Well I was supposed to continue with my family values and wisdom posts, but this particular message caught me suddenly and I couldn't help myself but address it.
So this internet person called Angus McFarlane made a comment in response to a news that reported President Obama's administration gave a "Wanted: Dead or Alive" pass to one of the radical Muslim terrorists. McFarlane writes:
"Targeting the messenger is confusing the messenger with the message. It's the message that needs to be taken out. That is, Al Qur'an."
Another internet person, called 'Sole Man' replied wittily:
"I hope you realize that there are 1.57 billion Muslims, making up 23% of the world population ... You are not suggesting to target them .. are you?"
Thank you Sole Man for raising this point. Let me put this simply: Angus McFarlane is just another Islamophobic idiot. I searched him on google and I found one guy on facebook with his name, but maybe he's not the same person. Anyway, let me try put some sense into that thick head of yours McFarlane ...
The messenger you're referring to McFarlane, called Anwar Awlaki, has been refuted by the Inheritors of the Messenger of Allah and the students of the Inheritors of the Messenger of Allah over and over again. If you had spent more time researching the truth and less time posting bullshit comments on the Internet, it would probably have created less Muslims who hate you with everything they got. I really wish to know if you have a religion McFarlane, coz don't let me pull the Bible or the Torah to show you how many 'messages' are there in them that should be taken out according to your rationale. Well I'd do it anyway, in future, God willing.
And if you're the usual atheist, 'worshipping' Richard Dawkins, then I think you should have made it clear that the message that needs to be taken out is not just the Quran, but the Bible and the Torah included. And I think, with that line of attitude, Obama would give you the "Wanted: Dead or Alive" pass in no time.
Denouncing the messenger Anwar Awlaki
Well McFarlane, since idiots like you don't have a soul to question, let me put a comprehensive refutation of the dangerous views of Anwar Awlaki here for anyone else reading it, showing what he's calling for is not what the Messenger of Allah and the Inheritors of the Messenger of Allah call for. But idiots like McFarlane exist, just as terrorists like Awlaki do.
This post is for everyone who has been afflicted with the calamity of not even knowing who is in the family, let alone speak to them or visit them or aid them to the best of ability. No, one does not have to have a major in Sociology to understand and appreciate this post. You only need to question your soul to appreciate it!
What is family?
Well I have to touch a bit on sociology here to sound academic. In the West, the word family usually refers to what is known as a nuclear family, consisting either of a married couple (or a divorced or widowed parent) with unmarried children or of a married couple without children. So this nuclear family contains the parents and their non-adult, unmarried children or only the husband and the wife, with no children.
This is not the usual case elsewhere. Well it was not the case back in the days. In Asia (including Far East, Middle East, North, South), Latin America, Africa and many parts of Europe, family usually referred to what is known as an extended or joint family, and would include parents, children, spouse, grandparents, uncles and aunts, siblings and cousins. All do not necessarily have to live under one roof or even in one town, but when you mean family, your cousin from your second paternal uncle is also included in this structure. Obviously, just as with many other things in the society, Westernisation and 'modernisation' and 'industrialisation' and what-not have had a drastic effect on today's family structure. Just look at the many immigrant 'families' residing in the West; the son does not recognise anyone except his siblings and parents to be his family, yet has 500 facebook friends whom he keeps in touch with every day! This is the reality now.
The negative perception towards extended family
I am not sure if I'm generalising too much on this, but from what I have experienced, the new generations (say post 1980s) consider extended family to be an unnecessary burden, an unnecessary load on their shoulders. Why have your 80-year old grandpa in your house when there's an old care centre only 100 miles down the road? Why visit your maternal aunt in Ethiopia when you can have a summer trip to Barcelona? Why send a £100 gift to your cousin in Argentina, when you can spend it in the club this coming Friday? Why, why?
Some of the negative perceptions are not without proofs. For instance, many newly wed couples do not want to stay in the same house with their parents or in-laws because of the friction, jealousy and power control inside the house. Many put this as a marriage condition: "I'm not staying with your parents if we get married." Or later in the marriage, when they have kids, "I'm not gonna let my kids hang out with your cousins/mother/siblings/etc." Sometimes it makes sense, because your cousin might be a porn-addict or your dad might be a chain-smoker or your mother might enjoy gossiping about others and while you do not backbite about them, you may not want your children to take on those habits. So not all negative perceptions are necessarily unreasonable.
Why bother about your parents, siblings and relatives?
If you are a Muslim, then because it is the Commandment of Allaah and His Messenger. Even Hindus and Buddhists keep ties with their relatives, well at least, that was the traditional way.
