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News and Comment When Enlightenment Dazzles

  • Published in News & Comment
  •   |  

News:

On the 6th of April, on the occasion of the Christian Easter, the Danish newspaper Politiken published an article written by a religious historian with specialty in Semitic philosophy, with the title: "If Jesus Never lived - Then Islam Would Most Likely Not Have Existed". Besides criticizing religions in general, he claims that Islam is a made-up hybrid between Christianity and Judaism.

 

Comment:

These types of claims have become widespread within the last decades. Not only in hyper-atheistic Scandinavia, but also all over Europe. This is not only the case when it comes to ordinary Europeans, but also, and maybe especially, when it come to the so-called intelligentsia. Historians, specialists, politicians and so forth, who have become completely indulged in their own complacency.

The reason lies in an inflation in atheism and the extreme adherence to secular liberalism as a universal truth. Eurocentrism has become the sole standard to the extent that their historical experiences and so-called "enlightenment" has dazzled them, so they cannot see.

Islam is an invention and a hybrid, because the mere thought of a Creator and a divine message is against their bad historical experiences. Sound cannot come out of your mouth unless it is, as a result of their claimed "freedom of speech". There was no accounting of rulers before the ideas of Montesquieu, and everything beside a secular democracy must be a dictatorship. Khilafah "Caliphate" is a utopia and so it continues, postulate by postulate.

They have become so emotionally confident in their own ideas that they completely fail to see how fragile they are. They cannot even deal with other ideas, whereas Muslims have no problems in understanding western intellectual baggage and therefore we have no problem exposing, dismantling and rejecting it.

The fact is, that Islam is unique on all levels and came as a message to all mankind, regardless of ethnicity, social status or intellectual capacity. The evidences for the existence of a Creator are rational, and so is the confirmation of the divine message. Muslims have in no way suffered from the ills of mediaeval religious exploitation like in Europe, on the contrary, so we are not in need of their "enlightenment". Islam does not give the right to ridicule or insult others, but Allah (swt) gave us a mouth so we can speak the truth no matter the consequences. It is not a "right", but an Islamic duty to account the rulers and the Khilafah "Caliphate" is a unique system without comparison that has a long and bright history to prove it, and an even brighter future when it returns inshaAllah.

We Muslims in the west have a great responsibility when it comes to standing up for Islam, and reject all the false attacks and claims. We have to present Islam in a strong and unambiguous manner so Muslims become proud and confident in their Deen, and non-Muslims regain their sight and are drawn towards the real light, the light of Islam.

((وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاءً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ))

"But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a desert which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allah is swift in account." [24:39]

 

 

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Junes Cock

Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Scandinavia

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Women's Section of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir A Global Campaign and International Women's Conference March 2015 Women and Shariah

  • Published in Dawah News
  •   |  

 

Full Recordings of the Speech

 

 

Press Release
The Women's Section of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir Successfully Hosted a Historic, Unprecedented International Women's Conference: "Women and Shariah: Separating Fact from Fiction"

 

 

 

"Women and Shariah: Separating Fact From Fiction" Conference

Booklet For Full Transcripts: Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

PICTURE SLIDESHOW:

Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Interview with Dr. Nazrin Nawaz

 

 

 

 

 


Radio Interview with Sister Umm Muhammad

 

 

 

 

Radio Interview with Sister Umm Suhaib ash-Shami

 

 

 

 

Women and Shariah: Separating Fact from Fiction


On Wednesday 11th February 2015, the Women's Section in the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir launched an extensive global campaign entitled, "Women and Shariah: Separating Fact from Fiction" which will culminate in a momentous international women's conference on March 28, 2015, by the will of Allah.

 

 

Press Release
The Women's Section in The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir is to Host an Unprecedented International Women's Conference - "Women and Shariah: Separating Fact From Fiction"

 

 

Press Release
The Women's Section in the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir Launches a Global Campaign Culminating in an International Women's Conference Entitled

"Women and Shariah: Separating Fact from Fiction"

 

 

Press Release

International Women's Day 2015:

Marking Over a Century of Feminism's Failure to Deliver for Women

 

 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia: Why I Support the Shariah?

 

 

 

 

 

Denmark: Why I Support the Shariah?

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Women and Shariah: Separating Fact from Fiction 'Conference Trailer

This is the trailer video of the upcoming conference organised by the Women's Section of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir entitled, "Women and Shariah: Separating Fact from Fiction", on the 28th March 2015. This conference has been preceded by a rigorous campaign on the subject.

 

 

 

 

Muslimah Nusantara and Islamic Sharia Extended Teaser

Jumadel Thani 1436 AH - March 2015 CE

 

 

 

Women's Education under the Khilafah "Caliphate"

 

 

 

The Mother of Imam Shafi'i

 

 

 

Women's Political Role under the Khilafah "Caliphate"

 

 

 

 

Fathima Al-Fihri - Founder of the First University in the World

 

 

 

 

Women, Shariah and Afghanistan

 

 

Turkish Dramas and their Effects on Muslim Women

 

 

Women Under the Uthmani Khilafah "Caliphate" as Seen Through the Judicial Records of the State

 

 

 

Does Gender Equality = Stronger Family Units?

