Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Eid Mubarak
Eid Mubarak to you and your family.
May Allah grant us the patience and obedience of our great human model, Ebrahim (PBUH) and may the Muslim Ummah find the unity and lost dignity, by returning to the teaching of the Qura’n and following the best example of human being, Mohammad (PBUH)
سا ل نو بر شـما مبارك با د
يا مـقـلـّب الـقـلوب والابصار ، يا مـدّبـرا لـيـل والـنــّهار، يامـحـّول الـحول والاحوال،حـوّل حالـنا الي احـسن الـحال.
از خداوند بزرگ برا ي شما و خانواده محترمتان، طول عمر با سلامتي و عزّت و شادي آرزومندم. علي بهزادنيا
May Allah grant us the patience and obedience of our great human model, Ebrahim (PBUH) and may the Muslim Ummah find the unity and lost dignity, by returning to the teaching of the Qura’n and following the best example of human being, Mohammad (PBUH)
سا ل نو بر شـما مبارك با د
يا مـقـلـّب الـقـلوب والابصار ، يا مـدّبـرا لـيـل والـنــّهار، يامـحـّول الـحول والاحوال،حـوّل حالـنا الي احـسن الـحال.
از خداوند بزرگ برا ي شما و خانواده محترمتان، طول عمر با سلامتي و عزّت و شادي آرزومندم. علي بهزادنيا
Threat to our Security
Are Muslims or Islam a threat to our security?
It is almost seven years since the destruction of the twin towers in downtown New York.
There is still much ambiguity as to how and why this happened. Who was the actual planner of this unforgettable crime? Because those who were accused to be involved in this operation, happened to be Muslims from Saudi Arabia, ironically a staunch ally of the United States, suddenly all Muslims were accused to be “Terrorist” and Islam was viewed as a “Doctrine of Terror”.
Since that tragic event, there has been a coordinated effort among Media, special interest groups, many politicians and unfortunately some teachers and preachers—relentlessly stereotyping Islam and Muslims the results of which have perpetuated hate crimes, unfair targeting and profiling of American Muslim citizens in general and especially those who are activists.
Some preachers have gone so far as to claim that Muslims do not believe in God since they worship “Allah”. Many Web sites, newspapers and magazines, in addition to radio and broadcast media, have been humiliating Muslims and publishing books and cartoons blaspheming Islam and its messenger Mohammad (PBUH). They are misrepresenting the crime of a group of terrorists and creating a negative association with an entire world population of Muslims. These few criminals are not representative of the over nine Million Muslims in the United States, the peaceful citizens whose contributions to our nation’s education, science, technology, medicine and business are innumerable.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the fact that 1.8 Billion people on this planet are Muslim and the population is increasing at a rat of 2.9% annually. This has been further supported by the Vatican, which recently announced that Muslims outnumber Catholics in the world for the first time in history.
In spite of all the carpet bombings, mass murders, and genocides that have been taking place, in the last two decades in Muslim lands including: Bosnia, Chechnya, Pakistan, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kashmir, India, Somalia and many parts of Africa, to name a few; Islam continues to have the highest growth rate. What is most amazing is the number of people who have advanced their belief (converted) among our youth, by self-studying the Qura’n and showing interest to learn about Muslims. Many not only have turned to Islam, but also have become scholars, speakers and writers of Islam.
There appears to be no world war, but most of the Muslim world has been burning in fire, especially the Middle East. The home of the greatest prophets and the cradle of human civilization has turned into boiling blood baths simply because oil runs beneath their earth. God knows the exact number of casualties, but we know that at least hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children are killed and those that survive are either adversely afflicted or perish from poverty and illness. What was once considered beautiful, fertile land is now home to mass burials and graveyards? All of this inhumanity and injustice is done to rob the oil and yet oil today is at its highest price in history!
It is the average working citizen, not just here but in the global village that has to pay the price. Taxes and extra taxes are to be paid for every ticket you buy, every room you occupy, every mile you drive, every phone you call and every item of basic necessity you purchase. This is what is happening now and God knows what will happen to the generations to come. What would happen to the gun manufacturers and our economy if those scattered wars in the third world were to be eradicated by the effort of some peace loving people?
Our country is the richest in the world, yet the average American citizen in spite of working hard, often working multiple jobs, is more in debt than the people who live in less wealthy countries. Many people in Africa do not have enough to eat, but they are not in debt either. We destroy the surpluses of our products to save the Dollar and yet we are economically in recession and mentally in Depression. “The materialistic ideologies are not compatible with the life of human beings, whose needs are beyond material.”
Communism promised peace and social justice by crushing the rights of individuals for the social benefit. It killed hundreds of thousands of its opponents or drowned them in the icy lakes of Siberia, but it did not last more than decades. When it collapsed we were there to help to absorb the shock of such destruction. We could never imagine seeing the leader of the Soviet Empire, kneeling at the feet of the capitalist asking for help to provide basic needs for his nation!
Conversely, capitalism has ignored and crushed the society for the benefit of individuals. The Dollar-oriented capital giant needs to expand in order to survive. If it does not change direction, it will ultimately collapse. Now imagine who would be able to absorb the shuck of such a disaster.
For many years we scared our people with the fear of Communism and the Russian threat, to justify the development of the most advanced, expensive and sophisticated army and arms manufacturers. In spite of being blessed by having two great oceans on our right and left and the friendliest nation to our North, we have been spending and continue to spend most of our nation’s income for our defense budget.
Now that Russian bubble has burst and the level of poverty, under the deceptive dictatorship is no more behind the Iron curtain and the Cold War is over, who is going to absorb the product of our gun factories? If we decided today to change our war economy to the economy of peace, what would happen and how much time and sacrifice would be needed?
Are we actually willing to do it? Do we think about a change? Have we not learned after all these wars, that bloodshed only causes more blood to be shed? Never has war brought peace and security for any nation. So we either have to destroy the product of our gun factories in the oceans, as we do with our produce or continue for securing the capital benefit of a few, sucking the blood of average citizens and forcing them to tolerate multibillion dollar war machines and gunship to go abroad and shed the blood of innocent people with whom we have no relationship and for whom we have no animosity!
So in the absence of real giants we have to find pseudo-giants. Our old “friends” become our biggest enemies. The number one Wanted man on the list of world’s criminals—Osama Bin Laden is a Saudi hero. He and his father modernized Saudi Arabia in such a short period. The US had a very close relationship with his family and did significant business in the process of the remodeling. The US encouraged him and his team to go to Afghanistan and gave him whatever he asked for to fight the Russians who had partially invaded the Northern Afghanistan and was trying to proceed south, to get access to the open sea, through Pakistan (A lifetime dream of the Russians). Now that he defeated the Russians, wanted to return home but it was dangerous if such hero would have returned to his country, after what had taken place in Iran. We invaded Afghanistan and killed most of his people but ended up facing the Taliban another old “friend” that was now angry with us and whom we are still there fighting.
Another old “friend” was Saddam Hussein. We supported him with all the arms he wanted, including chemical and biological weapons, plus almost $1Billion a day of Saudi oil income, to fight the Iranians for eight years. A war that had erupted for the sole reason of preventing Khomeini’s army from potentially expanding into Iraq and the Middle East. No one was victorious in this war. There were significant human casualties for both sides. Eventually as Saddam grew in power he stood in the way of our interests. So we encouraged him to invade Kuwait. He did not realize that he was digging his own grave, when he was looting and evacuating the country making it ready for the US Army to establish its bases to eventually invade Iraq. The Army could not enter from the North because of the heavy mountains and the Turks and Kurds being very patriotic Muslims. They would not allow US invasion. The Saudi’s were not happy having US soldiers on their ground. The Sheikh of Kuwait was brought to the US, was treated as a guest and then returned back to his position, now to support us when we get there.
Today Saddam is gone and Iraq is destroyed. But the oil wells are intact. We cannot stay there, but we do not know how to get out. Most other countries have already left.
Our focus is now on Iran. We helped the Mullahs get rid of Bazargan, (1) and Banisadr, (2) (3) who were establishing a democratic system in Iran. We have supported this existing cruel dictatorship for almost thirty years, and now they are going to have an atomic bomb and its President has declared many times that he wants to wipe Israel from the map! Which is equivalent to the end of the world as far as the US is concerned! Keep in mind, when there is no big giant, the fear must sound gigantic. What greater fear is there than the end of the world?
You see the problem is not Islam or Muslims. In fact, there are many Millions of Muslims in other parts of the world, but there is no war. The population of West Pakistan is almost twice that of Iran, they have more hard liners Muslims and atomic energy and an atomic bomb. Yet, why are we not afraid that they will destroy the world?
I assure those who are concerned, that the real threat is not from a few radicals who were once our ‘friends’—who are either killed or finding refuge in caves, oceans and continents away from us. History teaches us that no empire has collapsed because of poverty or lack of warriors. They were destroyed when the people’s morals decayed. Study the fall of the Roman and Persian Empires or the most recent collapse of the Soviet Union and Communism to realize this fact.
The threat comes from within. When there is a major social gap, hidden racism and slavery, social injustice, poverty, consumerism, economic insecurity, a sick economy in which people may lose all they have overnight, it results in a negative wave of broken families, alcohol, drugs, homicides, suicides, all other social maladies and a life full of fear in debt and depression, shamelessness and chaos.
Also a careful review of history shows that Muslims, Jews, Christians and people of other beliefs, with few exceptions, have lived for many centuries together in peace with patience and tolerance. The source of all religions is peace and love. Our diversity is part of our being and is beautiful. We are all transients and guests on this planet. It is time for everyone to reflect on what we believe and how this affects our behavior and our interactions with others no matter what they believe in. Religion is not inherited, it is learned to help us to be self-conscious and live humanely and preserve our self-dignity.
