Abrar A bi-monthly newsletter published by the Abrar Islamic Foundation

45 CrawfordEdior: Place, DrLondon Saeed W!H Shehabi 4LP A bi-monthly newsletter Tel:Published 020 7724 by the 3033 45Fax: Crawford 020 7724 Place, 7219 LondonEmail: W1H 4LP Vol 16, No 17 (377) 1st-15th March 2020 [email protected] Tel: 020Website: 7724 3033 Rajab; the month to enhance spiritual development www.abrar.org.uk When God Almighty legislated worship one of gained the respect of Mohammad, his love and Email: the aims is to lift the humans to higher stand- his approval. Ali was declared the truthful suc- abrarhouse ards of inner purity and deeper level of faith. cessor to Mohammad and would have been his @hotmail.com Knowing God is the first step on the road of choice to lead the Ummah after Mohammad's Website perfection. However the material temptations departure from this world. The special relation- www.abraronline.net have always hindered this path and rendered ship that had developed over the course of the Charity no. 293802 man incapable of overcoming evil intentions revelation meant that Ali would be the most and desires. Within the Islamic faith God desig- eligible for the post of Mohammad’s successor. nated regular periodic stations to enable deep- But this did not happen. The spirituality of Ali er spirituality through worship. The month of surpassed expectations. Sufis view him as the Rajab (the seventh in the Islamic hijri calendar) source of their spirituality and God-fearing We stand for: is one of the sacred months during which the relations with the Almighty. Yet he was hard- faithful have been called to observe deeper working earning the necessities of life through • Inter-faith and inter- spirituality and perform more prayers. The hard labour. Even when he became Caliph his civilisational dialogue balance between the inner and outer of man life style remained simple. He was companion must be maintained in order to achieve perfec- of the poor, the dispossessed and the faithful. • Respect for the human tion and enable the soul to ascend to higher In a world of enormous material complexities, race and rights degrees of real faith. the existence of periodic "training" in spirituali- The most important event in Rajab is the birth ty and deep faith is a great help to those look- • Cooperation for the anniversary of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb, Moham- ing for salvation and aspiring to rise up to the good of people mad's cousin, sincere companion and Son-in- level of the prophets, Imams and saints. The • Moderation Law. Mohammad is the best man ever created, endeavour to achieve this must not obscure according the Muslim faith. He attained the the need to enhance the day-to-day welfare • Modernity highest degree of morality as clearly specified and life necessities. Imam Ali, whose birth an- by the holy Quran: "Surely you have the high- niversary falls on 13th of Rajab has urged that • High standards of est of morals". Before he was chosen for people work hard for this life as if they are spirituality prophethood, to become the seal of the proph- eternal, and work to the hereafter as if they ets, he had practiced spirituality for years, wor- will die tomorrow. The balance between the shipping and contemplating at the Cave of two targets is hard, but people with deep faith, Hiraa on the outskirts of Mecca. It was there awareness and dedication can achieve it. Main- In this issue that Angel Gabriel talked to him and delivered taining a balanced code of existence is hard, the divine message to Mohammad. He was but is achievable through self-control. True chosen by Allah Almighty to deliver the mes- worship helps transform the person to another Local Events 2 sage to the people. His pre-Islamic worship had level of self-perfection. It leads him/her to pos- cleansed him and prepared him to the burden sess deep insight into life, its complexities and Muslim Affairs 3 of delivering the message of Islam that would an ability to resist evil. Real worship transforms reach to the most remote corners of the world. the person and cleanse the soul. The next Ibn Yahya al-Maghribi Morality, spirituality and truthfulness made three lunar months provide the opportunity to Al-Samawal Mohammad the ideal man to represent God on start practicing real worship in conjunction 4 this earth. with deep contemplation in the holy Quran. Let

UN Chief: Islamopho- Ali had been a faithful student of Mohammad, us not miss it. bia is intolerable 5 learning greatly from him and offering him his deepest respect, support and love. As Ali ob-

served gradual spiritual transformation, he was UK: Islamic marriages 6 exercising full control over his self. He said: It is NOT legally binding my soul that I tame with piety". He was infatu- ated by Mohammad's character; embracing his Story: Faith is Islamic message and emulating him in real life. the cure for fear 8 Ali thus became the most trusted companion of Mohammad. This fact created internal divi- sion among the Muslims especially after the departure of Prophet Mohammad. As the strongest and most loyal knight of Islam, Ali Page 2 Local Events

Puritanism in the West Bush titled: Mohammad the founder of delivered. The aim of the human be- Muslims Empire, the Saracins". This ings is to achiever perfection. To Abrar's weekly meeting on Thursday book is preserved at the Congress. This achieve this, God gave us human mani- 20th February was addressed by Mrs implies recognition of its main content festation of this perfection, who en- Maryam Al Rufai'ei who presented a that unless the Muslim Empire was de- deavoured to guide us on the way to discussion on the a Christian school of stroyed the Jews would not have the achieve that. Fatima is one of those thought that has attracted controversy chance to return to the land of their examples. Modern day women face and caused discord. Puritanism has grandfathers. The book also described challenges at all levels; the need proper beacon embodied by the current US Mohammad in the most derogatory terms guidance to enable hem overcome the president who adopts Nitche's theory arguing that he used the sword to spread