What happens between the time the TFG is ousted and a new government is established/takes power? Should the TFG dissolve, it's my belief that Somalia will return to the chaos and lawlessness of the past 16 yrs. A unifying government can only be established when a third/alternative party arises. The diehard TFG-supporters will never support the establishment of another government(w/ elements of the ICU) in Eritrea and likewise the diehard anti-TFGers will never support this government even if the Ethiopians were to leave this very minute. So in a nutshell: TFG dissolves= return to chaos and lawlessness. TFG finishes its term= Ethiopian domination for decades to come. Either way we're screwed. Not necessarily if the TFG takes the advice of the Somali intellectuals who want to see their country prosper then they will realise that reconciliation is the only way. 1) Put a date on the end of the Ethiopian aggression 2) Follow the advice of professor Samater they are very sound I am sure brother Paragon can provide you it. We are in a deep whole that we have dug our self in, last thing we need now is uneducated men who have no vision beyond their shoe lasses to make strategic decision for us. Under Prof Samaters proposal power vacuum will be avoided by giving power to each regions selective elders. On the Issue of Qaybdeed being made chief of police the TFG is trying to patch up a sinking ship. Making a resident of head of the police will not unite the people behind this foreign aided interim government, people are not blind they can see that it is Ethiopia that is flexing muscle in the Capital of Somalia, the sooner they get out of the country the sooner we can reconcile. If they TFG is under hostage then say so and you will see the whole of Somalia unite against these aggressors, but as long as they represent Ethiopia they do not represent Somalia

And if they do not leave their bombardment is justified?, those flyers that Israeli fighter pilots sent down telling people to leave did that justify the heavy destruction of life and infrastructure in that region. Or is there one rule of law for Muslims across the other world and another for Somalis. Make no doubt about it this is an aggression on the part of the Ethiopians and even the TFG is on the ride not knowing where it is going. Abdullah Yusuf and Geedi are nothing more than Hamid Karzai and Nouri al Maliki (at least Al Maliki got voted in by the masses) men whose sole leadership depends on the military assistance of there selective countries enemy. The Ulema, the Intellectuals and the masses in our midst are against this occupation, the sooner that you realise that the wicked men at the helm of the TFG cannot rule the masses by force the sooner the real reconciliation meeting can take place, one with tangible concessions and power sharing. But lets be patience soon you will them leave at the same speed that they came in, willingly or unwillingly.

The indiscriminate bombing and shelling of urban civilian areas regardless of whether there were any fighters there is one of the conditions that qualify, for war crimes to have been committed. The situation is not any different from what happened in Southern Lebanon last year resistance against an occupying force and the foreign force bombed indiscriminately all regions. Just because a minority at the helm of this fallacy of a government invited Ethiopians breaking its own principles that no front line state should be brought into Somalia does not validate the atrocities that occurred and is still occurring. Now you can try to justify all you want that no war crimes where committed but evidence on the contrary has shown that a massacre took place, under international. As for the other periods there is strong evidence that war crimes where committed, but just because it happened in the past is no justification fir the illegal acts by the foreign aggressors on the Capital of Somalia. But then again you try to justify anything to do with this government whether it is right or wrong, even claiming not long ago that there where no Ethiopians in Somalia. Saxib you want peace and normality negotiate and share the slice of the cake or believe me this war will not end, Mighty America for the last 6 years have been unable to maintain Afghanistan and Iraq how will this poor incompetent Ethiopia manage to do something that its masters are unable to do. Salamu alaikum

If the most knowledge and good fearing of us have agreed upon that this is a legitimate resistance then who are we to question it especially when so many of them agree upon the issue. Ps I remember a certain no made had a quote in the lines “certainly the Ulema in our society are furthest away from the tribal issue” It cannot get more black and white, now either you support the sovereignty of Somalia there by supporting the popular resistance or you support those who have collaborated with a foreign enemy

Very strong points that one cannot argue with, Paragon where would such a neutrol place be perhaps one of the Arab states can be of assistant in this case. All in all it seems that the talks where very fruitfull, if in three days they came to an agreement on so many points, and one worth supporting

Looks like we can learn a lot from the ladies in Liverpool

Qat Something to chew over Apr 4th 2007 | WEMBLEY, LONDON From The Economist print edition Trade is booming—and busting up families THE discreet sign and dimly-lit staircase are not promising; nor is the silence that greets your correspondent when he interrupts a dozen Somali men to ask if this is the place to buy qat. But around the back, along a terrace and up another flight of stairs, sits a happy circle of youths, surrounded by discarded plant stems and beaming deliriously. This is a mafresh, where people come to chew the leaves of Catha edulis, a celebrated east African shrub with narcotic properties similar to amphetamine. The leaves, known as qat, contain the stimulants cathinone and cathine, rendering them illegal in America, Canada and most of Europe. Not so in Britain, which treats the plant as a harmless vegetable and allows its unrestricted import, export and sale. This is good news for the country's Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian population, all regular chompers (a third of all Somali adults indulge). Demand from these communities has created a supply chain bringing bundles of stems from Africa to Britain, wrapped in banana leaves to keep them fresh. Their potency declines from the moment of harvest, so suppliers pull out all the stops to get their product into Britain's mafreshi within 24 hours. The scale of the operation is breathtaking. A Home Office report in 2005 found that up to seven tonnes of qat is imported into Britain every day, mainly from Kenya. A 150-gram portion—a single dose—can be bought for £3, which suggests that the British market is worth some £51m a year for 17m hits. Given that the target community numbers fewer than 200,000 (including a lot of children), this is a suspiciously large amount. The government reckons much of the stock is for export to markets where it is illegal—especially America, where a £3 British bundle can fetch ten times that much. Many would-be smugglers are intercepted there at customs, but Britain's soft line means they face no punishment when sent home. Somali women in Britain have long backed a ban, sick of seeing their husbands buzz all night and snooze all day. A survey by Nacro, a crime-reduction charity, found 57% of Somali women thought qat chewers made bad fathers. “My brother does not hold on to jobs because he is up all night chewing,” was one typical response. In the same survey, two-thirds of users admitted they had trouble sleeping and half felt tired or depressed the morning after a session. Despite this, the government last year approved a report recommending that the drug remain legal. Prohibition would raise its price, it was argued, causing organised criminals to move in and wrench the market from local businesses. In any case, the report noted reassuringly, the scourge was limited to Somalis and Yemenis, and there was “no evidence of qat use in the general population”. No need to worry then.