Far from all the stereotyping that is taking place, I highly recommend to those who are concerned, to self-search in the Qura’n and find out why in Islam there is room for every one. (4)(5) Room for the believers and those who claim to be unbelievers, without any prejudice you will find out that Islam is a treat and not a threat.
Ali Behzadnia, M.D. (6)
______________________________________________________
(1) Mehi Bazargan was a Professor of Engineering, Muslim Scholar, founder of Iranian Liberation Movement and head of the first Transitional Government of Iran after the Iranian Revolution. He asked people to vote for Democratic Republic of Iran, but Khomeini said “Islamic Republic with no addition”!
Is important to know that there was no single Mulla among the people that he selected for the transient government. Many were graduates from world’s famous universities; some were long-term U.S. residents. His first deputy, and once the foreign minister was a U.S. citizen (E. Yazdi). Still this cabinet was not acceptable to us and it was forced to resign by the trick of taking hostages. Stage one of the codetta of the US against Iranian Revolution.
(2) Aboul-Hassan Banisadr, was also an Islamic scholar, writer, thinker, economist, a long term resident in Paris, Who
received Khomeini, when Saddam expelled him from Iraq. He was a key counselor of Khomeini, for preparing the
Statements and interviews with the foreign media, while he was in Paris. He came to Iran with him. Became the Foreign
Minister for a short period. Over eleven Million of Iranian voted for him, in a most democratic election in Iranian history,
Khomeini was not one of them. Soon after he took the office, the Iran-Iraq war started, he was assigned as the Commander
In Chief of the army. Even though he never had served arm forces, but his loving attitude inspired the forces to defend
their country in spite of all the accusations and humiliation by the Mullahs. He was finally impeached by the Mullah dominated Parliament and forced to return back to exile in France. The second stage of the US codetta against Iranian Revolution.
(3) Is my turn to speak, Iran, the revolution and Secret Deals with the U.S. by Banisadr former President of Iran. McMillan
Publishing Co. USA, 1991.
(4) The Qura’n: 1, 1-7, 2: 133-139, 3:1, 26: 67,68.103,104,121,123, 22:78, 2:62
(5) The Qura’n: 49:13. This verse in engraved in a wooden Arc at the entrance of United Nation ( A Gift by the Moroccan).
(6) Ali Behzadnia is a Medical Doctor who came to the United Stated near forty years ago. He is a life time Muslim student,
and is interested in Qura’nic research and Interfaith Dialogue. He is socio-politically active and was a member in first cabinet after the revolution in Iran as Deputy Minister of Health and welfare, acting Minister of Education and associate professor in Medicine at Teheran University. He opposed the non democratic religious regime of Iran, and returned to
the United States, after near two years. He is a member of several Academic and religious organizations and in private practice in California.
It is almost seven years since the destruction of the twin towers in downtown New York.
There is still much ambiguity as to how and why this happened. Who was the actual planner of this unforgettable crime? Because those who were accused to be involved in this operation, happened to be Muslims from Saudi Arabia, ironically a staunch ally of the United States, suddenly all Muslims were accused to be “Terrorist” and Islam was viewed as a “Doctrine of Terror”.
Since that tragic event, there has been a coordinated effort among Media, special interest groups, many politicians and unfortunately some teachers and preachers—relentlessly stereotyping Islam and Muslims the results of which have perpetuated hate crimes, unfair targeting and profiling of American Muslim citizens in general and especially those who are activists.
Some preachers have gone so far as to claim that Muslims do not believe in God since they worship “Allah”. Many Web sites, newspapers and magazines, in addition to radio and broadcast media, have been humiliating Muslims and publishing books and cartoons blaspheming Islam and its messenger Mohammad (PBUH). They are misrepresenting the crime of a group of terrorists and creating a negative association with an entire world population of Muslims. These few criminals are not representative of the over nine Million Muslims in the United States, the peaceful citizens whose contributions to our nation’s education, science, technology, medicine and business are innumerable.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the fact that 1.8 Billion people on this planet are Muslim and the population is increasing at a rat of 2.9% annually. This has been further supported by the Vatican, which recently announced that Muslims outnumber Catholics in the world for the first time in history.
In spite of all the carpet bombings, mass murders, and genocides that have been taking place, in the last two decades in Muslim lands including: Bosnia, Chechnya, Pakistan, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kashmir, India, Somalia and many parts of Africa, to name a few; Islam continues to have the highest growth rate. What is most amazing is the number of people who have advanced their belief (converted) among our youth, by self-studying the Qura’n and showing interest to learn about Muslims. Many not only have turned to Islam, but also have become scholars, speakers and writers of Islam.
There appears to be no world war, but most of the Muslim world has been burning in fire, especially the Middle East. The home of the greatest prophets and the cradle of human civilization has turned into boiling blood baths simply because oil runs beneath their earth. God knows the exact number of casualties, but we know that at least hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children are killed and those that survive are either adversely afflicted or perish from poverty and illness. What was once considered beautiful, fertile land is now home to mass burials and graveyards? All of this inhumanity and injustice is done to rob the oil and yet oil today is at its highest price in history!
It is the average working citizen, not just here but in the global village that has to pay the price. Taxes and extra taxes are to be paid for every ticket you buy, every room you occupy, every mile you drive, every phone you call and every item of basic necessity you purchase. This is what is happening now and God knows what will happen to the generations to come. What would happen to the gun manufacturers and our economy if those scattered wars in the third world were to be eradicated by the effort of some peace loving people?
Our country is the richest in the world, yet the average American citizen in spite of working hard, often working multiple jobs, is more in debt than the people who live in less wealthy countries. Many people in Africa do not have enough to eat, but they are not in debt either. We destroy the surpluses of our products to save the Dollar and yet we are economically in recession and mentally in Depression. “The materialistic ideologies are not compatible with the life of human beings, whose needs are beyond material.”
Communism promised peace and social justice by crushing the rights of individuals for the social benefit. It killed hundreds of thousands of its opponents or drowned them in the icy lakes of Siberia, but it did not last more than decades. When it collapsed we were there to help to absorb the shock of such destruction. We could never imagine seeing the leader of the Soviet Empire, kneeling at the feet of the capitalist asking for help to provide basic needs for his nation!
Conversely, capitalism has ignored and crushed the society for the benefit of individuals. The Dollar-oriented capital giant needs to expand in order to survive. If it does not change direction, it will ultimately collapse. Now imagine who would be able to absorb the shuck of such a disaster.
For many years we scared our people with the fear of Communism and the Russian threat, to justify the development of the most advanced, expensive and sophisticated army and arms manufacturers. In spite of being blessed by having two great oceans on our right and left and the friendliest nation to our North, we have been spending and continue to spend most of our nation’s income for our defense budget.
Now that Russian bubble has burst and the level of poverty, under the deceptive dictatorship is no more behind the Iron curtain and the Cold War is over, who is going to absorb the product of our gun factories? If we decided today to change our war economy to the economy of peace, what would happen and how much time and sacrifice would be needed?
Are we actually willing to do it? Do we think about a change? Have we not learned after all these wars, that bloodshed only causes more blood to be shed? Never has war brought peace and security for any nation. So we either have to destroy the product of our gun factories in the oceans, as we do with our produce or continue for securing the capital benefit of a few, sucking the blood of average citizens and forcing them to tolerate multibillion dollar war machines and gunship to go abroad and shed the blood of innocent people with whom we have no relationship and for whom we have no animosity!
So in the absence of real giants we have to find pseudo-giants. Our old “friends” become our biggest enemies. The number one Wanted man on the list of world’s criminals—Osama Bin Laden is a Saudi hero. He and his father modernized Saudi Arabia in such a short period. The US had a very close relationship with his family and did significant business in the process of the remodeling. The US encouraged him and his team to go to Afghanistan and gave him whatever he asked for to fight the Russians who had partially invaded the Northern Afghanistan and was trying to proceed south, to get access to the open sea, through Pakistan (A lifetime dream of the Russians). Now that he defeated the Russians, wanted to return home but it was dangerous if such hero would have returned to his country, after what had taken place in Iran. We invaded Afghanistan and killed most of his people but ended up facing the Taliban another old “friend” that was now angry with us and whom we are still there fighting.
Another old “friend” was Saddam Hussein. We supported him with all the arms he wanted, including chemical and biological weapons, plus almost $1Billion a day of Saudi oil income, to fight the Iranians for eight years. A war that had erupted for the sole reason of preventing Khomeini’s army from potentially expanding into Iraq and the Middle East. No one was victorious in this war. There were significant human casualties for both sides. Eventually as Saddam grew in power he stood in the way of our interests. So we encouraged him to invade Kuwait. He did not realize that he was digging his own grave, when he was looting and evacuating the country making it ready for the US Army to establish its bases to eventually invade Iraq. The Army could not enter from the North because of the heavy mountains and the Turks and Kurds being very patriotic Muslims. They would not allow US invasion. The Saudi’s were not happy having US soldiers on their ground. The Sheikh of Kuwait was brought to the US, was treated as a guest and then returned back to his position, now to support us when we get there.
Today Saddam is gone and Iraq is destroyed. But the oil wells are intact. We cannot stay there, but we do not know how to get out. Most other countries have already left.
Our focus is now on Iran. We helped the Mullahs get rid of Bazargan, (1) and Banisadr, (2) (3) who were establishing a democratic system in Iran. We have supported this existing cruel dictatorship for almost thirty years, and now they are going to have an atomic bomb and its President has declared many times that he wants to wipe Israel from the map! Which is equivalent to the end of the world as far as the US is concerned! Keep in mind, when there is no big giant, the fear must sound gigantic. What greater fear is there than the end of the world?
You see the problem is not Islam or Muslims. In fact, there are many Millions of Muslims in other parts of the world, but there is no war. The population of West Pakistan is almost twice that of Iran, they have more hard liners Muslims and atomic energy and an atomic bomb. Yet, why are we not afraid that they will destroy the world?
