FIVE QUESTIONS: You Can't Hide Nor Run Away From Accountability!

The Day Of Judgment:

Five Questions!

You Can’t Hide Nor Run

Away From Accountability!

(M. Javed Naseem)

“Then shall We question those to

whom Our Message was sent and

those by whom We sent it.”

(al-Quran 7:6)

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Five Questions that will determine your

fate – Heaven or Hell. You have enough

time to prepare answers to those questions

during your lifespan in this world!

You’ll even get the time to correct the

mistakes and change your wrong answers

before it is all over!

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We are responsible for our actions. Whatever we do here in this world, we would be asked about it in the Hereafter. On the Day of Judgment, we’ll be questioned about our life on this earth. We are all answerable to our Lord Creator for every small thing we do here (in this world) during our lifetime, especially when we were having good time and thousands of people were suffering and starving at the same time.

“Then, shall you be questioned that Day

about the joy (you indulged in!).”

(al-Quran 102:8)

When you appear in the Divine court, you’ll be all alone. Nobody would help you. The only thing that could help you would be your good deeds and charity. Everybody has to bear his own burden and carry the load of his sins! No exceptions there!

“They will bear their own burdens, and (other)

burdens along with their own, and on the Day

of Judgments they will be called to account

for their falsehoods.”

(al-Quran 29:13)

The Holy Quran is full of commands of Allah that determine our path in this world – what we should DO, and what we should NOT do. We choose the path we want to follow, and that will lead us to Heaven or Hell. We’ll be held accountable for our choices and the actions that follow.

“This (Quran) is indeed a Reminder

for you and your people; and you shall

soon be questioned.”

(al-Quran 43:44)

When we die, the door on the life of this world is closed and we pass on to another world – the Hereafter. We stay in the transit lounge of the graves, in a world called “Aalam-al-Barzakh” – the ‘World of Barzakh’. Barzakh is an Arabic/Persian word and it means ‘barrier’ or ‘obstacle’ or ‘hindrance’ or ‘separation’. Therefore, from Islamic point of view, the World of Barzakh means the barrier between the physical and spiritual worlds.

I call it the ‘Transit Lounge’ of our final journey. We’ll leave that Barzakh world when the Trumpet will be blown and we will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment for accountability.

During the accountability process, we’ll be asked many questions. As a matter of fact, Ahadith and traditions tell us that the questioning will start the moment we die and are buried in the graves. There would be many questions but five questions would be major our lives in this world. Every human being has to answer them before he/she is admitted to Heaven or Hell. I would like to remind you of those very important questions in case you’re living a care-free and ‘I-am-not-responsible’ kind of life on this planet. The questioning starts from the grave. At the very first stage you would be asked three basic questions – about your Lord, your Deen (religion) and your Prophet. The first questions in the grave would be about our Belief (‘Aqeedah’) and Faith. Then there are other sessions of interrogation. Some say there are thirty questions; others say it’s 300 or even more. Allah knows best.

What we know from the sayings (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) that there would be many questions, out of which the following five are the most important questions about our lives on this planet earth:

1. How did you live your life on earth? (As per commands of Allah?)

2. What did you do with (or how you spent) your youth? (The most powerful, resourceful, beautiful and effective tool to work with in the physical world).

3. How did you earn your livelihood (money)? (By Halal or Haraam means?)

4. How did you spend your earnings/wealth? (In the cause of Allah, helping the needy?) 5. What did you do with your knowledge (education)? (Did you use it to serve Allah, serve mankind and to guide others to the right path?)

Easy questions, difficult answers!

The most slippery question is about your earnings/wealth. How did you make it? Everybody knows what is ‘Halal’ and what are Halal means of earning. But do we abide by the ‘Halal’ rules? All religions, including Islam, promote Halal things. Halal means ‘allowed’ or ‘permitted’, and in all religions only ‘good’ things are permitted. And this covers all aspects of life, not only the earnings.

“That (Allah) may question the (custodians) of

Truth concerning the Truth they (were charged

with). And He has prepared for the Unbelievers

a grievous Penalty.”