obstacles. They need to perform their that the great nation can only built by Islam. When Puritanism took root in duties satisfactorily as wives, mothers force. Nitche's famous saying: God Britain in the 16th century, especially daughters or social activists. To emu- has died, be careful of the state ap- during the era of Queen Elizabeth 1558- late the Prophet’s daughter is to make pears to contradict the Michavillian 1603 its followers increased and they real headway in life, with successes, approach of adopting both; if one fails had their own independent church, sepa- piety and happiness that other is ready. In today's political rate from that of the Archbishop of Can- A special poem was recited by Sahar world, attempts are made to kill God terbury. . They called for the cleansing of Al Khafagi. when the plan to exterminate races the Catholic church in the fields of be- failed. It is a return to the human ap- lief, rituals and the Christian bodies. Eva forum event on Fatima proaches which had caused human Their demands were rejected because misery throughout the ages, Although they were considered extremist. They The Eva Forum to empower Muslim the US claims to be a secular state then entered into a harsh struggle with Women marked the birth anniversary some thinkers like Michael and Julia the British throne. The Queen issued of Sayeda Fatima with a poweful pro- Corbett who are specialists in reli- decrees to punish them. Some of them grammed on Sunday 16th February. gious sociology prove that Puritanism were tried for heresy and treason. After The programme consisted of several is the pillar of the American politics. her death, King James the first continued parts; a welcoming speech by the or- We believe that civil society has al- to reject their demands. They wanted: the ganisers, followed a short speech by ways existed within the Islamic tradi- rituals at the Anglican church be aban- Mrs Nahad Al Sadah about the life and tions. But the civil society that the doned as they are not mentioned in the significance of Sayed Fatima. She urge Western world adopts aims at con- Holy Script, abandoning the cross in the the young generation to take her as a vincing Muslims that the problem is in Christendom and the holy shroud be- role model. A special song was pre- religion not the state. Erasing God is cause it was a fable, prostrating when formed by school children on the occa- not confined to Nitche's theory but is Jesus's name was mentioned, the recita- sion. A workshop on the role of women deeply rooted in the puritan Protes- tion of the holy book in the church only, in running an effective household, giv- tantism or the Christian Zionism. Prot- Abandoning the exchange of rings in ing husbands the necessary support and estantism is the largest religious de- marriage ceremonies as this was outside encouragement while conducting fami- nomination in the US with 62 percent religious teachings and abandoning the ly affairs such as brining up the chil- of the population following it. It was traditions by the priests of the Anglican dren. This was conducted by Maryam established at the hands of Martin church on Sunday like dancing and other Al Jaffaari. More songs were per- Luther King and Calvin. It was a re- movements. And abandoning the hierar- formed by girls to mark the birth anni- form movement in the 16th century chical structure especially the archbish- versary of Fatima. A traditional recita- with the aim of reforming the Catholic op's position. This pressure under Queen tion of the story of the birth was recited Church but it took a sharp turn to- Elizabeth and King James forced the by women. More songs and chants wards extremism to the extent that its puritans to migrate to Holland but the were recited. followers were called the puritans. bad economic situation there forced them A competition was also held with five Martin Luther King himself believed to go to America. The first ship named questions to be answered by the audi- that Mohammad was the Dajjal and "Mayflower" anchored in 1620. There ence. The winners were given prizes. that both Islam and the Pope were they established their rituals and consid- An auction of art work was also orga- essentially enemies of Christ and the ered the Atlantic as Sinai. nized in which several items like paint- Church. While Islam represented the ings, jewelry donated by people and body of the Dajjal, the Pope was his Fatima Al Zahra’s birth advent other items were auctioned. The reve- head. He also criticised the Quran and nue was donated to the orphans. described it as lies and fables. He The birth anniversary of Fatima Al Zah- Five participants entered the cake mak- urged Christian priests to highlight the ra, Mohammad's daughter was held by ing competition. Winners were also "crimes" of Mohammad so that the Abrar on Thursday 13th February. A given prizes. Chritians became deeper enemies of speech by Mrs Fatima Al Halwachi on The event was then ended with dinner Islam. The fifth grandfather of George the life and symbolism of Fatima was for more than 150 participants. Muslim affairs Page 3

German gunman kills nine in the false issue and the Christians and curity, has spoken in public about the attack on migrant bars Muslims need solidarity to thwart their Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Trump conspiracy. announced the plan on Jan. 28. Dhoey said that the Christians and the Muslims make up for more than half of Fear of coronavirus pandemic the population of the world and they are grows but China eases curbs responsible to create cultural and politi- cal atmosphere for unity for fighting Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew Takfiri and racist ideologies. after sharp rises in new cases reported He said the wave of Takfir and racism is in Iran, Italy and South Korea but China a big threat. The only way is to have relaxed restrictions on movements in peaceful coexistence, in which our fore- several places including Beijing as its fathers did better. They didn’t just talk; rates of new infections eased. they took actions in that way. The surge of infections outside main- A gunman with suspected far-right links He added that one cultural organization land China triggered steep falls in Asian shot dead nine people, some of them should be established to counter Israel shares and Wall Street stock futures as migrants from Turkey, in an rampage and the Deal of the Century. Weapons investors fled to safe havens such as through a German city before killing are not enough to fight the Zionists. gold. Oil prices tumbled and the Korean himself, officials said. He said the two big Abrahamic religions won fell to its lowest since August. Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned should expand the culture of dialog to The Geneva-based World Health Or- the attack on two shisha bars in Hanau, solve the existing issues. ganization (WHO) said it no longer had near Frankfurt. She told reporters it ap- He commended Iranian culture, saying a process for declaring a pandemic but peared to have been motivated by the that Iran is culturally and historically the coronavirus outbreak remained an “poison” of racism that was to blame for rich country. international emergency. “We are spe- “too many crimes”, as Turkish officials "The Zionists want to make people cially concerned about the rapid in- called on her government to respond afraid of Iran. I'm a Christian and when I crease in cases in ... Iran, Italy and the robustly. visited Iran, everyone respected me." Republic of Korea,” WHO head Tedros The presumed killer was a 43-year-old Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news German man who held a firearms licence Pope gives thumbs down to conference in Sweden via video link. and was a member of a gun club. Trump's Mideast peace plan “The number of cases in those countries Police chased a car used to leave the sce- has increased significantly in the last ne of one shooting to its owner’s address, Pope Francis two to three days.” where they found his body and that of his warned against South Korea reported 231 new cases 72-year-old mother, said Peter Beuth, “inequitable solu- taking its total to 833, as its hard-hit interior minister of Hesse state, where tions” to the Israeli fourth-largest city of Daegu became Hanau is located. -Palestinian con- more isolated with Asiana Airlines and Federal prosecutors said they had taken flict, saying they Korean Air suspending flights there charge of the case due to its likely ex- would only be a until next month. Iran which announced tremist motive, and newspaper Bild said prelude to new its first two cases on Wednesday, said it the suspect had expressed far-right views crises, in an appar- had confirmed 43 cases and eight in a written confession. ent reference to deaths. Most of the infections were in In shisha bars, customers share flavoured U.S. President the Shi’ite Muslim holy city of Qom. tobacco from a communal hookah, or Donald Trump’s More cases appeared in the Middle East water pipe. In Western countries, they Middle East peace proposal. with Bahrain reporting its first case, the are often owned and operated by people Francis made his comments in the south- state news agency said, and Kuwait from the Middle East or South Asia, ern Italian port city of Bari, where he reporting three cases involving people where use of the hookah is a centuries- travelled to conclude a meeting of bish- who had been in Iran. old tradition. ops from all countries in the Mediterra- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, nean basin. Pakistan and Afghanistan imposed trav- Muslims, Christians should “The Mediterranean region is currently el and immigration restrictions on Iran. unite to counter Israeli threats threatened by outbreaks of instability But Afghanistan reported its first case and conflict, both in the Middle East and on Monday, in the western border prov- A Lebanese priest different countries of North Africa, as ince of Herat, again involving someone said on Saturday that well as between various ethnic, religious who had recently been in Iran, officials the Zionist regime is a or confessional groups,” Francis said. said. The WHO has been saying for major threat to the “Nor can we overlook the still unre- weeks it dreads the disease reaching region and the Mus- solved conflict between Israelis and Pal- countries with weak health systems. lims and Christians estinians, with the danger of inequitable Europe’s biggest outbreak is in Italy need to counter the solutions and, hence, a prelude to new with some 150 infections - from just Israeli threats. crises,” he said. three before Friday - and a fourth death. Antoine Dhoey said The participants included Archbishop in an exclusive inter- Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of the view with IRNA in Beirut that Israel and Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, whose its western and eastern allies embarked jurisdiction includes Israel, the Palestini- on propaganda campaign against Iran an territories and Jordan. and Muslims accusing them of threats to It was believed to be the first time the the Middle East peace and security. pope, who has often defended both Pal- Reverend Dhoey said that Tel Aviv and estinian rights and Israel’s need for se- its media are attacking Muslims using Page 4 Great personalities

Ibn Yahya al-Maghribi Al-Samawal Born: about 1130 in Baghdad, Iraq deed this is a fair description of the work he 2 based on his result for n = 1, then prove Died: about 1180 in Maragha, Iran was undertaking. In the first book of the al- the case n = 3 based on his result for n = Al-Samawal's father was Abul-Abbas Bahir he defines powers x, x2, x3, ... , x-1, x 2, and carry on to around n = 5 before Yahya al-Maghribi, a Jewish scholar of -2, x-3, ... . After defining polynomials, al- remarking that one can continue the pro- religion and literature. Abul-Abbas was Samawal describes addition, subtraction, cess indefinitely. Although this is not born in Fez in Morocco and later moved to multiplication and division of polynomials. induction proper, it is a major step to- Baghdad where he was living at the time He also gave methods for the extraction of wards understanding inductive proofs. We of al-Samawal's birth. Al-Samawal's moth- the