 

 

 

Does Gender Equality = Fairness for Women?

 

 

 

Is Gender Equality a Universal Value?

 

 

 

Does Gender Equality = Respect for Women?

 

 

 

 

Promos for the Women and Shariah Conference

 

Arabic:

 

 

Urdu:

 

 


Malay

 

 


Bahasa Indonesia

 

 

PICTURE SLIDESHOW:

Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cow Slaughter Ban in India- Milking of the Democracy Loophole

  • Published in Analysis
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The Maharashtra State Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act came into force from March 4, 2015 with the President giving his sanction to it. It extends a previous ban on cow slaughter to bulls and bullocks too, those caught violating the law face a five-year jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000 ($160), if convicted. This ban has rendered thousands of Muslims jobless, loss of revenue to the tune of Rs.100 billion (1.6 Billion USD) and even zoo animals being fed the low energy chicken instead of beef.

Moving ahead, consider the following scenario - You are at work; kids in school. Someone rings your doorbell. Your wife opens the door and the person barges in. He dashes to your fridge and scrambles through the freezer box and drops the contents to the floor. He finds red meat (perhaps mutton?), deems it beef and books you! If that's not eccentric enough, the onus is on you to prove that the meat is not beef! It's effectively-"guilty until proven innocent".

We are referring here to the legal provisions of the cow slaughter and beef ban in India.

The law is legislated by the state governments for their respective states.  Let's consider Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Bill 2010 for instance. The Act has a provision which states that any police officer not below the rank of head constable shall have the power of entry, inspection, search and seizure and to present the case in the court. Even storing or transporting beef will be punishable with a minimum term of six months, extendable up to three years.1

There is a ban in the slaughter of other members of the bovine family as well such as bulls and buffaloes in many states with India. The penal provisions too vary from state to state, ranging from imprisonment of a maximum of six months to imprisonment of a maximum of seven years along with fines. The burden of proof of innocence in most of the states lies on the accused.2 3 4

 

Why ban?

For a non-Indian this could be a perplexing question. What could be the rationale for such a law with stringent provisions as up to seven years imprisonment which dwarfs the punishment prescription for many serious crimes such as theft (~3 years), bribery (~1 years), rioting (~2 years), dowry death (~7 years to life), attempt at culpable homicide (~3), assault to outrage modesty of woman (~2 years), rape (~7 years to 10),  cheating (~1 years), attempt to commit sati (~1 years)?5

While the rationale can get as incredible as the one quoted by the VHP that "The trembling and wailing of the cows being slaughtered lead to earthquakes"6, the common reason quoted by the proponents of the ban who usually are the right-wing politicians is that the cow is considered sacred by the Hindus and hence its slaughter would be sacrilegious to them.

Although they mostly rely on widely-held beliefs and customs of the upper-class Hindus to back their claims, the more erudite amongst them quote verses from the Hindu scriptures. Examples of which are- "Do not kill the cow..." (Rigveda 8.101.15). "Destroy those who kill cows." (Yajurveda 30.18).

However, the opponents quote seemingly contrasting verses which state that the bovines were killed for sacrifice and food in slaughterhouses (Rigveda 10.89.14), (Rigveda 10.7.6).

For our purpose, let's leave the scriptures alone and analyze the ground reality. Did the Hindus always abhor cow slaughter? Are all Hindus currently averse to eating beef? Are the Muslims the real "cow killers" as is connoted by the Saffron brigade?

In Swami Vivekananda's words -  "There was a time in this very India when, without eating BEEF, no Brahmin could remain a Brahmin."7

"..It is only in the 19th century that the demand for banning cow-slaughter emerged as a tool of mass political mobilisation by right-wing Hindu communalists". D.N. Jha, Professor of History of Delhi University and a member of the Indian Council of Historical Research.8

"But the theory that in Vedic times there was no cow slaughter is historically inaccurate. Although cow was revered and treated as sacred, it was also offered as food to guests and persons of high status." - RomilaThapar, renowned historian.9

 

Who eats it?

Surveys of butchers in different states show that three-fourths of all beef is consumed by non-Muslims. Dr Karan Singh (Former ambassador to the US and son of erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir) mentions that in Kashmir, a Muslim majority, no one eats beef.

The affluent eat mutton while poor eat buffalo meat. In the Northeast, beef is a staple with all the tribal communities. P.A. Sangma, former Lok Sabha speaker and ex-CM of Meghalaya stated that a national ban on beef would create a food crisis among the people of North-east.