(al-Quran 33:6)

All injustice will be punished; all aggression, all evil and all hypocrisy will be punished. At that point, we won’t be able to change anything. The Time to change the outcome is NOW! It’s possible only through repentance; asking Allah for forgiveness; and doing good things for other human beings. When we look into the mirror, we see only “beautiful Me”. But the mirror shows us only the shell – the outer side – of our personality. It is the inner side of our personality that will determine our final destination – Heaven or Hell.

We better reflect upon it seriously and prepare some good answers. The painful and the longest Day of Accountability is fast approaching.

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FIGHTING FOR HELL: The best way to serve God is to serve Mankind!

Fighting For The Luxuries

Of This Life Is Like

Fighting For Hell!

The Best Way To Serve God

Is To Serve Mankind!

Life of This World Is

A Test, An Illusion!

(M. Javed Naseem)

“What is the life of this world but play and

amusement? But best is the home in the

Hereafter, for those who are righteous.

Will you not then understand?”

(al-Quran 6:32)

It’s election time in Pakistan and we see a lot of mud-slinging in the political arena. It is not only in Pakistan; we have seen the same shit in every country of the West, even in the so-called First World, Civilized World, Developed countries, etc. We are still watching a great deal of mud-slinging in America (Trump-Obama-Russia-Hillary) as election fallout. It didn’t stop even after two years of Presidential election.

It’s during election time that candidates try to expose other candidates. Corruption is brought to light; secret love affairs or marriages are disclosed; black-money and off-shore accounts are discussed; malpractices are publicized; everybody is propagating his own good points and achievements, while at the same time, condemning the failures and weak points of the opposition. But as a matter of fact, everybody is trying to get the maximum benefits from his public office influence. Every politician is selfish and is working for his/her own benefit. People are just used.

We are trying to accumulate as much of material things (including money) as possible – and as quickly as possible too – by all means (Halal or Haraam). In the process we don’t care about how much misery, pain, trouble and discomfort we bring to others – as long as it is not happening to us. And on top of it, every one of us is complaining about the corruption and injustice in the world, as if only others are responsible for that.

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You are one step away from the grave

(death)! You have very little time to work

on your Hereafter! Try to please Allah

with your good deeds and maximum

charity before Death knocks you out!

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Today, people run for public office because of its material benefits, clout, power or authority, perks, luxury life and above all chances of making endless money. People fight for that fiercely and put their lives at stake too. This worldly life is so important to them that they would go any length (even killing people) to achieve it. They are misguided souls. They did not learn any lesson from books; nor from their parents’ lives; nor from the society that on the Day of Judgment, they would have to answer questions about every misdeed, every injustice and every transgression.

“These are the people who buy the life

of this world at the price of the Hereafter.

Their penalty shall not be lightened,

nor shall they be helped.”

(al-Quran 2:86)

There is a very beautiful small chapter (Surah) in the Quran and it is called at-Takathur (or al-Takassur), meaning: Rivalry in material increase, or competition, or hoarding. It has only 8 short verses. In those verses Allah wakes you up and shakes you up by saying:

سورة التكاثر

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

أَلْهَاكُمُ ٱلتَّكَّاثُرُ حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ ٱلْمَقَابِرَ كَلاَّ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

ثُمَّ كَلاَّ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ كَلاَّ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ ٱلْيَقِين

لَتَرَوُنَّ ٱلْجَحِيمَ ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ ٱلْيَقِينِ

ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
“The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things

of this world) diverts you (from the more serious

things), until you visit the graves. But nay, you

soon shall know (the reality). Again, you soon

shall know! Nay, were you to know with certainty

of mind, (you would beware!) You shall certainly

see Hellfire! Again, you shall see it with certainty

of sight! Then, shall you be questioned

that Day about the joy (you indulged in!).”

(al-Quran 102:1-8)

Jesus says:

James 4:4

“You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

1 John 2:17)

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Titus 2:11-12

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Mark 8:36

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1 Timothy 6:7-8

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Muhammad (s.a.w.) Says:

Hadith No.1 (Simple Living)

(Note: This is an excerpt from a long narration.)

