Scholar Highlights Historical Role of Quran Schools in Combating Colonialism, Illiteracy

IQNA – Quran schools all over the world have historically played an important role in confronting colonialism and preserving Muslim nations’ Islamic identity.

They have also contributed to combatting illiteracy, according to an article by Abdul Latif Mushref, a political history researcher, published on Al Jazeera. 

Following are excerpts from his article:

Colonialists left huge destructions and damages in the countries they dominated. Their policies destroyed the civilizational and cultural heritage of the colonized lands.

Muslims countries were among those that showed the most resistance against colonialists, confronting their attempts at destroying their Islamic identify and civilization.  

Quran schools played a major role in this resistance and confrontation against cultural, religious and linguistic colonialism.

Unlike many other colonized lands, in Muslim countries, the rate of literacy was high as children attended Quran schools where they learned reading the Arabic.

A French official tasked with sending reports about Quran schools in West Africa to France’s colonial authorities writes in one his reports that all over the region, there are Muslims who are not fluent in Arabic but send their children to Quran schools where they learn to read and write in Arabic and get acquainted with the Arabic culture.

He was surprised at seeing Quranic schools in every village in every region he visited.

The development of Quran schools in different parts of the world in the past centuries has surprised scholars and researchers. 

In recent years, however, there has been an unfair onslaught against these schools in many Muslim countries while they can contribute greatly to fighting illiteracy.

Highlighting this important contribution to general education, many international institutions like World Education Services have underlined the need to revive and develop Quran schools.

In many parts of the Muslim world, Quran schools remain the primary source of education for many children who, for various reasons, are unable to attend government-run schools.

Hafez Identifies Hypocrites as ‘Biggest Threat’ to Islam: Prominent Professor

IQNA – Reflecting on the works of the 14th-century poet Hafez, a prominent Iranian professor highlights how Hafez fiercely condemns lies and hypocrisy, identifying hypocrisy as the greatest threat to Islam.

Fathollah Mojtabaei, a retired professor of Eastern Religions and Philosophy, spoke to IQNA recently on the occasion of the National Day of Hafez which was marked on October 11.

“When talking about hypocrisy, it is as if this concept is Hafez’s greatest enemy,” said the professor in the conversation that also saw Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, Deputy Head of the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia and former Iranian culture minister, as another participant.

“Hafez repeatedly notes that those who pretentiously say prayers or read the Quran are hypocrites and those are the biggest threat to Islam,” Mojtabaei added.

Khawje Shams-od-Din Mohammad Hafez-e Shirazi, commonly known as Hafez, was a renowned Iranian poet born around 1325 in Shiraz, Iran. He is celebrated for his lyrical poetry, particularly his ghazals, which explore themes of love, spirituality, and mysticism. Hafez's poetry is considered the pinnacle of Persian literature and remains widely read and revered in Iran and beyond.

Hafez earned his pen name, which means "memorizer," because he memorized the Quran at an early age. His works reflect a deep understanding of Islamic teachings, as well as influences from earlier Persian poets like Rumi and Saadi. His collection of poems is known as the Divan of Hafez and continues to inspire readers with its profound insights.

“Hafez was a devout person in a religious sense; the influence of the Quran strongly permeates his poetry,” added the 96-year-old professor, noting that the poet was a follower of Malamatiyya and viewed the Quran from this school’s perspective.

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“In the Malamatiyya belief system, hypocrisy and lies are considered the gravest sins and a true follower of the Malamatiyya would never lie,” he added.

In ancient Iranian culture, lies were seen as the embodiment of evil, he said, adding that Hafez believed that lying is not just about words but also about actions, where hypocrisy is essentially the practice of acting on a lie.

He also quotes a verse from Hafez, a rough translation of which reads: “O Hafez! Drink wine, live freely, and enjoy life, but do not use the Quran as a snare of deceit like others.”

In the Quran, lies and falsehoods are addressed more than anything else, highlighted the professor. “And then, how dare we, as Muslims, lie!” he lamented.

