THE FIRST CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS: Prophet's Last Sermon of Hajj.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)’s

Last Sermon of Hajj

First Charter of Human Rights

In The Recorded History!

(M. Javed Naseem)

The ‘Last Hajj Sermon’ (or Khutba) of the Prophet was delivered at Arafat in the year 632 A.D. and it was the first recorded Declaration (or Charter) of Human Rights of the planet Earth. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) undertook his farewell pilgrimage in the year 10 A.H. It was the first and the last pilgrimage made by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Thousands of people from far and near joined the gathering (as per one estimate: 114,000) because this pilgrimage served as a model to perform the fifth pillar of the Faith – Hajj. Every Muslim wanted to see how Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) performed the rituals; and the faithful have been emulating him since then.

On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, the Prophet (s.a.w.) left with his companions for Mina and spent the night there, and on the 9th, after the Fajr (dawn) prayer, He proceeded to the Plains of Arafat where he delivered the famous sermon.

It was a declaration of Human Rights and moral values, a charter of Women’s Rights. The world has not been able to lay down better principles of ethics and morality than those enunciated in it. It aims at establishing righteousness, justice and fair dealing among men on a workable basis. It establishes brotherhood among Muslims irrespective of the divergence of their geographical, racial and color backgrounds, and provides an outline of a social order, perfectly free from oppression and social injustice. It was the declaration of finality of the Holy Messenger’s Prophet-hood. It was at that point that Allah also declared that on that particular day, HE had perfected this ‘Deen’ called Islam, thus leaving no room for any changes or alterations, sects or branches.

But man happens to be wicked and corrupt. He takes the bait from Shaitan (Devil) quickly and plays the fool, forgetting God. He corrupted the Scriptures and altered/edited the Divine Message of every prophet or messenger of God, to suit his own comfortable worldly life. So, he altered the text of this sermon of the Prophet (s.a.w.) too, despite the fact that there were more than 100,000 (as per one narration: 114,000) people listening as ‘eye witnesses’ to this historic event.

Here’s the text of the Final Sermon! I am just hoping and praying to Allah that I made the right selection, Insha-Allah.

"All praise is due to Allah, so we praise Him, and seek His pardon and we turn to Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and from the evil consequences of our deeds. Whom Allah guides aright there is none to lead him astray; and there is none to guide him aright whom Allah leaves astray. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and to Him is due all praise. He grants life and causes death and is Powerful over everything. There is no God but Allah, the One; He fulfilled His promise and granted victory to His bondsmen, and He alone routed the confederates (enemies of Islam)”.

“O People! Listen to my words carefully, for I do not know whether we shall ever meet again and perform Hajj after this year”.

"O people! Allah says: 'O people! We created you from one male and one female and made you into tribes and nations, so as to be known to one another.' Verily, in the sight of Allah, the most honored among you is the one who is most pious (God-fearing). There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white, except in righteousness (God-consciousness)."

“All mankind is the progeny of Adam and Adam was fashioned out of clay. Behold! Every claim of privilege, whether that of blood or property, is under my heels except that of the custody of the Kaabah and supplying of water to the pilgrims”.

“O people of Quraish! Don’t appear (on the Day of Judgment) with the burden of this world around your necks, whereas other people may appear (before the Lord) with the rewards of the hereafter. In that case I shall avail you naught against Allah”.

“Behold! All practices of the days of ignorance are now under my feet. The blood revenges of the days of ignorance are remitted. The first claim on blood I abolish is that of Ibn Rabiah bin Harith who was nursed in the tribe of Saad and whom the Hudhayls killed”.

“All interest and usurious dues accruing from the times of ignorance stand wiped out. And the first amount of interest that I remit is that which Abbas ibn Abd-al Muttalib had to receive. Verily it is remitted entirely”.

“O people! Verily your blood, your property and your honor are sacred and inviolable until you appear before your Lord, as the sacred inviolability of this day of yours, this month of yours and this very town (of yours). Verily, you will soon meet your Lord and you will be held answerable for your actions”.

“O people! Verily you have got certain rights over your women and your women have certain rights over you. It is your right upon them to honor their conjugal rights, and not to commit acts of impropriety, which if they do, you are authorized by Allah to separate them from your beds and chastise them, but not severely, and if they refrain, then clothe and feed them properly”.

“Behold! It is not permissible for a woman to give anything from the wealth of her husband to anyone but with his consent”.

“Treat women kindly since they are your helpers and are not in a position to manage their affairs by themselves! Fear Allah concerning women, for verily, you have taken them on the security of Allah and have made their persons lawful unto you by words of Allah”.

“O people! Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, has ordained to every one his due share (of inheritance). Hence there is no need (of special) testament for an heir (departing from the rules laid down by the Shariah)”.

