Mostrando resultados por autor "Habib Siddiqui" en Todas las categorías

Bangladesh emerged as an independent state after a nine-month long bloody civil war when Pakistan military forces surrendered on December 16, 1971 to joint Bangladesh-Indian forces. The economy of Bangladesh has grown at an average of about six percent over the last two decades. But the system of government remains an illiberal democracy where opposition parties have very little voice for a participative and inclusive democracy. Is Bangladesh doomed for failure? After all, with the trials of the war crimes committed during the months of liberation war of 1971 and the public reaction to the ...

Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph of Islam, was the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (S). It is widely known that Muhammad (S) had said, “I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate." In this short compilation some wise sayings and maxims from this great personality of Islam is shared. This book is intended for readers who like to take a dip into the vast ocean of spirituality to become better human beings and/or become guides for others.

Shaykh Sa’di (also spelled as Saadi) was a 13th century Persian poet and one of the greatest figures in classical Persian literature. His best-known works are the Bustan (The Orchard, written in 1257 C.E.) and the Gulistan (The Rose Garden, written in 656 A.H./1258 C.E.). The Bustan is entirely in verses and consists of stories illustrating virtues of justice, liberality, modesty, and contentment that are recommended for all Muslims, as well as of reflections on the behavior of Sufis and dervishes and their ecstatic practices. The Gulistan is mainly in prose and consists of stories and ...

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, holds a unique position amongst leaders of all the major religions in that he lived in the limelight of history something that cannot be said about those who preceded him. From his birth to death all important events have been meticulously recorded by his contemporaries. And yet, he remains the most contested historical personality to win the battle of the heart for the last 14 centuries. To the faithful Muslims, he is the best of mankind that has ever been created by God. To the faithful Christians, Muhammad, on the other hand, is the blasphemer of Christ. ...

There is no denying that terrorism has become an important phenomenon in our time and needs to be eradicated. Nothing can justify an act of terrorism, whether it is committed by hate groups, religious or ideological fundamentalists, private militia - or whether it is dressed up as a war of retaliation by a recognized government. However, a major flaw to find a way out of this spiraling morass of terror and brutality has been in our failure to agree to the definition of "terrorism". Thus, while we blame others for their acts of terrorism, we often ignore the fact that our very acts may ...

Buddhism was once a thriving and proselytizing religion, which competed with Hinduism and Jainism in its birthplace of India. Today, it accounts for less than 0.7 percent in South Asia. What went wrong? Why is it declining in popularity? Dr. Siddiqui surveys history to find the root causes of its decline in South Asia. He also recommends prudent methods to reclaim Buddhism.

The author examines the minority Rohingya issue tracing their history of settlement in Arakan state of Burma (Myanmar) and shows that far from the propaganda of the Myanmar regime and racist propagandists within the Burmese and Rakhine society, the Rohingyas are the Bhumiputras (Adibashis) – the genuine children of the land of Arakan. The author opines that the only way Myanmar can survive and evolve into a civilized state is not through the brutal and savage arms of injustice, denial, xenophobia, abuse and oppression of the minorities but a federal democratic framework that genuinely ...

Yunus Emre (ca. 1240 – ca. 1321 C.E.), a contemporary of Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi, is considered to be one of the greatest Turkish poets. His poetry, written in old Turkish language of the common people of the day, expresses a deep personal devotion to Islam, mysticism (Sufism), humanity and love for God, His Last Prophet Muhammad (S) and mankind. He lived at a time of great tribulation following the Mongol invasion and political bickering and unrest that resulted in Anatolia. Yunus traveled among the local rulers as a volunteer for peace, sowing the seeds of love, compassion and unity. ...

The Arabic word Nafs has several meanings - soul, ego, desire, craving, and also self, person, life, mind and heart. The Qur’an speaks about three stages of the development of nafs – nafs al-Ammara (the nafs or soul that urges evil), nafs al-Lawwamah (the soul that blames) and nafs al-Mutmainnah (the soul that is at peace). Every human being has nafs, which can be at any of the three stages. The intermediate stage of nafs al-Lawwamah is the one which is not at rest. Although it is conscious of evil, if not bridled properly, it can take one to gradually descend toward the pole of ...

Muhammad (S), the Prophet of Islam, remains the most intriguing historical figure. To the believers, he (S) is simply the best human being that ever lived and will ever be born. These days, thanks to both the unbelieving detractors and the misguided believers, Muhammad (S) has become a hot topic who is judged through the prism of extremism. Whether one likes him or not, the Prophet (S) of Islam has changed the course of human history forever and thus, remains the most influential human being in history whose significance on global affairs cannot be ignored. And there is no better way to ...

Imagine that you are living in a country that does not recognize you as a citizen in spite of the fact that your people have maintained a continuous existence there for several centuries. If that was not enough of a traumatic experience, consider that because of your racial, ethnic and religious identity other ethnic groups that are fighting the brutal military regime in your country for their self-determination and human rights consider you as “settlers” from a neighboring country. It must be your worst nightmare when you realize that half of your people (almost 2 million) have been ...

How can we create a corruption and crime free society when such vices have appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought? With modern man's ever increasing lust and attachment for lowly materialism, morality has been forced to take a back bench. No longer are the moral values considered important for one's personal development. People in our time are more willing to respect someone who has become filthy rich through illicit means than a poor but honest and enlightened person who has refused to compromise on his morality. This sickening tendency to ignore ...