Mojtbaei said that Hafez’s poetry has three main themes: love, hypocrisy, and lies.

“If you examine the word "love" in his works, you'll see how vast its scope is in his poetry,” he said, adding that the poet strongly slams the hypocrisy practiced by religious figures.

“To my knowledge, no other poet, whether in Persian literature or beyond, has expanded on the meanings of love and hypocrisy to the extent that Hafez has,” he added.

“Hypocrisy has plagued us, and Hafez recognized this issue with remarkable insight, delivering some of the most powerful critiques of hypocrisy, particularly among the religious class,” noted the professor.

“In the 21st century, we still suffer from hypocrisy; it is an eternal ugliness,” he said, adding, “Throughout Hafez's works, we see him repeatedly addressing figures like the sheikh, the king, and others, urging them not to be hypocritical, not to kill, and not to lie. These statements reflect the deep-rooted opposition of the intellectual class in Iranian cultural history toward lies and hypocrisy.”

Hafez’s poetry appeals to all

“Unlike the works of many other poets, Hafez's poetry is not one-dimensional or limited to a single perspective,” Mojtbaei writes in an introduction to a book about Hafez.

“It does not revolve around just one or a few confined themes. His poetry encompasses a wide spectrum that appeals to both the mystic and the ordinary person, the religious and the non-religious, even those with flawed beliefs,” he adds.

“Hafez's verses resonate with people of all backgrounds and levels of thought, knowledge, and sensitivity, offering something to everyone based on their own experiences and emotions,” he notes, adding, “Hafez's poetry is like a mirror in which each person sees themselves—their desires, hopes, sorrows, and joys reflected back at them.”

WAR CRIMINALS AS TOURISTS: WHITHER MORALITY?

Palestinians wait in a queue to receive bread outside a bakery in Khan Yunis on the southern Gaza Strip amid bombardment by Israel. (PIC BY BASHAR TALEB/AFP)

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Sri Lanka should stop issuing tourism visas to Israelis, especially armed forces members, until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This is the view of Sri Lanka’s progressives, who yearn for a just and fair solution to the Palestinian crisis that erupted in the mid19th century with the quest by European Zionists with dubious Semitic roots to create a Jewish state.

The recent security threat to which the country awoke no sooner than the United States embassy issued a tourism-killing alert, advising Americans to avoid Arugam Bay—surfers’ paradise—on the east coast is a hot topic these days—hotter than the political heat over the November 14 parliamentary elections.

The progressives see the best way to manage the present security crisis is not to permit Israeli tourists, especially its armed forces members, to visit Sri Lanka.

The proposal may sound preposterous and even unpatriotic, given the importance of every dollar earned from tourism for the economic recovery. But it is still worth the sacrifice, for it will make Sri Lanka a much safer destination for tourists from other countries.

Morally, too, Sri Lanka has a responsibility to deny members of the Israeli Defence Force—the Israeli Occupation Force— visas to visit Sri Lanka. The neighbouring Maldives has banned all Israelis from visiting the Indian Ocean archipelago. One may say the Maldives did so because it is a Muslim country. Morality does not belong to one religion. It is universal and the core that makes humanism humane. South Africa, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Belize, and Nicaragua severed relations with Israel in protest against the Gaza genocide. Any progressive government worth its salt will not and should not hesitate to take morally correct political action.Losing 20,000 Israeli tourists will not make a major dent in the industry. With a stimulus in marketing, the country can attract tourists from other countries, including West Asia and North Africa.

Moreover, allowing the Israeli Defence Forces members to use Sri Lanka’s beaches and tourism facilities for recreation and the mental reset necessary for them to go back and continue their genocide in Palestine certainly makes Sri Lanka complicit in Israel’s crime of crimes in Palestine and Lebanon. The progressives, most of whom identify with the socialist and anti-imperialist policies of the ruling National People’s Power, believe Zionism is a dangerous ideology that does not end with the conquest of Palestine and neighbouring countries. It also aims to dominate the world and rule the Goyyim, a pejorative term for non-Jews. They call themselves the chosen people and quote the scripture to justify genocide. But little do they realise that they have long lost the right to be ‘chosen people’. The chosen are not those who mercilessly kill children, women, and the elderly and use starvation as a weapon of war, but those who have compassion for human beings, irrespective of their creed, caste, class, or other parochial identities.

