When the White House press speaker announced that Obama will make news in his next speech it would not be pesimistic for anyone to add "same old" before the news, and that is just what we got. Nothing suprising.
A few points LPOY would like to point out is the only part when Ali Saleh is specifically mentioned. First the president said that President Asad of Syria, whose regime is far more brutal and bloody that that of President Saleh's Yemen, was told he should "lead change or get out of the way". So in effect he has been given a choice whereas Saleh was urged to move on transition of power. A very weak statement indeed. So perhaps this is why we see Saleh more stuborn and determined than ever to stay put, he has the support, or if not the support, he has the balance of not being forces, but being urged.
The other point we would like to highlight was the list of trade and investment incentives for transition to democracy that is in line with America's universal values. Instead of aid, there would be trade and istead of assistance there would be investment, or vice versa. These incentives are basically candy. USA finds itself needing to offer candy to the new regimes to toe US policy interests. Allah knows best but if there was to be democracy in Yemen, you may find a majority wanting to follow conservative Islamic lines. This type of democracy is not the type of transition that will win candy.
Israel made its response clear. It is not playing. America's strings may be unravelling.
As for the continuing protests. Personally I hope there is a solution soon and we can all get back to work. The children are starting to pick up some bad behaviour from watching civil disobedience, hearing bad language and the likes on the TV and on the street. My friends children even took to writing over the bedroom walls. My children upon hearing something they don't like immediately exclaim, "Kathaba!" Arabic for liar.
Saturday 21 May 2011
Saturday 14 May 2011
Thinking About Abi Bakr (rAa)
Post by Ayman
This is the first article I have written for this blog. I agreed ages ago to write things in English and translate interesting things, but the Yemen uprising has hijaked my life and I could only find Arabic words to describe the events. It has hijaked more than just my life, it has hijaked all of our lives, our social lives, conversations, family relationships and some, their lives literally.
So I was thinking about Abi Bakr Allah be pleased with him. I thought about him because he was so brave, and did you know that not only was he the first man to become a Muslim, he was also the first Muslim to give an Islamic speech. Really, he decided to announce Islam in Makka, with the Messenger of Allah Peace be upon him, beside him. Abu Bakr did not go very far in his speech before the people of Quraish attacked him. One in particular was very forceful against Abu Bakr and pressed his shoe into the face of as-Siddiq so hard that Abu Bakr's nose became flat. The man who did this was Otba bin Rabi'.
The people of Quraish instantly labelled Abu Bakr a trouble maker from those who are creating disunity amongst the people and the tribes. In those early days of Islam families were becoming split - Muslims and Kufar.
I was thinking about this story and the situation now in Yemen where the powers of the day are calling the demonstrators trouble makers creating disunitiy in the nation, and families have split along party lines - those with the current regime and status quo and those for change.
Back in the time of the Messenger of Allah the split was kufr (disbelieve/denial) or iman (faith in Islam), now we are all supposed to be Muslims and we are turning on each other for the sake of a corrupt dictatorship. Another thing is the difference in the numbers of those against the dictatorship, they are far greater in number, but they are not united on anything so their numbers become superflous and they have no power. And those of us who choose Islam and iman are still the outsiders and all our brave Abu Bakrs (no one is equal to him, I mean by this, those strong Muslims who speak the truth no matter the cost) are in prison or in hiding lest a missile fall on their heads. Shuhada' Insha Allah.
My peers are now talking of maching to the President's Palace and ask if I'll march with them. No, I am not keen. They know they could be killed and are so keen and willing to go. So I ask if they are afraid to die in a cause other than Allah and waste the one chance of Marytom. They say "NO! We will march or die!" This is for Allah, do get rid of the corruption. And as they say this they wear Yemen flags painted on their cheeks as if at a football game.
I walk away from them sullenly, disillusioned. I walk home, wishing I was more like Abu Bakr as-Saddiq, but I am not and to avoid conflict with my pro-government parents, I go to bed early.
This is the first article I have written for this blog. I agreed ages ago to write things in English and translate interesting things, but the Yemen uprising has hijaked my life and I could only find Arabic words to describe the events. It has hijaked more than just my life, it has hijaked all of our lives, our social lives, conversations, family relationships and some, their lives literally.
So I was thinking about Abi Bakr Allah be pleased with him. I thought about him because he was so brave, and did you know that not only was he the first man to become a Muslim, he was also the first Muslim to give an Islamic speech. Really, he decided to announce Islam in Makka, with the Messenger of Allah Peace be upon him, beside him. Abu Bakr did not go very far in his speech before the people of Quraish attacked him. One in particular was very forceful against Abu Bakr and pressed his shoe into the face of as-Siddiq so hard that Abu Bakr's nose became flat. The man who did this was Otba bin Rabi'.