Britain's Somalis Settling in Apr 4th 2007 | TOXTETH, LIVERPOOL From The Economist print edition Things are looking up for Britain's largest refugee community GLOOM had descended on the Lodge Lane Somali Women's Group. The landlord was selling up and the small Liverpool charity did not have enough money to buy him out. Eviction was two weeks away. Then in walked Mariam Gulaid, the group's treasurer, with a bulging carrier bag. Inside was £14,100 in cash, raised in a whirlwind door-to-door collection from local Somalis—“all women,” she adds proudly. They are now on the way to buying the building. Little is known of Britain's Somalis. Even counting them is hard: the 2001 census came up with a total of 43,691, but surveys since then suggest a number nearer 100,000. A century-old trickle of economic migrants became a flood of refugees in the 1980s, increasing in the late 1990s as tens of thousands fled violence. Somalis are now Britain's largest refugee group. News tends to focus on the criminal exploits of their young men, who have acquired a fearsome reputation in some quarters. Reporters might learn more from the women: they are finding their feet, and helping friends and family find theirs. “The men always say that women change when they come to England,” says Mrs Gulaid, who estimates that at least half the women who come through her door are single parents, either through death or, increasingly, divorce. For women, life in Britain means support from the state and, through this, independence from their husbands, she says. Somali men seem to have a bumpier transition. Three-quarters have been to secondary school and one in ten has a degree, but language difficulties and unrecognised qualifications make unemployment the norm. Jill Rutter, a migration researcher at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a think-tank, estimates that 65-70% are out of work. All-night sessions chewing qat also play their part (see article). Down the road from Lodge Lane is the Merseyside Somali Community Association, a men's club. The brightly painted building is more a social venue than the action-oriented women's centre, which means that some men sneak into the women's group for advice. Osman Mohamed, its chairman, says hysteria about terrorism and suspicion directed at groups of black youths have given Somali men a reputation they do not deserve. It is hard to sort fact from fiction, as crime figures are broken down only by broad racial categories. Somalis have made the news for a few ruthless crimes, including the murder of Sharon Beshenivsky, a rookie police officer, in 2005. But police say these villains are unrepresentative. Paul Hurst, a police constable who has patrolled Toxteth's Somali neighbourhood for 21 years (and visited Somalia on a police bursary), reckons a hard core of about 30 Somali youths are active in car crime and low-level drug-dealing in the city. Nonetheless, crime in Somali “Tocky”, as Toxteth is known, is lower than in neighbouring Picton and Wavertree, and light-touch policing has kept the peace. A repeat of the bloody Toxteth riots of 1981, when local Afro-Caribbeans clashed with police, is unthinkable, everyone agrees. The outlook for young Somalis is brightening. Lack of English among newly arrived refugees has prevented progress at school: a 1999 study of students in Camden, north London, found that just 3% got five good GCSE qualifications, compared with 48% of all students (and 21% of refugee children). But as the number of asylum seekers has plummeted, achievement has soared: in 2005 24% of Somalis in Camden got their five good passes. The fall in new arrivals has also damped down clan tensions, often blamed for causing fractures in the community. The Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees, a research body, counts at least 100 Somali organisations in London. Now, Liverpool's various bodies have overcome their differences to form an umbrella group, which is badgering the council for a joint community centre. Image remains crucial, especially to elders who fear their community is unfairly smeared by impostors. Economic migrants from all over east Africa (some of them ethnic Somalis) claim to be from Somalia to boost their chances of gaining asylum: a favourite pastime of British Somalis is spotting the fakes. Hussain Osman, on trial for trying to blow up a London station in July 2005, is considered one of Britain's highest-profile Somalia-born refugees. He may be nothing of the sort. Italian police say he is Hamdi Issac, and Ethiopian

Well the warlords have been pacified and the elders voice seems uniformed lately, I think any sane person would want stability and unity. I think an administration is possible and can be set up very quickly. So the common interest would be to make there region stronger, more economically prosperous and have one voice which has some form of influence in the greater Somalia.

Who lacks the common interest?

I think this is an excellent advice the Southern regions need to organise themselves in the same manner Puntland and Somaliland has. If they pay heed to the advice that has been going on recently they should set up a: Transitional Administration managed by the elders for a period of 1 to 2 years Election should follow where inhabitants in those regions can choose the best candidates. There has not been a better time to do this, the warlords have become powerless and do not pose a threat to such organisation.