Just as terrorism is condemned and deplored, Zionism should also be. Going viral these days on social media is a video clip that shows an IDF member on vacation in a Western capital violently intimidating UNICEF volunteers collecting funds for Gaza children. “Say Palestine one more time, I will kill you,” he shouts at them. Some say IDF members who come to Sri Lanka for recreation to overcome their war stress are as arrogant and contemptuous of the locals as the IDF soldier seen in the video clip was.

This is why the progressives urge the government to apply the law strictly to any tourist who violates Sri Lanka’s laws, especially visa regulations, and behaves in such a way as to hurt the feelings of local people.

The Israelis are the biggest culprits. They represent a state that this week passed legislation to outlaw the United Nations Relief and Work Agency, which for the past seven decades has been taking care of the Palestinian refugees’ food, shelter, and educational needs. These tourists represent a state that is implementing the so-called Generals’ Plan to cleanse the Northern Gaza of Palestinians while making the rest of Gaza a living hell for people who, if they are not killed by Israeli bombs and missiles, will die of starvation and disease.

Some of these tourists, including IDF war criminals, can be Mossad agents with plans to destabilise the country. In many terror attacks around the world, Mossad is the hidden hand. The terror group ISIS is believed to be a Mossad laboratory product. The so-called Islamic terrorism was engineered by Mossad and the term was popularised by Benjamin Netanyahu or Bibi the psychopathic baby killer. The Mossad is accused of carrying out attacks on Israeli targets and putting the blame on Iran or a Palestinian group.

In interviews and lectures, whistleblower and ex-British spy Annie Machon says the MI5 (the domestic arm of British intelligence) had evidence that Mossad carried out the bombing of its own embassy in London in 1994. She says it was done to undermine the free Palestine cause and the favourable press it was receiving in Britain. Mossad did achieve its objectives, she says. Two innocent Palestinian youths were arrested and sentenced for a crime they did not commit. There are also theories about Mossad’s role in the 9/11 terror attacks. Perhaps the Arugam Bay security alert could be a Mossad plot to portray Sri Lanka’s Muslims as terrorists and implicate Israel’s adversaries, such as Iran, in the plot. Iran’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alireza Delkhosh, categorically denies that Iranians were involved in any plan to launch an attack on Israeli targets in Sri Lanka. He said he met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake a few days ago, but no question on any Iranian link was raised. The embassy has also not received any official correspondence in this regard.

It is said that Israeli tourists buy properties here through proxies at several times the market price. This was how the land grab began in Palestine in the early 20th century. The Zionist Jews from Europe arrived in their thousands and bought land from credulous Palestinian peasants, paying them more than the market price. It was only in the 1930s that Palestinian leaders realised the danger behind the land-buying exercise. It had increased the Jewish population from a mere 4 percent at the turn of the 20th century to 30 percent.

Sri Lanka’s progressives also raise alarm over the Jewish places of worship in Colombo and other coastal towns. They ask whether these centres were set up in keeping with the domestic laws. The authorities must answer. Freedom of religion is a universally recognised human right. But if tourists are allowed to set up centres of worship in Sri Lanka with no questions asked, it may encourage even Satanists and cultists preaching collective suicides—like the 1978 Jonestown Massacre by the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones—and immorality to set up bases here.

Given the wheels-within-wheels nature of the security alert, the new government needs to be extra alert over the schemes of some geopolitical powers and their intelligence arms and adopt a strategy that combines prudence with a good measure of cynicism.

Political Shifts Loom as Grassroots Support for Palestine Grows in West: Malaysian MP

IQNA – A Malaysian lawmaker believes rising grassroots support for Palestine and younger progressive leaders in the West could shift politics and increase criticism of Israeli actions.