The people of Quraish instantly labelled Abu Bakr a trouble maker from those who are creating disunity amongst the people and the tribes. In those early days of Islam families were becoming split - Muslims and Kufar.
I was thinking about this story and the situation now in Yemen where the powers of the day are calling the demonstrators trouble makers creating disunitiy in the nation, and families have split along party lines - those with the current regime and status quo and those for change.
Back in the time of the Messenger of Allah the split was kufr (disbelieve/denial) or iman (faith in Islam), now we are all supposed to be Muslims and we are turning on each other for the sake of a corrupt dictatorship. Another thing is the difference in the numbers of those against the dictatorship, they are far greater in number, but they are not united on anything so their numbers become superflous and they have no power. And those of us who choose Islam and iman are still the outsiders and all our brave Abu Bakrs (no one is equal to him, I mean by this, those strong Muslims who speak the truth no matter the cost) are in prison or in hiding lest a missile fall on their heads. Shuhada' Insha Allah.
My peers are now talking of maching to the President's Palace and ask if I'll march with them. No, I am not keen. They know they could be killed and are so keen and willing to go. So I ask if they are afraid to die in a cause other than Allah and waste the one chance of Marytom. They say "NO! We will march or die!" This is for Allah, do get rid of the corruption. And as they say this they wear Yemen flags painted on their cheeks as if at a football game.
I walk away from them sullenly, disillusioned. I walk home, wishing I was more like Abu Bakr as-Saddiq, but I am not and to avoid conflict with my pro-government parents, I go to bed early.
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Stepping up the Ante Again
The Protest movement is planning to march to the Presidents Palace Again. This plan was first thought of back in the earlier days of the uprising but didn't happen due to the high likelyhood of catastrophic results and masacre. It is spoken about on the blog here
This time, the mood is much different. The uprising has gained strength, and the government has bunkered down. The frustration felt by the people of the uprising is growing and they feel they need to push the situation to get a conclusion and are willing to engage in the dangerous action of marching to the heavily armed Presidential palace.
A big difference this time is that big names from big tribes and other leaders are going to march with the protesters, it is not just the youth, it is a combined effort of all involved in ousting the regime.
The uprising it seems has realised that although outside support for the President has waned, this support has not come to the uprising like it did in other uprisings. The people of the uprising realise that they themselves have to seek a solution and that all the Gulf initiatives, and Western words are baseless and empty.
Insha Allah this action is successful and peaceful and we can start to rebuild Yemen.
This time, the mood is much different. The uprising has gained strength, and the government has bunkered down. The frustration felt by the people of the uprising is growing and they feel they need to push the situation to get a conclusion and are willing to engage in the dangerous action of marching to the heavily armed Presidential palace.
A big difference this time is that big names from big tribes and other leaders are going to march with the protesters, it is not just the youth, it is a combined effort of all involved in ousting the regime.
The uprising it seems has realised that although outside support for the President has waned, this support has not come to the uprising like it did in other uprisings. The people of the uprising realise that they themselves have to seek a solution and that all the Gulf initiatives, and Western words are baseless and empty.
Insha Allah this action is successful and peaceful and we can start to rebuild Yemen.
Saturday 7 May 2011
Corruption in the Gulf is More than in Yemen
Posted by al-Ghariba
We know about the corruption in the Yemen Government, and it being one of the potent fuels for the current uprising and the long existant poverty, so I don't want to spend time illustrating this fact further.
Corruption in Yemen is largely a result of abuse of power and the poverty bought about by these abuses, however the corruption in the Gulf spans a wider range of themes not so evident in Yemen.
Corruption in Gulf governments is present, but the fraud and misappropriation is not so visible because they are so rich and their populations so small that the people do not feel the effects of this corruption because their lives are relatively easy and comfortable. The fraud is wrapped in an immaculately starched white kandoora.
All the governments in the Muslim lands have elements of the same corruption, including special positions for family members despite their qualifications or lack thereof, bribery, collaborating with the enemies of Allah, diluting Islam, handing over Muslims to the Taghut and logistic assistance in renditions of Muslims for torture and interrogation.
Human rights of foreign workers, particularly labourers who work long hours in dangerous conditions for meagre salaries. Some paid the equivalent of two years salary to get into the Gulf in the first place. Their is no serious government regulation to assure work rights of the labourers.The development of the Gulf depends a lot on this cheap labour. May the buildings by swallowed by the sand.
Lack of rights for foreign workers is not limited only to labourers, it also affects professionals who more often than would be expected find themselves in court and or jail with no evidence against them. It could be something as simple as personal dislike for a citizen for that foreigner.
