1. Our knowledge~wasted by not taking action with it
2. Our actions~wasted by committing them without sincerity
3. Our wealth~wasted by using on things that will not bring us ajr (reward from Allah).We waste our money,our status,our authority,on things which have no benefit in this life or in the akhirah (hereafter)
4. Our hearts~wasted because they are empty from the love of Allah (SWT) and His messenger (SAW),and a feeling of peace and contentment.In its place,our hearts are filled with something or someone else
5. Our bodies~wasted because we don't use them in ibadah (worship) and service of Allah
6. Our love~wasted by our emotional misdirected love not towards Allah but towards something/someone else
7. Our time~wasted,not used properly,to compensate for that which has passed,by doing what is righteous to make up for past deeds.
8. Our intelectual~wasted on things that are not beneficial,that are detremental to society and the individual,not in contemplation or reflection
9. Our service~wasted in service of someone who will not bring us closer to Allah,moreover something that will benefit us in dunya
10.Our dhikr~wasted because it does not bring any effect on our attitudes
Those who believe,and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah,verily in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts find solace(Qs 13:28)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
PBB IngaTkaN DuNiA, KriSiS PaNgaN AnCam KeAmaNan GloBaL
PBB menyatakan bahwa perdamaian dunia terancam akibat kecenderungan kenaikan harga-harga bahan makanan yang sudah terjadi di banyak negara. Menurut Direktur Jenderal Organisasi Pertanian dan Pangan PBB (FAO) Jacques Diout, gejala itu sudah terlihat dengan jatuhnya korban dalam aksi massa yang memprotes kenaikan harga makanan. Di Haiti misalnya, lima orang tewas dalam aksi unjuk rasa memprotes kenaikan harga makanan dan bahan bakar yang berujung dengan bentrokan. Korban serupa bisa terjadi di negara-negara yang saat ini sudah menunjukkan fenomena makin melangitnya harga-harga kebutuhan masyarakat terutama bahan makanan dan bahan bakar dalam beberapa bulan terakhir, antara lain di Mesir, Kamerun, Pantai Gading, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Madagaskar, Filipinan, Indonesia dan beberapa negara lainnya.
"Secara alamiah, orang tidak akan berdiam diri untuk mati kelaparan. Mereka akan bereaksi, " kata Diouf.
Untuk itu ia mengingatkan agar segera dicari jalan keluar dan dilakukan langkah-langkah cepat untuk mengatasi kenaikan harga-harga kebutuhan masyarakat.
Menurut perhitungan PBB, sampai akhir Januari kemarin, secara global kenaikan harga makanan mencapai 35 persen. Dampak kenaikan ini sangat dirasakan oleh masyarakat di negara-negara berkembang, di mana 50 sampai 60 persen pendapatan mereka habis untuk membeli kebutuhan makanan, sedangkan di negara-negara maju, hanya 10-20 persen saja.
Lebih lanjut Diouf mengungkapkan, ada beberapa faktor yang menyebabkan meroketnya harga makanan. Misalnya, harga benih jagung yang nak 36 persen dan harga benih gandum yang naik 72 persen. Sementara harga pupuk juga melonjak sampai 59 persen dan harga pakan naik 62 persen.
"Pada bulan Oktober kami sudah membuat banyak pernyataan di berbagai media, mengingatkan kemungkinan terjadinya kerusuhan akibat mahalnya makanan. Kami memiliki sinyal-sinyal yang mengarah ke sana. Terus terang, saya kira kita sudah banyak kehilangan waktu, " papar Diouf yang mengaku heran dirinya tidak dipanggil oleh Dewan Keamanan PBB untuk membahas krisis makanan ini. Padahal dampaknya sangat besar bagi perdamaian, keamanan dan hak asasi manusia.
Menurut ketua FAO itu, sedikitnya ada 37 negara di dunia yang saat ini mengalami krisis pangan. Ia sudah menyerukan agar para pemimpin dunia hadir dalam pertemuan tingkat tinggi keamanan pangan dunia yang akan digelar di Roma pada bulan tanggal 3-5 Juni mendatang.
Diouf menyatakan, untuk mengatasi krisis pangan ini perlu segera dilakukan tindakan berupa bantuan benih, pupuk dan pakan bagi para petani di negara-negara miskin. Langkah lainnya yang juga penting dilakukan adalah, menciptakan mekanisme finansial yang memungkinkan negara-negara miskin pengimpor makanan bisa tetap membeli bahan makanan yang mereka butuhkan serta memberikan proporsi yang lebih besar pada anggaran untuk pertanian.
Disisi lain, Diouf menilai kebijakan negara-negara berkembang melakukan kontrol terhadap ekspor bahan makanan merupakan kebijakan yang normal karena setiap pemerintah bertanggung jawab atas kebutuhan pangan bagi rakyatnya, meski berdampak pada kenaikan harga pangan secara global. [era]
Only the Khilafah will truly eradicate torture
The year is 1942 and Heinrich Müller chief of the Gestapo, Nazi Germany's feared secret police, is writing a memo outlining the introduction of new "Verschärfte Vernehmung" or "enhanced interrogation techniques." The memo lists some of these enhanced techniques as:· Simplest rations
· Hard bed
· Dark cell
· Deprivation of sleep
· Exhaustion exercises
· Blows with a stick (in case of more than 20 blows, a doctor must be present)
In 1946, after the defeat of Nazi Germany three German officers – Bruns, Schubert and Clemens stood trial in Norway accused of the murder and torturing of Norwegian citizens under German occupation. All three were convicted of war crimes for using this "Verschärfte Vernehmung" that the court clearly described as "torture." All three were sentenced to death.
In their defence the three Nazi's argued that the victims were part of an illegal insurgency against the German occupation of Norway. Members of this insurgency "were not in uniform and bore no special marks of distinction on such occasions; nor did they carry their weapons openly. They had, therefore, no rights as soldiers according to Article 1 of the Regulations on Land Warfare (Hague Regulations)".1 In other words they were "unlawful combatants" upon which international law did not apply.