I assure those who are concerned, that the real threat is not from a few radicals who were once our ‘friends’—who are either killed or finding refuge in caves, oceans and continents away from us. History teaches us that no empire has collapsed because of poverty or lack of warriors. They were destroyed when the people’s morals decayed. Study the fall of the Roman and Persian Empires or the most recent collapse of the Soviet Union and Communism to realize this fact.
The threat comes from within. When there is a major social gap, hidden racism and slavery, social injustice, poverty, consumerism, economic insecurity, a sick economy in which people may lose all they have overnight, it results in a negative wave of broken families, alcohol, drugs, homicides, suicides, all other social maladies and a life full of fear in debt and depression, shamelessness and chaos.
Also a careful review of history shows that Muslims, Jews, Christians and people of other beliefs, with few exceptions, have lived for many centuries together in peace with patience and tolerance. The source of all religions is peace and love. Our diversity is part of our being and is beautiful. We are all transients and guests on this planet. It is time for everyone to reflect on what we believe and how this affects our behavior and our interactions with others no matter what they believe in. Religion is not inherited, it is learned to help us to be self-conscious and live humanely and preserve our self-dignity.
Far from all the stereotyping that is taking place, I highly recommend to those who are concerned, to self-search in the Qura’n and find out why in Islam there is room for every one. (4)(5) Room for the believers and those who claim to be unbelievers, without any prejudice you will find out that Islam is a treat and not a threat.
Ali Behzadnia, M.D. (6)
______________________________________________________
(1) Mehi Bazargan was a Professor of Engineering, Muslim Scholar, founder of Iranian Liberation Movement and head of the first Transitional Government of Iran after the Iranian Revolution. He asked people to vote for Democratic Republic of Iran, but Khomeini said “Islamic Republic with no addition”!
Is important to know that there was no single Mulla among the people that he selected for the transient government. Many were graduates from world’s famous universities; some were long-term U.S. residents. His first deputy, and once the foreign minister was a U.S. citizen (E. Yazdi). Still this cabinet was not acceptable to us and it was forced to resign by the trick of taking hostages. Stage one of the codetta of the US against Iranian Revolution.
(2) Aboul-Hassan Banisadr, was also an Islamic scholar, writer, thinker, economist, a long term resident in Paris, Who
received Khomeini, when Saddam expelled him from Iraq. He was a key counselor of Khomeini, for preparing the
Statements and interviews with the foreign media, while he was in Paris. He came to Iran with him. Became the Foreign
Minister for a short period. Over eleven Million of Iranian voted for him, in a most democratic election in Iranian history,
Khomeini was not one of them. Soon after he took the office, the Iran-Iraq war started, he was assigned as the Commander
In Chief of the army. Even though he never had served arm forces, but his loving attitude inspired the forces to defend
their country in spite of all the accusations and humiliation by the Mullahs. He was finally impeached by the Mullah dominated Parliament and forced to return back to exile in France. The second stage of the US codetta against Iranian Revolution.
(3) Is my turn to speak, Iran, the revolution and Secret Deals with the U.S. by Banisadr former President of Iran. McMillan
Publishing Co. USA, 1991.
(4) The Qura’n: 1, 1-7, 2: 133-139, 3:1, 26: 67,68.103,104,121,123, 22:78, 2:62
(5) The Qura’n: 49:13. This verse in engraved in a wooden Arc at the entrance of United Nation ( A Gift by the Moroccan).
(6) Ali Behzadnia is a Medical Doctor who came to the United Stated near forty years ago. He is a life time Muslim student,
and is interested in Qura’nic research and Interfaith Dialogue. He is socio-politically active and was a member in first cabinet after the revolution in Iran as Deputy Minister of Health and welfare, acting Minister of Education and associate professor in Medicine at Teheran University. He opposed the non democratic religious regime of Iran, and returned to
the United States, after near two years. He is a member of several Academic and religious organizations and in private practice in California.
Islam and Decomcracy
Islam and democracy,
Why there is no Democratic government in the Muslim countries?
Let us first clear some of the misunderstandings about Islam before addressing the topic.
Islam finds its root from two sources, “Taslim” i.e. submission or surrender and “Salam” meaning peace. As a complete and integrated ideology, Islam covers both the relationship of man and his creator and the relationship of human beings with themselves or human relationship with the universe.
The relationship of mankind with his creator is total or absolute submission. This is the essential meaning of Islam and it is not confined to the faith that was revealed through Mohammad. He was the last of the chain of many prophets, who were also called Muslims, none was distinguished from the other and they all delivered the exact same message. (1)
Those prophets who came after Abraham (Ebrahim) including Muhammad were addressed to follow the creed of their forefather. (2)
The Qura’n uses the same term “Muslim” for many prophets, those whose names are mentioned like Adam, Noah, Salih, Lute, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad and all those that are not mentioned in the book. (3)
The Qura’n addresses the believers, the Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and all others who believe in God and do good deed, that they will be rewarded and should have no fear and no grievance. (4) Islam is the religion for entire universe. All creatures, visible and invisible (Jinn) are willingly and unwillingly are submitted to His will. (5) Man was exempted, when he was gifted with free will and wisdom. He/she had the choice to accept or reject, even the religion itself. This is how the foundation of our freedom, individual and social responsibility, critical thinking, human rights and democracy was established. He further left the monitor within us (Self consciousness) to guard our behavior and gave us Knowledge so we can use it wisely to find our way. Then to every nation, at different periods he sent His messengers as the reminders and models, like lighthouses to illuminate our way. (6)
But God did not want us as passive obedient. As is mentioned in the Qura’n, in symbolic story of Adam and Eve, which is the same in other scriptures, the first reaction of the couple was to rebel, but later to find their mistake after receiving the knowledge and choosing to repent. (7)
So it is not a surprise to see that Qura’n says “Religion the eyes of God is Islam”. (8)
The universe is created as Muslim. Human embryo is shaped by Him and delivered at term by as a Muslim, which is the faith of every infant, and child who then have to choose their faith at maturity. (9) Religion is not in the genes, not inherited, not intimated and not familial. In selecting one’s faith. The Qura’n teaches us not to follow the belief of our parents if you do not see them on right path and they do not use their wisdom. (10)
Religion is sensed, learned and experienced. Not two people, even the identical twins, will have the same concept of God, purpose of life and the world vision. In fact, in every individual, at different stages of life these concepts will change. Belief is a dynamic phenomenon that is constantly variable. How often we see that an observation, experience or incident has changed some ones belief and the entire life.
We are created not to believe the same. After all peoples belief is in their mind and there heart. Wherein we have no access to see or measure the religion or the degree of their religiosity. We can only see people’s action, not even knowing their intention. Our judgment as to their deed is also limited to our perception, interpretation and many other factors. (11)
The Qura’n tells the believers, not to tease or humiliate those who do not believe and not to be arrogant if you think you are among the believers. (12). Qura’n advises the prophet no to feel sad if the people reject the message and speed on their wrong path. (13) God says if He wanted, would have sent a sign to bend the neck of unbelievers and make them all believe the same. (14)
None of the prophets used the force, prison or punishment for those who rejected the faith. Noah could not save his son. Lute could not change his wife, Abraham only felt sorry for his father. Moses came to save his people form the oppression and slavery of Egyptian Pharos but the same people rejected him, living him in the desert and asking him to go and see his God. Jesus came to spread love and mercy but his companions ran away, the day the saw him being taken to the cross.
His own family tortured Mohammad and his closest companion. The Jews and Christians were among the first people to join him in Medina, when the Muslim were few and new immigrants. None of the prophets was holy and neither were any of their companions. They were all ordinary people. They were mostly illiterate and poor people. They called people to worship their creator and they were not to be worshiped.
As for the second part of meaning of Islam, “Salam” it defines the relationship among human beings, not only the Muslims. This is the first interaction and greeting of two people Muslim or non-Muslim. It means peace and justice that entails tolerance and mercy. The Muslims are not to fight with each other. Permission is given to them to engage the non-Muslims only if they are threatened by latter. (15)
The source and goal of religion, i.e. all faiths, is love and mercy. It is to establish peace and security within each person and with the society and nature. The to fight in the name of or for the sake of religion, it is a total falsehood. The reasons behind the bloodshed of the past or present Crusaders, is all fake and not the faith.
Democracy is a political term meaning, a government by the people or the rule of majority. The meaning is some time expanded to cover having free media, freedom of speech, equal opportunity etc.
Islam does not specify or recommend any especial form of government. Most of the prophets had no leadership role but some have been in position of kings especially among the children of Jacob. Moses had a general leadership with his brother Aaron, but did not have a government.
Jesus prophecy was quite short and acted mostly as a spiritual leader. Mohammad had a very special form of state when he was in Medina. In a multi Tribal community, he was involved in most functions of his small community. He assigned people for different tasks at different times. He had eyes on individual member of his community. He consulted his people on major issues especially when they were to engage in the battles. When he died, left no established organization, did not assign any one for leadership. Obviously his prophecy was not replaceable, but his companions selected, the oldest and long-term companion of him, as his successor. He lasted for a short period and three successor Caliphs were all assassinated and for a short period after the fourth caliph the format changed to kingdom and then again to caliphate. With all the expansion and heroism, that was the political agenda of different caliphates, with little exception they were mostly corrupted. Even though Islamic territory had expanded to a vast area .The entire Middle East, most part of Africa, part of the east and even west Europe, Russia, Asia and Far East were the Islamic territory. Today the biggest Muslim country is Indonesia. The remnant of empire was defeated in Turkey and countries were divided into small pieces. This fractionation was not limited to the geographical territory but they highlighted minor differences among Islamic sects, to further damage their unity. Muslims on the other hand, being depressed and humiliated, lost their contact with the Qura’n, the source of their strength and unity and ended up in today’s chaos. We have all kinds of governments in the Muslim lands. Some still in tribal format, mostly are a hidden dictatorship, under false names of Democratic, with possible exception of Malaysia that is close to democracy. And yet a newly invented system of government, by Khomeini, called “Velayate Faqeeh” was established in Iran, wherein bunch of Mullahs, with Faros mentality, claim to be the representatives of God, having an ideology that is totally alien to Islam of Qura’n. They have done the worst to Islam and Muslims in the last thirty years. Unfortunately those who are not able to tolerate democratic movement in this part of the world, mostly support them.
