Earth: a Planet for All
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
issue 8 vol.1 June 2013 Earth: a planet for all UK £3.00 And Muhammad(s) is His Last Messenger The Western Political Philosophy of Fear The Afterlife and the reality of our ephemeral existence Contents Politics 22 Dying in the land of Promises Masoud Tehrani on the concerns of ethnic Editorial team Turks in Germany following the break-up of a murderous neo-Nazi group Managing Director Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour June 2013 Chief Editor Amir De Martino Editorial 24 Aung San Suu Kyi and the Impera- Managing Editor Anousheh Mireskandari tive of Speaking Out Issue, 8 Vol, 1 Published Monthly 5 Education: Political Editor Reza Murshid Reza Murshid questions why Burma’s best islam today magazine intends to address the Freedom to the Family known pro-democracy activist has been concerns and aspirations of a vibrant Muslim Health Editor Laleh Lohrasbi conspicuously silent on the Rohingya News issue community by providing readers with inspiration, Art Editor Moriam Grillo information, a sense of community and solutions News from around the world On the Muslim Question Layout and Design Sasan Sarab - Michele Paolicelli 6 26 through its unique and specialised contents. It Mohsen Biparva reviews a new book also sets out to help Muslims and non-Muslims, Design and Production PSD UK Ltd. which argues that Europe’s current obses- Life & Community sion with its Muslim presence is more a further understand and appreciate the nature of reflection of its own anxieties that a true a dynamic faith. 10 Does Islam allow violence in representation of social relations marital life? Nehad Khanfar explains why the tradi- Feature tional interpretation of the term darb as (s) Contact us beating in verse 34 of chapter an-Nisaa’ 30 And Muhammad is His Last stands in opposition to the Quranic view Messenger of marriage as an institution aimed at On the auspicious anniversary of the Information [email protected] establishing a climate of stability and (s) Letters to the Editor [email protected] security for both parties beginning of the Prophet Muhammad’s mission Contributions and Submissions [email protected] 12 “Even unto China” Subscriptions [email protected] As access to information, data and knowledge becomes easier our ability 32 The Awaited One from www.islam-today.net to learn has also increased. Alexander Muhammad’s(s) progeny Khaleeli reflects on the impact that true knowledge should have on those who The belief in the coming of a Saviour to have acquired it spread peace and justice in a fallen world is common to all Abrahamic religions. Moving forward with RE Yasser Ahmed discusses his place and role 16 in Islamic eschatology Contributors A recent report highlighting a distinct lack of training and support for teachers When help arrives of RE in the UK is further evidence that 34 Ahmad Haneef Nadia Jamil our children’s education is being put at Batool Haydar reflects on the concept of risk, according to Tahereh Shafiee waiting for the Mahdi(a) and the transfor- Alexander Khaleeli Nehad Khanfar mation it should bring within ourselves Arts Ali Sadeq Tahereh Shafiee Cover 18 In the spotlight Batool Haydar Yasser Ahmed 36 Earth a planet for all Parviz Tanavoli; Iranian painter and Recent reports on the dwindling number Charles Mercieca sculptor of bees worldwide should be seen as an alarm bell by nature, argues Ali Sadeq Cleo Cantone Elham Ostad-Saffari 19 Masterpiece Frank Julian Gelli Farhad Moshiri; Drunken Lover – Jar painting; oil on canvas 2001 Ghazaleh Kamrani Opinion America’s Culture of Death Masoud Tehrani 40 20 The Place to Be Despite the American people’s goodwill and generosity towards others, the world Muhammad Haghir Changsha Mexihu International Cultural at large judges the USA by the murderous & Art Centre, Hunan Province, China Back Cover Mohsen Biparva policies of the few in government, says Charles Mercieca View of The Niujie Mosque, the largest mosque in Beijing. Built in 996 CE during the Liao Dynasty The Western Political Philosophy Heritage 44 Disclaimer: Where opinion is expressed it is that of the author and does not nec- 20 of Fear essarily coincide with the editorial views of the publisher or islam today. All infor- Mosque Lamp, 12th century: Syria, Raqqa Publisher: mation in this magazine is verified to the best of the authors’ and the publisher’s Muhammad Haghir finds a line of conti- Islamic Centre of England ability. However, islam today shall not be liable or responsible for loss or damage 21 Mixed Media nuity between classical western political arising from any users’ reliance on information obtained from the magazine. theory and the state of the current geopo- 140 Maida Vale ISSN Golnaz Fathi; painter and calligrapher litical climate London, W9 1QB - UK 2051-2503 Islamic Centre of England 2 3 Contents Editorial Faith What & Where 46 The Afterlife and the reality of our 66 Listings and Events ephemeral existence Friday Nights Thought Forum - Islamic Cheating death has been a constant Centre of England theme in