19th Dhul-Qa`dah 1430 A.H (06 November 2009) C.E.

ISLAMICALLYSPEAKING...

Vol 06
1- al Muhit as
Sahra
Part 2

2- Islam
Around the
World:
The Korean
Peninsula.

3-The Caller to
Success,
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
AsSalamu Alaykum
Bilal ibn Ribah
(RA): Greetings dear Brothers and Sisters. We are happy to now share Volume 6 of our fortnightly newsletter
The Voice of with you. In this instalment, we have a continuation of the epic: al Muhit as Sahra (“The Ocean of the
Medina. Desert”), a Seerah of The Prophet (PBUH). In addition, we also have prepared another article for “Islam
Around the World”, this time dealing with Korea (we can guess what you are thinking, but read and you
4-Respecting will receive clarification…). We also have a story from the life of The Companion Bilal ibn Ribah al Habashi
and Serving (RA), detailing his special status amongst us. This Volume also contains valuable information relating to
the Parents. the Islamic view on parental relations with children, and how to achieve a harmonious family life. There
is also an article deals with the ills and unreliability of British Politics, and a refutation of a few attacks
5-The Fallacy made against Islam. Furthermore, we also have another article for “The Grand Stage”, which contains
of analysis on Barrack Obama’s actions towards The Muslim World, and a judgement on his legitimacy as a
British Politics “hope” for Muslims globally. Insha’Allah, you will enjoy this volume and take much enjoyment and
benefit from it.
6 - The Grand
Stage:

al Muhit as Sahra
1
The Devil’s
Deception of
Barrack
Obama
(The Ocean of The Desert)

Previously, we had described what the
world was like when it was plunged into
complete ignorance. We had also
described the miraculous incident of the
destruction of Abraha al Ashram and his
army that occurred in the year of The
Prophet’s (PBUH) birth. Finally, the world
could let out a sigh of relief due to the
emergence of a mercy to all the worlds,
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We will
conduct a more specific study of Arab
society at the time of Muhammad’s
(PBUH) birth and then continue where we
left off...
Prelude II: The Reality of pre
- Islamic Arabia
Muhammad (PBUH) was truly a special
person, to be so pure while born into, and
surrounded by a completely depraved
setting. Before we touch upon the story of
the young boy’s childhood, we will outline
the types of ignorant practices prevalent
in more detail. Hopefully, the reader will
understand the true nature of the society
that this boy was sent to revive.
Social life in The Arabian Peninsula at
that time was full of debauchery. With
regards to marriage, a group of men
could have disgusting orgies with women,
when the women had given birth to a
child, she would choose her husband
according to who she though was the
father. Prostitution was widespread and
rampant and such women were used by
many men in the community, and men
would claim illegitimate children from this
prostitute as their own. Among all levels
of society, especially the aristocracy,
adultery was widespread and rampant,
very few people had any restraint in
controlling their lusts, and so, they lost
their self respect. Indeed, the sexual
practices of these people were wild and
barbaric.
While some children were loved and
r e s p e c t e d by The Arabs, others,
especially young girls, were subject to
mistreatment and abuse. Consequently,
many infant females were buried alive by
their own fathers. This had happened to
the younger sister of Sumayyah bint
Khayyat (RA). Before Umar ibn al
Khattab (RA) was a Muslim, he himself
buried his daughter alive, and as a
Muslim, he would later cry upon the
remembrance of this.
The economic practices were also
corrupt, Mecca was a centre of trade and
commerce and in the marketplace, and
there were dishonest merchants who
would engage in fraud, among other
types of cheating and stealing. Shop
owners would take full price from people
when selling their products, but when any
time came to give money to others for a
particular reason, they would give less
than due.

