Peace between Arabs and Israel; U.S. Administration’s Primary Goal

In an interview with ABC channel, Barack Obama named Iran as the biggest challenge United States is facing.

In an interview with ABC channel, Barack Obama named Iran as the biggest challenge United States is facing. He also added that his administration will emphasize respect for the Iranian nation, but will also spell out its expectations from the Iranian leaders.   Iranian Diplomacy has interview Mohsen Jalilvand, international affairs expert:   What does the Obama administration particularly expect from Iranian leaders?   I believe United States’ strategies are immutable. In his latest remarks Stephen Hadley said that Iran is the most serious challenge for the next U.S. president. Obama exactly repeated this statement in his interview. So this shows that the strategy defined in Washington is neither related to Republicans and Bush, nor to Obama and the Democrats. Every administration has to follow it.   The difference is in the way they follow the strategy. Obama has appointed Dennis Ross as his Mideast envoy and we know about his policies. For years, he had been Clinton’s special Middle East coordinator. Also Democrats are more pro-Israel in their policies. So it seems Obama follows a plan of using soft power at first step, and imposing sanctions or similar measures after that. Initially, he will start with a policy of negotiative offense.   What do you mean by policy of negotiative offense?   This is a defined tactic in U.S. foreign policy. Americans stress on negotiations with Iran, but based on what Mr. Ross says negotiations aren’t important per se, but their topic is important. This policy usually causes the other side to react.   Obama has talked of initiating a new approach which engages Iran. What would these fields of engagement be?   What he said was ambiguous and [as you mentioned] we must know in what fields they speak of engagement. Iran participated in talks with U.S. on Iraq and on Afghanistan, Iran joined the Berlin Conference, negotiated with the Americans, and took part in reconstructing Afghanistan. So we must know what Obama is talking about. Are they going to let Iran into regional security arrangements? Is United States going to admit Iran in its strategic policies?   Based on Denis Ross’ point of view, negotiations aren’t important per se, but it’s the topic that makes them important. The basic objective of Americans is peace between Arabs and Israelis. I believe this crisis will not be solved unless Iran is let into the game. Their other priority relates to Persian Gulf, again meaningless is Iran is not involved. Terrorism is another problem. Sunni countries of the region are the birthplace of terrorism and as a Shiite country Iran has never fostered the terrorism which United States talks about. Most of the accomplices in 9/11 attack were from Saudi Arabia, United States’ close friend.   So I think United States must definitely sit at the table of negotiations with Iran if it wants to achieve something. Iran has never fostered or encouraged terrorism; however, it is considered as a terrorist country.   Could Iran and United States’ cooperation on Iraq and Afghanistan lead to talks on the nuclear program?   Iran’s nuclear program is not a real challenge for Americans. Iran is not a nuclear threat. United States has made mountain out of a molehill on this issue, and they’re just using it as a means of pressuring Iran. If Washington solves its macro-level problems with Tehran the nuclear issue is solved automatically. The Americans initiated the program themselves during the Pahlavi regime.

The Central Theme of the Holy Quran

The Central Theme of the Holy Quran
Written by Sheikh Muslim Bhanji

Since the advent of Islam and the revelation of the Qur'an in the early years of the seventh century AD, the Muslim Holy Book has been the subject of many extensive analytical studies. The focus of the great majority of these studies has been the theological and legislative aspects of the Holy Book, for the Qur'an provides Muslims with detailed guidance on their everyday problems. Together with the sayings, actions, and recommendations of Prophet Muhammad (saws), the Qur'an has been the ultimate source of legal authority for Muslims over the past fourteen centuries.

Muslim scholars have also painstakingly examined, analyzed and interpreted the various verses of the Holy Book, detailing the requirements the Qur'an imposes on Muslims in order for them to achieve spiritual purity. Thus, in addition to its legislative and theological value, the Qur'an has also served as a source of spiritual guidance for the followers of Islam.

Holy Quran is a complete code of life

However, we can not claim that the Central Theme of the Holy Quran is only legislation and spirituality; as human life is more complex and multi-dimensional. Since Islam is a complete way of human life and Quran being its source of guidance, to ascribe the Quran to be just the book of legislation and spirituality only will be misleading, because the Qur'an has dealt with a vast range of subjects.

Contrary to the opinion of some people who consider the Holy Quran to be of spiritual benefit only, or to be confined to worship, prayers and morals, we should point out that ony one-twelfth (500 verses) relates to problems of Jurisprudence; while the larger part of it deals with matters pertaining to various issues including social, political, administrative, historical, cultural, faith and other related matters.

