Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has told the UN that any Middle East settlement could take decades and that Iran is at the heart of the conflict. (BBC News)
This statement bears witness to the ill-will of successive Israeli governments towards the finding of a solution to the conflict that has nearly obliterated the whole Palestinian nation. Negotiations and arbitration seem to me a extraordinarily ‘civilised’ way of killing and destroying a people, little by little, as the so called consolidation process take place.
Israeli governments, be they orientated to the right, left and or centre, all seem to have the same policies with only mildly different tones and priorities. On the Palestine conflict here appears to be little difference in the policies of Benyamin Netanyahu to those of Ehud Barak.
The on-going negotiations to find a solution and resolution to the conflict in Palestine between Palestinians and the Israelis are almost certainly going to result in complete failure. For Israelis, arriving at a solution at this stage would mean giving up to their nation’s objectives too early. The time is not yet right for them.
For Palestinians, the misery of their nation must apparently go on. They must remain ready for compromise and sacrifice, even though most of them have already lost everything, and the viability of any form of statehood of which they may have dreamt of has practically disappeared.
No Nation seems able or willing to offer any practical help in finding any solution except that of succumbing to the present plot. The whole affair resembles a black hole - pulling everything and everyone in with no end in sight.
However, my fear is that it will be not be only those who are directly involved, or those who are already victims of this conflict, who will succumb, but others who are not party to the conflict as well.
Iran is not at the heart of this conflict, as Mr. Avigdor Lieberman claimed. The conflict started when the Iranian government was friendlier towards Israel. No, the heart of the conflict is the illegal occupation of the land and the tyranny and oppression that are being perpetrated on its people.
One thing is for sure. A proper, equitable and workable solution has to be found for the sake of Palestinian people, in the first place, and for any hope of peace in the rest of the world.
It is not a religious conflict or a problem between Islam and Judaism. Neither is it a problem between two peoples; Jews and Arabs. Fair-minded people from the Jewish community are against the continuance of this illegal occupation. This has been demonstrated in New York and London by Jewish people in the past, and more recently by those who attempted to break the blockade of Gaza this week.
World leaders must find a solution to the continuing illegal occupation of this land, and implement it in a most sincere and just way. Otherwise, the weaker nations will completely lose their faith in the existing world institutions (many appear to have already done so), and find and impose a solution in their own way. Should we continue to hope for a solution? I, for one, will not be holding my breath!
Thursday 30 September 2010
Wednesday 29 September 2010
A problem in ourselves
At a time when the world seems so determined to misunderstand, or at least misinterpret the Qur`anic texts, we must continue to demonstrate the fairness of Islam by showing an awareness for the dignity of the human intellect and by confirming that we have this capability.
Reading the Qur`an, I always feel in awe at the Glorious guidance of our Creator, and find its contents utterly essential in maintaining human righteousness and good deeds. However, I also continue to seek what some in the world consider sources of misguidance and the inciting of violence. Believe me, if I had ever come across such things, I would not have hesitated in declaring my disagreement with them. But despite looking for errors or what could be a construed as misguidance for human beings, I continue to regard every single Qur`anic verse as guidance, and no one has ever drawn my attention to any false teachings in the Qur`an.
No human could ever attain the sublime quality of these written Islamic teachings. The Qur’an brings to humanity the broadest perspectives on world affairs and the human purpose. Previously, no one could ever declare, on the strength of their faiths and religious teachings, that there is ‘no compulsion in religion’. But Islam does by including the right and liberty to believe! The Book goes further when it draws our attention to what would be acceptable on the Day of Judgement and what would be not.
At the height of the conflict with and the severe persecution of the first Muslims in Makkah, the Qur`an guided them by saying: ‘let not the animosity of those who once have stopped you from the Sacred Mosque, that you transgress against them. Cooperate (with them) in the matters of goodness and Righteous cause. But do not cooperate in the matters of any wrongdoing or aggression. Always be conscious of God, as He indeed inflict severe punishment (for any wrongdoings and transgression). The Qur`an:V2/S5
Further guidance is offered by saying: “O believers! Stand firm for God and witnesses for justice and fair dealings. Let not the animosity of any people towards you make you swerve from the Path of Justice. Always be just, as that (justice) is the nearest path to be God consciousness.’ The Qur`an V8/S6
We Muslims believe and regard the teachings and guidance of the Qur`an to be the culmination of divine revelations to all the prophets and Messengers. No falsehood could be present from its start to its finish as it is a revelation from the one Who is all wise and All Praiseworthy.
A Muslim must not react negatively to any provocation from whomever or wherever it may come.
All Muslims should believe in the Qur’an’s confident message and act accordingly. When we are less than confident in ourselves and in the teachings of our religion the we begin to lose our faith or to react negatively and violently, and it is this that makes what is all good look all bad!
Reading the Qur`an, I always feel in awe at the Glorious guidance of our Creator, and find its contents utterly essential in maintaining human righteousness and good deeds. However, I also continue to seek what some in the world consider sources of misguidance and the inciting of violence. Believe me, if I had ever come across such things, I would not have hesitated in declaring my disagreement with them. But despite looking for errors or what could be a construed as misguidance for human beings, I continue to regard every single Qur`anic verse as guidance, and no one has ever drawn my attention to any false teachings in the Qur`an.
