The Revenge by the Disintegrated Empire

The Soviet Union was defeated. Its army humiliated and the superpower scattered like a pack of cards into smaller countries. It was one of the biggest earth-shaking events of the last century. It caused the collapse of the biggest espionage agency ever existed. It rendered the nuclear arsenal of the former superpower useless. It made millions of people unemployed. The world changed and the empire described by another empire as the evil empire collapsed. 

It all happened because the United States played an active role in the dismemberment of the rival superpower and used the occupation of Afghanistan as a pretext to establish its supremacy in world politics. 

Thousands of Afghans lost their lives, billions of dollars were spent to lure fighters from all over the world to Afghanistan to cause the worst humiliation to the Soviet Union. But who cares. Human life has always been the cheapest commodity in our world forever.
What, then, do you expect from those unemployed KGB operatives all over the world who lost their livelihood because of the US? What do you expect from those illegal weapon manufacturing units all over the world run by the former Soviet agents who lost their regular revenue? What do you expect the weapon experts to do with the unused Soviet arsenal?
In the eyes of an average Russian, the United States is the culprit. For KGB and the Soviet Army, the US is the one that caused their misery through disintegration.of their main employer, their national government. In a world where national and ethnic pride determine policies and political and social behavior of most people, it would be naive to think that the KGB would not strike back.

It has struck back in its own ways and those who understand the world of intelligence know exactly what has been going in our world today.
What is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria or Pakistan and what would happen in other Middle Eastern countries as well as in Europe in years to come is the outcome of this revenge tactics on the part of a former superpower. 

Money can buy anything and former KGB players and their supporters are buying terrorists, anarchists, and war mongers. The intelligence agencies always operate through their henchmen. When the CIA worked in Afghanistan, it did not send its field officers to distribute money to Afghans directly. It worked through the government of Pakistan and several Islamic organizations to channel its funds and export its ideology. When the USA went into Iraq, its secret agencies worked through religious leaders from among Shias and Sunnis to run its operation. 

In Afghanistan, it was through the religious leaders that the CIA managed to develop an Islamic curriculum for schools opened for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and elsewhere. It was through religious scholars, the CIA worked to convince the masses that violence for the right cause is always justified and loved by the divine. Its scholars found religious texts to support this ideology.
Why, then, anyone would think that the nonexistent, but ever-present KGB would not use the same tactics in an improvised manner? Why do you think the Russians would not use ISIS, ISIL, Iran, Syria for their purposes? Why do you think the Russians would not exploit the prevailing conditions in the United States to create more chaos and fear and impact the forthcoming elections.
The Russian espionage is alive and well. Now one of our presidential aspirants has endorsed the Russian espionage and even encouraged, to actively spy on his rival, the Russians will feel bold to pursue their political goal. Their objective is to ensure that the US loses its edge as a superpower and suffers catastrophic economic and political disasters. If in this war, the Russians have to use Islam as a scapegoat, they would not hesitate. Why should they? When the CIA also used Islam and Muslims to pursue their political interests, Russians feel justified in following the lead. 

The Muslim political and religious leadership is myopic. It does not see anything beyond its own narrow ethnic, sectarian and selfish interests. It can sacrifice anything for its egoistic goals regardless of the price people might pay.
Let us be prepared for a long war that is much colder than the cold war and in this war of revenge, besides the US, Islam and Muslims would also be major casualties. The White Christian right wing evangelical establishment in the US and the West is not thinking beyond its racism and religious bigotry. It is willing to sacrifice its own freedom to ensure that non white, non Christians do not occupy positions of significance in world politics. Its endorsement of the Republican candidate is a testimony of its eagerness to commit suicide on the altar of hate.
The world is in a big mess and in the days, months and years to come, the mess would expand, creating destabilization in every society and community unless the people under a sincere and honest leadership emerge for the betterment of all and not just one nation and group. Welcome to Jahiliya (Days of Ignorance) when tribal, ethnic, cultural, religious and nationalist wars were justified to perpetuate the revenge, plunder and murder.