Among the recurring themes of the Qur'an is about the universe itself and its Creator. Another theme treated by the Qur'an is the purpose of the universe and its creation. Among the other general issues dealt by the Qur'an is the question about human being: Is man a despicable creature, or a personality with nobility and dignity etc.?

The other subject dealt with in the Qur'an is the issue of human society: Is the society considered to be primary and the individual as secondary, or whether it subordinates the society to the individual? Are societies, according to the Qur'an, subject to laws governing their life and death, their rise and decline, or are these conditions applicable to individuals alone?

The Qur'an deals with numerous other issues. One of them is the point of view of the Qur'an about itself. The other issue is related to the Prophet (saww) and its manner of introducing and addressing him. Another issue is its definition of a believer (mu'min) and his characteristics and so on.

Furthermore, each of these general issues possesses various branches and divisions. For example, when discussing mankind and its situation, it is natural to speak about morality. Or, when speaking about society, the problem of human relationships also unavoidably enters the discussion. The same is true of such notions as "enjoining good and forbidding evil," and the problem of social classes.

Now the question is: What is then the Quran’s general theme? If pondered upon the multifaceted contents inside the Quran, one can safely reach to the conclusion that the central theme and aim pursued by the Quran is the ‘training of the human being’ as a being conscious of his duties. The main aim of the Quran is therefore to reinforce and accelerate the spiritual ascension, together with all the qualities of human being, toward a state of true loftiness and the dignity of which the human being is worthy.

In another words, we can say that the main purpose of Quran is to expound truths that are relevant to the ‘life of the human being’ and the exaltation of his being and conducive to his attaining a life of true happiness.

Imam Amirul Mu’miniin Ali bin Abitalib (as) narrated the following dua, from which we can derive very clearly that the Holy Quran is the ‘chart of life for man’. He prayed: “O Allah! expand my breast with Quran, actuate my body with Quran, enlighten my sight with Quran, liberate my tongue by Quran, and help me to mould my life according to Quran, so long as You make me live”.

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Source: Selected excerpt from the book "Towards better understanding of the Qur'an" by Sheikh Muslim Bhanji

Guests of the Almighty

islamicinsights-
Nabila Rizvi


Will we connect with our Host?


You're invited! Although the invitation hasn't come in the mail, your presence would please the Most Honorable One during the month of Ramadan. So clear your calendars and get ready, because this is one invitation you don't want to pass up!

While Rajab is the month of our Creator and Sha'ban is the month of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny), the blessed month of Ramadan is our month – the month of the Ummah. It is during these few weeks that we are the guests of the Most Gracious. Taking our role into consideration, we should try to be the best of guests – after all, we do want to be worthy of being invited again!

Just as any invitee plans his/her day with the event in mind, we should try to plan our schedules during this month in a way that would enable us to truly spend time with our Host. The guest who arrives late, who is not wholeheartedly visiting, is constantly interrupting dinner to make phone calls and check Facebook updates, is ungrateful of the accommodations, is in a rush to leave, and obviously does not consider the host to be important enough to devote time to is definitely not the type of guest we want to be. Undoubtedly, Allah is Independent and in no need of our devotion; nonetheless, we would be disrespecting Him and degrading ourselves if we do not take the time to sincerely worship Him.

Besides planning out a schedule, a guest makes other preparations before going to the host's event. Choosing respectable clothing according to the occasion, the invitee glances at his/her reflection to appraise the final appearance. Likewise, we need to reflect upon our state of being, and consider whether or not we have prepared our bodies and souls before being guests of Allah. Have we been taking care of the body that He has lent to us, so that fasting will not be a problem? Have we strengthened our conviction and increased our devotion so that the soul can easily connect with Allah during this special month? Have we contemplated upon how we will use this month according to the teachings of our Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them), in order to get closer to Allah?

Whether or not we have been able to prepare ourselves as exemplary guests, the Most Merciful One leaves His doors open to the entire Ummah. His grace does not end there, as the Holy Prophet said in his sermon, "The doors of Hell are closed, so ask Allah to keep them closed for you. During this month Shaytan is imprisoned, so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you." These are but a few ways the Most Kind Host sets His guests at ease.

As guests we might take a gift for the host, according to our means. Yet as unworthy slaves of the Almighty, what can we possibly gift Him? Everything is thanks to Him! However, the point of a gift is to make the host happy. While there is no doubt that our actions do not increase or decrease His Greatness, we will certainly be pleasing Him by following the pure footsteps of our Ahlul Bayt.

