<<What would you think of a person who would only suffer the company of toadying, obsequious little yes men? >>

Last friday's sermon by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad (Cambridge)relating the the events in Tunis and Eygpt and the role of religious leaders will provide examples contrasting those who submit to Allah (at great personal sacrifice) and those who submit to a lower authority (http://cambridgekhutbasetc.blogspot.com/2011/02/enjoing-good-forbidding-wrong.html). Take your pick as to who you would prefer to be with.

Here is the introduction:

<<Friday sermon (jum'ah khutbah) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 4 February 2011 - Cambridge - 23 mins 32 secs

In the past days and weeks people all over the world have been following the events in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere. The people's struggle for freedom inspires hope, but the dangers they face provoke fear and anxiety. Many question the role of religion in such difficult circumstances. Some fear mixing politics and religion. Others criticise the absence of leadership from religious figures, and say the ulema are out-dated and irrelevant. In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim provides a timely reminder of the fundamental importance for our leaders of 'enjoining the good and forbidding the bad' (amr bi-l-ma'ruf wa-nahy 'an al-muhkar) - so important that Imam al-Ghazali called it 'the greatest pillar' (al-rukn al-'azim) of the religion.

Among the many great scholars and saints who have discharged this weighty responsibility, despite the grave threat to their livelihoods and even their lives, Sheikh Abdal Hakim mentions Hasan Kaimi Baba of Bosnia, Sheikh al-Hasan al-Yusi of Morocco and Sheikh Amadou Bamba of Senegal. They were true followers of the Prophetic example, because they resisted injustice and oppression. May Allah grant our leaders, our scholars and us ourselves the determination to do the same, and may He in His All-Encompassing Mercy guide and protect the people of Tunisia, Egypt and all over the world wherever they face cruelty, corruption and repression.

Ya Qawiyyu ya Matin ikfi sharr al-zalimin, aslah Allah umur al-muslimin, sarraf Allah sharr al-mu'dhin.>>

salaams

grateful,

And can you name some countries where Islam has great influence has a society where women are equal, lesbians and gays are not shunned, apostasy is accepted and is prosperous and democratic.

Please, let’s not go down the ‘Islam has not been tried properly’ path. That is nonsense.

Which country do you live in?

David

<<grateful,

And can you name some countries where Islam has great influence has a society where women are equal, lesbians and gays are not shunned, apostasy is accepted and is prosperous and democratic.

Please, let’s not go down the ‘Islam has not been tried properly’ path. That is nonsense.

Which country do you live in?

David>>

Way off topic! I sense a desperate bid to rescue a mate.

As head of the Atheist foundation why not respond to the post which is on topic . Here it is, reproduced in full:

<<Foyle,
With the examples I gave I refuted Epicurus’ aphorism by refuting the proposition that “If he is able but not willing he is malevolent”.

In the case of HIV, the evil is committed by human beings, although as with everything it is only by the will of Allah. In the Qur’aan it states that the purpose of creating mankind is that we worship Him, and WE DO SO WILLINGLY (there is compulsion in religion). HIV is a consequence of not worshipping Allah, of ignoring His guidance, firstly in having sex outside of marriage and secondly not taking measures that would prevent harm to others. Our creator has given each of us the choice.

And why just speak about HIV? Why not alcohol or other drugs, gambling and so forth, all of which is resulting in enormous harm to innocents. The harm is due to people NOT following Allah's guidance.

If we as a society really cared about innocents then the harm caused by OUR actions would be taken as a sign that we need to correct our ways. What will it take before we see reason?>>

I have said earlier I have no fear of exposing my faith to critical scrutiny, provided it is through use of reason. Foyle's departure from reason through insult and denigration (through the word's of someone who is clearly ignorant when it comes to Islam) indicate a lack of confidence in his own position. et toi?

grateful,

I have asked you some very simple questions that are on topic not that they have to be BTW.

Of course, as was predictable, you have failed to respond to them.

You say Allah has the answers to everything, apparently. Then I am asking where is it demonstrated that this works. Very uncomplicated.

Please do me the favour of answering. Thank you.

David

Grateful,
re Epicurus
You missed much of my point. The HIV virus jumped between the green monkey and humans because we are closely related mammals even though our ways parted from a common ancestor millions of years ago. If there was an omnipotent god he could have designed us sufficiently different from other species that such events didn't happen.

You didn't disprove Epicurus with your examples. For example why did you break the hypothetical women's nose? Wasn't it because a supposedly omnipotent god didn't take a suitable alternative action or in reality isn't omnipotent and really doesn't exist.

Why do I not debate your supposed evidence? It is because I have read real evidence from modern scientists and nothing you have said is supported by evaluated, supported, evidence.

What sort of god offers virgins as a reward? Bit hard on the virgins!!
Don't they have a right to an independent fulfilled life instead of waiting around to be raped by terrorists who murdered about 100 Australian in the WTC 9/11 atrocity. Also many innocent Muslims were victims that day.

The Muslim caliphate may have had a hey-day while the Western World went through its dark ages but as Terry Lane pointed out, luckily we had our thinkers such as Copernicus, Gallilo, Adam Smith, Hume, Voltaire, and Russell etc. (Adam Smith on ethics rather than economics)

You need to read Hume, Russell, Darwin, Ardrey et al for yourself and broaden your outlook and get out of your dark ages outlook.

David wrote:
<<You say Allah has the answers to everything, apparently. Then I am asking where is it demonstrated that this works. Very uncomplicated>>

In the heart's of Muslims

Of the Day of Judgement Allah says: "The day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart. (26:88-89)