The Failed Coup and the Challenge of Erdogan

The failed coup in Turkey should not make people think that the danger is over. Those who wanted to replace President Erdogan and his party are still there in Turkey and they would do everything possible to destabilize the country. However the ball is in the court of the President and if he responds to the crisis in a magnanimous manner, he could turn the tables against his foes and create a democratic model that would be the envy of every country.
Rather than locking up all his foes, he needs to win them over to his vision of Turkey. He needs to initiate a dialogue with those who see his understanding of Islam irrelevant in Turkey and the modern world. Doubtlessly, Erdogan and his party are committed to Islam and aspire to present the country as a leading example of Islam to the world. There are certain areas where the vision that Erdogan has of Islam needs to be focused. He would have to prove that Turkey under his leadership is an open society that respects human rights and promotes peace and progress. He would have to set the example through concrete actions that science and technology are the foundations of emerging Turkey where corruption has no place. He would have to prove to the world that his country can give a balanced education system to the people that integrate science with the religious ethos and universal ethics.
In particular, the following major areas would deserve his utmost attention.
1. Emphasis on Islamic values should not lead him to deny non-Muslims their right to preach and practice their religion or no religion freely.
2. Women should not be forced into a lifestyle they do not want to identify with and their rights to seek equality in all spheres of life should be respected.
3. Moral values should not be imposed on those who do not believe in them.
4. Rather than reacting on the basis of political expediency, a principled position should be taken on matters of concerns to Turkey and the Muslim world. In other words, Turkey should emerge as a voice of decency and support for all those who are denied justice and equality regardless of their background.
5. Negotiations should open with Kurds and Armenians and other dissident groups to find a solution of the bitterness that has lingered long and caused tensions in the relationship.
6. An education system that integrates ethics with science and technology should be the foundation to lay the future social fabric of the country.
7. Peaceful opposition should be encouraged and those in power should always be ready to consult even their foes on matters of public interests.
8. Witch-hunt of those involved in the failed coup should be replaced with dialogue and reconciliation. Rather than turning Gulanists into enemies, efforts should be directed to secure their support for a unified Turkey with prosperity for all.
9. Better and stronger relations with neighbors should be the mainstay of Turkish policies as it would prevent possible incursion and infiltration.
10. Living conditions of people regardless of their social and religious background should be improved so that their basic needs are guaranteed.

What is an ideal society desired by the Divine?

People often talk about an ideal society based on their values, religious or otherwise. Jews talk about an ideal society where their Messiah would restore peace and prosperity, Christians talk about Jesus returning to establish the kingdom of God on earth, Muslims espouse the idea of a society based on the values revealed in the Quran and traditions promoted by the Prophet, Buddhists talk about a society where individuals will deliver them from the tribulations of pain and sufferings, Sikhs envision a society where differences of caste and race would no longer exist, atheists talk of a world where people will be free from the yoke of religion and exercise the free will the way they want and so on and so forth.

Every religious or irreligious community has its vision of a society, yet the reality is that no religious community has ever been able to recreate an environment that reflects its values in totality. On the contrary, the zealots in all communities have created conditions that contradict the basics of their own faith. There may be several factors for that, but the two main reasons are the differences among communities on the scope and dimensions of an ideal world and the differences several factions and sects have within each community on the definition of an ideal society. For instance, what is ideal for Muslims is not ideal for Christians and Jews and what is ideal within one group of Jews may not be ideal among other Jewish factions.

Logically speaking, all those who believe in the existence of God or gods, believe that there is one ultimate supreme power regardless of the varying definitions they give for that being. Yet, all of them have different visions of an ideal  a society with one common factor that each assigns a superior role to its values and traditions.

Thus the unity in God diversifies itself into competing visions that have often led to conflicts, hatred and disorder, all in the name of religion.