This is according to Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh who made the statement in an interview with IQNA about the ongoing Israeli war on the besieged Gaza Strip that has claimed the lives of at least 42,500 people, mostly women and children.

“Grassroots movements and solidarity with Palestine have been gaining momentum, especially in Europe and the US, as more people become aware of the humanitarian crisis and alleged war crimes,” he said when asked about the future of Western support for the Israeli regime. “Over time, these societal shifts may begin to influence political decision-making, especially as younger, more progressive leaders come to power,” he added.

What follows is the full text of the conversation:

IQNA: One year since Palestinians’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, how do you assess the achievements of the Palestinian resistance movements?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: The Palestinian resistance movements have demonstrated significant resilience and adaptation. The Al-Aqsa Flood operation marked a turning point by showing the capacity of Palestinian factions especially Hamas to launch coordinated actions, causing serious disruptions to Israeli military and security systems.

Achievements include raising global awareness about the occupation, increasing international solidarity, and forcing the Israeli regime to acknowledge the depth of Palestinian grievances. However, the costs in terms of human lives and destruction have been heavy. Resistance movements have had to contend with immense military retaliation, and while there have been symbolic victories, the challenge remains to translate those into long-term political gains.

IQNA: Western countries, led by the US, have voiced support for the Israeli regime despite mounting evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza and also growing people’s solidarity with Palestine in the past year. How do you see the future of this support for Israel?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: The future of Western support for Israel is increasingly becoming a point of contention. While the US and other Western governments have been steadfast in their support for Israel due to historical alliances, security concerns, and domestic lobbying groups, public opinion is shifting.

Grassroots movements and solidarity with Palestine have been gaining momentum, especially in Europe and the US, as more people become aware of the humanitarian crisis and alleged war crimes. Over time, these societal shifts may begin to influence political decision-making, especially as younger, more progressive leaders come to power. While official policies may not change rapidly, the growing international disapproval of Israeli actions could force a reevaluation of unconditional support.

IQNA: What is the role of elites in boosting the solidarity and unity in the Muslim world for defending Palestine?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: Elites in the Muslim world play a critical role in shaping public opinion and policy. Intellectuals, religious leaders, and political figures can act as powerful advocates for Palestinian rights. Their influence in media, academic institutions, and international diplomacy can galvanize broader support for the cause.

When these elites unite and make a concerted effort to prioritize Palestine in political agendas, they can facilitate coordinated actions such as boycotts, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure. Moreover, they can foster unity across diverse Muslim sects and regions, ensuring that the Palestinian cause remains a unifying issue rather than one subject to geopolitical divides. Malaysia will continue to play its pivotal role on this.

IQNA: How do you assess the Muslim world’s support for Palestine in the past year?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: The support from the Muslim world has been vocal, but it remains fragmented. On a popular level, there is widespread sympathy and solidarity with Palestine, seen through protests, social media campaigns, and humanitarian aid. However, on a governmental level, the response has been inconsistent, largely due to differing political and economic interests.

Some countries, such as Iran and Turkey, have been more vocal and proactive in supporting Palestine, while others, especially those normalizing relations with Israel, have maintained a more cautious stance. The challenge remains in converting this popular support into unified and effective political action on an international scale.

IQNA: Can you please give us an analysis of the situation inside Israel as we mark the anniversary of the war?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: Internally, Israel faces significant challenges. The war has exacerbated existing social tensions, with deepening divisions between different political, ethnic, and religious groups within the country. The far-right factions have gained considerable influence, pushing for more aggressive policies against Palestinians, which has only fueled internal dissent.

Economic instability, driven by military expenditures and international pressure, has also placed a strain on Israeli society. Furthermore, growing global condemnation and increasing calls for accountability have put Israel’s international standing at risk, leading to concerns about long-term isolation.