Iranian people had three revolutions in less than hundred years. First was the “Parliamentarian Movement” or “ Mashrooteh Revolution” that was defeated by the British and their allies, when they brought Reza Pahlavi to power, through a codetta. Next was the “Nationalization of Oil” by Late Dr. Mossadeq that was over thrown by US backed codetta in 1953. The last king, Mohammad Reza, was brought back to power. And lastly the Democratic Revolution in 1979 that forced the Shah out of the country and put an end to near 2500 years of kingdom and dictatorship in Iran.
Unfortunately the revolution was high jacked by the Mullahs. Most of the intellectuals found themselves being deceived by Khomeini’s false promises. Once again her allies and US could not see the Democratic movement in the area. So in a two-stage codetta, first forced the transitional government of Bazargan (16) to resign, by the dirty trick of hostage taking and then by secret negotiations with the Mullahs to expel Banisadr, the first democratically elected president after the revolution, now in exile in France. (17) Those negotiators are now in power. Their ruling has forced more than a million of the most educated professionals and business managers to leave the country and hundreds of thousand of Iranian lost their lives or became disabled from eight years nonsense fighting of two Muslim neighbors.
Islam wishes liberty and justice for all and not for a specific nation or parts of the planet. While we may be required to apply for citizenship, when migrating from one country to the other, but we all hold the citizenship of the same planet, no matter which part of it we were born. Therefore we should exercise our rights for voting not only for the local government but also in major decision-makings for the world affairs. This idea was the principle of having Assembly of the United Nations. However by considering the right of Veto for few big nations and inefficacy of its resolutions, when it comes to the big powers or those small ones with special interest, it is becoming a useless foundation.
The idea of separation of church and the state that is considered in Christianity does not apply to Islam, where as there is no state in Christianity, there is no church in Islam. A Muslim can be part of the government in a majority Muslim country or non-Muslim country. Non-Muslims have the same right. There is not such thing as “ Islamic Government”. The Qura’n and scriptures are the books of guidance for those who believe in them. People may benefit by considering some of their religious principles in writing their local constitutions, but they should not replace each other. Here are some facts about the position of leadership in Islam,
- The concept of “Shura” or consultation is being exercised in the early Islamic Society, even among the tribal communities. Every one has only one vote and no more power or privilege. Furthermore, while the vote of majority is counted, for certain major issues a unanimous agreement is encouraged.
- In Islam the ruler is elected for certain period and is the employee of the nation.
- The positions are held by those most qualified. And is conditional. People have the right to give mandate and the right to withdraw it at any time.
- The ruler is not hostage to the special interest groups, the elite or nobility.
- Community volunteer work is highly encouraged for every Muslim. Some have considered this as a duty or religious obligation.
Now that we have explained Islam and agreed that there is not much of a democratic regime in so called Islamic countries, and we also gave some of the reasons for it, we should ask those who phrase the question of lack of democracy in Islam, to further humiliate the Muslims, do they see a true democracy in other parts of the planet? How much the practice of current western democracy meets the criteria of true democracy. May we ask where are the Christian or Jewish countries? Is there a true democracy in those nations? In our most civilized, most educated, wealthy and diverse nation on earth, the United States, wherein people seems to be having more freedom than many part of the world, do we really have a democratic regime. What percentage of those eligible, will vote for different elections, including the presidency? If our repeated statistic shows this being much less than one third of qualified voters, have we asked why? Are we concerned that the elected candidate is not representing the majority. Was this not the basic principle of Democracy? Have we asked why the candidates have to spend millions of Dollars for their campaigns to get the peoples vote? Who pays for all these expenses and what for? Is it not the duty of each citizen to deeply search and study about their candidates, in their everyday life, rather than the media, pressure groups and lobbyists, who during the short period before the elections, advertise for those candidate of their interest? Where is the democracy, wherein millions of citizens and their delegates vote but the candidate for the highest rank of responsibility and world leadership, is selected by the court order! Is the selected candidate the most qualified for the position, in the country that is blessed to have hundred of thousands of the most brilliant minds and experts in many fields? Have we thought of having special classes or schools for training proper officers for the leadership position? Finally may we ask how much this democracy has brought stability, peace and security for our citizens? Why are we living in such high level of debt and anxiety, depression and fear of terror? And how long this is going last?
I am concern as a citizen. Please do not get angry and do not tell me “Love it or leave it”. Be patient, think of a third alternative “ stay and change it”. I came here more than forty years ago, escaping from the dictatorship where I was born. I came with my Doctorate in Medicine as a physician, researcher, educator and a healer. My children are all born here. This is my home and my country as much as may be yours. “My home is where my grand children are going to play and not where my grand mother was born.” I love my neighbors, my patients and my new home. I want to see them in peace and happiness. I respect them as human and expect to be treated like one.
“Salaam” Peace be upon you. May 2008 Ali Behzadnia, M.D.
______________________________________________________________________________
(1) Qura’n 26: 67, 68, 103, 104, 121,123, 139, 140
(2) Qura’n 22:78
(3) Qura’n 2: 133-139
(4) Qura’n 2:62
(5) Qura’n 62: 1 64: 1 87:1
(6) Qura’n 6: 104-106, 88: 22
(7) Qura’n 2: 28-35
(8) Qura’n 3:19,83,85
(9) Qura’n 3: 6
(10) Qura’n 29:8, 31:14-15
(11) Qura’n 53:30, 10:108
(12) Qura’n 4:171, 5:77
(13) Qura’n 3:176, 5:41
(14) Qura’n 26:4
(15) Qura’n 22:39
(16) Bazargan was a Professor of Engineering, Muslim Scholar, founder of Iranian Liberation
Movement and head of the first Transitional Government of Iran, after the Iranian Revolution.
He asked people to vote for Democratic Republic of Iran, but Khomeini said “Islamic Republic with no addition”!
(17) Is my turn to speak, Iran, the revolution and Secret Deals with the U.S. by Banisadr former President of Iran. McMillan Publishing Co. USA, 1991.
Why there is no Democratic government in the Muslim countries?
Let us first clear some of the misunderstandings about Islam before addressing the topic.
Islam finds its root from two sources, “Taslim” i.e. submission or surrender and “Salam” meaning peace. As a complete and integrated ideology, Islam covers both the relationship of man and his creator and the relationship of human beings with themselves or human relationship with the universe.
The relationship of mankind with his creator is total or absolute submission. This is the essential meaning of Islam and it is not confined to the faith that was revealed through Mohammad. He was the last of the chain of many prophets, who were also called Muslims, none was distinguished from the other and they all delivered the exact same message. (1)
Those prophets who came after Abraham (Ebrahim) including Muhammad were addressed to follow the creed of their forefather. (2)
The Qura’n uses the same term “Muslim” for many prophets, those whose names are mentioned like Adam, Noah, Salih, Lute, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad and all those that are not mentioned in the book. (3)
The Qura’n addresses the believers, the Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and all others who believe in God and do good deed, that they will be rewarded and should have no fear and no grievance. (4) Islam is the religion for entire universe. All creatures, visible and invisible (Jinn) are willingly and unwillingly are submitted to His will. (5) Man was exempted, when he was gifted with free will and wisdom. He/she had the choice to accept or reject, even the religion itself. This is how the foundation of our freedom, individual and social responsibility, critical thinking, human rights and democracy was established. He further left the monitor within us (Self consciousness) to guard our behavior and gave us Knowledge so we can use it wisely to find our way. Then to every nation, at different periods he sent His messengers as the reminders and models, like lighthouses to illuminate our way. (6)
But God did not want us as passive obedient. As is mentioned in the Qura’n, in symbolic story of Adam and Eve, which is the same in other scriptures, the first reaction of the couple was to rebel, but later to find their mistake after receiving the knowledge and choosing to repent. (7)
So it is not a surprise to see that Qura’n says “Religion the eyes of God is Islam”. (8)
The universe is created as Muslim. Human embryo is shaped by Him and delivered at term by as a Muslim, which is the faith of every infant, and child who then have to choose their faith at maturity. (9) Religion is not in the genes, not inherited, not intimated and not familial. In selecting one’s faith. The Qura’n teaches us not to follow the belief of our parents if you do not see them on right path and they do not use their wisdom. (10)
Religion is sensed, learned and experienced. Not two people, even the identical twins, will have the same concept of God, purpose of life and the world vision. In fact, in every individual, at different stages of life these concepts will change. Belief is a dynamic phenomenon that is constantly variable. How often we see that an observation, experience or incident has changed some ones belief and the entire life.
We are created not to believe the same. After all peoples belief is in their mind and there heart. Wherein we have no access to see or measure the religion or the degree of their religiosity. We can only see people’s action, not even knowing their intention. Our judgment as to their deed is also limited to our perception, interpretation and many other factors. (11)
The Qura’n tells the believers, not to tease or humiliate those who do not believe and not to be arrogant if you think you are among the believers. (12). Qura’n advises the prophet no to feel sad if the people reject the message and speed on their wrong path. (13) God says if He wanted, would have sent a sign to bend the neck of unbelievers and make them all believe the same. (14)
None of the prophets used the force, prison or punishment for those who rejected the faith. Noah could not save his son. Lute could not change his wife, Abraham only felt sorry for his father. Moses came to save his people form the oppression and slavery of Egyptian Pharos but the same people rejected him, living him in the desert and asking him to go and see his God. Jesus came to spread love and mercy but his companions ran away, the day the saw him being taken to the cross.