Islamic issues are one of the biggest areas of corruption in the Gulf. The region has opened its doors to foreign non-Muslim workers who bring with them their kufr, haram cultural practices and lower moral standards. You now see alcohol easily availale, pop music blaring in public areas, nightclubs, mixed gatherings, inappropriately dressed men and women and unlawful sexual relationships.
One of the reasons behind allowing alcohol (as explained to me by a Gulf citizen) is that alcohol is part of the non-Muslism's culture and we don't want to deprive them from their culture. I think it would be more accurate to say that the government enjoys the 150-250% tax on alcohol sales.
Extremes of sudden wealth have created an ultra-consumershopping culture and culture of waste without thought.
So, yes corruption inYemen is high, but mainly in areas of authority, of which the people are now in revolt. We can get rid of a corrupt government, but if the corruptions reaches the hearts ofthe people and corruption in social affairs increases, this will be much more difficult to root out and nothing will help them except a return to Islamic values.
My verdict: the Gulf is more corrupt than Yemen.
We know about the corruption in the Yemen Government, and it being one of the potent fuels for the current uprising and the long existant poverty, so I don't want to spend time illustrating this fact further.
Corruption in Yemen is largely a result of abuse of power and the poverty bought about by these abuses, however the corruption in the Gulf spans a wider range of themes not so evident in Yemen.
Corruption in Gulf governments is present, but the fraud and misappropriation is not so visible because they are so rich and their populations so small that the people do not feel the effects of this corruption because their lives are relatively easy and comfortable. The fraud is wrapped in an immaculately starched white kandoora.
All the governments in the Muslim lands have elements of the same corruption, including special positions for family members despite their qualifications or lack thereof, bribery, collaborating with the enemies of Allah, diluting Islam, handing over Muslims to the Taghut and logistic assistance in renditions of Muslims for torture and interrogation.
Human rights of foreign workers, particularly labourers who work long hours in dangerous conditions for meagre salaries. Some paid the equivalent of two years salary to get into the Gulf in the first place. Their is no serious government regulation to assure work rights of the labourers.The development of the Gulf depends a lot on this cheap labour. May the buildings by swallowed by the sand.
Lack of rights for foreign workers is not limited only to labourers, it also affects professionals who more often than would be expected find themselves in court and or jail with no evidence against them. It could be something as simple as personal dislike for a citizen for that foreigner.
Islamic issues are one of the biggest areas of corruption in the Gulf. The region has opened its doors to foreign non-Muslim workers who bring with them their kufr, haram cultural practices and lower moral standards. You now see alcohol easily availale, pop music blaring in public areas, nightclubs, mixed gatherings, inappropriately dressed men and women and unlawful sexual relationships.
One of the reasons behind allowing alcohol (as explained to me by a Gulf citizen) is that alcohol is part of the non-Muslism's culture and we don't want to deprive them from their culture. I think it would be more accurate to say that the government enjoys the 150-250% tax on alcohol sales.
Extremes of sudden wealth have created an ultra-consumershopping culture and culture of waste without thought.
So, yes corruption inYemen is high, but mainly in areas of authority, of which the people are now in revolt. We can get rid of a corrupt government, but if the corruptions reaches the hearts ofthe people and corruption in social affairs increases, this will be much more difficult to root out and nothing will help them except a return to Islamic values.
My verdict: the Gulf is more corrupt than Yemen.
Monday 2 May 2011
Usama bin Laden Mawjood!
Posted by Admin:
"Justice has been done." Declared the American President.
Justice indeed is in the Hands of Allah the Most Merciful, and insha Allah Usama bin Laden and those killed along with him are accepted amongst the shuhada'. Not forgetting the BILLIONS of dollars the American government has funnelled away from health, education and welfare services in the hunt for one man.
He may be gone but his legacy has not and the ideology of the establishment of an Islamic State will never die, as Allah the Most Gracious has guaranteed us that there will always be present during all times a "ta'ifat al-Mansoora" a victorious group who are on the truth of Islam.
"They" say that al-Qaeda will die now that Shaikh Usama is gone and the Arab nations rise up against the oppressive rulers, but al-Qaeda will not die, it may change name, shape but in the end the idea of establishing an Islamic state will remain. Once the reality of false freedom of democracy is realised by the Muslim world, they will realise there is no other way to govern other than by what Allah has revealed and that there is no freedom without submission to Allah.
The Arab uprisings will perhaps give groups like al-Qaeda time to rethink some of their strategies and present the Ummah a balanced plan. We, the Ummah need a plan that goes beyond martydom operations and war. What will happen after we gain a victory, how will Islamic governance be implemented on the ground.
