risk of belies our words. We have little the record straight and demand
causing a scene? or no idea who he was, what he an apology, even at the risk of Sadly, we do both. We do so
Why is that? Because, we want stood for, what he taught, or how causing a scene? because he is a stranger to us. We
‘respect’? Because right or wrong, he reacted when the same things claim to love him but our behaviour
no-one talks that way about our happened to him, so how can our Why is that? Because, we want belies our words. We have little
family? Or is it because we know love be true? ‘respect’? Because right or wrong, or no idea who he was, what he
what was said is untrue; and the no-one talks that way about our stood for, what he taught, or how
truth about them is what causes The first Muslims were attracted family? Or is it because we know he reacted when the same things
us to love them and risk anything to Islaam because they were what was said is untrue; and the happened to him, so how can our
to defend them? attracted to the Prophet of Islaam truth about them is what causes love be true?
(). They grew up with him, they us to love them and risk anything
Or how about this: You are at knew everything about him, and to defend them? The first Muslims were attracted
work, in the shops, on a bus. You because they knew him, they
overhear strangers maligning the loved him, gave up everything for Or how about this: You are at to Islaam because they were
Prophet Mu’hammad (). What him, attracted to the Prophet of Islaam
do you do? work, in the shops, on a bus. You (). They grew up with him, they

50 | I-MAG Enlighten Your I


ISSUE’S GIFT
knew everything about him, and
because they knew him, they
loved him, gave up everything for
him, and modeled their lives on
his.

If we claim to love the Prophet


Mu’hammad (), then we ought
to know him too. Perhaps, once
we come to know him better,
we will love him more than
our mothers and fathers, our
husbands and wives. Perhaps we
will love him more than ourselves
– and if we do, then we will truly
believe.

And that, dear brothers and


sisters, is what this book is all
about.

It’s a book about Mu’hammad,


the Prophet of Islaam (). It’s
about his character, morals,
compassion, forbearance,
patience, love… It’s to help us to
know him, and to love him.

First comes knowledge, and then


comes love.

In Cooperations with Aljumuah Magazine, this book is offered free for I-MAG readers.
3

( ) means: May Allaah exalt his
Download Your Free Copy of the “Know Thy Prophet”:
mention. Alternate translation is:
Peace be upon him
http://books.i-mag.org

Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | 1427-1428

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