“He who attributes his ancestry to other than his father or claims his clientship to other than his master, the curse of Allah is upon him”.

“All debts must be repaid, all borrowed property must be returned, gifts should be reciprocated and a surety must make good the loss to the assured”.

“Beware! No one committing a crime is responsible for it but himself. Neither the child is responsible for the crime of his father, nor is the father responsible for the crime of his child”.

“Nothing of his brother is lawful for a Muslim except what he himself gives willingly. So do not wrong yourselves”.

 “O People! Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim, and all the Muslims form one brotherhood. And as for your slaves, see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the clothes that you yourselves wear”.

“Take heed not to go astray after me and strike one another’s necks. He who (among you) has any trust with him, he must return it to its owner”.

“O people! Listen and obey, though a mangled Abyssinian slave is appointed your Ameer, provided he executes (the Ordinance of) the Book of Allah among you”.

“O people! No Prophet would be raised after me and no new Ummah (would be formed) after you”.

“Verily, I have left among you that which will never lead you astray, the Book of Allah, which if you hold fast, you shall never go astray”.

“And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought destruction to many people before you”.

“Verily, the Satan is disappointed at ever being worshiped in this land of yours, but he will be pleased by obedience in anything (short of worship that is) in matters you may be disposed to think insignificant, so beware of him in your matters of religion”.

“Behold! Worship your Lord; offer prayers five times a day; observe fast in the month of Ramadan; pay readily the Zakat (poor-due) on your property; and perform pilgrimage to the House of God and obey your rulers and you will be admitted to the Paradise of your Lord”.

  “Let him that is present, convey it unto him who is absent, for many people to whom the message is conveyed may be more mindful of it than this audience”.

Then he asked the audience: “And if you were asked about me, what would you say?"

They answered: "We bear witness that you have conveyed the trust (of religion) and discharged your ministry of Prophet-hood and looked to our welfare."

Thereupon, Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) lifted his forefinger towards the sky and then pointing towards people said:

"O Lord! Bear You witness unto it".

"O Lord! Bear You witness unto it".

(From the ‘Khutbat-ul-Hajjatul Wida’, Seerat Ibne Hesham) 

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Eid-ul-Adha: On The Day of Sacrifice, Slaughter Your Greed And Desires!

Eid-ul-Adha Asks:

Slaughter Your Desires/Greed,

Submit To The Will of Allah,

Care And Share!

(M. Javed Naseem)

 “And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal

the Truth knowingly! And be steadfast in prayer;

practice regular charity; and bow down your heads

with those who bow down (in worship)!”

(al-Quran 2:42-43)

The Muslim Ummah just celebrated Eid-ul-Adha (the festival of sacrifice). This is held every year to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s (or Ibrahim’s) submission to the Lord Creator. Abraham was commanded in a dream to sacrifice the most precious thing of his life and there was nothing dearer to him than his first son Ishmael. As he put the knife on the throat of his son, the angel appeared and told him that he had passed the toughest test and his sacrifice had been accepted by God. So, the son was replaced by a lamb and he sacrificed a lamb. Muslims follow the same ritual and sacrifice different animals (lambs, sheep, goats, cows or camels) to please their Lord. They are supposed to share the meat with the poor and the less fortunate.

 

There are three messages in this ritual:

1. Surrender or submit to your Lord unconditionally and obey His Will! Obedience to Allah is the first and the foremost thing in the life of a believer. And that’s the real righteousness or piety (Arabic: ‘Taqwa’).
2. No precious object (offspring, wealth or property) is more important than the pleasure of the Lord Almighty, Who gives us all the bounties. So, we should give (or sacrifice) the best things for Him whenever we are required to do so.
3. Share with the poor, the needy and the less fortunate whatever good things Allah has blessed you with, showing Him your gratitude and contentment. That’s the way of the righteous.

In today’s world, we are running a race of material possessions and monetary gains. We have forgotten all codes of ethics, all morals, our values and our obligations. In fact we have forgotten God and have been following the Devil who is our eternal enemy. Hence all the bloodshed, wars, bombing and killing, injustice, moral bankruptcy, corruption and numerous other political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual problems. This storm of death and destruction is triggered by the so-called Torah and Bible believing people who want to control the entire world and plunder its wealth. The rich and characterless believers of the Quran are playing as their puppets and destroying their own world. The Bible says to these people:

Deuteronomy 31:29

“I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and will turn from the way I have commanded you to follow. In the days to come, disaster will come down on you, for you will do what is evil in the Lord’s sight, making Him very angry with your actions.”

James 4:4

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the World is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the World, makes himself an enemy of God.”