Not all Muslims will have the iman to be like Usama bin Laden or those striving in the way of Allah, but to establish Islamic rule the majority of Muslims need to at least support the groups working towards an Islamic state.
Now that "they" have gotten their man, one could expect increased attention by US agencies on al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP), especially considering that Imam Anwar al-Awlaki has become the most wanted man and he is in Yemen. We can expect impunity in military actions against AQAP in Yemen. If we look at the operation that lead to the killing of Shaikh Usama we know that the US forces entered and conducted the operation without permission or knowledge of the Pakistani government. One can expect similar action in Yemen and we have already seen such actions taking place in areas of Yemen, especially in the past year.
There have been drone missile strikes (reported in Yemen Times) on targets in Abyan not killing any AQAP but terrifying the locals. The uprising in Yemen has opened a window to unaccountability in military action as emergency law widens the powers of impunity of security forces.
America constantly reiterates that the war on terror is not a war on Muslims. I remember reading an newspaper article title when the war on terror began and it said, "America declares war on an abstract noun."
You can't kill ideas unless you kill every single person with that idea. That's not going to work. Pharoah tried to out-plot Allah by killing all the men of the children of Israel, and in the end the one who undid him was raised in his very house!!! If Allah wants something to happen, it will happen.
May Allah increase the strength of those who strive for His Sake and increase them in victories and support of the Ummah. Allah keep those striving for the establishment of Islam in the lands on the truth and away from oppression and tyrrany. Amin.
On a final note: It has been reported that Shaikh Usama's body has been "burried at sea according to Islamic traditions." Who are they kidding. They were worried his gravesite would become a place of reverence for extremists. Don't they realise that this is against the ideology of "extremists" - the ideology of the Sunnah.
"Justice has been done." Declared the American President.
Justice indeed is in the Hands of Allah the Most Merciful, and insha Allah Usama bin Laden and those killed along with him are accepted amongst the shuhada'. Not forgetting the BILLIONS of dollars the American government has funnelled away from health, education and welfare services in the hunt for one man.
He may be gone but his legacy has not and the ideology of the establishment of an Islamic State will never die, as Allah the Most Gracious has guaranteed us that there will always be present during all times a "ta'ifat al-Mansoora" a victorious group who are on the truth of Islam.
"They" say that al-Qaeda will die now that Shaikh Usama is gone and the Arab nations rise up against the oppressive rulers, but al-Qaeda will not die, it may change name, shape but in the end the idea of establishing an Islamic state will remain. Once the reality of false freedom of democracy is realised by the Muslim world, they will realise there is no other way to govern other than by what Allah has revealed and that there is no freedom without submission to Allah.
The Arab uprisings will perhaps give groups like al-Qaeda time to rethink some of their strategies and present the Ummah a balanced plan. We, the Ummah need a plan that goes beyond martydom operations and war. What will happen after we gain a victory, how will Islamic governance be implemented on the ground.
Not all Muslims will have the iman to be like Usama bin Laden or those striving in the way of Allah, but to establish Islamic rule the majority of Muslims need to at least support the groups working towards an Islamic state.
Now that "they" have gotten their man, one could expect increased attention by US agencies on al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP), especially considering that Imam Anwar al-Awlaki has become the most wanted man and he is in Yemen. We can expect impunity in military actions against AQAP in Yemen. If we look at the operation that lead to the killing of Shaikh Usama we know that the US forces entered and conducted the operation without permission or knowledge of the Pakistani government. One can expect similar action in Yemen and we have already seen such actions taking place in areas of Yemen, especially in the past year.
There have been drone missile strikes (reported in Yemen Times) on targets in Abyan not killing any AQAP but terrifying the locals. The uprising in Yemen has opened a window to unaccountability in military action as emergency law widens the powers of impunity of security forces.
America constantly reiterates that the war on terror is not a war on Muslims. I remember reading an newspaper article title when the war on terror began and it said, "America declares war on an abstract noun."
You can't kill ideas unless you kill every single person with that idea. That's not going to work. Pharoah tried to out-plot Allah by killing all the men of the children of Israel, and in the end the one who undid him was raised in his very house!!! If Allah wants something to happen, it will happen.
May Allah increase the strength of those who strive for His Sake and increase them in victories and support of the Ummah. Allah keep those striving for the establishment of Islam in the lands on the truth and away from oppression and tyrrany. Amin.
On a final note: It has been reported that Shaikh Usama's body has been "burried at sea according to Islamic traditions." Who are they kidding. They were worried his gravesite would become a place of reverence for extremists. Don't they realise that this is against the ideology of "extremists" - the ideology of the Sunnah.
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