His own family tortured Mohammad and his closest companion. The Jews and Christians were among the first people to join him in Medina, when the Muslim were few and new immigrants. None of the prophets was holy and neither were any of their companions. They were all ordinary people. They were mostly illiterate and poor people. They called people to worship their creator and they were not to be worshiped.
As for the second part of meaning of Islam, “Salam” it defines the relationship among human beings, not only the Muslims. This is the first interaction and greeting of two people Muslim or non-Muslim. It means peace and justice that entails tolerance and mercy. The Muslims are not to fight with each other. Permission is given to them to engage the non-Muslims only if they are threatened by latter. (15)
The source and goal of religion, i.e. all faiths, is love and mercy. It is to establish peace and security within each person and with the society and nature. The to fight in the name of or for the sake of religion, it is a total falsehood. The reasons behind the bloodshed of the past or present Crusaders, is all fake and not the faith.
Democracy is a political term meaning, a government by the people or the rule of majority. The meaning is some time expanded to cover having free media, freedom of speech, equal opportunity etc.
Islam does not specify or recommend any especial form of government. Most of the prophets had no leadership role but some have been in position of kings especially among the children of Jacob. Moses had a general leadership with his brother Aaron, but did not have a government.
Jesus prophecy was quite short and acted mostly as a spiritual leader. Mohammad had a very special form of state when he was in Medina. In a multi Tribal community, he was involved in most functions of his small community. He assigned people for different tasks at different times. He had eyes on individual member of his community. He consulted his people on major issues especially when they were to engage in the battles. When he died, left no established organization, did not assign any one for leadership. Obviously his prophecy was not replaceable, but his companions selected, the oldest and long-term companion of him, as his successor. He lasted for a short period and three successor Caliphs were all assassinated and for a short period after the fourth caliph the format changed to kingdom and then again to caliphate. With all the expansion and heroism, that was the political agenda of different caliphates, with little exception they were mostly corrupted. Even though Islamic territory had expanded to a vast area .The entire Middle East, most part of Africa, part of the east and even west Europe, Russia, Asia and Far East were the Islamic territory. Today the biggest Muslim country is Indonesia. The remnant of empire was defeated in Turkey and countries were divided into small pieces. This fractionation was not limited to the geographical territory but they highlighted minor differences among Islamic sects, to further damage their unity. Muslims on the other hand, being depressed and humiliated, lost their contact with the Qura’n, the source of their strength and unity and ended up in today’s chaos. We have all kinds of governments in the Muslim lands. Some still in tribal format, mostly are a hidden dictatorship, under false names of Democratic, with possible exception of Malaysia that is close to democracy. And yet a newly invented system of government, by Khomeini, called “Velayate Faqeeh” was established in Iran, wherein bunch of Mullahs, with Faros mentality, claim to be the representatives of God, having an ideology that is totally alien to Islam of Qura’n. They have done the worst to Islam and Muslims in the last thirty years. Unfortunately those who are not able to tolerate democratic movement in this part of the world, mostly support them.
Iranian people had three revolutions in less than hundred years. First was the “Parliamentarian Movement” or “ Mashrooteh Revolution” that was defeated by the British and their allies, when they brought Reza Pahlavi to power, through a codetta. Next was the “Nationalization of Oil” by Late Dr. Mossadeq that was over thrown by US backed codetta in 1953. The last king, Mohammad Reza, was brought back to power. And lastly the Democratic Revolution in 1979 that forced the Shah out of the country and put an end to near 2500 years of kingdom and dictatorship in Iran.
Unfortunately the revolution was high jacked by the Mullahs. Most of the intellectuals found themselves being deceived by Khomeini’s false promises. Once again her allies and US could not see the Democratic movement in the area. So in a two-stage codetta, first forced the transitional government of Bazargan (16) to resign, by the dirty trick of hostage taking and then by secret negotiations with the Mullahs to expel Banisadr, the first democratically elected president after the revolution, now in exile in France. (17) Those negotiators are now in power. Their ruling has forced more than a million of the most educated professionals and business managers to leave the country and hundreds of thousand of Iranian lost their lives or became disabled from eight years nonsense fighting of two Muslim neighbors.
Islam wishes liberty and justice for all and not for a specific nation or parts of the planet. While we may be required to apply for citizenship, when migrating from one country to the other, but we all hold the citizenship of the same planet, no matter which part of it we were born. Therefore we should exercise our rights for voting not only for the local government but also in major decision-makings for the world affairs. This idea was the principle of having Assembly of the United Nations. However by considering the right of Veto for few big nations and inefficacy of its resolutions, when it comes to the big powers or those small ones with special interest, it is becoming a useless foundation.
The idea of separation of church and the state that is considered in Christianity does not apply to Islam, where as there is no state in Christianity, there is no church in Islam. A Muslim can be part of the government in a majority Muslim country or non-Muslim country. Non-Muslims have the same right. There is not such thing as “ Islamic Government”. The Qura’n and scriptures are the books of guidance for those who believe in them. People may benefit by considering some of their religious principles in writing their local constitutions, but they should not replace each other. Here are some facts about the position of leadership in Islam,
- The concept of “Shura” or consultation is being exercised in the early Islamic Society, even among the tribal communities. Every one has only one vote and no more power or privilege. Furthermore, while the vote of majority is counted, for certain major issues a unanimous agreement is encouraged.
- In Islam the ruler is elected for certain period and is the employee of the nation.
- The positions are held by those most qualified. And is conditional. People have the right to give mandate and the right to withdraw it at any time.
- The ruler is not hostage to the special interest groups, the elite or nobility.
- Community volunteer work is highly encouraged for every Muslim. Some have considered this as a duty or religious obligation.
Now that we have explained Islam and agreed that there is not much of a democratic regime in so called Islamic countries, and we also gave some of the reasons for it, we should ask those who phrase the question of lack of democracy in Islam, to further humiliate the Muslims, do they see a true democracy in other parts of the planet? How much the practice of current western democracy meets the criteria of true democracy. May we ask where are the Christian or Jewish countries? Is there a true democracy in those nations? In our most civilized, most educated, wealthy and diverse nation on earth, the United States, wherein people seems to be having more freedom than many part of the world, do we really have a democratic regime. What percentage of those eligible, will vote for different elections, including the presidency? If our repeated statistic shows this being much less than one third of qualified voters, have we asked why? Are we concerned that the elected candidate is not representing the majority. Was this not the basic principle of Democracy? Have we asked why the candidates have to spend millions of Dollars for their campaigns to get the peoples vote? Who pays for all these expenses and what for? Is it not the duty of each citizen to deeply search and study about their candidates, in their everyday life, rather than the media, pressure groups and lobbyists, who during the short period before the elections, advertise for those candidate of their interest? Where is the democracy, wherein millions of citizens and their delegates vote but the candidate for the highest rank of responsibility and world leadership, is selected by the court order! Is the selected candidate the most qualified for the position, in the country that is blessed to have hundred of thousands of the most brilliant minds and experts in many fields? Have we thought of having special classes or schools for training proper officers for the leadership position? Finally may we ask how much this democracy has brought stability, peace and security for our citizens? Why are we living in such high level of debt and anxiety, depression and fear of terror? And how long this is going last?
I am concern as a citizen. Please do not get angry and do not tell me “Love it or leave it”. Be patient, think of a third alternative “ stay and change it”. I came here more than forty years ago, escaping from the dictatorship where I was born. I came with my Doctorate in Medicine as a physician, researcher, educator and a healer. My children are all born here. This is my home and my country as much as may be yours. “My home is where my grand children are going to play and not where my grand mother was born.” I love my neighbors, my patients and my new home. I want to see them in peace and happiness. I respect them as human and expect to be treated like one.
“Salaam” Peace be upon you. May 2008 Ali Behzadnia, M.D.
______________________________________________________________________________
(1) Qura’n 26: 67, 68, 103, 104, 121,123, 139, 140
(2) Qura’n 22:78
(3) Qura’n 2: 133-139
(4) Qura’n 2:62
(5) Qura’n 62: 1 64: 1 87:1
(6) Qura’n 6: 104-106, 88: 22
(7) Qura’n 2: 28-35
(8) Qura’n 3:19,83,85
(9) Qura’n 3: 6
(10) Qura’n 29:8, 31:14-15
(11) Qura’n 53:30, 10:108
(12) Qura’n 4:171, 5:77
(13) Qura’n 3:176, 5:41
(14) Qura’n 26:4
(15) Qura’n 22:39
(16) Bazargan was a Professor of Engineering, Muslim Scholar, founder of Iranian Liberation
Movement and head of the first Transitional Government of Iran, after the Iranian Revolution.
He asked people to vote for Democratic Republic of Iran, but Khomeini said “Islamic Republic with no addition”!
(17) Is my turn to speak, Iran, the revolution and Secret Deals with the U.S. by Banisadr former President of Iran. McMillan Publishing Co. USA, 1991.
Are we Mature
Are we Mature?
Once, someone asked me, “When do we become mature?” I replied, it has little to do with the chronological aging. It is the stage when no appreciation would glorify you neither any depreciation would humiliate you.
This stage is reached through self-experience and intuition. It is not learned or imitated. What would be the difference between appreciations or depreciation, if neither one changes the fact. See these examples,
Issa (PBUH) was badly cursed by some people. One man used the worse language, calling him the son of prostitute etc. Issa, kept praying for him. His companions got upset and said,
"This man does not deserve your prayer". Issa (PBUH) replied, " He shows what is inside him and I am giving him back what I have in me!"