human history. But as Ahmed Imam Khomeini Conference 2013 Haneef explains, Islam teaches us that we are not created for this earthly life The idea of ‘Islamic’ Education Facing up to the inevitable 50 The Future of Religious Minorities in the A personal reflection on death by Nadia Middle East…(Conference) Jamil Education: Annual Multi-faith Pilgrimage for Peace in Interfaith Hertfordshire Revival of the Sisterhood: Ramadhan 52 St Alban’s sacrifice: all for naught? Charity Dinner Freedom to the Family 22nd June marks the martyrdom Science, Scientism and the Challenge of anniversary of Britain’s first Christian Islam martyr who died in defence of Monothe- The Urban Muslim Woman Show ism. Revd Frank Gelli asks if Britain has returned to the old age of paganism worshipping a cluster of new gods. Summit to Eat; The Snowdon Challenge Science 2nd Global Halal Trade & Logistics Summit Of Mice & Men Sensing the Sacred: Religion and the he first fundamental objective ments should refrain from formulating because it emanates from a vision of 54 Senses, 1300 - 1800 Studies in comparative genomics are reveal- when discussing freedom of or advancing educational proposals faith supported by reason. Such a style ing important facts to advance our under- Shubbak Festival: Contemporary culture education is the recognition, based on party politics. It is not the could be defined by the use of two prin- from across the Arab world. standing of the relationship between humans both practical and formal, role of a government to educate but ciples: the primacy of the individual and and animals. Elham Ostad - Saffari explores Muslim Tribes and the War on Terror thatT the education of any person is to ensure that all its citizens can be the principle of subsidiarity. Within this the genetic makeup of both, questioning the validity of the assertion that humans evolved the responsibility of the family, just as educated. The position of governments framework the state acquires a supple- Seeds of Change: A Women’s conference from monkeys it has been since time immemorial. In and families in relation to education is mentary role, not one associated with a 56 Remembering through our nose Doing Business in the Middle East order to ensure that such recognition essentially different. While the family is heavy footprint in the social aspects of is genuine and not only empty words, originally and internally involved, the life, but one in which it must promote Listed among the human senses, olfaction has a multiplicity of functions. Ghazaleh the presence of three interdependent state’s involvement should be purely those fundamental anthropological Kamrani explains how our sense of smell elements is necessary. supplementary and external. structures such as marriage and family is at the heart of remembering and emo- that form the foundation of society. tion The first element is that freedom of The fundamental means for the state to education must be real; this means that fulfil its duty is the institution of a scho- In reality the crisis in education reflects Health every family must have the concrete lastic system that is efficient and well a larger problem in the social structure 58 Cancer Update possibility of educating its children organised. As the state does not have of our society. according to the particular worldview it its own “educational proposal” - and it Dr Laleh Lohrasbi reviews a number of Within the programmes of reforms of developments in the fight against different considers true. However this freedom shouldn’t - it is the school that we must the so called “welfare state”, the most type of cancers. cannot exist without the full and neces- invest with full autonomy and educa- efficient, less costly choice to help face sary recognition of the autonomy of tional freedom. It is necessary that this the current difficulties is the full and 60 Human body parts; schools. Any discussion about educa- educative dimension of the school be substantial recognition of the family in Natural regeneration or artificial tion without such recognition has little clearly highlighted and centred around its individual innate roles; first of all, the Glossary of Islamic Symbols technology meaning. It is necessary that the family the individual acknowledgment of the role to educate. This is what is meant by The letters [swt] after the name of Allah [swt] (God), stand for be recognised as the real interlocutor of family as the direct interlocutor of the the Arabic phrase ‘organic’. This is the real challenge that the school. school. governments must face up to. Fighting the killer mosquitoes subhanahu wa-ta’ala meaning: “Glorious and exalted be He”. 61 The second fundamental element for The third fundamental element that The letter [s] after the name of the Prophet Muhammad[s], The solution could be to have institu- the promotion of a free education is a can ensure the realisation of the above Places stands for the Arabic phrase sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, tional and structural programmes that meaning: “May Allah bless him and grant him peace”.