One year later another war crime trial took place across the Atlantic in America. This time a Japanese soldier was sentenced to 15 years in prison for war crimes after using water-boarding against a US citizen during World War II.
60 years later…
It is January 2002 and John Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the US Justice Department is writing a memo clarifying the legal position of detainees captured from the war in Afghanistan. He unequivocally states that "these treaties do not protect members of the al Qaeda organization, which as a non-State actor cannot be a party to the international agreements governing war. We further conclude that these treaties do not apply to the Taliban militia". In other words they are "unlawful combatants" upon which international law does not apply.
According to ABC News in mid-March of the same year, the CIA got authorization to use "enhanced interrogation" techniques on detainees from Afghanistan. These techniques included:
· Water-boarding: prisoner bound to a board with feet raised, and cellophane wrapped round his head. Water is poured onto his face and is said to produce a fear of drowning
· Cold cell: prisoner made to stand naked in a cold, though not freezing, cell and doused with water
· Standing: Prisoners stand for 40 hours and more, shackled to the floor
· Belly slap: a hard slap to the stomach with an open hand. This is designed to be painful but not to cause injury
On 8th March this year, George Bush vetoed legislation that would stop the CIA using these "enhanced interrogation" methods such as simulated drowning or "water-boarding". He said he rejected the intelligence bill, passed by Senate and Congress, as it took "away one of the most valuable tools in the war on terror".
The US position on torture was summed up by former US president Jimmy Carter in an interview on October 10th 2007 when he said, "The United States tortures prisoners in violation of international law."
The similarities between Nazi Germany's stance on torture and the United States are disturbing to say the least. The term "enhanced interrogation" used by the CIA is an almost direct translation of the Gestapo term "Verschärfte Vernehmung." According to John Yoo these interrogation techniques are not torture since they are not "specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering." This argument is almost verbatim of that made by the Nazis who argued that "the acts of torture in no case resulted in death. Most of the injuries inflicted were slight and did not result in permanent disablement".2
Jon Yoo in an LA Times editorial said, "the Taliban militia lost its right to prisoner-of-war status because it did not wear uniforms, did not operate under responsible commanders and systematically violated the laws of war." Is this not exactly the same justification given by the Nazi's against the Norwegian insurgency that they "were not in uniform"?
Muslims are no strangers to torture. The tyrannical governments in the Muslim world routinely torture their citizens and are so skilled at it that America "outsources" much of its interrogation to them through its "extraordinary rendition" programme. The dungeons in Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Morocco and Uzbekistan are full of believers whose only crime are their love for Islam and a desire for the return of the Khilafah ruling system.
Egypt in particular is so brutal that even growing a beard is enough for the authorities to arrest, torture and imprison the person. Imad Kabir was filmed being tortured and sexually assaulted by police officers. The video even made its way on to the Internet. But instead of the police officers being prosecuted the victim was jailed for three months for 'resisting authority.'3
Examples such as these convinced many Muslims that for the Muslim world to emerge from the "dark ages" it must adopt the western values of Human Rights and democracy. However, America's legalisation of torture in the 21st century exposes the fundamental problem with man-made western values – there are no fixed principles of right and wrong. Torture in World War II was illegal but today it is legal. Democracy is the "ruling of the people, by the people for the people." If the people decide torture is a necessary evil then it can be legalised simply by voting on it. Tony Blair admitted this when he said, "Let no-one be in any doubt, the rules of the game are changing." 4
Israel is heralded as the only democracy in the Middle East. Until 1999 torture of Palestinians within Israel itself was legal. The continuous killing, torture and oppression of Palestinians are legal and Israeli governments seen as not upholding these "values" are simply voted out by the people.
Torture is forbidden in Islam
The principles of good and bad are fixed in Islam. Torture was prohibited by the Messenger of Allah (saw). Regardless of the majority opinion or the benefit and harm established through its use shari'ah has forbidden torture.
Muslim narrated from Hisham bin Hakeem, who said; "I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say; 'Allah will punish those who punish the people in the Dunya.'"
He (saw) also said: "There are two types of the people of Hellfire I have not seen yet; some people who have whips like the tails of oxes by which they flog the people." 5
Islam has also forbidden the violation of people's sanctities, dignity, funds and honour, and the dishonouring of the sanctity of their homes.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in belief: his blood, his wealth and his honour." 6
Only the Islamic Aqeeda can truly prevent torture
The majority of torture inflicted upon Muslims by the western powers takes place in the occupied lands of Iraq and Afghanistan. Blinded by hatred US and UK troops take revenge against Muslims they are fighting or in many cases against ordinary civilians including women and children.
The 2005 Haditha massacre in Iraq is a vivid example of this. After a US marine was killed in a roadside bomb, US soldiers blinded by hatred went on a rampage killing 24 Muslim men, women and children.
In response to the Haditha massacre US troops in Iraq were given 30 days of ethics lessons in "core warrior values." However, similar to the west's outlawing of torture, "core warrior values" in western armed forces are not fixed principles. They are "paper values" that in the heat of battle are simply thrown away.
The reasons western troops fight in the first place is one of the fundamental causes of their behaviour. Soldiers fighting for fun, money or status will leave all civilised military conduct if it doesn't achieve any benefits for them. Most of the torture in Iraq has only come to light because US and UK troops took "trophy" photos of the abuse so they can show their friends and family back home. Videos of US troops fighting to heavy metal music, reveling and laughing as they shoot Iraqi's are readily available on the Internet.
With no firm belief in the hereafter, the death of close friends in battle and the constant stress of fighting will lead to western troops committing atrocities such as Haditha or the many more that go unreported.
Only soldiers with a strong belief in Allah (swt) and conviction in accountability for all their actions no matter how small, will uphold true "warrior values" in the heat of battle.
Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Zalzala:
"Whoever has done an atom's-weight of good will see it, but whoever has done an atom's-weight of evil will see that." [TMQ 99:7-8]
This Day of Judgement is a frightening day for those who disobey Allah (swt).
Allah (swt) says in Surah 'Abasa:
"The Day man will flee from his own brother, his mother, his father, his wife, his children: each of them will be absorbed in concerns of their own on that Day." [TMQ 80:34-37]
The sharia has specified the valid reasons Muslim soldiers (mujhaideen) can fight for. It has also detailed rules of war that must be adhered to even in the heat of battle.
The primary reason for fighting jihad is not for any material, nationalistic or sectarian interests. Rather it is performed purely to make Allah's word the highest.
A man came to the Prophet and asked, "A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet said, "He who fights that Allah's Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause." 7
Prisoners of War
1300 years before the Geneva Convention Islam forbade the mistreatment of prisoners of war. There is no such concept as "unlawful combatants" in Islam. The sharia rules on dealing with captives i.e. releasing or ransoming them were explicitly stated in the Holy Qur'an.
After the Battle of Badr the Prophet (saw) ordered the Muslims to treat the prisoners of war so well to such an extent that the captors used to give the captives their bread (the more valued part of the meal) and keep the dates for themselves.11
Torture in western judicial systems
In much of Europe, medieval and early modern courts freely inflicted torture, depending on the crime and the social status of the suspect. Torture was deemed a legitimate means for judges to extract confessions or to obtain the names of accomplices or other information about the crime. In the Middle Ages especially and up into the 18th century, torture was deemed a legitimate way to obtain testimonies and confessions from suspects for use in judicial inquiries and trials.
When Islam emerged in the 7th century it formally abolished the torture of suspects that was prevalent in the Persian and Roman Empires that dominated the world at that time. The shari'ah was far superior to the man-made Roman law that much of Europe is still based upon and which justified the legality of torturing suspects. As Nick Cohen said, "When medieval Europe discovered that Roman law allowed the torture of suspects, everyone from the Scots to the Spanish embraced the rack."
European Museums are full of medieval torture devices that are a historical record of European "justice".
Torture in the Islamic Judicial System is forbidden
Many of the legal principles contained within shari'ah and implemented through the Islamic judicial system were not adopted in Europe until over 1000 years later. It can be argued that even in the 21st century these legal principles have been abandoned with torture, imprisonment without trial, guilty until proven innocent and hearsay evidence all being used against Muslims under the guise of the 'war on terror.'
Independent Judiciary
In the Khilafah, although historically many Khulafaa' abused their executive powers the judiciary in the Khilafah was independent and solely based on sharia.
There are two types of judicial independence - institutional and decisional independence. Institutional independence means the judicial branch is independent from the executive and legislative branches. Decisional independence is the idea that the judge should be able to decide the outcome of a trial solely based on the law and case itself, without letting the media, politics or other things sway their decision.12
Historically, decisional independence always existed in the Khilafah. Under the Abbasids they established the Dar al-Adl (House of Justice) which made the judiciary institutionally independent as well. The future Khilafah will also enshrine an institutionally independent judiciary embodied in the Mahkamat ul-Mazalim (Court of Unjust Acts).
Decisional independence
The Sharia explicitly states that a judge must give an honest, knowledgeable and unbiased judgement on a case.
The Prophet (saw) said: "Judges are of three types, one of whom will go to Paradise and two to Hell. The one who will go to Paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgment accordingly; but a man who knows what is right and acts tyrannically in his judgment will go to Hell; and a man who gives judgment for people when he is ignorant will go to Hell." 13
The Shari'ah also specifies how the judge should act within the judicial court sitting.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Whoever Allah tests by letting him become a judge, should not let one party of a dispute sit near him without bringing the other party to sit near him. And he should fear Allah by his sitting, his looking to both of them and his judging to them. He should be careful not to look down to one as if the other was higher, he should be careful not to shout to one and not the other, and he should be careful of both of them." 14
Habeas Corpus
Islam mandated the right to innocence until proven guilty centuries before principles of Habeas Corpus were developed in the West. The Qadi (judge) in the Khilafah can only pass judgment in a judicial court and suspects must be brought before the Qadi.
Narrated Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr: "The Messenger of Allah has ordered that the two disputing parties should sit before the judge." 15
Britain formally adopted this principle in the 17th century Habeas Corpus Act 1679. However, there is an ongoing debate that terror suspects should be detained without charge for up to 90 days abandoning this long held principle. Currently they can be held for 28 days without charge.
Innocent until proven guilty
The Presumption of Innocence exists in a shari'ah court where the defendant is innocent until proven guilty. The responsibility of providing the evidence is on the plaintiff (the one who initiates the law suit) not the defendant.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "It is the plaintiff who should provide the evidence, and the oath is due on the one who disapproves." 16
The fate of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay is evidence enough that this principle does not apply to Muslims. Even though they have been held for years without any trial US Vice-President Dick Cheney said, "The important thing here to understand is that the people that are at Guantanamo are bad people. I mean, these are terrorists for the most part."
Burden of proof
The burden of proof required to convict someone of an offense in a Shari'ah Court is far higher than in any western court. The shari'ah court does not accept circumstantial evidence as a legal proof, and only trustworthy witnesses, whether Muslim or non-Muslim are allowed to give testimony.
Forced confessions extracted under torture are not accepted as proof in a Shari'ah Court. If there is any doubt over the confession of the individual it is thrown out and the punishment waived. Perpetrators of the torture will be severely punished.
One of the principles of the Islamic Punishment System is that it's better to release a guilty person than punish an innocent person. Ultimately there is no escape from justice. If a guilty person avoids punishment in the dunya they will have to answer before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement.
