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Gibbon's narrative on Islam in the 'Decline and Fall' of the Romans

Gibbon's narrative on Islam in the 'Decline and Fall' of the Romans

The well known British historian, Edward Gibbon, describes the rise and expansion of Islam as: “one of the most memorable revolutions which has impressed a new and lasting character on the nations of the globe.” A study of Gibbon's digression towards the East must be studied in detail

Tolerance among the virtues (review)

Tolerance among the virtues (review)

A review of a book on a topic that we will cover more in the future. . .

Shrill Religious Cult Digs a Deeper Political Hole

Shrill Religious Cult Digs a Deeper Political Hole

Once again with the July 2018 election of Imran Khan, the official spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya goes all out to provoke the incoming government,

The Distilled Essence

The Distilled Essence

Imam Abu Hanifa advised his son Hammad to remember 5 of the 5000 or so narrations of the Prophet Muhammad that he had gone through. These five are an abstract essence of the entire corpurs of the narrations attributed to the Prophet, known as Ahadith

Uthaymeen, Five Years after the 'Qad Khalat' Debate

Uthaymeen, Five Years after the 'Qad Khalat' Debate

Exactly five years ago, I engaged in a deep theological debate with Waqar Akbar Cheema on a mis-translation of a verse of the Quran 3:144. I am always very sensitive to scholars and writers not distinguishing between translation and commentary and doing nip, tuck and tweak with scripture in

Malcolm X knew Islam's History of Slavery, not Racism

Malcolm X knew Islam's History of Slavery, not Racism

An interesting article appeared in the Telegraph, titled "The conversion to Islam of Malcolm X is the wrong model for young black men [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/11425643/The-conversion-to-Islam-of-Malcolm-X-is-the-wrong-model-for-young-black-men.html] ." Although the author, David Edward, cites historical events, he makes a serious error that fatally undermines

No Solutions to British Muslim Problems without Mutual Respect

No Solutions to British Muslim Problems without Mutual Respect

Jonathan Russell of the Quilliam Foundation has a logical premise on which he bases his piece about the signatories [http://leftfootforward.org/2015/03/the-muslim-community-joint-statement-offers-no-progressive-solutions/] of the Joint UK Muslim Statement [https://jointmuslimstatement.wordpress.com/]. It is indeed a valid assertion that the signatories did not offer any solutions. When

The Theology of the Concept of Caliphate - Imam Shehryar Shaikh

The Theology of the Concept of Caliphate - Imam Shehryar Shaikh

Imam Shehryar Shaikh presented the traditional concept of the caliphate in an interesting way. Imam Shehryar’s grasp of the subject from a theological perspective is apparent from the way he analyzes current events and then uses his command of scripture to bring the concepts to the audience.

Evangelii Gaudium - Pope Francis on Muslims

From the apostolic exhortation (EVANGELII GAUDIUM) of Pope Francis. Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World (24 November 2013) : 252. Our relationship with the followers of Islam has taken on great importance, since they are now significantly present in many traditionally Christian countries, where they

Historical Forms of Succession in Caliphates

Historical Forms of Succession in Caliphates

by Munir Saami Munir Saami is a writer, public speaker, researcher and community activist who has a deep and thorough understanding of how historical and political issues impact everyday Muslims. Munir Saami focused on ‘demystification’ of the caliphate and de-romanticized Succession (caliphate) by relentlessly breaking it down to succession decisions

The Caliphate, Sharia and the Search for an Islamic Political Theology: A Contemporary Perspective

The Caliphate, Sharia and the Search for an Islamic Political Theology: A Contemporary Perspective

by Dr. Nevin Reda Dr. Nevin Reda is an assistant professor of Muslim Studies at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Her main research area is the Qur’an, often in relation to Islamic law, the Bible or women. She is also a participant in the

Tahir Qazi - Caliphate as a Political System

Tahir Qazi - Caliphate as a Political System

Presentation (with video) and Article by Dr. Tahir Qazi Dr. Tahir Qazi is a writer and contributor to countercurrents.org, Patheos, Foreign Policy in Focus, South Asian Journal of Diplomacy, and has been a guest on political TV programmes. Dr. Qazi talked about identity politics, evolution of the concept of

Chronology of the Historical Caliphates

Chronology of the Historical Caliphates

By Javed Chaudry Javed Chaudry is a political commentator, writer and frequent guest on political and social TV programmes. His articles have appeared on countercurrents.org. Mr. Chaudry will present current geo-political realities and whether a Caliphate could fit into those realities or not. [Download (PPTX, 197KB)](http://files.qern.

