The Insider (7): Reality of Self-knowledge (Know My Own Self)

By Salim I. Hassan

@salimullah5050

(written since 2008)

 

The main task for the man after the knowledge of his Lord (Allah) is to know, understand and recognize himself; he has to know his real nature and the purpose of his living in this world. The final attainment, aim, and achievement in this life is the knowledge of Allah and a wise man is he who can see his Lord and remains strictly obedient to him.

I know my Lord (Allah) as I know myself; Allah is my real and absolute creator whose commands must be strictly observed: and I am the servant of Allah. This world or earth is my examination hall: the sun and moon are my invigilators: Angels are my supervisors. Lastly, Allah, the most high, is my chief examiner. This is meant that, in this world I am taking an examination and my result will be presented in the Day of Judgment.

Whatever I do, doing, or did is for myself; if I am right, to praise or criticize me does not matter, because praise and criticism are always positive to me. And whenever I am wrong you should just pray for me. I am not sure if I can call myself a free-minded man-he who his mind is always positive toward praise and criticism, prosperity and adversity- he who stands strictly for the pleasure of Allah, not for the lust of paradise or fear of hellfire- he who his action does not contradict his intention and vice versa. This is the true culture of good servant of Allah. I wish to be raised up to such status.

 

Knowledge is man because it gives him personality. Man devoid of personality makes no difference from  simple animal. Value of knowledge is innumerable and unquantifiable. The noble prophet (S.A.W) says: “Seek for knowledge even to china”, and he also says: “Ink of the scientists is equal to the blood of martyr” stressing the value of knowledge. The best and the noblest kind of knowledge is the knowledge of Allah. I know and you should know that “the best human art which is highest in degree and noblest in rank is the art of philosophy, which is the knowledge of the true nature of things, in so far as is possible for man. The aim of the philosopher is, as regards his knowledge is to attain the truth, and as regards his action is to act truthfully, asserts Al-kindi (The great Arab philosopher).

Yet, you must fight for one thing (knowledge) and against the other (ignorance)-I can call them evil and good. The replacement of ignorance by knowledge is the only salvation.

I have realized that knowledge is a vast ocean full of bless and benefit: and ignorance is a wide ocean full of regret and worry.

While I am writing my presentation, I must maintain that the only beneficial knowledge is that of Allah’s sake: the negative of this idea leads to oneself-destruction. In the struggle of my pursuit of knowledge, I have chosen to have God-fearing so that my lord (Allah) will inspire me with direct knowledge. Perhaps I will be among the self-knowledgeable men.

And do not forget that no matter how fully knowledgeable you are, you remain ignorant yet, because the how much you know is not more than how much you don't know; and also “وفوق كل ذي علم عليم” – says Allah (s.w.t) in his sacrosanct Qur’an, meaning “Above every knowledgeable man there is one who is even more knowledgeable”. 

As for my relation with fellow men, I believe to be my better self. I might not know all what you know, and vice versa. You might excel me in one area and I might excel you in another. Your thought might not necessarily be better than mine, ditto for me. I have my own ways to see and analyze things. They might be a little bit differed from yours. Just as Allah says “ان سعيكم لشتى....”(Your deeds are indeed diverse), so our thoughts, opinions, perceptive, experiences, ideas and lots more, I think. Our differences are not meant to contradict one another, but to share knowledge and exchange ideas.

What unjust and erred human can see in me is not the yardstick of my true self in the sight of my Lord. So they don’t have to interfere with my self-esteemed faith. If you think you have all right to air your view so don’t ever try to hijack this right from others, for none of us is receiving the ‘Divine Knowledge’, WAHY, if you can know it.   In every incidence, event, happening and any debatable/controversial issue I believe I've the most right to express my point of view, having in mind that criticism is a most in academic/intellectual field. But why some want to strip you of your faith just because of perceptual differences in certain issues. I know that freedom of expression an academic liberties are far too precious to be smothered by intimidation campaigns.

Finally, I cannot change how people feel about me. I don’t even try to do so. I just live my life to be happy with my Lord, Allah. 

But I always ask who is there to judge me? Unjust, erred, selfish and ignorant man or Just, All-perfect and Omniscient Allah, the God-Almighty.

 

The Insider (6): “Who Will Stand For The Kashmiris”

 

                                                                               By

Salim I. Hassan

August, 2016

In the name of Allah the Merciful, The Compassionate: Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Noble Messenger (Muhammad S.A.W):

India is not as less brutal as Israel. Both India and Israel engaged in perpetual terrorism against a community of two nations. Kashmir has been in the same condition with Palestine.  Israel are the occupying forces in the West bank of Palestine just as India are the occupying forces in Kashmir. Both of them employ the same pattern of terrorism against the people of these two communities, majority of whom pure Muslims.

