Muslim Demographics

The October 23, 2006, issue of McLeans contains an alarmist article, "Why the future belongs to Islam," written by Mark Steyn, is an overtly racist piece of propaganda.

A description of the cover picture is in order. The dark, ominous image features a background mass of people entirely covered in full black face veil. In the foreground, a young pre-teen girl -- the only one with her face uncovered -- looks up with a dark menacing stare. The subheading on the cover hints at Steyn's argument: "The Muslim world has youth, numbers and global ambition. The West is old, barren and exhausted."

(Seven Oaks Magazine)

Bush & God

While meetings with Bush at that time were friendly, Schroeder said he could not reconcile himself with the feeling that religion was the driving force behind many of Bush's political decisions.

"What bothered me, and in a certain way made me suspicious despite the relaxed atmosphere, was again and again in our discussions how much this president described himself as 'God-fearing'," Schroeder wrote, adding he is a firm believer in the separation of church and state.

Schroeder accused some elements in U.S. as being hypocritical when it comes to secularism in government.

"We rightly criticize that in most Islamic states, the role of religion for society and the character of the rule of law are not clearly separated," Schroeder wrote. "But we fail to recognize that in the USA, the Christian fundamentalists and their interpretation of the Bible have similar tendencies."

Indonesian Democracy

3. INDONESIA EMERGING AS A BEACON OF WORKING DEMOCRACY
[By Shawn W. Crispin - Asia Times -- October 19, 2006]

With Thailand under military-appointed rule, the Philippines fresh from a stint of martial law, plus an unresolved vote-rigging scandal, and the rest of Southeast Asia under hard and soft authoritarian yokes, Indonesia has clearly emerged as the region's healthiest and most vibrant functioning democracy.

Eight years after launching a highly ambitious political reform program, Indonesia has surprised many analysts and academics by how quickly and smoothly the world's fourth-largest country has consolidated meaningful democratic gains. Since 1998, Indonesia has overhauled every fundamental aspect of its former authoritarian state, including an amended constitution, a more powerful parliament and a reformed election system.

In 2004, the country's first-ever direct presidential elections -- in which former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was elected on a strong reform ticket -- represented a democratic high-water mark. What's gone less noticed over that same period have been 250 or so different local elections.

Muslim Women

Iranian-born Anousheh Ansari, who grew up dreaming of the wonders of outerspace, is today 220 miles above us on the International Space Station, in a breath-taking 11-day space journey.  As the first female private space explorer, she has become a shining example of dreaming big and achieving it, and a source of inspiration for many Women in the Muslim world and beyond.

As a teenager in 1984, Mrs. Ansari came to the USA from Iran and later established herself as a serial entrepreneur--starting a telecommunications software firm (Telecom Technologies Inc.) with her husband, that was later sold for $500 million. 

The achievements of this amazing woman are at a time when their is a growing sense of confidence and empowerment among the women in the Muslim world.  Recently, a Pakistani woman, Ms. Namira Salim was reported to have been selected by US firm Virgin Galactic for its first commercial space flight in 2008.

Also a recent Gallup World Poll showed that a majority in all but one of eight predominantly Islamic countries agreed that women should be allowed to hold leadership positions.  The results ranged from 54 percent support in Egypt to 78 percent in Iran to 91 percent in Lebanon. Only in Saudi Arabia was there less than majority backing (40 percent). The findings point up the fact that women have been elected to top posts in Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.

These achievements are equally visible on the business front as well.  Among the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women and the Fortune Top 50 Most Influential Women Business Leaders, 12 are citizens of Muslim majority countries.  These business leaders include Guler Sabanci, Chairman, Sabanci Holding (Turkey), Nahed Taher, Founder and Chief Executive, Gulf One Investment Bank (Saudi Arabia ), Maha Al-Ghunaim, Founder, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Global Investment House  (Kuwait), and Lubna Olayan, Chief Executive, Olayan Financing  (Saudi Arabia.)