No human could ever attain the sublime quality of these written Islamic teachings. The Qur’an brings to humanity the broadest perspectives on world affairs and the human purpose. Previously, no one could ever declare, on the strength of their faiths and religious teachings, that there is ‘no compulsion in religion’. But Islam does by including the right and liberty to believe! The Book goes further when it draws our attention to what would be acceptable on the Day of Judgement and what would be not.
At the height of the conflict with and the severe persecution of the first Muslims in Makkah, the Qur`an guided them by saying: ‘let not the animosity of those who once have stopped you from the Sacred Mosque, that you transgress against them. Cooperate (with them) in the matters of goodness and Righteous cause. But do not cooperate in the matters of any wrongdoing or aggression. Always be conscious of God, as He indeed inflict severe punishment (for any wrongdoings and transgression). The Qur`an:V2/S5
Further guidance is offered by saying: “O believers! Stand firm for God and witnesses for justice and fair dealings. Let not the animosity of any people towards you make you swerve from the Path of Justice. Always be just, as that (justice) is the nearest path to be God consciousness.’ The Qur`an V8/S6
We Muslims believe and regard the teachings and guidance of the Qur`an to be the culmination of divine revelations to all the prophets and Messengers. No falsehood could be present from its start to its finish as it is a revelation from the one Who is all wise and All Praiseworthy.
A Muslim must not react negatively to any provocation from whomever or wherever it may come.
All Muslims should believe in the Qur’an’s confident message and act accordingly. When we are less than confident in ourselves and in the teachings of our religion the we begin to lose our faith or to react negatively and violently, and it is this that makes what is all good look all bad!
Tuesday 28 September 2010
Character of Goodness
Islam teaches us that human beings are born without sin. Indeed we are all born possessing an innate goodness of character, an awareness Allah, the Creator of purity in human hearts, and a recognition of the need for submission to Him . This is called ‘Fitrah’.
Unfortunately, some people deviate from this path of original purity, and evil becomes second nature to them and completely alters their characters. They are no longer able to follow the path of goodness, purity and submission to God’s beautiful Way.
Worse still, others, holding on to the goodness and purity of their innate character, seeing such people, and becoming attracted by what appear to be advantages, may start losing the faith and strength in their own goodness, and become attracted to evil.
On this matter that the Qur`an reminds us, saying: “O Muslims! You are the best nation that is created for the (guidance) of mankind. (Your task is) to command what is good and to forbid what is evil and wrong, and to believe in Allah, (the source of all good guidance).
This verse is not about any kind of false sense of superiority towards others, but it reveals the privileges that Islam bestows on those who, in all sincerity, submit themselves to their Creator, and by so doing, manage to retain the pristine purity of their own goodness. These privileges bring with them a very great responsibility, not only to uphold their own goodness, but to pass it on by example to others. This process is called ‘enjoining the goodness and forbidding wrongdoing and evil’.
The Prophet Mohammad was asked once, while giving a sermon: “what kind of people are the best?” He replied: “the best of the people are those who are the most conscious of God, who most enjoin people to goodness, who most forbid others from the path of evil, and who most join in human relationships.”
The modern world seems to be eager to plunge into conflict, but appears far less ready to reconcile differences and even less inclined towards forgiveness. The inevitable resulting mistrust is often used as a weapon, by some, with which they seek to keep humanity divided.
The Prophet Mohammad said: “No one can truly be a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”.
This is the path of true understanding, and human sacrifice needed, for keeping a society healthy and void of conflict. We all need to fully embrace our faith and practices, to bring out the best in ourselves and others, and so contribute towards making the world a place of peace and harmony.
Unfortunately, some people deviate from this path of original purity, and evil becomes second nature to them and completely alters their characters. They are no longer able to follow the path of goodness, purity and submission to God’s beautiful Way.
Worse still, others, holding on to the goodness and purity of their innate character, seeing such people, and becoming attracted by what appear to be advantages, may start losing the faith and strength in their own goodness, and become attracted to evil.
On this matter that the Qur`an reminds us, saying: “O Muslims! You are the best nation that is created for the (guidance) of mankind. (Your task is) to command what is good and to forbid what is evil and wrong, and to believe in Allah, (the source of all good guidance).
This verse is not about any kind of false sense of superiority towards others, but it reveals the privileges that Islam bestows on those who, in all sincerity, submit themselves to their Creator, and by so doing, manage to retain the pristine purity of their own goodness. These privileges bring with them a very great responsibility, not only to uphold their own goodness, but to pass it on by example to others. This process is called ‘enjoining the goodness and forbidding wrongdoing and evil’.
The Prophet Mohammad was asked once, while giving a sermon: “what kind of people are the best?” He replied: “the best of the people are those who are the most conscious of God, who most enjoin people to goodness, who most forbid others from the path of evil, and who most join in human relationships.”
The modern world seems to be eager to plunge into conflict, but appears far less ready to reconcile differences and even less inclined towards forgiveness. The inevitable resulting mistrust is often used as a weapon, by some, with which they seek to keep humanity divided.
The Prophet Mohammad said: “No one can truly be a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”.
This is the path of true understanding, and human sacrifice needed, for keeping a society healthy and void of conflict. We all need to fully embrace our faith and practices, to bring out the best in ourselves and others, and so contribute towards making the world a place of peace and harmony.
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