The importance of upholding and maintaining ties of kinship in Islam is highlighted in Part 2.
Following on from Part 1b, it is a good time to expound on the other Verses of our Lord cited for aid in understanding and following.
The Prophet of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
1. "Whoever says anything about the Quran without knowledge, then he should take his abode (home) in hell" (Sunan Abu Dawud)
2. "Whoever talks about the Quran on the basis of his opinion, and even if he says something true in it, he has made a mistake" (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan an-Nasa'i)
Translated Verse from Quran
2. "And follow not ( i.e., say not or do not or witness not) what you have no knowledge of. Indeed the hearing, sight and the heart, one will be questioned of all of those" [Surah al Israa 17:36]
Do not speak without Knowledge
'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (Companion of Prophet) said: "This means do not say (anything of which you have no knowledge).'' Al-'Awfi said: "Do not accuse anyone of that of which you have no knowledge.'' Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah said: "It means bearing false witness.'' Qatadah said: "Do not say: 'I have seen', when you did not see anything, or: 'I have heard', when you did not hear anything, or: 'I know', when you do not know; for Allah will ask you about all of that.''
In conclusion, what they said means that Allah forbids speaking without knowledge and only on the basis of suspicion, which is mere imagination and illusions. As Allah says (as translated): (Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins.) [49:12]
According to a Hadith, the Prophet said:
«إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّنَفَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيث» (Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech.)
And the Prophet said, as found in Sunan Abu Dawud:
«بِئْسَ مَطِيَّةُ الرَّجُلِ: زَعَمُوا» (What an evil habit it is for a man to say: 'They claimed...')
According to another Hadith, the Prophet said:
«إِنَّ أَفْرَى الْفِرَى أَنْ يُرِيَ الرَّجُلُ عَيْنَيْهِ مَا لَمْ تَرَيَا» (The worst of lies is for a man to claim to have seen something that he has not seen.)
The Prophet says as reported in Saheeh:
«مَنْ تَحَلَّمَ حُلْمًا كُلِّفَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنْ يَعْقِدَ بَيْنَ شَعِيرَتَيْنِ وَلَيْسَ بِفَاعِل» (Whoever claims to have seen a dream (when he has not seen) will be told on the Day of Resurrection to make a knot between two barley grains, and he will not be able to do it.)
Each of hearing, sight and the heart will be questioned, meaning, the person will be asked about them on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be asked about him and what he did with them. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Following on from Part 1a, it is a good time to expound on the Verses of our Lord for aid in understanding and following.
The Prophet of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
1. "Whoever says anything about the Quran without knowledge, then he should take his abode (home) in hell" (Sunan Abu Dawud)
2. "Whoever talks about the Quran on the basis of his opinion, and even if he says something true in it, he has made a mistake" (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan an-Nasa'i)
Translated Verse from Quran
1. "Say: this is my way, I call to Allaah upon sure knowledge (Baseerah); I and whosoever follows me ..." [Surah Yusuf 12:108]
The Messenger's Way
Allah orders His Messenger to say to mankind and the spirits (Jinns) that this is his way, meaning, his method, path and Sunnah, concentrating on calling to the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone without partners. The Messenger calls to this testimonial with sure knowledge, certainty and firm evidence. He calls to this way, and those who followed him call to what Allah's Messenger called to with sure knowledge, certainty and evidence, whether logical or religious evidence. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Baseerah here means that the da'wah of the noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, is not based on some summary view of things; rather, it is the outcome of insight, reason and wisdom. In this act of 'full cognition', the Prophet has included his followers as well.
According to Abdullah ibn Abbas, the companion of the Prophet, it refers to the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. They are the soldiers of Allah, Glorified be He. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, another companion of the Prophet said, "The Companions of the Prophet are the best people of this whole Ummah. Their hearts are pure and their knowledge is deep. They are far removed from formality. Allah has chosen them to accompany and serve their Messenger. You should learntheir morals, habits and ways because they are the ones who are on the Straight Path (i.e. the Path to Success)."
It is also possible to take the expression "and whomsoever follows me" in the general sense whereby it would mean every person who is doing the duty of conveying the da'wah of the Messenger of Allah to his Ummah right through the last day before end of the world.
Background This is a beautiful reminder from the great great grandson of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be on him. The poem (Arabic: Qaseedah قصيدة) is called 'Laysal Ghareeb' (ليس الغريب) which literally translates into 'The Stranger is Not'. It is a self-provoking, soul-searching poem reflecting on life, death and beyond.
It's a very popular poem in Yemen and elsewhere. Ponder upon the words of the poem for a moment ...