roots of polynomials. should also comment that he was not the er, Anna Isaac Levi, had moved from Bas- Al-Samawal could not have described arith- first to use this form of recursive reason- ra in Iraq. Certainly al-Samawal was metic operations on powers of the unknown ing, since al-Karaji had used similar brought up in a family where learning was without having developed an understanding methods. The result in Book 2 which al- highly valued and the first topic which of negative numbers. He had refined the Samawal himself was most proud of (and interested him was medicine. Perhaps the ideas of his predecessors into a form which rightly so) is main attraction of this topic came from the would not be given by European mathemati- 12 + 22 + 32 + ... + n2 = n(n + 1)(2n + fact that he had an uncle who was a medi- cians until many centuries later. He also 1)/6 cal doctor. used 0 in his calculations writing:- which does not appear in earlier texts. At about the same time as he began to If we subtract a positive number from an Book 3 contains a description of how to study medicine, al-Samawal also began to empty power, the same negative number carry out arithmetic with irrational num- study mathematics. He was about thirteen remains. bers. It follows Book X of years old when he began serious study, By this al-Samawal Euclid's Elements and, alt- beginning with Hindu methods of calcula- meant, in modern hough a very fine exposition tion and a study of astronomical tables. notation, of these ideas, contains little Baghdad at this time was not a great centre 0 - a = -a. that is original. One result for mathematical learning, and al-Samawal He continued: here which again particularly had soon mastered all the mathematics ... if we subtract the pleased al-Samawal was his which his teachers knew. These teachers negative number calculation of how to ration- had covered topics including an introduc- from an empty alise √30/(√2 + √5 + √6). Al- tion to surveying, elementary algebra, and power, the same Karaji had failed to solve the geometry of the first few books of positive number this problem, which explains Euclid's Elements. remains. why al-Samawal was partic- In order to take his mathematical studies Again in modern notation this is 0 - (-a) = a. ularly pleased to solve it. [My computer further, al-Samawal had to study on his Multiplication of negative numbers was also algebra package saves me having to do own. He read the works of Abu Kamil, al- completely understood by al-Samawal. He the thinking al-Samawal had to do and Karaji and others so that by the time he wrote [3]:- gives (5√6 + 2√5 + 6√15 - 20√2)/13.] was eighteen years old he had read almost ... the product of a negative number by a The final book of al-Bahir contains an all the available mathematical literature. positive number is negative, and by a nega- interesting example of a problem in com- The work which most impressed him was tive number is positive. binatorics, namely to find ten unknowns that of al-Karaji, yet he found himself less In Book 2 of al-Bahir al-Samawal describes given the 210 equations which give their than completely satisfied with it and began the theory of quadratic equations but, rather sums taken 6 at a time. Of course such a to work out improvements for himself. His surprisingly, he gave geometric solutions to system of 210 equations need not be con- most famous treatise al-Bahir fi'l-jabr, these equations despite algebraic methods sistent and al-Samawal gave the 504 con- meaning The brilliant in algebra, was writ- having been fully described by al- ditions which are necessary for the system ten when al-Samawal was only nineteen Khwarizmi, al-Karaji, and others. Al- to be consistent. In Book 4 al-Samawal years old. It is a work of great importance Samawal also described the solution of in- also classifies problems into necessary both for the original ideas which it con- determinate equations such as finding x so problems, namely ones which can be tains and also for the information that it that a xn is a square, and finding x so that solved; possible problems, namely ones records concerning works by al-Karaji axn + bxn-1 is a square. Also in this book is where it is not known whether a solution which are now lost. al-Samawal's description of the binomial can be found or not, and impossible prob- The al-Bahir was published in an edition theorem where the coefficients are given by lems which [3]:- with notes and an introduction in [2]. De- the Pascal triangle. The method is attributed ... if one could assume the existence of tails of the work are also given in [3] and by al-Samawal to al-Karaji and provides the their solution, this existence would lead to [4]. The treatise consists of four books: (1) only surviving account of this remarkable an absurdity. On premises, multiplication, division and work. After writing the al-Bahir al-Samawal extraction of roots, (2) On extraction of Perhaps one of the most remarkable travelled in many countries including unknown quantities, (3) On irrational mag- achievements appearing in Book 2 is al- Iraq, Syria, Kohistan (a mountainous area nitudes, and (4) On classification of prob- Samawal's use of an early form of induc- in Pakistan and Afghanistan) and Azer- lems. tion. What he does is to demonstrate an baijan (northwestern of Iran). We know Al-Samawal's predecessors had begun to argument for n = 1, then prove the case n = from his own writings that he was in Ma- develop what has been called by historians ragheh in Azerbaijan on 8 November today the "arithmetisation of algebra". In 1163, for on that date al-Samawal made a fact al-Samawal was the first to give this commitment to the faith of Islam. This development a precise description when he decision was not taken without a great wrote that it was concerned (see for exam- deal of thought by al-Samawal. He had ple [3] or [4]):- put much effort into testing the validity of ... with operating on unknowns using all the claims made by the major religions the arithmetical tools, in the same way as and he reports that on 8 November 1163 the arithmetician operates on the known. he decided that Islam was the most satis- This will strongly suggest to mathemati- factory. He wrote a work Decisive refuta- cians today that al-Samawal was develop- tion of the Christians and Jews which has ing the study of polynomial rings and in- survived. Open Forum Page 5

