IRAQ: INSURGENTS' HOLY WAR MAP ON INTERNET

Posted on June 18th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News.

IRAQ: INSURGENTS’ HOLY WAR MAP ON INTERNET

Baghdad, 16 June (AKI) – Muslim militants seeking to join the fighting in Iraq against the US-led coalition forces and their Iraqi government allies can now choose the best route to smuggle themselves into the country, simply by following detailed instructions available on the Internet. “The central border area between Syria’s Dir al-Zur province and Iraq’s al-Anbar province is the entry point most used by the mujahadeen,” says part of a lengthy message, posted on the Islamic “Firdaws” forum on the Internet. The message, entitled “The way towards the country of the two rivers,” a reference to Iraq and the two main rivers flowing through the country – the Tigris and the Euphrates – is signed by someone called al-Muhjhir al-Islami. It bears some resemblance to another message Adnkronos International (AKI) found on the site on 7 June, and may have been compiled by the same author.

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IRAQ: INSURGENTS’ HOLY WAR MAP ON INTERNET

Posted on June 18th, 2005 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

IRAQ: INSURGENTS’ HOLY WAR MAP ON INTERNET

Baghdad, 16 June (AKI) – Muslim militants seeking to join the fighting in Iraq against the US-led coalition forces and their Iraqi government allies can now choose the best route to smuggle themselves into the country, simply by following detailed instructions available on the Internet. “The central border area between Syria’s Dir al-Zur province and Iraq’s al-Anbar province is the entry point most used by the mujahadeen,” says part of a lengthy message, posted on the Islamic “Firdaws” forum on the Internet. The message, entitled “The way towards the country of the two rivers,” a reference to Iraq and the two main rivers flowing through the country – the Tigris and the Euphrates – is signed by someone called al-Muhjhir al-Islami. It bears some resemblance to another message Adnkronos International (AKI) found on the site on 7 June, and may have been compiled by the same author.

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Cairo Magazine – When the religious gets political

Posted on June 18th, 2005 by .
Categories: Internal Debates.

One of the major questions among Muslims is: Who has the right to issue a fatwa, and over what? This article from Cairo Magazine – When the religious gets political
goes into this important issue focusing on Al-Azhar.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of �unofficial fatwas� being announced on state TV, satellite channels radio, newspapers and in mosques. For instance, earlier this year fatwas were issued banning yoga and ironing women�s pants�the latter because, according to the man who issued that fatwa, women are not allowed to wear pants in Islam.

Confusing the dispute is the lack of clear hierarchy between Al Azhar and Dar Al Iftaa, which is technically under Al Azhar�s jurisdiction yet supposed to be the sole source of fatwas. This has caused problem before. For instance, in January 2004, after Al Tantawi urged French Muslims to respect the ban on veils in public schools, Gomaa argued that the veil was an obligation for Muslims. Other religious scholars around the world also condemned Al Tantawi�s position.

Aboul Ela says the way people perceive fatwas has changed from the way they were perceived earlier in Islam’s history. “After the death of the Prophet Muhammed, Muslim scholars used fatwas to adapt to the changes of everyday life, because there are issues that are not mentioned in the Quran or the Sunna,” he explained. “Now people go and seek fatwas even if the issues are already mentioned in the Quran and are not debatable. The sheikhs don’t see how dangerous it is to issue a wrong fatwa.”

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Reuters AlertNet – CHRONOLOGY-Al Qaeda messages since Sept. 11, 2001

Posted on June 18th, 2005 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

On Reuters Alertnet a CHRONOLOGY of Al Qaeda messages since Sept. 11, 2001

WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) – Ayman al-Zawahri, the No. 2 leader of the militant al Qaeda network, said in a videotape broadcast on Friday that reform and expelling “invaders” from Muslims countries could not happen peacefully.

Following is a chronology of major statements attributed to bin Laden or his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

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May the Force be with you…

Posted on June 18th, 2005 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

Well sometimes articles seem funny and interesting at the same time. This is one of them: alt.muslim – Star Wars: An Islamic Perspective by Irfan Rydhan

As most “Star Wars” fans know, director George Lucas took spiritual elements, which are common in most major world religions to create his epic saga of good vs. evil. As a Muslim, I always thought of the “Jedi” as what a true follower of Islam should be like. Never mind the fact Jedi masters with their North African style cloaks and scruffy beards look like Sufi Sheikhs, but they way they are taught to respect a greater power, fight for the defense of the innocent and honor a code of morals and ethics in order to bring about peace and justice to their society, is basically what Islam teaches all Muslims to strive for. So what really is the connection between these similar Islamic principles and the fictional “Jedi Order” of the Star Wars saga?

His conclusion (but read the whole article you lazy…):

From my brief amount of research and study into the “Star Wars” saga, I found many examples connecting the ideals and principles of Islam to that of the fictional Jedi Order. Some of the similarities were clearly visible (as with the relations between the Jedi master, apprentice and the Force to that of the Sufi Sheikhs, students and worshipping of Allah), while others were a bit more hidden and surprising finds (such as the term “Jeddi” and “Palawan” for Muslim knights and the story of “al-Khidr” � the green spiritual guru which has an uncanny resemblance to the Jedi Spiritual master “Yoda”)!

Even though Lucas himself is not a follower of any specific religion, he has used elements of Islam (as well as other world religions) to convey the universal understandings of good and evil. Combining that common thread of humanity with a futuristic space-age setting and exciting martial arts swordsmanship, came a creation that has inspired many, no matter their race, religion or culture. There is something about the “Star Wars” saga that everyone can relate to and enjoy. And I hope that those people who are searching for a “truth” within the mythology of “Star Wars”, will look a little deeper behind the fiction and find Al-Islam: A true way of life which emphasizes peace, justice and brotherhood for all humanity.

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