How British Colonialism killed 100 million Indians in 40 years

From :Al Jazeera

Recent years have seen a resurgence in nostalgia for the British empire. High-profile books such as Niall Ferguson’s Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World, and Bruce Gilley’s The Last Imperialist, have claimed that British colonialism brought prosperity and development to India and other colonies. Two years ago, a YouGov poll found that 32 percent of people in Britain are actively proud of the nation’s colonial history.

This rosy picture of colonialism conflicts dramatically with the historical record. According to research by the economic historian Robert C Allen, extreme poverty in India increased under British rule, from 23 percent in 1810 to more than 50 percent in the mid-20th century. Real wages declined during the British colonial period, reaching a nadir in the 19th century, while famines became more frequent and more deadly. Far from benefitting the Indian people, colonialism was a human tragedy with few parallels in recorded history.

40 Hadith Establishing the Finality of Prophethood (and the Lie of Qadiyanism)

By:Mufti Abdullah Moolla

The Ahādīth covering the topic of ‘Finality of Nubuwwah’, i.e., Khatm An-Nubuwwah, are Mutawātir.

This means that they have been narrated by many of the Sahābah radiyallāhu ‘anhum, the Tābi’ūn, and those after them in every age and in every generation in large numbers. Mutawātir further entails that the narrators are so many that it would be impossible for all of them to collude together to lie.

The Muslim Ummah, therefore, believes that a Mutawātir Hadīth is a manifest truth and they have firm faith in it, just as they have with the Noble Qur’ān. Moreover, the Ahādīth on Khatm An-Nubuwwah are all congruent in meaning. Hence, some reports are Mutawātir and then all the other reports of lower grading all have the same meaning. When this is the case, it can be safely concluded that all the Ahādīth establishing the Khatm An-Nubuwwah are Mutawātir.

Islam and Homosexuality

There are several challenges that are facing Muslims which were not even an issue a generation or two back. One of the most serious of these is that of the LGBTQ movement or homosexuality. There is a need to have this conversation because the lines are being blurred. Kids in Maktabs innocently ask, “What is the problem with a Muslim being gay?”

The general rule when faced with these confusing matters is to ask oneself, “What have I signed up for when I claimed to be Muslim, and acknowledged Allah Ta’ala as my Lord, God and Creator?” In Surah Shura of the Noble Quran (42:10), Allah Ta’ala gives us an important principle, that any issue of confusion should be referred to Allah Ta’ala for a decision, “And in anything over which you disagree, its ruling is (to be referred) to Allah.” To get this, we need to ask the Ulama who will give us the ruling from the Noble Quran and the sublime Hadith.

Marriage Survival Kit

Do not demand your rights. Discharge your obligations!

Keep smiling. It is act of charity!

Express praise and gratitude. All human beings share the same basic needs: To feel appreciated, respected and loved!

Never compare your spouse with others. The grass always looks greener on the other side!

Never bring up past problems that were resolved. They only cloud the future!

Betraying Bedroom Secrets

Imagine confiding in your best friend and revealing your deepest, darkest secret to her. However, to your utter dismay and horror, she then proceeds to broadcast your secret to all of society! How would you feel and what would your reaction be?

In all probability, you would feel mortified (extremely embarrassed) and would regard your ‘friend’ to be a backstabber. You would never again trust her and would be reluctant to even remain friends with her.

In this regard, one of the most important and serious secrets and trusts which should never ever be betrayed or revealed is the secret and trust of “bedroom secrets”.

The Map of Marriage

 Any intelligent person undertaking a very long journey – through a route which he has not travelled before – will ensure that he makes adequate preparations before he departs. He will seek advice and directions and will make enquiries regarding the road and what to expect. After making all the appropriate preparations and taking all the necessary advice and directions, he will most likely carry a GPS to guide him along the way and prevent him from taking any wrong turns.

Marriage is also a journey. However, the journey of marriage is meant to last a lifetime. It takes one through different terrains and past various sceneries. While it may generally be smooth sailing, like a luxury car on an open freeway, there are sometimes the odd and unexpected gravel patches. While the route may mainly usher one past gardens, rivers, waterfalls and rolling seas, it does also sometimes lead one through dry and quiet deserts. If the traveller keeps his eye on the road and focuses on his destination, he will insha-Allah safely pass through all the hills and valleys as well as gardens and deserts.

Complain to Allah​

“The kids are driving me up the wall!”... “I’ve got the most terrible migraine! It feels as if my head is splitting!”...

We all have our portion of problems in life. Whether it’s a toddler with a tantrum, unreasonable in-laws or nosy neighbours, peoples’ problems and challenges span all spheres of life. Moreover, problems do not make an appointment or give us ‘advance notice’ before stopping by – they arrive out of the blue and stay as long as they wish.

Being human, it is natural for us to be emotionally affected by circumstances. Depending on the nature of the problem, we may feel depressed, angered or even humiliated. In some instances, we may turn to someone and confide in them to seek advice. However, in other instances, many of us turn to our husbands and complain to them in order to ‘off-load’ and receive some sympathy.

