An Eyewitness’ Account of Death, Horror And Misery

Partners in spirit, partners in fact

By William Jefferson Clinton

Over the past eight years, I had the privilege of traveling to nearly 100 nations around the world on behalf of the United States of America. There are few trips that meant as much to me than the journey I took last year to India. This week, I will return to India.

When you think about how you`d like the world to look in 20 years - in Africa, in Asia, in Latin America, even in the Middle East - it`s hard to imagine how we could build the future we want without a partnership between the world`s two greatest democracies. After all, India and America are natural allies, each conceived in liberty, each finding strength in diversity, each seeing in the other a reflection of its own aspirations for a more humane and just world. But even though our democratic ideals gave us a common starting point, and our dreams of peace and prosperity gave us a common destination, for too long there was too little common ground between us.

I came to India last year with the hope that my visit would help the American people to see a new India and to better understand this proud nation that has given so many gifts to the world. In turn, I hoped that my visit would help India to better understand America. I believed that listening to one another, we could lay the foundation for a true partnership between our two nations based on mutual respect and common endeavour. I was heartened to see that following that many Indians now believe that a new day has dawned between us.

Of all the displays of grace that I saw on that trip last year, none compare to the overwhelming response of the Indian people to the victims and families of the devastating earthquake in Gujarat. Over the past two months, the tireless efforts of all those involved in the relief effort have proven that the worst natural disaster in Independent India`s history has brought out the best in its people.

But as news of the tragedy fades from world headlines, the urgency of the work still to be done must not. That is why I am returning to India -- to tour the affected areas, to meet with families and relief agencies, and to bring new attention to the challenge of reconstruction that remains.

As India knows all too well, there is much to be done. The numbers alone numb the senses -- more than 20,000 dead, 1.7 million injured, one million homeless. More than 1,200 schools were destroyed. More than one million homes must be repaired or rebuilt. For all the work that has been completed, damage estimates still reach above 350 billion rupees. And there is no way of accounting for livelihoods lost and lives disrupted.

Nothing can erase the devastating loss of the earthquake. Perhaps the best way to honor those who were lost in this terrible tragedy is work with the survivors to create a better future.

One positive development over the past two months is that the tragedy in Gujarat has given impetus to the creation of a new organization in America called the American India Foundation. This is a group of distinguished Indian-Americans who have contributed a great deal to our country, and who want to deepen their engagement with India to help India realise its vision for the 21st Century. This week, more than 20 distinguished members of this Foundation will tour Gujarat with me.

We hope to work with the people of this region to achieve their vision of a new Gujarat -- to work with government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGO`s), and concerned Indians not just to build Gujarat back, but to build it better. In the short term, we hope to work with local officials in any way they need us to provide relief to meet basic needs and help Gujarat get back on its feet, be it rebuilding schools and providing teachers; repairing hospitals and providing doctors; or empowering people to reopen businesses by making credit available.

In the long-term, we want to be a resource to the people of Gujarat as they work toward their dream of bringing this region and its people into the 21st Century: by wiring schools for the Internet and other tools of the new economy; by bringing the next life-saving devices into hospitals and health centers; by using new technology to help local craftsmen market their products across India and across the world; by including local villagers in the planning process to avoid the well-intentioned but widely acknowledged mistakes of Latur and construct new buildings designed not only to withstand future earthquakes, but to meet the needs of local citizens. For centuries, the vision of the Indian people helped change the world. That same vision is at work in villages across the region today, and we will be honored to be a part of it.

While we pray that no future disasters will visit India, we know that nature has not been so kind. As many in Parliament have expressed, we share the hope that our common efforts to rebuild Gujarat will serve as a model for future efforts, particularly as Parliament works toward establishing a federal emergency management agency for India. This is intended to help the people of India endure everything from tornadoes to floods to hurricanes and emerge, in the end, even stronger.

All of this work will not be completed quickly. But the partnership I spoke of last year between the people of the United States and the people of India is not subject to time limits or deadlines. This is how partners in spirit become partners in fact. I pledge to do all I can to help make that goal a reality.

(Former US President Bill Clinton wrote this article exclusively for The Times of India.)

dear brother omar phoenix #30

i have submiited a number of articles to chowk. sadly as of yet they have not published them. perhaps you can advice them to do so.

in many ways you are right.

many of the problems facing muslims today can only be resolved with sincere islamic leadership (the khilafah state).

practically it will only be the khilafah which will use the armies in muslim lands to liberate occupied muslim territories,, who`s combined military arsenal is 20 million soldiers (compare to usa 3 million).

which will insure that our economies are run according to the justice of islam, and not the corruption of nepotism, and exploitation by an elite few, as exists today.

as to the method to revive the muslim ummah and acquire sincere islamic leadership.

it iis not for us to decide how to acquire it(no matter how noble the aim). rather it is for Allah to define to us, through the application of islamic law.

Hizb ut tahrir has researched extensively on the methodoligy to re establish the khilafah. and since its formation in 1953, has been working tirelessly on the method (derived from islamic law to re establish it.

further it constanlty researches and updates its research (due to the dynamics of changing progression in the world) of how to implement the islamic systems of life today (whether it be in economy politk, judiciary foeign policy or education).

i will post a brieff summary of this methodology below.

alternatively you can read more about it from our website

www.khilafah.com

and can download a video of an international conference we held on this matter at the birmingham national indoor arena uk in september 2000

http://conference.khilafah.com/

if you would like to meet one of our members near where you live, who can give you indept information of this work (which sadly is not in great depth in talks as their is a wide audience base and limitations of time). please email me your telephone number, or contact details, and state your city and country and i will arrange for somebody to contact you.

my email is

barristeruk@hotmail.com

your brother in islam

Ahmer Sajid

Barrister-at-Law

shankar and krashid

the criteria i laid down for khalifah (head of the islamic state ) are criteria`s laid down by islamic law. The khalifah will be head of the islamic state and will be confined to rule by islamic law under the ruling system of islam.

hizb ut-Tahrir in its published book nidam al hukm (the ruling system of islam)

has stated that the ruling system of islam is founded on 4 principles.

1 sovereignty belongs to the sharia(islamic law) and not the ummah.

2. authority belongs to the ummah ( they have the right to elect the khaifah then authroity is transfered o him).

3. the appointment of a single Khaleefah is an obligation upon all the Muslims

4. The adoption of Shari`a rules is the exclusive right of the Khaleefah. (He is the one who adopts the constitutions and the rest of the canons,).

under this premise none of the present regimes in the muslim world, indeed the entire world fulfill this criteria. therfore even if a person is criteria of being a khalifah. he will not be apointed as such because the ruling system he heads is not islamic.

Saddam hussien and none of the present rullers in muslim lands are a reference for islam.

as krashid clearly pointed out saddam hussein is a baathist.

he has, from my organisation alone arrested imprsioned and tortured many of our members in iraq.

we advice all the rulers to implement islam. and as they all have refused we go to the influential muslims to work to remove these tyranical regimes, and re establish the khilafah.

for more info visit

www.khilafah.com.pk

or our worldwide website at

www.hizb-ut-tahrir.org





Click here to enter site

A Series Of Thoughts

26. Principles of the Ruling system in Islam

The ruling system is built upon four principles which are:-

Sovereignty is for Allah

Authority is for the Ummah

The appointment of a single Khaleefah is an obligation upon all the Muslims

The adoption of Shari`a rules is the exclusive right of the Khaleefah. He is the one who adopts the constitutions and the rest of the canons

These principles have been taken from the Shari`a rules derived from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (SAW).

PUBLIC TALKS BY Hizb ut-Tahrir Pakistan

Events in Lahore:





Circle at Hakim Jegranvi Dava Khana, 5N Gulberg II, (opposite Hico Icecream Factory), Sundays after Isha





Circle at Masjid Shuhada, Mall (near Regal Chowk), Wednesdays after Maghrib





Circle at 10/110 Bridge Lane, Gulberg II (off service lane next to Sherpao Bridge), Everyday at 9 pm





Circle at Masjid Umar Farooq, Sadar Bazaar (opp. Habib Bank Main Branch), Saturdays after Maghrib



for more info visit

www.khilafah.com.pk

dear Ahmed #28

part a

the leaflet on turkey does not say that the turkish earhquakes are a punishment from Allah. that was an inference you made and not expressly said in the leaflet.

as you rightly said only Allah knows what is punishment and what is not.

the lealfet highligted the fact that, all such incidendants are from Allah.

revelation for muslims has ended. the only source of guidance we have is the quran and sunnah.