Countries are being invaded and nations are being destroyed in the name of freedom and democracy. The evil-doers are claiming to be the reformers and helpers. Above all, they claim to be believers in God! In fact, they are just hypocrites – corrupt and evil. The Bible refers to such people:

2 Peter 2:19

“… Promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”

2 Peter 2:2

“Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.”

Isaiah 5:20

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

These are the End times. We have been warned by the Scriptures about it and about those friends of the Devil who are spreading hate, fear and war for the world hegemony.

We see now the corrupt preachers, ignorant Mullahs, evil-spreading churches, child-molesting pastors, and many false prophets. It is only going to get worse. The only remedy is that we revert to God and spread the truth. The fake ‘believers’ need to be exposed. Deceitful people with evil character are taking over all important and powerful positions in our world today, spreading lies and false teachings as authentic ‘religion’.

Corrupt preachers have teamed up with corrupt and evil politicians and both are living luxury lives at the expense of the poor taxpayers.

Hosea 9:9

“They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.”

2. Isaiah 1:4

“Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord.”

Proverbs 3:33

“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.”

There is no honor and dignity! What we have lost is invaluable. We have lost honesty, contentment, patience, modesty and with that our peace and happiness. Money cannot get you those precious commodities. We need to revert to the One and Only Who can provide us with those blessings. We need to revert to Allah and follow His commands to achieve peace and happiness.

We are fighting wars left, right and center. What we really need to fight is our own self, our desires and our greed. And that requires a lot of courage!

On Eid-al-Adha, I would like to remind you of the Divine Message that is contained in the last 10 verses of Surah (Chapter 89) al-Fajr (meaning: Dawn) of the Holy Quran. Allah, the Almighty, says:

89:15
“Now, as for man, when his Lord tries him,

giving him honor and gifts, then says he, (puffed up),

"My Lord has honored me."

89:16
“But when He tries him, restricting his subsistence

for him, then says he (in despair),

"My Lord has humiliated me!"

89:17
“Nay, nay! But you honor not the orphans!”

89:18
“Nor do you encourage one another to feed the poor!”

89:19
“And you devour inheritance - all with greed!”

89:20
”And you love wealth with inordinate love!”

Allah has clearly defined the root-cause of all our problems: We are committing crimes against other human beings, especially the down-trodden, the weak, the orphans, and the poor with our greed. We are violating other people’s rights and spreading corruption. We are running a fatal race of materialism defying all rules and norms. In other words we are promoting corruption and injustice on the earth. And believe me, Allah does not like that a bit. Don’t you know that ‘all that is in the Heavens, the Earth and in-between, belongs to Allah’? You cannot be allowed to destroy that! Therefore, Allah reminds us of the warning and the consequences on the Day of Judgment, in the following verses:

89:21
”Nay! When the earth is pounded to powder;”

89:22
”And your Lord comes, and His angels, rank upon rank;”

89:23
”And Hell, that Day, is brought (face to face),

on that day will man remember, but how will

that remembrance profit him?”

89:24
”He will say: "Ah! Would that I had sent forth

(good deeds) for this life (in the Hereafter)!"

89:25
”For, that Day, His chastisement will be such that

no chastisement could be worse than His.”

(al-Quran 89:15-25)

The earlier nations had the same problem and they were punished. They were destroyed because they disobeyed Allah and spread corruption and evil in the earth. We can learn a lesson from their ruins around the world. God sent to them Prophets with the similar messages but they defied and revolted.

The Bible says:

Genesis 6:12

“God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people!”

Psalm 14:1

“Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and commit evil deeds; not one of them practices what is good.”

Deuteronomy 16:19

"You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.”

Psalm 37:12-13

“The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming.”

Psalm 94:21

“They band themselves together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.”

We have abandoned righteousness; we have discarded compassion. We are controlled by our greed, lust and never-ending desires. We are speeding towards Hell and there seems to be no ‘speed-breakers’ on the way. Can we still reflect and repent (and be saved)? Time is running out!

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PAK INDEPENDENCE DAY: Corrupt Politicians Disappointed The Nation, Hurt The Country.

Remembering Aug. 14:

Pakistan Independence Day

Corrupt Politicians

Disappointed The Nation,

Hurt The Country.

(M. Javed Naseem)

Pakistan celebrated 71 years of independence this month (14^th August). There is a mixed balance sheet of gains and losses on the economic front. On the political front, it’s only anger and reaction, while on the emotional front it’s too much of hurt, pain and frustration. Generally, the overall development is marred by corruption and inefficiency or incompetence.