It is narrated from Aisha (ra) who said, The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Avert the hudud from Muslims as much as you can. So if there is a way out for him, let him off. For verily, it is better for the Imam to err in pardon than to err in punishment." 17
If the suspect retracts their confession or there is doubt over their sanity then the confession is rejected.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah who said, "A man of the Muslims came to the Messenger of Allah while he was in the mosque and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I have committed zina.' He turned away from him until he replied four times. When he testified over himself four times, the Prophet (saw) called him and said, 'Are you insane?' He said, 'No.' He (saw) said, 'Are you a muhsan (married)?' He replied, 'Yes.' So the Prophet (saw) said, 'Go with him and stone him.'" 18
Amnesty International estimates that 75% of the world's governments currently practice torture. With America using the 'war on terror' as an excuse to legalise torture this will only worsen the plight of those languishing in the prisons of brutal dictators around the world. Uzbekistan literally boils alive its Islamic opposition and the west turns a blind eye since quelling any Islamic political movements falls under the 'war on terror.'
The world is crying out for a state to stand up for all the oppressed peoples whether Muslim or non-Muslim and make a firm stance internationally that torture is unacceptable. This state is the Khilafah that through its implementation of the high Islamic values will become a much needed beacon of light in the current climate of darkness.
Allah (swt) says in Surah Ibrahim:
"Alif Laam Ra. This is a Scripture which We have sent down to you [Prophet] so that, with their Lord's permission, you may bring people from the depths of darkness into light, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy One." [TMQ 14:1]
References
1 Law-Reports of Trials of War Criminals, The United Nations War Crimes Commission, Volume III, London, HMSO, 1948 http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/WCC/bruns.htm
2 Ibid
3 BBC News Online, 10 January 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6249027.stm
4 Tony Blair, Downing Street Press Conference, 5 August 2005, http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page8041.asp
5 Narrated by Muslim from Abu Hurairah
6 Ibid
7 Bukhari, Muslim
11 Safi-ur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri, 'The Sealed Nector,' translation of Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, p. 275
12 A Legal framework primarily used in the US for discussing the judicial branch of government
13 Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 24, Number 3566: Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib
14 Baihaqi, Darqutni, Tabarani
15 Abu Dawood, Book 24, Hadith 3581
16 Al-Baihaqqi
17 Abdurrahman Al-Maliki, 'The Punishment System,' translation of Nidham ul-uqubat, Dar Ul-Ummah, Beirut, Second Edition, Chapter: THE EVIDENCE (AL-BAYYINA) OF ZINA
18 Ibid
Thursday, April 10, 2008
GiliRaN WiLdeRs DiBuaT KaRtuN BerMahKoTa BoM
Kartunis kontroversial berkewarganegaraan Denmark, beralasan hal itu dilakukannya sebagai pelampiasan ketidaksukaannya pada pembuat film Fitna Geert Wiilders. Karena Wilders menyuplik karyanya di filmnya, kartun Nabi Muhammad bersorban bom, tanpa seijinnya. Karena itu merupakan pelanggaran hak cipta.
Sementara itu, koran paling berpengaruh di Belanda, NRC Handelsblaad, memuat secara beruntun mengenai Wilders dalam beberapa laporan mendalam.
Perbincangan isu Wilders di media tentu saja memancing perbincangan dari kalangan warga Belanda. Komentar pendek atau obrolan sering kali muncul di dalam kereta api, trem, ruang tunggu stasiun, halte, kafe-kafe, bahkan dalam percakapan ringan di rumah.
Jangan bayangkan, perbincangan berat tentang sikap Wilders dan Fitna, sebagian di antara mereka bahkan menganggap yang dilakukan sebagai lelucon.
Apa reaksi masyarakat terhadap Fitna dan Wilders? Tidak semua menyukai gaya sarjana hukum yang menikahi perempuan Hongaria itu serta film yang disebut-sebut menyamakan Islam dengan fasisme tersebut. Meski sisanya lebih suka tak ambil pusing dengan sikap politiknya.
Jan Pieter, pegawai bank di Amersfoort misalnya, merasa geli dengan ulah Wilders. Namun, sikapnya hanya dinilai sebagai bagian dari kebebasan berekspresi di Belanda. "Dia cukup berani mengatakan begitu. Namun tentu saja, masyarakat Belanda tidak seperti itu, tidak ada masalah dengan Islam," ujarnya. "Wilders hanya mencari sensasi," umpat Anneke, salah satu aktivis perempuan asal Wageningen.
Friday, April 4, 2008
AmEriCaNs SeE nATiON oN 'WroNg TrAck'
With the public mood darkening since the Iraq war, most Americans have grown more pessimistic about their country's future, seeing it heading on the wrong direction, reported The New York Times on Friday, April 4. A New York Times/CBS News poll found that 81 percent of Americans believe "things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track," up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2002. Seventy-eight percent said the United States was worse off than five years ago. Only 4 percent said it was better off.
"Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s," said the Times.
The poll, conducted from March 28 to April 2, found that most Americans were dissatisfied with Republican President George W. Bush. Only 28 percent of respondents said they approved Bush's job.
Bush, who leaves the oval office in January 2009, has a domestic approval ratings of 24 percent, the lowest of any US president in history.
Internationally, he tops the list of the most unpopular politicians, according to the poll conducted in the US and the EU by the International Institute Harris.
The poll also showed that public support to the Iraq war and so-called "war-on-terror" has faded away.
Only 17 percent of respondents said terrorism topped their list of concerns against 30 percent a year ago while 37 percent named the economy or the job market against 50 percent last year.
Downbeat
The survey found that there is nearly a national consensus the country is facing significant problems.
Two-thirds of the 1,368 respondents said the US economy is in recession today.
Only 21 percent said the economy was in good condition, the lowest since late 1992.
"The dissatisfaction is especially striking because public opinion usually hits its low point only in the months and years after an economic downturn, not at the beginning of one," said the Times.
"Today, however, Americans report being deeply worried about the country even though many say their own personal finances are still in fairly good shape."