And Allah encourages us to take guidance from the quran and sunnah

to reflect on creation and draw closer to Allah

Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of night and day, these are indeed signs for men of understanding.`` [TMQ 3:190]

the lealfet pointed out that we should fear Allah and the earthquakes are a sign of Allah.

it further quoted from the quran and sunah that Allah punishes people who disobey him.

``Do they not see that they are tried every year, once or twice? Yet they turn not in repentance, and they take no heed`` [Tawbah:126]

``Do then those who devise evil plots feel secure that Allah will not sink them into the earth, or that the torment will not seize them from directions they perceive not? Or that He may catch them in the midst of their going to and fro, so that there be no escape for them (from Allah`s Punishment) Or that He may catch them with a gradual wasting (of their wealth and health)`` [al-Nahl:45-47]

Abu Dawud has narrated the Messenger of Allah saying: ``The people when they see the tyrant and do not restrain his hands, Allah will be about to punish them all``.

the leaflet did not make a direct corrolation between the earthquakes being a punishment from Allah, (as only Allah knows whether that is the case).

rather it implored muslims to remove these corrupt regimes, who have given humilation upon humilation and suffering upon suffering to the ummah, and work to re establish the khilafah, which islam has obliged upon us.

part b.

the leaflet further not only highlighted the suffering facing muslims, and humanity, not only in turkey, but throughout the world, contuinued to highlight the viable and compulsary duty and solution for these problems. which is the return of the islamic state, al khilafah.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has researched extensively into this matter from islamic law and has through its research of present day reality, derived detailed solutions on the re establishment of this state, and its practical implementation.

hence we do not give doon, and frustration to humanity, rather we highlight the evils prevalnt in society today, and highlight the islamic and viable solution to all these ills.

on you issue of Mohhamed saws mandate.

his mandate was not merely to guide from right and wrong. but rather he implemented and enforced islam.

he was head of the islamic state in madaina.

he implemted islam.

he inforced the sharia.. and he physically fought those who Allah commaned to do so.

all those these are highlited in numerous and authenticed narratioons of the lifestory of Mohhamed saws (please refer to ibn ishaq the classical biographer /seerah narrator of Mohhaed saws life story, and see other classical citations for refernce.).

Mohhmed saws further commanded and told huymanity that after he passes away there will be khulafaa and they will number many obey them as long as they abide by isllam (and do not commit kufr buah).

Bukhari narrated about Abada ibn As-Samet, he said ``the Prophet (SAW) called us, so we gave him a pledge to listen and obey in our activity, and our dislike, in our hardship, and our ease and in the things which are dear to us, and not to dispute the authority with its people unless you see clear kufr upon which you have proof from Allah``.

Abu Hazim also narrated that he accompanied Abu Hurairah for five years and heard him narrate about the Prophet saying: ``The Prophets ruled over the children of Israel, whenever a prophet died another prophet succeeded him, but there will be no prophet after me. There will be Khulafa`a and they will number many. They asked: What then do you order us?. He said: Fulfill the bay`ah to them one after the other and give them their due. Surely Allah will ask them about what He entrusted them with.``

Nafi`a narrates from Ibn `Umar, who said, ``I heard the Messenger of Allah say: He who dies whilst there was no bay`ah (oath of allegiance) on his neck, he dies a death of jahiliyyah.``

O you who believe! Obey Allah, obey the Messenger and the rulers from amongst you, and if you disagree on a matter then return it (for judgement) to Allah and the Messenger if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day.`` [TMQ 4:59]

i hope this has answered you questions.

for more information please visit

www.khilafah.com.pk

Reply #: 505

tahmed321

dear Ahmed and all other fellow muslim borthers and sisters

Assalamu Aliakum

dear Ahmed i humbly apologise for the delay in responding to your questions on the postings i made on earthquakes.

i have been considerably busy over the last week, and will be so for the remainder of this week.

i have many commitments outside the cyber domain. and i am sure you understand, that some of these at times take priority.

in the last week, i with a number of other members of Hizb ut-Tahrir partipated in a panel discussion and conference to a packed out audience of muslim intlectuals and proffesionals at the university college london. where the subject of discussion was pakistan and shairia. and how islam is applicable for all times. and implementable in Pakistan.

the guest panalists includined Mr Farhan Bokhari the british Financial times correspondnat for Pakistan. and Mr Niazi the editor of the Jang Newspaper.

all those interested in this panel discussion will shortly be able to download and view it from

www.khilafah.com

i have during this time attempted to answer all the questions raised on the revival of the muslim ummah on this forum.

and have attempted a systematic approach, via responding to the postings i have made on several sections of this forum.

i responded to democracy breifly.

and did not respond to your honourable questions. as i was limited for time and wished to give them the time and consideration they rightly deserved.

please accept my humble apologies for the delay in repling to them.

inshallah i will respond to them within a week

yours humbly

Ahmer Sajid.

PS. fellow muslims let us discuss on an intelectual basis. devoid of slander and abuse.

Mohhamed saws is narrated to have said in one hadith

``there is good in me and my ummah until the last day``

i seek the goodness in all muslims.

i do not call muslims munafiq. as only Allah knows what is in there hearts. we can only judge there actions and not the concealed thoughts in their hearts.

as muslims we should guide those who are misguided amongst the ummah. not through abuse and slander. but through the intelcutal basis and strength of islam.

which thoughout history has won the hearts and minds of millions.

Quake Can`t Shake Caste System

By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer

LAKHOND, India (AP) - The streets are strewn with rubble and house after house is a useless heap of stone. But there`s one structure that can`t be shaken in India, even by a killer earthquake - the caste system.

The town has six distinct tent camps for the earthquake homeless - all separated by caste or religion. When relief groups showed up to hand out aid, town leaders presented them with six lists of residents: four different Hindu castes, the untouchables - lower even than the formal caste system - and Muslims. All the camps are separate.

With the pattern repeated across the zone in western India ravaged by the Jan. 26 quake, relief groups find themselves wrestling with the country`s ingrained social hierarchy to get help to everybody - even untouchables.

``The whole issue of making sure all the castes are included has been a challenge,`` Graham Saunders of Catholic Relief Services said Wednesday as workers handed out buckets, soap and other aid to people in the town.

Officially, India`s traditional caste system - a social hierarchy with Brahmans at the top and the so-called ``untouchables`` at the bottom - has been illegal for decades, and discriminating against someone on the basis of caste in employment and housing, for example, can wind up in court. Unofficially, however, the social order in the countryside remains strong, determining how most people live, with whom they marry and socialize.

So while modernization and urbanization have blurred the lines between castes somewhat in the cities, in places like the quake-damaged villages of Gujarat the divisions are clear, and greatly complicate the already enormous challenges of getting relief to victims.

In the aftermath of the disaster, necessities are scarce and everyone is desperate for help. Those at the top of the pecking order use their connections and prestige to get the pick of the goods.

``Whatever the distribution of aid, it first goes to the upper castes,`` said Mayuri Mistry, a Catholic Relief Services worker in Gujarat.

The social hierarchy is only one of the problems with aid distribution. There have been complaints in the quake zone that political connections are playing a big role in determining who gets help.

The needs are overwhelming. The 7.7-magnitude quake killed more than 17,000 and left behind 1 million homeless, according to a United Nations (news - web sites) estimate. More than 60,000 were injured and survivors are in need of medical care, food, water and shelter.

The French group Doctors without Borders has a cultural anthropologist in Bhuj, near the epicenter, to coach workers on how to navigate the region`s social landscape.

``Indian villages look like a mess, but you know by the house what caste lives there,`` said Pilar Duch. ``You cannot think that a village is homogeneous. If you don`t know that, you can make a mistake.``

Her colleague Olaf Pots spent the day Wednesday moving from village to village northeast of Bhuj, assessing needs and handing out blankets, tarps for tents and water buckets.

But it was more than just a matter of dropping piles of aid off at each village and moving on. First he met with village leaders and figured out how many people lived in the town and what castes were represented.

Then came the hard part: deciding whether to hand over the goods to the top man in the village, distribute them among the leaders of the various castes in the town, or simply go door to door to make sure everyone got their share.

In Gada, a hilltop hamlet, Pots had a lengthy negotiation with village elders, peppering them with questions about the castes there and wringing from them guarantees that they would distribute the aid fairly.

A key to success is making sure there is enough to cover everyone in a village, so there is no fighting over short supplies.

For example, the sub-chief of Gada, Jiva Manda Rabari, assured Pots that he would see that the village`s four untouchable families would get their share - provided supplies were sufficient.