Listen to the poem
Listen with subtitles in French, in Dutch. Listen to other Recitors of the same poem here and here. Download audio version of the recitation from here.
Arabic Poem with Translation
لزين العابدين علي بن الحسين ين علي بن أبي طالب Written by Zain al-'Aabideen ‘Alee bin al-Hussayn bin ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib [The Great great grandson of the Prophet]
لَيْسَ الغَريبُ غَريبَ الشَّأمِ واليَمَنِ إِنَّ الغَريبَ غَريبُ اللَّحدِ والكَفَنِ The stranger is not the stranger to Yemen or Shaam (Syria) But the stranger is the stranger to the grave and the coffin
إِنَّ الغَريِبَ لَهُ حَقٌّ لِغُرْبَتـِهِ على الْمُقيمينَ في الأَوطــانِ والسَّكَنِ Verily the stranger has rights for his absence Over the residents of the dwellings & homelands
لاتنهـــرن غريب حال غربته الدهـــر ينهــــره بالـــــذل والمحــن Don’t chase away the outlander in his state of unfamiliarity For time is also chasing him with hardship & distress
سَفَري بَعيدٌ وَزادي لَنْ يُبَلِّغَنـي وَقُوَّتي ضَعُفَتْ والمـوتُ يَطلُبُنـي My travels are far and my provisions will not suffice me My strength has weakened and death is calling unto me
وَلي بَقايــا ذُنوبٍ لَسْتُ أَعْلَمُها الله يَعْلَمُهــا في السِّرِ والعَلَنِ I still have sins which I know not of Allah knows of them; those made in secret & in manifest
مـَا أَحْلَمَ اللهَ عَني حَيْثُ أَمْهَلَني وقَدْ تَمـادَيْتُ في ذَنْبي ويَسْتُرُنِي How merciful has Allah been to me by giving me respite And I have increased in sins but Allah has always shielded me
تَمُرُّ سـاعـاتُ أَيّـَامي بِلا نَدَمٍ ولا بُكاءٍ وَلاخَـوْفٍ ولا حـَزَنِ The hours of my days pass by without regret No crying, no fear, no sadness
أَنَـا الَّذِي أُغْلِقُ الأَبْوابَ مُجْتَهِداً عَلى المعاصِي وَعَيْنُ اللهِ تَنْظُرُنـي I am the one who closes the doors with fatigue On disobedience, And the Eye of Allah watches over me..
يَـا زَلَّةً كُتِبَتْ في غَفْلَةٍ ذَهَبَتْ يَـا حَسْرَةً بَقِيَتْ في القَلبِ تُحْرِقُني O’ that which was written in a moment of heedlessness O’ the sorrow which remains in my heart is burning me
دَعْني أَنُوحُ عَلى نَفْسي وَأَنْدِبُـهـا وَأَقْطَعُ الدَّهْرَ بِالتَّذْكِيـرِ وَالحَزَنِ Leave me to bewail myself and weep and pass the time in sadness and remembrance
دَعْ عَنْكَ عَذْلي يَا مَنْ كان يَعْذِلُني لَوْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ مَا بي كُنْت تَعْذُرُني Leave off your blaming of me O’ you who do so If you were but to know my situation you would have excused me..
دَعْني أَسِحُّ دُمُوعاً لا انْقِطَاعَ لَهَا فَهَلْ عَسَى عَبْرَةٌ مِنْهَا تُخَلِّصُني Let me cry out tears that have no ending to them for there will be no lesson that will set me free
كَأَنَّني بَينَ تلك الأَهلِ مُنطَرِحــَاً عَلى الفِراشِ وَأَيْديهِمْ تُقَلِّبُنــي It is as though I am with that family, laying.. Upon the mattress with their hands turning me over
وَقد أَتَوْا بِطَبيبٍ كَـيْ يُعالِجَنـي وَلَمْ أَرَ الطِّبَّ هـذا اليـومَ يَنْفَعُني And they came to me with a doctor that he may cure me.. But of today, I think not that medicine will benefit me..
واشَتد نَزْعِي وَصَار المَوتُ يَجْذِبُـها مِن كُلِّ عِرْقٍ بِلا رِفقٍ ولا هَوَنِ My sufferings increased and death began to pull at me.. From every vein, without ease or comfort..
واستَخْرَجَ الرُّوحَ مِني في تَغَرْغُرِها وصـَارَ رِيقي مَريراً حِينَ غَرْغَرَني My soul was then removed from me with a gurgle.. And my saliva became bitter at that point..