1
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009 There was no just political governance. In the absence
of any holistic ideology, there was tribalism, which was a
key component of the pre-Islamic political construct in
Arabia, and a kind of fanatical devotion developed among
people in relationship to their clan. People of the same clan
developed strong emotional bonds, and began to perceive
those from outside their clan as alien enemies. Thus, war
was extremely common in Arabia, and while there was no
fighting in or around Mecca itself, pointless bloodshed was
a common day event everywhere else. The intellectual level
of the people at that time was low, and their awareness of
the world was shallow, they perceived the dominance of
their blood relations as a purpose of life. This dominance
driven way of behaviour was what made The Arab society
function in a very animalistic way. Many social groups
formed, blindly adhering to their forefathers traditions, and
these people despised others, who themselves honoured
their own ancestors blindly. This gave rise to the ignorant
practice of Asabiyyah (Tribalism).
The idols surrounding The Ka’aba were many in
number. While the people believed in a powerful, unseen
God, they took these idols as intercessors and partners with
God, and so they fell into Shirk. The wood and stone
themselves were worshipped as opposed to The One who
created the wood and stone with which these “gods” were
made.
Chapter 1: Birth and Childhood
It was within this decadent society, that a special child
was born. According to ibn Hisham, The Messenger of
Allah, Muhammad (PBUH), was born on the 12th of Rabi al
Awwal, in The Year of the Elephant, this roughly
corresponds to the 20th of April, 571 C.E. Abdullah, the
father of The Prophet, had already died roughly seven
months previously, and so this life had already begun with
loss and some degree of hardship.
Despite this however, the birth of The Prophet was
received with joy by Amina, and also Abdul Muttalib,
grandfather of Muhammad (PBUH). It was the custom of
The Arabs of that time, to have their infants taken out into
the desert to be raised by Bedouins in that harsh
environment. This was done for the purpose of hardening
the young, and making them strong and able in body, and in
mind. This kind of nurturing would also protect infants from
the widespread vices of the society at that time.
The Prophet (PBUH) was blessed by Allah (SWT), in
that he was safe and free from this corruption. The
Bedouins were a nomadic people who tended to exempt
themselves from what then considered as “urban life”. It
was for that reason that they were seen as noble and
virtuous, and consequently, many parents wanted their
children to be raised by such people.
Muhammad (PBUH) was very small, when he was
suckled a maid named Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb. It is
narrated that afterwards, Halimah begged Amina to let her
look after the boy for a time. She had been experiencing
good fortunes ever since she had suckled The Prophet
(PBUH), and so she begged Amina to let her be with him.
When she received permission, Halimah, and her husband,
Al-Harith bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza, were ecstatic. And so it was, that
Muhammad (PBUH) stayed with Halimah until he was
nearing the age of six years. It was at this point that Amina
had her son returned to her.
2
By this stage, it had been a few years since the death
of Abdullah, Amina’s husband. Thus, out of respect to her
deceased partner, Amina decided to go to a small oasis
town named Yathrib, where her late husband was buried.
Amina took her son along for the trip, and so it was that
they left Mecca on a long journey. The Arabian Desert was
a harsh environment, and the journey was long, spanning
roughly 500 kilometers.
It was in Yathrib that Amina and Muhammad spent one
month before making their way back to Mecca. However,
severe fatigue and illness took it’s toll on Amina, who had
been suffering under such burdens for some time, and so it
was that she eventually died. She passed away on the road
back to Mecca, in a place named Abwa, which is a small
village between the two cities. The Prophet’s (PBUH) life
was full of loss and hardship, to the extent that he was now
an orphan by the age of six. Alas, for The Messenger of
Allah (PBUH), there would be many more times like this to
come in the future.
The boy, now an orphan, was taken in by his
grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. The two developed a loving
relationship whereby they became more akin to father and
son. Muhammad (PBUH) was treated by his relative with
love and respect. In fact, even the actual children of Abdul
Muttalib were not treated with the degree of respect and
tolerance that The Prophet (PBUH) was treated with.
Unfortunately, it was only to last until the boy had reached
the age of eight years, as it was then that his grandfather
also died.
Now, it was up to the uncle of The Prophet, Abu Talib,
to look after his nephew. Abu Talib was the same as Abdul
Muttalib, in the sense that he also loved and respected
Muhammad (PBUH), even more than his own children. The
boy also grew to love and respect his uncle, that is, as
another father figure.
Abu Talib was a business man, as many Meccans
were. They made revenue via the conduct of trade,
especially to Syria, to buy from and sell to with the citizens
of the various cities in that land. At this point, Syria was
under the control of The Roman Byzantine Empire. When
Abu Talib decided to go on a business trip to with his
caravan in order to conduct trade in Syria, he took
Muhammad (PBUH) along for the journey.
The trading caravan eventually reached a city in Syria
called Bosra, it was in this city that there lived a man named
Bahira, who was a Christian scholar, living in hermitage.
While usually a recluse, who kept himself separated from
worldly affairs, there was something about Muhammad
(PBUH) that has struck Bahira, and caught his attention.
On one hot day, while he was staring out from his
monastery, Bahira caught sight of The Prophet. It was
during the day, and the sky seemed to be more or less bare
with almost no clouds, except for one which seemed to
always follow Muhammad (PBUH) wherever he went in the
city. While caravan members and the people of the city all
had to endure the sun’s uncompromising heat, this one
piece of shade always pursued the young boy, who Bahira
intently fixed his eyes upon. In a fashion just as peculiar,
whenever Muhammad (PBUH) sat near a tree, it’s branches
seemed to bend and reach out to him, further shading him
from the sun and it’s heat. Again, no one else seemed to be
afforded this luxury.
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
While usually a recluse who did not
want a great deal of company, this
phenomena was too much for Bahira to
pass up. Bahira had a great desire to
meet this small boy, who appeared to
have divine blessing on his side. And so,
the monk descended from his place of
privacy and called out to the entire
caravan group in hopes of getting their
attention.
“Oh community of Quraysh!”
exclaimed Bahira. “I have made food for
you, and I would like all of you to attend,
be you old or young, master or slave.”
“By God Bahira!” responded one of
the Qurayshis. “This is indeed a surprise
gesture you have never enacted before,
even though we have passed by your
place several times, what is the matter
with you?”
“That is true!” Bahira answered.
“However, you are guests, and I wish to
be your host by preparing food for you to
eat.”
The group responded in acceptance
and began to gather for food, all except
The Prophet (PBUH), who was left tending
to the peoples luggage and goods under a
tree. Bahira eventually noticed that the
boy he really wanted to see was not
among his patrons. “All of you have to
attend my meal.” Bahira exclaimed.
“Oh Bahira! Only one of us has not
attended, he is young man looking after
our luggage, and he is but still a boy.”
Responded the group.
“Do not do that, get him to come too.”
Bahira requested with a great urgency.
“By God! It is shameful to attend
without Muhammad ibn Abdullah!”
exclaimed one of the Qurayshis.
One of the men hurried to fetch The
Prophet (PBUH), and when he returned to
the feast with the boy, Bahira eagerly
examined him, searching for some kind of
mark or sign. The feast members ate and
drank their fill, and Bahira, growing ever
more anxious, waited for the men to
depart after their meal. He then asked
Muhammad (PBUH) a question.
“Swear to me by al Lat and al ‘Uzza, if
I were to ask you something, would you
respond in truth?” enquired Bahira.
“Please don’t ask me to swear by al
Lat and al ‘Uzza, for there is nothing more
3
vile to me than them.” replied The Prophet
(PBUH).
“Swear by Allah! If I were to ask you
something, will you be truthful?” asked
Bahira.
“I will.” responded The Prophet
(PBUH).
Bahira began asking Muhammad
( P B U H ) m a n y d i ff e r e n t q u e s t i o n s
regarding his disposition and mannerisms.
Things like his mood, how he slept, how
he generally behaved etc.
Most of the men had gone, but Abu
Talib was still in the room, and when
Bahira had finished his examination of The
Prophet (PBUH), he turned and asked
Abu Talib some questions.
“How are you related to this boy?”
Bahira asked.
“I am his father.” Abu Talib replied.
“This boy’s father should not be alive.”
Bahira stated.
“Well! He is my nephew.” said Abu
Talib.
“And where is his father?” enquired
Bahira.
“He had died during the pregnancy of
his mother.” Abu Talib responded.
“Indeed, this is true.” said Bahira.
It was rather uncanny, how Bahira
seemed to know so much about
Muhammad (PBUH), despite the fact that
he had only just met him. Bahira had
actually been examining him in relation to
the Christian scriptures in his possession.
While Christians had knowledge of a
coming Prophet (PBUH), in their books,
partly inspired by Allah (SWT) they were
not the only ones. The Jews, having also
received revelation from Allah (SWT) also
knew of a coming Prophet.
“This is the master of humans, Allah
will send him with a message which will be
a mercy for all human beings.” Bahira
foretold.
“How do you know this?” asked Abu
Talib, having been shocked by such a
revelation.
“When you came to this town, you
came from the direction of Aqaba, and
when you entered with the boy, the trees
and the stones prostrated, and they never
do this, except for a Prophet. Also, I am
able to recognise him by The Seal of
Prophethood beneath his shoulder, like an
apple. This is the knowledge we have from
our scripture.” explained Bahira.
In Syria, there were some Jews who
believed that a Messiah was coming to
them, and they anticipated that he would
be like, in the sense that he would be of
Jewish origin, like Moses (AS), Jesus (AS)
and many of the other respected Prophets
of the past. However, this was not the
case, as Muhammad (PBUH) was an Arab
in his ethnicity, not Jewish. From Bahira’s
perspective, he feared that, if The Jews
found out that Muhammad fulfilled signs of
Prophethood, and that he was a Gentile
(non-Jew), they would hurt him. And so
Bahira cautioned Abu Talib.
“Go back with your nephew and
guard him well, and please protect him
from The Jews. By God! Your nephew will
be very important, and if Jews learn
something of what I have known, they will
hurt him.” Bahira warned, with great worry
for the boy.
Having been made aware, Abu Talib
hurried back to Mecca with his nephew,
intent to protect him. In the future, some
people, from among the Christians and
Jews would seek to harm and even kill
The Prophet, some would be more
honourable and simply disagree with The
Prophet yet not harm him, and some
would even join with The Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), becoming Muslims,
and in so doing, becoming brothers with
Him (PBUH) and the other Muslims.
As you have seen, there is much to
narrate just about The Prophet’s (PBUH)
life before His Prophethood, and it simply
cannot be covered in a single chapter
lasting only a mere few pages, thus, we
shall continue the story of The Prophet
(PBUH) in the next chapter, insha’Allah.

ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009 Islam Around the World:
The Korean
Peninsula
Previously, in Volume 5, I had written
about Islam in China, and of course, given
the fact that Islam has a deep seated, but
generally unknown history in that land, it
would be easy to make a case to write that
article, because that generally unknown
history could then become more
acknowledged. However, when someone
thinks of Islam in countries like Japan or
Korea, then there really is much less to talk
about, because truth be told, Islam has not
really had any ingrained cultural or
ideological presence in these places, and it
has not yet penetrated the hearts and
minds of the people in these places, at
least not on a large scale. However, there
are still matters to discuss in relation to
Islam and it’s past and present role in these
societies. It is also important to establish
the fact that Islam is an ideology which is
global, and not merely for Arabs. Hence
commenting on Islam in places like East
Asia is a good way of destroying that myth.
This is why I have written an article
regarding Islam and it’s ties with Korea,
and in the next volume, insha’Allah, there
will be an article on Islam in Japan.
The story of Islam in this part of the
world roughly begins in the 7th Century
C.E. We have already been through how
Khalifa Uthman ibn Affan (RA) was the one
who established relations with China via
the diplomatic envoy he sent. That decision
had a great effect in that it established not
only Islam in China, but also in an indirect
way, Korea as well. Korean people were
first introduced to The Deen via Muslim
traders from China, not to mention from
provinces within The Islamic State. These
traders managed to establish themselves in
Silla, one of the three ancient Korean
kingdoms. The geographical location of this
kingdom is now in what we call South
Korea. Small concentrations of Persian and
Arab traders entered into the Korean
Peninsula, with larger groups entering at
the beginning of the 9th Century C.E. As a
natural consequence, there was some
intermarriage that took place between the
4
2
two peoples, naturally, there would have
been some form of Da’wah.
The Islamic State continued to engage
in relations with The Goryeo Dynasty,
which followed and took the place of The
Kingdom of Silla. Muslims from The Islamic
State from both the Abbasid period and the
Osmani (Ottoman) period would travel to
Korea and settle there. The Chinese Yuan
Dynasty was run by Mongols, who
employed many Muslims in it’s army. The
Mongols conquered The Goryeo Dynasty
and Muslim soldiers were stationed there
as a result, and so, yet again on a minimal
level, Muslims and Koreans intermarried.
There is also a theory, proposed by James
Huntley Grayson, in his book A Religious
History of Korea, that The Chang Family,
one of the Korean clans, is descended in
some part from Muslims.
Relations between Muslims and
Koreans continued in a very meagre way,
with one people not really having any
significant effect upon the other. There was
however the small contribution Muslims
made in the arts and sciences. Muslim
geographers from both The Khilafah and
China were able to put forward significant
contributions to Korean geographical
advancement. One of the oldest maps in
Korea, The Kangido, was formulated using
different sources, including the maps of
Chinese and Arab geographers. Muslims
also developed distillation methods and
technology, which brought advancement in
medicine, by being able to produce
necessary medical ingredients.
In terms of astronomy and calander
making, Muslim Arabs were urged by The
Chinese to help correct and update their
techniques concerning the calculation of
sun, moon and star movement. The
Koreans also sent their own astronomers to
Beijing so they could learn from The
Muslims’ methodology. This facilitated more
efficient astronomical technique and
calendar making in both China and Korea.

ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
There have also been theories that
Uyghur Muslims of Western China had
a minimal effect upon The Korean
Han’geul, or alphabet. The Mongol Yuan
Dynasty had adopted the Uyghur writing
system for some time before using
another one, we also know that it was
this same dynasty that also held
dominion over Korea for a period of
time, and so some have suggested that
the Koreans must have come into
contact with this writing system and in
turn, adopted from it.
The Joseon Dynasty eventually
rose up and held dominance over the
peninsula. This government was more
conservative regarding immigration, and
so it was that Muslims, either from
Arabia or China, were shunned or
barred entry. The Joseon Dynasty was
known for it’s adopting a very isolationist
policy, and it had a way of shutting itself
off from the world in general. The Story
of Islam in Korea halted for sometime
afterwards.
However, it was renewed in the
20th Century C.E. At this stage, the
Khilafah was on it’s knees, and the age
of Western dominance had
unfortunately arrived. European
Imperialism was rife, and Japan had
adopted this same style of foreign
policy. In 1910 C.E, The Empire of
Japan succeeded in it’s occupation of
the entire of Korea, and until the defeat
of The Japanese at the end of World
War Two, citizens would be subject to a
series of brutal war crimes, including
rape and mass murder.
The colonial mindset of the early
20th Century was born from a rather low
level dominance driven perspective, and
“the pride of the nation” was the mantra
adopted in defence of any expansionist
aggression. Consequently, when The
Japanese had been able to conquer the
Koreans, who were of a different ethnic
background and who were seen as
inferior, they inflicted harsh oppression
upon them out of animosity towards
them. This animosity was born out of
the fact that Koreans did not share the
exact same culture or heritage as their
occupiers
With the defeat of The Japanese
and their removal from power, there was
a rise in Korean Nationalism, which was
born out of the solidarity Koreans
formed while under Japanese
occupation. This rise in nationalistic
sentiments allowed The Koreans to
bond upon a common identity, in the
face of a perceived common enemy.
However, this nationalistic bond
could not stand up to more holistic
ideological thought, and so there was
the eventual adoption of Communism
and Capitalism, which were modelled by
Russia and America respectively in their
Cold War. How it happened is another
story in itself, but eventually, there was
the rise of a Communist North Korea,
and a Capitalist South Korea. North
Korea was a totalitarian dictatorship
under Kim il Sung, as for South Korea, it
was headed by Syngman Rhee, who
was a western backed corrupt elitist
dictator. And of course, by this point,
The Khilafah was destroyed, and so The
Islamic System of Governance was no
where to be offered as a just and viable
alternative. This schism and division of
Korea lead to The Korean War of 1950
– 1953. It is important to set Muslim
people within the context of this new
and unique situation within the Korean
peninsula. It is also important to set
Islam within this scenario as a viable
alternative ideology for Korean people
to benefit from.
North Korea, being a Communist
State has been massively authoritarian
and oppressive towards the people it
dominates. Kim il Sung eventually died
in 1994 C.E, and so his son, Kim Jong-il
took up the “throne”. Like his father
before him, Kim Jong-il conducted and
still conducts brutal oppression of the
North Korean populace. The U.S State
Department annually publishes “Human
Rights Reports” on many countries,
including North Korea. In it’s “2008
Human Rights Report”, the following
introduction is made: “The Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or
North Korea) is a dictatorship under the
absolute rule of Kim Jong-il, general
secretary of the Korean Workers' Party
(KWP) and chairman of the National
Defense Commission (NDC), the
"highest office of state." The country has
an estimated population of 23.5 million.
Kim's father, the late Kim Il-sung,
remains "eternal president." Local
elections held in July 2007 were not free
or fair. There was no civilian control of
the security forces, and members of the
security forces committed numerous
serious human rights abuses.” America
is not one to be talking about “Human
Rights” by any means given the it’s
track record of committing many abuses
globally in the past and present,
however, North Korea is not a pretty
picture by any means.
The above quote is not an empty
statement. In summary, the report
details many issues including murder,
(such as the killing of homeless people
for attempting to steal food to survive),
the operation of “gulags” (reminiscent of
Soviet Russian concentration/slave
camps), people being sent to these
camps are denied the right to have a
trial despite the law saying that they
must. The North Korean Government is
fully able to arrest and hold people for
as long as they wish to, which in a
disturbing way, is similar to The British
Government’s “anti-terror legislation”,
more on that in another volume,
insha’Allah. In short, North Korea is a
police state.
The State Department report goes
on to report the humiliation and torture
of detainees in camps and prisons:
“Methods of torture and other abuse
reportedly included severe beatings;
electric shock; prolonged periods of
exposure to the elements; humiliations
such as public nakedness; confinement
for up to several weeks in small
"punishment cells" in which prisoners
were unable to stand upright or lie
down; being forced to kneel or sit
immobilized for long periods; being
hung by the wrists; being forced to
stand up and sit down to the point of
collapse; and forcing mothers recently
repatriated from China to watch the
infanticide of their newborn infants.
Defectors continued to report that many
prisoners died from torture, disease,
starvation, exposure to the elements, or
a combination of these causes.” No
doubt, some of these reports are
reminiscent of what goes on in The
Muslim World to those who seek to
challenge the Western supported,
dictatorial regimes there.

