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Shah Abdul Hannan A new day in the name of Valentine Day is being observed in Bangladesh for the last few years. Some papers are encouraging its observance. This day was not observed before in Bangladesh and probably in most of the Muslim countries. A group of businessmen and hotel-owners also are encouraging it for business gain and profit. What is the history and basis of this Valentine day. I reproduce below in this regard from the writing of Dr. Khalid Baig . “Most Muslims who indulge in many alien cultural practices, these days, do not know what they are doing. They are just blind followers of their equally blind cultural leaders. Little do they realize that what they regard as innocent fun may in fact be rooted in paganism. That the symbols they embrace may be symbols of unbelief. That the ideas they borrow may be products of superstition. And that all these may be a negation of what Islam stands for. Consider Valentine’s Day, a day that after dying out a well deserved ...

Shah Abdul Hannan Democracy is a commonly known word all over the world. Most of the political movements in the world have made it their goal to establish this system in their respective countries. Democracy is the most popular and accepted political system in the modern world. Yet, there exists some difference of opinion among the Islamic groups on democracy. Democracy and human rights have occupied very important position in the political agenda of many of the Islamic parties. However, some of the parties and people do not accept it, since democracy speaks of sovereignty of the people. In this context, we need careful and deep analysis on this issue. We need to understand the issue avoiding the minor technicalities. As we see, Islamic parties and Islamic scholars of the modern world think of a political system wherein government will run the country through Parliament. They also want freedom of expression, voting right of the people, rule of law, independent & free judiciary, fre...

Syed Qutb The day Islam gave a new concept of values and standards to mankind and showed the way to learn these values and standards, it also provided it with a new concept of human relationships. Islam came to return man to his Sustainer and to make His guidance the only source from which values and standards are to be obtained, as He is the Provider and Originator. All relationships ought to be based through Him, as we came into being through His will and shall return to Him. Islam came to establish only one relationship which binds men together in the sight of God, and if this relationship is firmly established, then all other relationships based on blood or other considerations become eliminated. "You will not find the people who believe in God and the Hereafter taking as allies the enemies of God and His Prophet, whether they be their fathers or sons or brothers or fellow tribesmen." (Al- Qur'an 58:22) In the world there is only one party of God; all others are pa...

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi I believe that it is possible to have unity with diversity. In the world in which we are living today, and it is rightly called “the global village”, we cannot imagine having unity without diversity. It is not only that people in different parts of the world are diverse, but now we have a lot of diversity in our own cities, towns, indeed in our neighborhoods. People who live next door to us are often very diverse in colors, cultures and religions. I am pleased that in USA there are many people who are thinking and exploring ways and means to develop a society where people of diverse faiths and cultures can live together in peace and harmony. American democracy is built on the principles of unity in diversity (E pluribus Unum ). To a great extent we can say that in modern times United States presents a fairly good example of such unity in diversity or what is called today as pluralism. As a Muslim I must say that we appreciate these efforts and we support them,...

Hisham Zoubeir Racist against other religions? "Say: We believe In God, and in what Has been revealed to us And what was revealed To Abraham, Isma'il(Ishmael); Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, And in (the Books) Given to Moses, Jesus, And the Prophets, >From their Lord: We make no distinction Between one and another Among them and to God do we Bow our will( in Islam)." Holy Quran 3:84 "Let there be no compulsion in matters of Religion" Holy Quran 2:256 "Verily, those who believe (in the Quran) And those who follow the Jewish( scriptures) And the Christians and the Sabians, Any who believe in God And the Last Day, And work righteousness Shall have their reward With their Lord; on them Shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." Holy Quran 2:62 Racism towards other races? "(The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca) was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colours, races and nationalities, kings, heads of states and ordinary men from ver...