Bring out the Best in Him

No matter how hard this material world may try, it will never ever be perfect. Even if you fly first-class, you may have a person snoring nearby, spoiling your serenity. Even if you install the best bathroom fittings, they cannot give you water when the municipality decides to cut-off the mains. Even if the best of food is prepared, you don’t always have the appetite for it, and so on.

The point is that nothing in this material world will be perfect. Rather, you win some and you lose some. Everything will have its pros and cons. The trick is to avoid the cons while enjoying the pros. For example, if a person is stuck with a chipped mug, then instead of cutting his lip over and over on the chipped portion, he will turn the mug the other way and drink from the intact portion. Similarly, if he has a couch that is sagging on one side, then instead of collapsing into the sagging section, he will avoid it and sit on the other side.

The Furnace of Love​

Iron is a substance renowned for its strength and resilience. Hence, iron, in its various alloys (a form where it is mixed with another metal) is used extensively in the building industry, especially to support concrete slabs, reinforce foundations, etc. However, have we ever wondered how iron is shaped? After all, we find it available in a multitude of sizes and shapes!

The answer is that for iron to be shaped, it must be heated in a furnace. Once the iron is red-hot, it softens to some extent, becoming malleable (easily shaped without breaking) and accommodating. It is then easy for the blacksmith to mould the metal into the shape he desires. 

What Will Become of Her?

 There were many men who would not drink coffee, yet after a few years of marriage, they became regular coffee consumers. Likewise, there were many women who had never drank a sip of tea, yet after a few years of marriage, they became regular tea drinkers.

There are many other examples that illustrate the manner in which one spouse’s ways, tendencies and habits rub off onto the other. It can be as simple as taste in food, or a little more involved such as developing punctuality and fastidiousness. Nevertheless, the point is evident – spouses have a profound effect on one another, to the point of even altering their habits and ways.

What do I Want in a Spouse?

Allah Ta‘ala, through His infinite power, has created humankind with such variety that despite the people on earth numbering more than seven billion, every person is completely unique. Be it in physical appearance, or in habits and tendencies, or in societal status and nobility, or even in intelligence and understanding – no two people are completely alike. Allah Ta‘ala, in His limitless wisdom, has given different people different proportions of beauty, strength, wealth, intelligence, honour, etc.

Nevertheless, when a person is looking to get married and settle down, then there are many qualities and traits that one will seek in a spouse. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained that generally people look at four qualities when considering a spouse. These four qualities are wealth, societal status, beauty and Deen. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then urged us to ensure that we marry a pious spouse, as from all the various qualities, it is the quality of Deen and piety that is the most important. (Saheeh Bukhaari #5090)

Nikaah – A Fortress from Fitnah

Allah Ta‘ala is the Creator of man, and Allah Ta‘ala understands man the best. Allah Ta‘ala knows all the needs of man, from the biggest and most obvious need, to the smallest and most subtle of needs, and out of His infinite mercy and grace, Allah Ta‘ala has provided for all of man’s needs.

For example, man has the need for food and drink. If man does not eat and drink, he will suffer starvation and dehydration, ultimately leading to his death. Hence, Allah Ta‘ala has provided man with various types of food and drink through which he can fulfill his need. However, when Allah Ta‘ala is most pure, then He made Islam a Deen of purity, and He made Jannah the abode of those who are pure. Hence, when fulfilling his needs, man cannot consume anything and everything, according to his wishes and desires, but may only consume that which is pure and halaal.

“He is Your Jannah or Jahannam”

 For every department in this world to function smoothly, be it a business, an educational institute or even a government, it requires a figure of authority. If everyone is equal in every respect, there would be no order and system. In the similar manner, for every home to function smoothly and harmoniously, Allah Ta‘ala has given the husband the position of being the head of the household. He has also tasked him with extra responsibilities. Whilst the husband has been repeatedly commanded to be kind and good to his wife, it is the wife’s duty to be obedient to him (within the limits of sharee‘ah). In this lies her peace of mind and the smooth functioning of her home.

On one occasion, the aunt of Sayyiduna Husain bin Mihsan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to discuss a certain need that she had. After she had discussed her need with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked her, “Do you have a husband?” When she replied in the affirmative, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked her, “How is your relationship with him? (i.e. is he pleased or displeased with you?)” She replied, “I make every effort (to please him) – except in regard to those things which I cannot manage.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then advised her saying, “Ensure that you continue to examine your relationship with him (at all times), as he is your Jannah or your Jahannam (i.e. pleasing him will cause you to enter Jannah, while displeasing him will cause you to enter Jahannam).” (Musnad Ahmad #27352)

Salvaging the Situation

 Every cook, no matter how accomplished and proficient, will inevitably, at some point, find themselves facing a culinary disaster. Even the best baker will make a mistake, and confusing icing sugar for baking powder will undoubtedly lead to an unforgettable flop.

