Carter: Bush Administration’s Refusal to Accept Hamas’ Election is “Criminal”, Hamas Far More Organized than Fatah

From the Associated Press:

Former President Jimmy Carter accused the U.S., Israel and the European Union on Tuesday of seeking to divide the Palestinian people by reopening aid to President Mahmoud Abbas’ new government in the West Bank while denying the same to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who was addressing a human rights conference in Ireland, also said the Bush administration’s refusal to accept Hamas’ 2006 election victory was “criminal.”

Carter said Hamas, besides winning a fair and democratic mandate that should have entitled it to lead the Palestinian government, had proven itself to be far more organized in its political and military showdowns with Abbas’ moderate Fatah movement...

Carter said the U.S. and others supplied the Fatah-controlled security forces in Gaza with vastly superior weaponry in hopes they would “conquer Hamas in Gaza” — but Hamas routed Fatah in the fighting last week because of its “superior skills and discipline.”

Read more:

• Associated Press: Carter blasts US policy on Palestinians

Tunisia’s War on Hijāb

France and Germany only aim to prevent Muslim girls from wearing the hijāb (Islāmic headscarf for women) in public schools. Tunisia, ironically a Muslim country, aims to ban it even in public on the streets. It is bewildering to understand why governments feal so threatened by a piece of cloth.

“Does it harm the state when a woman wears a headscarf or not? We are not demanding the imposition of any particular dress on women, we are demanding public and personal freedom.”

Rachid al-Ghanoushi
leading Tunisian Islamist
who lives in exile in London

Read more from BBC about the war on hijāb in several countries. Particularly informational is the first link:

• Headscarves in the headlines
• Tunisia moves against headscarves
• Tunisia attacked over headscarves
• Court backs Turkish headscarf ban
• German state backs headscarf ban
• Egypt TV 'bans veiled presenters'
• French cabinet backs scarf ban

Tariq Ramadan: Why I'm Banned in the USA

Tariq Ramadan wrote an interesting article in today's Washington Post about the reasons that he has been denied entry into the United States.

Here are some excerpts:

“I am increasingly convinced that the Bush administration has barred me for a much simpler reason: It doesn't care for my political views. In recent years, I have publicly criticized U.S. policy in the Middle East, the war in Iraq, the use of torture, secret CIA prisons and other government actions that undermine fundamental civil liberties.”

...

“I donated to these organizations for the same reason that countless Europeans -- and Americans, for that matter -- donate to Palestinian causes: not to help fund terrorism, but because I wanted to provide humanitarian aid to people who desperately need it.”

...

“And yes, I believe we all have a right to dissent, to criticize governments and protest undemocratic decisions. It is certainly legitimate for European Muslims and American Muslims to criticize their governments if they find them unjust -- and I will continue to do so.”

...

“I fear that the United States has grown fearful of ideas. I have learned firsthand that the Bush administration reacts to its critics not by engaging them, but by stigmatizing and excluding them. Will foreign scholars be permitted to enter the United States only if they promise to mute their criticisms of U.S. policy? It saddens me to think of the effect this will have on the free exchange of ideas, on political debate within America, and on our ability to bridge differences across cultures.”

Read more:

• Tariq Ramadan’s Official Web Site
  
  
• Washington Post: Why I'm Banned in the USA by Tariq Ramadan

New York Times: Islamists Calm Somali Capital With Restraint

Jehad Nga for The New York Times

The New York Times ran an interesting article today about how Islamists in Mogadishu have been bringing about peace and stability to a city accustomed to violence and anarchy. Here is an excerpt from the article:

It is hard to imagine that this is Mogadishu, the same Mogadishu of “Black Hawk Down,” and clan against clan and 15 years of anarchy. But over the past three months, the Islamists in control here have defied international expectations — in many ways. Not only have they pacified one of the most dangerous cities in the world, they also seem to have moderated their message.

Instead of acting like the Taliban and ruthlessly imposing a harsh religious orthodoxy, as many feared, the Islamists seem to be trying to increase public support by softening their views, at least officially, delivering social services and pushing for democratic elections.

Read more:

• The New York Times: Islamists Calm Somali Capital With Restraint
  
  And make sure to check out the photo gallery.

Khatami Speaks at ISNA Convention

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is visiting several cities in the United States as part of a visit lasting nearly two weeks. He is the most senior Iranian to visit the United States since the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The State Department issued him a visitor's visa without restrictions, which has upset many Zionist groups.

Over the Labor Day weekend, Khatami spoke at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America in a Chicago suburb, as well as at Bait ul Ilm Islamic Center in Streamwood, IL.

While promoting increased dialogue between civiliazations, as has been his trademark, he condmened the Bush Administration's policies.

“As America claims to be fighting terrorism, it implements policies that cause the intensification of terrorism and institutionalized violence.”

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami
speaking at the ISNA Convention in Chicago, IL

Khatami is expected to travel to Washington and then speak at events at the United Nations and Harvard University.

There are also potential plans to meet with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, which should prove to be interesting, because the U.S. embassy hostage crisis marred Carter's presidency.

Read more at:

• IslamOnline.net: In US, Khatami Urges Dialogue with the Other


• Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran: Khatami says US policies foment terrorism


• BBC: Iran's Khatami condemns US policy


• Chicago Tribune: Ex-Iran leader speaks in Chicago

The Night Journey and the Ascension to Heaven

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ

Subhāna lladhī asrā bi‘abdihī laylan mina l-Masjidi l-Harāmi ilā l-Masjidi l-Aqsā lladhī bāraknā hawlahū linuriyahū min āyātinā. Innahū Huwa as-Samī‘u l-Basīr.

