Modern Wars

War, Victory, Expanding territories, Dominate, Rule all the lands, War Booty what these words mean to you in today’s world?

How to define these words? Has the definition still the same, may be literally, but what about in terms of tools, means and strategies.

Until few centuries ago, a war was a fight between Armies of two nation one defending and other attacking at the borders, with intentions of a chance to expand territory, dominate cultural aspects and rule the land of the losing nation.   And also to take over their wealth, diminish their culture and religion, create policies that they go way back into past in terms of development, un arming the nation so that they wont rise again, And slaughter whomever they want (mostly leaders and educated class so that they cant find a guidance to unite and prosper as a nation again).

The tools were swords, axes and man muscle  and strategy was simply take other down with force and power in a combat where a person riding an elephant with great muscle and a strong spear may win over a man on a horse with a sword. Those wars were easy to fight and strategies were quite simple. Muslims, in those times, had the power of their faith and desire of Shahdat to boost their Moral, giving an extra edge over the enemy.

Well this is 2011 the intentions and motivation behind war are still the same but what about the means. Our so called Jihadist group, Ulemas and Shaikhs are still stuck at the very thought of fighting the war same as in medieval times, just replacing swords with AK-47.

But times have changed, Just consider a below picture;

That’s a very small stall of Star bucks right outside Masjid-e-Nabvi (Prophet’s Mosque). This small stall is more effective than an army of 10 thousands. How  ?

Well first, we need to know that this territory is a Muslim only territory. In this region, non-Muslims are prohibited. Saudi Arabia has applied this rule strictly.  OK lets think for a second why would a non-Muslim would like to enter Medina. May be for trade, influence locals or may be prove their superiority.

Well a small star buck stall is enough for that.

Let us check some facts, ‘Starbucks’ is owned by Howard Schultz, an American Jew. In 1998, Schultz was awarded the "Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award" from the Jerusalem Fund of Aish Ha-Torah for "playing a key role in promoting a close alliance between the United States and Israel",also for his service and handsome donations it made for the Israeli establishment. 

Now Let us see how this small stall is affecting Muslims of the whole world (as Muslims from all over the world visit Medina):

1. It is influencing the culture of Muslims for example, making them believe, a cappuccino is much better than their local drinks and tea.
2. Money earned any where in the Muslim world is invested into an organization that gives a part of its profit to Israel establishment. Thus, your money is invested in-directly in Israeli establishment.

Now if you analyze, what I have mentioned above, the Non Muslims (who are not allowed to enter Medina) have achieved all their goals without even stepping a foot on Medina soil. Now imagine what affect does Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy(regarding not accepting Israeli establishment) has, when Money of Muslim(from all over the world) is being invested in Israel. Along with bonus of influencing Muslim cultures.

These are the new ways of winning a war, which, unfortunately our Muslim leaders fail to understand. To win a war now we need to focus on long term plans/strategy and need to replace AK 47 with high class education/research labs. In today's time weapons can only be used for destruction and not achieving the actual goals of War.

Osama or Obama

Osama’s Dead…….

What does that mean to us being a Muslim?

Every one since 2 days has the same discussion, some say it’s a hoax, some say its Obama’s strategy for upcoming election, and some say it’s true, for some it was ISI hiding him. It’s big news especially for



Americans and Pakistani, but being a Muslim what does this news mean?

Should I be happy, sad or simply ignore it.



 It’s a very grey domain especially for me because being a Muslim when I turn to Islamic scholars I get no



President Obama and his team



proper guidance, for Ulemas and Sheikhs sponsored by government he was a terrorist, a figure that tarnished the image of Islam, some one who interpreted the Hadiths wrongly, and used Quranic ayats for his own benefits. But then when you turn to Anti-Government and Anti-West Ulemas, he was a holy warrior, the true leader of Muslims, he was the true representative of Muslims who are suffering in the world like Palestine, Kashmir e.t.c.





Both parties use Islamic references Hadiths, Ayats, Stories of Sahabas and early Islamic leaders and warriors.

If Islam is a true religion and is for all the time and worlds, no matter how modern or backward the era gets, then why do we have these contradictions.

Where is the problem?

Why can’t I decide to be Happy, Sad or even ignore it?



Because, if I will be happy, that would mean the victory of western media, ideology and victory of the concept that what ever they say is true , what ever the western media is injecting into our minds is true and we should believe it with a close eye. Why I think that is because he was never trialed, prosecuted and he denied planning it several times. Watching movies like loose change and Fahrenheit 9/11 makes me believe that it’s an inside Job.





People celeberating Death of Osama in U.S.A



If I will be sad over his assassination then I feel like betraying millions of innocent lives (whether they were Christians or Muslims) that were lost during these 10 years. Also it would mean that I approve of his ways or methodologies to fight a war. There are so many practices associated with him that I simply cannot approve or accept in my life.