As our Most Honorable Host, Allah welcomes the Ummah and makes us especially comfortable during Ramadan. This peaceful month is magnificently adorned with the remembrance of noble personalities, particularly that of Lady Khadija (peace be upon her), Imam Hasan (peace be upon him), and Imam Ali (peace be upon him). With many ornate lanterns giving off the pristine light of the Nights of Power, all the intricate remembrances cannot be missed.

As we enjoy the serene atmosphere, it seems that the air we normally take for granted is fragrant with the most heavenly scent of thawaab permeating everything. For actions as simple as sleeping in the state of fasting, Allah cushions us with counts of good deeds.

Sitting on the carpeted ground to our meal, it is obvious that our Host has arranged for quite the banquet! The vast dining cloth is laden with beautiful praise, prayers, and invocations of all sizes. These silver platters of opportunities to communicate with our Lord are never-ending, but the size and number of servings we choose to take during this month is up to us. With such an incomparable spiritual menu, it is no wonder that we do not consume as much worldly sustenance during this month!

When the Prophet ascended to the Heavens, the Almighty told him about the purpose of fasting: "Fasting leads to wisdom, and wisdom enables you to understand My signs and ways; that will raise you to the stage of certitude. And when a person has reached the level of certitude, he or she cares not whether the days pass in plenty or scarcity." (Bihar al-Anwar) Indeed, as His guests fast all throughout this blessed month, He provides their souls with an infinite amount of food.

When the month draws to a close, we earnestly pray for the occasion to be in the presence of such a Remarkable Host again. However as we bid our farewell to Ramadan, the Unique Host reminds us that – despite the month's end – He is always there for us. We must always live with the conviction of His Omnipresence. We may not be His guests throughout the rest of the year, yet He is closer to us than our jugular vein.

Indeed the month of the Ummah ends, but its Host's love does not. Just as hosts may give their departing guests a gift as something to enjoy and remember them by, the Best of Hosts also blesses us with a gift after Ramadan. As the month of Shawwal begins and we unwrap this gift, it is a delight to find yet another priceless gem: a special opportunity to worship our Lord by celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

But let us not jump to Shawwal just yet – after all, we have the whole month of Ramadan ahead of us! While it is here, let us make the most of this special time as honorable guests of the Almighty. Ramadan Mubarak!

Arabs' ties with Israel damages the Palestinian cause: Prof Gilbert Achcar

INTERVIEW:

by Kourosh Ziabari in Iran

Professor Gilbert Achcar

Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and  Oman have established relations with Israel, and this has been very damaging for the cause of the Palestinians.

TEHRAN—Prof. Gilbert Achcar is a renowned Lebanese academician, writer, socialist and anti-war activist. He left Lebanon in 1983 and taught international relations and politics at the University of Paris VII for several years. Since 2007, Achcar has been Professor of Development Studies and International Relations at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London. He is a frequent contributor to Le Monde Diplomatique and ZNet.

Prof. Achcar joined me in an interview to discuss the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel's attack on the Freedom Flotilla and the prospect of Israel's occupation of West Bank and Gaza.

Kourosh Ziabari: Dear Prof. Achcar, what's your estimation of the prospect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Gilbert Achcar: This is extremely difficult to answer because the situation of the Middle East is changing so quickly and frequently that any kind of prediction about the future is always very risky, so what I can say in reply to your question is that in the foreseeable future, there can't be any serious and acceptable compromise leading to a peaceful coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians. The reason is that the Israeli society has been continuously shifting to the right so that more and more extreme branches of Zionism are governing Israel, and therefore it's extremely difficult to imagine that governments like the present government of Israel would make all of the concessions that are required for a true peace with the Palestinians. There can't be any beginning of peace actually without an end to the occupation of the territories that were occupied since 1967, the dismantlement of the separation wall which Israel has been building and the dismantlement of the settlements. These are basic conditions to which of course one should add the immediate lifting of the blockade of Gaza. So, there's absolutely no indication at present that the Israeli government as it is, has any inclination to go in that direction.

KZ: Both of the Palestinians and the Israelis, from a religious viewpoint, claim that the land of Israel belongs to them. Both of them cite the historical evidences and religious implications in this regard. What's your idea about that? How should this interminable conflict come to an end?

