Archaeologists dig at ancient site next door to Islamic State
By Mohammed Rasool and Deb Riechmann The Associated Press GAZIANTEP, Turkey —Archaeology and war don’t usually mix, yet that has been the case for years at Karkemish, an ancient city […]
Imams failing young Britons, says Ahmadiyya Muslim leader
Epigraph: Love of your country is part and parcel of a Muslim’s faith. The Holy Prophet Muhammad Guardian: Young British Muslims are being let down by clerics who are under-educated […]
Makkah beauty pageant thwarted
Authorities in Makkah have thwarted plans for a beauty pageant in the holy city, citing the Shariah law that prohibits such a show as reason for the decision. The pageant, […]
Qur’an lesson for today: 294. Commandment – do not cut off the highway for travelers (for theft and robbery)
294. Commandment – do not cut off the highway for travellers (for theft and robbery) [29:30] ‘Do you indeed come lustfully to men and cut off the highway for travellers? And you commit abomination in your meetings!’ But the only answer of his people was that they said, ‘Bring upon us the punishment […]
Qur’an lesson for today: 293. Commandment – if an unrighteous person brings you any news, ascertain the correctness of the report fully
293. Commandment – if an unrighteous person brings you any news, ascertain the correctness of the report fully [49:7] O ye who believe! if an unrighteous person brings you any news, ascertain the correctness of the report fully, lest you harm a people in ignorance, and then become repentant for what you have […]
King meets Kerry, Netanyahu for talks on Jerusalem tension
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday hosted a trilateral meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cool tempers arising as […]
Disunity and distress
The Daily Star Ten years after the death of Yasser Arafat, and the situation for Palestinians is at its direst in years, and any hope of unity between different factions […]
War with Isis: The forgotten, plucky Kurds under siege in their enclave on Syria’s border with Turkey
Robert Fisk visits Rumeilan, where its people strive to extract oil, produce asphalt and continue the struggle against the Islamist militants The skies are grey-black from the oilfields and refineries […]
Freud and the Middle East
NOV. 11, 2014 Thomas L. Friedman ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — When trying to make sense of the Middle East, one of the most important rules to keep in mind is this: What politicians here tell you in private is usually irrelevant. What matters most, and what explains their […]
Isis in Syria: In the shadow of death, a few thousand Christians remain to defy militants
BY ROBERT FISK, THE INDEPENDENT Just 15 miles from the frontline of Isis, which persecutes their faith, the Christians of Qamishli gathered in the Church of the Holy Virgin for the wedding of Malek Aissa and Ilana Hacho. The bride was a priest’s sister, the bridegroom a computer engineer, and […]
Qur’an lesson for today: 290. Commandment if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged
290. Commandment if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged [16:127] And if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged; but if you show patience, then, surely, that […]
5 Common Myths about Islam Propagated by the Media
by Luis Durani In the last several months, we have seen a large rise in anti-Muslim sentiments expressed especially among commentators and the news media. Since 9/11, Islam has become […]
Militant groups condemned at event in Morden with political and faith leaders
thisislocallondon.co.uk: Islamic militant groups were condemned by political and faith leaders at a peace symposium which drew 1,000 people to Merton on Saturday. International development secretary Justine Greening and energy […]
It’s dangerous to be so cosy with the Gulf’s autocrats
theguardian: by Brian Whitaker — In 2012 David Cameron jubilantly announced a £2.5bn order for 20 Typhoon warplanes from Oman, model seen here at the Farnborough show – but who will get to use them, and for what? A few days ago, the American ambassador in Beirut said he was […]
Qatar emir issues summit invite amid strains over Islamists
Reuters | Nov 11, 2014 | 23:02 Updated: Nov 11, 2014 | 23:02 DOHA — Qatar’s emir on Tuesday publicly invited fellow Gulf rulers to a Doha summit, apparently seeking to forestall what diplomats say is an attempt by some peers to move it elsewhere in protest at what they […]
Isis in Syria: The story of the martyred soldiers who fought ‘to the last bullet’ to avoid the fate of captured comrades beheaded by militants
By Robert Fisk, The Independent No one knows who Haj Badr was, but his white-painted tomb lies in a small sanctuary atop an ancient “tel” where potsherds thousands of years old lie scattered down the hillside. And it is from this windswept outpost south of Qamishli – for many years […]
Is Jerusalem the Palestinians’ last battle?
by Rami G. Khouri, Daily Star, Lebanon The escalating isolated incidents of violence between Israelis and Palestinians during the past few months have focused heavily on Jerusalem, and for good reason. The reason is not only the religious significance of the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount area that is holy to both […]
Abbas warns Israel of religious war amid mosque row
Russia Today: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said a global religious war could be triggered if Jews are allowed to pray on the Temple Mount in Al-Aqsa mosque, which in his words would “contaminate” it. READ MORE: Abbas warns of legal measures against Israeli ‘aggression’ on Al-Aqsa mosque Abbas also warned […]
Islam and religious minorities
Many Muslims and non-Muslims alike claim that Islam is a religion of peace and that violence perpetrated in the name of Islam is actually due to distortions or misunderstandings of […]
Jordan to Ulema : preach moderate Islam or else
Nationalpost.com In a bid to counter ISIS, Jordan gives orders to Clerics: Preach moderate Islam- or else ZARQA, Jordan — Several hundred robed Muslim clerics recently packed themselves into an auditorium to hear the minister of Islamic affairs issue their new marching orders. The meeting was mandatory. “You clerics are […]