Or if I will ignore it, my inner self will not be at ease, thinking that I am a fool who is not aware of the tricks being played on him, for example, there is a possibility that he was CIA trained Agent who was assigned this task to create such circumstances to control Pakistani politics and nuclear assets, as Israel consider any strong, armed Muslim state to be a threat. America has played the same strategy with Russia and has used CIA trained Osama; America could use him again against Pakistan. But again these are all theories. No proof just theories of minds. Some people see glass half full, some see it half empty.



What is this confusion doing to Muslim world?

This confusion is causing Muslims to divide, Now Muslim world is divided into three groups, happy, sad and don’t care.



Now what will happen (which is the most dangerous out come of this confusion) is that these groups will try to fight with each other with all possible means they have, to impose and prove their ideology? You will see more talk shows with in intelligent educated groups, more suicide bombing and killing of innocent Muslims with in, already fragile, Muslim countries, and more protests. Intense increase in differences with in different sects of Islam, who are already fighting and are away from each other, in one way or the other.



And every Muslim is supposed to look up to Islam for an answer, as Islam is a religion for every time, era and situation.  Islam does guide us as mentioned in the below Quranic verse.

“And hold tight to the rope of Allah and divide not,” [Ale-Imran: 103],

No matter what the situation is, no matter how confuse you are. You should always remember one



Circled Red is young Osama Bin Laden in U.S.A

thing we all are Muslims, no matter what our sect, race, country and culture is, we must never go against our other Muslim brother. We always have to stay united. And Muslim Uma should never let any external force, to apply “divide and conquer” rule on us.



And in this time of confusion, I appeal to all Muslims Ulemas, sheikhs and people with influence, no matter you are anti government, pro government, moderate , Happy, Sad or don’t Care, to focus on and preach the unity among Muslims and try not to divide them in any way or sense.

And only time (or Wikileak J ) will tell, in future whether we should be happy, sad or just ignore it.

 

The Holy Pigeons

"Kabooter chowk(Pigeon roundabout) "  as my aunt from Pakistan would describe it was a small road junction with approximately 100 to 200 pigeons enjoying free food and water from Pilgrims(considering feeding pigeons a way to earn blessings or sawab) on her way to  Masjid-Haram. Pilgrims mostly from asia would buy pigeon feed which is mainly raw wheat from african ladies at the spot. I guess the food on the ground was enough for thousands of pigeons. Any way i dont have any trouble with Innocent hardly literate Pilgrims from remote villages of third world countries feeding pigeons, infact i am happy atleast some animal is getting humane treatment.

Before Hajj i visited my aunt in Makkah and on my way to Masjid-Haram from her hotel, I noticed a young woman may be in her late twenties at the same spot looking for something in the wheat grains(pigeon feed) on the ground. Soon i heard an irritated and a bit angry voice of a man,"hey everyones watching, what are you doing? lets go"  . I assumed him to be his husband who was more worried about everyones watching rather than what she was doing.

After Hajj I visited my aunt again in Makkah but this time on my way to Masjid Haram i noticed more than 15 people looking for some thing in wheat grains on ground. The quantity of food(grains) on the ground was also increased.It looked really strange that instead of pigeons there were humans doing the pigeons job. It made me anxious enough to go and ask one of the lady who appeared to be collecting some specific type of grains from the ground. she was an elderly woman from India . I asked her in Urdu about what she is doing and why is she doing this? she replied that , "Its said that, if a woman is having trouble bearing a child, she should eat 7 or 11 grains that are still in chaff from the ground where pigeons feed in Makkah." Guessing from her age she must be collecting it for her Daughter in Law may be.As only few grain were in the chaff the rest were refined, separated ones, so thats why it seemed like they were collecting something beside the grains, only may be 1 percent grains were with chaff or husk.  I was surprised there were so many men also collecting it so i asked a man nearby the same question. He was also an old man with a beard and i think he was from the north western Pakistan, he replied, "Its said that, if one has a wish that is not coming true, he/she should collect 7 or 11 grains that are still in chaff from the ground where pigeons feed in Makkah, and make a pact that if my wish comes true i will feed the collected grains back to Pigeon. " I asked him who told him this, "a guy collecting grains here earlier" he replied quickly and then again started looking for the required grain.

While i was standing there a woman i think from India came and sat down beside one lady who was tieing the collected grains into a knot in her scarf , both above 60 years of age.She asked the one sitting there earlier about what was she doing, she explained her the story which the old man told me, than the lady who asked earlier took a hand full of grains from the ground and put them in a bag, she then told the first woman that she will take these home and will mix with the grains she had in home and will give this to her children with every meal. The first lady said in disapproval that this is of no use, the one with husk/chaff are to be eaten only and thus are benficial. But the other lady insisted that as she got these grains from meccan ground so these grains are blessed and also she has plenty of grains at home but these are the special blessed ones.