However, an adept cook and baker knows that even an outstanding flop can often be salvaged in some way or another. Too much salt in the food? – add potatoes. Too spicy? – add some yoghurt. Gravy too thin? – add some maizena. Similarly, a flopped cake can easily be transformed into a trifle with the aid of some custard and jelly.

In essence, if one knows the right ingredients, one can salvage a bad situation and find some way to turn the inedible into something at least moderately appetizing.

Bearing the Burdens of Others

One of the greatest privileges and favours which ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) enjoyed from Allah Ta‘ala was that he was raised in the care of none other than Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). The circumstances which led to him entering the care of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) are as follows:

Before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood, there was a period during which the Quraish and other people of Makkah Mukarramah suffered a severe drought. In this difficult period, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) noticed that his uncle, Abu Taalib, had many dependents, and due to the drought, it was difficult for him to provide for them all. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus went to his other uncle, ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was very wealthy, and said, “O ‘Abbaas, my uncle! Your brother, Abu Taalib, has many dependents, and as you can see, people have been afflicted by the drought. Let us approach him and offer to lessen his burden by each of us taking one of his dependents into our care.”

Blessed with Barakah​

 ‘Umaarah bin Hazm (rahimahullah) narrates the following incident from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka’b (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):

On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent me to collect the zakaat that was due on the people’s wealth. While collecting zakaat from the people, I passed by a Sahaabi who also needed to discharge his zakaat. Accordingly, this Sahaabi gathered all his camels and presented them to me so that I could calculate the zakaat due on the camels. After examining the camels, I determined that his zakaat on the camels amounted to a single one-year old she-camel.

I thus said to him, “You need to discharge a single one-year old she-camel as this is the zakaat due on your camels.” Hearing this, the man replied, “A one-year old she camel neither gives milk, nor can it be used as a conveyance (hence, there is very little benefit in it). Instead of a one-year old she camel, here is a young, strong, large and fat she camel. Take this camel.” I replied, “I cannot take that which I was not instructed to take. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is nearby. If you wish to go to him and present to him what you presented to me, you may do so. If Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) accepts your offer (to give a better camel in zakaat), I will take the camel from you, but if he does not accept your offer, I will not take the camel.”

Misery in Being Miserly

 “Those who are miserly with that which Allah has given them should never think it (holding back due to miserliness) to be good for them; rather, it is bad for them. They will be made to wear on their necks as collars that which they were miserly with on the Day of Qiyaamah. And to Allah alone belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is All Aware of what you do. (Surah Aal ‘Imraan v180)

In this verse, Allah Ta‘ala mentions one of the evil traits which the Jews possessed – the quality of miserliness. He further explains the severity of miserliness and warns those who have this trait and practice on it.

My Jewellery and Zakaat

Many of us have gold and silver jewellery upon which zakaat is payable, but unfortunately we are not discharging our zakaat. Some have the incorrect notion that they are not earning themselves and do not have cash, hence they are not liable for zakaat on jewellery. This is incorrect. In such a case either the husband may pay the zakaat of the wife with her prior permission or she may sell a piece of her jewellery and pay her zakaat.

The same ruling applies to qurbaani (the sacrificing of an animal at ‘Eidul Adhaa). Although the wife does not have cash at hand, she does have jewellery to the value of nisaab. Here too the husband may perform the qurbaani on his wife’s behalf with her prior permission or she may sell some of her jewellery and offer her qurbaani. Let not our jewellery become a barrier and an obstacle in us reaching the pleasure of our Allah Ta‘ala. Discharging our zakaat and qurbaani will be clear signs of our bond with Allah Ta‘ala.

Burning Widows: The Basis of Sati in Hindu Religious Texts

Mufti Abdulla Moola 

Sati[1] (also called Suttee), i.e., widow burning, is a ghastly Hindu custom that was carried out upon the death of a husband. This savage and inhumane practice, drawn from a myth involving a Hindu god was implemented either voluntarily or by use of force throughout Hindu history.

The most well known form of Sati is where a woman burns to death on the funeral pyre of her husband. Other forms of Sati also exist, like being buried alive with the corpse of the husband and drowning.[2]

Traditional Hinduism deprives a widow of all inheritance from her deceased husband. Furthermore, burning alive or being viewed as a failed wife were the only two choices for these widows. What is even more heartbreaking is the fanfare with which Sati was done upon the decision of the woman to become Sati (a Chaste One)

Violence and Murder by Hindu Gods in Hindu Scriptures

Apart from committing rape and engaging in other such acts, Hindu gods are depicted in Hindu scripture as committing murder and matricide.

Hindu gods are depicted in books and online as weapon-wielding fierce figures. Whilst the media goes into a frenzy every now and then about ‘Mozlems’ and their “violence,” we find hardly any mention of the Hindutva mobs terrorizing innocent men, women, and children. Burning their homes and committing sexual assaults.

The irony is those who claim, “Hinduism is a peaceful religion, you don’t understand, Read in the proper context.”