Golden Era of Pakistan:

Looking back, 1960’s was the golden era of Pakistan in all fields. After 1970, the graph went downwards. When I left Pakistan in 1969 for Germany, I purchased US Dollars from the State Bank of Pakistan, Lahore, at the rate of Rs.4.75 per dollar. Yes! I repeat: Pak Rs.4.75 to a dollar. And today? I am ashamed to mention it that it has been around Rs.100.oo (more or less) for many years.

When I traveled to Europe with Green Copy (Pakistan passport) and I felt so happy and special that I did not require any visa for any European country, except the Communist Bulgaria and Switzerland. But even in Bulgaria, I was granted visa at the port of entry for $5.00 fee. The only other visa I needed was of Afghanistan. Europe was so friendly and welcoming for Pakistanis. Those days, Pakistan was a like a brand name!

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In my Pakistan, US Dollar was worth Rs.4.75,

British Pound was worth Rs.9.50, Sugar was

Rs.1.50 per kg (ser), Butter Oil (Desi Ghee)

was Rs.4.50 per kg/ser, Daal Chana was Rs.0.50

per kg/ser, Milk was Rs.0.50 per Litre/ser,

Yoghurt was Rs.0.75 per kg/ser, Tandoori

Roti was Rs.0.10 per loaf (Rs.0.25 in the 1970s).

No visa for 90% of the West European countries!

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In New York city, I met an American lady doctor, an eye specialist. She told me she had fond memories of Pakistan as she got her professional medical training and internship in a Pakistani hospital in the cornea transplant surgery.

Pakistan Helped Japan:

Sir Zafar Ullah Khan, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, was the first Asian at the time to preside over the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice. He supported the application of Japan for entry into the United Nations. Few would know that the only Head of State ever to be received at the airport by the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito himself, was the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan.

When the Japanese peace treaty was signed at San Francisco in 1951, Pakistan was described as the ‘Tower of Strength’ by the U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.

Japan partnered with Pakistan in their initial growth seeking supplier's credit from Pakistan. Pakistan played a significant role during 1947-51 in lifting the Occupation and restoration of Japan's sovereignty. Pakistan waived off war reparations to Japan to help build its economy.

After the Second World War, Japan was in shambles as its economy was destroyed. Pakistan came to the forefront again and shipped 60,000 tons of rice to Japan in the 1950’s to meet the acute shortage of food in Japan caused by the war. The shipment read: ‘Donated Rice to the Emperor of Japan by the Government of Pakistan’.

Pakistan Helped Germany:

By 1953, Germany also had debts based on reconstruction loans made immediately after the end of the Second World War. Germany’s creditors included Greece, Spain, Pakistan and Egypt, as well as the US, UK and France.

In 1963, under President Ayub Khan, Pakistan dished out Rs120 million loan to Germany, the largest European economy today, for a period of 20 years. At that time, the parity of the then Deutsche Mark was below the Pakistani Rupee. As per the Gazette notification of Pakistan in the 1950’s, the value of British Pound Sterling was Rs.9.50, US $3.50 and with all European currencies below par with even German Mark at Pak Rs.0.75. Pakistan was one of the strongest economies of the world. Pakistan's economy in the 1950s and 1960s was amongst the fastest growing in the world and the most recognized in Asia.

Pakistan Helped South Korea:

The war-torn South Korea consulted Pakistan and it was the Planning Commission of Pakistan with Dr. Mahboob-ul Haq, which helped them with their development plans. South Korea is now one of the world’s largest economies.

Pakistan Helped U.A.Emirates:

Pakistan helped the desert Emirates (the old Gulf States) with construction of its infra-structure and establishing an airline (Emirates Airlines). Its first flight was from Dubai to Karachi.

Pakistan Helped Many Countries:

Pakistan helped Malaysia too when the constitutional experts from Pakistan extended their assistance in preparing the Malaysian constitution. Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries in the region, all looked up to Pakistan for cooperation in different fields ranging from economic to defense collaboration.

Pakistan’s educational institutions and universities were held in high esteem by all Asian, African, Middle Eastern and even European countries. Egyptians, Indonesians, Iranians, Arabian and African students considered themselves very honored to get admission into Pakistani universities.

That was my Pakistan and I miss it. I doubt if any present leader is capable of bringing back its lost glory to Pakistan. Now, Pakistan is occupied by the hypocrites (Munafiqeen) who call the corrupt, dishonest and anti-Islam politicians ‘Shaheed’. They are getting the kind of leaders they deserve!

A Lesson of History For

Dishonest Pakistani Politicians

And The Ignorant Masses!

Learn To Appreciate Pakistan!