GA: This should be hardly debatable among serious people because it's absolutely clear that when the United Nations voted on the partition of Palestine and voted on creating a Jewish state on Palestine which was the goal of the Zionists, it gave 56 percent of the land of Palestine to the Jewish population which constituted only one third of the whole population. Moreover, the majority of this one third were immigrants, the overwhelming majority of whom had been in Palestine less than 15 years, so there is no fair standard on earth by which this kind of resolution could be considered as legitimate and just; it was completely unjust and completely unfair. No people on earth would admit that recently arrived immigrants have a right to establish their own state in their country. However, I believe that a just solution to the problem is one that would not involve any new expulsion of population; it should be a solution based on democratic principles and peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews, Arabs and Israelis in the region. But, for this to happen, the very nature of Israel's relationship with its environment should change whereas what we're seeing now is more and more violence, barbarity and cruelty on the part of Israel.

KZ: Israelis believe and claim that they should have a state with its borders spanned from Nile to Euphrates. This is the "Promised Land" which they recurrently refer to. What do you think about that? Is it a reasonable and justifiable claim?

GA: Even in Israel, very few people subscribe to this view. Only some extremist branches of Zionism believe in this idea. It sounds so absurd that only crazy people can uphold such perspectives. Now, if we had to redraw the map of the world to go back to how the world was 2,000 years ago, we can imagine what a terrible mess would happen in the whole world. Besides, there's much debate even on the fact that the European Jews who came to Palestine in the 20th century are descendants of the Jews who were in Palestine 2,000 years ago. But even if that were the case, and again, if we had to redraw the map of the world as it was 2,000 years ago, why not 3,000 years ago or 1,000 years ago? So the only legitimate claim to a land is that of the people who were living on it in recent centuries. But no Palestinian group among the main Palestinian forces is calling for the expulsion of Jews and Israelis from the Middle East. All of them call for coexistence, but coexistence based on democratic principles and on equal footing, not the present situation of very harsh oppression of the Palestinians and the Lebanese by Israel.

KZ: Some Arab nations are progressively taking steps to normalize their ties with Israel. We can name the United Arab Emirates which invited the Israel's transport and infrastructure minister to an international summit held in Abu Dhabi. Other Arab states, in turn, are making efforts to establish new relations with Israel. Isn't it going to be harmful and destructive for the cause of Palestinian people?

GA: Four countries have established relations with Israel among the Arab states and they are Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Oman. This is damaging for the cause of the Palestinians, especially when the country betraying them is Egypt which is the largest Arab country. This is a result of the increasing hegemony of the United States over the Middle East, which pushes the Arab governments to establish relations with the state of Israel against the will of their own people. If you look at Jordan and Egypt, you'll see that the overwhelming majority of their population is opposed to Israel and its policies, and this creates a wide gap between governmental policies and what the population wants.

KZ: What's your view regarding the recent Israeli assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla? What would happen if another country rather than Israel, say Iran, had attacked the flotilla of 600 international peace activists? Would the international community's response have been the same?

GA: You should ask me what would happen if the United States had attacked the flotilla, because they do such things quite often. But, you're right in saying that Israel gets the least protest in comparison with other countries when it comes to the violation of international law and perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This judgment is in line with the reports of Judge Richard Goldstone who is a devout Jew and even a devout Zionist, but honest enough for acknowledging the fact that Israel committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. So of course Israel gets much less condemnation than any countries that are opposed to the United States and to Western hegemony. One should say, however, that Israel started to lose even the support of Western public opinion recently, especially since the Gaza war of 2008-2009 which was a brutal and cruel attack on defenseless civilians and was criticized even by traditional friends of Israel. After the attack on Freedom Flotilla, the international condemnation of Israel reached an unprecedented level. A few countries cut their diplomatic relations with Israel in Latin America like Venezuela and Bolivia in the last year and Nicaragua in the current year. A number of countries recalled their ambassadors: we have seen a shift in the stance of public opinion and even a wave of protests has taken shape in the United States. So there's been a real impact and this shows that the Israeli state by its cruelty and brutality is losing more and more ground in the global public opinion.

KZ: The Saudi King has recently made remarks in which he likened Iran's government to the state of Israel and said that these two countries don't deserve to exist. Is this a fair and rational statement? Doesn't it damage the Islamic solidarity and integrity?

GA: First of all, this statement, if true, is a really infamous statement. Putting Iran and Israel on the same level is totally absurd. Israel is a state that has been created through a colonial process and is violently oppressing the original population of the land it seized. Iran is a country which has been there for a long period of history and there was no involvement of colonial powers in its creation. Its government is certainly more legitimate than that of the Saudi kingdom, which was established by armed conquest less than one century ago, and never elected since then. However, the Saudi King meant probably that both the Israeli government and the Iranian government are extremist to his taste. The truth is that the Saudi regime is the most reactionary and the most backward regime in the whole region. They're closer to the Taliban than to anything else in terms of regime and society. Saudi rulers are better advised to change their own regime rather than trying to change the regimes in other countries.