So it depends what is inside you?
Mohammad (PBUH) was attacked by people of Taef. They stoned him so hard that blood was running from his legs. Gabriel came and said; Allah would crush the people, in between the mountains, if you so will. He replied, No, perhaps some day, their children will come into Islam. "And they did.”
Another woman was throwing dirt on his head in Makkah. His daughter Fatemah, used to go and clean his father. One day the woman did not show up. Prophet asked, “What happened to our friend.” They found that she was sick and in bed. He went to see her and prayed for her health. The woman became a Muslim and stayed with the prophet the rest of her life.
Abdullah Ibn Obay, was a terrible Monafiq. He and his tribe did the worst thing to our prophet, accused Ayesha, for being raped by the camel man who brought her back to the prophet, when she was left behind the army ( This is not a Hadith, is the text of the Qura’n, the story of (ا فـك). When he died prophet made Jenazah prayer for him. Many of his companions did not, and blamed the prophet for his action. He said “This man, while living, was not able to affect us much, what his dead body is going to do now?”
The entire tribe of Abdullah became Muslims, upon this gesture of our beloved Mohammad.
Yes, He had learned from the Qura’n, that we should reject the evil with a good deed. Those who do good deed, do it for their own good and their reward, as being said, is the ability to do it. We should be thankful to those who give us the opportunity to show our generosity and not to expect their thanks.
We have to accept the people as they are and not as we want them to be.
In summary if you reach the state of “Yaqeen يـقـيـن ), in your faith, your image, your total self, then your reaction will be different. When some one calls me stupid or crazy; I know I am not, so why should I react?
A great Muslim Philosopher and Scholar once became the victim of jealousy. Another Scholar of his time, sent his student to him to say that he is “Nothing”. Another words wanted to humiliate him. When the student gave the message, he replied, “Go tell your teacher that I have not reached to that state of knowledge yet, but I am trying my best!!” So you see the difference.
Another educating story is about a man who was praying hard day and night, asking for God’s forgiveness. He was known righteous among his people. Some finally dared to ask him, what was the great sin he committed, that deserved such a long begging for mercy.
He was a simple shopkeeper. He said, “Once I was at my store. People brought me the news that the neighborhood was on fire. I asked if my house was also burned. And they said, “No.”
So I said, “Alhamdu Lillah. Then I realized what a great sin I had committed.”
It appears that he did the right thing by thanking God. But soon he realized his inner selfishness. What about the others, who lost their houses and some, had lost their lives?
If we want people to judge us for what we are not (that we never are), then there is a defect in us (And there is).
I obtained most of my schooling, in my early years of life, from my first teacher, my mom, who could not read or write, but coached me with her touch and brief memos, that became the core of my knowledge, my personality and who I am today. So I remember both of my parents, in every day of my life. In fact I made two Hajjs for them. In every mosque, I enter, sometime in the middle of the nights; I wake up and pray for them. But I have not recorded the exact dates of their departures from this word. Again, it matters not, since they are alive in my mind and are buried in my heart.
There are three important days ( or better to say moments) in everyone’s life, the day we are born, the day we die and the day we are mature enough to share our lives with another human being. The first and last are not our choices and unknown to us. So celebrating the birth or mourning the death, makes no difference. It is the day of our choice, which we have to wisely select, celebrate every moment of it and protect it from all hazards.
I pray to Allah that you will find your choice and celebrate every day of your future life.
AAB August/08
Once, someone asked me, “When do we become mature?” I replied, it has little to do with the chronological aging. It is the stage when no appreciation would glorify you neither any depreciation would humiliate you.
This stage is reached through self-experience and intuition. It is not learned or imitated. What would be the difference between appreciations or depreciation, if neither one changes the fact. See these examples,
Issa (PBUH) was badly cursed by some people. One man used the worse language, calling him the son of prostitute etc. Issa, kept praying for him. His companions got upset and said,
"This man does not deserve your prayer". Issa (PBUH) replied, " He shows what is inside him and I am giving him back what I have in me!"
So it depends what is inside you?
Mohammad (PBUH) was attacked by people of Taef. They stoned him so hard that blood was running from his legs. Gabriel came and said; Allah would crush the people, in between the mountains, if you so will. He replied, No, perhaps some day, their children will come into Islam. "And they did.”
Another woman was throwing dirt on his head in Makkah. His daughter Fatemah, used to go and clean his father. One day the woman did not show up. Prophet asked, “What happened to our friend.” They found that she was sick and in bed. He went to see her and prayed for her health. The woman became a Muslim and stayed with the prophet the rest of her life.
Abdullah Ibn Obay, was a terrible Monafiq. He and his tribe did the worst thing to our prophet, accused Ayesha, for being raped by the camel man who brought her back to the prophet, when she was left behind the army ( This is not a Hadith, is the text of the Qura’n, the story of (ا فـك). When he died prophet made Jenazah prayer for him. Many of his companions did not, and blamed the prophet for his action. He said “This man, while living, was not able to affect us much, what his dead body is going to do now?”
The entire tribe of Abdullah became Muslims, upon this gesture of our beloved Mohammad.
Yes, He had learned from the Qura’n, that we should reject the evil with a good deed. Those who do good deed, do it for their own good and their reward, as being said, is the ability to do it. We should be thankful to those who give us the opportunity to show our generosity and not to expect their thanks.
We have to accept the people as they are and not as we want them to be.
In summary if you reach the state of “Yaqeen يـقـيـن ), in your faith, your image, your total self, then your reaction will be different. When some one calls me stupid or crazy; I know I am not, so why should I react?
A great Muslim Philosopher and Scholar once became the victim of jealousy. Another Scholar of his time, sent his student to him to say that he is “Nothing”. Another words wanted to humiliate him. When the student gave the message, he replied, “Go tell your teacher that I have not reached to that state of knowledge yet, but I am trying my best!!” So you see the difference.
Another educating story is about a man who was praying hard day and night, asking for God’s forgiveness. He was known righteous among his people. Some finally dared to ask him, what was the great sin he committed, that deserved such a long begging for mercy.
He was a simple shopkeeper. He said, “Once I was at my store. People brought me the news that the neighborhood was on fire. I asked if my house was also burned. And they said, “No.”
So I said, “Alhamdu Lillah. Then I realized what a great sin I had committed.”
It appears that he did the right thing by thanking God. But soon he realized his inner selfishness. What about the others, who lost their houses and some, had lost their lives?
If we want people to judge us for what we are not (that we never are), then there is a defect in us (And there is).
I obtained most of my schooling, in my early years of life, from my first teacher, my mom, who could not read or write, but coached me with her touch and brief memos, that became the core of my knowledge, my personality and who I am today. So I remember both of my parents, in every day of my life. In fact I made two Hajjs for them. In every mosque, I enter, sometime in the middle of the nights; I wake up and pray for them. But I have not recorded the exact dates of their departures from this word. Again, it matters not, since they are alive in my mind and are buried in my heart.
There are three important days ( or better to say moments) in everyone’s life, the day we are born, the day we die and the day we are mature enough to share our lives with another human being. The first and last are not our choices and unknown to us. So celebrating the birth or mourning the death, makes no difference. It is the day of our choice, which we have to wisely select, celebrate every moment of it and protect it from all hazards.
I pray to Allah that you will find your choice and celebrate every day of your future life.
AAB August/08
Prophet Mohammad(PBUH)
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)
Fifteen hundred years ago, in tribal community of Arrogant Arabs, Mohammad (PBUH) a homeless, orphan, not prophet then, at age 25 married a woman, 15 years older, widowed twice, when girls were buried at birth in his community, Khadijah, of Christian back ground made the proposal, he accepted. She lived with him for almost 28 years, as the only women in his life, raised six children from him and gave up all she had, to die in hunger and poverty at age 62-63 and was buried by Mohammad in Sha'b Abou talib, a forbidden valley, no shrine and not even a sign to identify her grave. She was in fact buried in the heart and mind of Muhammad (PBUH), as he always had tears in his eyes when Khadija's name was mentioned. Mohammad (PBUH) now a prophet and homeless again, migrated with an older man, on his feet to Madinah. He married twelve other women then after, most of them older than him with the exception of Aisha and Maria. Among them were Jewish Sophia or Safyyah and Christian Maria, who never converted to His faith. He had no child from those later marriages except the 18-year-old Maria, who married him at age 62 and gave birth to Ibrahim. The son died at six months of age.Prophet (PBUH), died shortly after. The young wife, still Christian, was advised to re marry, but she had the proof of being Mohammad's wife, (Even today majority of Muslims, do not know of this beloved woman and many do not even consider her as his real wife since she was a captive and never converted) followed the recommendation of Allah, that the prophets wives were not to marry others. She remained a widow and when died, she has asked to be buried at the location out of Madinah( Not in Baqhii, where all his wives, except Khadijah were buried), but where she made love with prophet for the first time. The best example of humanity (Osvaton Hasanah) began his first relationship with love and his last wife gave humanity the best model of love.Unfortunately, in west, Islam is known for what is not and in east, especially the Muslim countries, Islam is practiced for what is not. This is why we are facing such a disaster today.Due to the socio-political reasons in the Middle East and many Muslim Countries, the people live day-by-day, have no plan and some time not much hope for future. There is hardly any plan for the most important action in any man or woman’s life (Marriage).
Here is just the opposite of what is practiced there. I remember my first roommate, in Detroit, near forty years ago, was a young Intern from Philadelphia, when I met him, he said he is engaged to his fiancé and he gave the exact time and location of the church where ceremonies were to take place, four years later, after finishing his residency.
A week before this arrangement, the beautiful fiancé had a car accident and died. I went with him to her memorial. Charles cried out of love, but shortly after he said "We planned everything, but the accident. I am sure she is in heaven as she carries my love in her heart".