Narrated Ibn Abbas: “For the whole year I had the desire to ask Umar bin Al-Khattab regarding the explanation of a verse (in Surah Al-Tahrim) but I could not ask him because … Allah's Apostle smiled while he was lying on a mat made of palm-tree leaves with nothing between him and the mat. Underneath his head there was a leather pillow stuffed with palm fibers, and leaves of a saut tree were piled at his feet, and above his head hung a few water skins. On seeing the marks of the mat imprinted on his side, I wept. He said.' 'Why are you weeping?' I replied, "O Allah's Apostle! Caesar and Khosrau are leading the life (i.e. luxurious life) while you, being Allah's Apostle, are living as a destitute". The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied. 'Won't you be satisfied that they enjoy this world and we the Hereafter?'” -- (Bukhari, Book 60, No. 435).

Hadith No.2 (Desires & Temptation)

Narrated Abu Huraira: “I heard Allah's Apostle saying, “the heart of an old man remains young in two respects, i.e., his love for the world (its wealth, desires, amusements and luxuries) and his incessant hope." -- (Bukhari, Book 76, No. 429).

Hadith No.3 (Greed & Race For Materialism)

Narrated Sahl bin Saad: “I heard Ibn Zubair who was on the pulpit at Mecca, delivering a sermon, saying: O men! The Prophet used to say, ‘If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third, for nothing fills the belly of Adam's son except dust. And Allah forgives he who repents to Him." Ubai said, "We considered this as a saying from the Quran till the Sura (beginning with) ' the mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you..' (al-Takassur or Takathur) was revealed." -- (Bukhari, Book 76, No. 446).

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WEALTH AND CHILDREN:The Yardstick of Nobility From The Period of Ignorance, is A Test For Muslims.

Wealth & Children:

The Yardstick Of Nobility

From The Period Of

Ignorance (Jaahiliah),

But A Test For Muslims

(M. Javed Naseem)

“O you who believe! Truly, among your wives

and your children are (some that are) enemies to

yourselves; so beware of them! But if you pardon,

forgive and overlook, verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving,

Most Merciful. Your wealth and your children are

only a trial; but in the presence of Allah,

is the highest reward.

(al-Quran 64:14-15)

Centuries ago, man used to claim his status in the society by dint of his wealth and children. The richer and bigger the family, the higher and nobler it would be in status in society. Today, after thousands of years, the yardstick is still the same. The rich and big families have all the influence in the society despite the fact that most of them are corrupt and have no integrity.

God is infinite Truth and He is also the infinite Love – pure and incorruptible! So, He likes His world pure and without corruption. The Almighty sent different Prophets and Messengers during different eras to eradicate the evil of ignorance and spread the enlightenment so that people follow the path of piety and righteousness. With the advent of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) appeared with the same mission like his predecessors to guide people to the right path. In the Quran, Allah commanded the man on many occasions with plain and simple words: “And don’t spread corruption (or mischief) in the earth!” Unfortunately, the man proved, on every occasion, that he is disobedient and ungrateful to God; he is ignorant, unjust, corrupt and dishonest. He loves wealth and his own children and does not mind hurting and killing other people for the purpose of his own material gains.

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In Islam, wealth and children are a test for

Muslims. Allah wants to see how we handle

these blessings and how we use them for the

benefit of mankind! Abusing them means

punishment on the Day of Judgment.

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“And know that your possessions and your

progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah

with Whom lies your highest reward.”

(al-Quran 8:28)

We are wholeheartedly in the race for materialism – accumulation of wealth. Greed is the mother of all evils and it forces us to be dishonest, corrupt, unjust and cruel. People with richer and bigger families use their influence to acquire more wealth and property by all (legal or illegal) means. There are ‘Qabzah Groups’ in Pakistan and India who steal or forcibly buy for peanuts high-value properties from common people who have no means to protect themselves. Those groups don’t hesitate to kill innocent people, if they need to.

That’s blackmailing, terrorism, injustice and transgression. Believers are warned in the Quran about that:

“Of no profit whatever to them, against

Allah, will be their riches nor their sons.

They will be companions of the Fire,

to dwell therein (forever)!

(al-Quran 58:17)

The Western gangster movies and video games are influencing people’s brains and changing their character slowly. They have developed the habit of taking advantage of others’ situations without thinking that they are doing injustice to others. People are becoming more and more selfish. The worst thing is that they don’t really need to do such things to ‘survive’. They are usually better off than their victims. They don’t do it because they are poor and need to survive. No, they are generally rich. It’s their greed.