5
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
North Korea has been accused by
Amnesty International and Refugees
International as having elitist ruling
authority. Despite being a Communist
State, the country has various social
and political classes. The country has
large wealth and food shortages and
discriminates on the basis of class with
regard to the distribution of these
commodities. As a result of this, many
are subject to poverty and starvation.
All of the above are hallmarks of a
Communist State, be it previous entities
such as The Soviet Union, or present
day manifestations such as North
Korea. China is only more affluent
mainly in it’s eastern provinces, but also
plays favouritism and neglects it’s
western provinces and non- ethnic Han
Chinese populace.
The North Korean economic
structure is one of a Command
Economy, and the state owns and
controls everything relating to resources
and the allocation of them to
businesses. And so in Pyongyang and
other urban settings, the running and
set up of businesses to supply products
is at least partially available, but in the
majority of the land, which is rural, such
privileges are less readily accessible.
North Korea is an oppressive entity
in the overt sense due to it’s adoption of
Communism as an ideology, the
oppression comes in the form of torture,
abduction, elitism, poverty, famine and
the mindset of fear that comes along
with these. North Korea has adopted
the unnatural outlook that people are
merely existing matter without an initial
intelligent cause, rather the state has
constructed a false purpose for the
people, which is to be a mere worker to
help bring about the realisation of the
state’s aims. The state, or rather it’s
leader, is superficially taken as a “god”
besides Allah (SWT), and this is shirk,
and may He (SWT) save us from that.
As a result, North Korea, through it’s
adoption of Communism has failed to
satisfy the need of it’s people to
venerate and adore something above
themselves. This instinct has not been
satisfied due to how the Communist
object of veneration, the state, is a mere
superficial entity. Because of his, the
state must use harsh and brutal
methods in order to make people do
what it desires, hence the totalitarian
nature of Communist North Korea.
Moving on to South Korea, it is a
Capitalist State, and as such, it has a
different position regarding economics
in particular. South Korea has adopted a
Free Market Economy, whereby there is
a laissez faire (basically “laid back”)
approach on the part of the state in it’s
attitude towards economic activity.
6
While South Korea may have more
economic vitality than North Korea, and
while South Korea may have the 15th
largest GDP in the world, it is has also
suffered and continues to suffer the
effects of the failures of Capitalism in
the form The Asian Financial Crisis of
1997 and of course, the current Global
Recession.
South Korea’s economy suffered in
1997 – 1998 in The Asian Financial
Crisis. Businesses began taking risks by
aggressively expanding, despite the fact
that there was only so much funding
available to be able to continue this
policy. There was a great desire to build
larger corporations that could compete
with other companies abroad. However,
there was a resounding failure at this
time on the part of borrowers, who
became increasingly unable to pay back
the interest based loans they took out.
And so the risks they took in order to
procure funds for expanding business
activity ended up turning against them.
In the early 1990’s South Korea began
increasing it’s short term debt, which
meant that the amount of money it had
to pay back within one year began to
rise to higher amounts. The amount of
foreign debt South Korea incurred rose
to $158 Billion, and financial crisis
ensued. South Korea asked The IMF for
a loan of a further $20 Billion just to
handle it’s short term financial needs.
The emergence of this crisis is
reflective of the greed based mentality
that Capitalism generated within people.
Business owners wanted to expand in
order to make more revenue, and the
desire for profit was the catalyst that
made them resort to taking out large
amounts of loans that they could not
pay back, and carelessly continue with
their expansion manoeuvres.
South Korea is also currently mired
in another Economic Crisis, but this one
is global, and is still going on today. The
effects of the recession on South Korea
has resulted in the decline in the value
of the South Korean Won by 30%.
Household debt also rose even faster
then that of America, with a 210%
growth from 2001 – 2006. Due to the
effects of recession, The South Korean
Government was also forced to go
against the Capitalist pillar of laissez
faire non intervention by introducing a
stimulus package and directly intervene
in economic affairs. Capitalist South
Korea experienced two major economic
meltdowns with barely a few years
setting them apart.
Capitalism also perpetuates the
concept of “freedom”, which in
conjunction with an emphasis on
pleasure seeking and materialism,
creates a society whereby various kinds
of social corruption can take place.
South Korea has given into western
culture, and the various kinds of
decadence that comes along with it,
including the availability of red light
districts and the currently small, but
gradually rising crime rates.
Looking at the religion of South
Korea, we find that both Buddhism and
Christianity are the major ones. Both of
these religions and their adherents have
been highly secularised to the point
whereby the doctrines of these religions
have no real political or economic
bearing on the society. Roughly half of
the population of South Korea follow
some kind of religion, as they
acknowledge some kind of “divine”
force/person. However, by adopting
Secularism, they have effectively told
this “god”, that it has no say in life
affairs, unless they be spiritual affairs.
This is highly irrational as this concludes
that mere human beings can tell the
“divine” thing (that they perceive as all
powerful) what it can and cannot do,
when it should actually be the other way
around.
The Islamic State, The Khilafah is
not Communist, it is haraam (forbidden)
to have a police state where people are
spied upon, it is also haraam to torture
and humiliate people as well. The
Khilafah is obliged by The Islamic
Shairah to make sure that every single
person within it’s dominion, Muslim or
non-Muslim has the basic necessities of
food, clothing and shelter. At the same
time, however, Islam mandates that
peoples desires are satisfied, but also
moderated, and those who seek to
commit crime would be forced to be
punished according to the Islamic
Hudood, and of course, Islam is on the
side of the victim, not the criminal. The
Islamic Economic System is also an
effective alternative in that it prohibits
the hoarding of wealth by greedy
businessman, but at the same time,
makes sure that life is made
comfortable for it’s citizens. It also
prohibits interest based debts that land
countries like South Korea in financial
meltdown, more on the specifics in the
future, insha’Allah. There is an up and
coming series on Islamic Economics,
but this is sometime away, so much to
write, yet so little time!
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
Don Baker of “Harvard Asia
Quarterly” concludes his article “Islam
Struggles to Gain a Toehold in Korea”
by saying that Islam has failed to win
hearts and minds in Korea due it’s
inability to adapt, he sais in his
conclusion: “Does Islam have a future in
Korea? Yes, if that question means
whether Islam has established a
permanent presence on the peninsula.
However, if that question is asking if
Islam will soon become a significant
religious force in Korea, challenging the
dominance of Buddhism and
Christianity, the answer is probably no.
Christianity succeeded in Korea by
adapting to Korean ways. A Korean
Christian church is unlike most Christian
churches in the rest of the world. There
is a Korean approach to worship and
church organization that draws Koreans
to Korean churches even when they live
overseas and have to drive past non-
Korean churches in order to reach a
church in which they will feel more
comfortable.
Islam, on the other hand, has resisted
Koreanization. Perhaps because the
number of foreign-born Muslims
outnumbered the Korean-born only a
few decades after the first Korean
Islamic community was established,
Islam in Korea still has the look and feel
of an imported religion. A mosque in
Korea does not look very Korean, inside
or out. Moreover, Muslim worship
services do not resemble any of the
traditional Korean modes of worship.
This non-Korean appearance of Muslim
ritual and worship, and the reluctance of
Islam to bend its ethical and ritual
demands to local customs, may be the
primary reason why Islam will remain a
7
minority religion on the Korean
peninsula.”
While his opinion is respected,
there are a number of flaws in this
argument. Islam has come into contact
with just about every culture in the
globe, regardless of whether it is of
Middle Eastern, Asian, African or
European/American flavour, and has
always made a name for itself, the
question is the amount of time needed
for Islam to make a name for itself.
Muslim presence in Korea has been
historically documented to have gone
back for centuries, but there was no
substantial establishment of Islam, and
hence, nor real opportunity to engage in
a battle for hearts and minds. It is
known that Islam is the fastest growing
way of life on earth, and people from all
parts of the world are becoming part of
one global Ummah, and of course, this
includes Korea as well. Here in Britain,
people are coming to Islam in vast
numbers, however, that is because
there is a rather substantial Muslim
community of roughly 3 million, many of
whom are engaged in the call to Islam .
One hundred years ago, this number
was far less, but because Muslims
came to Britain and engaged in Da’wah,
that situation is now changing. If the
same happens in Korea, then I don’t
see why Islam wouldn’t flourish there as
well.
Baker also cites how Christianity
succeeded due to it’s ability to change
so it could fit the environment. However,
this, in my opinion is not a move of
strength, but of compromise. What if
there are aspects of Korean culture that
do not conform with Christianity? Would
they also be adopted? The Uniftication
Church of Reverend Sun Myung Moon
is an appropriate example of how some
forms of “Korean Christianity” do not
conform with contemporary Christian
doctrine. From an Islamic perspective
however, we don’t change Islam to fit
with the reality, but rather, we change
the reality to fit with Islam via engaging
in the Islamic Da’wah and winning in the
battle of ideas. Of course, if the problem
is merely of architecture, then there is
no real problem. As far as I am aware, it
is not an obligation to build Masjids
according to an “Arabian fashion”, this is
proven by some of the Masjids in China,
which resembles Pagodas and other
types of East Asian buildings. While no
systems emanate from Buddhism or
Christianity, Islam proposes Political,
Economic and Social solutions, not just
for Korea, but for the world over. Islam
has come into contact with heavily
nationalistic/tribalistic peoples before,
but through the strength of it’s
ideological call, it eventually won a
place for itself. History does testify to
this, and indeed, there will be a series at
some point in the future proving this,
though this is in the very distant future.
For now, it is enough to prove what I
have said by pointing to the truly diverse
ethnic make up of people within The
Muslim Ummah, whose ancestors came
from non-Islamic cultures, but accepted
Islam due it’s being The Truth.
To conclude, Islam has a humble,
yet all the more growing presence in
Korea, and in the end, it does take time
to nurture groups of Muslims and to
organise them. However, the formation
of groups such as The Korea Muslim
Federation and the pockets of Korean
reverts does give some hope. In the
end, only with the progression of time
and with hard work, will Islam be able
advance in this land, and insha’Allah,
Korea will prosper with Islam as a
driving force within it’s society
 3
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009 Bilal ibn Ribah (RA): The Voice of Medina

The Caller
to Success
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “If the
people knew what was in the
‘Athaan’ (of virtues and rewards)
and the first row (i.e. the first line in
congregational prayer), and that
they could not get it except by
drawing lots, they would draw
lots…” (Al-Bukhaari)

What this article is dealing with, is a story of a more

In pre-Islamic passive nature. The Hijrah had taken place, and The
Muslims had escaped the oppression of al Quraysh in

Arabia, Mecca, and The Islamic State was established in Medina.

the general opinion of a black slave The Muslims now had a greater degree of security, and
so they could concentrate on ways to make the daily life
was very low, for the aristocracy of any Arabian city, such
of the people more comfortable. One thing that allowed
people would be worth little, but could be abused a great
the practice of Islam to become much easier was the
deal. Usually, black slaves came from al Habasha,
building of al Masjid an Nabawi. However, after this
otherwise known as Abyssinia or more commonly today,
accomplishment, the community was faced with other
Ethiopia. In the 7th Cenutry C.E, al Habasha was under
problems.
the political authority of The Kingdom of Axum, otherwise
known as The Axsumite Empire. This empire was ruled by
When Muhammad (PBUH) and his Sahabah (RA)
The Negus, which was basically the title of the ruler of the
came to Medina, The Da’wah to Islam began, and the
kingdom. This land had adopted the religion of
number of Muslims began to increase. Months later, it got
Christianity, however, it still had relations with The Arabs,
to the point whereby it became difficult to inform all the
who were idolaters. These two peoples had quite cordial
people of prayer time. And so, Muhammad (PBUH) met
relations and The Kingdom of Axum, who would even sell
with his Companions (RA) to resolve this issue. At the
slaves to The Arabs, who would use them to do their
meeting, a number of different suggestions were made to
bidding.
the people. Some suggested the use of a bell, like that
which The Christians used. Others, put forwards the idea
These slaves would go to Mecca, and their children
of using a horn, like that of The Jews. In the end, it was
would be born to them there, and they too would be
Umar ibn al Khattab (RA), who suggested the use of the
slaves. Bilal ibn Ribah (RA) was the son of such people,
human voice instead. And so, Muhammad (PBUH)
he was a black man from Axum, but who was born in
ordered
Mecca, in roughly 580 C.E. He was owned by an
extremely oppressive and pompous man named
Umayyah ibn Khallaf, an aristocrat from al Quraysh and
head of The Bani Jumah clan. The entire life of Bilal (RA)
will not be detailed here, but suffice it to say, Bilal would
take revenge on this tyrant in The Battle of Badr for the
years of mistreatment he suffered.