“The latter part of the Ummah will never be reformed except by that which reformed the former part” Imaam Maalik bin Anas Over 1400 years ago a message, a away of life was reignited to a people who where the worst of civilisations, their disunity and tribalism hatred would make any society grate full for the little they have as a common denominator. This is a society that subjugated women to basic commodities, the slaves where treated in unbearable circumstances, and a society where infant girls where buried to the extent that when the Khalifah Umar Al Khattab remembers burying his little daughter as she was cleaning the dust of his beard. Islam changed these people from anarchist pagans to the most uniformed and merciful community to ever walk on the face of this globe. The single thing that united these people is their belief in the one God the creator of the heavens and earth and everything in between. These people submitted to the laws sent by their creator to his final messenger Muhammed (saw). Islam through the legislation of the Quran and the Saheeh Sunnah of Allah and his Messenger helped these people to come to a common understanding to a place where disputes are settled and how true are the words of Allah when he says: “But no by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decision and accept them with full submission” [an-Nisaa (4);65] In the current era how true are the words of Imaam ibn Anas when he said reform can only occur by that which reformed their pious predecessors. Sheikh Albaani said this era for Muslims is a time of Purification and cleansing the belief in the one God who created everything it is only then that the necessary steps can be taken to implement the other branches of the faith, Somalia along with all other Muslim nations have become footloose, the basic tenant of the faith the belief in the one God has become a secondary subject, rather this what need to be deeply embedded before other aspect of the faith can be implemented. Tribalism existed long before Somalia was born however Islam abolished it with the single universal message. The Islam made those generations of Muslims the most economically prosperous people in history, it is Islam that pioneered globalisation to the extent that a thousand years ago you could bank a check issued in Andalusia in Indonesia. Trading was wide spread as a consequence of Islam. Islam is the pioneers of education the House of Wisdom in Baghdad is a witness to that, some of the most revolutionary scientifically break through was invented by Muslim scientist and mathematicians, from the camera that you use on your holidays to the soap that you take a shower with every morning. So let us ask our self’s is it because of Islam that Somalia and the rest of the Muslim is in such a pathetic state or the lack of it

May the resistance live until death overcomes us all or the Disbelieving invaders perish at the gates of Somalia

First of all may Allah subxanah wata ala forgive the innocents that have perished in these struggles. secondly the Xabashis that currently reside in our lands was not brought by one clan and we should condemn singling out this particular clan, for they where at the forefront in support of the ICU. The thugs that brought in these aliens are at the helm of this disgrace of a transitional government. These are the same men who ravaged Somalia for the last 17 years. After years of struggle the ICU managed to win over the Capital and pacify it. Xamar had for the first time in almost two decades sustained peace, there was economic prosperity at lower levels, merchants reduced their prices as they did not have to hire security. The first move the Islamic courts took was to acknowledge the government in exile as the sole Governors of Somalia. They asked them to come to the capital city and join their brothers in Islam and manage the fragile nation. Up until this point we where on course. Then the true colours of the barbarians and savages of leaders came out (remember the purpose of the Kenyan conferance, it was to let the warlords who savaged the country run it). First they called the same men who exiled them from xamar to baidoa, second they called the people who invited them to the capital terrorist and now the bitter sweet of their fruits is in xamar. We know who the wrong doers are, they are the ones that came to a city in peace, but as history has proven, you can take a city but to hold it is another story. Inshallah when this episode of Somalia is done along with forgiveness there will just dealing and those that invited our enemies to our lands will be charged by the Highest of Shariah law under treason, and we know the punishment for treason. Salamu alaikum

It seems that every day Somalia is further growing apart, although we have a reconciliation meeting due very soon, I fail to see what fruits it will bear, the posture of all participants seem to contradict the meeting itself. My question is if the meeting fails to reconcile all warring factions in Somalia what next, will the TFG still function, will the South accept their hostile visit and will Somaliland keep on pursuing recognition for independence. An issue that could be discussed is Temporary Separation. Clearly Unification is not in the cards at the moment we are not in post colonial periods where Somalinimo was valued. My suggestion would be a period of 10 year separation under the following conditions: • Mandatory to reunify after the end of the period • The country will divided in three regions (South, Puntland and Somaliland) • A federal state should be adopted after this period. • All hostilities will end in the 10 years • All regions should pursue economic development • There should be trade agreements between the regions where no tariffs and costs are charged against each other. • All regions should compete economically rather than by the barrel of the gun Clearly the current leaderships of all regions are not fit for the purpose of reuniting the country so perhaps in this period when Somalis have experienced a relatively period of calm then we can reconcile one and the other. Perhaps at the end of the 10 years we can reunite willingly like our Muslim brothers of the United Arab Emirates Salamu Alaikum

This a Fatwa by one of the currently leading Islamic Scholar SHeikh Saleh Fawzan on Suicide bombings forgive me folks as i could not copy it to the page however i have attached a link. http://www.fatwa-online.com/fataawa/worship/jihaad/jih004/0030409.htm

Today as I was speaking to a Japanese girl in my class about course works when she got a call from her mum in Tokyo, stating that her best friend had just committed suicide. Prior to that incident I was quite angry that I got a bad grade on one of my assignments. I was shocked about the incident but to my amazement she seemed quite reserved about the issue, I thought it might be because Japanese people have a tendency being conservative, but she said that last year another friend did the same thing. It could never cross my mind on why a human being would kill him/herself regardless of what the issue is, so I asked her why did she do it? She said possibly because she was depressed and possibly because she realised that she does not have a purpose in life. Walahi if I was not grateful for the Raxma of Allah subxana wa tala I am now, although this case even in modern era is a one of incident it does not elude the fact that there human beings out there like me and you who have no hope and despondent in this world and in the next. I had to revaluate my purpose of being Lahamdullilah the source of all light the Quran and the Sahiih sunnah gives me all the answeres. So nomads inshallah stay Muslims and if the thought of jumping off London bridge has ever come across your mind erase it as you have Allah the most merciful and remember that this world is a temporary station Inshallah try and focus most your energy to the hereafter.