``You have to give us enough if you want them to get something,`` he said, adding that he would turn away deliveries that could not provide everyone with some relief.

In some towns, international organizations rely on local groups to police distribution. In nearby Traya, Pots struck a deal with the village elders to let a member of a local women`s development group supervise the handing out of blankets, tarps and water bottles.

In Lakhond, the leader of the untouchables there, Ramesh Kumar Hamirbhai, said he had no major problems with the distribution of aid so far, though he said the tradition of separating aid deliveries by caste caused unnecessary complications.

He said he preferred the way some international groups were operating, by gathering everybody in one place and handing out relief one person at a time.

``This is the best system,`` he said. ``This way, each and every person gets help.``

Shankar#

I am not here to justify people like Saddam Hussain or Hafiz-ul-Asad (If you know anything about Syria).

The point was that we are forced to believe CERTAIN FACTS and HYPOTHESIS which are forced down our throat.

I don`t know much. But I clearly feel that Foolish Saddam Hussain is a pawn in American hand (through his psyche). The eight year war between Iraq and Iran destroyed the might of two great powers in region. Also attack by Saddam on Kuwait caused America to enter gulf region without hesitation.

IF America removes Saddam and incite Nationalist movement where will America stand.

It is a ploy just to keep him in check.

So you see him as butcher (and rightly so) an Islamic fundamentalist who is worshipped by Muslims all over the world.

He is not even allowed entry into Arab League etc.

Are you influenced. Yes. Does media plays a role. It toes the policy of Government and CIA.

Hope this clarifies.

KRashid,

I agree with your observations re Saddam. He maybe a secularist & doesnt pick the people close to him based on their religion. But I feel he is a butcher with absolutely no conciensce. He is a muslim in name only. However, I feel he continually spits at the prophet(pbuh) by his actions. He wont hesitate to kill anyone in Iraq who dares cross him (including his own sons-in-law). He wont hesitate to massacre a whole village of civilians--even if the are women & children, with poison gas. His power is absolute & I dont think he even cares how he will explain his actions to Allah.

However, I think he fulfills Barrister sahib`s 6 criteria. If the good barrister was Iraqi living in that country & he disagreed that Saddam fits the 6 criteria--Saddam would cut his head, gift wrap it in a box & present it to the barrister`s wife. I heard that Saddam did that to one of his confidants who opposed him & his wife begged Saddam to spare his life. Maybe its Western propaganda...

Watch the inspirational film on Earthquake

Click here to watch the inspirational film on Earthquake with soundtrack and images.

http://www.klubq.com/earthquake/

Shankar #31

Your observation on Saddam Hussain is wrong.

He is secularist. Belong to Baath Party a highly secular party. (Hafiz Asad also belonged to Baath party).

His prime minister Tariq Aziz is a christian reflecting the same trend.

West portrays him as Muslim fundamentalist. And with power of money you can proove white as black. (by buying black glasses for everyone)

The only reason there is some soft corner for Saddam Hussain is because he challenged America in Gulf.

Regards

Barrister Sahib,

I hope you can get over your irritation at me when I pose you this serious question:

{{1 he must be muslim

2. he must be male

3. he must be mature

4. he must be sane

5. he must be just

6. he must be free.}}

Who determines whether such a person meets these criteria?

For instance, one can argue Saddam Hussein, Khomeni or Mullah Omer could fulfil the above criteria. There will be many who argue that they are/were sane, just & mature. So what if the West feels differently about them? What right does the West have to make such judgements anyway? To many millions of muslims throughout the world, they are/were role model muslim leaders of the latter part of the 20th century.

I`m very curious about your thoughts on this.

Dear Amer,

It would be good if you could actually write an article on what exactly the Khlifah solution is and how it differs/compares/shares similarities to the other political solutions-I assume your favourite one is Capitalism.

My knowledge of politics is absolutely nil, though over the XYZ period, reading the Chowk interacts/articles, I have become interested in learning a bit more about it.

I did actually go to one of those meetings of Hizbut Tahrir a couple of times in a Mosque and then left because I did not find the meetings to be educational. It was a case of “if there is a khalifah, then he would do this, and if there was a khalifa, then he would do that.” I was more interested in “how exactly” and a few practical examples would have been nice.

Though I do not have precise details of what a Khalifah, democracy, theocracy, capitalism etc etc is exactly (thereby I will refrain as much as possible from giving out any info regarding the subjects), I fear that the concept, in the wrong hands would be very dangerous. Why, because the public is not educated about this system. Although a Khalifah is questionable to the public, I can just imagine an upper class corrupt Khalifah ruling over the masses and this time he would have God on his side.

I then think that a collective of ‘intellectuals’ and professionals (whatever that means) of every type, be it humanitarians, lawyers, economists, writers, engineers, doctors, artists, social workers, religious scholars etc should take on the responsibility of raising awareness of various issues the bother us - whether it be population control, whether it be educational needs, whether it be promoting the wholesome image of Islam and the particular place they have chosen to target- the rights of the common folk and the degree of input the individual will have (in your case) under a khalifa leadership.

Obviously, the bigger the numbers, the more powerful this collective will become - a non-political government perhaps. And since this collective would be ruled by people with a common cause, that of the betterment of society, the revolution of change might not need be bloody, the replacement of the corrupt political system will be swift, as the public would be (hopefully) on this collective’s side.

I’m sure it will then be easier for you to choose your Khalifah.

I would appreciate anybodies input on this who is into politics. It would be interesting to learn something new.

Take care and best wishes

Omar Phoenix

Barrister Amir #24 aoa

I see I sent only part (a) in my previous post - that in itself is enough for purposes of supporting my contention. However, I should add part (b) as well: I think to say that someone has suffered misfortune as a form of punishment violates the spirit of kindness, which is a virtue that is attributed to Allah over and over again in the Quran. How can a muslim have anything but thoughts for the welfare of those who have suffered misfortune. And remember: this includes people of all religions and sects, as is repeatedly mentioned in the Quran (although ignored every day by muslims). Please reflect on (b) as well with the same open mind as I hope you do for (a).

I would also appreciate any thoughts you may have on the religious basis for establishing a Khalifah in light of Allah`s clear instructions to the Holy Prophet himself that his mandate is to guide, not to correct (see the ayah quoted in my previous post). Take an objective look at that ayah (and the same message is repeated a number of times in the Quran) and tell me how anyone can claim that the concept of Khalifah is anything other than a violation of Allah`s message.

Barrister Amir #24 aoa

First of all, please accept my congratulations on having maintained a calm and gentle tone despite my harsh indictment of your earlier post. We may not agree on some matters, sometimes some very important matters of practical importance to Pakistan, but you have provided an example of how we can try to resolve our differences, or even agree to disagree and yet wish God`s Blessings on one another.

Next, on the content of your post: You say: ``i have provided my presentations to this forum with detailed evidences from the authoritive sources of islamic law...kindly please forward your evidences from islamic law for your supositions to the contrary of the islamic views i hold. based upon the detailed evidences i have presented...general statements without any substance or evidence will not suffice.``

This is my response:

My objection was to your presentation of the earthquake in Turkey as a punishment from Allah for having strayed from the path.

I object to this for the following reasons:

(a) This statement implies knowledge of Allah`s intent. This represents a clear violation of the Quran, and I present the following as evidence:

Sura 2:79 Then woe to those who write

The Book with their own hands,

And then say: ``This is from Allah,``...

Sura 2:272 It is not required

Of thee (O Messenger),

To set them on the right path,

But Allah sets on the right path

Whom He pleaseth

NOTE: Also consider implications of these Words of Allah for the blasphemy laws.

Sura 19:78 Has he penetrated to

The Unseen, or has he

Taken a contract with

(Allah) Most Gracious?

Sura 6:93 Who can be more wicked

Than one who inventeth

A lie against Allah,

Or said, ``I have

Received inspiration,``

When he hath received None...

These are not isolated extracts, but part of the consistent message delivered to all muslims that no man after the Holy Prophet can claim to have received inspiration from Allah. There is even a wonderful story in Sura 18 which should be remembered whenever we are tempted to think that we understand the reason behind someone`s misfortune: In this story, the Moses asks one of God`s servants (whose name and further details are not mentioned, but is obviously not a human) if he may follow him in order to learn something ``Of the (Higher) Truth Which thou has been taught?``. In summary, the servant scuttles a boat. Moses asks why he has done this strange thing. Later on, the servant explains that he scuttled the boat to render it unserviceable to prevent it`s seizure by a certain King (with the boatmen presumably being able to repair the boat later one when the King had passed by).