Kashmir has been a disputed territory bordering both India and Pakistan, whom they always claim control of parallel part of it. It is an area which is very beautiful, rich in natural resources and hydro power. It can be a security wall for India. It can be feeder for whole Pakistan. And it can be a direct bridge for China to connect with middle east. But unfortunately the people of this area who are true Muslims are subject to Indian brutalities, persecutions, rapes and tortures on several occasions.

In just recent 3 weeks (09-31 July, 2016) the Indian occupation troops have shot and murdered 74 Kashmiris, most of them young men and children. The new terroristic tactic of using pellet gun has resulted in rendering hundreds of youths blinded when hit by rubber-coated steel pellets. The hard question to ask is why there is typical silence by the world on this grievous crime being perpetrated against the Muslims? As usual, had a Muslim government been guilty of such crimes, there would be universal condemnation.  Kashmiris are just paying the price of being Muslims in a disputed area.

This latest systematic brutality started when on 8 july Burwan Wani, a young Kashmiri freedom fighter, was murdered in cold blood by the Indian army. Since then there has been street protest and a state of insurrection. And why not, when over 200,000 people attended the funeral of this young Muslim in spite of the official curfew.  So far the statistic of the victims as reported is:

People Tortured/Critically Injured (Including serious eye injuries): 228
Civilians Arrested: 346
Women raped by Indian troops: 90

Raping Kashmiri women has been a common despicable practice of Indian occupiers' tactics. Rape is used as an instrument of war. In 1989 uprising alone,  more than 10,000 Kashmiri women have been raped, some of them gang-raped by the unruly Hindu soldiers. The hard question is who will stand for the Kashmiris?

As committed Muslims we are asking as why India is able to go unscathed despite its long time state sponsored terrorism and crimes against the Muslim nation. This should be a moment of reflection for us. Too often, we complain that the Western world are biased and selfish in their media and human right institutions as they always ignore the suffering of Muslims and the injustice perpetrated against them all over the world. This is of course true. But what have Muslims themselves done? Some ask, what can we do? Our Leaders are lackeys and cannot do a damn thing to save Islam and its Ummah.

 So our final resort should be any possible reaction on individual level that can yield a long lasting and effectual result. Here is a simple strategy we can employ to exert pressure and instigate world action against the Indian government. We need to file a case against India in preparation to bring its rulers before the International Criminal Court (ICC). This strategy is devised by our leaders of Concerned Global Muslim Youths:

“As a first step, if everyone who reads this sends the following message to the High Commissioner of UN Human Rights Council, it would be a good start. If the UN Human Rights Council were to receive tens of thousands of messages, this would have to be included in its annual report to the General Assembly. Based on this, a case can be lodged against the Indian rulers for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court”.

 Attached here a sample message below that should be sent to the following email address:

CP@ohchr.org

We urge everyone to do it today, not wait till tomorrow. This message can be shared on your mailing list to mobilize a worldwide campaign. Here is the sample message and your are free to copy and paste and send it via your email:

The High Commissioner
UN Human Rights Council
Geneva, Switzerland

Dear Sir,

I write to seek the UN Human Rights Council’s intervention in the ongoing atrocities being perpetrated by the Indian Occupation forces against the people of Kashmir. In the three week period between July 9 to 31, at least 74 people have been shot and killed and hundreds of others including children have been injured. Most have suffered grievous physical injury to their eyes by Indian forces’ use of pellet guns. Scores of people have been blinded permanently.

India is an occupying power according to Article 42 of the 1907 Hague Regulations as well as Article 2 of the Four Geneva Conventions (1949). Further, both the UN Charter as well as the law, jus ad bellum, confirms India as a occupying power.

The State of Jammu and Kashmir remains disputed territory based on several Security Council resolutions dating back to 1948 and 1949. Its status must be decided through a UN-supervised referendum free from coercion or intimidation.

Despite its duty as an occupying power to protect the people of Kashmir, Indian occupation troops have been involved in horrendous crimes against the Kashmiri people and subjected them to collective punishment.

Please advise what steps the UN Human Rights Council has taken to protect the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people to life, liberty and freedom? We urge the Council to undertake a fact-finding mission to Kashmir to ascertain the plight of the people.

Thank you for your attention to this most serious matter.