In Kerala, beef is consumed by 80% of the population including 72 Hindu communities. The author of "Buffalo Nationalism", KanchaIlaiah, says "In the south, 90 per cent of Dalits eat cow beef, apart from Christians and Muslims. Several backward communities eat cow beef. Most of the poor would starve to death if there is a national ban". ChandraBhan Prasad, a Dalit writer adds "If they say Hindus are demanding a ban on cow slaughter then they don't consider Dalits to be Hindus."10 11

 

Who sells it?

"Most of the money in the bovine trade is made by Hindus," says Vilas Sonawane, who began the ‘Right to Non-vegetarian Food and Leather Industry Protection Committee'.

Of the top five exporters of buffalo meat in the country, three are Hindus. In fact, India's biggest beef exporter, Al Kabeer, is owned by a Hindu. Even the leather industry is topped by firms owned by non-Muslims. More interestingly, one of BJP leaders and a Bajrang Dal activist (both right-wing parties demanding the ban), Vipin Bilauhawas booked along with his accomplices under MP Prohibition of Slaughter of Cow-Progeny Act for transporting over 150 cows and calves for cow slaughter earlier this year. The SP investigating the case said they were involved in illegal cross-border transport of cows. Ironically, Bilauha was the erstwhile district convener of BJP's cow cell and used to regularly raid vehicles to inspect if cows were being transported for slaughter!12 13 14 15 16 17

 

Rationalizing the ban

Coming back to the reasoning of the ban, the center-right groups quote Article 48 of Directive Principles of State Policy contained in part 4 of the Constitution of India "The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle".

It's important to note two points in this regard. Firstly, the Directive Principles are guidelines and are not cognizable or enforceable by any Court. They are hardly adhered to by the states and are used by the respective governments to formulate laws that keep their voters' base pleased. If they had to be enforced then there would be no Reservations for the backward classes, no Hindu Marriage Act, no HUF tax provisions, etc. (Read: Article 44). Secondly, while the Article in itself seems apparently to be prohibiting cattle slaughter, one has to bear in mind that it cannot override the secular basis upon which the constitution is laid. The constitution provides for the ‘Right to carry on any occupation, trade or business' (Art. 19) and ‘Freedom of practice and propagation of religion' (Art. 25).

Hence, the interpretation of the Article cannot be that it is seeking to protect the interests of the Hindus in particular. Because then, there could be a demand pressed for the ban on alcohol for instance, as it is shunned by the Muslims, or on uprooting onions and garlic as it is a taboo to the Jains, or on abortion as that is a mortal sin for the Christians. The secular reasoning of the law is also evident from the case laws such as "AIR 1959 SCR 629" and "AIR 1961 SC 448" where the Supreme court held that "A total ban [on cattle slaughter] was not permissible if, under economic conditions, keeping useless bull or bullock be a burden on the society and therefore not in the public interest."18

Let's analyze then, if there is a business case for the ban.

 

Money matters

India is amongst the top beef exporters in the world with projections saying that it would be the top exporter by 2013. Export earnings on beef was around Rs 14,000 crore (2.24 Billion USD) in 2011-12, expecting to rise to Rs 18,000 crore (2.9 Billion USD) in 2012-13. Indian leather Industry is a prominent sector in the Indian economy in terms of employment generation (2.5 million workforce) and export earnings (is among the top ten foreign exchange earners for the country). Export in 2011-12 was $4.868 Billion translating in current exchange rates to Rs 26,300 crore, making it the 5th largest global exporter of leather goods.19 20 21 22 23

Beef does not just translate to Seekh kebab or steaks, but its by-products like stearic and fatty acids, beef fat, could be used to produce lots of products in our day-to-day life more economically, such as soaps, paints, tires, asphalt on roads, lubricants, gelatin, bone china, cosmetics, glue, insecticides, molds for plastics, ink, textiles, upholstery and many more. Since cattle have great similarities in organic chemical structure to humans, our bodies will easily accept medications from these animal components. Hence used in producing Insulin, Heparin, Thyrotropin, Glucagon, etc. We cannot even quantify the economic benefits here.24

As per the last livestock census in 2007, India is home to some 304 million bovines.  According to USDA report, 36 million bovines were slaughtered in 2012 in India. Now, cattle have an average lifespan of 20 years and buffaloes 25 years. A cow usually does not produce profitable levels of milk beyond 5 years of age. Yet, if taken good care of, they can still produce milk although not at levels that justify their feeding costs, for 10-12 years of age. Thus, if the slaughtered bovines had to be kept alive for eight years beyond their economic usefulness, it would be 36 million additional heads each year.  If only their feeding costs at Rs 12 (0.2$) per day (excluding cowshed, labor and other costs) has to be taken into account, it would mean Rs 1,26,144 crore ($20.256 billion) additional burden on the exchequer.

If this cost has to be recovered by the cattle farmers, they have to increase the price of milk by so much. Not to forget the multiple times more pastureland that will be required. Already, there are more cows in India than there are cars in USA and only 60 percent of India's cattle have enough feed.  According to K R Ramaswamy, former director of the IIM-B, India must cull half its bovine population as they are unhealthy and cannot be looked after.25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

If we add up the total export income loss (not considering the domestic revenue loss) on beef and leather and the cost of upkeep of the animals at a conservative estimate, it would sum up to Rs1,66,444 crore ($26.7 billion)!