In the mean while another lady inquired the same and after hearing the story started collecting the grains, she was not having any luck finding the one with husk/chaff so she asked the first lady in above conversation what to do. The reply was to buy some new packs throw them on the ground and collect from those.

I noticed that 99 percent of people collecting Pigeon grains heard it on the spot and sat down to collect for theirselves, no boby even tried to validate or even question this claim that these grains are blessed and help in the fulfilment of ones wishes. All of them were pilgrims either from Africa, or South Asia and especially ones from Pakistan and India were illiterate and from remote villages or towns. I realized that these Muslims who represent the majority of Muslim nation are so vulnerable when it comes to the belief system of Islam.  My problem with this whole pratice and situation was not what these people were doing, but why they were doing this. I mean thinking grains are blessed and feeding pigeons is holy is one problem, but the main problem is 90 percent of them believed what a complete stranger told them and even they spread the word. It took a month for this practice to reach from one woman to some dozen people from different countries, Imagine how fast it will spread if people continue this practise of blind trust. We need to educate our people to question the source and to make sure if the source is credible or not ,when they are told something new about islam and then to question the material whether it contradicts with the core teachings of islam or not. I know i am equally guilty of not educating and stopping those people from doing and believing such a thing, but i am trying to create an awareness through my blog. We need to have an organization at a government level to educate our people for such matters.Most people see it as harmless and states that there is no loss in this scenario but i would like them to know that god is the one who grants wishes and if the wish is to be granted, it will be granted no matter what. But to think that collecting and eating these grains will do them any good or help fulfil their desires, is a form of Shirk which destroys any good deeds a person may have done, no matter how great or numerous. I was saddened to see that these people who have the chance to be at the most blessed place on earth with perfect timings for acceptance(Arafat ground during Hajj) and all they had to do was to raise their hands and beg to god for whatever they desire, yet they still rely on some pigeon feed.

This is another factor which is holding Muslim nation back, rest of the world is relying on the power of science and technology to conquer Space, Sun, Moon and Earth , whereas Muslims are still waiting for pigeon feed to change their lives.

All above mentioned is my personal observation and If you know more about this practise just letme know, or if you think i am wrong somewhere just enlighten me with your comments.

Hajj

Enjoy below some pictures i took from my cell phone during Hajj.

Mina the tent city

Inside our tent in Mina . The tent was fire proof with desert cooler and power supply

My Id for Hajj

Our tent in Arafat

Our tent in Arafat

staying under open sky in Muzdalifah

The Jamarat Complex, In Picture is the Big Jamarat

Railway Station Mina 1

There are total nine station throughout Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina

Railway stations are built on a height, view from the railway station

Inside the Metro

Hajj 2010

I am back from Hajj, Alhamdulillah every thing went fine and thanx to the new Hajj Metro service the effort is decreased by 50%. I have so much to discuss and share that i dont know from where to begin. Inshallah in a day or two i will start compiling . So keep visiting

Hajj 2010

Assalam-o-Alaikum,
By the grace of god i am going for Hajj this year. Pilgrims from all over the world have started to arrive in Makkah. Please enjoy pictures below taken recently in Makkah. The crowd is huge and the people in the crowd are from different backgrounds and countries. I will do detail articles about my experience in Makkah (before Hajj), Madina and Hajj. So keep on visiting my blog for the detailed coverage but for now check out the pictures below:

enlarge the pictures by clicking on them

Sacred Mount –(Text & Photos by Suhail Yusuf)

Jable Noor-ul-Quran is located on Brewery Road near Western Bypass, Quetta-Pakistan. This is no ordinary mountain, it is a place where old and unreadable copies of Holy Quran are preserved inside man-made tunnels. The site was established privately 1992, and currently has four blocks or tunnels, an estimated 3.5 km long, which holds almost 400,000, old and rare, copies of the Holy Quran

The tunnels in Jable Noor-ul-Quran can store up to a million copies of Holy Quran collected from across Pakistan.

The unreadable copies of Islam’s holy book are put in clean bags and stored inside tunnels. And the readable yet slightly damaged copies are fixed and sent to needy people and religious schools. More than one hundred thousand copies have been distributed, so far.

Jable Noor-ul-Quran is located at highly seismic Chiltan fault, an area prone to earthquake tremors, but amazingly there have been no accidents and or physical damage to the tunnels.

The Holy Quran has been translated into many different languages from across the world. In this photo, translations in Gujrati, Russian, and English are shown here.

There are large copies as well as travel-size copies of the Holy Quran on display inside the tunnels of Jable Noor-ul-Quran.

(This is something truly amazing as this is a very nice example of showing your love and affection toward Islam. We should spend our time on activities like this rather than hating and criticizing others. I found these caves to be really fascinating and think they should be converted into something like a museum- awaken)