8
 Bilal ibn Ribah (RA), who was renowned for his
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009 strong and wonderful voice, to call the people to prayer.

Bilal got up and went to face the Qiblah, afterwards,

he recited the following:

“Allahu Akbar!
Allahu Akbar!

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah!

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah!

Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah!

Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah!

Hayya 'ala-s-Salah!
Hayya 'ala-s-Salah!

Hayya 'ala-l-Falah!
Hayya 'ala-l-Falah!

Allahu Akbar!
Allahu Akbar!

La ilaha illa Allah!”

As we all should know, this means the following:

“Allah is the greatest!

Allah is the greatest!

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of

worship but Allah!
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship
but Allah!

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of

Allah!
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah!

Come to Prayer!
Come to Prayer!

Come to Success!
Come to Success!

Allah is the greatest

Allah is the greatest

There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah!”

This is the same call to prayer, or Adhaan, which is

used to this day, in mosques all around the globe. It was
Islam that took a slave who was deemed as socially and
racially inferior, and gave him the great responsibility of
being the first Muezzin of The Muslim Ummah. Bilal
would receive great esteem and honour for this, and
surely, he will have a great rank in the next world.

The Prophet (PBUH) also said: “Your Lord, the

Exalted, says: “Look at my slave there who makes the
call to Prayer and establishes the Prayer out of fear of
Me. I have forgiven My slave and have allowed him to
enter Paradise.” (Ahmad, Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’i)
9
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
Respecting&Serving 4
Parents "We have instructed man to honour his parents." TMQ [29:8]

As Muslims, we know that we place a high value on the And Allah SWT Says:
idea of a stable family. Islam regards the famly as a
fundamental unit in society. Without families, society would “And we have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind
completely break down, and the human race would lose a to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship. And
massively important tool to cultivate positive contributors to she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him
society. An important aspect of this family life, often missed, is and the weaning of him is thirty months”
the relationship between the parents and the children, but [ TMQ 46:15 ]
specifically about how the children should treat their parents. It
is often expected that the parents will love and look after the In this very early stage of our life we are completely
children; the Islamic position on the matter is clear. But how defenceless. If it wasn't for our parents who care so much,
often do we ask ourselves, how should I be towards my especially our mothers, we would surely die! How thankful
parents? What is it that Allah SWT has asked of me? What is it should we be that in this early stage our parents were saving
that I can do for my parents that will ultimately please Allah our lives (by the permission of Allah SWT) on a daily basis! For
SWT? some of us, the case isn't so simple. Sometimes, we have
other things we want to do. We want to play computer games,
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none hang out with friends, and sometimes just do anything else but
but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of to spend time with our parents, and to be kind and respectful to
them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to our parents. Rest assured, that such a response is exactly the
them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address kind of thing that Shaytan would love to see us do, to watch us
them in terms of honour” be cruel to our parents. We should have no doubt in our mind
TMQ [ 17:23 ] that such ideas are the things that Shaytan would whisper to
us, to help us be sinful. SubhanAllah!
Of course, to ask a child what its parent wants of it can be
a deep question, perhaps too deep for someone young. Allah May Allah SWT always protect us from such ideas. Is there
SWT makes it easy for us to understand what it is that we a limit to the respect and dutifulness? Some of us will face
should do. Being dutiful to our parents only requires that we issues when it comes to doing as our parents asked.
listen to what they say, and try our best to do what is asked of Sometimes they don't know what Allah SWT has asked of
us. them, because they aren't practicing muslims, or because we
reverted to Islam and our parents aren't even Muslim! In this
As we grow older as sons and daughters, we are gathering case, we need to think a little more carefully about what is
resources; intelligence, money, property, abilities and more. We being asked of us, whilst still maintaining upmost respect for
should spend of these things with our parents in the forefront of them; after all, they are still our beloved parents! May Allah
our mind (of course, not neglecting our immediate SWT guide them and us:
responsibilties). For many of us, it will be as long as two
decades before we can become independent individuals, And we enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his
capable of looking after ourselves. In this time, our parents will parents; but if they strive to make you join with Me (in
have spent thousands of hours, thousands of pounds, and worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no
maybe even developing some grey hairs, making sure that we knowledge, then obey them not. To me is your return and I
are comfortable and our needs are taken care of. It is only right shall tell you what you used to do.
that we look after them, as they did for us! TMQ [ 29:8 ]

Of our parents, who deserves the best treatment? The With all the information above in mind, lets think about how
mother or the father? The following hadith is very clear on the we can become closer to our parents by being dutiful to them.
matter: Hadrat Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reports: "A man After all, obeying Allah SWT is to do as he asks of us, and we
came to the presence of the Holy Prophet PBUH and submitted live in the hopeful anticipation that we can do enough for him to
"O Prophet of God (peace and blessings of Allah be upon you!' earn his good mercy, inshaAllah.
Who deserves the noblest treatment from me?' The Holy
Prophet PBUH observed: "Your mother." He again submitted:
"And next?' The Holy Prophet PBUH observed : "Your mother."
When the man submitted for the fourth time: "And who next?"
The Holy Prophet PBUH observed: "Your father." [Al-Adab al-
Mufrad]