The United States is struggling with a mortgage crisis.
When questioned about the mortgage crisis, most Americans blamed government officials for the economic slowdown.
Forty percent of respondents said regulators were mostly to blame, while 28 percent named lenders and 14 percent named borrowers.
The respondents, however, remain relatively sanguine about the current state of their own finances with more than 70 percent said their financial situation was fairly good or very good.
The poll found that Americans were downbeat about the future with fewer than half of parents (46%) said they expected their children to enjoy a better standard of living than they themselves do, down from 56 percent in 2005.
Respondents were also more pessimistic when asked in general terms about the next generation.
Only one-third of respondents said the next generation would live better than people do today, in contract to the usual trend that people become more upbeat about their personal situation than about the state of society.
AmEriCaNs SeE nATiON oN 'WroNg TrAck'
With the public mood darkening since the Iraq war, most Americans have grown more pessimistic about their country's future, seeing it heading on the wrong direction, reported The New York Times on Friday, April 4. A New York Times/CBS News poll found that 81 percent of Americans believe "things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track," up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2002. Seventy-eight percent said the United States was worse off than five years ago. Only 4 percent said it was better off.
"Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s," said the Times.
The poll, conducted from March 28 to April 2, found that most Americans were dissatisfied with Republican President George W. Bush. Only 28 percent of respondents said they approved Bush's job.
Bush, who leaves the oval office in January 2009, has a domestic approval ratings of 24 percent, the lowest of any US president in history.
Internationally, he tops the list of the most unpopular politicians, according to the poll conducted in the US and the EU by the International Institute Harris.
The poll also showed that public support to the Iraq war and so-called "war-on-terror" has faded away.
Only 17 percent of respondents said terrorism topped their list of concerns against 30 percent a year ago while 37 percent named the economy or the job market against 50 percent last year.
Downbeat
The survey found that there is nearly a national consensus the country is facing significant problems.
Two-thirds of the 1,368 respondents said the US economy is in recession today.
Only 21 percent said the economy was in good condition, the lowest since late 1992.
"The dissatisfaction is especially striking because public opinion usually hits its low point only in the months and years after an economic downturn, not at the beginning of one," said the Times.
"Today, however, Americans report being deeply worried about the country even though many say their own personal finances are still in fairly good shape."
The United States is struggling with a mortgage crisis.
When questioned about the mortgage crisis, most Americans blamed government officials for the economic slowdown.
Forty percent of respondents said regulators were mostly to blame, while 28 percent named lenders and 14 percent named borrowers.
The respondents, however, remain relatively sanguine about the current state of their own finances with more than 70 percent said their financial situation was fairly good or very good.
The poll found that Americans were downbeat about the future with fewer than half of parents (46%) said they expected their children to enjoy a better standard of living than they themselves do, down from 56 percent in 2005.
Respondents were also more pessimistic when asked in general terms about the next generation.
Only one-third of respondents said the next generation would live better than people do today, in contract to the usual trend that people become more upbeat about their personal situation than about the state of society
IdeLoG iSrAeL:FiLm FiTnA jUsTrU sAtUkAn UmAt IsLaM
Seorang ideolog sekaligus kolumnis Zionis Israel terkenal, Ben Doroun, menganggap film “Fitna” yang dikeluarkan politisi Belanda Geert Wilders, sebagai film primordial dan menyesatkan. Lebih dari itu, ia menyatakan film itu justru telah menyatukan kaum Muslimin dan mendekatkan kelompok Muslim moderat dengan Muslim radikal. Dalam tulisannya yang dimuat harian Maarev, Selasa (2/4) disebutkan, film "Fitna" telah menghimpun kaum Muslimin dalam satu front yakni membela Muhammad saw.
Ia mengatakan, “Tidak mudah membedakan antara kekuatan yang dianggap radikal oleh Barat seperti Iran dengan negara-negara moderat seperti Maroko.” Menurutnya aksi-aksi demonstrasi yang melanda dunia Islam menentang film "Fitna", menunjukkan bahwa kekuatan gerakan Islam berada di balik aksi-aksi itu.
"Penolakan semua Muslim terhadap saluran televisi dan berbagai jaringan yang menayangkan film itu, telah menjasad menjadi kekuatan penolakan di balik aksi-aksi itu, ” tulis Doroun.
Ia juga mengungkapkan kekhawatirannya, merujuk pada hasil polling yang dilakukan sejumlah lembaga di mana dukungan terhadap gerakan Islam semakin besar. “Husni Mubarak tahu bahwa jika ia melakukan pemilu dengan jujur, maka Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimun akan menguasai pemerintahan. Sementara di Palestina juga sudah ada bukti kemenangan gerakan Islam karena mayoritas penduduk Palestina telah memilih gerakan Islam Hamas.”
Dalam polling yang dilakukan di Inggris beberapa waktu lalu, disebutkan bahwa 37% dari kaum Muslimin Inggris mendukung penerapan hukum syariat. Dan terkait dengan masalah busana muslimah berjilbab, 77% dari Muslim Inggris mendukungnya.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
RaMe-RaMe ToLaK FiLM FiTnA
Kecaman terhadap film anti Al Qur’an berjudul Fitna semakin meluas. Di Belanda sendiri, Jum’at lalu (28/3) PM Jan Peter Balkenende mengemukakan kepada para wartawan dalam jumpa pers bahwa pemerintah Belanda menyesalkan keputusan Wilders mengedarkan film itu, sekalipun pemerintah telah memintanya agar ia menahan diri untuk tidak melepas film itu kepada publik. Pada hari yang sama, Sekjen PBB Ban Ki-moon mengeluarkan siaran pers senada. "Saya mengecam keras pemutaran film yang menyerang Islam tersebut. Ucapan-ucapan yang menimbulkan kebencian dan hasutan untuk melakukan kekerasan tidak bisa diterima," tegasnya. "Kebebasan harus selalu diiringi dengan tanggungjawab sosial."