According to Amr ibn Awf, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:

“By Allah, it is not poverty I fear for you, but rather

I fear you will be given the wealth of the world just as

it was given to those before you. You will compete

for it just as they competed for it and it will destroy

 you just as it destroyed them.”

(Bukhari, No.2988; Muslim, No.2961)

Wealth and children are the blessings of the Almighty and at the same time a test for us. Most people are failing this test despite all the warnings. It is really hard to understand what part of God’s command people don’t understand! How can we say ‘goodbye’ to our compassion and spirit of good deeds; and adopt evil practices without thinking of the long-term consequences? Allah says very clearly in the Quran:

“Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of

this world; but the things that endure, good deeds,

are best in the sight of your Lord, as rewards,

and best as (the foundation for) hopes.”

(al-Quran 18:46)

Allah, the Almighty, warns all believers in the Quran about the hidden evil in wealth and children, and commands us to be vigilant lest we forget the rights of Allah:

“O you who believe! Let not your riches or

your children divert you from the remembrance

of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.”

(al-Quran 63:9)

On the Day of Judgment, all believers would be judged on the scale of righteousness or piety. There is no other criterion in Islam to determine somebody’s status except by ‘Taqwa’ (meaning righteousness or piety). Wealth and children would be of no use.

“It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will

bring you nearer to Us in degree; but only those

who believe and work righteousness - these are

the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward

for their deeds, while secure they (reside) in

the dwellings on high!”

(al-Quran 34:37)

“Of no profit to you will be your relatives

and your children on the Day of Judgment.

He will judge between you; for Allah sees

well all that you do.”

(al-Quran 60:3)

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GOD'S RULE: Blessings For The Grateful, Punishment For The Ungrateful. It's Your Choice!

God’s Rule:

Blessings For The Grateful,

Punishment For The Ungrateful.

It’s Your Choice!

(M. Javed Naseem)

“Truly man is, to his Lord, ungrateful; and

to that (fact) he bears witness (by his deeds);

and violent is he in his love of wealth.”

(al-Quran 100:6-8)

There are many reminders for us in the Holy Quran. In hundreds of verses we are reminded that we should be conscious of Allah; we should be mindful of Allah; or even we should have fear of Allah (meaning that we should fear His punishment, chastisement or wrath because it is very severe). As a matter of fact, all three phrases mean the same thing that we should be obeying God’s commands and should refrain from evil deeds. Our top priority should be pleasing Allah with our righteous deeds.

Allah has given us freedom of choice in this world and these choices of ours will determine our life in the Hereafter. In other words, we are on a test or a trial in this life on this planet Earth. We are told what is right and what is wrong. We are also told that doing good (right) things will please our Lord God and we’ll be rewarded for that while at the same time we are warned that doing evil (bad) things will invoke God’s displeasure and anger, and that merits punishment.

“But those who reject (Allah), for them will be

the Fire of Hell. No term shall be determined

for them, so they should die, nor shall its penalty

be lightened for them. Thus do We reward

every ungrateful one!”

(al-Quran 35:36)

Rejecting or ignoring the Lord Creator is like a rebellion against Him. That’s why Allah does not like those who are arrogant and ungrateful. Allah wants us to become humble and grateful for all the favors He has bestowed upon us. God does not need us, but we need God in our lives every day. A simple gesture of gratitude is sometimes enough to please our merciful Lord.

Man is created weak and most of us can’t even control our own desires. Often we get carried away and tempt to commit sins. But God is so merciful that He forgives our sins every time we repent and revert to him for forgiveness. We should be grateful to God for that special favor but most of us are not. And God knows that too. So, then who are we fooling? The answer is: Ourselves!

“But verily, your Lord is full of grace to

Mankind, yet most of them are ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 27:73)

“It is He Who gave you life, will cause you

to die, and will again give you life! Truly,

man is the most ungrateful creature!”

(al-Quran 22:66)

We take life and its bounties for granted, without giving it a thought. Every day of our lives is a gift from God and we cannot thank Him enough for the endless bounties we enjoy. It’s God’s right that we thank Him for every favor.