وَغَمَّضُوني وَراحَ الكُلُّ وانْصَرَفوا بَعْدَ الإِياسِ وَجَدُّوا في شِرَا الكَفَنِ They then shut my eyes and left me… after a long moment of despair ... they hurried to the purchase of the shroud
وَقـامَ مَنْ كانَ حِبَّ النّاسِ في عَجَلٍ نَحْوَ المُغَسِّلِ يَأْتينـي يُغَسِّلُنــي And he who was dearest to me got up in a hurry.. To summon the person who was to wash me..
وَقــالَ يـا قَوْمِ نَبْغِي غاسِلاً حَذِقاً حُراً أَرِيباً لَبِيبـاً عَارِفـاً فَطِنِ He said: O’ my people we have attained a Washer who is skillful, clever, bright & intelligent..
فَجــاءَني رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَجَرَّدَني مِنَ الثِّيــابِ وَأَعْرَاني وأَفْرَدَني So then one of the men came and removed my clothing.. He undressed me and denuded me…
وَأَوْدَعوني عَلى الأَلْواحِ مُنْطَرِحـاً وَصـَارَ فَوْقي خَرِيرُ الماءِ يَنْظِفُني They then placed me on top of a board And the sound of water above me began to clean me
وَأَسْكَبَ الماءَ مِنْ فَوقي وَغَسَّلَني غُسْلاً ثَلاثاً وَنَادَى القَوْمَ بِالكَفَنِ He poured the water on top of me and washed me.. Three times, before calling out to the people for the shroud..
وَأَلْبَسُوني ثِيابـاً لا كِمامَ لهـا وَصارَ زَادي حَنُوطِي حيـنَ حَنَّطَني They shrouded me in a sleeveless garment.. And my provisions became the embalmment in which they embalmed me
وأَخْرَجوني مِنَ الدُّنيـا فَوا أَسَفاً عَلى رَحِيـلٍ بِلا زادٍ يُبَلِّغُنـي They bore me towards my journey out of this world, oh how sorrowful! Will be this journey for which I have no provisions to take along with me
وَحَمَّلوني على الأْكتـافِ أَربَعَةٌ مِنَ الرِّجـالِ وَخَلْفِي مَنْ يُشَيِّعُني Upon their shoulders, they carried me, Four…. Men, and behind me are those who come to bid me farewell
وَقَدَّموني إِلى المحرابِ وانصَرَفوا خَلْفَ الإِمـَامِ فَصَلَّى ثـمّ وَدَّعَني They set me before the mihraab then turned away from me Behind the Imam they went and he prayed on me then bade me farewell
صَلَّوْا عَلَيَّ صَلاةً لا رُكوعَ لهـا ولا سُجـودَ لَعَلَّ اللـهَ يَرْحَمُني They prayed over me a prayer consisting of neither Rukoo’ (bowing) nor Sujood (prostration) Asking that Allah may have mercy upon me
وَأَنْزَلوني إلـى قَبري على مَهَلٍ وَقَدَّمُوا واحِداً مِنهـم يُلَحِّدُنـي They lowered me into my grave slowly And one of them came forward to place me in the Lahd
وَكَشَّفَ الثّوْبَ عَن وَجْهي لِيَنْظُرَني وَأَسْكَبَ الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنيهِ أَغْرَقَني He raised the garment from my face to gaze upon me And the tears spilt from his eyes awashing me
فَقامَ مُحتَرِمــاً بِالعَزمِ مُشْتَمِلاً وَصَفَّفَ اللَّبِنَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وفـارَقَني Then he stood, honouring me, firm and resolute And lined the bricks on my body then left me
وقَالَ هُلُّوا عليه التُّرْبَ واغْتَنِموا حُسْنَ الثَّوابِ مِنَ الرَّحمنِ ذِي المِنَنِ Then he stood, honoring me, firm and resolute And lined the bricks on my body then left me
في ظُلْمَةِ القبرِ لا أُمٌّ هنــاك ولا أَبٌ شَفـيقٌ ولا أَخٌ يُؤَنِّسُنــي In the darkness of the grave, no mother is there nor, Is there an affectionate father, or a brother to comfort me
فَرِيدٌ .. وَحِيدُ القبرِ، يــا أَسَفـاً عَلى الفِراقِ بِلا عَمَلٍ يُزَوِّدُنـي Alone….The only inhabitant of the Grave, oh how Sorrowful! Am I on parting the world bearing no deeds to provision me
وَهالَني صُورَةً في العينِ إِذْ نَظَرَتْ مِنْ هَوْلِ مَطْلَعِ ما قَدْ كان أَدهَشَني And a sight which beheld my eye struck terror into me From a place of terror it came and startled me..