10
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
The Fallacy
British Politics
fallacy
n pl -cies
1. an incorrect or misleading notion or opinion based on inaccurate facts or invalid reasoning
2. unsound or invalid reasoning
3. the tendency to mislead
It was on the 22nd of October that BBC Question Time
featured three important guests: Labour MP Jack Straw,
Conservative Shadow Minister Sayeeda Warsi and Leader of
The BNP, Nick Griffin on their programme. While all The
Muslims watching would understandably revile Griffin, it is
important that take up the same attitude against Sayeeda
Warsi and Jack Straw.
In brief, the entire programme was just a chance for the
different political parties to try their best to win votes and
salvage the reputation of their party. It was for that reason and
that reason only that Jack Straw, Sayeeda Warsi were on
Question Time in the first place, to have a contest to see just
who could win the most votes by attacking The BNP. In the
case of Nick Griffin, he was either trying to get sympathy in
his areas of influence by making them see how he was
abused by those in multicultural London, either that, or he just
didn’t do a very good job of making his case to the people in
London.
Griffin attacked Islam saying that it allowed women to be
stoned to death if raped because it was seen as adultery in
the eyes of The Shari’ah. This is ridiculous, and shows
Griffins utter ignorance, Imam Malik (RA) said: “The
punishment is to be carried out on the rapist and there is no
punishment for the woman who has been raped, whatever the
case.” Ibn Abd al Barr said: “The scholars are unanimously
agreed that the rapist is to be subjected to the hadd
punishment if there is clear evidence against him that he
deserves the hadd punishment, or if he admits to that.
Otherwise, he is to be punished (i.e., if there is no proof that
the hadd punishment for zina may be carried out against him
because he does not confess, and there are not four
witnesses, then the judge may punish him and stipulate a
punishment that will deter him and others like him). There is
no punishment for the woman if it is true that he forced her
and overpowered her, which may be proven by her screaming
and shouting for help.” The “Hadd Punishment is stoning of
the rapist, not the raped woman. And of course, Griffin speaks
out in defence of Britain, which has startling rape statistics.
Griffin also went on to say that Islam obliges Muslims to
be harsh with the non-Muslims and that Islam allows us to kill
Jews and other non-Muslims at any given time. If there are
those like Griffin, who are bigoted and display enmity to Islam,
then yes, were are harsh with them, and those like them.
However, Allah (SWT) also said:
“God forbids you not--with regard to those who do not
fight you for your Faith nor drive you out of your homes--from
dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loves those who
11
of
5
are just. God only forbids you with regard to those who fight
you for your Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and
support others in driving you out, from turning to them for
protection. It is such as turn to them that do wrong!”
(al Qur’an, Surah al-Mumtahanah, Ayats 8 and 9)
Furthermore, in the time of al Khilafah Rashida, when
The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs ruled, Jews and Christians
were protected by Muslim armies, and were given state
benefits, and were only taxed sometimes as little as a few
gold coins. Indeed, how non-Muslims were treated by
Muslims in The Islamic Khilafah is superior to Griffin’s view of
how Muslims would be treated in his vision of Britain.
Asides from Griffin’s overt attacks on Islam, there are
also those from the other parties who are more covert in their
attacks, and who are just as much our adversaries as Griffin
is. People like Jack Straw, who attacked Muslim Sisters who
wear the Niqab, and who is a part of The Labour Government,
which was behind the PVE Agenda (Preventing Violent
Extremism). There will be more on this in a coming volume,
but for now, it is enough to say that The Government want to
create a British Islam, as if such a thing makes any sense,
Islam is Islam, there are not tailored versions to fit one
country or another. It also seeks to facilitate spying on
Muslims, as stated in the Guardian Newspaper, local councils
have drawn up ISAs (Information Sharing Agreements) with
the police. According to the Guardian, the ISA between The
Islington Council and The Metropolitan Police was obtained,
among the data to be acquired would be: "Sensitive personal
data; personal data which consists of information concerning
racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or other
similar beliefs, physical/mental health or conditions, sexual
life, alleged or committed offences, proceedings …" The ISA
between Waltham Forest Council and The Metropolitan Police
states: "If a community intervention is required to prevent a
crime then personal information processed in this regard is
done so as a matter of public protection … information
relating to public protection must be retained until such time
as the subject is deemed to have reached 100 years of age
… the minimum review period for this information is every 10
years." Jack Straw is a part of The Labour Government that
has pushed this kind of policy that is making Britain become
more like a police state for Muslims. It is also important to
know that Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also sent
500 more troops to Afghanistan, and Jack Straw is a
representative of the same government who sent those
soldiers.
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
Sayeeda Warsi
Sayeeda Warsi is a prominent figure in The Conservative
Party, which will most likely get into power in the next General
Election. The conservatives are arguably worse for Muslims
than Labour are. They are ready to apply pressure on and even
ban many Muslim groups in Britain, including Tableeghi Jamaat,
which is known for Da’wah work, and has never been linked to
any trouble making, yet they will still be “examined” according to
Pauline Neville Jones of The Conservatives. They also plan to
engage in their own PVE Agenda, having gone on the record
saying they would make youngsters “proud of our country”,
which is absurd. How can a Muslim be proud of a country that is
involved in the occupation of Muslim land, and the killing of
Muslims? As for Chris Huhne of The Liberal Democrats, he also
appeared in the show, but he is to be discarded, as it is well
known that the competition in the next election will be between
Labour and Conservatives, and so he and his party should be
ignored.
These are not the people we need to tell us what to believe
and think. We are Muslims, and we should not dirty ourselves in
the filthy game of British Politcs. We should not forget The MPs
Expenses Scandal, where government ministers were caught
red handed taking taxpayers money. Including Jack Straw, who
from 2005 – 2009 took taxpayers money for a bathroom refit,
redecorations, two beds, garage doors and an LCD Television.
He also wrote to the Commons Fees Office asking for asking for
permission to buy a £7,500 kitchen. Sayeeda Warsi, while not
having herself stolen any money 9as far as I am aware),
nevertheless represents a party whose members have stolen
money, among them is Party Leader David Cameron. This is the
fruit of British, Secular values.
This is not the kind of governance and politics Islam talks
about. Islam prohibits the state to spy on people, Allah (SWT)
said:
12
Nick Griffin
“O you who Believe avoid much suspicion, indeed some
suspicion
is a sin. And spy not on one an other neither backbite one
another.”
(al Qur’an, Surah al –Hujuraat, Ayat 12)
Rather than steal money from the people, a proper Islamic
Government invests in it’s people. The populace of The Islamic
State of The Rightly Guided Caliphs were taxed lightly and even
given state benefits. As an example, Umar ibn al Khattab (RA)
established al Bayt al Mal (State Treasury) which gave pensions
and allowances to the people, including non-Muslims. It is
narrated in al Kitab al Amwal by Ubayd by Abu Ubayd al Qasin
ibn Sallam (RA) that Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) had seen an old
Jewish man begging at doors, and he said: “We have not done
justice to you if we have taken jizya from you in the prime of
your youth and neglected you in your old age.” He then ordered
from the treasury enough money for the old man to sustain
himself. Non-Muslims were only charged what they could afford
in terms of taxes, in Sahih al Bukhari it has been narrated by
Abu Najeeh (RA) who said, “I said to Mujahid: “What is the
matter with the people of Ash-Sham who pay 4 Dinars and the
people of Yemen pay 1 Dinar?’ He said, ‘This was decided
based on prosperity.” This is the type of advancement Islamic
Values produce, and so we should be proud of that, and we
should never feel like our values are inferior. What are inferior
are the values that have created the monstrosity known as
British Politics. And so, please do not fall for the evil tricks of the
political parties of Britain, and please beware of them.
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
The Grand Stage:
The Devil’s
Deception
of Barrack
Obama
6 "Two-faced Obama"
“And when it is said to them: ‘Make not
mischief on the earth,’ they say: ‘We are only
peacemakers. Verily, they are the ones who make
mischief, but they perceive not.”
(al Qur’an Surah al-Baqarah, Ayat 11-12)
We all know that Dajjal (The Anti-Christ) is the terrible
one-eyed deceiver, and he will mislead many from The
Straight Path, however, if there was ever to be a two-eyed
version of this great imposter, my personal guess is that it
would be someone like Barrack Obama. In the realm of
contemporary politics, he is one of Shaytan’s greatest
henchmen, whether he knows it, or not. Indeed, this man has
been held up by many a person as a sign of hope. After all,
having been through almost a decade of having George W.
Bush as President of The United States of America, anyone
with at least one more IQ point becoming the next President
would be seen as a great relief by just about anyone. Luckily
for Obama, he has far more than just one more IQ point than
Bush, however, that should not be taken as a compliment. We
should be certain that Obama is just as much an adversary to
us as Bush was, the only difference being that he is smarter,
which only makes him more dangerous.
The sad irony of recent events is the fact that Obama
was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize on October 9th, 2009.
The Nobel Committee stated he had: "…created a new
climate in international politics. ... Only very rarely has a
person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's
attention and given its people hope for a better future.” The
statement continued on to remark: “His diplomacy is founded
in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do
so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the
majority of the world's population.”
13
My estimation is that a book could well be written on how
Obama absolutely should not be allowed anywhere near any
kind of “peace prize”, but instead this article will have to
suffice. I am sure that there are some Muslim Brothers and
Sisters here in Britain, and elsewhere, who may take this
man to be some kind of saviour, but I would respectfully urge
these fellow Muslims to re-consider this opinion should they
have it. This man had promised “Change We Can Believe In”,
but it has been some months now since he became
President, and I am afraid to say that despite the rhetoric, he
has simply not delivered what we Muslims so desperately
want.
It was on June 4th, 2009, that Obama made a very well
known and remembered speech in Cairo, Egypt. This speech
was rather comically entitled: “A New Beginning”. While
addressing The Muslim Ummah in this speech, Obama had
said: "I have come here to seek a new beginning between the
United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon
mutual interest and mutual respect." Such words sound
wonderful, to some, many of the things that Obama said
sounded pleasing. However, as the old saying goes, actions
speak louder than words, and words without action are
shallow.
Obama had touched on five key parts of The Muslim
World, and issues America has with them, these were:
1. Military Operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan
2. Military Operations in Iraq
3. The Issue of Palestine
4. The Issue of Iran and Nuclear Weapons.
These are the main issues that Muslims globally hold as
matters of great importance, and rightly so. Looking at these
areas and American actions towards them, we should realise
that what Obama says and what he does are distinctly
different.

ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
Afghanistan: Escalation in The War on Islam
Obama talked about Afghanistan first, saying: “Make no
mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan.
We seek no military bases there.” The first point to mention is
that one should find it impossible to believe such a statement,
given the fact that America has military bases just about
everywhere on the planet. And of course, The Muslim World
is no different in this regard. America has access to and
actual ownership of military bases in countries such as
Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan. America still has
military bases in Japan and South Korea despite the fact that
it has been decades since World War Two and The Korean
War. Generally speaking, America has had military bases
wherever it has gone, it has over 700 bases in dozens of
countries with thousands upon thousands of soldiers
stationed within them, so are we really to believe this lie of
Obama? Even if what he said was true, the fact remains that
America has bases in every country that surrounds
Afghanistan, such as the nations of Central Asia, not to
mention Pakistan.
Even more importantly, one would have to ask why
Obama did not address the fact that he was sending 17,000
more troops to Afghanistan, something he approved of
months before. These troops will be an addition to the 34,000
troops already deployed. This move has been made despite
the fact that global opinion is very much against this war. In
2007, The Pew Research Centre published a “Global
Attitudes Survey”, in which it asked citizens of 47 countries
their opinions regarding the war.
The survey found that 41 of the 47 countries held the
majority opinion of opposing it. The 2009 instalment of the
same survey polled 25 countries, of which 21 generally
opposed the war. As for the 4 countries that remained, two of
them were America and Israel, which hardly leaves any
surprise.
Obama also supports the treacherous Afghan
Government, headed by Hamid Karzai, who is known to be
an incompetent, bumbling fool. The Afghan elections have
been proven to of been steeped in corruption, with a new
round of voting having been promised. But that promise has
now been broken due to Karzai recently having been able to
sustain his Presidency of Afghanistan, having “won by
default” instead. Obama of course, praised Karzai’s next term
in office, thus, so much for the “democratic elections” that was
supposedly the Afghan people’s “right”. The political
corruption of Afghanistan has now shown that America’s
supposed reason for going to war was a phoney one. The real
reason was to expand his crusade into Pakistan, and to use
Afghanistan as a base from which to do so.
Pakistan: An Expansion in the War on Islam
Obama’s militarism has also spread to Pakistan, where
he has continued George Bush’s attacks on the people there.
Rather than trying to spread “democracy” to Afghanistan,
Obama has instead used that country as a base in order to
conduct more terrorist military operations in Northern
Pakistan. In effect, America has made an Undeclared War
which had it’s origins in 2004, when George Bush was still
president. Pervez Musharraf, obeying the commands of the
Americans, ordered attacks on the South Waziristan town of
Wana, the alleged reason being the threat of a “Pakistani
Taliban” that threatened Pakistan’s sovereignty and vowed
take over the country. This led to a fight against a mere 400
14
fighters, who were the fellow Muslims of the Soldiers killing
them. It was in this battle that the first attacks were made by
America, who used attack drones, or unmanned aircraft to
bomb Rana. And so, this more covert war has been gaining
momentum from that day onwards. It was because of these
actions that the tribal people began to rise up and became
known as “militants” or “Pakistani Taliban”. And so, the conflict
expanded and still continues to this day, with drone attacks
increasing in frequency.
Graham E. Fuller, a former CIA station chief in Kabul and
a former vice-chair of the CIA's National Intelligence Council
actually said: “For all the talk of "smart power," President
Obama is pressing down the same path of failure in Pakistan
marked out by George Bush.” He also said: “Military force will
not win the day in either Afghanistan or Pakistan; crises have
only grown worse under the U.S. military footprint.” Indeed,
these statements are not empty. It was George Bush who
said that: ““Defeating these terrorists and extremists is also
Pakistan’s responsibility — because every nation has an
obligation to govern its own territory and make certain that it
does not become a safe haven for terror…” Obama parroted
George Bush when he pathetically tried to justify his actions
in Pakistan by saying the following during his Presidential
Campaign: “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains
that killed 3,000 Americans if we have actionable intelligence
about high value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will
not act, we will.” He also said: “…and Pakistan’s instability
right now, it’s turning away from democracy, the rise of Islamic
militants inside the country that he (Musharraf) has not
effectively dealt with, all of these threaten instability in the
region.” These are the same sentiments he echoed in his
Cairo speech.
These, however are false reasons that Obama has given.
Pakistani authorities themselves say that 701 civilians have
been killed in these drone attacks with only 14 “militants”
having been killed. Furthermore, there have been 2,000,000 –
3,000,000 people who have become IDPs (Internally
Displaced Peoples) who have had to flee their homes in
SWAT due to the attacks. Obama used 9/11 as an argument,
however, the number who have been killed, injured, and
forced to flee their homes in Pakistan far outnumber those
who were killed in that one day. It is America with the
compliance of puppets like Musharraf and also Zardari who
have caused political instability in Pakistan, having bombed
the north and having historically supported the various
dictators of Pakistan. And so it is safe to say that Obama has
done all harm and no good, and if the reasons he gave were
his actual reasons, then it is safe to say that he has failed.
However, there is more to Obama’s motives than meets
the eye. He is the same as Bush in that he regards Pakistan
as a threat due to the Islamic sentiments of all the people,
and so they fear the rise and establishment of Islam not just
there, but also in Afghanistan. It is for this reason that The
Americans have created the term “AfPak” having grouped the
two together, due to their fear of Islam surging in these
territories, and Obama, being an agent of American interests,
has expanded the conflict in Pakistan under this premise, not
the lies he has stated above.
The Zardari–Gilani regime has also accepted and
condones the “Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act
2009”, which stipulates that “Pakistani national, regional, and
local officials and members of Pakistani civil society and local
private sector, civic, religious, and tribal leaders” are to act
according to U.S dictates, and that Pakistan must blame itself
for the U.S problems in Afghanistan, rather than the U.S
blaming themselves and their own arrogance.
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
It is America and it’s puppets like Zardari and Gilani that Palestine: A Continuation of Colonialist Brutality
are the problem, together, they have spread the myth that a
mere handful of poorly armed men could seize the country, Another open secret is how every single American
despite the fact that they face The Pakistani Army (6th largest President has supported Israel, and of course, Obama is not
in the world), not to mention the American drone attacks. foolish enough to break away from that trend of American
They have done this so they can justify their intervention, politics. Before his election, Obama made a speech to AIPAC
which truly seeks to destabilise Pakistan like they did Iraq, (The American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee) on June 4th,
and prevent the rise of a true Islamic State and to make sure 2009, where in he stated: “I always understood the Zionist
that can continue to exploit the region. idea, that there is always a homeland at the centre of our
story.” He further went on to say: “We know that the
Iraq: An Ongoing Colonialist Project establishment of Israel was just and necessary, rooted in
centuries of struggle and decades of patient hard work. But
Obama said in his speech: “I have made it clear to the sixty years later, we know that we cannot relent, we cannot
Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their yield, and as President I will never compromise when it
territory or resources.” While I have addressed Obama’s claim comes to Israel’s security.” These pro-Israeli, pro-Zionist
regarding military bases, there are also the claims he has sentiments were echoed in his Cairo speech: “America's
made regarding territory and resources. The above quote is a strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is
classic display of colonialist rhetoric, Obama can afford to say unbreakable.”
this due to the fact that America has already gotten what it
wants from Iraq. America has installed a puppet regime under It is easy predict that this is the kind of Zionist rhetoric
Nouri al Maliki, who has allowed the continued occupation of that Obama would come out with. He also went on to say:
it’s own country, yet still has the audacity to claim that Iraq is “America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian
a sovereign nation. aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.”
While Obama says he supports the Palestinians having a
Obama used an ace up his sleeve when he remarked: state, he neglects to mention that this state will be founded on
“Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the less than 20% of the land they had lost, spanning a mere
removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why 6,209 square kilometres of the 27,009 square kilometres that
we will honour our agreement with Iraq's democratically the Palestinians once called their own under The Islamic
elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities Khilafah. This state will be completely dependant on Israel
by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012.” due it’s severe lack of resources, it will be dependent on
Here, it is good to seek that the man is being at least a slight Israel for trade due to the fact that Palestinian imports and
bit more honest. Obama has always stated he would remove exports will pass through Israeli control, which has led to
combat troops by August 31st 2010, of course, that does not millions of dollars worth of lost exports in the past for
mean that American troops as a whole will be removed by Palestinians. It would use the Israeli currency, the Shekel, it
then. Most of American troops in Iraq are actually reserve would depend upon Israel for electricity and water, it would
troops, not combat ones, Obama himself said that he would have a negligent armed force. Infact, Obama is increasing on
keep 35,000 – 50,000 troops in Iraq for the purpose of: “… military ties with Israel, as he also said: “Our alliance is based
training, equipping, and advising Iraqi Security Forces as long on shared interests and shared values, those who threaten
as they remain nonsectarian; conducting targeted Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on
counterterrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian the front lines, and I will bring to the White House an
and military efforts within Iraq." He also said he would keep unshakable commitment to Israel’s security. That starts with
these reserves to: “…advise Iraqi troops and protect US ensuring Israel’s qualitative military advantage. I will ensure
interests.” In other words, Obama does not care about Iraqi that Israel that Israel can defend itself from any threat, from
people, or of Iraq’s prosperity, but rather, Iraq is a place for Gaza to Tehran. Defence co-operation is a model of success
America to continue to occupy and interfere with. and it must be deepened. As President, I will implement a
memorandum of understanding, that provides $ 30 Billion in
Also Nouri al Maliki himself has actually stated that U.S assistance to Israel over the next decade. Investments that
troops may stay as far in the future as beyond 2011, which is will not be tied to any other nation.” Obama speaks as though
when all U.S reserve troops are supposed to have withdrawn. Israel actually faced a legitimate threat from Hamas in Gaza,
Maliki justified this saying: “…if the Iraqis require further or Iran. He spoke as though Israel was a poor, frail victim,
training and support we shall examine this at that time, based under serious threat, when we know this is not the case. He
on the needs of Iraq." Maliki cannot hide behind the needs of has even admitted that he is playing favouritism with Israel,
Iraqi people, who do not want American troops in their land, given the fact that the scale of military assistance he is
and who have suffered through an American instigated war providing to Israel will go to no one else.
that has resulted in the deaths of 650,000 – 1,000,000 Iraqi
civilians. As a final point, Obama himself said in his AIPAC
speech: “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it
It is an open secret that America has very meaty must remain undivided.” And as we speak, Israeli authorities
economic interests in Iraq. Alan Greenspan, who Obama are evicting Palestinians from their homes, not just in East
appointed as one of his economic advisors said that America Jerusalem, but in The West Bank and elsewhere. Despite
cannot be: “…beholden to potentially unfriendly sources of oil “pressure” from Obama, Israel ignores and continues to
and gas." This is the heart of the issue, America has interest engage in it’s fascist evictions of Muslims.
in Iraq, among which is the need for energy resources and
puppet regimes who will supply it to them, these interests
however, are not centred on the slogans of “freedom” and
“democracy”.