Today, on the 71^st anniversary, Pakistan should be analyzing its achievements and failures (gains and losses). It is accountability time again. But when I look back, it hurts too much. So, instead of going through the painful analysis again, I have decided to remind all Pakistanis of the goals Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had mentioned in his speech to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, on 11^th of August, 1947. See for yourself what you still need to do to achieve those goals, and make Pakistan a great country. Let’s hope that we learn lessons from our past mistakes and march on the right path to make this country a model Islamic state.

Excerpts From The Speech of

M. A. Jinnah To The Pak Constituent Assembly:

The Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, said:

“The Constituent Assembly has got two main functions to perform. The first is the very onerous and responsible task of framing the future constitution of Pakistan and the second of functioning as a full and complete sovereign body as the Federal Legislature of Pakistan.”

Legislation, Law & Order:

“Dealing with our first function in this Assembly, I cannot make any well-considered pronouncement at this moment, but I shall say a few things as they occur to me. The first and the foremost thing that I would like to emphasize is this:

Remember that you are now a sovereign legislative body and you have got all the powers. It therefore places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decisions. The first observation that I would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.”

Corruption & Bribery:

“The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering – I do not say that other countries are free from it, but I think our condition is much worse – is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand, and I hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this Assembly to do so.”

Black-marketing & Hoarding:

“Black-marketing is another curse. Well, I know that black-marketers are frequently caught and punished. Judicial sentences are passed, or sometimes fines only are imposed. Now you have to tackle this monster, which today is a colossal crime against society, in our distressed conditions, when we constantly face shortage of food and other essential commodities of life. A citizen who does black-marketing commits, I think, a greater crime than the biggest and most grievous of crimes. These black-marketers are really knowing, intelligent, and ordinarily responsible people, and when they indulge in black-marketing, I think they ought to be very severely punished, because they undermine the entire system of control and regulation of foodstuffs and essential commodities, and cause wholesale starvation and want and even death.”

Nepotism & Jobbery:

“The next thing that strikes me is this: Here again it is a legacy which has been passed on to us. Along with many other things, good and bad, has arrived this great evil -- the evil of nepotism and jobbery. I want to make it quite clear that I shall never tolerate any kind of jobbery (i.e., corrupt employment practices), nepotism, or any influence directly or indirectly brought to bear upon me. Whenever I will find that such a practice is in vogue or is continuing anywhere, low or high, I shall certainly not countenance it.”

Two-Nation Partition:

“I know there are people who do not quite agree with the division of India and the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Much has been said against it, but now that it has been accepted, it is the duty of every one of us to loyally abide by it and honorably act according to the agreement which is now final and binding on all. But you must remember, as I have said, that this mighty revolution that has taken place is unprecedented.”

“One can quite understand the feeling that exists between the two communities wherever one community is in majority and the other is in minority. But the question is, whether it was possible or practicable to act otherwise than what has been done. A division had to take place. On both sides, in Hindustan and Pakistan, there are sections of people who may not agree with it, who may not like it; but in my judgment there was no other solution, and I am sure future history will record its verdict in favor of it. And what is more, it will be proved by actual experience as we go on that that was the only solution of India's constitutional problem.”

“Any idea of a united India could never have worked, and in my judgment it would have led us to terrific disaster. Maybe that view is correct; maybe it is not; that remains to be seen. All the same, in this division it was impossible to avoid the question of minorities being in one dominion or the other. Now that was unavoidable. There is no other solution. Now what shall we do? Now, if we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor. If you will work in co-operation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed. If you change your past and work together in a spirit that every one of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his color, caste, or creed, is first, second, and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges, and obligations, there will be no end to the progress you will make.”

Minorities’ Rights:

“I cannot emphasize it too much. We should begin to work in that spirit, and in course of time all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community -- because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on, and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vashnavas, Khatris, also Bengalees, Madrasis and so on -- will vanish. Indeed if you ask me, this has been the biggest hindrance in the way of India to attain the freedom and independence, and but for this we would have been free people long ago.”

One Free Nation:

“No power can hold another nation, and specially a nation of 400 million souls, in subjection; nobody could have conquered you, and even if it had happened, nobody could have continued its hold on you for any length of time, but for this. Therefore, we must learn a lesson from this. You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed -- that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

“We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle: that we are all citizens, and equal citizens, of one State.”

“Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal, and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus, and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.”

“Well, gentlemen, I do not wish to take up any more of your time; and thank you again for the honor you have done to me. I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fair play without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will; in other words, partiality or favoritism. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest Nations of the world.”

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HIJAB WAS COMMON But Burka & Niqab Issue Was Created To Malign Islam And Promote Islamophobia

Burka & Niqab Issue

It Was Created To

Malign Islam And

Promote Islamophobia

Hijab Was Never A Problem

In Europe Or America Till

Saudi/Salafi/Daesh Group Made

It Controversial And

Confused It With Burka/Niqab

(M. Javed Naseem)

“And order the Muslim women to lower down

their gaze a little and guard their chastity and show

not their adornment but as much which is itself

apparent, and remain putting their head-coverings

over their bosoms. And disclose not their adornment

but to their husbands, or to their fathers, or …..”