Islamophobia absolutely intolerable: UN Sec Gen Pakistan PM urges the world to become voice of resilient Kashmiri women

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday urged the world communi- ty, especially women, to become the voice of resilient Kashmiri women for peace in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). On his Twitter account, the prime minister referred to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Pakistan to continue playing its pivotal observance of Guterres says the phenomenon of Islam- role in sustainable peace in the neighbor- Kashmir Women ophobia is absolutely intolerable. ing country. Resistance Day Addressing a joint news conference along Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood on February 23 with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Qureshi on the occasion said we have to and said for sev- Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad on Sun- agree on a time-bound roadmap for re- en decades, Indi- day, he said we need to fight Islamophobia patriation of Afghan refugees, supported an forces had committed war crimes very strongly. by the international community. He said against women in the IOJ&K. He add- “Islamophobia is absolutely intolerable Pakistan has always supported peace and ed that their sufferings have multiplied like any other form of intolerance that we reconciliation in Afghanistan as it be- after 5th August siege by the Modi’s see today,” he said. lieves that peace in the neighboring government. He added that hate speech is the most im- country will improve regional stability. The Kashmiri Women Resistance Day portant instrument of Islamophobia. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan is was observed to remember the iconic “We are totally committed in our actions a responsible member of the UN and struggle of the survivors of mass rape around the world to fight against all kinds there is a lot of two-way cooperation and torture in the twin villages of of populism that tried to use Islamophobia between the two. He said we are commit- IOJ&K; Kunan and Poshpora during and other forms of hatred as a tool…this is ted to the principles and values of the 1991 against the brutal and illegal oc- unacceptable and against all democratic UN charter. He said we support multilat- cupation of Indian forces. principles,” said Antonio Guterres. eralism instead of unilateralism. He said we have taken a solid position for the UN Security Council resolutions to be Ibn Yahya al-Maghribi Al-Samawal Cont from Page 4 adopted and offered our good offices for Of course al-Samawal's father, being particular al-Samawal shows that he is resolving issues between Pakistan and Jewish, would have found his son's con- interested in the psychological aspects of India if both sides agree. version to Islam a painful experience and disease. His remedy for depression is:- He said the UN was deeply concerned al-Samawal, not wishing to hurt his fa- ... well-lighted houses, the sight of run- over the tensions between India and Paki- ther, delayed his conversion for four ning water and verdure, warm baths and stan last year and asked both sides for self- years. After this time al-Samawal wrote music. restraint, as dialogue and diplomacy are to his father setting out his reasons for Most of the works of al-Samawal have the only ways to solve the problems. changing his religion from the Jewish not survived, but he is reported to have He said Pakistan is a responsible member faith to Islam. At this time the much trav- written 85 books or articles. Some other of the UN and it will be fully supported in elled al-Samawal was in Aleppo, in of al-Samawal's mathematical writings dispensing its responsibilities. northern Syria, and his father set out at have survived but these are elementary The UN Chief said his visit to Pakistan is once to see him on receiving the letter. works of relatively little importance. to acknowledge the great generosity and However, al-Samawal's father died on the They contain work on fractions with hospitality that Pakistan extended to Af- journey before seeing his son. examples such as showing how to ex- ghan refugees for over forty years, despite We mentioned that al-Samawal was press 80/(3 × 7 × 9 × 10) as the sum of its limited resources and challenges. trained in medicine in his youth. In fact fractions with numerators 1. He gives Hailing the contributions of Pakistan in he practised his medical skills on his 80/(3 × 7 × 9 × 10) = 1/(3 × 10) + 1/(3 × UN peacekeeping operations around the journeys and became quite famous for 7 × 9) + 1/(3 × 9 × 10) world, he said Pakistani men and women this expertise in this area. Several rulers, The work here is carried out using the are serving with full dedication and com- always keen to have the best possible sexagesimal system, showing that, alt- mitment to promote the values of the UN. doctors, became patients of al-Samawal. hough mathematicians of this period The UN Secretary-General said Pakistan's He relates in his writings that he devel- favoured the decimal system, commer- efforts against terrorism are commendable oped some medicines which were almost cial use still favoured the sexagesimal and very successful. He said due to these miraculous cures. Unfortunately, no de- system. Al-Samawal's elementary texts efforts, now Islamabad has become a safe tails of these have survived. were clearly teaching books. family station for UN staff. The only medical work by al-Samawal Another of al-Samawal's surviving On the Afghan situation, he said political which has survived is essentially a sex works is The exposure of the errors of solution and a permanent ceasefire are the manual which includes many erotic sto- the astrologers which, as the title sug- only ways forward to durable peace in ries. The work exhibits the fact that al- gests, argues against the scientific value Afghanistan which will foster the