When I was studying at university, during a discussion over an economic issue, my professor (a PhD) uttered these words: “Alhamdulillah, I am a Sunni, I am a Muslim.” These words took me and many other students by surprise. The bizarre logic of uttering those unnecessary words in the midst of a discussion, especially when the class comprised of students from diverse religious backgrounds, was unfathomable. -- Sana Iqbal

On the arrival of the enraged horde, a Muslim leader, Haji Usman, stood between them and the church. He sensibly took a risk, even with the possibility that he would lose his life. In the end, he climbed a ladder triumphantly. The mob cancelled its plans and dismissed itself. The independence of a nation, as far as it is generically defined, must allow freedom to all parts of a society. There should even be understanding and clemency granted for all people who previously were categorized as the oppressors. -- Khairil Azhar

...... मुसलमान हिंदुस्तान में आला तालीम याफ्ता कौम थी लेकिन वही कौम अब आज़ाद हिंदुस्तान में आला तालीम के क्षेत्र में दलितों से भी पिछड़े हैं। अगर हम इस की जिम्मेदारी सिर्फ देश के राजनीतिक हालात पर डाल दें तो ये बात शायद पूरी तरह से सही नहीं होगी। बेशक राजनीतिक माहौल से मुसलमानों को जो मार पड़ी, उसने तालीम के स्टैण्डर्ड को भी प्रभावित किया। लेकिन सिर्फ राजनीतिक माहौल को मुसलमानों की तालीम पिछड़ेपन का ज़िम्मेदार ठहराना सही नहीं। -- ज़फ़र आगा (अंग्रेज़ी से अनुवाद- समीउर रहमान, न्यु एज इस्लाम डॉट काम)

Then I knew not, My dreams be shattered And my future be tattered! But they did, they did! They came to loot and ravage; In time they grew more savage; They called themselves Taliban, (The seekers of the truth), But they had not the least truth, They came with daggers and swords drawn, And thus wanted to impose Koran! But how to revive, Our shattered dreams we cost , And bring anew our Paradise Lost!-- Zubair Torwali

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Photo: CHAKWAL: A ‘blasphemy’ accused was sentenced to death and also to 10 years’

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Scholars will dwell upon his attribute of Rahmatalil Aalemeen (‘Mercy for all the worlds’ —including those of the birds and beasts, of insects and worms, etc.), because a Muslim is adjoined to not hurt any living being except in the way of God. Scholars will explain what the Prophet said to his followers about how to treat women, how to interact with people of other faiths and how to carry oneself in one’s everyday life. -- S G. Geelani

The various military Acts are inherited from the colonial era. The irony is that whereas in the UK and Europe such laws have since been amended to enable civilian jurisdiction over military matters, the opposite has been happening in Pakistan during various military regimes. For example, there are no standing military courts in countries like Denmark, Germany, Austria, Holland etc. In Spain and Latin America the military courts cannot intervene in political matters. -- Najam Sethi

An editorial in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz has called the prosecution of Naffaa "unwarranted, harmful and smack[ing] of political persecution based on nationality". It is part of the state's efforts to use criminal law against the Palestinian leadership in Israel. -- Ben White

Mali has experienced perhaps the most significant external repercussions from the downfall of the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Traditionally, the Tuaregs controlled caravan routes across the Sahara. In days past, those caravans carried gold, spices, salt or dates. Today, contraband including weapons, untaxed tobacco and even narcotics traverse the desert routes. Banditry remains common in the region. -- Scott Stewart

The Arab society, like other societies, was fiercely patriarchal society and one cannot expect patriarchal societies to empower women. In fact for women empowerment patriarchal societies are main obstacles. In Mecca women’s situation was very precarious and in initial stages women responded to Islamic mission quite enthusiastically and one of the first respondents was Prophet’s (PBUH) wives and subsequently also many women responded before their husbands or sons did. -- Asghar Ali Engineer

Are Muslims being hoodwinked? Yes, with reference to Quran we are. 10-37, Say (to them), “of your partners is there any that can give you guidance-(yahdi) - towards the ‘Truth’? Say, it is God only (lillah) who gives guidance towards the truth”. These two are Maulana, colloquially called Mullahs and a loftier one Mufti. The later is more widely used in the Muslim world and is sometimes bestowed by the governments.  In the Book both the titles are reserved for only God (lillah) and that is its ‘spirit and essence’ of unity of the Creator. Logically because, when these titles are applied to humans, they elevate humans to godliness. On this basis the above verse then proceeds to argue: 10-37, “Is then He (God) who gives guidance to the truth more worthy to be followed or he (the human) who finds not guidance himself unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you, how judge you?”-- Rashid Samnakay, NewAgeIslam.com

انصاف اسلام کے مرکزی اقدار میں سے ایک ہے اورکوئی بھی معاشی نظام جو انصاف پر مبنی نہیں ہے وہ اسلام کے لیے قابل قبول نہیں ہو سکتا ہے۔ قرآن تقسیمی انصاف پر بہت زور دیتا ہے اور معاشرے  کے سب سے کمزور طبقے جسے قرآن مستعضفون کہتا ہے ان کی مکمل اور غیر مشروط حمایت اور تکبر کرنے والی حکمراں جماعت (جنہیں مستکبرون کہتا ہے) جو کمزور طبقات کو دباتے ہیں،ان کی مذمت کا اظہار کرتا ہے۔  اصغر علی انجینئر   (انگریزی سے ترجمہ۔ سمیع الرحمٰن ،  نیو ایج اسلام ڈاٹ کام)

सलमान रश्दी को जयपुर लिटरेरी फेस्टिवल में जमा हुए लेखकों और उनके चाहने वालों से वीडियो लिंक के ज़रिए से बात करने की इजाज़त नहीं दी गई। यह हमारे देश के लिए शर्म की बात है और इससे भी ज़्यादा हमारी कौम के लिए है। हमारे देश के लिए शर्म की बात इसलिए है क्योंकि न तो हमारे पास संसाधन हैं और न ही दुनिया में अपनी किस्म के बेहतरीन एक लिटरेरी फेस्टिवल को गैंगस्टर और माफियाओं की हिंसा की धमकी से हिफ़ाज़त करने की हिम्मत है। हमारी कौम के लिए शर्म की बात इसलिए है क्योंकि हमारे बीच मज़हबी ठग हैं जो एक नुक्सान न करने वाली तकरीब को इसलिए चैलेंज कर रहे हैं,  क्योंकि वह एक लेखक है जिसने हमारे नबी करीम (स.अ.व.) की तौहीन की है - ऐसी तौहीन जो हम बिना एहसास किए हर दिन, हर मिनट, आमतौर से करते हैं और जिस प्रकार के भ्रष्ट हम लोग हैं,  अपने बुरे कामों  की वजह से खुदा के सामने ताल ठोंकते हैं और इस्लाम को बदनाम करते हैं। समारोह से कोई नुक्सान होने वाला नहीं था क्योंकि सलमान रश्दी कोई विवादास्पद मुद्दा उठाने,  सेटेनिक वर्सेज़ के बारे में बोलने या उसे पढ़ने नहीं जा रहे थे। -- सुल्तान शाहीन, एडिटर, न्यु एज इस्लाम डाट काम

Over the centuries, many eminent non-Muslim scholars have rated Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) most highly and have given due recognition to his greatness. “I have always held the religion of Muhammad (PBUH) in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion, which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence, which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him — the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. -- Hasan Kamoonpuri

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Photo:  Kuwaitis headed to the polls on Thursday for the fourth time in six years in a snap parliamentary election in which opposition candidates expect to expand their influence and push for change in the oil-exporting Gulf Arab state.

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