To fund this, the Indian government has to reduce its budget on Defence and Education by 70% (Budget- Defence: 170,913 cr, Education: 60,146 cr), or it must extend its external debt by almost 100% (which is currently 170,088 cr).35

 

Bovine rights

It would be hypocritical to prevent an animal from being slaughtered on compassionate grounds only to let it meander about the streets malnourished, feeding on plastic, paper, and even human waste thus developing a disease called ‘Pica'.

About 50 kg of waste can be found on average in a stray cattle's stomach. The Gaushalas (cow sheds) can hardly shelter a fraction of the cows.  Stray cows also obstruct roads, causing jams and even accidents. As per a survey in 1995, 50 cattle everyday were killed or severely injured in traffic per day (Kare Newsletter, 1995).

Furthermore, the activists conveniently ignore the fact that milking causes pain.  The cows are repeatedly impregnated for a steady supply of milk, and with the introduction of electronic machines, they suffer electrical shocks, painful lesions and diseases. Most of the activists gulp down glasses of milk and tea gleefully with a sense of self-righteousness of having saved the cow from the ‘ruthless' butchers.

Talking of compassion, in any case why single out the cattle? An unbiased person would agree that unless all living species are accorded equal rights to life, the animal rights campaign in favor of cow slaughter ban holds no water. Also, as humans are seen as cruel for killing animals for food, tigers and other carnivores must also be seen so and prevented from doing so because otherwise how is it that animals are placed in the same bracket as humans with regards to rights but not duties? And how is it that plants do not enjoy the benefit of right to life? Accordingly, we need to decimate the food chain, turn the economy upside down, turn omnivores into herbivores, vegetarians into vegans and rattle the environment by banning the killing of goats and dogs and cocks and plants and rats and termites and... well, let's rest the case there.36 37 38

 

A Veg Wedge Issue

So, the argument dissected. The "rationale" punctured. Yet, the question remains- Why ban? The answer in a single term is, ‘Wedge Politics', more commonly known in India as ‘Divisive Politics'.

It can be defined as "A strategy or pattern of behavior by a politician, political party, or advocacy group which is intended to have a divisive effect on one's political opponents or on the electorate,especially by emphasizing an issue which polarizes opinion along racial, regional, or other demographic lines."39

Aaron Kiss writes in his paper on "divisive politics and accountability"- "It is shown that politicians have a strategic incentive to engage in ‘divisive politics'". Kiss's research has been corroborated by the political players of the world time and again. Be it the "gods, guns and gays" strategy employed by the Republicans in the US, or the Burqa ban in France or Islamophobia by the Right-wing parties in Netherlands, France, Denmark and other Western countries, or Immigration laws in the affluent countries, wedge issues have proven to be a profitable tool to political parties and a shot in the arm to the career of budding politicians.

Narendra Modi, for instance, has never lost an election since the 2002 Gujarat riots. Babri Masjid demolishing on Dec 6, 1992 was the wave that removed the Congress from power and paved the way to bring the BJP into power and carried A B Vajpayee to No. 7 Racecourse road in 1996.

It would be wrong to assume that the wedge card is engaged only by the Right. The 1984 Sikh riots and even the Babri demolition took place with Congress at the Centre. While caste-based reservations quota is the favorite manifesto of the SP and the BSP, the Left pursue anti-globalization to polarize the population. It's not the case of Right vs Wrong here. But it's about Majority vs Minority, Rich vs Poor, Lower caste vs Upper caste, Blacks vs Whites, Men vs Women, etc.

Aaron continues, "By polarizing the electorate, the incumbent politician weakens the ability of independent voters to make him accountable for his policies in the common interest... Accountability is weakened by cleavages in the electorate and even by what could be called the `market power' of political parties."

That's the game and that's how it's played. In the game the minorities are often used as the pawns. In the political system designed by the capitalists, the political parties have no real incentive in serving the people. All they'll have to do is to secure a 51% and there is a luxurious life that's beckoning. And the way to do that is to build a perception amongst the people that they are the ‘best of the worst'.

Because what could be worth reducing your defence and education budget combined, by a staggering 70% of the current levels other than reducing poverty or providing free health care or even controlling crime in a country with 68% population living on less than Rs 100 a day and where every 20 minutes a rape is recorded? The politicians seem to think otherwise.

More precisely, their actuaries and strategists seem to think otherwise. An argument made for good politicians can only get as far as mortals with limited knowledge and understanding of the nuances of the functioning of the world, making laws on a ‘trial and error' approach.40 41

 

Political parties in Islam

The Islamic system is a no-nonsense system. The laws are fixed by divine decree through the Quran and Sunnah. They are not subject to human legislation. Hence, laws are not made by desk-banging and fist-fighting in the parliament. The role of a political party or an Islamic group is the fulfillment of the command of the Ayah of the Quran,

((وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ))

"Let there arise from amongst you a group calling to the Goodness (al-Khayr) and enjoining what is good (al-Ma'ruf) and forbidding what is evil (al-Munkar); and those are the ones who will attain success" [TMQ 3: 104].