Sekretaris Jenderal Organisasi Konferensi Islam (OKI) mengecam film anti-Islam tersebut dan meminta Pemerintah Belanda untuk menghentikan pemutaran film yang dianggap memprovokasi umat Islam tersebut. "Kita tidak boleh membiarkan alasan kebebasan berbicara digunakan untuk menghina agama," ujar Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Sekjen OKI, di Riyadh, Arab Saudi, seperti dikutip oleh IINA (organisasi kantor berita negara-negara Islam).
Uni Eropa tak ketinggalan mengutuk film itu. "Kami meyakini bahwa berbagai tindakan, seperti film yang disebut di atas, tidak membawa manfaat apa-apa selain hanya mengobarkan kebencian," kata pernyataan Presiden EU yang kini dipegang Slovenia, Jumat.
Kecaman datang pula dari pemerintah negeri-negeri muslim. Pejabat senior kementerian luar negeri Iran, Mostafa Dolatyar mengatakan bahwa Wilders mendapat dukungan dari "lingkaran Zionis" dan pemerintah Belanda harus mencegah provokasi semacam itu. Iran juga mendesak Belanda agar tidak hanya mengecam film Fitna tapi juga mengambil tindakan hukum terhadap Wilders.
Pemerintah Malaysia, lewat Menteri Luar Negerinya Rais Yatim hari Sabtu (29/3) mengeluarkan pernyataan resminya mengecam film Fitna. "Menggambarkan Islam sebagai agama yang mengajarkan ekstrimisme, bukan hanya salah dan menyesatkan, tapi juga pengabaian yang nyata dan ungkapan ketidakhormatan yang diarahkan ke agama Islam serta dunia Islam." demikian pernyataan resmi pemerintah Malaysia. Sebelumnya, mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia Mahathir Muhammad sempat menyerukan umat Islam di dunia untuk bersatu melakukan boikot terhadap produk-produk Belanda.
Menteri Luar Negeri Australia Stephen Smith dalam pernyataan persnya, Senin (31/3), menyatakan, Australia menganggap Wilders telah menyalahgunakan kebebasan berpendapatnya. Menlu Smith mengatakan, kebebasan berbicara dan berpendapat tersebut tidak membuat seseorang, terlebih lagi seorang anggota parlemen, dapat menyalahgunakan hak tersebut untuk menyulut kekerasan agama dan ras maupun kebencian.
Dari dalam negeri, penolakan film karya anggota Partai Kebebasan Belanda yang seorang atheis itu datang dari Komunitas Umat Beragama. Penolakan tersebut dituangkan dalam pernyataan bersama yang ditandatangani Ketua Umum Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), KH Hasyim Muzadi, Ketua Umum Pengurus Pusat (PP) Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsudin, Ketua Konferensi Wali-gereja Indonesia (KWI), Mgr. M.D. Situmorang, dan Ketua Umum Persekutuan Gereja Indonesia (PGI), Pdt. A.A. Yewangoe.
Pemerintah Indonesia sendiri mencekal Geert Wilders, pembuat film tersebut jika yang bersangkutan berkunjung ke Indonesia. Selain mencekal Wilders, pemerintah Indonesia juga mengimbau seluruh media untuk tidak menayangkan film kontroversial produksi anggota parlemen Belada, Fitna, karena akan mengganggu harmonisasi kehidupan antar-masyarakat. "Pemerintah melarang penayangan film Fitna di Indonesia, dan melalui Menkominfo meminta seluruh penyedia jasa Internet untuk tidak menayangkan film itu," katanya.
RaMe-RaMe ToLaK FiLM FiTnA
Kecaman terhadap film anti Al Qur’an berjudul Fitna semakin meluas. Di Belanda sendiri, Jum’at lalu (28/3) PM Jan Peter Balkenende mengemukakan kepada para wartawan dalam jumpa pers bahwa pemerintah Belanda menyesalkan keputusan Wilders mengedarkan film itu, sekalipun pemerintah telah memintanya agar ia menahan diri untuk tidak melepas film itu kepada publik. Pada hari yang sama, Sekjen PBB Ban Ki-moon mengeluarkan siaran pers senada. "Saya mengecam keras pemutaran film yang menyerang Islam tersebut. Ucapan-ucapan yang menimbulkan kebencian dan hasutan untuk melakukan kekerasan tidak bisa diterima," tegasnya. "Kebebasan harus selalu diiringi dengan tanggungjawab sosial."
Sekretaris Jenderal Organisasi Konferensi Islam (OKI) mengecam film anti-Islam tersebut dan meminta Pemerintah Belanda untuk menghentikan pemutaran film yang dianggap memprovokasi umat Islam tersebut. "Kita tidak boleh membiarkan alasan kebebasan berbicara digunakan untuk menghina agama," ujar Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Sekjen OKI, di Riyadh, Arab Saudi, seperti dikutip oleh IINA (organisasi kantor berita negara-negara Islam).
Uni Eropa tak ketinggalan mengutuk film itu. "Kami meyakini bahwa berbagai tindakan, seperti film yang disebut di atas, tidak membawa manfaat apa-apa selain hanya mengobarkan kebencian," kata pernyataan Presiden EU yang kini dipegang Slovenia, Jumat.
Kecaman datang pula dari pemerintah negeri-negeri muslim. Pejabat senior kementerian luar negeri Iran, Mostafa Dolatyar mengatakan bahwa Wilders mendapat dukungan dari "lingkaran Zionis" dan pemerintah Belanda harus mencegah provokasi semacam itu. Iran juga mendesak Belanda agar tidak hanya mengecam film Fitna tapi juga mengambil tindakan hukum terhadap Wilders.
