September 22, 2006 Letters and Announcements to Al-Jazeerah Editor


	In 782 CE at Verden, after a Saxon uprising he ordered 4,500 Saxons to be beheaded

Dear Pope,

It was Christianity that was spread by the sword in Germany

Charlemagne waged 18 bitter and costly campaigns to convert the pagan Saxon tribes of Germany.

He imposed baptism by the sword and retaliated against rebels with merciless slaughter.

For example, in 782 CE at Verden, after a Saxon uprising he ordered 4,500 Saxons to be beheaded

Sources:

. The History of Europe and the Church - The Relationship that shaped the Western World, Plain Truth Magazine, P.O. Box 111, Borehamwood, Herts, England. WD6 1LU

. John Mathews & Bob Stewart, Warriors of Christendom, Dorset: Firebrand Books Ltd, 1993. ISBN: 1 86019 4257. P.O. Box 327, Poole. BH15 2RG.

True Stories

Pope

I think Muslims shouldn't pay attention to what the Pope says, who cares what he says, we don't worship the Pope, we worship God. I was raised Catholic and I couldn't get over how these cats in the Vatican dress and live in all their riches and refinery and then preach about giving to the poor, give me a break!

Anyone with a brain, and eyes that see, and ears that hear, can see what that's all about, they have their own city and country with their little guards in their funny suits, they destroy their own creditability with such foolishness, I excommunicated myself from that scene long ago.

Submission to God Alone, is the only religion acceptable to God. Do they really think Jesus would approve of all that pomp and circumstance that they put on? Jesus taught us to worship God Alone, the prophet Muhammad taught us to worship God Alone, Abraham and Moses taught us to worship God Alone, all true servants and messengers of God teach us to worship God Alone!

Who cares about what the Pope or anyone else says about Islam. Islam is the Arabic word for "submission," the act of submitting one's self to God, the description of the action of worshipping God Alone. This is the teaching of Muhammad and all of God's prophets down through the ages, it has never changed.

It is the purity of one's direct connection to God without any need for middle men such as priests, Imams or rabbis. God is all we need, God will suffice, God is our Lord and Savior, no one else, all else are but mere creations of God. Believe in the messengers, but know they are but mere creations of God sent to us by God to wake us up. Islam, and every word in every language that means the same thing, "submission," to God Alone, is the only religion acceptable to God.

Let us not get side tracked by thoughtless words of others.

Chris Case

Editor:

All messengers of God and their followers are referred to in the Holy Qur'an as Muslims and the religion they taught was Islam, like you said "Submission to God."

The Pope should take heed from Mel Gibson

There is nothing that inflames the souls of Muslims more than insulting the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh) and degrade the Islamic faith. The Pope's recent remarks at a German University did both. His reference to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as being evil and inhuman is bigotry disguised as free speech. It is scary to me as a Muslim that those words were uttered by the highest Christian authority in the world.

Here are two short stories about the Prophet (pbuh) that render his claim baseless:

1- When a funeral procession passed in front of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he stood up out of respect. When he was told the person in the coffin was a Jew and not a Muslim, he replied, "Was it not a living [soul]?"

2- There was a man who always threw trash on the Prophet every time he passed by his house. One day he failed to show up. The Prophet wondered if the man was sick. He went and knocked at his door. The man answered and was shocked to see the Prophet. The Prophet told him, "I just wanted to see if you are OK." Baffled by the kindness of the Prophet, the man said, "By God, no one would act like you did except a prophet." This man became a Muslim afterward.

The Pope's remarks show disrespect toward the world's 1.3 billion Muslims. Benedict should have known that respect can turn enemies into friends and disrespect make enemies out of friends.

When Mel Gibson made similar offensive remarks toward Jews, he issued several apologies, even though he was drunk at the time. Unlike the Pope's response, Mr. Gibson never said "I am sorry for the Jewish reaction to my statement." He said, "I am sorry, I made a mistake." He expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness. The Pope should take heed from the super star.

Sincerely,

Mahmoud El-Yousseph, Ohio, USA

President Bush and torture of detainees

In January, 2001, George Bush became President and since then our country has descended into misery and deviance. He has lied to get support for his War on Iraq, continues to callously send U.S. soldiers ( and Iraqis) to their death, and created the largest national debt in U.S. history. Now, our President wants to disregard the Geneva Convention's ban on torturing prisoners of war so he may obtain "valuable" information from (presumed) terrorist detainees.

Once a proud citizen of the first modern country founded on the principle of human rights and dignity which explicitly prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, I hang my head in shame from Abu Gharib, "waterboarding" torture by the CIA on prisoners of war and now this.

President Bush labels those few, brave senators who oppose torturing detainees, crazy, for daring to say detainees are humans entitled to basic rights, just like Americans. President Bush's corruption and inhumanity mocks our constitution and Bill of Rights. A true American president understands he or she is not above the law but is subject to it, and from this knowledge flows, not cruelty, but justice.