(al-Quran 24:31)

Recently, the British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson was fired because he was creating problems for Prime Minister Theresa May, on different fronts. One of these fronts was the Muslim front as he has been saying things about Islam and Muslims that constitute prejudice, racism or discrimination. A few days ago, he wrote an article in a British newspaper referring to Muslim women with Burka and Niqab as walking “Letter Boxes”. He further said that those women looked like “bank robbers” (who normally cover their heads and faces to disguise). We always see that in the films or on TV. It was funny but people didn’t enjoy the humor in it.

Many social groups and activists protested against those remarks, including Muslim groups in Britain and other countries. Some have demanded an apology from Johnson because he, as they maintain, being in the high government position, should not have uttered those words.

But now we see the reaction from a British Muslim organization which is quite the opposite what most people would have expected. That organization is MECO – Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford, UK. Their opinion is that the former UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson should not apologize "for telling the truth" in his comments on wearing face-concealing and full-body veils in public.

 

"Although this deliberate identity-concealing contraption is banned at the Kaaba in Mecca it is permitted in Britain, thus precipitating security risks, accelerating vitamin-D deficiency, endorsing gender-inequality and inhibiting community cohesion," Dr. Taj Hargey, the imam at the Oxford Islamic Congregation, added.

Mr. Johnson has faced fierce backlash after he said Muslim head veils were 'oppressive' for women and said it is "absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes."

"The burka and niqab are hideous tribal ninja-like garments that are pre-Islamic, non-Koranic and therefore un-Muslim," Dr. Hargey wrote in a letter to The Times. 

The imam also said the ex-FM Johnson "did not go far enough" in his column, which sparked controversy, and calls for him to apologize for saying veiled women looked like "bank robbers."

Dr. Taj Hargey is the Director of the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford (MECO),"a diverse group of forward-looking Muslim academics, entrepreneurs, professionals, retirees, students and other Oxford residents."

In 2015, following the ruling by the French Parliamentary Commission, MECO took the lead in pioneering an anti-Burqa and Niqab Initiative (ABNI).

"British Muslims must distinguish between religion and culture by recognizing that face covering is a tribal cultural habit that is in fact explicitly prohibited during the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj). If it is forbidden at Islam's holiest mosque, then why is it fine elsewhere?" MECO said at the time.

The organization has also argued that many Muslims "have been misled by propaganda from the Wahhabi-Salafi-Deobandi-Tabligh Jamati and Jamati Islami sects that the burqa/niqab is integral to Islam." MECO then called on Britain to follow France and Belgium in upholding a ban on public face-masking.

A Wednesday poll revealed that more than half — 59% of respondents — supported banning the wearing of the burqa in public places, while 48% said that Boris Johnson should not ask pardon for his comments.

(Courtesy: https://sputniknews.com/europe/201808091067067581-british-imam-burqa-johnson/)

MECO is absolutely right about one thing at least and that is Wahhabi-Salafi-Deobandi-Tablighi Jamati and Daesh group’s misleading propaganda on Hijab. They are confusing general public, especially foreigners and non-Muslims, about Hijab. Hijab is neither Burka nor Niqab. Hijab in the modern Arabic connotation is meant simply the Head-scarf or headcovering. In the centuries-old Arabic, Hijab did mean a veil or a partition or separation – but they were NOT the dressing of a woman. Burka and Niqab are the women’s  dressing, and are two different things. But Saudi-Salafi-Daesh group is forcing people to accept it as ‘Hijab’ thus creating confusion.

Please note that Muslims women are NOT allowed to wear Burka, Niqab, facial veil or hand-gloves during the performance of Hajj or Umrah. It is prohibited in the Masjid-e-Haram, Makkah. But they are required to cover their heads and chest, and wear a modest clean dress.

In the Arabic Quran, Allah has used the word “Khumur” which is the plural of “Khimar” and ‘Khimar’ means “head-covering” or head-scarf.

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلاَ

يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ

وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ

“And order the Muslim women to lower down

their gaze a little and guard their chastity and show

not their adornment but as much which is itself

apparent, and remain putting their head-coverings

over their bosoms. And disclose not their adornment

but to their husbands, or to their fathers, or …..”

(al-Quran 24:31)

I would like to remind people here of the terrorist Mullah of Pakistan’s Lal Masjid (the Red Mosque) police encounter, who was responsible for killing dozens of innocent Muslims, and was caught fleeing wearing a Burka, disguised as a woman! What a man! And he still has his fans and admirers among the ignorant masses.