IQNA: Iran has responded two times to Israeli aggressions so far and has warned that it would respond with a stronger force if further provoked by the regime. How do you see the situation here? Is the region getting ready for a direct war between Iran and Israel?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: The situation is highly precarious. Iran’s warnings reflect its strategic calculations, balancing between deterrence and avoiding full-scale conflict. Both Iran and Israel understand the severe consequences of a direct war, which could engulf the entire region. However, the possibility of a miscalculation or an unintended escalation remains.

Iran’s growing influence through forces in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq increases the likelihood of a broader regional conflict, should hostilities continue to escalate. While a direct war is not inevitable, the region is certainly closer to a significant confrontation, with the possibility of smaller, localized clashes between Iran-backed forces and Israel in the near term.

IQNA: The regime has expanded the war in the north, targeting Lebanese territories in the past few weeks. How do you see the prospects of a ground invasion into Lebanon? Some analysts believe Hezbollah has the upper hand when it comes to operations on the ground. What is your take on this?

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh: A ground invasion into Lebanon would be a high-risk operation for Israel. Hezbollah is well-entrenched and has developed sophisticated defenses since the 2006 war, including tunnels, missiles, and guerrilla tactics. The terrain in southern Lebanon is highly advantageous for defensive operations, giving Hezbollah the upper hand in case of a ground conflict. While Israel’s military capabilities are formidable, the human and political costs of a ground invasion would be immense.

Hezbollah’s ability to retaliate deeply into Israeli territory, along with its strong support base in Lebanon, makes a protracted ground war unlikely to yield decisive results for Israel. As such, while skirmishes may escalate, a full-scale ground invasion is likely to be avoided unless Israel feels it has no other strategic options.

Does the Kazan Declaration have any value?

Crescent International

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing assembled heads of state at a gala dinner at the BRICS summit in Kazan

The artificial schism between the Euro-American-led west and the Global South was examined based on BRICS statements and summit resolutions in Kazan (October 22-24) to ascertain whether BRICS represented a serious challenge to the existing global order.

The analysis did not reveal anything promising.

A further examination of the big fish within BRICS+ reconfirmed that.

Two key resolutions from the Kazan Declaration issued at the 16th BRICS Summit deemed pertinent to the Islamic Resistance will be considered.

Since the previous BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Israel has not only increased its violations of “sovereign nations” but has done so with more intensification without facing any consequences.

Amidst the annual ritual of calling for peace and respect for the sovereignty of nation-states within the existing international order— something Israel flagrantly disregards— resolution 30 reaffirmed, yet again, the two-state solution based on international law and in line with internationally recognized borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

This resolution is a regurgitation of a resolution passed over a decade ago during The Durban Declaration after the 5thBRICS Summit.

The implication of supporting such a resolution is that BRICS+, with the exception of Islamic Iran, is resolute about the zionists usurping 78% of Palestine.

After thousands of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese deaths and immense infrastructure destruction since the 5th BRICS Summit, including the live broadcast of a genocide, it is astonishing that the “Global South” still considers living side by side in peace and security with Israel to be a viable option!

It appears as though Muslim lives, especially in Palestine and Lebanon, are expendable in the Global South’s quest for “strengthening multilateralism for just global development and security.”

To add insult to injury, rather than address the cause of global instability and insecurity viz. Israel, the BRICS+ countries passed resolution 33 which stressed the importance of ensuring the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms of vessels of all states in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait, in accordance with international law.

Who stands to benefit from these two resolutions, if not Israel?

It is well known that Ansarullah’s military operations in support of the Palestinian victims of Israeli perpetrated genocide specifically targeted Israeli vessels or vessels carrying supplies through the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait to prop up the Israeli economy and its genocidal forces.

The above two resolutions should remove any doubt that, with the exception of Islamic Iran, the strong zionist-Israeli lobbies within the other BRICS+ countries that enjoy strong diplomatic, trade or military ties with zionist entity are ruling the roost.

BRICSKazan DeclarationOccupied PalestineIsraeli genocide in GazaIslamic Resistance Movement

Londoners Condemn Islamophobia, Racism

IQNA – Thousands of people staged a rally in condemnation of Islamophobic and racist moves by the country’s far-right groups.