There was an article in the economist that talked about the richest countries in the world GDP wise. You are right Bermuda came on top. But the reason behind it is that Wealthy individuals and Multinational Corporations use it as tax haven, Bermuda along with Cyprus, Cayman Islands is well known for their offshore financial systems, perhaps this could explain the reason why it has become so successful in attracting foreign direct investment. I think it is a good by the Bermuda government and one that Somalia can learn from

May Allah Subxanah wa tala reward the Sheikh for his effort and May Allah grant him Jannah. he was one of the fore front purifiers of the Hadeeth in the modern era with other great scholars such Sheikh Albani, Sheikh uthaymeen and Sheikh Bin Baz

I must say I found it kind of interesting whether it is true or not can only be proven by scientific facts until then I will not speculate whether my great grand father was Fredrik Larsson

That’s just shows you that SHIRK the greatest crime is creeping back into all societies. It is for us Muslims to go back to the source of light, the root of Islam in order to eradicate the entire idol worshipping which include worshipping of dead Sheikhs. We need to go back to the Quran and the Sunnah and the way the Prophet and his companions understood it Tawheed, brothers and sisters to acknowledge that “there is no deity to be worshiped but Allah”.

Salamu Aliakum Folks this article is quite lengthy and I usually try and avoid posting long articles but I think it is very important. If you have time read it We would like to explain that the message of the Messengers, from the first of them which is Nooh (’alayhis-salaam), to the last of them which is Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam); all of them called to Tawheed. Allaah the Exalted said: “And We have not sent before you any Messenger, except that We revealed to him that there is no deity worthy of worship except Me, so worship Me.” [sooratul-Anbiyaa‘ 21:25] And Allaah the Exalted said: “And indeed We sent to every nation a messenger saying: Worship Allaah, and leave off the false deities.” [sooratun-Nahl 16:36-37] That is to say that the creation were created by One, and He is Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. He created them for His worship, and to attach their hearts to it, and for His deification (ta‘aaliha) and exaltation (ta’dtheem) and fear (khawf) and hope (rajaa‘) and trust (tawakkul) and fervent desire (raghbah), and dread (rahbah); until one withdraws from everything related to the worldly life, not preferring them over the Tawheed of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic in any of these affairs. So because you are part of the creation, then it is inevitable that you refer to your Creator, in heart and soul, and in everything. Due to this, the call (da’wah) of the Messengers (’alayhimus-salaam) was to the magnificently important matter of the worship of Allaah alone, without any partners. It is not possible that Allaah the Mighty and Majestic sent the Messengers to mankind to call to Tawheedur-Ruboobiyyah only, but to Tawheedul-Uloohiyyah also. That is because those who denied Tawheedur-Ruboobiyyah were very few; to the extent that those who denied it did not feel this denial to be possible in the depths of their hearts, except that their intellects knew of it, and recognized it, but they rejected it due to pride. Indeed the scholars have divided Tawheed into three categories: THE FIRST CATEGORY: TAWHEEDUR-RUBOOBIYYAH: This is the singling out of Allaah in three matters: in creation (khalq), and mastership (malak), and management (tadbeer). The proof for that is the statement of Allaah the Exalted: “Indeed His is the creation and the command.” [sooratul-A’raaf 7:54] There is a proof found in this aayah in that its predicate proceeds the One who is entitled to delay. And the principle of literary composition is that beginning the nominal clause with that which is supposed to come after. The principle of literary composition (balaaghah) is that beginning with that which deserves to be delayed implies absolute restriction. Then reflect upon the introductory term in this aayah, ‘alaa’ (Indeed) which implies extra notice and special emphasis. “Indeed His is the creation and the command.” So it is not for anyone other than Him, so this creation and the command is supreme management (tadbeer). As for absolute domination (al-malak), then the proof for it resembles the statement of Allaah the Exalted: “And for Allaah is the absolute domination of the heavens and the earth.” [sooratul-Jaathiyah 45:27] So verily this proves that Allaah the Glorified and Exalted alone has the right of absolute domination, and just like the last aayah, this one also begins with that which deserves delay. So therefore, the Lord – the Mighty and Majestic – is to be singled out alone with the qualities of creation (al-khalq), absolute domination (al-malak) and supreme management (tadbeer). So if you say: How do you reconcile between what you have just mentioned, and the fact that the ability of creation is found amongst other than Allaah? Take for example the statement of Allaah the Exalted: “So blessed is Allaah, the best of creators.” [sooratul-Mu‘minoon 23:14] And similar to this is what is found in the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in regards to the picture-makers: “It shall be said to them: Bring to life whatever you have created.” [2] And similar to this is the statement of Allaah the Exalted in the hadeeth qudsee: “And who is more oppressive than the one who resorts to creating the likeness of My creation?” [3] So how do you reconcile between your statement that Allaah is alone in His creating and between what these texts stipulate? So the answer it to say: that the creation has been created out of nothing, and this is something specific for Allaah the Exalted. As for altering something to another form, then this is not truly creating, even if it is called ‘created’ with the expression of organization. However, in reality, this is not a total creation. So for example, this carpenter makes a door out of wood, so it is said: he created a door. However, this product was fashioned from that which was created by Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. It is not possible for the people, whatever level of capability they may have reached, to create the branch of a tree, nor to create an atom, nor to create an atom. Listen to the statement of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic: “O people! An example is presented, so listen to it. Verily those whom you call upon besides Allaah will never create as much as a fly, even if they gathered together for it. And if the fly should steal something from them, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and the pursued.” [sooratul-Hajj 22:73] “...those whom...” This is a comprehensive term covering everything that is called upon besides Allaah from trees, rocks, human beings, kings and other than them. Everything that is called upon besides Allaah “will never create as much as a fly, even if they gather together for it.” And if everyone is singled out by that, then their weakness will be singled out by that, “if the fly steals something from them, they could not recover it from him.” So if a fly steals something from those who are called upon besides Allaah, they are not capable of recovering it from this weak fly. If a fly comes across the most powerful king in the world and takes a sip from his drink, it is not possible for the king to take out his drink from this fly. Likewise, if it comes across his food. So therefore, Allaah the Mighty and Majestic alone is the creator. So if you say: how do you reconcile between your statement that Allaah is alone in Kingship (malak), [4] and the affirmation of kingship for the creation? For example, Allaah the Exalted said: “Or those whose keys you possess (malak).” [sooratun-Noor 24:61] “Except from their wives, or those whom their right hands possess (malak).” [sooratul-Mu‘minoon 23:6] So the answer is that they can be reconciled from two angles: Firstly, the sovereignty (malak) of men over something is not complete and comprehensive. So I have sovereignty of that which is in my possession, but I do not have sovereignty of that which is in your possession. So Allaah the Mighty and Majestic is sovereign over everything. So everything is included under the sovereignty of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic in its entirety. Secondly, my mastery over this thing is not true mastery where I can do with it whatever I wish. I can only do with it that which I have been commanded to by the Sharee’ah. So the true Master is Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. If I exchange one dirham for two dirhams, I do not have the authority (malak) to do that, nor is that lawful for me. So therefore, my mastery (malak) is deficient. Also, I do not have mastery over anything in terms of full capability to do to it what I please, because such a capability (qudrah) is (only) for Allaah. So it is not possible for me to say to my ill servant: ‘Be cured,’ so he becomes cured. And it is not possible for me to say to my healthy servant: ‘Be ill,’ so he becomes ill. Rather, the true ability to change things is for Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. So is He says to him: ‘Be cured,’ he will be cured, and if He says to him: ‘Be ill,’ he will be ill. So therefore, I do not have the ability to change the affairs absolutely, neither in terms of the Sharee’ah, nor in terms of ability. So my mastery (malak) here is deficient in terms of being able to change things, and it is deficient in terms of being able to change things, and it is deficient in terms of being universal and all-encompassing. So with that, it becomes clear to us how Allaah the Mighty and Majestic his to be singled out in His Mastery (malak). My power of tadbeer does not cover everything, I have the power of tadbeer over that which is under my authority and possession. Likewise, my power of tadbeer only does not occur, except upon that which is in conformity to what the Sharee’ah have made permissible for me in this tadbeer. So from this moment, it becomes clear that our statement that ‘Allaah the Mighty and Majestic is to be singled out alone in khalaq (creation), malak (absolute domination), and tadbeer (supreme management),’ is fully absolute and eternal. There is nothing excluded from that because everything that we have