European countries had started banning Burka and Niqab because those two versions of Hijab concealed the identity of the person. These days, security is a big issue everywhere and people are stopped and their identity checked even in their own countries. Since Burka and Niqab hide the identity of the person (also what he/she is carrying), it makes sense for the police and security personnel to demand people to remove it. Since some organizations are abusing or misusing the concept of Hijab (Taliban, Daesh, ISIS, Salafi, Wahhabi, etc.) and are not ready to accept the authorities’ logic, the authorities have to pass the law to enforce the ruling.

And so the controversy continues.

I have been living in Europe and America since 1969. There was absolutely no problem with Islam or Muslims or with Hijab. No problems in the 1970s, or the 1980s, or the 1990s. It all started after the bloody drama of 9/11 in 2001, when the Arabs who had worked for the FBI or CIA; or the Arabs who had police records with FBI, were “found” guilty of the terrorist attack of 9/11. Later on, similar people were found in different European countries involved in explosions or terrorist activities. None of them was ever presented in an open court of justice for trial. They were either shot dead on the scene or after, or taken prisoners at a secret location. Nobody knew their fate – or everybody could imagine what would have happened to them. People were given only the government version of the events to believe.

Muslims living in the West, especially in European countries, should realize the seriousness of the problem. Islamophobia is being promoted and encouraged by the biased Zionist media and the ultra-right politicians. Therefore, Muslims should try not to give these elements any excuse to persecute them or violate civil rights of Muslims. What is a genuine demand, should be accepted. Face-covering should not be allowed to anybody. If it is not allowed to Muslims, it should also not be allowed to Ku Klux Klan either. It’s for the robbers and thieves!

On the other hand, head-scarf or head-covering (Hijab) should not be a problem anywhere; and should not be banned. Even the Bible testifies that women are required to cover their heads.

“For if a woman does not cover her head, let her

also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful

for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head

shaved, let her cover her head.”

(1-Corinthians 11:6)

Hopefully, the sanity will prevail.

Here’s the complete text of MECO Imam’s letter to The Times:

The Editor, The Times, London.

Dear Sir,

Under no circumstances should Boris Johnson apologize for telling the truth. While his usage of evocative analogy is unfortunate, the former Foreign Secretary is justified in reminding everyone that the Wahhabi / Salafi-inspired fad of female facial masking has no Qur’anic legitimacy. It is, however, a nefarious component of a trendy gateway theology for religious extremism and militant Islam in the UK.

The burka and niqab are hideous tribal ninja-like garments that are pre-Islamic, non-Qur’anic and therefore un-Muslim. Moreover, although this deliberate identity-concealing contraption is banned at Islam’s holiest mosque in Mecca, it is permitted in Britain to precipitate security risks, accelerate vitamin D deficiencies, while endorsing gender-inequality (men prohibited from masking) and inhibiting effective community cohesion.

The retrogressive Islamic clergy has succeeded in conditioning ill-informed Muslims through suspect secondary sources that God wants women to cover their faces, when in reality it is a toxic patriarchy controlling women. Through this cunning propaganda is it any wonder that many younger women have internalised this poisonous chauvinism by asserting that it is their human right to hide their faces? Of course, everyone has the prerogative to wear what they wish, but no one has inalienable rights to public anonymity. Should burka/niqab-clad females argue that it is their personal whim or ethnic culture to do so, that can be easily refuted. But they invariably claim that Islam mandates female masking, when this is fabricated. Repeating any lie ad infinitum does not make it true, irrespective of what populist Muslim apologists and politicians might say.

It is regrettable that Boris Johnson did not go far enough. If Britain is to become a fully integrated society, then it is incumbent that all cultural practices, personal preferences and communal customs that aggravate social division should be firmly resisted. For this reason alone, Britain must emulate France, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, etc in banning the burka. This egregious symbol only boosts Muslim segregation and fanaticism while jeopardising social solidarity and common values. So, let’s bite the bullet and proscribe this foreign-imported fashion that is incompatible both with Islam’s sacred scripture and British traditions.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. T. Hargey, Imam, Oxford Islamic Congregation.

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TEN COMMANDMENTS: No God But Allah; No Religion But Islam!

There Is No God But Allah,

The Exalted, the Wise!

There Is No Religion

But Islam, i.e., Surrender or

Submission To His Will.

(M. Javed Naseem)

“And your Allah is One Allah!

There is no God but He, Most Gracious,

Most Merciful.”

(al-Quran 2:163)

“Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods

with Him; but He forgives whom He pleases other

sins than this. One who joins other gods with Allah,

has strayed far, far away (from the right).”