Muslim Identity

Pew Research

<img src="http://pewglobal.org/reports/images/254-5.gif"/>

Muslims & Science

Dinar Standard

Table 1: Top 25 Most Productive Universities in the Muslim World*
University		Country	Publications**
1.	University Hacettepe	Turkey	8,979
2.	University Istanbul	Turkey	6,488
3.	Ankara University	Turkey	5,982
4.	Cairo University	Egypt	4,977
5.	Kuwait University	Kuwait	4,495
6.	King Saud University	Saudi Arabia	4,336
7.	Middle Eastern Technical U.	Turkey	4,215
8.	Gazi University	Turkey	3,652
9.	Istabul Technical U.	Turkey	3,452
10.	Ege University	Turkey	3,336
11.	King Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	3,323
12.	Ains Shams University	Egypt	3,129
13.	University Malaya	Malaysia	2,862
14.	National Research Center	Egypt	2,651
15.	Alexandria University	Egypt	2,628
16.	American University Beirut	Lebanon	2,568
17.	Ataturk University	Turkey	2,535
18.	United Arab Emirates U.	UAE	2,478
19.	Mansoura University	Egypt	2,439
20.	King Faisal Research Center	Saudi Arabia	2,434
21.	University Sains Malaysia	Malaysia	2,402
22.	Dokuz Eylul University	Turkey	2,389
23.	Uzbek Academy of Science	Uzbekistan	2,169
24.	Cukurova University	Turkey	2,026
25.	University of Tehran	Iran	1,962

*Source: COMSTECH
** Ten-year Publication Rate (1995-2005)

ibn Khaldun's Management

From Dinar Standard

Many classical scholars wrote books and treatises which fell into a genre called nasihat al muluk (advice to the kings). This advice to royal authority stemmed from the fact that these scholars served in the courts of sultans, caliphs and princes in various territories which made them intimately aware of the conditions existing in the court. They observed the internal workings, politics, and intrigues between the court's employees as well as the interplay between the court and the masses.

Ibn Khaldun wrote, "Good rulership is equivalent to mildness… If the ruler uses force and is ready to mete out punishment and eager to expose the faults of people… (his subjects) become fearful and depressed and seek to protect themselves against him through lies, ruses, and deceit… If the ruler continues to keep a forceful grip on his subjects, group feeling will be destroyed. If the ruler is mild and overlooks the bad sides of his subjects, they will trust him and take refuge with him… Everything is then in order in the state. (153)

. . .

On Negotiating Skills:

"If a merchant is not afraid of quarrels, knows how to settle an account, and is always willing to enter into a dispute… he stands a better chance of being treated fairly by traders… otherwise he must have the protection of rank… the person who is afraid or unaggressive… must avoid commerce."

. . .

"Man, by nature, needs something to feed him and to provide for him in all conditions and stages of his life, from the time of his early growth to his maturity and in to his old age. God created everything in the world for man and gave it to him, as indicated in several verses of the Qur'an. Man's hand stretches out over the whole world and all that is in it, since God made man His representative on earth." (297)

. . .

Or profit may be the result of human labor as applied to specific materials. This is called a craft, such as writing, carpentry, tailoring, weaving, and horsemanship. Or it may be applied to non-specific materials. This, then, includes all the other professions and activities. Or profit may come from merchandise and its use in barter; merchants can make such profit either by traveling around with (merchandise) or by hoarding it and observing the market fluctuations that affect it. This is called commerce." (299-300)

. . .

"… rank is widely distributed and … one's happiness and welfare are intimately connected with the acquisition of rank. … bestowal of rank implies influence and power." (306)
"… a person who seeks and desires rank must be obsequious and use flattery as powerful men and rulers require. Otherwise it will be impossible for him to attain any rank. Therefore, obsequiousness and flattery are the reasons why a person may be able to obtain a rank that produces happiness and profit, and that most wealthy and happy people possess this quality. Thus, too, many people who are proud and supercilious have no use for rank. Their earnings, consequently, are restricted to the results of their own labors…" (307)

. . .