repatria- Samawal was a good scientific observer of astrology. The introduction to this tion process of Afghan refugees. He urged in his descriptions of various diseases. In work has been translated into English. Page 6 Women issues Judges reject bid to make Islamic marriages legally binding Maya Oppenheim, The Independent The judgment added that it is “not difficult “This means that many have absolutely A bid to make religious marriages legally for parties who want to be legally married no rights at the end of what they believe binding in the UK has been rejected by to achieve that status”. to be their ‘marriage’. No rights to assets judges, dashing the hopes of campaigners Master of the rolls Sir Terence Etherton, in the husband’s sole name, and no rights who say women are left penniless with no who looked at the case with two other to maintenance, even if, as with Ms Akh- support after the break- judges, argued the nikah ter, they were married for 18 years.” up of sharia unions. was a “non-qualifying” Southall Black Sisters, a group Campaigners claimed ceremony. Announcing the that supports black and minority ethnic the landmark judgment, court’s decision, he said: women, intervened in the case, believing handed down at “The parties were not mar- it to have critical significance for wider the Court of Appeal on rying ‘under the provi- society. Friday 14th February, sions’ of English law. Pragna Patel, the organisation’s director, could have “profoundly “The ceremony was not said: “Today’s judgment will force Mus- discriminatory conse- performed in a registered lim and other women to turn to sharia quences” for women and building. Moreover, no ‘courts’, which already cause significant upholds an antiquated system of marriage. notice had been given to the superinten- harm to women and children, for reme- The Court of Appeal overturned a family dent registrar, no certificates had been dies because they are now locked out of court judge’s decision that a woman was issued, and no registrar or authorised per- the civil justice system. entitled to apply for maintenance pay- son was present at the ceremony. “What we are seeing is the outsourcing of ments from her estranged husband despite “Further, the parties knew that the ceremo- justice on family matters to unaccounta- the fact they were not legally married. ny had no legal effect and that they would ble and fundamentalist-inspired commu- The attorney general had appealed the need to undertake another ceremony that nity-based systems of religious arbitra- ruling. did comply with the relevant requirements tion. This is not about recognising reli- Nasreen Akhter had a nikah, an Islamic in order to be validly married. gious marriages, it is about the state guar- marriage ceremony, that led to “The determination of whether a marriage anteeing equality to all before the law.” a Muslim marriage contract between her- is void or not cannot, in the court’s view, A 2017 poll found almost all married self and Mohammed Khan. The couple be dependent on future events, such as the Muslim women in the UK had had were married for 18 years and have four intention to undertake another ceremony or a nikah, while nearly two-thirds had not children together. whether there are children.” also had a civil ceremony. Ms Akhter, a 47-year-old solicitor, said Charles Hale QC, a senior family law bar- In 2018, a Home Office- she was keen to have a civil marriage and rister who represented another woman commissioned review into the application presumed it was on the cards, but her seeking a divorce following an Islamic of sharia law reached the view that Mus- husband refused. She alleges their rela- marriage, criticised Friday’s ruling. lims in the UK should undergo a civil tionship ended after he said he wanted to He argued it would lead to women who marriage as well as a religious ceremony take another wife; they separated in 2016. only have religious marriages potentially to make sure women are protected under Mr Khan, a businessman who is also 47, being left with no money if their relation- the law. implied he did not owe his wife anything ships broke down. Maryam Namazie, of campaign group by claiming their nearly two- “A central theme is the vulnerability of One Law for All, said: “The Court of decade relationship constituted a “non- predominantly Muslim women,” he Appeal’s decision to deny Muslim wom- marriage”. told The Independent. “What will continue en financial remedies by refusing to deem However, Mr Justice Williams’ ruling at to happen is men taking advantage of vul- a sharia marriage a void marriage is a the High Court in London in July 2018 nerable Muslim women – claiming they travesty of justice. led to Ms Akhter being entitled to apply will have a civil marriage after a religious “The court, like the government, is per- for maintenance. one but not going ahead because they fectly happy to relegate minority women “The wife’s evidence of how the husband know their rights will be protected and to kangaroo courts and faith-based paral- put her under pressure saying their wives will not.” lel legal systems in order to appease fun- that Islam permitted polygamy and that The lawyer added: “Thousands of women, damentalists and manage minority com- she was a bad Muslim and was rejecting usually Muslim women, believe that they munities at the expense of women’s the word of God shows a degree of emo- lawfully marry in this country each year by rights. Today’s judgment will only further tional manipulation that is most unattrac- undertaking a religious ceremony only. discrimination against minority women.” tive,” he said in the judgment. Many of them, and it’s usually Muslim Gita Sahgal, who works for the same Even though no civil ceremony was held, women, do not know in fact that, no matter group, said its research had found the lack Justice Williams said, the Islamic ceremo- how many people attend, no matter how of civil marriages in Muslim communities ny “bore all the hallmarks” of a marriage public an expression of the marital con- was being used to spread the influence of in that it was held in public, witnessed, tract, that they are not in fact