Even the good and bad are defined by the texts. Hence, no Islamic party can gain legitimacy outside the scope of this Ayah. Therefore, no party in the Islamic system has the incentive to create wedge issues such as the one in question to garner support because they cannot have a manifesto that pleases a certain group of people and that which is against established guidelines in Islam. The differences between parties would be in trivial permissible differences of opinion that are not radical issues having the potential to split the population or oppress the minorities.

With respect to that it would be worthwhile to note certain provisions of the constitution of the Khilafah "Caliphate" as regards the Ahl-ul-Dhimmah (non-Muslim citizens of the Islamic state). But before that let's also look at what Islam mandates with regards to treating animals well.

 

Animal Rights in Islam

Allah (swt) says in the Quran, ((وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم)) "There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you." [TMQ 6:38]. Islam prohibits hunting animals for sport, treating them cruelly, overburdening them, making them fight each other for entertainment, maiming them while alive and neglecting pets.

"The Messenger of Allah (saw) narrated that "A good deed done to an animal is as meritorious as a good deed done to a human being." (Mishkat). The Prophet (saw) said, «مَنْ قَتَلَ عُصْفُورًا فَمَا فَوْقَهَا بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهَا سَأَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ جَلَّ عَنْهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» "If someone kills so much as a sparrow or anything larger without a just cause, then Allah the Exalted will ask him about it on the Day of Resurrection." (An-Nasa'i).

He also said, «إِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا ظُهُورَ دَوَابِّكُمْ مَنَابِرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّمَا سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُبَلِّغَكُمْ إِلَى بَلَدٍ لَمْ تَكُونُوا بَالِغِيهِ إِلاَّ بِشِقِّ الأَنْفُسِ» "Do not use the backs of your animals as chairs. Allah has made them subject to you, so that by them you can reach places that you would not otherwise be able to reach except with great fatigue." (Abu Dawud).

The Prophet (saw) once passed by a camel that was so emaciated that its back had almost reached its stomach. He said,

«اتَّقوا الله في هذه البهائم المعجمة»"Fear Allah in these beasts who cannot speak." (Abu Dawud).

The Messenger of Allah (saw), once saw a donkey which had been branded on its face and he said, «لعن الله الّذي وسمه» "May Allah curse the one who branded it." (Muslim). A group of Companions were once on a journey with the Prophet (saw), and he left them for a while. During his absence, they saw a bird with its two young, and they took the young ones from the nest. The mother bird was circling above in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet (saw) came back. He said, «من فجع هذه بولدها؟ ردوا ولدها إليها»"Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." (Muslim). The narration of the person whose sins were forgiven for quenching the thirst of a dog is also well known.

When animals are slaughtered for food there are several guidelines to be met. The knife has to be sharpened and this must not happen within the sight of the animal. The animals must not be made to witness other animals being slaughtered. The slit at the throat has to happen in a quick, single, back and forth motion cutting the throat, windpipe and blood vessels making sure that the spine is not hurt. The animal must be allowed to bleed out.

Amidst the controversy in the secular world surrounding the humaneness of the Halal method of slaughter some scientists maintain that in this method, the animal loses consciousness immediately due to the sudden drop of blood pressure in the head.

The pain is minimized as the flow of blood to the nerve of the brain responsible for pain is disconnected. Wilhelm Schulze, A German veterinary science professor concluded in his research study that "the Islamic way of slaughtering is the most humane method of slaughter and that captive bolt stunning, practiced in the West, causes severe pain to the animal".42 43 44

 

Ahl-ul-Dhimmah

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, «من آذى ذميا فقد آذاني ومن آذاني فقد آذى الله» "He who hurts a Dhimmi hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah." [Tabarani]. The Dhimmi are protected citizens of the Khilafah "Caliphate" and enjoy all the rights of citizenship such as protection, guaranteed living and fair treatment. They are exempt from joining the armed forces although they can do so on their own. They can be civil servants and directors of the administrative government departments. Their wealth is protected and if they are poor and unable to find work they are entitled to state benefits from the Khilafah "Caliphate"'s Treasury (Bait ul-Mal).  Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) once passed by an old dhimmi begging at doors, and said, "We have not done justice to you if we have taken Jizya from you in the prime of your youth and neglected you in your old age." He then ordered from the treasury what was suitable for him.45

The Khilafah "Caliphate" is forbidden from discriminating between citizens on the basis of race, colour, religion or anything else in administering justice. A famous example of this is the trial of a Jew who possessed a cuirass which actually belonged to Ali (ra), the then Khalifah. Ali (ra) could only produce his sons as witnesses and since a son's witness on behalf of his father is not acceptable in the Islamic court, the judge, Shurayh ruled it in favour of the Jew. The Jew later admitted his crime and accepted Islam on witnessing the justice it offers.