Caliphate from a Young Canadian's Perspective

This presentation was prepared for, but not presented at, the 2nd Annual QeRN Conference [http://www.qern.org/en/about/conference-2014-caliphate-as-a-political-system-myth-or-reality/] . [Download (PPTX, 98KB)](http://files.qern.org/wp/2014/08/Caliphate-From-A-Young-Canadian%E2%80%99s-Perspective.pptx)

The Caliphate Brings Trauma

The Caliphate Brings Trauma

By Daniel Pipes Conference on “The Caliphate as a Political System: Historic Myth or Future Reality?” [http://www.qern.org/en/about/conference-2014-caliphate-as-a-political-system-myth-or-reality/] August 16, 2014 I am delighted to address this timely event and thank Akber Choudhry for the opportunity to do so. I only regret that prior plans

Sayeeda Warsi, the Conscience of Britain

Sayeeda Warsi, the Conscience of Britain

I would not be writing this were it not for the utterly unwarranted criticism of Sayeeda Warsi by the Daily Mail and the Spectator [http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/08/baroness-warsi-was-over-promoted-incapable-and-incompetent/] . Britain has a long history of ministers resigning when their conscience would not let them continue with

Discussion: Caliphate as a Political System - Myth or Reality?

Discussion: Caliphate as a Political System - Myth or Reality?

* Speakers’ Papers and Presentations - Dr. Nevin Reda: The Caliphate, Sharia and the Search for an Islamic Political Theology: A Contemporary Perspective [http://www.qern.org/en/the-caliphate-sharia-and-the-search-for-an-islamic-political-theology-a-contemporary-perspective/] * Dr. Tahir Qazi: Caliphate as a Political System [http://www.qern.org/en/tahir-qazi-caliphate-as-a-political-system/] * Dr. Daniel Pipes: The Caliphate Brings Trauma [http:

Humanize Palestine

Very simple and to the point: The martyrs of Gaza 2014 http://humanizepalestine.com/

Is Apostasy a Capital Crime in Islam?

An excellent article by Dr. Jamal Badawi. Link and excerpts below: http://www.fiqhcouncil.org/node/34 > It is inconceivable to attain that peace if any person is forced or coerced to become a Muslim or to remain a Muslim against his or her free will. It is also

Nadeem Paracha Breaks Through on Qadianism

Liberal Muslims who are conversant about the Qadiani Ahmadiyya community have to walk a very fine line: the Ahmadiyya are discriminated against in Pakistan and are targeted by extremists in that country and liberals generally don’t want to be part of any judgmental discourse on what they perceive as

The Ugly Side of Voltaire

I had always recognised Voltaire as a philosopher and an important cog of Western liberal thinking but I recently came across a play written by him:Le fanatisme, ou Mahomet le Prophete [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahomet_(play)], literally Fanaticism, or Mahomet the Prophet. Voltaire, and his admirers, have

Are the Muslims Right about Debt?

The Quran denounces riba in the most categorical terms. The term riba is synonymous with the traditional concept of usury, and in modern terms, generally means interest, i.e. exploitative interest on debt, especially to the poor. Generally, it excludes commercial discounting on current trade — which is not usury or

Iran's Thriving Jewish Community

Between the lines, Israel would have you believe that the ‘fanatic’ Iranians were the enemies of Jews. An article in the Jersualem Post [http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Iranian-Jewish-community-to-Obama-Seize-unrepeatable-chance-to-mend-ties-with-Iran-328651] dispels that myth. Not only does Iran have a tiny but healthy Jewish community that has been around for ages,

Saudi Sows Hate and Makes Others Reap

After considerable agonising over trans-national Muslim affinity, and avoiding criticising any single party, the time has come to say it: if Arab cultural fetishes and monarchical paranoia are not actively combated by Muslims worldwide, they threaten the trans-national fabric of theUmmah(Global Islamic Community). This is a rather lengthy article

Third Annual QeRN Muslim Identity Award – 2012

We are pleased to announce our third annual award. The award goes to the Web site loonwatch.com [http://www.loonwatch.com/]and its driver, Steven Danios. As opposed to last year, we have chosen an entity that is not identified by a single event, but has taken a novel