mentioned does not contradict what has been affirmed from that. THE SECOND CATEGORY: TAWHEEDUL-ULOOHIYYAH: This is the singling out of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic in worship, so as not to become a servant to other than Allaah. No king is to be worshipped, nor any Prophet, nor any saint, nor any scholar, nor a mother, nor a father; no one is to be worshipped except Allaah alone. So Allaah the Mighty and Majestic alone is to be singled out in deification and worship, and due to this it is called, Tawheedul-Uloohiyyah (the oneness of Allaah in deification), or it is named, Tawheedul-’Ibaadah (the oneness of Allaah in worship). So by expressing it in connection to Allaah, it becomes Tawheedul-Uloohiyyah, and by expressing it in connection to the worshipper, it becomes Tawheedul-’Ibaadah. So worship is built upon two great matters, they are love (mahabbah) and exaltation (ta’dtheem), the result of them is: “Verily they used to hasten towards good deeds, and they used to supplicate to Us in hope (raghbah) and fear (rahbah).” [sooratul-Anbiyaa‘ 21:90] So mahabbah (love) can be raghbah (hope), and exaltation (ta’dtheem) can be dread (rahbah) and fear (khawf). Due to this, worship consists of commands and prohibitions: the commands are built upon hope and seeking to reach the Commander; the prohibitions and are built upon exaltation and dread of this Magnificent One. So if I love Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, I hope in what is with Him, and I hope to reach Him, and I seek the path that will get me to Him, and I obey His instructions completely. When I exalt Him, I come to fear Him, and I decide to obey Him, I become cognizant of the Magnificence of the Creator, the Mighty and Majestic, so I avoid disobedience. “Indeed she was determined to seduce him, and he would have been inclined to her, had he not seen the proof of his Lord. That was how We averted evil and immorality from him.” [soorah Yoosuf 12:24] So this is from the favour of Allaah upon you, that when you resolve to become involved in disobedience, you will find Allaah in front of you. So you wake up and you become fearful, and you distance yourself from disobedience, because you worship Allaah with hope and fear. So what is the meaning of al-’Ibaadah? Worship is applicable to two matters: to the action, and the one for whom the action is done. It is applied to the action that is a form of worship (ta’abbud), so it is said: The man worshipped his Lord with ’ibaadah and ta’abbud and we use ‘ta’abbud’ by way of using the verbal noun upon the infinitive. And we know that by expressing its application upon the action, it refers to: Being subservient to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic in love and exaltation, by acting upon His commands, and avoiding His prohibitions. Whoever is subservient to Allaah honours Allaah. “And the honour is for Allaah and His Messenger.” [sooratul-Munaafiqoon 63:8] And the definition (of worship) is applied to the object of it, that is: the one who is worshipped by it. It is with this meaning that we come to know that Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah came to know when he said: “Worship (al-’ibaadah) is a collective noun comprising of everything that Allaah loves and is pleased with from statements and actions, outward or inward.” [5] So it is obligatory that this thing that we worship Allaah with be made for Allaah alone, and that it is not to be directed to other than Him, such as Prayer, fasting, zakaat (alms), Pilgrimage, supplication, vows, fear and trust and other than these from the acts of worship. So if you say: What are the proofs that Allaah is to be singled out with Uloohiyyah? So the answer is that there are many proofs, from them is the statement of Allaah the Exalted: “And We did not send a messenger before you, except that We revealed to him that there is no deity worthy of worship, except Me, so worship Me.” [sooratul-Anbiyaa‘ 21:25] “And indeed We sent to every nation a messenger saying: Worship Allaah and avoid the false deities.” [sooratun-Nahl 16:36] And there is also the statement of Allaah the Exalted: “Allaah bears witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, and so do the Angels and the People of Knowledge.” [soorah Aali-’Imraan 3:18] So this is a clear proof that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allaah, and you must testify that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allaah. This is the true testification. If a person says: How do you reconcile this with the fact that Allaah affirms other deities besides Himself, as is found in the statement of Allaah the Exalted: “And do not call upon other deities along with Allaah.” [sooratun-Nisaa‘ 4:88] And like the statement of Allaah: “Whoever calls upon another deity along with Allaah, he has no proof for it.” [sooratul-Mu‘minoon 23:117] And like the statement of Allaah: “And they were not availed at all by their deities which they called upon besides Allaah.” [soorah Hood 11:101] And like the statement of Ibraaheem: “Do you desire falsehood as gods besides Allaah?” [sooratus-Saaffaat 37:86] And there are other aayaat, so how do you reconcile between this and the testification that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allaah? So the answer is that uloohiyyah for anyone other than Allaah is an uloohiyyah of falsehood, it exists in name only. “These are not but mere names you have named them with – you and your forefathers – for which Allaah has sent down no authority.” [sooratun-Najm 53:23] So the deification of these deities is falsehood and they are only worshipped and deified by those who are ignorant. So they are not true deities, but they are still worshipped, so they become deities that are worshipped, but they are still deities of falsehood. “That is because Allaah is the truth, and those whom you call upon besides Allaah are falsehood.” [soorah Luqmaan 31:30] So these are two categories from the categories of Tawheed, which no one from amongst the people of the Qiblah who ascribes himself to Islaam rejects, nor opposes. However, there have come out from amongst the people who call for the deification of a human being, such as the extremist Raafidah for example. They say that ’Alee (radiyallaahu ’anhu) is a deity; as their ringleader – ’Abdullaah Ibn Saba‘ – claimed when he came to ’Alee Ibn Abee Taalib, and he said to him: ‘You are Allaah in truth!’ However, ’Abdullaah Ibn Saba‘ was originally a Jew who entered into the Religion of Islaam in order to call to the following (tashee’) of the Ahlul-Bayt (the Family of the Prophet), so as to mislead the people of Islaam from their Religion. Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) said: “This is just like what Paul fabricated when he entered into the Religion of Christianity in order to corrupt the Religion of the Christians.” [6] This man, ’Abdullaah Ibn Saba‘ said to ’Alee Ibn Abee Taalib (radiyallaahu ’anhu): ‘You are Allaah in truth,’ and ’Alee Ibn Abee Taalib was not pleased that anyone should raise him above his status, to the extent that ’Alee Ibn Abee Taalib, due to his equity, justice, knowledge and well-acquainted, used to say in his sermons: “The best of this Ummah after its Prophet is Aboo Bakr, then ’Umar.” [7] He used to make this statement publicly in the Friday sermons. Indeed this has been related concurrently (tawaatur) form him, and how can one says this and affirms that his family is from the human race, be pleased that it be said to him: Verily you are Allaah?! So due to this, they were censured with the severest censure. He commanded that trenches be dug, so they were dug, then they were filled with wood and it was ignited. Then he came to the people and threw them into the fire and burned them in it because their falsehood was great and not insignificant, and refuge is sought with Allaah. And it is said that ’Abdullaah Ibn Saba‘ escaped and was not captured. The important thing is that ’Alee Ibn Abee Taalib (radiyallaahu ’anhu) burned the Saba‘iyyah in the fire because they called upon him in uloohiyyah. So we say: Whosoever is from amongst the people of the Qiblah, he does not deny these two categories of Tawheed; and they are: Tawheedur-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheedul-Uloohiyyah, even though there may exist some from amongst the people of innovation who deify human beings. TAWHEEDUL-ASMAA‘ WAS-SIFAAT: This is a matter concerning which, many have entered into war. So the people can be divided into three categories with respect to it. So the people can be divided into three categories, and they are: mumaththal (one who resembles Allaah to something from His creation) mu’attil (one who denies the Attributes of Allaah) and the mu’tadah (one who is moderate). And the one who denies (mu’attil) is either a liar or a distorter. And the first innovation that was innovated into this Ummah was the innovation of the Khawaarij, because their leader revolted against the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). He was Dhul-Khuwaysirah from the tribe of Tameem. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was dividing up the booty that had come. So he divided in up amongst the people, so this man said to him: O Muhammad! Be just! [8] So this was the first revolt (khurooj) that was revolted against the Sharee’ah of Islaam. Then their fitnah became great at the end of the Caliphate of ’Uthmaan, and during the fitnah that took place between ’Alee and Mu’aawiyah. So the Muslims were declared to disbelievers and their blood was made lawful. Then the innovation of the Qadariyyah was invented, they are the Magians of this Ummah, they are those who say: Allaah the Glorified and Exalted did not pre-decree the actions of the servants, and that they do not enter into the Will of Allaah, and that their actions were not created. Rather, their leaders and extremists say that these things are not known aforehand by Allaah, and that it is not written in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawhul-Mahfoodth), and that Allaah does not know what the people will do until they do it. And they say, that this is a matter of rejection, and these people were known in the later stages of the Companions (radiyallaahu ’anhum). So indeed they became known in the time of ’Abdullaah Ibn ’Umar (radiyallaahu ’anhu) and ’Ubaadah Ibn Saamit and a group from the Companions, but they were in the last stages of the Companions. Then the innovation of irjaa‘ was invented, and it became known in an age where many of the taabi’een were alive. So the Murji‘ah are those who say that eemaan (faith) is not harmed by disobedience! If he asks you whether you are a Believer and you say yes, he says to you that disobedience does not harm your eemaan. You can fornicate, steal and drink intoxicants, and kill, yet you will remain a Believer, so you are a Believer who is complete in eemaan, even if you commit all types of disobedience. However, Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said that when the speech of the Qadariyyah and the Murji‘ah was refuted by the remaining Companions, it was in regards to obedience and disobedience, and the Believers and the faasiq (disobedient one), they did not speak about their Lord and His Attributes. So there came a people from amongst those who are extremely intelligent, those who call to giving the intellect precedence over the Revelation. So they uttered a statement that was in between two statements – the statement of the Murji‘ah, and the statement of the Khawaarij – they said that the one who commits a major sin is not a Believer, and he is not a disbeliever as the Khawaarij say. Rather, he is at a level between two levels; like a man travelling from one city to another. So he is travelling along the path, so he is not in his city, nor is he in the city he is travelling to. Rather, he is at a level between two levels, this is in regards to the rules and regulations of this world. As for the affair of the Hereafter, then such a person will reside in the Hereafter forever, so they are in agreement with the Khawaarij with regards to the Hereafter. However, they oppose them in the life of this world. This innovation emerged and spread, then the oppressive innovation of the Jahmiyyah came about, and it is the innovation of Jahm Ibn Safwaan and his followers, and they are called the Jahmiyyah. This is an innovation that was invented, and it is not connected to names and regulations, a Believer or a disbeliever, or a disobedient one, nor does it refer to a level between two levels. Rather, it is connected to the Essence (dhaat) of the Creator. Look at how the innovations vary in degrees in Islaam, to the extent that they reach the Creator the Mighty and Exalted. And they place the Creator at a level of the creation, they say whatever they wish. So they say that this affirmed for Allaah, and this is not affirmed, and this is acceptable to the intellect to describe Allaah with, and this is not acceptable to the intellect to describe Allaah with. So the innovation of the Jahmiyyah and the Mu’tazilah was invented. So in regards to the Names and Attributes of Allaah, they are divided into various categories: [1]: One category say that it is not permissible for us to ever describe Allaah, neither with existence (wujood), nor with absence (’adam), because to describe Allaah with wujood necessitates resembling the other things that exist, and to describe Him ’adam necessitates resembling Him to other things that are absent, and it is upon the person to negate existence and absence from Him and whatever is related to that. So he resembles the Creator to the lawful and unlawful affairs, because existence and absence are two opposites, and opposites do not unite. So all of the intellects of the children of Aadam would reject this, they would not accept it. So look at how they run away from something only to fall into that which is worse than it! [2]: And another category of people describe Him with negation (nafee), not with affirmation (ithbaat); meaning, that they go to the extent of negating the Attributes from Allaah the Glorified and Exalted. They do not affirm anything, meaning that we cannot say that He is Ever-Living (al-Hayy), we can only say that He is not dead. And we cannot say that He is the All-Knowing (al-’Aleem). Rather, we must say that He is not ignorant and so on. They say that if we affirm something for Him, we have then resembled Him to the creation, because they claim that everything that exists can be resembles to Him. So nothing can affirmed for Him. As for negation, then they claim that they (the Attributes) are absent, even though He is present in the Book and the Sunnah in regards to the Attributes of Allaah and being much more in affirmation than negation. It is to be said to them, that Allaah says about Himself, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing! They say that this is by way of attributions, meaning hearing is attributed to Him, not because He is to be described with it, but because the creation hears. So this is by way of attributions, so ‘All-Hearing’ does not mean that He hears. Rather, He perceives audibly. A second group has emerged, they say that such descriptions necessitate describing Allaah with His creation, and they do not describe Him in such a way. According to them, none of these things can be affirmed for Allaah. [3]: The third category affirms Names for Him, but not Attributes, and these people are the Mu’tazilah. They affirm the Names of Allaah, they say that Allaah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing, Fully Capable, All-Knowing and Wise. However, He is Fully Capable without ‘capability,’ All-Hearing without the faculty of hearing, All-Seeing without the faculty of sight, All-Knowing without ‘knowledge’ and Wise without the faculty of wisdom. [4]: Then there is a category of people who affirm the True Attributes for Him, meaning that they affirm the Attributes that agree with the intellect and they reject the rest. They only affirm seven Attributes for Him, and they reject the rest by tahref (distortion), not by takdheeb (denial), because if they reject them though takdheeb, then they would have disbelieved. However, they reject them through tahreef, and it is what they call ta‘weel (figurative interpolation). They seven Attributes that they accept have been collected in the following verses of poetry: ‘He is the Ever-Living (hayaat), He has Speech (kalaam), and Sight (basar); Hearing (sama’), Will (iraadah), knowledge (’ilm) and Might (iqtadar).’ So they affirm these Attributes because they agree with the intellect, and (they believe that) the rest of the Attributes do not agree with the intellect. They oppose whatever the intellect dos not agree with. So these are the Ashaa’irah, they believe in some of the Attributes and disbelieve in others. So these are categories of ta’teel (rejection) in the Names and Attributes, and all of them branch off from the innovation of al-Jahm, “And whosoever enacts a sinful practice in Islaam, then h carries its burden and the burden of those who follow him, until the Day of Judgement.” [9] So the result – dear brothers – is that they study the works of a people who meant to gather the statements of the people concerning this affair so that they may see the strangest of things. There are those who say, ‘How can an intelligent person – let alone a Believer – utter the likes of these words?!’ However, the one who does not make a light for Allaah, then he cannot have a light! They are those whom Allaah has blinded from insight, just like the one whom He blinded from sight. So just as the blind one will not see the light from the sun, even though he may be standing in front of it, then likewise, the one whom Allaah has blinded in insight will not see the light of the truth, even though he may be standing in front of it, and refuge is sought with Allaah. So due to this, it is always befitting for us to ask Allaah for steadfastness upon the affair, and that He does not allow our hearts to deviate after having guided us, because the affair is dangerous. So Shaytaan will enter upon the son of Aadam in every circumstance and from every direction, and he will cause him to have doubt concerning his ’aqeedah (belief) and his Religion, and in the Book of Allaah and in the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). So this is the reality of the innovations that have spread amongst the Ummah of Islaam. However, not a single innovation has been innovated, except that Allaah has exchanged it with His blessing and nobility by exposing this innovation and refuting it with the truth. And this is from the completeness of the statement of Allaah the Blessed and Exalted, “Verily We have revealed to you the Reminder, and We shall preserve it.” [sooratul-Hijr 9] So this is one of the ways in which Allaah preserves the Reminder and this also demonstrates the wisdom of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, because Allaah the Exalted has made the Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) the last of the Prophets. The message however, must inevitably remain upon the earth, so that it can be a proof for the people in front of Allaah. So therefore, there is no escape from the fact that the message will remain upon the earth. It is a necessary demonstration of the wisdom of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic that every innovation will be exposed and uncovered. So this is the result and it is due to this that I always say to you, hasten towards knowledge, because we will have a future in this country if we do not arm ourselves with knowledge that is built upon the Book and the Sunnah, or else we will fall into making lawful that which Islaamic countries other than ours have made lawful. Right now, this country is the one in which the enemies of Islaam have set up ground and exerted pressure upon, in order to misguide its people. So due to that, arm yourselves with knowledge until you are upon a clear path with regards to the affair of your Religion, and until you wage a war with your tongues and your pens against the enemies of Allaah the Glorified and Exalted. So all of these innovations spread after the Companions. So the Companions were not fully aware of these affairs, because they took the Book and the Sunnah upon their apparent meanings and upon what the fitrah (natural inclination of every human being) necessitates, and the sound fitrah is secure. However, these innovators came and innovated into the Religion of Allaah whatever they innovated; either due to their little knowledge, or due to their faulty understandings, or due to their evil intentions. So they brought about corruption in the world through these innovations which they innovated. However, as we said, an innovation has not come about, except that Allaah the Exalted, through His wisdom, praiseworthiness, sufficiency and excellence, has exchanged, refuted and exposed it. http://www.troid.org/articles/aqeedah/tawheed/comprehensive/thetawheed.htm

