Finding my way around

B ook: Zionist Conspiracies in the Citadel of Islam Author: Syed Zubair Ahmad Pages: 375 Price: Rs 200 Publisher: Impact Books, Delhi Distributor: New Crescent Publishing Company, Delhi By Amnah Khalid, TwoCircles.net, The role and expectation of Muslims from Saudi Arabia in the current Syrian crisis and the Arab uprising has puzzled many, particularly because the ‘higher status’ it enjoys for being the “Custodians of the two holy Mosques”. The sharp differences between the ‘expected’ role and the one actually being executed were observed by the author of the book under review, while working in the Kingdom, that became the driving force for writing the book in Urdu, which English translation in also now out. Although a personal account,  Zionist Conspiracies in the Citadel of Islam  by Syed Zubair Ahmed clearly identifies the “clash and conflict” of Islamic values, the use of political Islam, Westernization in the Islamic state against the claim of Custodian of the holy mosqu

Jamia’s Minority Status To Be Challenged by a Muslim in Delhi High Court Amnah Khalid, BeyondHeadlines New Delhi: The minority status of Jamia Millia Islamia today  stands contested by not a Rightist organization but one Firoz  Bakht Ahmad, a commentator on social and educational issues, in the Delhi High Court. The varsity was recently reaffirmed a minority institution by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions ( NCMEI)  in the wake of a notice issued by the center  to implement 27 percent quota for other backward classes (OBC) in all central universities or face withdraw of funding. The petition challenges that Jamia was  administered by Muslims (powered by through the Jamia Millia Islamia Society before becoming  a central university in 1988. By declaring it a minority institution, its graduates will be marginalized, ghettoized and move away from mainstream society into isolation and discrimination defeating its purpose. A similar move by the gove

“Justice Sachar Speaks Repeatedly of Mainstreaming But I Prefer Integration And Bonding” Minority Affairs Minister to BH Amnah Khalid and M Reyaz, BeyondHeadlines New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid is not shying away from his oppositions to some of the specific points in the Sachar Committee report that the government does “not feel was acceptable.” Khurshid told  BeyondHeadlines , “The Sachar Committee report speaks repeatedly of mainstreaming, but I prefer integration and bonding.” BH had sent a set of questions to the minister via e-mail. Replying to these, the minister said, “There is very little to say and a lot to do.” He appreciated though that Justice Sachar’s report has “established the deprivation of Muslims” and reiterated that the government is “committed and determined to address it.” However, he added that “the debate about strategies and efficacy of plans will and must continue” and that this should not be “used as a ca

Does the Body of a ‘Terrorist’ Not Deserve Dignity? Amnah Khalid, BeyondHeadlines Today, the face of terror was removed from the minds of Americans by the killing of Osama bin Laden by US Navy Seals. As announced in a speech by President Obama, justice has been done not because Americans valued wealth or power but the values that make them. The values of  liberty and justice for all. The sense of retribution and the gulps of emotion at ground zero following the remembrance of terror strike of 9/11 had been avenged. The service and lives of those who died fighting the war on terror was not forgotten, and all peace loving people should welcome such a news. The US war was against Al-Qa’ida and not Islam. Muslims had also become Osama’s victims. The celebrations were for a victory of justice and peace. The message was loud and clear, the days of terrorism were coming to an end with most people took a deep breath of relieve rather than peace. Nonetheless what remains is unive

Shehu Usman Dan Fodio And Islamization Of Hausas through Jihad Amnah Khalid http://247ureports.com/shehu-usman-dan-fodio-and-islamization-of-hausas-through-jihad/               In contemporary time, jihad is often understood as the violent process of waging war against non-Muslims. Muslims themselves have promoted it as a form of cleansing of external influences from the Islamic personality at an individual level. However, historically in West Africa, jihad was used as a pattern of Islamization to eradicate paganism and African culture to homogenized society as a whole to become a part of the Islamic Ummah. Islamization as a process occurred in every age and time through revivalist movements that challenged particular order. Knowledge and Islamization in relation to society is understood as the transformation of the public sphere in terms of mass distribution of Islamic symbols and the increase of political representation of Islam. In other words, it is the

What about caste, creed, religion June 30 at 3:25pm  ·  Edited  ·  Like Asfandyar Wazir   different classes have different perspective on it..there is a difference between god of the poor and god of the rich....at least they understand it differently...class power organizes itself around class consciousness June 30 at 4:11pm  ·  Unlike  ·  1 Amnah Khalid   Yes but some societies are classified on race like Malaysia and class becomes a subset. June 30 at 4:12pm  ·  Like Amnah Khalid   In Islam too its Darul Harb. Darul Islam distinction and other religions too classify like caste is legalised discrimination sanctified by religion from a western perspective but a hierarchy of organizing society in Hinduism. June 30 at 4:15pm  ·  Like Asfandyar Wazir   class is always there no matter how a society is classified. what matters is class consciousness. even in a deeply religious communal society there are