“… Verily Allah is full of bounty to mankind,

but most of them are ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 2:243 & 10:60)

We revert to God only in distress or in trouble. In our happy times, we don’t remember Him nor show any gratitude. But He keeps reminding us (with bad times and troubles) that He is still there to help us. We are so selfish and shameless that we never feel embarrassed!

“They recognize the favors of Allah;

then they deny them; and most of them

are (creatures) ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 16:83)

It is not funny at all that sailors are the most faithful and sincere believers of God. In the ocean they are at the mercy of the waves and there’s no help during a storm except that of God’s. How a boat sails through meters-high angry waves, only a sailor knows. People talk about the second chance, but a sailor enjoys many chances during his life in the sea. During every storm, he gets a new life. And if there is any doubt about it in anybody’s mind, here’s what Allah says in the Quran:

“Your Lord is He Who makes the ship go smoothly

for you through the sea, in order that you may seek

of his bounty. For He is unto you most Merciful.

When distress seizes you at sea, those that you call

upon - besides Himself - leave you in the lurch!

But when He brings you back safe to land, you

turn away (from Him). Most ungrateful is man!”

(al-Quran 17:66-67)

“See you not that the ships sail through the

ocean by the Grace of Allah? That He may

show you of His Signs? Verily in this are

Signs for all who constantly persevere

and give thanks.”

(al-Quran 31:31)

If we learn to be grateful for everything we have (not for everything we still want), we will be content with life. We’ll have less material problems and we’ll stay away from evil-doing too. It is the greed, the sentiment of jealousy and competition with the rich that pushes us towards evil and corruption. God has promised us provision for the entire life. We should try to seek that with honest, fair and lawful means. With hardwork and sincerity, we can achieve almost everything – almost. But the first thing we need to learn is to say: Thank you for everything, Allah!

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AFTER 15 YEARS OF WAR IN IRAQ: US has spent $32 million per hour on War-on-Terror since 2001.

The Illegal Iraq War

Is Still Laughing

At Our Face!

U.S. Has Spent $32 Million

Per Hour on War-on-Terror

Since 2001

(M. Javed Naseem)

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Summary

o:- Direct war death toll in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

since 2001: 370,000 (August 2016).

o:- Over 370,000 people have died due to direct war

violence, and at least 800,000 more indirectly.

o:- 200,000 civilians have been killed as a result of the

fighting at the hands of all parties to the conflict.

o:- 10.1 million — the number of war refugees

and displaced persons.

o:- The US federal price tag for the post-9/11 wars is

about $5.6 trillion dollars.

o:- The US military is conducting counter-terror

activities in 76 countries.

o:- The wars have been accompanied by violations of

human rights and civil liberties, in the US and abroad.

(Courtesy: http://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/)

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The evil Zionist empire has tightened its grip on world affairs with the help of bombs and guns. It is manipulating other countries’ (especially oil-rich Middle East) resources and plundering their wealth, destroying, at the same time, centuries old civilization, historic monuments and modern infrastructure, not to mention millions of people killed in the process. The ruthless Triangle of Evil (US, UK & Israel) has been killing innocent civilians, including children and women, like psychopaths with no remorse. They want control – total control – of the entire world and its resources.

The Evil Empire also owns and controls the mainstream media, therefore, common people don’t get the authentic information or facts about any situation these war-mongers are involved in. The corrupt media is serving the Evil Empire as a paid maid. So, it is difficult to get the truth out. But it is still possible and there are some brave people who are doing this dangerous and risky work just to wake people up. This is a great noble mission under the given circumstances when even criticizing the aggressor or the killer has become a crime.

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You are being fooled by lies & deception!

Speak out and demand the truth!

Fight for your rights, liberty & justice!

Don’t surrender your rights and lawful

privileges in the name of ‘fake’ security!

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The wheel of Iraq war was set in motion in 2003 by George Bush, in the name of War on Terror on a false and fabricated pretext that Iraq’s President Saddam Hussain possessed the WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction). The co-culprit, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, supplied the desired ‘proof’ and the war machine of the Zionist West was given the green light to attack Iraq, by the Zionist mafia. The U.N. declared it an illegal war and did not endorse it, but later on embraced it.