The concept of unity in God is a powerful one as it expresses the desire of having a unity of human beings and a unity in the vision of an ideal society. This concept liberates human beings from accepting the slavery of others and free from the dictates of fellow human beings. God did not confuse human beings by proposing conflicting ideals to his creation. He is the source of unity and reason. The disunity is the outcome of diverse human experiences and interpretations of divine guidance.

The purpose of faith is to enable human beings to find the ultimate unity in a manner where diversity can express itself in a framework so that the human society achieves its true potential in terms of exploring the universe and human capability in living in a balanced and peaceful life.

Even though people speaking for different faiths often talk of an ideal Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, Jain or Sikh society, the deductive logic suggests that the human society can either have a unified divinely guided society or a disunited conflicting a society based on the experience of each separate race, nationality, ethnicity, tribe, community or nation. The former is the intent of the divine and the later is the outcome of asserting values that are determined by the narrow and limited experiences of humans.

If one has to reconstruct the basic outlines of an ideal society desired by the divine who is the creator of everything that exists in the universe, then one has to give considerations to the following minimum requirements.

1. There is one supreme power that alone created the universe

2. The unity of humanity is the essence of the creation as everything revolves around human beings.

3. The resources that exist in the universe are given to human being as a trust to be used to enhance life and progress not to destroy and regress.

4. Regardless of the gender and race and the differences in the intellectual capabilities of human beings, the society and its instruments of governance have to ensure dignity of everyone in terms of guaranteeing the right to life, right to mind, right to work, right to explore the universe and the right to create a nucleus in the form of a family to live peacefully.

5. Violence in any form or shape is based on coercion and it must not have any place in an ideal human society.

6. Justice and peace are the two essential values that should dictate all the spheres of life.

7. Freedom and the responsibility to use freedom in a social context are paramount to secure justice and peace.

8. The pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right of everyone that should be secured without infringing upon the rights of others.

9. Human beings should not be restricted in their pursuit of happiness anywhere in the world provided they do not violate the rights of others and do not exploit the resources to their racial, ethnic and tribal advantages.

10. Punishment and reward should be based on the concept of maintaining justice and peace in the world of on the basis of doing the job for God.

Perhaps this ideal society is deep in the conscience of every human being. But each religious and irreligious community represents these values in its limited and narrowest form within their own context creating conditions that often result in conflicts and violence in the name of God or progress.

In order for this ideal society to emerge, one must start with oneself so that an individual can identify with it in a non-sectarian and non-factional manner. It must be reflected in our education system and it must be espoused by those who claim to be speaking in the name of God. In the absence of serious commitment to these ideals, we would always be in a race to prove others wrong and unconsciously fighting for our sectarian superiority.

This in essence is the divine call, a call that has been misconstrued most of the times, a call that has been distorted in the places that are described as the houses of God. This idealism needs people who are willing to dedicate them to achieve it in an organized manner, because these values are the ones that will deliver us from falsehood that our human society has been living for centuries.

And the Creator Sent Revelation to Honey Bee

Referring to the honey bee, we find a very intriguing verse in the Quran. 

"And [consider how] your Sustainer has given revelation to the bee: "Prepare for yourself dwellings in the mountains and in the trees, and in what [people] may build [for you by way of hives];" - 16:68

The Quran uses the word Awha, (root word wahi) to talk about the process of honey production described in the verse. What has wahi to do with the bee or honey production? What is it that the Quran wants humans to understand from this example and what are the open secrets mentioned in this verse?

Every living organism follows certain laws to live and survive. We need oxygen to survive. If we do not inhale oxygen we would suffocate and die. Those laws are fixed and they do not change on their own unless interfered. Those laws are applicable to all. For instance, even the most pious in any or all religious traditions would suffer suffocation, without oxygen regardless of his piety or knowledge. 

In the Quranic language, these laws are also called the wahi or divine inspiration or programming This inspiration is embedded in every living thing including the physical anatomy of human beings. Thus, every part of the human body would act in a uniform manner all over the world in all races and communities because human anatomy has been inspired by the divine to act in that manner.