15
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009 Iran: The Subject of Propaganda
Obama went on to talk about Iran and it’s nuclear
weaponry. He said in his Cairo speech: “I understand those
who protest that some countries have weapons that others do
not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations
hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed
America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations
hold nuclear weapons.” With regards to nuclear weaponry,
this issue has already been addressed in an article in the
previous volume, so please read that insha’Allah. Suffice it to
say however, that this is a ridiculous statement, the political
reality of the world does not allow for such rhetoric to be a
reality, and even if we were to accept this kind of sweet
speech, it should not ever be from Obama in the first place.
This segment specifically deals with Iran, who America
has tried to paint as a major threat to Israel. To that end, they
have spouted ridiculous propaganda which is reminiscent of a
very badly written script for a Hollywood film. The American
propaganda essentially states that The Iranian Government
are all insane, and that when Ahmedinejad he would “wipe
Israel of the map”, he actually meant it. And of course, when
Hilary Clinton, who Obama appointed as his Secretary of
State said America would “obliterate” Iran, that was just a
joke.
Let us just for a second, suppose that this script ever
became reality, the fact of the matter is this: nuclear weapons
have come a long way in their destructive potential since
1945, when they were used for the first and only times. Thus,
if Iran ever fired even one nuclear weapon on Israel, he would
also be killing Muslims who live under occupation there. Firing
these weapons would also kill Muslims in The West Bank and
Gaza, not to mention Muslims in other parts of the region. In
fact, The Iranians may well be killing themselves too. An
explosion from such weapons are in themselves enormously
destructive, then there are the various diseases and bodily
harms that occur as a result the radiation effect of such
weapons, such problems are long lasting and far reaching.
Nagasaki and Hiroshima were the two Japanese cities
bombed and obliterated by America in 1945, and as a result
150,000 people were killed. Still, even to this day, the effects
of radiation can be felt, as people are still contracting
diseases as a result of what happened decades ago. This
was the result of only two primitive nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, it still remains to conclusively establish
whether or not Iran actually has nuclear weapons in the first
place, of course, Obama and The American Government
have already written their script, and they have decided they
want to say that Iran does have nuclear weapons. It is also
well known that Israel itself has nuclear weapons, and the
difference is that this is definitively established and true, yet
we do not see America applying the same magnitude of
pressure upon Israel. This indicates that Iran is being used as
a part of fear mongering tactics that Obama can use to justify
continued American intervention in the region, as there is a
crazy regime that wants to destroy the entire Middle East, and
America must save the day.
The Guardian of Capitalism, Not Islam
Today, America is the grand patron of Capitalism, and
Barrack Obama is it’s President. In reality, this country is an
empire whose Government is not driven by notions of good,
but rather, of benefit. America is driven by interest, and it is
run by those who champion this concept. It is for that reason
why Obama’s administration is full of people who are of the
mentality just described.
16
Obama’s administration includes people such as Timothy
Geitner, Hilary Clinton, Alan Greenspan, Lawrence Summers,
Robert Gates and Henry Kissinger. Some of these names
have been associated with economic corruption, such as
Lawrence Summers, while others have been seen as
engineers of The Global Financial Crisis due to corporate
greed, such as Timothy Geitner. All of these people have
something in common, and that is the fact that they are the
elite, the people of influence, and it is people like them who
have a large role in dictating America policy. While Presidents
come and go, such figures always remain.
There is a prevailing false notion that Obama has
absolute authority, but that is simply not the case, nor has it
ever been. America never was one man, rather, it has always
been many men. America has various branches of
government, The Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch,
and The Judicial Branch. As President, Obama has some
Executive power and less Legislative and Judicial power.
America also has many big businesses with influential and
wealthy CEOs, large media corporations, various think tanks,
and a massive military-industrial complex. America is all of
these things, not just one man alone. And so, even if Obama
was sincere, the fact of the matter is, there is much more to
America than this one little figure. And in the end, while the
faces within these branches of government and institutions
change, the goals remain the same, and the goal of America
is to dominate the world, and that includes The Muslim World.
America is a state with super power status, and it intends to
keep it.
We must stop looking at the fact that the man’s middle
name is Hussein. He is not a Muslim, either he was once as a
child, or not even that. His father was from Indonesia, a
Muslim for part of his life, who then left The Deen. His
ancestry includes Muslims, and they may have been
righteous, but that says nothing for Obama at all. Instead of
looking at these superficial things, we should instead look to
the reality of what he is now, and what he is doing to The
Muslim Ummah.
America believes in it’s ideology of Capitalism, and it is
this idea that has led it to engage in something called
globalisation, which aims to spread this ideology across the
world. This is the substance of America, it is only the style that
changes. George Bush, Barrack Obama and those like them
are merely parts of the style, nothing more. Obama’s Cairo
Speech, and all of his appealing rhetoric is nothing more than
an attempt to deceive us, and so we as Muslims should
beware of him.
 It Is Time for The Real Change We Can Believe In
ISLAMICALLY SPEAKING 06 November 2009
Alhamdulillah, in Muslim lands, Obama magic has failed
to charm the populace. According to The Gallup World
Organisation, The Muslim World collectively has no positive
opinion of Obama, in Egypt, his approval rating is only 25%, in
Saudi Arabia it is 29%, in Syria it is 15%, in Lebanon it is 22%
and in Palestine it is a mere 7%.
While I hate to borrow one of Obama’s slogans, we do
need change, but a real change. If we wish to redeem The
Muslim Ummah and restore it to it’s former glory, we must
return our Deen again. The Shari’ah of Allah (SWT) was not
revealed just to be but away in a cupboard or put on top of a
shelf. By now, I have grown tired of quoting from Obama, but
there is one honest thing he said: “As a student of history, I
also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places
like al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning
through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's
Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim
communities that developed the order of algebra; our
magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of
pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads
and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us
majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and
cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful
contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has
demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of
religious tolerance and racial equality.”
It is this level of civilization that we need to reach once
more, so we can be a beacon for the rest of the world. Indeed,
the only time we had such a high standing in the world was
when The Ummah was under the shade of The Islamic
Khilafah. And so, we must work to re-establish it, we must
improve ourselves and make sure we are good Islamic
personalities, and also, we must spread the message to The
Ummah that Khilafah is Fard (obligatory) and that we must
inspire others to seek real change from sincere Muslims. We
must give this message to our friends, families and the society
at large in whatever way we can. Also, we must carry the
message that our Prophet (PBUH) made a promise to us:
On the authority of Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman, who reported
that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Prophethood will
remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain, then
Allah will raise it up whenever he wills to raise it up.
Afterwards, there will be a Khilafah that follows the guidance
of Prophethood remaining with you for as long as Allah wills it
to remain. Then, He will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it
up. Afterwards, there will be a reign of violently oppressive rule
and it will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to
remain. Then, there will be a reign of tyrannical rule and it will
remain for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, Allah will
raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Then, there will be
a Khilafah that follows the guidance of Prophethood." Then
Hudhaifah said, "The Prophet stopped speaking." (Musnad of
Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal)

Before anything else, we must also

know that the work to re-establish The
Khilafah is done only for The Sake of Allah
(SWT) who said:

Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after
righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, this, they are rebellious and wicked.
inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He
will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen (al Qur’an, Surah an-Noor, Ayat 55)
for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which
they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me

Farewell Message:

Brothers and Sisters, we thank you for your having read this newsletter. Insha’Allah, you will continue to read the future volumes, please
remember to look for them on the first Friday of each month. We hope you are eager to read the seventh Volume. We also have two notices:

• We are eager to hear from Muslims who desperately want to give Da’wah and work hard for Islam, so we urge you to please contact us via
this e-mail address: islamicallyspeaking@hotmail.co.uk. We can supply you with electronic versions of other material, they can be used as
Da’wah material, fisabilillah.
• Also, it would be good to hear your thoughts on the newsletter (be they positive or negative). We would especially be privileged if you
would contact us so we may discuss ideas in relation to how we can revive The Ummah and allow it to progress again. In order to do so,
please contact the above e-mail address.

Jazakallah khayr for taking the time out to listen to what we have to say, do take notice of future volumes and notices. Kind regards.

17 As salaam alaykum wa rahmatullah