The moral of the story is: We humans cannot understand God`s ways. And the message of Allah is clear and severe in cases where we pretend to have such knowledge.

I believe this story reinforces the message elsewhere in the Quran on this matter.

I pray that you will consider this evidence in the same graceful manner that you responded to my post.

dear fairdinkum #: 19

Assalaamu alaikum

i would be onoured to answer all of your questions regarding this vital issue facing the muslims.

the khilafah is is the namke given to the ruling system of islam.

it is defined as the general leadership over the muslims. it implements islam. defends islam and carries it to the world.

it is elucidated in many authorative sources of islamic law and is an obligation for all muslims to re establish and uphold.

as to who the khalifah will be.

Hizb ut Tahrir through detailed research of quran and sunnah consider there to be six criteria on who can be the khalifah these are..

1 he must be muslim

2. he must be male

3. he must be mature

4. he must be sane

5. he must be just

6. he must be free.

Therefore any muslim who is able to fulfill these conditions can become khalifah however today their is no khilafah ruling system in place in the muslim world. so we must work to re establish it and insure that the muslims have a khailfah who fuilfils the above requirements heading it

the khilafah is the ruling system of islam. the definition of politics is looking after the needs of people and regulating their societal interactions. hence in the western world people`s political problems are resolved through the capitalistic system of democracy. here people define and choose what laws are good and bad, and how there societal interactions should be regulated.

politics in islam are not democractic nor based upon the capitalistic system.

but rather they are based upon the islamic ideology

in islam man is not sovereign nor does he have the rigt to define what is good and or evil

rather it is Allah who defines what is good and bad.

islam has a comprehensive detailed solutions to all lifes affiars.

hence politics in islam

is looking after the affiars of people on the basis of islam only !

although democracy is haram.

this does not mean the islamic system is totalitarium and dictatorial

but rather it is a system where people are obliged to adhere to the humk sharia

further they have the intrinsic right to decide who will be the leader of the muslims

and muslims are entilled to elect the khalifah.

the muslims can elect them by universal suffrage

or via the election of the khaifash through the nomination and vote of the reprsentatives of the ummah.

in the islamic state this may be via the vote for the new khaifah being given by members of the majlis al ummah (council of the ummah)

this is a consulative assembly, with memebers elected via local franchise from their geographical locaties (hence they will be at the council of the ummah as the elected representatives of the general public in there localities who voted for them.

the khilafah is an obligation for all muslims

the needd to have a sincere general islamic leadership for all muslims

who implements islam

defends islam

and carries it to the world.

you will find all scools of islamic thought agree upon this neccessity and fard of islam.

hizb ut Tahrir is open to muslims from al scools of islamic thought

wheterh sunni shia or ahle adith

as the work for khilafah is an obligation to us all.

hizb ut tahir has defined 4 principles of ruling in islam

1 soveriegnty belongs to allah (ie islamic law is above allother juristidiction.

2 authority belongs to the ummah (te muslims have the right to elect and account the kailfah).

3 the khailfah is leader of all muslims and baya |(oath of allegance must be givwen to im by all.

4. the khailfah has the right to decide on a fiqhi issue wic will be binding on the sstate and polpulattion.

point 4 wix seems closely to wat was raised in your question.

ighlights the right of the khalif to adopt islamic opnions on laws whic will be binding on the entire country.

the evidences of this right are numeerous.

even thee saaba qarim understood this

and when abu bakr sadiq was kailfah ra

umar r.a was a judge in te isklamic court.

they bot differnet views on divorce

but omar applied the principle of abu bakr ra and continued to do so during the khilafah of abu bakr.

then when omar became khalifah he retuned to his own opnion which he considered stronger.

this right enables the khaifah to enusre the state muslims smotler

and in hizb ut tahrir`s view

this is something used in neccessity use to unify and give a cohenrent binding effect on day to day legislative matters and insures occuring with humans muslims interacting in society.

it does not consider this should apply to ibadat issues (ie namaz roza, aqeeda etc,) but only on intereaction of muslims brwteen themselves in society.

therefore it will not abolish fiqha

infact it will incourage healty discussion between the various schools of islamc thought to raisse the intelectuial level fo muslims

further if a mujtaid considers he has a stronger evidence from islam on how islamic matters can be resolv ed, he can contact the khaifa. wo can become convinced tat it is the strongest viepoint and therefore he adopts it on issued whoc it will relate to from legilative issues,

hizb ut tahri has detailed solutions on how we can practically and more importantly isalmically imprement islam.

it has writeen numous books

on the islamc economy

taxation policy

froegeign poliicy

cloning gm foods

and islamic ruling ystem.

for more info and links to many other hizb ut tahrir sites around the globe plz visist

http://www.khilafah.com.pk

Re: Earthquake and Rss/BJP Politics

Calamity has this strange knack of bringing people together. When you are battling for survival, caste and creed do not matter. Roving Editor Ramesh Menon details one such incident, which could have been a landmark in communally strife-torn Ahmedabad. Only, it was too good to last.

When the earth shook violently on January 26, the residents of Sarangpur Chakla -- like everyone else in Ahmedabad -- ran out of their homes. Many of them moved into the large courtyard of Rani`s mosque, a 15th century monument. Located in an area that is dominated by Hindus, the mosque has been closed for over 32 years. But, as a protected heritage monument, it is being looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India.

It proved to be a safe shelter during the quake, since it is surrounded by an open area, while Sarangpur is dominated by narrow lanes and old buildings.

Soon after, a group of elderly Hindus approached Muslims in the Panchkuva area of Kalupur and asked them to begin offering namaz at the mosque again. They hoped it would please the Gods and the anger within the earth would subside. The Muslims happily acquiesced.

On January 31, a dozen-odd Muslims went to the mosque to offer namaz early in the morning. It was the first time since the 1969 communal riots in the city that this had happened.

The Hindus in the locality got together and organised water; before offering namaz, the Muslims are required to wash their hands and feet. ``The residents thanked us and said our prayers would ward off danger to their area. Though the tremors continued, we thought it brought us together,`` remembers Mohsin Sheikh, a small-time businessman who deals with bags and plastic sheets.

For the next namaz, there were about two dozen Muslims offering prayers.

The one held in the afternoon saw four dozen devotees.

Though the numbers swelled to 250 for the namaz after sunset, the Muslims could sense the tension in the air. One of them walked up to a policeman outside the mosque and told him that, if there is a problem in them offering prayers there, they would stop immediately. The policeman said there was no problem; that the prayers -- which were for everyone`s well-being -- should continue.

Yet, by the time of the night namaz, they were told not to come to the mosque, thanks to strident protests from a handful of vocal residents associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The residents themselves had no complaints about the namaz. The area`s right wing elements, though, felt the presence of so many Muslims -- the numbers were increasing with each namaz -- should not be allowed since Sarangpur borders Muslim-dominated areas.

The last namaz of the day did not take place.

The amity between the two communities did not last 24 hours. Those who reached the mosque for the last namaz say the policemen were beginning to worry about communal tension and did not want anything to spark it.

Today, the iron gate leading to the mosque has been locked. The courtyard is silent except when the wind blows; then, one can hear the sound of rustling leaves.

Four policemen are sleeping in front of the gate; which is covered with their damp clothes. One of them views me with suspicion. ``Have you come here to read namaz?`` he demands.

I tell him I am, like him, a Hindu. Still suspicious, he says I cannot go in. ``The mosque had been closed for years and will not open again. We are here to ensure that.``

Sad Really,

Asim

urstruly #2: I would request Sadna & Mohajir Inc. to keep this thread clean .. this is not the time and place.

urstruly #23: REPORT CARD: KASHMIR

Which one is the true urstruly?

dear tahmed321 #: 17

i have provided my presentations to this forum with detailed evidences from the authoritive sources of islamic law.

kindly please forward your evidences from islamic law for your supositions to the contrary of the islamic views i hold. based upon the detailed evidences i have presented.

general statements without any substance or evidence will not suffice.

many thanks.

Allah (swt) says: “ Whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are disbelievers” [5:44]

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Any action which is not according to our matter (Deen) is rejected.”