This wahi or inspiration in the physical realm does not come through angel Gabriel. It is programmed in the DNA, anatomy and physical being of everything that exists. For living creatures other than human beings everything is fixed and programmed to the extent that their tasks are monotonous and are repeated according to the laws they are created with. A bee cannot say that "I am tired today and I would take a rest or just go sightseeing." Bee has to perform the task that has been embedded in her creation. The mountains cannot say that I intend to reappear in a different location.  

This wahi or inspiration in the physical make of the universe is spread all over and it keeps everything in balance. When we interfere in these laws or try to change them, imbalances occur. 

For human beings, God has sent additional wahi through the angel Gabriel to messengers so that we could use the physical laws in a manner that would maintain the balance. No one can escape the physical laws of God because they are fixed, but we human beings have a choice to either cause destruction or maintain the balance in the physical laws based on their relationship with the wahi or revelation that God sent through angels to his messengers who relayed it to their people. In order to use the wahi given through messengers, we have to learn the wahi spread in the physical universe. Without that, we cannot use the wahi through messengers properly. We will continue to wander in darkness. 

Thus, the discovery of the physical laws of the universe and everything that exists in it is the journey to understand the wahi of Allah. Human beings have always made efforts to understand the wahi of Allah, Every scientific progress is based on the understanding of this wahi, but many times they have neglected to use this according to the wahi sent through messengers.
Interestingly, many of our Muslim scholars, past and present who claim to have an authentic religious understanding, in general, have denied the existence of the wahi spread in the physical world despite asserting that everything has been created by Allah. They have often said that the study of the universe and the laws that operate every living organism are mundane and in the realm of worldly sciences with no use to one's spirituality. They have also asserted that a person focused on life after death should be less concerned about them. They have even gone to the extent of even denying the study of languages other than own despite the fact that the Quran, the Scriptures of Islam, acknowledges and celebrates human diversity. They have negated the importance of the wahi of Allah spread in our physical world. The biggest proof of this negation is the curriculum that is taught in religious institutions known as Madarsas. Generations after generations have been convinced that these institutions are serving the divine cause, while in reality, they deprive the students of the essence of divine teachings and guidance.
The Quran describes the knowledge of universal laws sacred and makes it obligatory on every human being to acquire it. The Quran tells human beings that when the wahi spread in the physical universe corresponds and reconciles with the wahi delivered through messengers, the human society would continue to hurt itself. That is evident in our world today. The societies that have mastered the physical laws of the universe, but are devoid of the wahi sent by messengers are suffering from imbalances in every walk of life. While the societies who claim to have mastered the wahi sent by through messengers have become a liability on the world. 

Within the Muslim community, we find such scholars and institutions still insist on this duality of divine guidance and in the name of God are willing to reject him and his guidance in this sphere. Read the tafasir written by many prominent scholars of the day and you can easily see the negation. Many such people are still controlling our religious institutions and perpetuating this denial while promoting ideas that defeat the very purpose of divine guidance. 

The Doors of the Heavens open and the doors of the hellfire shut and the devils are chained

Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, once said, “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.”  (Sahih Bukhari 1800)