مِنْ مُنكَرٍ ونكيرٍ مـا أَقولُ لهم قَدْ هــَالَني أَمْرُهُمْ جِداً فَأَفْزَعَني Munkar and Nakeer (Angels in Grave), what shall I say to them? The thought of them strikes terror into me, it causes me fear
وَأَقْعَدوني وَجَدُّوا في سُؤالِهـِمُ مَـالِي سِوَاكَ إِلهـي مَنْ يُخَلِّصُنِي And they made me to sit and put forth their questions I have none other than You now, O Lord to deliver me!
فَامْنُنْ عَلَيَّ بِعَفْوٍ مِنك يــا أَمَلي فَإِنَّني مُوثَقٌ بِالذَّنْبِ مُرْتَهــَنِ So bestow upon me from your mercy, O Lord; how I hope in You! For verily I am fettered in my sins, I am confined by them
تَقاسمَ الأهْلُ مالي بعدما انْصَرَفُوا وَصَارَ وِزْرِي عَلى ظَهْرِي فَأَثْقَلَني The relatives have divided my wealth amongst them after leaving me And my sins are now upon my back, burdening me
واستَبْدَلَتْ زَوجَتي بَعْلاً لهـا بَدَلي وَحَكَّمَتْهُ فِي الأَمْوَالِ والسَّكَـنِ My wife has taken another husband in my place And she has appointed him as overseer over my wealth and my home
وَصَيَّرَتْ وَلَدي عَبْداً لِيَخْدُمَهــا وَصَارَ مَـالي لهم حـِلاً بِلا ثَمَنِ She has made my children into servants to bid unto her needs And my wealth has become to them a worthless means of enjoyment
فَلا تَغُرَّنَّكَ الدُّنْيــا وَزِينَتُها وانْظُرْ إلى فِعْلِهــا في الأَهْلِ والوَطَنِ So let not this world and its adornments deceive you And look at its (evil) effects in your family and homeland
وانْظُرْ إِلى مَنْ حَوَى الدُّنْيا بِأَجْمَعِها هَلْ رَاحَ مِنْها بِغَيْرِ الحَنْطِ والكَفَنِ And look at the one who collects the wealth of this dunya (life in this world) in abundance Will he depart from this world bearing other than the death shroud and embalmment?
خُذِ القَنـَاعَةَ مِنْ دُنْيَاك وارْضَ بِها لَوْ لم يَكُنْ لَكَ إِلا رَاحَةُ البَدَنِ Take from the dunya (worldly life) that which suffices you and be content with that Even if you were to have nothing but good health
يَـا زَارِعَ الخَيْرِ تحصُدْ بَعْدَهُ ثَمَراً يَا زَارِعَ الشَّرِّ مَوْقُوفٌ عَلَى الوَهَنِ O you who sow good, you will reap the fruit of your efforts O you who sow evil you will find yourselves overcome with grief
يـَا نَفْسُ كُفِّي عَنِ العِصْيانِ واكْتَسِبِي فِعْلاً جميلاً لَعَلَّ اللهَ يَرحَمُني O soul of mine, abstain from sinning and attain instead Deeds which are beautiful, for which Allah may be merciful towards me
يَا نَفْسُ وَيْحَكِ تُوبي واعمَلِي حَسَناً عَسى تُجازَيْنَ بَعْدَ الموتِ بِالحَسَنِ O soul of mine, woe upon you! Turn towards your Lord in repentance, and do that which is good So that you will be recompensed after your death with that which is delightful
ثمَّ الصلاةُ على الْمُختـارِ سَيِّدِنـا مَا وَضّـأ البَرْقَ في شَّامٍ وفي يَمَنِ Lastly sending prayers upon the Chosen One, our Sayyid (leader) Of that which the light has lit up in Shaam and in Yemen
Are you always Politically Correct in what you say? Meaning do you refer a bum as a 'displaced homeowner' or a blind person as a 'visually challenged' person? Or am I the only one who mostly calls a spade a spade?
"Politically Correct" According to wiki (well they have referenced it to a book so it's not the work of a 12 year old kid): Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, handicap, and age-related contexts. In current usage, the terms are often used to connote intolerance, while the usage politically incorrect has been used by some as an implicitly positive self-description.