(al-Quran 4:116)

Here’s the Divine declaration from Allah, the Almighty God, the Lord of the universe, the Supreme Creator, the Chief Controller, the Sustainer and the Cherisher of the world!

He is the One and Only worthy of worship.

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـٰهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلْعِلْمِ

قَآئِمَاً بِٱلْقِسْطِ لاَ إِلَـٰهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
“There is no god but He. That is the witness

of Allah, His angels, and those endued with

knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is

no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.”

(al-Quran 3:18)

That was verse No.18 from Chapter 3 (Surah Aal-e-Imran). In the very next verse, the Almighty clarifies, if there was any doubt about Allah’s religion in anybody’s mind today, that there is only one religion and that is ‘total submission’ or ‘total surrender’ to the Will of God. The only thing the Creator requires from us, the Creation, is obedience and loyalty (fidelity). He has named that religion Islam in Arabic. In other languages during the times of other Prophets, it might have different names. Christianity and Judaism are NOT the names of God’s religion. Those names are coined by man, particularly the Greek. Later, the modern world adopted their translations. In fact, both Prophets Moses and Jesus practiced Islam and they were Muslims; and so was their forefather Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim), peace be upon them all.

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلإِسْلاَمُ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلْكِتَابَ

إِلاَّ مِنْ  بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْياً بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ

بِآيَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَاب
“The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission

to His Will)! Nor did the People of the Book

dissent therefrom except through envy of each

other, after knowledge had come to them. But

if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift

in calling to account.”

(al-Quran 3:19)

Now, the question arises in the layman’s mind: What is Islam and what do Muslims believe in? Is it different from the teachings of Abraham or Moses or Jesus? Here is the answer from Allah through the Quran:

قُلْ آمَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ

وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ

وَٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ  رَّبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ
“Say: ‘We believe in Allah, and in what has been

revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham,

Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the

Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets,

from their Lord. We make no distinction between

one and another among them, and to Allah do we

bow our will in Islam."

(al-Quran 3:84)

“Were ye witnesses when death appeared before

Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: ‘What will you

worship after me?’ They said: ‘We shall worship

your God and the God of your fathers, of Abraham,

Ishmael and Isaac,- the One (True) Allah!

To Him we bow (in Islam)."

(al-Quran 2:133)

And that is Islam – the religion of the Prophets and Messengers of God throughout the ages, during all eras. Anything else was man-made and not God’s religion. In the very next verse, Allah re-emphasizes this point and declares again that it’s Islam.

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ ٱلإِسْلاَمِ دِيناً فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ

وَهُوَ فِى ٱلآخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَاسِرِينَ
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam

(submission to Allah), never will it be accepted

of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the

ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).”

(al-Quran 3:85)

Allah, through His Prophets and Messengers, has given mankind many commands. Ten of them were the basic and got a lot of publicity through literature and films because those were given all at one time. Those famous commandments were delivered to Prophet Moses, etched in stone. As a matter of fact those were the same or similar commandments given to other Prophets before Moses and after Moses. The Quran contains hundreds of commands of Allah including those famous Ten Commandments given to Moses (found in the Old Testament, Exodus-20 and Deuteronomy-5).

Ten Commandments

Then God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

1. – “You shall have no other gods before or besides Me!”

2. – “You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them.”

3. – “You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain!”

4. – “[Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God)!”

5. – “Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you!”

6. – “You shall not commit murder!

7. – “You shall not commit adultery!”

8. – “You shall not steal!”

9. – “You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor!’

10. – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s!”

The Quran says:

“And your Allah is One Allah! There is no God but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.” (al-Quran 2:163)

“Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and what your right hands possess. For Allah loves not the arrogant, the vainglorious.” (al-Quran 4:36)

“And make not Allah's (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; for Allah is One Who hears and knows all things.” (al-Quran 2:224)

”Say: ‘Come, I will rehearse what Allah has (really) prohibited you from:

Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want –  We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to shameful deeds, whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.” (al-Quran 6:151) 

“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic)! That is best for you if you but knew!” (al-Quran 62:9)

“Nor come near to adultery, for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils)!” (al-Quran 17:32)

“O Prophet! When believing women come to you to take the oath of fealty to you, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey you in any just matter, then do you receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins); for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!” (al-Quran 60:12) 

“As to the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands – a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime; and Allah is Exalted in power. But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turns to him in forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (al-Quran 5:38-39)

أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ ٱللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَنْ فِى ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ

وَٱلأَرْضِ طَوْعاً وَكَرْهاً وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
“Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah?

While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have,

willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (accepted

Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back.”

(al-Quran 3:83)

*************