"… commerce means increasing one's capital by buying merchandise and attempting to sell it for a price higher than its purchase price, either by waiting for market fluctuations or by transporting the merchandise to a country where that particular merchandise is more in demand and brings higher prices, or by selling it for a high price to be paid at a future date." (312)
"In the attempt to earn the increase of capital that constitutes profit, it is unavoidable that one's capital gets into the hands of traders, in the process of buying and selling and waiting for payment… All this causes the merchant a great deal of trouble… If he is not afraid of quarrels, knows how to settle an account, and is always willing to enter into a dispute… he stands a better chance of being treated fairly by traders… otherwise he must have the protection of rank… the person who is afraid or unaggressive… must avoid commerce." (313)

Paul Findley - 4 steps

Here are the four steps I ask each of you to take:

1. Be a committee-of-one to correct false statements about Islam. Demand corrections when you hear or see anything in the media that wrongs Islam.

2. Be an ambassador of goodwill for Islam. Display your religion in your attire. A ring, a necklace, a lapel pin will give everyone you meet a reason to dismiss the false images of Islam. Pass out copies of the "friendly note."

3. [For non-Muslims] Go to church every Sunday. After church, offer to meet with church organizations to answer questions about Islam.

4. Take part in mainstream politics. Attend political meetings and demand clear answers from candidates.

Are you asking yourself, "Is he asking me to do all this?" Indeed I am. Everyone must help, men and women. You must be a self-starter. You must not leave these tasks to others. The stakes are too high to take chances. Defend Islam. Do it for your children. Do it for your country.

(Paul Findley is a former U.S. congressman and lifelong advocate for better understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. This article is based on a talk given on Sept. 3, 2006 at the ISNA Conference; it was edited and abridged for the Friday Magazine ( CIC).)

Rowlatt Act

In 1919 in India, the Rowlatt Act was passed, indefinitely extending
wartime "emergency measures" in order to control public unrest and
root out conspiracy. "This act effectively authorized the government
to imprison without trial, any person suspected of terrorism living in
the Raj (rule)."

"Na Vakeel, Na Daleel, Na Appeal," was the slogan raised by Indians
against the imposition of the Rowlatt Act. In translation it means,
"No lawyer, No Trial, No Appeal."

The Rt. Hon. Srinivasa Sastri, speaking in the Imperial Legislative
Council at the introduction of the Rowlatt Bill on February 7, 1919
had this to say:

"When Government undertakes a repressive policy, the innocent are not
safe. Men like me would not be considered innocent. The innocent then
is he who forswears politics, who takes no part in the public
movements of the times, who retires into his house, mumbles his
prayers, pays his taxes, and salaams all the government officials all
round. The man who interferes in politics, the man who goes about
collecting money for any public purpose, the man who addresses a
public meeting, then becomes a suspect. I am always on the borderland
and I, therefore, for personal reasons, if for nothing else, undertake
to say that the possession, in the hands of the Executive, of powers
of this drastic nature will not hurt only the wicked. It will hurt the
good as well as the bad, and there will be such a lowering of
public spirit, there will be such a lowering of the political tone in
the country, that all your talk of responsible government will be mere
mockery..."

Nearly 90 years later, Mr. Sastri's words come as both a legacy and a
warning to us all. Now is the time to learn from them!

Tony Seed

In his own words: #In February 1971, when I was unjustly fired by the Globe and Mail nine days after being nominated for a national newspaper award, following which I was blacklisted across Canada for the next 35 years, Hardial encouraged me to march on. "If the Globe and Mail won't tell the truth, you will tell the truth," he told me at the time. If the need to tell the truth was great in 1971, it is even greater today at a time the dangers facing our world are greater and more and more of our people are made to die and suffer at the
hands of darkest reaction.'

(Tony Seed is Editor and Publisher of the Nova Scotia-based Shunpiking Magazine. Visit their website at: www.shunpiking.com Tony can be reached at: shunpike@shunpiking.com )

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