“ But no, by Your Lord, they can have no (real) faith until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest submission” [4:65]

Ahmer Sajid

Barrister-at-Law

Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir

for more info plz visit

http://www.khilafah.com.pk

REPORT CARD: HINDUSTANI PERFORMANCE IN KASHMIR IN YEAR 2000

Following is the report card representing the performance of Hindu-stani Government in Kashmir for the year 2000. I take this moment to make an appeal to all the good people with good conscience in the world to voice against this genocide of Kashmiri people. I would also request all decent Hindus to act and stop the rabid actions of their government. It is just a matter of time when all of those who committed atrocities will be dragged in front of International Court of Justice. But before that they will have to answer to the Kashmiri people. Now that when practically each and every household has suffered at the hands of rabid Hindus, it is time that all of those with live conscience should wake up. The time to act is now:

Report Card for year 2000:

Kashmiris who gave their lives for their motherland
3401 (ave. 283/mo)

Deaths/Shahadats in Army/Police Custody
363 (30/mo)

Wounded
3844 (320/mo)

Arrested
3058 (254/mo)

Rapes by Hindu Army and police
281 (23/ mo)

Property Damaged (number)
1604 (133/mo)

A month by month breakdown is available at following site:

http://www.jang-group.com/jang/index.html

I would request all people with live conscience who value human life, to forward this link and the figures to your human rights organization.

Thank you.

Long post.
http://www.latimes.com/print/20010205/t000010713.html
Monday, February 5, 2001
Quake`s Toll on a Young Psyche
India: Horrific scenes leave thousands of children with mental wounds that may never heal.
By PAUL WATSON, Times Staff Writer
ANJAR, India--A falling chunk of concrete broke Yusuf Khumbar`s arm, which was easy for a doctor to fix this weekend once it was X-rayed.
If only it were so simple to see and repair the fractures in a boy`s mind. The enormity of India`s Jan. 26 earthquake is hard for even an adult to comprehend, as the estimates of the dead and the damage keep rising. Authorities now say that as many as 30,000 people were killed and 600,000 left homeless in the western state of Gujarat.
The number of confirmed deaths reached 16,425 on Sunday, and the federal government says that more than 55,000 people were injured. Not included in these staggering statistics are the thousands of children who suffered mental wounds that may never heal. In a developing country of more than 1 billion people, still struggling to feed and find shelter for survivors, injured psyches fall far down the long list of emergencies.
When the quake struck and reduced much of this town to rubble in seconds, Yusuf, 13, was one of three boys walking at the front of a schoolkids` Republic Day parade as it headed along a narrow street. The buildings crashed down on them from both sides, and a piece of debris pinned Yusuf to the ground. His cousin, Kasim Ismail, 12, pulled the boy free quickly enough to save his life. Their friend, Iqbal Yunnis, 8, was killed. Behind them, a cascade of broken concrete crushed to death more than 400 schoolmates and 50 of their teachers. Just over a week later, it is hard for a child survivor like Yusuf to know where the memories end and the nightmares begin.
``He`s afraid to sleep alone now,`` Yusuf`s aunt, Amena Bai, 35, said through a translator Saturday as he waited for a doctor to set his left arm. ``And he refuses to sleep in any closed structure. He wants to sleep only in the open. ``He used to scream at night, and for the first two days would not leave the company of his female relatives,`` she added. ``But now he`s more dazed than anything else. He doesn`t talk much.``
Once a ``fairly active and delightful child,`` Yusuf ``is more sad now because he`s lost a friend,`` said the boy`s mother, Halima Bai, 37. In the middle of a hot day, he was wearing a wool cap, tied tightly under his chin, to fight off chills.
Yusuf`s demeanor contains textbook warning signs of severe trauma, and psychiatrist Sohan Derasari estimates that anywhere from one-third to half of the children who survived the quake are now suffering from ``acute stress disorder.``
In many cases, their parents are too traumatized themselves to get them treatment. Sufferers from acute stress disorder look as though they are simply in shock, but the syndrome is worse. ``The person gets really numb, and they are in a daze,`` Derasari said from Ahmadabad, Gujarat`s commercial capital. ``They cannot remember things properly. They remain a little irritable and angry.``
Some will recover on their own in a couple of weeks, the psychiatrist said, while others risk sinking into the still more serious post-traumatic stress disorder, which can require drugs and long-term care to reverse. ``One of the biggest complications is that they do not seek any help,`` Derasari said. ``They remain withdrawn for a long period of time. This is primarily because the biochemical changes in the brain do not allow them to process information and other things.``
If parents languish, so will their traumatized children, who ``will remain scared and withdrawn for a long period of time, not going to school and not resuming normal activity,`` Derasari added. For many Indians, seeking therapy is akin to announcing to the neighbors that you`re crazy, and Derasari said relief workers who could help ensure that traumatized children get treatment often don`t know how to spot the symptoms.
He is working with a small group of Indian physicians and educators to set up a rehabilitation program for child quake survivors that will include not only counseling but advice to parents and teachers on how to handle traumatized children.

Derasari said he knows of only about 10 psychologists and psychiatrists in Bhuj, the biggest town in the worst-affected area--a region where there are a few million people. ``I don`t know what you can do with 10 persons,`` he said. ``We are finding it difficult even to get people motivated to get trained.`` If traumatized children don`t get help soon, ``they are going to have problems with learning and development,`` Derasari said.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee admitted last week that his government had failed to get a coordinated rescue and relief effort going soon enough after the quake. Private groups such as charities and political parties have delivered food, clothing and emergency aid to many villages where residents say they are still waiting for government help.
But even as they shiver under thin blankets next to small fires each night, or run barefoot along dirt tracks to catch a scrap of used clothing or a bag of water tossed off aid trucks, many of the homeless children still laugh as if it were all great fun. In reality, the children are probably so overwhelmed by what`s happened that they are trying to switch it off, like a scary movie, said Mamata Pandya, project coordinator for the government-funded Center for Environment Education. The center is leading local efforts to provide treatment for child quake survivors.
``What we are afraid [of] is that this trauma is going to be so deep that it`s going to leave lifelong scars,`` she said. ``We really have to do a lot of learning ourselves to start working with traumatized children.`` The Nehru Foundation for Development`s compound, a green oasis of calm where Pandya`s center is based in Ahmadabad, has become a home for 30 people who can`t--or in most cases are simply too afraid to--return to their homes in the city. ``Right now, it`s a big holiday for the children,`` Pandya said. ``There`s no school, they`re all together running around and playing. They`re not manifesting their anxieties, but we are sure those anxieties are very deeply ingrained.``
In a Red Cross field hospital 150 miles to the west in Anjar, Vanay Chauhan, 14, lay with his bandaged left hand tied to a pole to keep it upright and draining. The top halves of the fingers were crushed under concrete rubble, and when Vanay`s father brought a knife to cut him free, the boy yanked his hand hard enough to sever the fingers himself. Vanay isn`t afraid anymore, only a little unsettled by the wailing and moaning of injured patients all around him, said his father, Himat Chauhan, 45.
In the wrecked city of Bhachau, meanwhile, Dr. Bharad Gadia, an orthopedic surgeon, is trying to move 5-year-old Puri Nagar from a cot in a tent clinic to his hospital more than a 200-mile drive away in Bhavanagar, so he can treat her fractured and dislocated left shoulder. But Puri refuses to go. A tiny medallion of the minor Hindu god Ramdev hangs on Puri`s forehead from a chain that her mother strung through the child`s braids in hopes that the talisman would protect her.
The child`s arm was in a gauze sling Saturday, wrapped tightly against her chest. She was crying, as she has constantly since the ground shook and reduced her family`s house to rubble in the village of Kakarva. Puri hasn`t stopped repeating one thing, the doctor said, and she said it again as he stood at her bedside: ``I want to go home.``

Barrister Amir

........ i am embarrased for you ......although i am given to praying only twice a year and at jewish weddings, i dug up the old janamaz and prayed to the almighty to punish you for your wickedness ..... so, if tomorrow you have a flat tire or the old hemmoroids flare up you wll know why ..........

.... i am sure he is merciful and will forgive me for invoking his wrath on you ........ but then again nothing might happen to you .... he might have bigger fish to fry - like plunging a school bus off a cliff or a famine in ethiopia or another earhquake to punish those dastardly turks and hindoos ........

Looks like ``Barrister Amir`` is not (got a) brief . . .

Barister sahib,

can you enlighten us on the following?

Is khalifah a divinely appointed entity/institution?

if khalifah is not divinely appointed then khilafa is a political entity/institution... right?

how do we elect our khalifah? ... through an adult franchise voting system? or is he elected/selected by a group of eminent Muslims/Momins for the rest of ummah through the process of ijmaah?

what Muslim ``sect`` should he belong to?
are shias allowed to vote for him?
if not, then would shias be declared non-Muslims under a khilafa?

would khalifah be a religious authority? would he interpret fiqah and shariah for us? If so, what happens to those who belong to a different fiqah than the khalifa? or would khalifa abolish all existing fiqahs?