Some examples Say no to fat, say yes to "horizontally challenged" Say no to thin, say yes to "horizontally challenged"
Say no to tall, say yes to "vertically challenged" Say no to short, say yes to "vertically challenged" Say no to midget, say yes to "vertically challenged"
In the US, say no to black, say yes to "African American" In the US, say no white, say yes to "Caucasian" In the US, say no to Indian, say yes to "native American" In the UK, say no to Paki, say yes to "Pakistani"
Nobody likes racism I see the point in many cases. Racism exists and racism is a disease. In the UK, the word 'Paki' has been misused so much so that you can't call a Paki a Paki anymore. This Prince whatever got into quite a mess for using this 'Paki' word. And it makes sense.
The funny thing is when Indians or Bengalis get called 'Pakis' by the Caucasians (trying to be politically correct here!). If one knows it, the Southern part of India (Tamil Nadu, etc) and Srilanka demographically have darker skin colour than the northern part of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. When a Tamil gets called a Paki (and it happened to my Tamil colleague), it gets strangely hilarious. It's like calling Caucasian Brits as Polish! Imagine a White bloke saying to a South Indian "Go home, Paki" to which the South Indian replies "Get lost, you Polish freak". Nah, my South Indian colleague wasn't like this when he got called a Paki, but I have this phrase in my mind just in case I get called 'Paki' by a Caucasian Brit!
Similarly, everyone knows well the sensitivity regarding the word 'black' and 'nigger'. There's a lot of politically correct words these days to replace such words.
Nobody likes mockery Racism is the most common issue that initiated so many politically correct words today. However, people can get offended without having to resort to any racial terms.
Take 'fat' for example. A lot of fat kids in school are subject to bullying and harrassment due to the fact that they are overweight or sometimes obese. Now obesity can be a medical condition; it's not always down to eating shit loads of junk food. And grown-up fat people also get victimised by the 'physically fit' people regularly. Hence the politically correct word 'horizontally challenged'.
Similarly, midgets are to be called "vertically challenged", a ghetto area/neighbourhood is to be called "economically disadvantaged area".
Excuse my mind for thinking about this particular conversation - Person A: You live in a ghetto! Person B: No you twat, I live in an economically disadvantaged area.
Nobody likes insults Sister term for mockery really. A bum might feel insulted if you call him a bum, so call him a "homeless person". And don't call a lunatic a lunatic! Before you know it, he might turn you into a "physically challenged" person. Mentally ill is the politically correct word for a crazy person.
And there are many cultural terms as well, that are sometimes grouped into racial insults but they are usually used by people to refer to a person from their own race that they see as not 'culturally fit'. 'Fresh-off-the-boat (or FOB)' is one such word used in America to imply any immigrant and 'Freshie' is the corresponding word in England. The ironic thing is when third-generation immigrants use these words to new immigrants (or first-generation immigrants) that come in the land of opportunity for the same reason as their own forefathers. Try calling your dad a FOB and your mum a freshie next time!
"I'm not racist, I just don't like white people!" Haha that's a good one. I know some "Desi" people (South Asians) have this mentality and so do some black people. It is okay for an Indian to vote nobody but an Indian, or a black to vote for nobody but Obama, but it ain't okay for a white to vote a white!
You're just as racist as a white person who insults non-whites if you are a non-white person insulting a white.
Have you heard this phrase before? If you're a blog reader, then probably yes. But what does it mean literally and in essence?
Our/Their/My/Your Troop Who is the "our" here and which troop represents "us" here?
Let's start with the obvious one. "Our" is the US-UK population and the troop that represents "us" are the "American-British" troop in foreign lands. But has the other side of the coin ever crossed your mind?
That "our" means the Afghan/Palestine population and the troop that represents "us" are the "Taliban-Hamas" troop.
Or "our" meant the Cuban/Vietnamese population and the troop that represented "us" are the "Cuban-Vietnamese" troop.
Or "our" meant the Indian/Malaysian population and the troop that represented "us" are the "Indian/Malaysian" troop that drove the British out of their lands.
So who is "us" and what is "our troop"?
Still not clear? Maybe these two contrasting pictures would help or make it even more unclear:
Picture 1: Support Our Troops (Our = US army)
Picture 2: Support Our Troops (Our = Talibans in Afghanistan)
The US army/Talibans don't necessarily represent "us" A lot of stuff have been dedicated for "our" troops, claiming they represent "us". Music bands (like 3 Doors Down) and celebrities in general have gone platinum with their performance showing support for "our" troops. But do they really represent "us"?
Someone said, "Our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are not serving our country, they are serving Bush's stupid plans." And another said, "And I say that the Talibans are WITHOUT A DOUBT oppressors."
Don't forget the very truthful phrase: "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist".
And even if they represent "us" So what if they represent "us"? Do they represent justice and truth? Or do they represent torture, oppression and massacre?