In a powerful show of unity against hate and discrimination the anti-racism demonstrators gathered at Piccadilly Circus in London on Saturday morning to counter a protest organized by far-right groups.

The rally, which began at 11.30 am. local time, brought crowds who voiced strong opposition to the ideologies represented by the far-right protesters assembled nearby on Whitehall Street.

The anti-racism activists, who represented a diverse cross-section of London's community, chanted slogans condemning fascism, racism, Islamophobia, and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and tolerance.

Addressing the crowd, Left MP Diane Abbott said: "Here we are once again on the streets against the racist and the fascist. This is something we have had to do for decades… but we have always won, and we will win again this time. There are many more of us than you, and you will not escape.”

"These are dark times. 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and (US President) Biden and (UK Prime Minister) Starmer have not told Israelis 'do not kill too many civilians,' and you know what if they want to stop the war, they can stop sending arms to Israel," she underlined.

She said a London police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man two years ago has been acquitted of murder after a high-profile trial that drew widespread public attention.

Martyn Blake, a 40-year-old marksman with the Metropolitan Police, was cleared by a London jury on Monday in the death of 24-year-old Chris Kaba.

"We have to fight against living a society where the police believe they are above the law," she said.

A speaker from the United Families and Friends Campaign also addressed the crowd, saying they are not here "just for the Kaba family, but for all grieving families who have been bereaved at the hands of the state."

The location of the far-right protest on Whitehall Street – a central hub in London and home to Downing Street No. 10, the office of the Prime Minister – underscored the national importance of the issues at play.

Protesters gathered in front of Victoria Station in the early morning, shouting slogans in support of fascist figure Tommy Robinson.

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was remanded in custody on Friday and is set to appear in court for contempt on Monday.

The protest was organized by far-right groups descending in London from various locations in the UK.

The protest is the largest far-right event since the riots that saw violence against refugees and foreigners at the end of July, following the murder of three young children in a terror attack on Southport.

In anticipation of potential conflict between the two groups, police took security measures along Whitehall to prevent any confrontations.

So far, four people have been arrested in connection with a far-right march and anti-racist counter-protest in London.

According to the Metropolitan Police, two people were arrested at the 'Uniting the Kingdom' demonstration: one for violating "Public Order Act" conditions and disturbing the peace, and the other for a racially aggravated public order offense.

A brief altercation also took place near the Stand Up To Racism stage, where officers arrested a woman for common assault.

In a separate incident, another arrest was made after an officer was assaulted as a group from the counter-protest attempted to push through a police cordon at the end of The Mall.

Source: Anadolu Agency

30,000 Iranians Go on Umrah Pilgrimage This Season

IQNA – A total of 30,000 Iranians have travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage in the new Umrah season that began after the conclusion of the Hajj 2024.

Twenty thousands of them have completed the pilgrimage and returned home.

This was announced at a meeting of the planning council of the Office of the Leader’s Representative in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs.

In the meeting, headed by the Leader’s Representative in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs Hojat-ol-Islam Abdol Fattah Navab, officials from the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization presented reports about services provided for Iranian pilgrims.

Seyed Ali Marashi, head of the organization’s medical center, said between 600 and 700 pilgrims refer to Iran’s clinics in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to receive medical care daily.

Also, Head of the organization Seyed Abbas Hosseini briefed the meeting about planning and preparation for next year’s Hajj.

The Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization of Iran on September 7 announced the launch of registration for those wishing to go on the Umrah pilgrimage.

The organization said the pilgrims will be sent to Saudi Arabia in two stages, with the first starting on September 18 and ending on December 20.

Back in April, the first batch of Umrah pilgrims from Iran embarked on the spiritual journey to Mecca after a 10-year hiatus.

Earlier, Hosseini had said that 5.7 million Iranians are in line waiting for their turn to take part in Umrah pilgrimage, adding that the organization is ready to send between 800,000 and 1 million pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah every year if the conditions are right and other related bodies provide the necessary cooperation.