Obviously, this hadith explains some key concepts of Ramada in an allegorical manner using symbolic language. If they are read literally, they would sound a statement of blind faith reflecting the above-mentioned understanding and if read allegorically, they would offer a logical and viable rationale for developing strong conviction and appreciation of the Prophetic wisdom.
We do not know if heavens or hell has gates like the gates of a city or a building. None of us has ever witnessed or would ever witness them in our lifetime. So the meanings have to be found in the symbolism they represent. Opening of the gates of heavens means an easy and smooth journey to a state of utmost peace and happiness under the divine grace because heavens is a place of utmost comfort and peace. The prophet is alluding to this journey during the month of Ramadan when believers have month-long opportunities to change their lifestyle and environment to attain a higher status of self-consciousness. Such a journey would help them enjoy every moment of the month and qualify for uninterrupted mercy and blessings of the divine in this life and the life hereafter as well. Everything can change and with this change, the blessings could multiply. This is how one can understand the meaning of opening the gates of the heavens.
Closing the gates of heavens mean that the creator is eager and ready to forgive every sin committed by sinful beings  by anyone if sincere repentance is sought. Thus the month invites people to introspect and self evaluate them and identify every act that may appear to be deviant and seek forgiveness by pledging that they would not repeat it. In other words, forgiveness would be the divine offering for this month. However, one must realize that represented and forgiveness has to be done in a manner that is suggested by God and his messenger. They are more than offering lip service. They mean that a person is consciously aware of the wrongs committed and is willing to change the lifestyle never to repeat it.
Chaining devils means that the individual would have the opportunities to control their behavior in the wake of all temptations, physical, social, spiritual and what not. In a moment of high self consciousness an individual would ensure that he/she does not commit any act that would either defy the divine or reject his mercy. In another word, each of the believing person has to have a personal battle with one's own ego, the biggest satanic whisper that sits in the sub-consciousness of each one of us and win it..
Thus, this month-long opportunities to earn the boundless bounties, limitless forgiveness and reigning one's own ego are what the fasting offers in a tangible manner. The more intense, a person becomes in seeking these goals, the more beneficial the month becomes to him or her. In other words, humans have the capacity to change them and earn the blessings of God through their efforts and good deeds and they would always be supported by the divine in this endeavor. But as for those who strive hard in Our cause -We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us: for, behold, God is, indeed, with the doers of good. (Quran 29:69)  

Ramadan, the month of fasting is no different than any other month as far as crimes are concerned. Every perceivable sin and crime takes place in this month all around the world. Does this hadith mean the deviations of this month would not count? Does it mean that every sin in this month would be forgiven or does it mean that people cannot commit sin in this month?

Please pray for these people's maghfirah. They are in the Panama documents and are considered morally dead.

Following are the names of people mentioned in Panama Papers for their offshore accounts. These are the real heroes of Muslims who ensured that they do not lag behind in corruption. They did not declare their wealth or its sources.

Saudi Arabia Salman, King of Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of The United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi

Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir 

Sudan Ahmed al-Mirghani, former President of Sudan

Iraq Ayad Allawi, former Acting Prime Minister of Iraq

Jordan Ali Abu al-Ragheb, former Prime Minister of Jordan

Algeria -Abdeslam Bouchouareb, Minister of Industry and Mines

Palestine -Mohammad Mustafa, former Minister of National Economy agency

Saudi Arabia -Muhammad bin Nayef, Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior of Saudi Arabia

Azerbaijan – Mehriban Aliyeva, Leyla Aliyeva, Arzu Aliyeva, Heydar Aliyev and Sevil Aliyeva, the family of President Ilham Aliyev

Egypt -Alaa Mubarak, son of former President Hosni Mubarak

Malaysia -Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, son of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his cousin

Morocco -Mounir Majidi, the personal secretary of King Mohammed VI

Pakistan -Maryam Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz Sharif and Hussain Nawaz Sharif, children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

Senegal -Mamadou Pouye, a friend of Karim Wade, himself the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade

Syria- Rami and Hafez Makhlouf, cousins of President Bashar al-Assad

United Nations -Kojo Annan, son of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Abdul Rashid Mir, founder, and CEO of Cottage Industries Exposition Limited (CIE) & Tabasum Mir

Iqbal Mirchi[73] (died 14 August 2013), the right-hand man of India’s most wanted criminal, Dawood Ibrahim

                                                  

Rajab: The month of the Earth Shaking Event

Rajab is the seventh month of Islamic Lunar Calendar. Muslim traditions regard this month a prelude to Ramadan, the ninth month known for the fasting. It is also one of the four sacred months besides, Zee Qada, Zil Hijja, and Muharram, the four months where all hostilities and conflicts have to come to an end or halt. Additionally, it is also the month remembered for an unusual and unbelievable event in the entire history of humanity when a human being was chosen by the Creator of the universe to visit the world reserved for the life hereafter only. The event known as Isra and Miraj took place on the 27th day of Rajab with its mysterious dimensions still incomprehensible to the human mind. 