Pemerintah Malaysia, lewat Menteri Luar Negerinya Rais Yatim hari Sabtu (29/3) mengeluarkan pernyataan resminya mengecam film Fitna. "Menggambarkan Islam sebagai agama yang mengajarkan ekstrimisme, bukan hanya salah dan menyesatkan, tapi juga pengabaian yang nyata dan ungkapan ketidakhormatan yang diarahkan ke agama Islam serta dunia Islam." demikian pernyataan resmi pemerintah Malaysia. Sebelumnya, mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia Mahathir Muhammad sempat menyerukan umat Islam di dunia untuk bersatu melakukan boikot terhadap produk-produk Belanda.
Menteri Luar Negeri Australia Stephen Smith dalam pernyataan persnya, Senin (31/3), menyatakan, Australia menganggap Wilders telah menyalahgunakan kebebasan berpendapatnya. Menlu Smith mengatakan, kebebasan berbicara dan berpendapat tersebut tidak membuat seseorang, terlebih lagi seorang anggota parlemen, dapat menyalahgunakan hak tersebut untuk menyulut kekerasan agama dan ras maupun kebencian.
Dari dalam negeri, penolakan film karya anggota Partai Kebebasan Belanda yang seorang atheis itu datang dari Komunitas Umat Beragama. Penolakan tersebut dituangkan dalam pernyataan bersama yang ditandatangani Ketua Umum Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), KH Hasyim Muzadi, Ketua Umum Pengurus Pusat (PP) Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsudin, Ketua Konferensi Wali-gereja Indonesia (KWI), Mgr. M.D. Situmorang, dan Ketua Umum Persekutuan Gereja Indonesia (PGI), Pdt. A.A. Yewangoe.
Pemerintah Indonesia sendiri mencekal Geert Wilders, pembuat film tersebut jika yang bersangkutan berkunjung ke Indonesia. Selain mencekal Wilders, pemerintah Indonesia juga mengimbau seluruh media untuk tidak menayangkan film kontroversial produksi anggota parlemen Belada, Fitna, karena akan mengganggu harmonisasi kehidupan antar-masyarakat. "Pemerintah melarang penayangan film Fitna di Indonesia, dan melalui Menkominfo meminta seluruh penyedia jasa Internet untuk tidak menayangkan film itu," katanya.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
ApriL MoP, TraGeDi PemBanTaian UmaT IsLaM SpaNyoL
Tiap tanggal 1 April, ada saja orang—terutama anak-anak muda—yang merayakan hari tersebut dengan membuat aneka kejutan atau sesuatu keisengan. April Fools Day, demikian orang Barat menyebut hari tanggal 1 April atau lebih popular disebut sebagai ‘April Mop’. Namun tahukah Anda jika perayaan tersebut sesungguhnya berasal dari sejarah pembantaian tentara Salib terhadap Muslim Spanyol yang memang didahului dengan upaya penipuan? Inilah sejarahnya yang disalin kembali sebagiannya dari buku “Valentine Day, Perayaan April Mop yang selalu diakhiri dengan kegembiraan dan kepuasan itu sesungguhnya berawal dari satu tragedi besar yang sangat menyedihkan dan memilukan. April Mop atau The April’s Fool Day berawal dari satu episode sejarah Muslim Spanyol di tahun 1487 atau bertepatan dengan 892 H. Sebelum sampai pada tragedi tersebut, ada baiknya menengok sejarah Spanyol dahulu ketika masih di bawah kekuasaan Islam.
Sejak dibebaskan Islam pada abad ke-8 M oleh Panglima Thariq bin Ziyad, Spanyol berangsur-angsur tumbuh menjadi satu negeri yang makmur. Pasukan Islam tidak saja berhenti di Spanyol, namun terus melakukan pembebasan di negeri-negeri sekitar menuju Perancis. Perancis Selatan dengan mudah bisa dibebaskan. Kota Carcassone,
Islam telah menerangi Spanyol. Karena sikap para penguasa Islam begitu baik dan rendah hati, maka banyak orang-orang Spanyol yang kemudian dengan tulus dan ikhlas memeluk Islam. Muslim Spanyol bukan hanya beragama Islam, namun mereka sungguh-sungguh mempraktekkan kehidupan secara Islami. Mereka tidak hanya membaca Al-Qur’an tapi juga bertingkah laku berdasarkan Al-Qur’an. Mereka selalu berkata tidak untuk musik, bir, pergaulan bebas, dan segala hal yang dilarang Islam. Keadaan tenteram seperti itu berlangsung hampir enam abad lamanya.
Selama itu pula kaum kafir yang masih ada di sekeliling Spanyol tanpa kenal lelah terus berupaya membersihkan Islam dari Spanyol, namun mereka selalu gagal. Telah beberapa kali dicoba tapi selalu tidak berhasil. Dikirimlah sejumlah mata-mata untuk mempelajari kelemahan umat Islam di Spanyol. Akhirnya mata-mata itu menemukan cara untuk menaklukkan Islam di Spanyol, yakni pertama-tama harus melemahkan iman mereka dulu dengan jalan serangan pemikiran dan budaya.
Maka mulailah secara diam-diam mereka mengirim alkohol dan rokok secara gratis ke dalam wilayah Spanyol. Musik diperdengarkan untuk membujuk kaum mudanya agar lebih suka bernyanyi dan menari ketimbang baca Qur’an. Mereka juga mengirim sejumlah ulama palsu yang kerjanya meniup-niupkan perpecahan di dalam tubuh umat Islam Spanyol. Lama-kelamaan upaya ini membuahkan hasil.
Akhirnya Spanyol jatuh dan bisa dikuasai pasukan Salib. Penyerangan oleh pasukan Salib benar-benar dilakukan dengan kejam tanpa mengenal peri kemanusiaan. Tidak hanya pasukan Islam yang idbantai, juga penduduk sipil, wanita, anak-anak kecil, orang-orang tua, semuanya dihabisi dengan sadis.