Would the German population be correct if they were saying "Support Our Troops" in WWII? Is your support based on nationalistic and tribal grounds or is it out of justice and truth?
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 in India against the British forces, were known to the British as the "Great Mutiny", but to Indians as the "First War of Independence". Who was "our troop" there to be supported?
"Get out of America" It's quite sad and hilarious as well when some Americans, while supporting their troops blindly, throw this phrase to anybody who don't support "our (US)" troops. If that is not bigoted racism and nationalism, then what is? Thankfully, we have native Americans who beg to differ and don't support "their" troops if they are committing mass murders and rapes in the name of "war casualties".
Another braindead guy asked anybody not supporting US troops to stop "usual oil digging propaganda theories and killing of innocents" as a shield. This is the internet so I don't know who that braindead guy is; for all I know, he could be Lynndie England's high-school sweetheart.
Hitler and supporters of Hitler are in the making, with these foolish people, supporting "their" troops no matter how much oppression and genocide they are causing. We can all sing along "When I'm gone" as long as "I" is one of us.
I enjoy satirical shows where a lot of humour is presented by way of ironical statements. Here's one such script:
"You know, I'm a man who believes in the American dream. I-I really do. And that dream is I'm in charge, and if you don't like what I'm sayin', then I'm gonna make wisecracks a-and drop a bomb on 'ya. That's it! That for me is, the, uh, the American dream, OK? And maybe, our country oughta sing a song about it, and have me walk around in slow motion. That's the fully realized dream. You know, maybe then you could make a movie about me doin' that and we could do action figurines and then myself makin' a movie about blowin' the shit out of you while I make a wisecrack. That's the beauty of America. I'm allowed to dream! That's the dream! ... We'll be right-we'll be right here in the air conditioning, watching the news, and stewing over people like you who-who are trying to break into our houses, and trust me, you come into my house, buddy, you know there's gonna be, uh, uh, in store for a little double-barrelled surprise, OK? I will take you, and I will shoot a hole in you! And then I will torture you, and your family... for...freedom."
I'd really like to see the day when the oppressed people have the option to say what troop they want the rest of us, not being oppressed, to support. People like, the children of Gaza, as in here.
Enough of external news, let me share some insider news now. And let me first tell you that I am ashamed that such incidents happened and continue to happen in my culture, but when you are ingrained to understand something in a certain way, anything contradictory to it sounds odd and unacceptable. Try talking about the ill-effects of fornication and drinking to many Westerners and you would see how their minds are ingrained into thinking how right fornication and drinking is.
My uncles and aunts When you have the popular Indian culture with regards to dowry as defined here, being the parent of unmarried daughters is seen as a social burden. We have a local word for these parents, they are called "kanyadaygrosto pita" which translates into "father burdened with an unmarried daughter", and the social perception towards such fathers/mothers is not very pleasant.
My grandfather from my mother's side, has 8 daughters and 0 sons, meaning I have 7 maternal aunts and lots of cousins. My grandfather wasn't exactly the 'wealthy' person in society, and marrying off his daughters to good, respectable grooms (i.e. my uncles) seemed a mountainous task. I know many proposals that came to my younger aunts got turned down after the groom's family found out that my aunt's family is not rich enough, that they cannot make them 'happy' with the 'dowry gifts'.
My own mother, may Allah be kind to her always, also had to go through some of the ill-effects of dowry culture. A lot of times, it is the groom's family, who puts a lot of mental pressure to the bride and these things don't always come out because women in my society has the reputation of 'enduring social injustice' without complaining.
The opposite is true for my uncles who got married to outsider women, i.e. my aunts. Less than 10 years back I think, an uncle of mine got married and received plenty of 'gifts' including a car, a TV, new furnitures and stuff. Even then, my uncle's side complained that during the wedding feast (if I remember correctly), the bride family didn't make a good impression, and the car that they gave as a gift, was not the most pretty, newest model in the market.
Subsequent harrassment This is again untold stories in my culture. It gets leaked or gets out only when the harrassment reaches the extreme condition, like the ones mentioned in Part 2 and 3.
The husband or the family of the husband would remind the wife of her family's shortcomings during the wedding (i.e. the 'gifts') in every opportunity that arises.
Ponder O Muslims and humans! No wonder many women in my society now see 'Western' culture to be the liberating society for women, because back in her home, she is treated like a trash. No wonder they turn into Socialists, because Socialists and Human Rights organisations are the only heard voices in my society against such inhumane prejudice. No wonder many women in my society then links this behaviour from their husbands to Islam, this humiliation upon them as a product of Muslim culture.