Till today, millions of people have been killed, one way or the other, by this illegal campaign but still there’s no end in sight – 15 years and counting! The Triangle of Evil has been exporting weapons and ammunition, plus other equipment, making trillions of dollars in profits. Anything else does not matter. War is the most profitable business for them and they export it under the label of ‘freedom and democracy’. They exported this freedom and democracy to Vietnam, Nicaragua, Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, etc., etc. – the list goes on and on! One can easily see that there is a pattern there and the same people (or countries) are the beneficiaries!

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The U.S. taxpayers pay the tab;

Children of the patriots are sacrificed;

Millions of civilians are butchered;

Death & Destruction is promoted;

But a few psychopaths get richer,

And gain control of the world!

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The modern history tells us that once America gets in, it won’t get out till that country is destroyed or its government is subdued. ‘Regime change’ is the new fashionable term being used for invasions and illegal attacks. The morons in power have declared openly: ‘If you are not with us, you are against us’. What a slogan! What a mentality! What a logic! So, the weaker, the coward and the opportunists are all jumping on the bandwagon and offering cooperation to protect their own asses and their illegitimate regimes. War has become the most profitable business for the Defense Industrial Complex of the Zionist West’s New World Order.

With more than 900 bases all over the world, the Evil Empire is not exporting freedom and democracy. It’s consolidating its hegemony of the world. During the Sept. 12, 2011, Republican presidential debate in Tampa, Rep. Ron Paul, (R-Texas) – a staunch advocate of limited government and a more modest military footprint – offered a surprising statistic about the reach of the U.S. armed forces. He said:

"We're under great threat, because we occupy so many countries," Paul said. "We're in 130 countries. We have 900 bases around the world. We're going broke. The purpose of al-Qaida was to attack us, invite us over there, where they can target us. And they have been doing it. They have more attacks against us and the American interests per month than occurred in all the years before 9/11, but we're there occupying their land. And if we think that we can do that and not have retaliation, we're kidding ourselves. We have to be honest with ourselves. What would we do if another country, say, China, did to us what we do to all those countries over there?"

Stephanie Savell is co-director of the Costs of War Project at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. An anthropologist, she has conducted research on security and civic engagement in the U.S. and in Brazil. She co-authored The Civic Imagination: Making a Difference in American Political Life.

 The Costs of War Project is a team of 35 scholars, legal experts, human rights practitioners, and physicians, which began its work in 2011. They use research and a public website to facilitate debate about the costs of the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the related violence in Pakistan and Syria. Their aim is to foster democratic discussion of these wars by providing the fullest possible account of their human, economic, and political costs, and to foster better informed public policies.

15 Years After Invasion,

What Are the Costs?

By: Stephanie Savell,

(via OtherWords.org)

U.S. Has Spent $32 Million Per Hour on War Since 2001

This March marked the 15th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

In 2003, President George W. Bush and his advisers based their case for war on the idea that Saddam Hussein, then dictator of Iraq, possessed weapons of mass destruction — weapons that have never been found. Nevertheless, all these years later, the global “War on Terror” continues — in Iraq and in many other countries.

It’s a good time to reflect on what this war — the longest in U.S. history — has cost Americans and others around the world.

First, the economic costs: According to estimates by the Costs of War project at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, the war on terror has cost Americans a staggering $5.6 trillion since 2001, when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan.

$5.6 trillion! This figure includes not just the Pentagon’s war fund, but also future obligations such as social services for an ever-growing number of post-9/11 veterans.

It’s hard for most of us to even begin to grasp such an enormous number.

It means Americans spend $32 million per hour, according to a counter by the National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Put another way: Since 2001, every American taxpayer has spent almost $24,000 on these wars — equal to the average down payment on a house, a new Honda Accord, or a year at a public university.

As stupefying as those numbers are, the budgetary costs pale in comparison with the human toll.

As of 2015, when the Costs of War project made its latest tallies, up to 165,000 Iraqi civilians had died as a direct consequence of U.S. war, plus around 8,000 U.S. soldiers and military contractors in Iraq.

Those numbers have only continued to rise. Up to 6,000 civilians were killed by U.S.-led strikes in Iraq and Syria in 2017 –– more civilians than in any previous year, according to the watchdog group AirWars.

In addition to those direct deaths, at least four times as many people in Iraq have died from the side effects of war, such as malnutrition, environmental degradation, and deteriorated infrastructure. Since the 2003 invasion, for instance, Iraqi health care has plummeted — with hospitals and clinics bombed, supplies of medicine and electricity jeopardized, and thousands of physicians and healthcare workers fleeing the country.