lawfully mar- sharia ‘courts’. officiated by an imam and involved the ried in accordance with the laws of Eng- “Women are trapped in a legal limbo making of promises and confirmation that land and Wales. unable to divorce, and unable to remar- they were both eligible to marry. ry,” she added. “We believe all mar- He also said they had been riages must be registered, but we do “embarking on a process”, which not support this judgment. The gov- was intended to include a civil cere- ernment, which has failed to act mony, and took into account the against sharia councils, is now interests of their children. threatening to send women back to But in the written judgment which them, by closing off this remedy.” the Court of Appeal handed down Campaigners have previously on Friday, a trio of judges concluded told The Independent that British that upholding the High Court’s women were being pressured into ruling “would gravely diminish the polygamous relationships or left value of the system of registration of without child support when relation- marriages upon which so much de- ships break up due to a lack of pro- pends in a modern community”. tection within religious marriages.) Off the Shelf Page 7 Iran Resurgent: The Rise and Rise of the Shia State Mahan Abedin Mahan Abedin is an Iranian-born Brit- Reviews Is Tehran on the cusp of achieving re- ish journalist and analyst of Iranian and ‘Abedin packs an extraordinary amount gional hegemony or are forecasts of its Middle Eastern politics. His strong into this compact and lucid survey of rise to dominance in the Middle East thinktank background includes stints at regime dynamics and grand strategy in overblown? Iran has emerged from the Washington-based Jamestown Foun- Iran.’ — Foreign Affairs decades of isolation and struggle to dation and the Institute for Defence ‘By far the most important analysis of become a leading, if not the pre- Studies and Analyses in New Delhi. Iran’s foreign policy, Abedin’s study eminent, regional power. Iran projects Abedin regularly appears on internation- vividly brings to light the debates over its influence throughout the Middle al broadcasting media, including the its strategies and their domestic and in- East and parts of Central Asia. Moreo- BBC and Al-Jazeera English, to com- ternational constraints. The book offers ver, Iranian diplomacy is active on the ment on the latest developments in Ira- productive new insights into the future world stage, with long-term projects in nian politics. possibilities and limitations of Iran’s Africa and South America. regional and global ambitions.’ — Faisal The landmark nuclear deal of July 2015 Devji, University Reader in Modern was a major triumph and saw the Islam- South Asian History, St Antony’s Col- ic Republic successfully negotiate with lege, Oxford several world powers to reach a mutu- ‘A valuable book capturing the rise of ally acceptable agreement. Crucially, Iran as a regional superpower, written whilst the nuclear deal restricts Iran’s with analytical acumen. This is a dis- nuclear programme for at least a dec- tinctly convincing and readable analysis ade, it doesn’t irreversibly dismantle of Iran’s role in the region and beyond.’ any part of it. — Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, Professor With internal Iranian politics stabilising in Global Thought and Comparative around a centrist administration led by Philosophies, SOAS, University of Lon- President Rouhani, the country is set to don continue on a path of regional strategic ‘Iran Resurgent is essential reading for growth. But with clear signs that the anybody seeking to understand the en- Trump administration is determined to during relevance of the Islamic Revolu- contain Iran’s regional influence, what tion. Abedin offers a uniquely thoughtful is the risk of a military confrontation? analysis vis-à-vis Iran’s foreign policy This book argues that Iran has devel- and the challenges it faces as a contender oped sufficient diplomatic strength and for power in a multipolar world.’ — credible military capability to deter a Sarah Marusek, Research Fellow, Uni- full-scale US military assault. But ab- versity of Leeds sent a dramatic lowering of tensions, Publisher: Hurst there remains a risk of limited clashes, Paperback with far-reaching consequences for May 2019 £25.00 regional security. 9781849049559 • 272pp Contemporary Thought in the Muslim World: Trends, themes and issues By Carool Kersten well as globalization, ecology and the narratives that emphasise politics and This book presents an intellectual his- environment, bioethics, and life sciences. confrontations with the West, this book tory of today’s Muslim world, survey- An alternative account of Islam and the is an essential resource for students and ing contemporary Muslim thinking in Muslim world today, counterbalancing scholars of Islam. its various manifestations, addressing Carool Kersten is Reader in the Study a variety of themes that impact on the of Islam and the Muslim World at lives of present-day Muslims. King's College London, UK. His publi- Focusing on the period from roughly cations include A History of Islam in the late 1960s to the first decade of the Indonesia (2017) and Cosmopolitan and twenty-first century, the book is global Heretics: New Muslim Intellectuals and in its approach and offers an overview the Study of Islam (2013). of different strands of thought and ‘Carool Kersten offers us a much- trends in the development of new ide- needed compass through the wide land- as, distinguishing between traditional, scape of contemporary Muslim thought reactionary, and progressive approach- addressing some of the burning intellec- es. It presents a variety of themes and tual, ethical, legal and political issues of issues including: The continuing rele- the Muslim world, from the Middle vance of the legacy of traditional Is- East, to North and South Africa, Asia, lamic learning as well as the use of Europe, North America and Oceania. ’ reason; the centrality of the Qur’an; – Elizabeth Suzanne Kassab, Associate the spiritual concerns of contemporary Professor of Philosophy at the Doha Muslims; political thought regarding Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar secularity, statehood, and governance; Publisher: Routledge legal and ethical debates; related cur- Hardback 218 pages £120.00 rent issues like human rights, gender ISBN: 9780415855075 equality, and religious plurality; as Published: June 2019 Page 8 Words of Faith

