There is no Islam without Jihad

Obama's policy on this? Obama's counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan calls jihad a "legitimate tenet of Islam," arguing that the term "jihadists" should not be used to describe America's enemies.

Saudi Columnist: 'There Is No Islam without Jihad' Memri

Anas Zahed, a columnist for the Saudi government daily Al-Madina, criticized Arab and Muslim intellectuals who limit the term jihad to a personal, spiritual struggle and reject its interpretation as waging war against occupation, which he said is its principle meaning.
Following are excerpts:

"Islam without jihad is the product of colonialism and is in no way connected to the Islam of Muhammad. Without question, the greatest jihad is personal jihad, and therein lies the proof that the term jihad in Islam is not limited [solely] to waging war... [But] this does not mean that the term jihad does not include many other aspects, among them those which relate to the individual's responsibilities to society, and the relations of the [Muslim] society and ummah with societies and countries that declare war on a Muslim state.
"[However,] ever since the American [declaration of] war against what is called terrorism, there has emerged a group of Arab and Muslim authors and academics who try to limit jihad to one dimension, namely to personal jihad. This is exactly what happened in India during the period of British colonialism, when the Qadian sect, also known as Ahmadiyya, emerged and rejected the principle of fighting the colonialists. [They] abolished the duty of jihad in the sense of waging war, and were content with preaching merely personal jihad.

"What is striking is that these preachings, which were intended to rescind the duty of jihad from Islam, existed then, and still exist now, alongside the most brutal type of imperialism and occupation ever known to the Islamic world, and specifically to the Arab world. This fact sheds doubt on the intent of the philosophers, authors, and members of the media who took it upon themselves to disseminate a 'friendly' Islam that obligates its followers to live with occupation, [population] transfer, the resettlement of land, and the expulsion of its inhabitants by force of arms.
"I completely understand that we Muslims must reexamine the term jihad, after the extremist terrorist gangs have attempted to appropriate this noble term. Likewise, I completely understand that we are bound by the conditions and limitations of [declaring] jihad, namely [that jihad can only be declared when] Muslims are being expelled from their land and [are subjected] to religious coercion.

"But I do not at all understand Muslims' calls for the reexamination of the term jihad from a viewpoint that rejects declaring war on those who occupy their land, kill the innocent, destroy homes, and expel millions. Islam is a religion of justice, and the most basic principle of justice demands that evil be opposed and not surrendered to. It goes without saying that occupation is the severest form of evil. If we add to occupation the resettlement of land and expulsion [of population], we arrive at the greatest degree of evil that can befall man. There is no Islam without jihad."[1]
Endnotes:

Arab League Forces in Iraq?

Arab League Forces in Iraq
I am having serious problems understanding the rationale behind the recent suggestion by the Arab League to have Arab forces enter Iraq to provide security. Even more confusing is Iraq’s participation in yesterday’s meeting and apparent lack of response. Maybe no one in the Arab League has been watching the news for the past 7 years. Maybe they do this purposely to insult Iraq and spit in our faces or maybe they are suffering from a severe and dangerous form of schizophrenia. What ever it is they need to start addressing their issues and get help. The summit is being held in Libya, whose leader just recently welcomed members of the Ba'ath Party which is still dreaming of returning to Baghdad and still working tirelessly to destabilise the country.

Iraq does not need Arab Forces to provide security; we just need Arab terrorists to stop blowing themselves up and to stop slaughtering our people. Instead of sending us soldiers why can’t they just stop exporting death? That will work out just fine for us and they can save a lot of money that can be redirected to benefit their own citizens. Instead of spending money on logistically complicated military operations or money to train and arm terrorists they can put that money in a bank and enjoy the wonderful benefits of interest.

What next? Qassem Suleimani offering the Revolutionary Guards to conduct patrols in Baghdad to secure the city? Raghad Hussein offering the services of the Fedayeen and 'muqawama' to secure volatile regions in Iraq?
Solurce: Eye Raki, blogspot

The World Sleeps Enslaved

Mr Obama has staffed his Cabinet with establishment figures similar to the ones who ushered in this era of lawlessness. Their one saving grace is they know exactly how the thugs ruined our country.
The one jewel among Obama's appointees is the future UN Ambassador Dr Susan E Rice. She is one of the few Americans who speaks against genocide and actually does something about it.
The world suffers from the distinct lack of human rights and their enforcement. There is no government [aside from Costa Rica and Sweden] that empowers the people over the establishment.
The US and Israel stand out from other nations primarily because they are occupiers. Both pretend to be democracies while treating their citizens as dirt. At least, some of their citizens recognize their plight and seek redress.
The rest of the world sleeps enslaved.

What Moqtada al-Sadr Teaches Us

FirstPost.co.uk

Our leaders are lying to us. Foolishly, they want to pick a fight with Iran.

The Triumph of Moqtada Al Sadr
British Troops Sent Back to Basra

British troops have been sent back into Basra just months after control of the southern city was placed in the hands of the Iraqis. Up to 150 British soldiers are now "embedded" with Iraqi army units in the town, fighting insurgent groups which now hold power in large areas of Basra. The news has led to allegations of "mission creep". (Sunday Telegraph)

A Lebanese Girl in Egypt

A Lebanese in Egypt from Occupation to Liberation

by Tarek Amr

Layal El Katib, is a Lebanese Blogger who lived in Egypt for a while, and here are her experiences as a Lebanese living in Egypt:

I used to speak Egyptian there, in fact nobody would know I'm Lebanese unless somebody tells them, my Egyptian accent was (and still is) flawless!

So, I didn't experience any kind of problems! it was very normal and it felt like home. At school, I made great friends, we were a family, you know hanging out with the same friends everyday for several years, the bond becomes stronger than the family blood because you get to choose your friends! I used to love the first day at school just to meet the new people! I've always loved company and I never had a problem to blend in ANY kind of groups.

But one day, a single incident at school really affected her:

Anyways, years passed by and I'm in an Arabic period in Grade 6. I don't remember what the teacher was talking about but I remember him saying "And Of course, We all know that Lebanon is being occupied now by Israel...". I wasn't shocked by what he said, I was shocked by the whole class's reaction! It was nothing but a big "BOOOOOOO" accompanied by fingers pointed at me! I can't describe how it felt! But it was so weird and shocking that I didn't do anything but smiling! In the very same day, during the recess, I remember bursting into tears on my best friend's shoulder!

I didn't cry because of the occupation thing, I didn't cry because the teacher said that the whole Lebanese soil was occupied and that he was wrong, I did because it was the first time I felt like a stranger, a minority or an intruder!

Then a few years later:

So I'm still in Egypt, still at the same school, same friends, same street...etc. It's the year 2000, the year when the Zionist army finally left the Lebanese Soil (except for Shebaa farms) because of the amazing Lebanese resistance.

She continues:

We went out later that day, I can't remember where. But I remember that when we reached the apartment's door, a guy approached us and said "Mabrouk, Rafa3to Rasna" (Meaning Congrats, You honored us). I can't describe how I felt. It was simply amazing.

That stranger and few (1 or 2) close friends probably were the only persons who congratulated us. My friends were happy for me when I told them about it. It didn't bother me really that they didn't call, and it doesn't bother me even now. We Arabs are weird! They're the same friends who BOOed, and I'm the same person who cried!!! It was still Egypt, and it was still Lebanon. Isn't it logical for the BOO to become a YAAY?

You may view the latest post at

http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/03/21/egypt-a-lebanese-in-egypt-from-occupation-to-liberation/