MAKKAH, 16 February 2007 — In a unique sting operation involving police from both Makkah and Madinah, a Nigerian black magician was arrested here yesterday. According to police, the sorcerer, thought to be one of the most dangerous in the Kingdom, claimed he could locate hidden treasures from the ground, provide unhappy people with happiness and increase sums of money through the mere touch of his hand. Officers received reports that a Nigerian man called Sheikh Zubair was practicing black magic. Reports stated that the man was charging people SR10,000 for a single spell and that he would travel the Kingdom practicing his dark art. Secret police were able to locate the man in Madinah and laid a shrewd plan to arrest him red-handed. An officer telephoned Sheikh Zubair pretending to want a quick way to become rich. “The officer told Sheikh Zubair that he had heard of his excellent magic powers and that he would pay him anything to use his magic for his personal benefit. He also told him to put a spell on his first wife because she objected to him taking a second wife,” said a police source. “Sheikh Zubair comforted the officer and told him he would do everything he wants him to do. The officer told Sheikh Zubair that he would even provide him with housing in Makkah if he chose to come,” the police source added. Subsequently, the magician said he would inform the officer of his date of arrival. Police officers did not call the man to avoid making him suspicious and after three days the sorcerer contacted the undercover policeman to say he was coming to Makkah. Sheikh Zubair and his assistant met the undercover policeman just outside Makkah. The officer then took both men to a house where police were lying in wait. “He promised the officer that he would make his first wife go to his second wife and ask her hand in marriage. He even told him that he would help him find treasure worth half a million riyals hidden underneath his house. For the services he demanded SR10,000,” said the police source. Inside the house, the magician began taking out his equipment and papers with strange writing on them. “As soon as he began his spells, police moved in and arrested him,” said the police source, adding that the two magicians did not even have valid residence permits. Arab News spoke to Sheikh Zubair who admitted he was dabbling in magic. “I’ve earned a lot of money in Saudi Arabia. There are enough ****** here to trick and make money from,” he said, adding that he has earned over SR400,000 from practicing black magic in the Kingdom way the go