Please elaborate on your vision of the institution of khilafa keeping in mind the realities of the times we live in.

Thanks!

I received the following from a friend, who is managing a mailing list. She has been actively involved in the relief work and has been forwarding information to various groups. Hope the following provides some info.
------
Questions have been raised whether, apart from financial contributions, it`s possible for Indian-Americans to make donations in kind, such as
clothes, for the relief of our suffering brethren in Gujarat.

From past experience, it`s learnt that clothes and similar items are difficult to transport. Moreover, at this point the things in kind that are urgently needed are:

1) Tents & Sleeping bags
2) Medicines - U/V Fluids, Antibiotics, Pain Killers, Antacid, Anti-Bacterial medicine, Asthma medicine, Bandages, Syringes; Oral Dehydration Kits, Dysentery/Diarrhea prevention medicine; Plaster; First-aid kits; Water Purifiers;
Orthopedic medical equipments.

AIR-INDIA COORDINATION
Air India will lift relief material from various parts of the world on a priority basis at free of charge for the Gujarat quake victims. The relief
material would be accorded priority keeping in view the urgency of its requirement for the victims.

In the United States, the Air-India flies from Chicago and New York. The Consulate General in Chicago & New York will coordinate between Air-India and the donors. Authorization from the Consulate would be necessary for free transportation by Air India to Ahmedabad.

CHICAGO
Mr. Ashok Das
Head of Chancery
Consulate General of India, Chicago
455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Suite 850
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 595-0414
Fax: (312) 595-0417

NEW YORK
Mr. Azad Toor
Consulate General of India, New York
3 East, 64th Street
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 774-0625
Fax: (212)734-1595
Email: indcprny@aol.com

For people who have collected items such as clothes who still wish to try to get them to Gujarat, I am told, their best bet is to get in touch directly with some of the airlines which fly the India route, such as Singapore
Airlines, Thai Airways, Asiana Airlines, Virgin Atlantic etc. Some of these airlines have in the past, it seems, carried such items free of cost in
similar situations. Hopefully, they may do so again. It may be worth trying.Meanwhile, Indian-Americans will be happy to know that yesterday, the U.S. Congress passed a concurrent resolution praising the courage of the Indian people and pledging support to their efforts in rebuild in their cities and their lives.

The resolution expressed support for:
a) continuing and substantially increasing the amount of disaster assistance being provided by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and other relief agencies; and
b) providing future economic assistance in order to help rebuild Gujarat.

It also urged President Bush to back economic assistance efforts by international financial institutions.

Best wishes!

Ram Narayanan
On-Line Resource for Indian-Americans
http://www.indiatogether.org/us/lobby.htm

Barrister Amir #15 You dare to take a human tragedy in India and in Turkey, and claim that you understand God`s purpose behind these tragedies? You once again are in violation of the Quran, you fool. Once again, I remind you to repent your evil ways while there is still time. Have some fear of the Judgement Day, and of the eternal life in Hell that the Quran says is reserved for all those who do not obey.

RE #15

What a crock of BS

Do they not see that they are tried every year, once or twice? Yet they turn not in repentance, and they take no heed`` [Tawbah:126]



Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim

On the night of the 17th of August, 1999 at 3:02 after midnight, the earthquake (measuring 7.4) struck violently in the Marmara region in Northwest Turkey. The quake`s epicentre was in Golcuk, the site of the naval and armed forces bases (these bases have played an important role in what is called the `period of the 28th of February` i.e. the place from which Islam is fought).

``Those before them indeed plotted, but Allah struck at the foundations of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive`` [al-Nahl:26]

``Do then those who devise evil plots feel secure that Allah will not sink them into the earth, or that the torment will not seize them from directions they perceive not? Or that He may catch them in the midst of their going to and fro, so that there be no escape for them (from Allah`s Punishment) Or that He may catch them with a gradual wasting (of their wealth and health)`` [al-Nahl:45-47]

This is to strike fear and remind the people so that they take heed and fear Allah. Allah (swt) sends it according to the laws of the universe with which Allah has organised the motion of the universe.

In this earthquake approximately 40,000 people died and a similar number were injured. Tens of thousands of houses were destroyed and many industrial complexes (such as that in Tibrash) were terribly damaged. Many roads were also damaged. This earthquake inflicted damage on the whole of Turkey, billions of dollars have gone to dust and the state is planning to impose taxes on the people ...!!

Indeed, if the people do not take a lesson from the earthquake that took place in Turkey and return to their Lord, then their hearts have been seized by sins and evil deeds. Especially, the people in power and authority who, since 1924, have been publicly declaring their open Kufr and committing Munkar. The situation has gone from bad to worse:

1. On the 3rd of March, 1924 the Khilafah was destroyed, the foundation for applying the Shari`ah. Through its abolition Islam was removed from the battlefield of life and the Jahili system became dominant. The birth of the republic was announced and Shirk against Allah was committed. They rejected and attacked the Khilafah and still (to this day) continue to attack it. For society`s part it did not defend the Khilafah and nor did it adopt it. It even joined the enemies of Islam in their (evil) deed and the republic came to be considered a good thing.

2. After this, secularism was adopted and Islam was in actuality removed from life. They declared a comprehensive war on Islam, the basis of which was secularism, considering the application of Allah`s rules and the adoption of Islam as a basis of the social and political life to be of the greatest sins. They disbelieved in the Law (Shari`ah) of Allah under the name of secularism and the society took the stance of an onlooker until, at times, it even defended secularism.

3. They forced the Azan to be given in the Turkish language and for worships to be performed in Turkish and forged other such lies. With these lies they wanted to distance the people from their deen. Also they wanted to introduce `Turkish Islam` or `Islamic Turkism` so as to distance the people from what they called `the Islam of the Arabs`. They forbade the Azan to be given in Arabic (in the beginning) and they prohibited the learning and teaching of the Qur`an. Even today, the learning of the Qur`an and its teaching is banned for those under the age of 12. All of this takes place, and the society stands as a bystander as if nothing had happened.

4. They forbade the lawful Hijab of women. Up to the present moment, most women, female students and employees are banned from wearing the legally prescribed dress. Many women wearing Hijab have been compelled by force to take off their Hijab and the society does not show any reaction. As if that has no effect on its emotions. The reactions came only within the framework of human rights and the freedoms and other such un-Islamic sayings.

5. The usury that Allah forbade is still openly used in bank transactions, as if they are declaring war on Allah and His Messenger. Allah (swt) said:

``O you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from riba (usury) (from now onward), if you are really believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger`` [al-Baqara:278-279]

The society does not budge an inch until even some government Shaykhs gave Fatwa permitting it.

6. At a time when schools for the memorisation and teaching of the Qur`an have been closed down, places such as clubs, casinos and brothels still operate publicly day and night. The state even, at times, does not hesitate in rewarding them with badges and medals. The society does not move in the slightest, adopting the stance of an onlooker. Thus in Turkey, the consumption of alcohol increases, in this she is at the forefront amongst the countries of the world. Indecency and fornication spreads and the people`s morals are corrupted.

7. At a time when the state bans people from saying the truth and fact, it allows the publication of books by apostates such as, Salman Rushdie, Aziz Naseen and others, under the slogan of freedom of thought and expression. The society remains apathetic adopting the position of a spectator.

8. In all transactions the orders and prohibitions of Allah are not heeded. All treaties and contracts are concluded on an invalid basis. The haram continues to spread, there is hardly a belly into which a morsel of haram has not entered.

9. Since the period of 28th February and until today the state has incessantly taken decisions under the slogan of what is called fighting against backwardness. They declared a comprehensive war against Islam and the Muslims. This war still continues in all its guises. On the other hand, the society does not support the truth, even to the point of not defending those who do speak the word of truth.

These, in short, are the actions which are undertaken by a handful of the Jews of Dunma (the hidden state) who are in charge of the affairs of this country and afflicting it with a horrible torment. We have noticed the reactions shown by sections of society in terms of the leaders, organisations, wealthy, Ulama and writers that they are not what should be, and that they have not stood in the face of oppression and Munkar as they ought to have done.