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Kourosh Ziabari is an Iranian media correspondent, freelance journalist and interviewer. He is a contributing writer of Finland’s Award-winning Ovi Magazine and the the Foreign Policy Journal. He is a member of Tlaxcala Translators Network for Linguistic Diversity (Spain). He is also a member of World Student Community for Sustainable Development (WSC-SD). Kourosh Ziabari's articles have appeared in a number of Canadian, Belgian, Italian, French and German websites. He can be reached at kziabari@gmail.com

FATIMA JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF WOMANHOOD

Dignified Status of Woman

Islamic law bestows upon woman the right of inheritance and the right of possessing and disposing of her property, when other communities of the world deprived her of her basic human rights. Islam placed the eternal reward of Paradise under the feet of woman, in her capacity as mother. The Prophet emphasised in his sermon on the mount Arafat, during his last pilgrimage to Makkah, as well as, in his last will on the death bed, that woman must be treated with kindness. Islam also gave equal rights to men and women to acquire knowledge. The Messenger of Allah said : "Acquisition of knowledge is an obligation on every believing man and every believing woman." The key to any development is knowledge. By giving woman a complete right to progress in the field of knowledge, Islam considers woman an indispensable partner of man for building a healthy and constructive society.

One of the outstanding achievements of the mission of Prophet Muhammad (saww) was to uplift the status, honour and dignity of woman, who was meted out a brutal and inhuman treatment in the pre-Islamic era. Islam prepared woman to fulfil her social duties and become a dignified daughter, a respectable wife and a loving mother. At each phase of her life, Islam elevated progressively, the respect to be given to womanhood. She was not to be considered a mere chattel. She was not to be exploited for economic and commercial ends. She had a role to play, not only in protecting her household, but also in protecting the society as a whole. Islam placed on her shoulder a co-responsibility of safeguarding the purity and sanctity of family environment, and that of generations to come. The fabric of the society is shaken when woman leads the way towards social decadence. Families are disintegrated and children are left to wander in wilderness, when woman fails in her obligations.

Greatest Woman of Islam

Islam presented a model character of womanhood in the great personalities of Lady Khadijah, the Mother of the Believers, and her daughter Fatima, the truthful. The former sacrificed the power and glory of abundant wealth for the sake of Islam, and adopted a life of poverty. The latter followed the footsteps of her mother and left an immortal legacy of human greatness, expressed in her attributes of purity, sincerity, unshakeable faith and contentment with the pleasure of Allah, in happiness and afflictions.

Lady Fatima was born on 20th Jamadi-ul-Thani, five years after the declaration of Prophethood. Ibn 'Abdul Birr quotes 'Aisha, the wife of the Prophet as saying, "I have seen no one whose words and speech were as similar to that of the Prophet as Fatima's. " (Al-Isti'ab). The overwhelming love and respect which existed between the Prophet and his daughter, were based at the apex of human compassion. When 'Aisha was asked : "Who was the most beloved to the Prophet among men?" She replied : "Ali". When she was asked : "Who was the most beloved to him among women?" She replied : "Fatima". The Prophet normally welcomed his daughter by rising, taking her hand, kissing her and seating her in his place. She was the last person the Prophet used to see when leaving Madina; and was the first person the Prophet used to visit on returning back to Madina.

When Ali proposed to marry Fatima, the Prophet gladly accepted after consulting her. The Prophet said that had it not been for Ali, Fatima would not have had a suitable match. It was only through the family of Ali and Fatima that the Almighty gave an ever present existence to the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (saww). The result of this wedlock was revealed across centuries when, the world of Islam witnessed constructive contribution made by the lineage of Ali and Fatima, in the field of science, exegesis of the Quran, ahadith (traditions) of the Prophet, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), adab (literature) and other branches of knowledge. They broke the record of bravery in Jihad - the struggle for the sake of Allah and His religion.

The Most Blessed Wedding on Earth

The words uttered by the Prophet on the occasion of the marriage of Amirul Moamineen Ali and Lady Fatima in the Mosque, in the assembly of Sahaba (the companions), reflected his insight and wishes, which were translated into actions and achievements that followed. The Prophet prayed in his sermon: "O Allah! Bless both of them, sanctify their progeny and grant them the keys of Your Beneficence, Your treasures of wisdom... and let both of them be a source of blessing and peace to my ummah (community)." It was a perfect harmony and greatness in the character of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima, which never allowed them to lose patience and perseverance. They were indeed, a great blessing to the ummah as the Prophet had foreseen. Numerous narrations related from the Prophet and recorded in the ancient books of ahadith, describe their proximity with the Prophet in his mission. Imam Ali and Lady Fatima and the children from their lineage are at the apex of the taharah (purity) of the Prophet's household. The verse of purification revealed in the holy Quran is a living testimony to this fact. Their foremost and pioneering spirit of sacrifice for Islam, could never be obliterated from the hearts and memory of generations of mankind. Their prayers and sacrifice, their living and dying was for Allah, the Lord of the Universe. Their faith and devotion was for their Creator and for His cause, which they served selflessly.