4. To Him will be Faith is the Cure for Fear your return- of Many centuries ago, in a land “That is the power of fear, all of you. The promise of Allah is far away, there lived two my friend”. Zaid shared his true and sure. It is good friends, Zaid and Bakr. inner thoughts with his He Who beginneth friend. “There are snakes in the process of They had grown up together creation, and re- but were separated as adults, life, all around us, some in peateth it, that He each pursuing his own voca- front of us, some behind us. may reward with tion. Each wanted to visit the “We must place our trust in justice those who other but the constraints of Allah and keep moving. On- believe and work ly faith can conquer fear. righteousness; time, distance and terrain but those who re- kept them apart. The Shaikh explained that ject Him will have Years went by. Bakr was by Zaid represented the heart draughts of boil- nature restless and the sepa- and Bakr the mind. The mind ing fluids, and a ration was unbearable for is always restless, darting out penalty grievous, in every direction. It is weak because they did him. He just had to go meet reject Him. his friend Zaid and talk to and is prone to suspicion and him about all the experiences doubt. By contrast, the heart 5. It is He Who made the sun to be a he had since their last meet- is secure and serene in its shining glory and ing. faith. The tension between the moon to be a One morning, at dawn, he set out on foot taking the heart and the mind keeps a human being on light (of beauty), with him some provisions for the long journey. edge. Those who are friends of Allah place and measured out The road led through dense forests and narrow their trust in Him and transcend suspicion, stages for her; that ye might streams. He kept walking as fast as he could. doubt and fear. Those who have fear of Allah know the number Finally, as the sun was setting and darkness in their hearts are not fearful of anything else. of years and the was approaching, he arrived at Zaid’s house, As the Qur’an explains: “Inna Ala Awliya Al- count (of time). No- exhausted. lahi Wa La Khawfun A’layhim Wa La Hum wise did Allah cre- Zaid was overjoyed to see his old friend. Yahzanoon. Indeed! Upon the friends of Allah ate this but in truth and right- “Welcome, Bakr”, exclaimed an exultant Zaid, there shall be no fear nor shall they grieve”. eousness. (Thus) “Please come in. My home is your home.” doth He explain The two sat down on a carpet on the floor. The Patient Old Man His Signs in detail, “You must be so hungry”, said Zaid, “let us When passing through a mountain pass, a bed- for those who un- have dinner together and then we will talk. I derstand. ouin (villager) once came across an old man just can’t wait to hear what you have been do- 6. Verily, in the al- who was blind and who seemed to be afflicted ing.” with various ailments all over his body. It was ternation of the The two had their meal together. Zaid wanted night and the day, clear that he was wasting away. He was even and in all that Al- to talk but Bakr was extremely tired; every paralyzed and was constantly forced to remain lah hath created, bone in his body hurt from the long journey. in a seated position. The Bedouin could clearly in the heavens and “I am so tired”, said Bakr to his friend. “I the earth, are hear him say, "All praise is for Allah, Who has would like to go to bed now. After a restful kept me safe from ailments with which He has signs for those night, we will have the whole day tomorrow to who fear Him. tested many among His creation; and He has talk.” (Jonah) indeed preferred me over many among those Zaid relented and walked over Bakr to the that He created." "My brother!" exclaimed the guest house. It was a large, clean chamber with bedouin. "What have you been saved from? By a Persian carpet and mattress on the floor. Allah, I think that you have been afflicted with www.abraronline. “This is a quiet room”, said Zaid to his friend. every single kind of ailment!" net “No one will disturb you here. You will sleep "Go away from me," said the old man, as he This is our website. well here. But there is one small piece of infor- raised his head. "Do I not still have a tongue mation I must share with you. You see that Have visited it: It with which I can pronounce His Oneness, and corner there. There is a small hole in that cor- with which I can remember Him every single will put you face- ner and I have seen a snake come out of there moment? And do I not still have a heart with to-face with an al- once in a while. It does not happen often, only which I can know Him?" ternative world, full once in a few months. But do not worry about These words of the old man were enough for it. Have faith and go to sleep.” of spirituality, mo- the bedouin to repent to Allah for his sins and Bakr was dead tired. He could hardly stand up. ask Him for forgiveness. rality coupled with There was nothing more he wanted in the Remember, there is always someone else who modern outlooks whole world than go to sleep. is in more problem than you. He lay down on the mattress. He was exhausted and perspectives. but the thought of the snake coming out of the We want to hear corner overwhelmed him. He sat up all night your views on its with his sight riveted on that corner expecting contents, layout the snake to come out. It was a long night for Bakr. His body was and general quality. ready to collapse but his mind would not let his body go to sleep. Finally, it was dawn and Zaid Join us in our Noon knocked at the door to wake up his friend for the morning prayers. and Afternoon “Did you sleep well, Bakr?”, asked Zaid, ex- prayers pecting an affirmative answer. Everyday “Not a wink, Zaid”, answered Bakr. “I stayed at 12.00 up all night, afraid that the snake might come out from that corner.”