The potentials today are plentiful and many, the society has the ability to show its reaction on the level demanded of it in the face of the oppressive group. However, this has not happened. The people are silent, they do not say the truth. They have displayed humiliating and disgraceful attitudes. Thus, this reminder has come to them from Allah (swt):

``And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, certainly, We would have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So we took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.`` [al-A`raf:96]

And He (swt) says:

``And fear the Fitna (affliction, trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong, and know that Allah is Severe in punishment`` [al-Anfal:25]

Abu Dawud has narrated on the authority of Qays b. Abi Hazm: ``That Abu Bakr (r.a.) after he had glorified and praised Allah (swt) he said: O people! You read this ayah but you do not understand it: ``O you who believe! Guard your own souls: If you follow the right guidance none can hurt you from those who have gone astray`` [al-Maida:105] I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ``The people when they see the tyrant and do not restrain his hands, Allah will be about to punish them all``. And I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ``Any people amongst whom sins are committed, and they could change them but they did not (change), Allah will be about to bring a punishment which engulfs all.`` [Abu Dawud: Book of Battles/3775]

And the Messenger of Allah said: ``By the One in Whose Hands my soul rests, you must enjoin the good and forbid the evil or Allah will be about to send upon you a punishment. Then you will make du`a to Him and He will not answer you`` [Ahmad b. Hanbal:22212]

The Messenger said: ``The example of the person abiding by Allah`s order and restrictions in comparison to those who violate them is like the example of those persons who drew lots for their seats in a boat. Some of them get seats in the upper deck, and the others in the lower. When the latter needed water, they had to go up to bring water (and that troubled the others), so they said, `Let us make a hole in our share of the ship (and get water) saving those who are above us from troubling them`. So, if the people in the upper deck left the others to do what they had suggested, all the people of the ship would be destroyed, but if they prevented them, both parties would be safe`` [Bukhari: Book of Partnership/3775]

* O leaders and politicians!: Take heed of what has befallen you, fear Allah and leave your transgression and oppression. And be servants of Allah so that you may gain success. If you do not take heed then perish in your rage. And know that you and your Kufr system will be in the lowest depths of the hellfire. And your end will come at the hands of the Muslims in the immediate future. In shaa Allah.

* O officers and people of responsibility in the army!: Fear Allah and be His servants and not the servants of the republic. Be a guard over the Aqeeda, the source of your power and dignity. Do not be the agents of Shaytan but the army of Allah. Do not be a puppet in the hand of a handful of the Jews of the Dunma but defenders of the Ummah. Know that martyrdom can never be attained except by fighting jihad in the path of Allah to raise the word of truth. Do not shed your blood in vain in the path of Shaytan. Strike on the hands of the Jews of Dunma in the army. Know that if you go with Shaytan your fate will be one of utter loss in the Hereafter.

* O Ulama and Imams!: Fear Allah and do not hide the truth while you know the truth. Or else you deserve the curse of Allah, His Messenger and His angels. Be good Imams to the Ummah and let not your knowledge and establishment of the prayer be a means for earning a living. Do not sell the Ayaat of Allah for a filthy price. Know that the torment of Jahannam is severe and that Power belongs to Allah and not to the republic. Speak the truth and be firm. Do not clothe truth with falsehood. And do not utter what the state has written for you in terms of the Khutbah`s that are filled with Kufr and falsehood from the Minbar on the day of Juma`a. Do not call to falsehood but work for the establishment of Islam, you will attain success in the Dunya and Akhira.

* O leaders of groups!: Fear Allah! Be an example of Taqwa and not disobedience. And instil in the hearts of people the vitality and courage of Iman, not cowardice or fear. Put an end to your obstinacy and do not slacken in applying what Allah has obliged on the Muslims. Work sincerely to establish the Khilafah state, to establish the sovereignty (Hakimiyya) of the deen of Allah and carry the Message of Islam as a guidance to the world. Be among the believers and do not stand as an obstacle between your groups and those believers who are working to establish the rule of Allah on earth by establishing the Khilafah.

* O writers and publishers!: Fear Allah! Let your books be for the truth and do not mix the truth with the falsehood in your books. Do not publish or propagate what the Orientalists and the enemies of the Ummah carry in terms of poisons and diseases.

* O wealthy people of the Ummah and landowners!: Fear Allah and know that whatever you possess will run out and whatever Allah owns will last forever. Defend your deen more than you defend your property. Spend your money in the path of Allah and work, using your wealth, to establish the righteous Khilafah state in order to carry the guidance and light of Islam to the whole world. Fear the Day when no wealth or sons will be of benefit to you.

* O Muslims!: Fear Allah and know your enemy from your friend. And know that this republic is your enemy and the reason for the calamities and disasters that have befallen you. As long as the republic is above your heads you will not be rid of these calamities. It does not attach any importance to you. So in most government circles you see for yourself the bad treatment you face. It keeps raising the price for you. It hates your deen and beliefs and bans you from Allah`s commands, His Messenger and His Book under the slogan of backwardness. Thus, they consider Hijab to be a dress that is incompatible with the time and they prohibit it from entering government circles. The book that you believe in `the Qur`an` they have banned it from being taught to your children. Just as you have witnessed in the recent earthquake, that the Republic was not concerned about your dead or injured. Your dead were left in the courtyards until one could smell their stench. Without any value or respect given to them they were discarded in mass graves using bulldozers! Is it reasonable for a state which does not attach any importance to you while you are living that it should see you as important after you are dead ?! If that is the case, then why do you carry the burden of the Kufr state on your necks?

* O Muslims!: If you desire power, dignity and respect then work for the rule of Allah`s Shari`ah on the earth by establishing the righteous Khilafah. Otherwise your end in the Dunya will be one of dishonour and dismissal from the Mercy of Allah in the Akhira.

Answer the Da`wa carriers who call you to that which will give you life, and lead you to the path of happiness and liberation. Do not listen to those who forbid you from this and do not attach importance to those they call `Ulama` if what they wish is to forbid you from the Call to Allah. Because those people do not fear Allah but fear the state. They will make you fear imprisonment, torture, poverty and hunger. It is incumbent on you, O Muslims, that you do not fear any of these but fear Allah only.

O strange Da`wa carriers who call to Allah!: Have patience and put your trust in Allah and know that Allah is your Helper. And work until you deserve the glad tidings of Allah. And know that Allah does not break His promise. He (swt) says:

``The decision of the matter, before and after is only with Allah. And on that Day, the believers will rejoice. With the help of Allah, He helps whom He wills, and He is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful`` [Rum:4-5]

The Messenger of Allah said: ``Verily, the deen began strange and it will return strange. So, blessed are the strangers who make good what the people after me have corrupted of my Sunnah`` [al-Tirmidhi:Book of Iman/2554] And he said: ``Then there will be a Khilafah on the way of the Prophethood`` [Ahmad b. Hanbal/The book of Kufans:17680]



12 Jumada I 1420

24/8/1999

Hizb ut-Tahrir

Wilaya of Turkey



for more details visit

http://www.khilafah.com.pk

Remember, it also took an earthquake for a good many Greeks and the Turks to realize that the other side wasn`t as made out to be.

Even though this is scary, the only thing worse in magnitude would be a nuclear attack and this is something both sides should realize.

Hopefully...

Thanks very much for this article.

``But you must not underestimate your ability as an individual to help.`` and `` Just trying to be a little more proactive than reactive.``

I like these quotes the most, its great to hear this from someone so young and I salute the interviewer, too.

Incidentally, The New York Times has been covering the earthquake and its aftermath daily in extremely painful detail. Today`s article is at
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/03/world/03QUAK.html and links can be found for the earlier ones.

The very first day, there was a photograph of a young boy 10 years old or so, trying to get his mother(who was no more) out from under the concrete which had fallen on her. I donot think anyone or anybody can ever compensate that child for the world having caved in on him. It also highlighted how frustrating is the inability to assist human being-to human being(rather than merely with cold cash). Umang is extremely courageous and compassionate in that he personlly returned to Gujarat do all he could.

I strongly believe we should take advantage of having a `300 million-strong middle class`( of which 10 million-odd are able to gather in an organized fashion at events like the Kumbh) and train ourselves to be organized and mobilized when needed most, ie in national emergencies.

We should set up a volunteer corp of ordinary citizens trained for emergencies and disasters, perhaps in major towns and cities. This corp could be like a reserve force which would respond swiftly and automatically to emergencies like the Orissa Cyclone and the Gujarat earthquake and provide organized manpower in the earliest moments after such events when the most lives can be saved. This would help supplement government/relief agencies efforts which are usually delayed by breakdown of administration at the site of the disaster, lack of preparedness and procedures and logistics.