No household was as successful as that of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima because it was built on the foundation laid down by the Prophet and Lady Khadijah, whose greatness surpasses human perception. The graduates of this purified family were given honours, hitherto unheard of. The Prophet named his daughter Fatima : "Leader of the women of the worlds." He described her husband Ali, the valiant, as : "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate." He called her two sons Hassan and Hussain : "the Leaders of the youths of Paradise." No family unit, since the creation began, has ever produced so many qualities, the radiance of which glitters the soul and spirit of the obedient devotees of the Almighty.

The Knowledge and Wisdom of the Leader of the Ladies of Paradise

The outstanding wisdom of the members of the household of the Prophet is expressed through their deeds and words, which were always coherent with each other. They were the role models of all the ethical behaviour which they taught. They preached what they practised in public and private life. The purity of their faith in Allah was manifest in their love, devotion and obedience to Allah.

Fatima, the truthful lady of the house of the Prophet, derived her knowledge and wisdom directly from the Prophet, who derived his through the Revelation. Lady Fatima (a.s.) watched closely all the actions of her father, who was commissioned by the Almighty to guide humanity towards the Right Path. She was brought up by the Prophet and taught how to be a perfect example for womanhood, as he was for man. The Prophet said, "Fatima is my part. Whoever pleases her, pleases me, and whoever displeases her, displeases me." There are many ahadith (traditions) of the Prophet narrated in the authentic books of Muslims, which emphasise clearly the special position enjoyed by her in the Islamic upbringing (tarbiyah) of the Muslim community (ummah). Indeed, Lady Fatima was an integral part of the mission of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and she remained totally committed to that status as long as she lived.

Lady Fatima describes Iman (Faith) and the Articles of Faith

Faith in the Creator is essential for submission to His Will. Polytheism pollutes the soul, in as much as, disbelief in the Oneness and Uniqueness of God, results in agnosticism. This fact is best reflected in the wise tradition of Lady Fatima. She says, "Allah ordained Faith for you as a purity from polytheism." However, Faith must have its outer expression in the form of worship. The mode of prayers (Salaat) prescribed by Islam is such that a worshipper remains ever conscious of the presence of God. Human weakness and its susceptibility to commit sins has to be constantly reminded of the favours of God.

Salaat (Prayers)

All our endeavours are incomplete without being thankful for the benevolence of the Sustainer. Hence, Lady Fatima says, "And Allah ordained Salaat (prayers) as the cause of your purification from pride." In the daily prayers performed in congregation, the white and the black, the rich and the poor, the rulers and their subjects, the master and the slave, become equal in the sight of God and stand shoulder to shoulder, without any discrimination.

Zakaat (Alms)

If the sense of thankfulness is not extended to humanbeings, with whom we have to co-exist, then thanks-giving to God is not complete. We are interdependent on each other. Islam neither believes nor preaches any existence in isolation. Human favours must be repaid with favours, according to the Quran. Therefore, helping fellow humans who are in need, is also an obligatory duty in Islam. Says Lady Fatima, "And Allah made alms (obligatory), for the purity of your soul and as a means of increasing your sustenance." This shows that Zakaat (poor due) is not considered a loss, but an investment which will be repaid with manifold favours and bounties of Allah.

Saum (Fasting)

In order to formulate a habit of extending a helping hand to the needy and poor members of human society, one has to feel their hardships. Islam trains the believers for any eventuality. Poverty and richness can easily change sides, as the history of human existence on earth teaches us. Lady Fatima throws light on this aspect of Islamic teachings in her tradition. She says, "And Allah made (obligatory), fasting (saum) for the firmness of sincerity." Indeed, sincerity towards the creatures of God is an expression of sincerity towards the Creator. Those who do not value human life, are not sincere to God. Those who cannot feel and meet the hardship of poor, have some defects in their humanity. The believers are given a practical spiritual training through all forms of worship. For example, fasting keeps them aware of the throngs of hunger and thirst suffered by the majority of human beings as a daily routine in their life.

Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)

Muslims also have to have a first hand knowledge of the condition of the fellow members of the community. Islam goes as far as providing an opportunity, where the believers can meet each other in the largest gathering ever on the face of the earth. Once in a life-time, the believers who can afford, have a duty to go for pilgrimage to Makkah. Lady Fatima says, "And Allah made (obligatory), Hajj (pilgrimage), for the reinforcement of the religion." This proves that religion is expressly concerned with serving the cause of God, one of the most vital aspect of which is, to be in communion with the masses.

'Adl (Justice)

The obvious shortcoming of the modern society is the absence of fairness in most of the human dealings. This creates hard feelings in the hearts of the ones who are deprived of justice. All the class struggles, crimes, wars and other violent outbursts are due to lack of justice. Lady Fatima emphasises the importance of justice in her tradition. There are many people who are hurt by the society's failure in dispensing justice. She says, "And Allah made (obligatory), abiding by justice, a means for harmonisation of the hearts."

'Amr bin Ma'aroof' and 'Nahi anil Munkar' (Enjoining good and forbidding evil)

Peace can be established in a society through interaction of certain contributory factors. Islam trains members of its community to meet the objective of peaceful co-existence with others by promoting righteousness and opposing evil. Only in this way justice can prevail. Without justice, there can never be peace; and dispensation of justice can only be achieved through authoritative guidance.

Lady Fatima says, "And Allah made (obligatory), enjoining good (amr bil ma'aroof) and forbidding evil (nahi 'anil munkar), for the improvement of the society." Every member of the society who cares for its betterment, has to honour this duty. Life is like a journey which moves towards a set destiny. All the travellers on a plane, normally have one common objective, that of reaching their destination safely. But if anyone of the co-travellers tries to open the emergency door of the aircraft in mid-air, he has to be restrained by other passengers. No sensible person would justify the action of a crazy traveller in the name of 'freedom of choice'. In other words, no excuse can be acceptable under the slogan of 'freedom of action' when life of other people is in danger. At this point in time, the effort of all the passengers would be concentrated on enjoining good and forbidding evil. If persuasion fails, then they would have to use force in the interest of all concerned.

Jihad (Holy Struggle)

This leads us to yet another important duty bestowed on responsible communities - that of struggling towards the Right Path or the Path of God, which features an inherent goodness and purity. Lady Fatima (a.s.) draws our attention by saying, "And Allah made (obligatory), Jihad (struggling for the sake of God) the glory for Islam and humiliation for the infidels and the hypocrites." But how can one struggle with himself (or herself) and with the outside world? There is one essential ingredient which can lead to success. Jihad has to be supported by patience, so that one does not lose sight of the aim of the struggle, which one undergoes persistently in life.

Sabr (Patience)

A person is constantly struggling with his own desires and with the challenges of the outside world. He may have to adopt different mode of fighting the evil tendencies of his inner self and of his surroundings. In both the processes, impatience can thwart his efforts. Therefore, Lady Fatima advises us, "And Allah made (obligatory), the patience (sabr) as an aid for getting eternal reward." God is the bestower of eternal rewards, which will be extended beyond life, when all our actions would have come to an end. The virtues of this life, for the benefit of mankind, would materialise in the form of bounties of God.

Birr-al-Waledain (Righteous conduct towards parents)

First and foremost in the categories of virtuous living and maintaining human rights, are the rights of parents that must be respected. Says Lady Fatima, "And Allah made (obligatory), the righteous behaviour (or kindness) towards parents (birr al waledain) as a protection from His wrath."

Silat-ul-Arhaam (connections with kinship)

Second in the category of human rights are the rights of blood relatives (Silat-ul-arhaam). Lady Fatima continues, "And Allah made (obligatory), connections with kinship the cause of lengthening of life." One of the strong bond of protection is good relation of a person with his relatives. They are his partners in joy and sorrow. They are the first source to whom he turns in need and in hardship. They provide solace in grief. They are his backbone when he is treated unjustly by others. Therefore, Islam places great importance on the bond of kinship.

Wafa bin-Nadhr (fulfilment of vow)

This is how Islam lays the foundation of the social structure of society. In any society, there are bound to occur deviations and inequities. But there are ways and means to enforce corrective measures. For example, a person may take a vow or make a promise to himself that he would carry out certain good deeds. He is expected to fulfil his vow, simply because God is aware of his intention and is the main witness of his vow. Lady Fatima says in this respect, "And Allah made (obligatory), the execution of vow (wafa bin-nadhr) as a medium of forgiveness." This means that Allah has kept His door of Mercy open and is willing to forgive His repentant servants, who fulfil their vows. Despite such lofty morals, Islam comes under attack from many obstinate people with half knowledge, although they are aware that Islam has solutions to many challenges of the modern world.