Sincerely
(Please put your name and email address here).

Share it with your friends and urge them to send it today and not tomorrow please. As a reminder, The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) says in His hadith: “Whoever is not concerned with the affairs (condition) of the Muslims is not one of them”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Insider(5) POLITICIZATION OF TERRORISM (Part 1)

POLITICIZATION OF TERRORISM (1)

(Salimanology’s Intelligence Report – June, 2016)

By: Salim I. Hassan   

written from Muslim Unity Foundation - MUF

Only Love can defeat Terrorism, asserts Harun Yahya. He further noted that “With terrorism dominating the world's agenda, the definitions of terror, terrorist, and terrorism assume a whole new importance. Many countries define terrorism, draw up terrorist profiles, and publish lists of terrorist organizations in the light of their own national interests. "Terrorist organizations" to some countries are freedom fighters to others. What one country sees as "terrorist nations," another welcomes as "loyal allies." So, don’t be disturbed if you hear or read that ISIS et’al are welcomed, supported and even financed to fight in some selective locations – Syria in focus. This is a very reason why we believe that Terrorism is being politicized.

Every form of terrorism must be unequivocally condemned—whatever its causes or aims, no matter what its targets, where it arises, or how it is carried out. Similarly, anyone sincerely opposed to terrorism should show the same empathy for the thousands of innocent victims it has slaughtered – muslims & non-muslims, Sunnis and non-sunnis – and let us forget about the sectarian differences. To repeat it again, only Love can defeat terrorism we said.

Therefore, who defines terrorism?  Who decides—and how do they decide—what a terrorist is? Who finances or sponsors it? Who are its mobilizers and recruiters? These are hard points unknowingly or deliberately missing in almost all writings and reports on terrorism.  Discourse on these hard questions will be in our next month (September) report.

Terrorist are not born; Terrorist are created.  Terrorism is by nature political; because it involves the acquisition and use of power for the purpose of forcing others to submit, or agree, to terrorist demands”. FBI authorities defined terrorism as “{a} violent act or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of United States or of any state, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social goals”. And yet they are supporting some group of militants who embark upon this heinous crime against the legitimate government of a sovereign state.

Mr. Fuller wrote in Los Angeles Times (August 24, 1998): “It is dangerous to divorce terrorism from politics, yet the U.S. media continue to talk about an abstract war against terrorism without mention of the issue or context that lies behind them”.

 What are these issues and context behind terrorism or fighting against terrorism? Think over it again. Two reasons make the impossibility of eradicating terrorism, especially in Middle East.

One, maintaining and retaining the pretext war on terrorism is US top priority in Mid East. The main reason why ISIS is invented is because Bn Laden is over and the threat of ISIS will serve as a leeway to continue extending the tentacle of their war of occupation in the Mid East.

Second, the Saudis ruling elites (though are divided) view ISIS as Sunni heroes fighting Iranian Shiite “fire” with Sunni “fire”; that a new Sunni state is taking shape at the very heart of what they regard as a heart of Iranian influence. Other Saudi elites are more fearful, and recall the history of the revolt against Abd-al Aziz by the earlier extremist Wahhabists in1920. Thus, they fear that ISIS will very soon turn against them. We can all testify to this second hypothesis considering the recent Qatif and Madina failed attack.

In fact ISIS are nobody’s friend. Before we close this chapter (1) here are few advice: one for the Saudis and the other one for the US.

Arab nations should stop following the footstep of American warmongers in their  policy in Mid East; for it is amounting to their complicity in destabilizing their Muslim nations. And the end the result will be a suicide destruction of all the Muslims countries.

For the US itself, I will remind them of the former Senator David Duke’s assertion: “We warned that if America sheds blood overseas, that eventually blood would be shed in our own country. I feel no satisfaction in saying that we were right”. We have already started to see everyday’s shooting and attack on American soil and hometown, something you can never thought of.    

David Duke wrote: “Any nation that bombs another naturally creates millions of angry enemies against it. America has repeatedly done that in recent times. We have taken sides in foreign conflicts, offered military assistance and weapons, and even bombed other nations. Our actions have caused the loss of many thousands of lives, including the lives of thousands of civilians. Many of the nations we bombed had never harmed a single American or acted in any way against the interests of the United States” He adds: “We warned that if America sheds blood overseas, that eventually blood would be shed in our own country. I feel no satisfaction in saying that we were right”

Enver Masud cited one American saying “. U.S foreign policy invites ‘terrorism’; to end it we must end policies that create it”