Yes we have to plan, the best way and the most thought of, but leave the final decision to Him. Prophet (PBUH) in one of the battles, had well-arranged a plan of action, as the army was moving forward, suddenly stopped and advised them to change their direction. His companions were quite surprised and asked him the reason. He had picked up a camel droplet and showed the undigested date in the animals stool. The date was from the palms of Qararit, indicating that the enemy’s army, have passed that way. And if the prophet (pbuh) proceeded, they would have faced the enemy that was ambushing ahead. Later He was found to be right. This was not revelation; it was Mohammad's curious observation and experience.
AAB/ 2007
Fifteen hundred years ago, in tribal community of Arrogant Arabs, Mohammad (PBUH) a homeless, orphan, not prophet then, at age 25 married a woman, 15 years older, widowed twice, when girls were buried at birth in his community, Khadijah, of Christian back ground made the proposal, he accepted. She lived with him for almost 28 years, as the only women in his life, raised six children from him and gave up all she had, to die in hunger and poverty at age 62-63 and was buried by Mohammad in Sha'b Abou talib, a forbidden valley, no shrine and not even a sign to identify her grave. She was in fact buried in the heart and mind of Muhammad (PBUH), as he always had tears in his eyes when Khadija's name was mentioned. Mohammad (PBUH) now a prophet and homeless again, migrated with an older man, on his feet to Madinah. He married twelve other women then after, most of them older than him with the exception of Aisha and Maria. Among them were Jewish Sophia or Safyyah and Christian Maria, who never converted to His faith. He had no child from those later marriages except the 18-year-old Maria, who married him at age 62 and gave birth to Ibrahim. The son died at six months of age.Prophet (PBUH), died shortly after. The young wife, still Christian, was advised to re marry, but she had the proof of being Mohammad's wife, (Even today majority of Muslims, do not know of this beloved woman and many do not even consider her as his real wife since she was a captive and never converted) followed the recommendation of Allah, that the prophets wives were not to marry others. She remained a widow and when died, she has asked to be buried at the location out of Madinah( Not in Baqhii, where all his wives, except Khadijah were buried), but where she made love with prophet for the first time. The best example of humanity (Osvaton Hasanah) began his first relationship with love and his last wife gave humanity the best model of love.Unfortunately, in west, Islam is known for what is not and in east, especially the Muslim countries, Islam is practiced for what is not. This is why we are facing such a disaster today.Due to the socio-political reasons in the Middle East and many Muslim Countries, the people live day-by-day, have no plan and some time not much hope for future. There is hardly any plan for the most important action in any man or woman’s life (Marriage).
Here is just the opposite of what is practiced there. I remember my first roommate, in Detroit, near forty years ago, was a young Intern from Philadelphia, when I met him, he said he is engaged to his fiancé and he gave the exact time and location of the church where ceremonies were to take place, four years later, after finishing his residency.
A week before this arrangement, the beautiful fiancé had a car accident and died. I went with him to her memorial. Charles cried out of love, but shortly after he said "We planned everything, but the accident. I am sure she is in heaven as she carries my love in her heart".
Yes we have to plan, the best way and the most thought of, but leave the final decision to Him. Prophet (PBUH) in one of the battles, had well-arranged a plan of action, as the army was moving forward, suddenly stopped and advised them to change their direction. His companions were quite surprised and asked him the reason. He had picked up a camel droplet and showed the undigested date in the animals stool. The date was from the palms of Qararit, indicating that the enemy’s army, have passed that way. And if the prophet (pbuh) proceeded, they would have faced the enemy that was ambushing ahead. Later He was found to be right. This was not revelation; it was Mohammad's curious observation and experience.
AAB/ 2007
Khadijah
Khadijah;
The model of woman in my life is the first wife of Mohammad (PBUH) Khadijah. She
was married twice and in that tribal community that, women had no value, and buried at birth, she, at the age of forty, asked the young homeless orphan, then not a prophet, to be her husband. Later she made him to be the man she wanted. She was Mohammad’s only wife till she died. Khadijah raised four daughters and two sons from Mohammad.
She was from Christian back ground and Mohammad had no religion then, only fifteen years later, when he became the prophet, the disastrous part of Khadija’s life began, from where she was, to a homeless, in the depth of the Valley of, Sha’b Abou talib. There she died of poverty and hunger.
Mohammad’s (PBUH) last wife Maria, 18 year old, also Christian, a captive woman, married him at age 62. She gave him a son, Ebrahim, who passed away when he was six months old. She never said SHAHADAT, and Mohammad never forced her to do so. The prophet (PBUH), passed away after two years. Maria never married never married and when she died many years later, she asked to be buried, not in Baqi Cemetery in Madinah (Where all prophet’s wives are buried, except Khadijah, who is in Makkah), rather to be buried where Mohammad (PBUH) slept with her for the first time.
And yet this is over 1400 years back, in the desert of Arabia!! Now where and when are we going to learn the meaning of love?
AAB/August 06
The model of woman in my life is the first wife of Mohammad (PBUH) Khadijah. She
was married twice and in that tribal community that, women had no value, and buried at birth, she, at the age of forty, asked the young homeless orphan, then not a prophet, to be her husband. Later she made him to be the man she wanted. She was Mohammad’s only wife till she died. Khadijah raised four daughters and two sons from Mohammad.
She was from Christian back ground and Mohammad had no religion then, only fifteen years later, when he became the prophet, the disastrous part of Khadija’s life began, from where she was, to a homeless, in the depth of the Valley of, Sha’b Abou talib. There she died of poverty and hunger.
Mohammad’s (PBUH) last wife Maria, 18 year old, also Christian, a captive woman, married him at age 62. She gave him a son, Ebrahim, who passed away when he was six months old. She never said SHAHADAT, and Mohammad never forced her to do so. The prophet (PBUH), passed away after two years. Maria never married never married and when she died many years later, she asked to be buried, not in Baqi Cemetery in Madinah (Where all prophet’s wives are buried, except Khadijah, who is in Makkah), rather to be buried where Mohammad (PBUH) slept with her for the first time.
And yet this is over 1400 years back, in the desert of Arabia!! Now where and when are we going to learn the meaning of love?
AAB/August 06
Mohammad(PBUH)
Mohammad(PBUH)
We are not Nabi, we have to follow him. Qura’n says and Mohammad repeatedly declares that he was a human being like any one else. (ا نــّي بـشــر مــثـلـكـم )
He feels pain and enjoys like others. In fact almost all the prophets are selected from the lowest class of their time, poor, illiterate, homeless. See Abraham, Musa, Isa and Mohammad (PBUT). So there is left no excuse for any one, to claim they were in much better position. The last messenger of Allah for the rest of humanity, slept on the floor, not on Persian carpets, the roof of his house was body and branches of the palm trees. He either had date and water or bread and milk as most of his meal. He never combined three! After all our forefather Adam was the first prophet therefore, prophecy is in every human’s nature. So in a sense we are all individually a rasul. (Please see Qura’n, surah 75: 14, 15).
- Being or not being religious. Those who claim they do not have a religion, are in fact having the purest form of religion, no contamination. What we claim as religion is the Mazhab,( Road) different ways of understanding God and making relation with Him.
(Religion). This is a qualitative and not quantitative measure. And who are we to judge who is who?
(انّ ر بــّكــم اعـلـم بـمـن ا هـتـد ي و مـن ضــّل عـن سـبـيلـه ) Only Your Lord knows who is guided to His path and who is gone astray?
- Do not confuse Muslims act with Islam. As Eqbal said, we need to save Islam from Muslims. This is true for the followers of other faiths as well. The Muslims were identified as people who did not smell, hundred of years back, in Spine and expelled or executed. Now in twenty first century, in California, with access to minimum hundred forms of cleaners and deodorants, my staff has to spray the exam room, after visiting a Muslim patient!
- And if you are not happy with Muslim around you, who all carry some form of their cultural bag in their mind and behavior, in a non Muslim country, Just look at the companions and first generation of Musa, Who worshiped the cow, just as he was absent for few days, The twelve close companions of Isa denied their association with him to escape execution (Did you see Passion of Christ?) and look at Mohammad’s companion.
Abu-Bakr died of old age; the other three caliphs were butchered to death. The bloody head of his grand son was carried on feet from one state to the other, can you imagine brutality and savagery.( Yazid and Hussein were the second cousins). His beloved wife, UMMUL MOUMENIN! Ayesha was brain washed by two men, once great sincere companions of the prophet, Talha and Zubair , to plan a war from Yemen against Ali! (Battle of Jamal)
So living with the prophet, being his relative, his companion or a freedom fighter and etc. none is enough to immune you from going from Aala Ellieen to Asfal Safeleen.
Noah did not change his son with nine hundred fifty years of prophecy and teaching.
Lut’s wife was lesbian, Jacob’s children all ten were criminal gangs, plotting against their
One brother, Joseph. In first human family, Cain killed his own brother, Able.
Azar, father of Ebrahim, prepared fire, throwing his son into it…………..
The man slaughter and butchery is going on at much higher scale today. If the battle was one to one then, now pressing a bottom will kill hundreds and destroys countless!
So you need to find your own position, are you siding with the butcher or the butchered!
- Qura’n says “The believers are brothers” Not just the Muslims.
This obviously refers to spiritual ties and love, but from genotypic point of view, we are all from the same source, therefore, are brothers and sisters.
بني آ د م اعـضا ي يكديگرند كــه در آفـرينش زيك گوهـرند
چـوعـضوي بدرد آورد روزگار دگـر عـضوها را نما ند قـرار
“Children of Adam are parts of the same body,
Since they all created from the same source.