So here we have the caliph himself, the ruler of the Muslims and the vast Islamic state, standing in the court to get his right and we have a person from the minority winning the case for lack of evidence from the caliph! In the context of this paper, the non-Muslims can even consume things that are prohibited to the Muslims such as pork and alcohol as long as they do not sell these to the Muslims and they do not market these openly. They can also choose to conduct their social and private affairs according to their religious beliefs and can set up private courts to settle their personal matters within their community.46 47 48 49

It is important to note that the Khilafah "Caliphate" being referred to here is only the true Islamic state and not merely a Muslim state because in many of the Muslim nations today, democratic or otherwise, minorities face oppression just as any other non-Muslim nation.

It is only the righteous Khilafah "Caliphate" that will liberate people from wedge politics and its unfortunate consequences. It is the Khilafah "Caliphate" that is feared by the oppressive political players of the world because the emergence of the Khilafah "Caliphate" for them would mean ‘Game Over'.

 

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Faisal and Ibn Ahmed

 

 

References:

1^http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2769894.ece

2^http://www.dahd.nic.in/dahd/reports/report-of-the-national-commission-on-cattle/chapter-ii-executive-summary/annex-ii-8.aspx

3^http://www.parimalnathwani.com/images/in-the%20parliament/answer-to-question2495-dated270412(2).pdf

4^http://www.indianexpress.com/news/some-ban-some-restrict-a-few-don-t/895341/0

5^http://districtcourtallahabad.up.nic.in/articles/IPC.pdf

6^http://www.vigilonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1738&Itemid=1

7^The complete works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 3

8^Dwijendra Narayan Jha, The Myth of the Holy Cow

9^R.Thapar, The Penguin History of Early India

10^http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?219289

11^http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EH19Df01.html

12^http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?219289

13^http://www.siasat.com/english/news/non-muslims-more-involved-beef-and-hide-business-muslims

14^http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-10-03/news/27666755_1_al-kabeer-exports-brands-meat

15^http://www.moneycontrol.com/stocks/top-companies-in-india/market-capitalisation-bse/leather-products.html

16^http://www.leatherindia.org/members/leather-manufacturers-list.asp?category=Finished+Leather&id=1

17^http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bjp-member-held-under-anticow-slaughter-law-in-madhya-pradesh/1059028/0

18^http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/75v1a2.htm#Note1

19^http://en.mercopress.com/2012/11/07/india-becomes-main-world-beef-exporter-in-2012-and-probably-2013

20^http://nationalbeefassociation.com/nba_newsletters/NBANewsletter14thDecember1214122012175738.pdf

21^http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3703889.ece

22^http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-01/india/38188217_1_buffalo-meat-tonnes-transport-and-slaughter

23^http://www.clri.org/LERIG2013/TS2/MdS_draft%20presentation_29%20Jan%202013.pdf

24^http://forces.si.edu/main/pdf/6-8-BeyondTheBeef.pdf

25^http://www.nddb.org/English/Statistics/Pages/Population-India-Species.aspx

26^http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Livestock%20and%20Products%20Semi-annual_New%20Delhi_India_3-1-2013.pdf

27^http://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/fa-dairyfactsheet-013012.pdf

28^http://animals.nationalgeographic.co.in/animals/mammals/water-buffalo/.

29^http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/dairyphases.html

30^http://farmnest.com/forum/animal-farming/100-cow-dairy-farm

31^http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-bidwai040903.htm

32^http://www.omg-facts.com/Sports/There-Are-More-Cows-In-India-Than-There/4309

33^http://www.gcci.org/ipan/ipan_intro.html

34^www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EH19Df01.html

35^http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2013-14/eb/stat02.pdf

36^http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/09/stories/2008050958010300.htm.

37^http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-22/surat/37240780_1_stray-cows-rumen-polythene-bags

38^http://www.chooseveg.com/dairy.asp

39^http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wedge_politics

40^http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/country/IND

41^http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

42^http://mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

43^http://www.irf.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=398%3Aislamic-method-of-slaughtering-animals-appears-ruthless&catid=71%3Amost-common-questions-asked-by-non-muslim&Itemid=199

44^W. Schulze, H. Schultze-Petzold, A.S. Hazem, and R. Gross ‘Attempts to Objectify Pain and Consciousness in Conventional (captive bolt pistol stunning) and Ritual (knife) Methods of Slaughtering Sheep and Calves'

45^Abu Ubayd al-QasimibnSallam, Kitab al-Amwal (The Book of Revenue)

46^Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa - History of the Caliphs.