Meanwhile, the war continues to spread, no longer limited to Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria, as many Americans think. Indeed, the U.S. military is escalating a shadowy network of anti-terror operations all across the world — in at least 76 nations, or 40 percent of countries on the planet.

Last October, news about four U.S. Army Green Berets being killed by an Islamic State affiliate in the West African nation of Niger gave Americans a glimpse of just how broad this network is. And along with it comes all the devastating consequences of militarism for the people of these countries.

We must ask: Are these astounding costs worth it? Is the U.S. accomplishing anything close to its goal of diminishing the global terrorist threat?

The answer is, resoundingly, no. U.S. activity in Iraq and the Middle East has only spurred greater political upheaval and unrest. The U.S.-led coalition is seen not as a liberating force, but as an aggressor. This has fomented insurgent recruitment, and there are now more terrorist groups in the Middle East than ever before.

Until a broad swath of the American public gets engaged to call for an end to the War on Terror, these mushrooming costs — economic, human, social, and political — will just continue to grow.

(Courtesy: www.OtherWords.org, Cartoon by Khalil Bendib)

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TO POWER SEEKERS: Power Means Service & Responsibility.

Election Time

Message To The Power Seekers:

Power Means Service

And Responsibility,

Delivering Peace & Justice!

(M. Javed Naseem)

“Whoso desires power, (should know

that) all power belongs to Allah.”

(al-Quran 35:10)

“Do not ask for a position of authority! …”

-- Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)

 

Man is greedy for power, money and fame. Any one of these three elements can turn his head and he can become an arrogant person. The Almighty Allah does not like arrogance. When you become powerful, by grace of God, don’t let the power go through your head. It might prove more harmful than beneficial. Money and power (authority) can solve most of the problems the mankind is facing today. But at the same time, if these two are not rightly controlled or directed through proper channels, they themselves can create havoc in the world.

It is difficult to separate money from authority. Money is power and so is the authority. All power is evil (fitna) if it is not used for the benefit and welfare of mankind. In this age, it is the power that is creating all kinds of social, economic and political problems for mankind. Humans are known for the abuse of power. They cannot handle it. Power should be used to enforce justice, and eradicate inequality and injustice. But in this world what we see today is that power is being used to control others; to get the maximum material benefits; and escape from justice. This is corruption. Power should be taken from the hands of the corrupt and given to the honest and God-fearing. That will make the world an ideal place.

“And walk not in the earth exultant!

Lo! You cannot rend the earth, nor can

you stretch to the height of the hills.

The evil of all that is hateful in the

sight of thy Lord.”

(al-Quran 17:37-38)

Power is a Godly quality and only God can use it justly. Human beings, when given power, often try to play God and end up doing injustice to the fellow humans. They cannot resist the temptation, therefore, the corruption prevails. Power is responsibility and it should be used for the service to humanity. A ruler/governor who enjoys power, is actually given responsibility to serve his people. A ruler is a servant of Allah and he should serve His people; take care of them, solve their problems and promote peace and justice in the society. But the modern day ruler, on the contrary, considers himself as “king” of the people and takes people as his servants. He likes it very much when people gather in rows for his reception, bow in front of him and kiss his hand.

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Dishonest and corrupt politicians with

feudal background are used to exploit

the system and enjoy luxury life at public

expense! They should be screened and

barred from contesting elections.

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As per one Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said that if a ruler lets people wait in rows for his reception, let him know that he has reserved a place in Hell.

Now, take a minute and think about it. Sometimes, a bad ruler has ignorant cronies around him who are even worse than him. They cross all limits to please the ruler and benefit from their position. Many a time the ruler is not aware of what they do.

On the Day of Judgment, all rulers would be asked questions about their people. A ruler must be a humble and God-fearing servant of people, and not an arrogant tyrant. He is responsible for social justice, equality, peace and prosperity of his nation. He is not allowed to take people’s money or property. He is answerable to God for the sufferings of his people (due to injustice), during his tenure.

“Lo, Allah commands you that you restore

deposits to their owners, and if you judge

between mankind, that you judge justly.”