Laa! Do not mix this with Islam. This is Hinduism and paganism. This is oppression.
Our Lord says (as translated): “…And live with them (the women) in kindness…” [Qur’aan an-Nisaa'4:19]
The Messenger of our Lord, peace and blessings be on him, said, "A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes something in her character, he would be pleased with some other trait of hers." (Saheeh Muslim)
And the Messenger said, "The most perfect of believers in faith is the best of them in character. And the best of you are those who are the best to their women." (Sunan at-Tirmidhee)
Ponder upon two more stories, and I am mentioning them both in one Part.
Monimala 'set afire for dowry,' fighting for life A young housewife, set afire allegedly by in-laws, is fighting for her life. The victim, Monimala, 20, got more than 40 percent of her body including face and chest burnt during the incident. Source
Newly married woman killed for dowry
A newly married woman was killed by her husband over dowry. The victim, Rozina Khatun, 18, got married only 20 days ago. But her husband Jahangir Khan tortured her regularly for dowry money after their marriage, the police said.
Failing to realise the dowry money, Jahangir beat up his wife and strangled her at his house at about 10:30pm on Thursday. Jahangir and all his family members went into hiding following the incident. Source
Dowry related deaths is one of the chief concerns in India, and guess who are most vocal against it? The Socialists. (Rising number of dowry deaths in India)
I wish the Muslims were more vocal than them and I wish the Muslims would raise their voice against the 'elderly scums' and Muslim terrorists oppressing my sisters. I can post news after news such as this and all of this is to illustrate one point and one point only: Dowry culture to groom is retardism and turns humans into animals.
Ponder upon this story and see if you are human enough to appreciate the inhumane characteristic of the perpetrators:
Parvin Khatun, 25, had both her hands amputated at wrists and made almost blind by a vicious bomb attack allegedly orchestrated by her husband and in-laws in October 2000, for dowry.
Just three months into Parvin's marriage with Mohammad Alamgir Hossain Tipu in April 2000, in exchange for a dowry of Tk 9,000 (£90), 1.25 bhoris of gold ornaments, and nine bhoris of silver ornaments, she was approached again by her husband and in-laws for more.
Her husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law pressed her to return to her parents and bring at least Tk 5,000 more, or nine pieces of corrugated tin, putting Parvin, who was only sixteen back then, in a very difficult situation.
Only three months ago, her father, Mohammad Abdul Alek, a day labourer, had to endure immense hardship to arrange a dowry for his daughter's wedding.
"I didn't know from where my father would get the extra amount. However I went to my parents, but returned empty handed two days later," Parvin said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I'm the only daughter with three sons in the family, and I could feel the pain of my parents and the brothers, who were feeling totally helpless," she added.
When Parvin tried to explain to her husband and the in-laws that her parents are too poor to meet their demand, her husband's entire family became furious. They started citing, day and night, examples of other families in the village who had received larger amounts of dowries.
One Saturday morning in October 2000, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law asked her to collect hay from the harvest of paddy, and pile them up in front of their house. As she gathered the hay, she found two neatly wrapped packets underneath.
"My mother-in-law and sister-in-law asked me to take the packets to my room and to open those. They ran out of the room, and I don't remember anything after that," Parvin said.
She was admitted to Rajshahi Sadar Hospital with horrendous injuries, where doctors amputated both of her hands from the wrists. She lost one of her eyes, and can hardly see with the other. She said all her body bears marks of injuries.
As usual a case was filed with Paba police station, which kept dragging on. At one point a village shalish (an unofficial court of village elders and influential people) 'settled the matter' by ordering her husband and his family to return the entire amount of dowry that Parvin's family had paid at the time her wedding, and granted her husband's family immunity from any punishment.
"They did return the dowry to my parents, but I got nothing. Now I'm struggling hard to live on as a handicapped person," Parvin sobbed. (Source)
Apart from the dowry related oppression, let me remind you that these 'village elders' are of similar cults as those scumbags that I mentioned here. And you can easily spot the trend with these cults: make an arbitration council, shame the victim, give respite to the criminal, and sometimes torture the victim even further. This is the type of cult that is existent in many parts of the world today, sadly. And when you hear or see a Muslim screaming against the oppressive Zionists and non-Muslim soldiers (as they should), please remind them to scream against these Muslim terrorists as well and not be biased against their Muslim sisters being tortured by animal-like Muslims, sometimes in the name of 'Islam'.
I'm me. I am just an average guy from an average neighbourhood. Nothing special, nothing extraordinary.
Read this for more information about myself and the blog: http://questionyoursoul.blogspot.com/p/me-and-my-blog.html