Helen Tackett, CA, USA

R A M A D A N M U B A R A K

Ramadan Mubarak

It is with great joy and happiness that I congratulate my fellow Muslims on the arrival of this Blessed month of Ramadan, praying for peace for everybody in the world.

Once again we have an opportunity to have our sins forgiven and our Ranks elevated in the eyes of the Almighty Allah!. I hope this e-mail will find you all in the best of health and strongest of Iman with the grace of Almighty Allah Ameen!

All over the Islamic world people are preparing for the coming of this blessed month. Mosques are being decorated and cleaned. Muslims are looking forward for Iftar, Nightly prayers and supplication, reciting Quran and Dua-e-Iftatah. Mums are stocking up with Kebabs, Samosa, bajiya and Tandori chicken; Children are looking forward for Iftaar and playing games such as Islamic jeopardy and ping-pong. Every Muslim young or old, male or female is eagerly awaiting the sighting of the moon that will mark the advent of this Holy month Ramadan.

I offer my best wishes and Ramadan Mubarak to Muslims all over the world on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, and sincerely hope that this holy month will bring peace in war torn Muslim world. So many Muslims all around the world are entering this month with oppression, sectarian violence, conflicts and wars. The sole desire of these innocent people caught in the ravages of poverty, hunger and disease is to be able to live in an atmosphere of peace and stability.

The month of Ramadan is particularly important as a time when cooperation and helping others and to work with a sincere heart. The month of Ramadan is one of abundance, described in the Qur'an, as "better than a thousand months" (Surat al-Qadr: 3) and which contains the Night of Power.

Please make your prayers, duas, Amals and supplications for peace on Earth.

Mohammed Khaku

A Roadmap for Islamic Banking in India Mumbai, Sept. 19, 2006

A two-day national Workshop on the Roadmap for Islamic Banking in India was held by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, a leading Muslim organization of India, on 16-17 Sept 2006 at Islam Gymkhana, Mumbai. Various international and national finance experts and bankers were part of this historical workshop.

Renowned international Islamic finance expert and Shah Faisal awardees scholar Dr. Najatullah Siddiqi and Mufti Barkatullah (Shariyah advisor of Lloyd Bank and Islamic Banking, Britain), Mr. Mohammed Talha (First manager Qatar International Islamic Bank, QIIB), Mr. Nizar Kochery (Legal advisor & President Middle East Indian Management Association, Qatar) were the leading international finance personalities of this workshop.

Well-known finance expert and Islamic economist Dr. Fazlur Rahman Faridi was the chief patron, Dr. Rahmatullah (AICMEU) was the organiser and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's media secretary and Tamil Nado state president H. Abdur Raqeeb was the convenor of the workshop.

Dr. Ausaf Ahmed (Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia), Dr. M. I. Bagsiraj and Dr. Shariq Nisar, Banking expert Dr. Abdus Salam (Retired manager RBI, Cochin), Dr. M Y Khan (SEBI ), Mr. Zahooruddin (Hyderabad), Mr. K.K. Ali (Alternate Investment & credit Ltd. Cochin), Mr. Maqbool Ahmed (Bengalore) have attended the workshop.

These eminent finance and banking experts discussed various aspects to implement Islamic Banking in India and passed following resolution.

· The Islamic Banking is relevant in 21st Century. India may implement the same by obtaining inputs from other global examples in UK, Malaysia and Singapore.

· Public awareness, regulatory and political influences are important factors that will result in introduction of Islamic Banking in India.

· A few working committees / groups need to be established who may take the responsibilities and outline the way forward with respect to the above aspects of public awareness regulatory amendment.

· The reputed domestic and foreign banks may be involved in the process of determining and implementing Islamic banking products to the extent possible in India under the current regulatory framework.

· The professional expertise and entrepreneurial skills of the population need to be developed so as to cultivate abilities to run and manage these financial institutions in a professional manner.

The workshop resolution emphasized the role of India as an important player at the world of financial scene. It noted the increasing significance of Islamic finance in that context. The rapid growth of Islamic banking and financial institutions in the region, especially the emergence of Malaysia and Singapore as regional hubs of Islamic finance indicated the potential role of India.

It is hoped that extent group approved by the workshop while formulate the necessary steps, regulatory authorities must take to facilitate the entry of domestic financial institutions in the field, and / or enable setting up of new entities for the purpose. The workshop noted with satisfaction the progress of Islamic banking and finance in countries like the United Kingdom where the establishment of the Islamic banks of Britain demonstrated that Islamic financial institutions can easily be accommodated with the existing framework.

H. Abdur Raqeeb

Convenor Islamic Banking Workshop

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind abdraqeeb_h@yahoo.com