Khayr you bring the same argument that the mutazilla brought to Ahmed ibn Hanbal (ra). Their argument was that Quran was created therefore it cannot be perfect. Sheikh Hanbal and many of the other leading Ulema refuted their heretic views by making the single claim that the Quran is the words of Allah. I think you are getting confused between Muslims and Islam. It is true that Muslims are not perfect and can never gain that perfection but by sticking to the Quaran and the Sahih Sunnah they can do their best and with the Raxma of Allah Inshallah they will be saved. How ever Islam is different my friend it is the perfect way of life and thank you brother Taliban I was looking for that verse, Khayr the Quran itself refutes your argument Asala,u Alaikum

Asalamu Alaikum Brother and sisters this religion is perfect it was perfected over 1400 years ago. And is something comprehensively flawless and complete it does not need, upgrading, updating or anything that removes or adds to it. Now that we understand that Islam is perfect and that the Quran and the Sahih Sunnah is infallible the question is how we practice. do we faith practice it with our own understanding which can lead to innovation or do we practice it in the manner that the messenger (saw) and those closest to him practised. When the Prophet says the saved sect are those that are upon what I am upon and that which my companions are upon it is a fundamental statement it tells you that there is no other way of being saved apart from that of the prophet and his companions. The prophet (saw) said be aware and beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and all misguidance is in the Fire.”