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The Preachers’ Predicament

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Muslim preachers - be they writers, orators, teachers, graphic designers, poets, artists or other such pious souls who spread the message of Islam using their knowledge and skills - are often faced with a tremendous internal conflict and dilemma. They are confronted with the following questions: a) Should they promote their work? Would promoting their own work violate the premises of ikhlas? Would it be counted as an ostentatious act? Would it be seen as an act of arrogance and pride? Would it amount to narcissism? b) What moral right do they have to preach Islam when they are themselves not perfect Muslims? c) If they are preaching something that they do not themselves practice, would that not amount to hypocrisy? Let us take up these dilemmas one by one and see how we can overcome them. a) Neeyah: Islam lays great importance on ikhlas, i.e. to perform an act with the sole intention of pleasing Allah. The parameters of ikhlas are so exacting that even a slight deviation fr

Cultivated Islamophobia

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People often ask why Muslims/Islam are hated so much around the world. Why is Islamophobia so endemic to human society?  Well, #Islamophobia is cultivated, and here's why 👇🏽 CULTIVATED ISLAMOPHOBIA History always tends to repeat itself. Events that have already taken place some centuries ago recast themselves in a new environment, playing in the hands of a new generation. And that is precisely why we do read history in the first place – to learn from man’s past mistakes and to adopt the steps taken to rectify the same. The topic under discussion, Islamophobia can also be traced as far as history takes us back. We know from the Qur’ān that all nations revolted against their prophets who essentially preached nothing but Islam. Be it Aad or Thamud, Madyan or Pharaoh, Nimrod or Sodom, the underlying narrative has always been Islamophobia. Of these, some saw Islam as a threat to their kingship, some to their businesses, some to their lewd lifestyles and some to their pries

Whose Palestine?

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Does Palestine rightfully belong to the Jews? Let us have a look at History. As far back as I know, Palestine was ruled by Canaan. Musaؑ  led the Bani Israel out of Egypt in 1400 BC and asked them to enter Palestine, but they lacked the courage to do so [Surah alMaidah, ayaat 21-26] The next generation conquered Palestine. 300 years later, Talut and Dawudؑ  reclaimed Palestine from invaders. [Surah alBaqarah, ayaat 246-251] Temple of Solomon constructed in 1000 BC In 700 BC, the Asyrrians raided Palestine. In 586 BC, the Jews were expelled from Palestine by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and 6,00,000 Jews were taken into captivity. Temple of Solomon razed to the ground. [Surah Bani Israel, ayat 5] In 539 BC, they were released from exile by Cyrus of Persia when he conquered Babylon. [Surah Bani Israel, ayat 6]  Second Temple constructed in 515 BC Greek Alexander and Romans conquered Palestine. The Jews were then expelled from Palestine by Titus of Rome in 70 CE. 1,33,000 Jews we