If part of the body happens to be in pain
All other parts, quiet will not remain” Saadi
AAB/
We are not Nabi, we have to follow him. Qura’n says and Mohammad repeatedly declares that he was a human being like any one else. (ا نــّي بـشــر مــثـلـكـم )
He feels pain and enjoys like others. In fact almost all the prophets are selected from the lowest class of their time, poor, illiterate, homeless. See Abraham, Musa, Isa and Mohammad (PBUT). So there is left no excuse for any one, to claim they were in much better position. The last messenger of Allah for the rest of humanity, slept on the floor, not on Persian carpets, the roof of his house was body and branches of the palm trees. He either had date and water or bread and milk as most of his meal. He never combined three! After all our forefather Adam was the first prophet therefore, prophecy is in every human’s nature. So in a sense we are all individually a rasul. (Please see Qura’n, surah 75: 14, 15).
- Being or not being religious. Those who claim they do not have a religion, are in fact having the purest form of religion, no contamination. What we claim as religion is the Mazhab,( Road) different ways of understanding God and making relation with Him.
(Religion). This is a qualitative and not quantitative measure. And who are we to judge who is who?
(انّ ر بــّكــم اعـلـم بـمـن ا هـتـد ي و مـن ضــّل عـن سـبـيلـه ) Only Your Lord knows who is guided to His path and who is gone astray?
- Do not confuse Muslims act with Islam. As Eqbal said, we need to save Islam from Muslims. This is true for the followers of other faiths as well. The Muslims were identified as people who did not smell, hundred of years back, in Spine and expelled or executed. Now in twenty first century, in California, with access to minimum hundred forms of cleaners and deodorants, my staff has to spray the exam room, after visiting a Muslim patient!
- And if you are not happy with Muslim around you, who all carry some form of their cultural bag in their mind and behavior, in a non Muslim country, Just look at the companions and first generation of Musa, Who worshiped the cow, just as he was absent for few days, The twelve close companions of Isa denied their association with him to escape execution (Did you see Passion of Christ?) and look at Mohammad’s companion.
Abu-Bakr died of old age; the other three caliphs were butchered to death. The bloody head of his grand son was carried on feet from one state to the other, can you imagine brutality and savagery.( Yazid and Hussein were the second cousins). His beloved wife, UMMUL MOUMENIN! Ayesha was brain washed by two men, once great sincere companions of the prophet, Talha and Zubair , to plan a war from Yemen against Ali! (Battle of Jamal)
So living with the prophet, being his relative, his companion or a freedom fighter and etc. none is enough to immune you from going from Aala Ellieen to Asfal Safeleen.
Noah did not change his son with nine hundred fifty years of prophecy and teaching.
Lut’s wife was lesbian, Jacob’s children all ten were criminal gangs, plotting against their
One brother, Joseph. In first human family, Cain killed his own brother, Able.
Azar, father of Ebrahim, prepared fire, throwing his son into it…………..
The man slaughter and butchery is going on at much higher scale today. If the battle was one to one then, now pressing a bottom will kill hundreds and destroys countless!
So you need to find your own position, are you siding with the butcher or the butchered!
- Qura’n says “The believers are brothers” Not just the Muslims.
This obviously refers to spiritual ties and love, but from genotypic point of view, we are all from the same source, therefore, are brothers and sisters.
بني آ د م اعـضا ي يكديگرند كــه در آفـرينش زيك گوهـرند
چـوعـضوي بدرد آورد روزگار دگـر عـضوها را نما ند قـرار
“Children of Adam are parts of the same body,
Since they all created from the same source.
If part of the body happens to be in pain
All other parts, quiet will not remain” Saadi
AAB/
ز نـد گي در صـد ف خـويـــش گـهـر ساخـتـن اسـت در دل شـعـله فـرو رفـتن و نـگـدا خــتن ا ســت
Life is to perfect one’s pearl in its shell, to go through the flame and not be burned.
As a wise said,
Past is a cancelled check,
Future is a promissory note,
And present is the cash.
I say it is a (gift), perhaps a reason for calling a gifts as “Present”.
Dear Friend,
I read couple lines about your childhood and your nostalgia, for how it was then and how it is now? We all have the same problem. Especially our generation, being displaced from our roots and facing such a rapid change in technology that has created an environment which is not compatible with human physical and mental capacity.
This is the main reason for our bodies being so afflicted, at young age and Depression becoming the number one mental illness of our time.
What was to ease human’s life, has resulted in more destruction, because of lack of faith, which is the root of morality, ethics and values.
Life is lost for living; incomes are spent for furniture for which we have no time to rest in. Minds are occupied with how to pay the debts. Future is sold at the rate of mortgage. Social injustice created nothing but fear of each other. There seems to be no world war, but the whole world is burning in some form of fire. Nowhere and no body feel safe. West is celebrating 1000th-year of Rumi, and yet 1000 years after, not one more Rumi is born. Not to mention, if he was alive today, he would have been considered as a terrorist.
It all depends how we vision the world, our existence and responsibilities. Majority is after quick fix. What was the dream of a life-time is now the desire of tomorrow!
Hundred channels of Radios, TVs and satellites are running twenty four hours to create false appetite for sex, food and purchasing of goods, more that ninety per cent of which is not the basic needs of a normal or descent living. Future is sold at the price of few plastic cards, in which is hidden the dignity, courage and credit of the beholders!!!
Women are being the most humiliated, deprived and abused, in western Democracies as sex objects, commercial tools or entertainments and in the Eastern dictatorships or so called religious cultures, as different species. And we can continue on and on.
Those who are concerned are asking what should be done. Some suggest starting to change from the top. Some have given up the hope for any success, seeing multiple rises to fall. Some move with the currency of the crowd and yet there are those who think they may live their lives as the parasites!
In spite of human history, being a clear witness to the contrary of which is preached and persuaded the majority, that one cannot bring any change, yet major social changes have been initiated by the individuals and some times a group of few, who had no means or arms for changing people except being exemplary of human behavior.
(ا ســو ة حــســنـه )
Life is a challenge and struggle, first with self, to be conscious of all the hazards that contaminate and decay our human dignity (تــقــو ي ) and extend goodness and values to others with kind manner and peaceful personality ( ا حــســا ن ).
The length and chronicity of one’s life, matters not much, if there exists some moments in our lives that if we did not change the world, we made some change within ourselves. Since there are some moments in every ones life that it is worth the entire life.
No two human beings will have the same fate and future, not even the identical twins, which are born with almost similar potentials. Indicating there is a chance and room for individual effort, even though part of our personalities may be coded in our genes.
Congenital abnormalities do exist, but no one is born as criminal or righteous, pervert, gay or alcoholic etc. Those who are searching to find the cause of their social diseases and disasters in the structure of our genes, trying to justify their shameful behavior as God’s mistake!!! And this is a bigger shame!
AAB
August 18, 2007
Life is to perfect one’s pearl in its shell, to go through the flame and not be burned.
As a wise said,
Past is a cancelled check,
Future is a promissory note,
And present is the cash.
I say it is a (gift), perhaps a reason for calling a gifts as “Present”.
Dear Friend,
I read couple lines about your childhood and your nostalgia, for how it was then and how it is now? We all have the same problem. Especially our generation, being displaced from our roots and facing such a rapid change in technology that has created an environment which is not compatible with human physical and mental capacity.
This is the main reason for our bodies being so afflicted, at young age and Depression becoming the number one mental illness of our time.
What was to ease human’s life, has resulted in more destruction, because of lack of faith, which is the root of morality, ethics and values.
Life is lost for living; incomes are spent for furniture for which we have no time to rest in. Minds are occupied with how to pay the debts. Future is sold at the rate of mortgage. Social injustice created nothing but fear of each other. There seems to be no world war, but the whole world is burning in some form of fire. Nowhere and no body feel safe. West is celebrating 1000th-year of Rumi, and yet 1000 years after, not one more Rumi is born. Not to mention, if he was alive today, he would have been considered as a terrorist.
It all depends how we vision the world, our existence and responsibilities. Majority is after quick fix. What was the dream of a life-time is now the desire of tomorrow!
Hundred channels of Radios, TVs and satellites are running twenty four hours to create false appetite for sex, food and purchasing of goods, more that ninety per cent of which is not the basic needs of a normal or descent living. Future is sold at the price of few plastic cards, in which is hidden the dignity, courage and credit of the beholders!!!
Women are being the most humiliated, deprived and abused, in western Democracies as sex objects, commercial tools or entertainments and in the Eastern dictatorships or so called religious cultures, as different species. And we can continue on and on.
Those who are concerned are asking what should be done. Some suggest starting to change from the top. Some have given up the hope for any success, seeing multiple rises to fall. Some move with the currency of the crowd and yet there are those who think they may live their lives as the parasites!
In spite of human history, being a clear witness to the contrary of which is preached and persuaded the majority, that one cannot bring any change, yet major social changes have been initiated by the individuals and some times a group of few, who had no means or arms for changing people except being exemplary of human behavior.
(ا ســو ة حــســنـه )
Life is a challenge and struggle, first with self, to be conscious of all the hazards that contaminate and decay our human dignity (تــقــو ي ) and extend goodness and values to others with kind manner and peaceful personality ( ا حــســا ن ).
The length and chronicity of one’s life, matters not much, if there exists some moments in our lives that if we did not change the world, we made some change within ourselves. Since there are some moments in every ones life that it is worth the entire life.
No two human beings will have the same fate and future, not even the identical twins, which are born with almost similar potentials. Indicating there is a chance and room for individual effort, even though part of our personalities may be coded in our genes.
Congenital abnormalities do exist, but no one is born as criminal or righteous, pervert, gay or alcoholic etc. Those who are searching to find the cause of their social diseases and disasters in the structure of our genes, trying to justify their shameful behavior as God’s mistake!!! And this is a bigger shame!
AAB
August 18, 2007
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