Qisaas (Punishment for homicide)

Deviation in society is reflected in an increasing rate of violent crimes. Murderers get away with sentences far less in proportion to the severity of grievances caused to the bereaved families. Islamic penal law is based on capital punishment as a deterrent to crime. In this way, the rights of all citizens to live in peace can be respected. Lady Fatima has explained this aspect in her tradition. She Says, "And Allah made (obligatory), law of qisaas (retaliation for homicide against the guilty) as the security from spilling (innocent) blood."

Tawfiyat al-Makaeel wal Mawazeen (correct use of weights and measures)

As people interact with each other in economic activities, Islam emphasises fair dealings in trade. Dishonesty in trade can generate enmity. Lady Fatima, whilst explaining the Islamic principle of just dealings, says, "And Allah made (obligatory), the correct use of weights and measures as a deterrent from fraud." Modern societies have introduced many legal requirements to protect the interest of consumers, as regards the description of goods and usage of correct weights and measures.

Tark as-Sirqah (refraining from theft)

Thefts committed through misrepresenting the description of goods and services, generate counter reaction at consumer level. Lady Fatima covers this point by saying, "And Allah made (obligatory), refraining from theft for the sake of decency." Decent behaviour in the process of exchange of goods and services, can spare buyers and sellers from unfair transactions.

An-Nahi 'an Shurbil Khamr (prohibition from drinking alcohol)

In recent years, scientific discovery that, smoking imminently damages health, has been given a wide publicity. If a fraction of similar publicity had been given to the negative and destructive effects of drinking alcohol, then society would have been saved from many disasters. The adverse effects of consumption of alcohol are too obvious to be concealed. At personal and social level, this habit is showing its landmark in the increasing number of accidents, crimes, assaults and wastage of resources. Says Lady Fatima, "And Allah made prohibition from drinking intoxicants, the cause of refraining from evils."

Ijtinab al-Qadhf (prohibition from accusing others of adultery)

Islam has prohibited certain acts as a shield from going astray. Society consists of individuals, and individuals comprise communities and families. If family unit is saved from the damaging effects of permissiveness, then the foundation of community becomes strong. If the community is on the right track, then it enjoys respect in the society. This is why Islam seeks to protect the chastity of family above everything else. However, where the fabric of society is threatened due to sinful acts, rigorous procedure is followed under Islamic law before verdict is passed. A person cannot indulge himself in loose gossip of accusing others of adultery. If he cannot produce witnesses, he himself becomes liable to punishment. This is one of the cases, where damage is easy to inflict but difficult to mend. This explains strict punishment against the violators. This fact is reflected in the tradition of Lady Fatima who says, "And Allah made (obligatory), the prohibition from accusing (others) of adultery, as a protection for avoiding the curse (of Allah)."

Tahrem as-Shirk (prohibition of polytheism)

If the triangle of family, community and society is to remain healthy, then at each level there has to be a conscious recognition of the purpose behind human existence. God did not create mankind in vain. In Islam, Tawheed (Oneness and Uniqueness of God) is at the core of religious faith. Polytheism is considered an unforgivable sin. Lady Fatima emphasises this fact and says, "And Allah prohibited polytheism for the sake of sincerity in (abiding by) His worship."

Taa'at Ahl ul Bait (obedience of the holy progeny of the Messenger of Allah)

The path that leads us to God is pure and sublime, without any crookedness. In the human society, certain selected persons have been chosen to lead the human caravan towards salvation. Due to their own exalted character and devoted spirit, they are best placed to guide humanity towards justice and peaceful living. They are the ones through whom Allah departs his guidance because they are the keepers of His Trust. They are the heirs of the Final Message of Allah. Lady Fatima is explicit on this matter. She says, "And Allah made (obligatory), the obedience of us (the holy household of the Prophet) for safeguarding the society's system of organisation, and our Imamate (leadership), as a security from disunity."

In the short period that Fatima Az-Zahra (Fatima the radiant) lived after her father, and until the time she died at the age of 18, she devoted her life to fight for justice. She was absolutely sure that Muslim community can only be saved from misguidance by following the leadership of the House of the Prophet, in accordance to his will. But the majority of Muslims opted to follow whoever came to power. What was the result? The innumerable divisions among Muslims speak for themselves. Muslims have agreed not to agree with each other despite the fact that the Quran invites them towards tolerance, respect, unity, and brotherhood.