Muslim scholars have often focused on acts of worship recommended during this month. This has not been free from controversy. In the opinions of some, no specific value is attached to any special act of worship in this month while in the eyes of others, certain specific acts have greater significance for everyone. For instance, some scholars have presented some ahadith (sayings of the Prophet) recommending fasting at least once in the month of Rajab, while the others have rejected those ahadith declaring them weak. This has led to endless debates among the masses about the acts of worship in this month and terms as such innovations, deviations and exaggerations have been used to describe the behavior of believers in the month of Rajab. Moreover, few scholars have presented the significance of the month for a plural society as most have focused on its relevance for Muslims only. In fact, the message this month gives has far greater significance for the world as a whole.

This has shifted the focus from the real significance of the month.. 

In essence, the month of Rajab and the events occurred therein highlight three important features.

1. Conflicts and hostilities must come to an end among Muslims and the people of the world if they really want to attain peace and commitment to divine guidance.

2. Human beings have the capacity to reach the peak of their existence by learning about the world that is yet to emerge on the basis of adhering to divine guidance.

3. Islam is the continuation of the divine guidance and the main objective of the faith is to revere, respect and deliberate the diversity of the divine guidance.

Path to Peace

Rajab is declared a sacred month, hence all hostilities must come to an end this month. It provides a month-long training to people to refrain from executing their anger into unfavorable actions. It helps them to control their egos and their desire to take revenge or to cause others hurt. The idea is simply that for four months in a year, people will have self restrain and work towards peace in a committed and dedicate manner. They will not indulge in anything that can lead to conflicts either at home or in the world at large. This training would be enough to enable people to live peace throughout the year ensuring that the message of the sanctity of human life is preserved and lived.

Peak of Humanity

The experience of Isra and Miraj, journey to Jerusalem and then ascension to heavens in one night is an earth-shaking event in the history of humanity. For the first time, a messenger was invited to heavens to experience the worlds that are yet to emerge and then report it back to the believers. Whether it was physical or spiritual, is beside the point. What is significant is that a human reached that peak of humanity that is still beyond human comprehension. Obviously, it is implied that only a perfect human being was allowed to experience the mysterious yet the perfect world. This gives assurance to the believers that this world is in existence and is within the reach of every human being.

Path to Pluralism

Prophet Muhammad in his ascension to the heavens was first taken to Jerusalem. Why was this one-stop flight? Why was it not direct? This is a very significant issue as it emphasizes the unity of all monotheistic religions and underscores the commitment of all religious communities to respect each other. There was no Muslim place of worship in Jerusalem at that time as there was no Muslim there.. There were symbols of Jewish and Christian faiths. There were Sabians also present. The presence of the Prophet in the holy lands establishes the principle of religious pluralism and unity of monotheistic faiths. Rather than engaging in conflicts, these faiths should work hand in hand to ensure that people develop a better understanding of their relations with the divine.

These were the essential messages that the month of Rajab highlights. The religious hierarchy, as usual, has pushed these messages aside and focused on controversial issues defeating the very purpose of the month. The debate about the validity of fasting or extra prayers in this month, yet they forget the practice of their leader, the Prophet.

1. The prophet fasted every Monday and Thursdays as documented in many authentic ahadith. What is wrong with fasting during these days or any other days in the month of Rajab if the purpose is to remember Allah and his messenger.

2. The prophet recommended zikr to Muslims, i.e., remembering Allah and reminding them constantly of his message. What is wrong if Muslims offer nawafi (supplementary prayers) in this month to follow the instructions of the prophet.

3. The prophet always asked his followers to give to the poor and the needy all the time. What is wrong in ensuring that Muslims give additional charity in this month to the poor and the needy. After all, all these acts of worship, prepare one to welcome the month of Ramadan, the month when Muslims undergo a rigorous and vigorous self-discipline to become a better person.