Sadhana

Veeresh,

Thanks for the article. It is one thing to read about things in the newspapers. It is another to read about individual suffering in the way described in your write-up. I see one good possibly coming out of this: the two governments have shown they can work together quite easily, and the two leaders have started talking. Let us pray that we see this as the start of a peace and reconciliation process between India and Pakistan. That would not only be a profound memorial to the lives that have been lost, but also a blessing for hundreds of millions of poor people in the sub-continent and for coming generations as well.

Death is misery for the survivors, not for the dead.

This article was heartbreaking.

``Death is not the enemy of life, but its friend,

for it is the knowledge that our years are limited

which makes them so precious.

It is the truth that time is but lent to us which makes us,

at our best, look upon our years as a trust handed

into our temporary keeping.``

-- Joshua Loth Liebman

These are the times when Man is helpless and then the only tool of making survival have a purpose is to pray. I`m really sorry that this happened.

Aisha F Sarwari

Dear YLH . . . I always knew I would salute you. Your youthful exuberance and loyalties will get a wider panaorama someday soon, and I will be your fan regardless of the truth you follow, as long as it is your truth.

Dear Bilal & others . . . please help by writing to Umang c/o veeresh@chowk.com . . . please also help by motivating people to understand that the borders between our countries are so frail . . . nobody is even talking of how cross-border movement by land and by sea in Kutch has opened up totally and informally in the last few days (good or bad, I don`t know . . .)

Hello Everybody . . . this piece was written by our 19 year old daughter Shauravi, childhood classmate and deep friend of Umang Bhattacharya . . . people are welcome to communicate with Umang through me at veeresh@chowk.com and I will pass the messages on to him surely . . . Umang`s response to a friend from a news wire agency on being asked whether they could speak to anybody in Anjar on phone was `` well I know the phone numbers but they are all dead`` (not the phones, which also true, but the people) . . . people who wish to reproduce this article are welcome to do so and I don`t think chowk would have any objection if you please credit chowk . . . no time for tears, YLH, though I like your spirit (every aspect and extreme range of your spirit) please do placing your views on board but do something . . . for the rest, thank you, the tributes should go to Umang and Shauravi . . . in an aside, Shauravi organised and led the first college group from Delhi on ``the bus`` to Lahore in late 1999 and shall probably be back this summer too . . . Umang is back in Anjar.

Veeresh: On belalf of myself and all chowkwallas, please extend our admiration to Umang and other volunteers. They are real human in a sea of men. I salute them.

Umang`s narration and your writing of it is really moving. Thanks for publishing it here.

Sameer

Dear Veeresh,

I really do not have words to say right now .What i read has made me completely speechless.Thank you for such a vivid description.May God have mercy on the people.I think i would like to publish this article in our local news paper. I live in the Pacific Northwest [Canada ], but thought it appropriate to take your permission first. Do let me know how you feel about me doing this, at your earliest convenience.I was very happy to see that people here in my hometown are helping in every capacity.Today there was a bake sale at my son`s school, to raise money for this earthquake .Mind you , in his school probably there are about a handful of Indians and he is the only pakistani boy.It made me feel very good .The children must realise of this catastrophe,and also made to realise from a very early age that to help human sufferings is beyond race and caste .We can encourage them to do fund raising in school, selling lottery tickets , or something like that . The local merchants are always helpful in donating stuff, or i could always do something to that effect,that is not an issue.I completely agree with Faridinkum in reply to #1, that we must not overlook this lightly.It is easy to forget as soon as it disappears from the ``front pages of newspapers ``.Besides my own checks , i will try and get local fund raising from the neighbourhood community .Charity dinners organised in few of the popular restaurants usually have proved very helpful.What some people do is to advertise that this is a fund raising event.They usually do a buffet at cost price , and leave envelopes on each table , for donations .These kind of events in the past have raised quite a sum , especially when there have been cases in the treatment for little kids , which have been out of scope in canada , but a referral has had to be made to the u.s. , which obviously was an expensive alternative to tratment here in canada , where socialised medicine prevails.The end result was that the little girl got her treatment , and mashallah is well and hearty now .Some of you might have read about her case ``Baby Autunmn ``.It was in the news sometimes last year.

Human lives are so precious .I remember once , while visiting a convalescent home ,a geriatric patient of mine, whom unfortunately i had to gently break the news that she had lost a daughter .[her daughter had been suffering from a terminal illness. ] The patient replied to me ``I have 8 children, now 7 , and none to spare ``! so true !

At this stage as i write i can pray for the souls of those who have departed us , and for the courage who have lost near and dear ones in this event, and a support for the ones who have survived the great catastrophe and have been an eyewitness to this gruelling episode.

Inshallah will do all that i can in my humble capacity .

Regards,

Shirin

I never thought I would weep for Indians.

Yasser

Pehlay Aap? Pakistan Calling!

From The Hindustan Times today:

Quake breaks silence: PM, Musharraf talk
Udayan Namboodiri
(New Delhi, February 2)

PRIME MINISTER Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan’s Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Friday held their first ever telephonic conversation marking an end to over 20 months of total absence of high-level contact between the two countries. Musharraf later expressed the hope that this contact would lead to resumption of stalled dialogue between the two countries.

The Gujarat earthquake was the subject of the five-minute conversation. It was General Musharraf who placed the call at 7.10 p.m. He expressed his sympathy at the great loss of life caused by the disaster of January 26.

Vajpayee thanked him for Pakistan`s assistance for the relief effort and said the gesture was ``greatly appreciated by the people of India``. He also assured Musharraf of ``India`s continuing desire to build a good neighbourly relationship with Pakistan``.

The conversation was conducted in a mixture of Hindi and Urdu. Sources in the Prime Minister`s Office said Vajpayee was in ``his usual cheerful mood``.

This was the first contact between Musharraf and Vajpayee after the October 1999 coup in Islamabad. The coup had exacerbated the deep freeze that set in bilateral relationship since the Kargil conflict of May-July 1999.

These two happenings (coup and Kargil) had effectively killed the hopes raised at the beginning of that dramatic year by Vajpayee`s historic bus ride to Lahore.

In the interregnum, India spurned several Pakistani offers of negotiations on the vexed issue of Kashmir made by the Musharraf regime, which toned up its so-called ``diplomatic and moral support`` to the jehadi elements undertaking acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

New Delhi had linked the revival of high level talks to the stoppage of ``export of cross border terrorism and hostile propaganda``. The SAARC Summit, scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in November that year, was put off indefinitely.

Significantly, it was Vajpayee who sent the Capital into a state of anticipation by announcing that a telephonic conversation would be held during the day. He told reporters at a function to release a weekly Urdu journal: ``I will speak to Musharraf on phone and inform him of the magnitude of the devastation.`` But when pointedly asked whether the opportunity would be used to discuss other issues, he said, ``it is at the time of distress that people come together and share grief.``

He once again linked the possibility of resumption of the stalled bilateral dialogue process after the ``right atmosphere`` had been created. ``Violence, killings and terrorism must stop and the climate must be such that fruitful and meaningful parleys can take place.``

He stressed: ``At this juncture the only subject of our talks will be Gujarat. Musharraf wants to express condolence over the death and devastation.``

The Gujarat earthquake of January 26 led to General Musharraf pledging Pakistani support in the form of relief material. After initial ambiguity, India accepted the offer and two planeloads of tents and blankets were dispatched to Ahmedabad by the Musharraf regime. Vajpayee told reporters that more relief material is expected from Pakistan.

Dear Veeresh:

Your piece has once again touch my human sensibility. Please let us know how we could alleviate the current and future difficulties of the earthquake victims.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

I would request Sadna & Mohajir Inc. to keep this thread clean. At least show respect to the dead and dying if you are not capable of doing anything else.

Lashkar-e-Toiba is strictly an Indian problem created solely due to the stubborness, lack of compassion, and gross disregard of human rights by the Indian Government of their own people. I wouldn`t blame LeT for their comments. They are like cats; fragile and timid; but when cats are cornered in claustrophobic (metaphorical) rooms they come right at your eyes.

But this is not the time and place. Try to save people, or help those who are saving people or at least pretend to look sad.

veeresh,

Thanks for putting this together for us.. I don`t have words to express my feelings... my heart goes out to all those who have lost so much in Gujrat. I will do whatever i can to help. indeed, we need to be aware that these people need support on a long term basis and we need to think about what can be done to ensure that they are not left on their own once the news of earthquake dissappears from front pages of newspapers.