Transcendent is He Who carried His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

(Qur’ān, Sūrat al-Isrā’, Āyah 1)

Tonight (Monday, August 21, 2006) will be the 27th night of Rajab in the Islamic calendar, which according to many scholars corresponds to the night of al-Isrā’ wa l-Mi‘rāj. It is a night so momentous, that Allāh begins Sūrat al-Isrā’ (the 17th chapter of the Qur’ān entitled “The Night Journey”) with its mention.

It was on this night, 10 years after the first revelation of the Qur’ān (620 CE), that Prophet Muhammad (may Allāh bless him and grant him peace) traveled by night from Makkah to al-Quds (Jerusalem) and ascended to the Heavens. The trip culminated with him coming into the direct Presence of Allāh.

The Muslims were facing terrible persecution at the hands the Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Makkah. Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had recently returned from the city of Tā’if, having been attacked with stones by the children of the city.

It was soon after this low-point that Angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) awakened the Prophet (may Allāh bless him and grant him peace) at Masjid al-Harām in Makkah, and ordered him to mount a swift animal named al-Burāq.

The highlights of the first part of the night journey, named al-Isrā’, include:

• Stopping to pray in Yathrib (later to renamed to al-Madīnah).
  
  
• Stopping to pray on Jabal at-Tūr (Mount Sinai) where Allāh spoke directly to Prophet Mūsā (Moses), may Allāh grant him peace.
  
  
• Stopping to pray in Bayt Lahm (Bethlehem), the birth-place of Prophet ‘Īsā (Jesus), may Allāh grant him peace.
  
  
• Arriving at Masjid al-Aqsā (the Farthest Mosque) in al-Quds (Jerusalem), where Prophet Muhammad (may Allāh bless him and grant him peace) encountered every prophet from Prophet Ādam to Prophet ‘Īsā (may Allāh grant them all peace) and led them in prayer.
  

Afterwards, Angel Jibrīl (may Allāh grant him peace) led Prophet Muhammad (may Allāh bless him and grant him peace) on the second part of the journey, named al-Mi‘rāj.

Highlights of this journey include:

• Being greeted by several prophets (may Allāh grant them all peace) in different Heavens, where each prophet warmly welcomed him and testified their faith in his prophethood:
• Prophet Ādam in the First Heaven.
• Prophet ‘Īsā (Jesus) and Prophet Yahyā (John) in the Second Heaven.
• Prophet Yūsuf (Joseph) in the Third Heaven.
• Prophet Idrīs (Enoch) in the Fourth Heaven.
• Prophet Hārūn (Aaron) in the Fifth Heaven.
• Prophet Mūsā (Moses) in the Sixth Heaven.
• Prophet Ibrāhīm (Abraham) in the Seventh Heaven.
  
  
• Seeing first-hand the pleasures enjoyed by the inhabitants of Jannah (Paradise) and the torments suffered by the inhabitants of Jahannam (Hell-Fire).
  
  
• Finding Prophet Ibrāhīm (may Allāh grant him peace) resting against al-Bayt al-Ma‘mūr (the Much Frequented House), which is the Heavenly equivalent of the Ka‘bah with 70,000 new angels encompassing it each day - never to return - until Yawm al-Qiyāmah (the Day of Judgement).
  
  
• Being taken to Sidrat al-Muntahā (the Remotest Lote Tree), which Allāh shone His Light upon. Prophet Muhammad (may Allāh bless him and grant him peace) told his companions afterwards that he was unable to capture the beauty of this tree in words.
  
  
• Coming into the direct Presence of Allāh and conversing directly with Allāh. This is where Allāh ordained daily prayers.
  
  
• Being advised by Prophet Mūsā (may Allāh grant him peace) to return to Allah and have the number of daily prayers reduced from 50 to eventually five.

This night is a source of joy and celebration for every Muslim for it was a respite for the Prophet (may Allāh bless him and grant him peace) and his companions, it was a night of grand miracles, and it was the night during which the five daily prayers were ordained.

We should make it a point to learn the details of this night and reflect upon the lessons learned from it. Furthermore, we should make a habit out of recounting this story to our families and friends, especially our children.

Read more about al-Isrā’ wa l-Mi‘rāj:

• Amr Khaled Official Website: On the Path of the Beloved Episode 13: Al-Israa and Al-Mi'raj
  
  
• Miracle Of Al-Isra & Al-Miraj
  
  
• The following three selections of Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, may Allāh bless him and grant him peace):
  
• Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 429
  
• Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 227
  
• All of Chapter 75 of Sahih Muslīm
  
  
• Glimpses of History: The Night Journey
  
  
• Islamweb - Al Isra' and Al-Mi'raj

You can also purchase The Isra' & Mi'raj: The Prophet's Night-Journey and Ascent to Heaven by Huda Khattab.

_____
The Arabic text from Surat al-Isrā’ was taken from Al-Qur'an Al-Kareem: Arabic text and English Translation.

The English translation of the verse was adapted from The Majestic Qur’ān: An English Rendition of its Meanings, translated by Ali Özek, Nureddin Uzunoğlu, Tevfik R. Topuzoğlu and Mehmet Maksutoğlu, edited by Abdal Hakim Murad, Mostafa al-Badawi and Uthman Hutchinson.