47^Taqiuddin an-Nabhani, Nizamul-Hukmfil Islam (The ruling system in Islam)

48^Taqiuddin an-Nabhani, ‘The draft constitution of the Khilafah "Caliphate" State,'

49^http://www.khilafah.com/index.php/the-khilafah/non-muslims/499-dhimmi-non-muslims-living-in-the-khilafah

 

 

Updated

http://www.rediff.com/news/column/beef-ban-and-the-challenges-before-maharashtra-govt/20150329.htm

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News Headlines 11/04/2015

  • Published in News & Comment
  •   |  

Headlines

• UK Radicalisation: Third of Muslims Blame Police

• Egypt Islamic Authority Issues Fatwa Against Philadelphia Anti-Islam Bus Posters

• US Not to Stand By as Iran Backs Rebels in Yemen, Says Kerry

• US Defends Arms Sell to Pakistan

Details

UK Radicalisation: Third of Muslims Blame Police

More than a third of British Muslims blame the actions of the police and MI5 for radicalising the younger generation, suggests an exclusive Sky News poll. Some 39% said the authorities were contributing to radicalising young people, with 29% saying they were not. The research found the issue of young people travelling to fight with extremist groups, including Islamic State, or becoming so-called 'jihadi brides', remains highly controversial. However, the opinion poll - carried out for Sky News by Survation, suggests both Muslims and non-Muslims were most likely to see families as being responsible for preventing young people heading to Syria: 44% of Muslims and 65% of non-Muslims agreed. Just 3% of Muslims thought the police were responsible, 15% said the Government, 9% religious leaders and 2% schools. Sympathy with those leaving the UK to fight for or marry terrorist groups in Syria was highest among women. Some 11% of female Muslims agreed they had a lot of sympathy, compared to 5% of males. The figures for non-Muslims were at 4% for both sexes. The Sky News survey is the first of its kind and looked at what Muslims and non-Muslims think about issues including radicalisation, security concerns, political uncertainty, a rise in hate crimes and growing prejudice. [Source: Sky News]

Anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that the causes of radicalization in the UK is Britain's foreign policy abroad and the heavy handed tactics adopted by the security forces at home. Lord Prescott recently spoke of Tony Blair starting a new crusade in the Muslim world. Yet despite this overwhelming body of evidence, mainstream British media refuses to ignore such polls and statements, and continues advocate that Islam is the problem.

Egypt Islamic Authority Issues Fatwa against Philadelphia Anti-Islam Bus Posters

Egypt's most prominent religious authority has issued a religious proclamation, or fatwa, blasting a controversial anti-Islam poster campaign that has been running on public transport in Philadelphia over the past week. The fatwa from Dar al-Ifta on Wednesday proclaiming the posters racist is the most notable international criticism to be added to the wave of condemnation against the campaign, which features slogans that link Islam to Nazism. The posters include an image of Adolf Hitler having a sit-down meeting with Haj Amin al-Husseini, a Muslim Palestinian nationalist leader during the 1920s and 1930s, whom the ad characterized as "the leader of the Muslim world." The ad urges an end to "aid to all Islamic countries" under the slogan "Islamic Jew-Hatred: It's in the Quran." At least 84 buses in Philadelphia, the fifth-largest U.S. city, are scheduled to display the posters through the end of April. The fatwa by the Egyptian religious authority condemned the campaign on the grounds that such a message not only portrayed Islam incorrectly but also spread prejudice, hatred and conflict in the U.S., a statement posted on the institution's website said. "This hazardous campaign will leave the gate of confrontation and clashes wide open instead of exerting efforts toward peaceful coexistence and harmony," it said. The proclamation also argued that failing to respect Muslims in the U.S. would marginalize the religious minority from integrating into American society. Fatwas, which are nonbinding legal opinions issued by scholars, can be given on any subject, however these proclamations can often carry more weight when issued by top religious bodies such as Dar al-Ifta. [Source: International Business Times]

Once again Dar al-Ifta has got its priorities wrong. Instead of issuing a fatwa to condemn Sisi's support for Saudi's massacring innocent Yemenis, Egypt's prominent Islamic authority is diverting attention towards trivial issues happening abroad. Do they not know or understand that by remaining silent over the criminal acts perpetrated by Sisi they are only undermining their credibility both at home and abroad?

US Not to Stand By as Iran Backs Rebels in Yemen, Says Kerry

Washington warned on Thursday it would not stand by while Tehran supported rebels in Yemen, as Iran's supreme leader denounced Saudi-led air strikes in the country as "criminal acts". In the most direct American criticism yet of Tehran's backing for the Houthi rebels, Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington would not accept foreign interference in Yemen. "There have been - there are, obviously - flights coming from Iran. Every single week there are flights from Iran and we've traced it and know this," Mr Kerry told PBS television. "Iran needs to recognise that the United States is not going to stand by while the region is destabilised or while people engage in overt warfare across lines, international boundaries in other countries." Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the air campaign against the Houthis must end. "This move is not acceptable in the region and I would warn that they must stop these criminal acts in Yemen," he said on his website. Mr Kerry said that after world powers agreed on a framework deal with Iran on its nuclear programme Washington was not looking for confrontation. "But we're not going to step away from our alliances and our friendships and the need to stand with those who feel threatened as a consequence of the choices that Iran might be making."