(al-Quran 4:58)

The problem with us, Muslims, is that we don’t fear Allah. We don’t think that we are going to die sooner or later. We don’t think about the Day of Judgment and answering questions in front of Allah. We have become hypocrites (Munafiq) as we say one thing and we do something else. We lie to others every day and we don’t consider it a sin or something immoral. It is accepted as normal behavior in the society. We read the Holy Quran and still we don’t get the message! We read about other nations and generations that were destroyed because of their sins and evil-doing but we don’t learn any lesson from the Quran, nor from the history of the nations. We know that it happened to other nations but we think it is not going to happen to us. Why not? Allah says:

“How many a township have We destroyed

while it was sinful, so that it lies (to this day)

in ruins, and (how many) a deserted well and

lofty tower! Have they not traveled in the land,

so that they may have hearts wherewith to feel,

and ears wherewith to hear? For indeed it is

not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts,

which are within the bosoms, that grow blind.”

(al-Quran 22:45-46)

So, we are getting blind and cannot see things coming. Maybe, we don’t want to see it as the mere thought of it is very disturbing for us. We just want comfortable lives, but we don’t want to make honest efforts for that. We go for shortcuts or we want others to do it for us. We ask the government to do things for us, but we forget that the governments also consist of people like us. Those who are in power, they care for their own interests. Nobody cares about the man in the street. Ironically the man in the street is also thinking how to get rich easily; or how to get closer to the powerful to benefit from it. It is a vicious cycle.

“… And seek not corruption in the earth!

Lo, Allah loves not corruptors.”

(al-Quran 28:77)

The funny thing in most of the Muslim countries is that everybody who works for the government would like to play the “boss” but nobody takes any responsibility. We want power but no responsibility?

As Muslims or believers in the Day of Judgment, there should not be any doubt in our minds about the accountability process. It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"Beware! Every one of you is a shepherd and every one

is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph (ruler)

is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about

his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is

a guardian over the members of his family and shall be

questioned about them (as to how he looked after their

physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian

over the household of her husband and his children and

shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed

the household and brought up the children). A slave is a

guardian over the property of his master and shall be

questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust).

Beware! Every one of you is a guardian and every one

of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.”

Those who are in-charge of others, will be questioned on the Judgment Day. There is no escape from it. In a Muslim society, everybody is responsible. These days, people complain about corruption and mishandling of affairs, but who is responsible for that? What happened to the accountability set-up? Alas, there is no such thing! People who are responsible for maintaining peace and justice, are corrupt and they favor their friends and families. We don’t do anything to eradicate evil. On the contrary, we go out of our way to protect those law-breakers because they are our friends and family. But we love to  complain and criticize. Muslims do nothing, as usual, and wait for Allah to intervene, do the justice and punish the culprits for them. Amazing!

As per Hadith, narrated Maaqil: “Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise.”

According to Abd al-Rahman bin Samura, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said to him:

“Abd ar-Rahman, do not ask for a position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left alone (without God’s help to discharge the responsibilities attendant thereon); and if you are granted it without making any request for it, you will be helped (by God in the discharge of your duties).”

In another Hadith, Abu Burda narrated:

“The Prophet (s.a.w.) sent my father (Abu Musa) and Mu'adh bin Jabal to Yemen (as rulers/governors) and said (to them): ‘Make things easy for the people and do not put hurdles in their way, and give them glad tiding, and don’t let them have aversion (i.e. to make people hate good deeds); and you both should work in cooperation and mutual understanding.’ Abu Musa said to Allah's Apostle: ‘In our country a special alcoholic drink, called ‘Al-Bit', is prepared. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Every intoxicant is prohibited.”

People go to other countries or towns to visit the historical places and ruins. But what do they do there? They take pictures, make selfies and videos to show around. They don’t pay attention to the history of those ruins and why did they become ruins? There are lessons in every such place. Those ruins talk but only to those who have ears! Don’t get carried away by power! The absolute and ultimate power is with Almighty God.

“And how many a generation we destroyed

before them, who were mightier than these in

prowess so that they overran the lands! Had

they any place of refuge (when the judgment

came)? Lo! Therein verily is a reminder for

him who has a heart, or gives ear with

full intelligence.”

(al-Quran 50:36-37)

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