Satu persatu daerah di Spanyol jatuh,
Ketika jalan-jalan sudah sepi, tinggal menyisakan ribuan mayat yang bergelimpangan bermandikan genangan darah, tentara Salib mengetahui bahwa banyak Muslim Granada yang masih bersembunyi di rumah-rumah. Dengan lantang tentara Salib itu meneriakkan pengumuman, bahwa para Muslim Granada bisa keluar dari rumah dengan aman dan diperbolehkan berlayar keluar dari Spanyol dengan membawa barang-barang keperluan mereka. “Kapal-kapal yang akan membawa kalian keluar dari Spanyol sudah kami persiapkan di pelabuhan. Kami menjamin keselamatan kalian jika ingin keluar dari Spanyol, setelah ini maka kami tidak lagi memberikan jaminan!” demikian bujuk tentara Salib.
Orang-orang Islam masih curiga dengan tawaran ini. Beberapa dari orang Islam diperbolehkan melihat sendiri kapal-kapal penumpang yang sudah dipersiapkan di pelabuhan. Setelah benar-benar melihat ada kapal yang sudah dipersiapkan, maka mereka segera bersiap untuk meninggalkan
Keesokan harinya, ribuan penduduk Muslim Granada yang keluar dari rumah-rumahnya dengan membawa seluruh barang-barang keperluannya beriringan jalan menuju pelabuhan. Beberapa orang Islam yang tidak mempercayai tentara Salib bertahan dan terus bersembunyi di rumah-rumahnya. Setelah ribuan umat Islam Spanyol berkumpul di pelabuhan, dengan cepat tentara Salib menggeledah rumah-rumah yang telah itinggalkan penghuninya. Lidah api terlihat menjilat-jilat angkasa ketika para tentara Salib itu membakari rumah-rumah tersebut bersama orang-orang Islam yang masih bertahan di dalamnya.
Sedang ribuan umat Islam yang tertahan di pelabuhan hanya bisa terpana ketika tentara Salib juga membakari kapal-kapal yang dikatakan akan mengangkut mereka keluar dari Spanyol. Kapal-kapal itu dengan cepat tenggelam. Ribuan umat Islam tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa karena sama sekali tidak bersenjata. Mereka juga kebanyakan terdiri dari para perempuan dan anak-anaknya yang masih kecil-kecil. Sedang tentara Salib itu telah mengepung mereka dengan pedang terhunus.
Dengan satu teriakan dari pemimpinnya, ribuan tentara Salib itu segera membantai dan menghabisi umat Islam Spanyol tanpa perasaan belas kasihan. Jerit tangis dan takbir membahana. Dengan buas tentara Salib terus membunuhi warga sipil yang sama sekali tidak berdaya.
Seluruh Muslim Spanyol di pelabuhan itu habis dibunuh dengan kejam. Darah menggenang di mana-mana. Laut yang biru telah berubah menjadi merah kehitam-hitaman. Tragedi ini bertepatan dengan tanggal 1 April. Inilah yang kemudian diperingati oleh dunia Kristen setiap tanggal 1 April sebagai April Mop (The Aprils Fool Day).
Bagi umat Islam April Mop tentu merupakan tragedi yang sangat menyedihkan. Hari di mana ribuan saudara-saudaranya seiman disembelih dan dibantai oleh tentara Salib di Granada, Spanyol. Sebab itu, adalah sangat tidak pantas jika ada orang Islam yang ikut-ikutan merayakan tradisi ini. Sebab dengan ikut merayakan April Mop, sesungguhnya orang-orang Islam itu ikut bergembira dan tertawa atas tragedi tersebut. Siapa pun orang Islam yang turut merayakan April Mop, maka ia sesungguhnya tengah merayakan ulang tahun pembunuhan massal ribuan saudara-saudaranya di Granada, Spanyol, beberapa abad silam.(rizki)
Sumber: http://www.eramuslim.com/berita
April Mop Merupakan Perayaan Pembantaian Umat Islam, Tak Pantas Dirayakan
Umat Islam sangat tidak pantas merayakan “April Mop” atau “The April Fool Day” karena kebiasaan itu dilatarbelakangi peringatan peristiwa pembantaian umat Islam di Spanyol pada 1 April 1487 Masehi.
“Umat Islam banyak yang “latah” dan merayakan April Mop tanpa mengetahui dasar dan asal muasal peristiwa tersebut, ” kata Cendikiawan Muslim Ir.H.Asmara Dharma dalam tulisannya yang dirilis, di Medan, kemarin.
Ia menjelaskan, perayaan April Mop itu diawali peristiwa penyerangan besar-besaran oleh tentara Salib terhadap negara Spanyol yang ketika itu di bawah kekuasaan kekhalifahan Islam pada Maret 1487 Masehi.
Kota-kota Islam di Spanyol seperti Zaragoza dan Leon di wilayah Utara, Vigo dan Forto di wilayah Timur, Valencia di wilayah Barat, Lisabon dan Cordoba di Selatan serta Madrid di pusat kota dan Granada sebagai kota pelabuhan berhasil dikuasai tentara Salib.
Umat Islam yang tersisa dari peperangan itu dijanjikan kebebasan jika meninggalkan Spanyol dengan kapal yang disiapkan di pelabuhan
Namun, ketika ribuan umat Islam sudah berkumpul di pelabuhan, kapal yang tadinya sandar di pelabuhan langsung dibakar dan kaum muslim dibantai dengan kejam sehingga air laut menjadi merah karena darah.
Peristiwa pembantaian dan pengingkaran janji tersebut terjadi pada 1 April 1487 Masehi dan dikenang sebagai “The April Fool Day.”
Selanjutnya, Dharma menjelaskan, peristiwa “The April Fool Day” itu dipopulerkan menjadi April Mop dengan “ritual” boleh mengerjai, menipu dan menjahili orang lain pada tanggal tersebut tetapi bernuansa gembira.
“Ritual tersebut disyaratkan dengan tidak bolehnya orang yang ditipu dan dijahili itu marah dan membalas, ” katanya. (novel/ant)
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