These are not the first comments objecting to what Iran is doing in the region, and can be dismissed with all the other comments made over the past decade or so, as America continues to support to Tehran's expansion efforts in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen. Could it be that America is planning a Shia Crescent to emerge as it looks to reshape the Middle East?

US Defends Arms Sell to Pakistan

Acting US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf, on Wednesday press conference said that the proposed sale of helicopters and weapons to Pakistan will support their military capacity within its borders and will be helpful in anti-terrorism operation. It should be clear that Pakistan demanded to buy 15 1ZAH Wiper helicopters, one thousand Hellfire missiles, and other American weapons which cost around one billion dollars. Last week the US Department of State has informed Congress about the acceptance of Pakistani application. Harf added, "We have very close ties with Pakistan on counter-terrorism and this has several special reasons'. According to US spokesperson Pakistan still has serious threats of terrorism and, therefore, they are helping them. "US arms sales is in our national security interest as well," says Marie Harf. On the other hand, the caretaker department of American military import, Defense Security Cooperation Agency also clarifies that selling helicopters and other weaponry to Pakistan is the part of anti-terrorism movement. These weapons will improve the capabilities of Pakistan Army to fight that war. That much clarification from American side is so because According to the Wall Street Journal regarding selling weapons to Pakistan, American Defense companies are facing pressure from three sides. At one side, there is China and Russia and on the other side facing Indian concerns.

Has not the Pakistani leadership learned that American military aid comes with explicit instructions that Pakistan must take the lead in killing Pakistani citizens and safeguarding American interests in the region? The Muslims of Pakistan must take a firm stance against their leaders for buying and receiving American military and economic aid. Through these means, America for decades has enslaved the Pakistani people and promoted its own interests.

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Press Release Garissa Attack Should Not Be Capitalised to Proliferate the Colonial Agenda's Hatred against Islam

The international Islamic Political Party Hizb ut Tahrir East Africa has been flabbergasted by the brutal massacre of 147 students in Garissa, North Eastern region of Kenya. The attack saddened many in Kenya especially considering it has emerged to be the most ferocious of all that took place in recent years including the Westgate siege the Mpeketoni massacre. While witnessing the spill of innocent blood, we would like to mention the following:


(1) First the security apparatus must bear the greatest burden of blame, this is because despite having alleged made tremendous changes that include the removal of its top brass, still these kind of murders persist. It is incumbent upon the government to guarantee the safety of their citizen whether in shops, schools and along the roads. Still we would like to warn in the strongest terms that the incident should not be used as a tool of propagating hatred amongst non-Muslims against Muslims or a certain tribe against the other.


(2) As for Al Shabaab to claim responsibility, this has no importance. What matters most is the outcome of the heinous attack. We have seen soon after such incidents, how government security subjugate Muslims in unutterable savagery under the pretext of combating the so-called radicalism or terrorism in general. All together, the western countries deliberately launch attack in an endeavor to continue in their colonial agenda in various developing countries. These colonial states, always take advantage of these incidents, as a means of achieving their colonial motives and agenda, especially, putting into account the discovery of minerals and oil along the east African region. No wonder the British government predicted its occurrence and the US warned the Ugandan government over the possibility of a terrorist attack. In short, the western countries wage war against Islam globally and use many excuses in this heinous campaign.


(3) We believe that, had Kenya been having a splendid internal and external policy, these might have not occurred. Any government that wishes to establish peace to its citizens, then it must ensure that all its policies are good. It's quite unfortunate that many African countries policies including Kenya are wicked; prone to be influenced by the western colonial countries and their imperial motives. It's through these policies that America and Britain scramble for the Somali natural resources while claiming to fight against terrorism. Worse enough, they try to convince other countries to join hand against terror, in most cases causing a lot of loss like the one being witnessed now. This is crystal clear as a number of Kenyans have lost confidence in the operation Linda nchi in Somalia.


(4) Finally, we summarize by stating that Islam as an Ideology, demands that blood, properties and honour to be respected. That is why it prohibits the split of innocent blood, yet demanding that the Islamic government (KHILAFAH) to protect the security of its entire citizen despite their religion, colour or race. We Hizb ut Tahrir propagate Islam as an Ideology and a way of life with the objective of resuming the Islamic way of life under the Islamic State Khilafah "Caliphate" on the method of the Prophethood that will protect blood, properties and honour to all its citizens be it Muslims or non-Muslims.

 


Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa

 

 

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Answer to the Question What is Behind the Framework Agreement with Iran over its Nuclear Deal?

On the evening of 02/04/2015 in Lausanne, Switzerland the framework agreement between the P5+1 countries and Iran was signed over its nuclear program. The final agreement will be signed on 30/6/2015. What was striking is that once the reading of the joint statement between these parties finished, President Obama came out to deliver a speech in front of reporters in the White House announcing that the agreement was historic. What is behind this agreement?

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