President Sarkozy & The Niqab
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President Sarkozy & The Niqab Ban
By Ebrahim Saifuddin
President Sarkozy wishes to eliminate freedom of expression in France. The same freedom of expression with which his voodoo dolls were allowed to stay on the market for sale. A French appeals court, in November 20081, had given this permission in the name of freedom of expression. Today, the same president is trying to infringe on the right of freedom of expression of about 5-6 million2 French Muslims. One then wonders if freedom of expression in France is only for the French non-Muslims. Why this discrimination? Why this injustice?
The important question is that should people in France not be allowed to follow their religion and beliefs openly? Should they be oppressed?
Some people try to suggest that Niqab is not part of Islam and that it is only “cultural”. Hence, this article will first establish whether Niqab is part of Islam or not. Later, we will analyze some of the objections raised by people who wish to ban Niqab.
Islam and Wife Beating
- Does Islam allow the husband to beat the wife?
This video addresses this common misconception among the non-Muslims. It analyzes in detail the whole issue of wife beating.
Valentine’s Day – A Day for the Muslims?
Valentine’s Day – A Day for the Muslims?
By Ebrahim Saifuddin
Another day yet approaches on which Muslims become inane and participate in it with much ebullience. Every 14th of February across the globe, couples give each other gifts as a sign of their love. Most of them do not even know why they are celebrating this day and what the origin of this day is. Apart from other people, across the Muslim world such acts are carried out on this day as well.
Historians link this day to a certain St. Valentine. The Catholic Church identifies some three saints who were martyrs and all three were called Valentine. There are variations in theorigin of this day. Some say that this day originates from a Roman called Valentine who was asked to give up Christianity but refused to do so and thus was killed on 14th February 269 C.E., the day which was also allocated to love lotteries. Another tradition arises from the time of Emperor Claudius II. He came to a conclusion that single men made better soldiers and thus made it illegal for young men to marry. No wives, no families – hence better soldiers. During this time St. Valentine was a priest at the temple and he found the actions of Claudius outrageous and thus defied the emperor. He married off young men in private. When the emperor got to know the actions of Valentine, he sent him to jail and according to certain sources; he was to be put to death. In 496 C.E., the 14th of February was set as a day to honor St. Valentine by Pope Gelasius.
Slaves in Islam – The Concept & Their Rights
Slaves in Islam – The Concept & Their Rights
By Ebrahim Saifuddin
Slavery is a concept that existed since pre-recorded history. However the way it was practiced in the Islamic world differs greatly than how it was practiced in the rest of the world. Even in the more recent times, centuries after the introduction of Islam, the non-Muslims have practiced slavery in the most barbaric manner. The whole Trans-Atlantic nonsense that was practiced by the Americans is one of the worst forms of slavery man has witnessed. The slaves were not treated as humans and did not have any rights. This way was much similar to the form practiced before the advent of Islam in the Times of Ignorance (Ja’hilah). Islam indeed came as a blessing to all Mankind and it was seen that slaves were given rights, something which the rest of the world never gave them.
Treatment of Slaves
Apart from giving the slaves their rights, Islam also took it a step ahead and discouraged slavery from being practiced. It is seen in history that slaves were mistreated in the non-Islamic world. Not only were they verbally abused, they were physically abused as well. The master would overburden the slave and make them work all day. Slaves would wear torn and tattered clothes while the masters would dress with the finest threads available. When it would come to food, the slaves would get leftovers or if not, very little food which would certainly not include good quality food. Some would not even get meat or fruits which their masters ate. Prophet Muhammad(saw) with Divine Inspiration from Allah(swt) forbade such acts. Masters could not abuse their slaves and had to give them the same that they ate and wore.
How to deal with Peer Pressure
How to deal with Peer Pressure
by Ebrahim Saifuddin
When interacting within a community or society, people often fall victim to the hands of peer pressure. Negative peer pressure, that I am referring to, takes one away from the deen of Allah(swt) and brings him/her closer to Shaitan. Not only do children but grown ups as well are at times compelled to go against the laws of Allah(swt) due to peer pressure. This deadly force is dangerous as it targets Man’s desire to be accepted by others around him and not be insulted or made fun of. So how does one deal with peer pressure and how does one guide their children to resist it.
It is most important for us to realize and recognize our utmost priority in life. Our primary purpose in this life is to worship Allah(swt) as seen in the Quran:
“And I have not created the Jin and man but that they worship Me” – [Quran 51:57]
