Gassing Gaza: Is Israel ‘defending’ itself once again? - By Yamin Zakaria - http://yaminzakaria.blogspot.com

http://yaminzakaria.blogspot.in/

A Moderate View in a Radical World

My views on current affairs, Islam and Muslims.

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Gassing Gaza: Is Israel ‘defending’ itself once again?

“When Israelis in the occupied territories now claim that they have to defend themselves, they are defending themselves in the sense that any military occupier has to defend itself against the population they are crushing. You can't defend yourself when you're militarily occupying someone else's land. That's not defence. Call it what you like, it's not defence.”

Professor Noam Chomsky

President Obama wants to broker a ceasefire, but what is the credential of the US to play the role of an impartial broker? This is the country that has armed Israel to the teeth, it continues to finance their existence and turn a blind eye to the creeping colonisation of the remaining territories of Palestine; with unrestrained access to the US media, the Zionist narrative is fed to the American masses, who above all, stand by Israel, no matter how many Palestinian civilians are killed and maimed, whilst the Israeli casualty figures barely reach double figures.

  

Let us put aside the point of US neutrality to act as a peace maker. The issue is - brokering a ceasefire could only take place, if both sides had something to negotiate. This conflict is not a fight between two armies; it’s a one-sided massacre of civilians and the destruction of their livelihood and properties, accomplished efficiently with US made weapons. Therefore, the brokering process is essentially about getting the Israelis to halt their war machine, even if Hamas were to continue to fire the rockets, the Israeli casualties will remain close to zero.

 

As usual, the Zionist apologists will point out the home-made Hamas ‘rockets’ as the cause. If you want to identify the cause, then examine the sequence of events, and the long-term Israeli strategy to suffocate the Palestinians, in the concentration camp of Gaza. Not to mention the Zionisation of the West Bank, where the illegal settlements (theft of land) continues to grow, in flagrant breach of International Law. This process is to facilitate the right of return for the Jews, whose ancestors may have lived there, and concurrently the dispossessed Palestinians within the last 100 years are still seeking their right of return. Many still have the keys to their houses, now occupied by thieves, known as ‘settlers’. In addition, the impact of these so-called rockets have been magnified beyond all proportions, and then recycled continuously through the Zionist dominated media, to justify the carnage.

As we entered the 5^th day of the conflict in the month of Ramadan, the UN managed to issue the most ridiculous statement with no provisions for any action; the statements suggests the conflict is a two-way battle, both parties should share the responsibility equally, but the facts on the grounds show otherwise.

   

“The Security Council members expressed serious concern regarding the crisis related to Gaza and the protection and welfare of civilians on both sides.”

Well so far only the Palestinians have suffered 140 casualties and no deaths of Israelis reported, therefore, the statement should have reflected that, placing much greater burden on Israel to ensure protection and welfare of civilians in Gaza.

It then goes on to say the following:

“The Security Council members further called for respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

This can only apply to Israel, whose army and the civilians are beyond the reach of the Palestinians in Gaza; the IDF has been busy destroying houses, killing civilians, cutting off power supplies to essential services like hospitals. During the previous incursion into Gaza in 2006, Israel prevented medical aid getting through and firing at ambulances, by the end of the operation, 1500 Palestinians had been killed, whilst Israel suffered only 17 casualties.

  

The Zionist dominated media narrative, along with the voices of western leaders, tells us the following about the Israeli incursion:

It’s not a war crime despite the deliberate killing of defenceless civilians, and the wanton destruction of their properties; it is not terrorism despite the killing of non-combatants; it is not a collective punishment of a population, even though it is acting in retaliation for the actions of a few, and it is not a one-sided massacre, even though over 99% of the victims are the Palestinian - Israel the victim, is simply defending itself.

Acting in self-defence means, it is a preventative measure and not a full scale offensive like that taken in a war situation. Given the failure of these Hamas rockets to inflict any casualties or real damage, and many of the missiles are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome system, the ‘defensive’ measures taken by Israel by bombing Gaza, are well beyond what is required, because Israel’s  intention is to wage a war, and subdue the Palestinian will for existence.  As the Palestinians are suffocating in the Gaza concentration camp under siege, they will naturally retaliate with crude weapons, and this in turn has become a basis for the Israeli slaughter, in the name of self-defence.

Since when did the Israeli Defence Force ever carry out a defensive operation after the end of the 1973 war? Lebanon to Gaza has been a one-sided carnage of cities and the civilian population. 

So why has Israel attacked Gaza? Professor Noam Chomsky answered this question during the previous incursion into Gaza, and I think the answer is still applicable now.

“The incursion and bombardment of Gaza is not about destroying Hamas. It is not about stopping rocket fire into Israel, it is not about achieving peace. The Israeli decision to rain death and destruction on Gaza, to use lethal weapons of the modern battlefield on a largely defenceless civilian population, is the final phase in a decades-long campaign to ethnically-cleanse Palestinians.”

Finally, the Arab clowns sitting as heads of state, collectively the impotent Arab league, which has never managed to erect anything. The Arab ‘leaders’ are paralysed and speechless; they could not even muster a protest. It’s uncomfortable to confront the Israelis through the US and over the last 30 years, the Arabs have become accustomed to fighting each other, so much so, it kind of evokes the pre-Islamic stories of tribes fighting for 40-years, just over a camel.

So what does the future hold? The Arab Spring has come and gone, the new Caliphate (ISIS) has mysteriously emerged from nowhere, and I suspect that too will vanish or prove to be just as hollow with the passage of time.

Yamin Zakaria (yamin@radicalviews.org)

Published 13/07/2014

London, UK

www.radicalviews.org

http://yaminzakaria.blogspot.com

Court, misquote - By Tahir Mahmood -The Indian Express, Mumbai, INDIA

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/court-misquote/99/

The Indian Express

Court, misquote

Tahir Mahmood | July 14, 2014 12:38 am

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As long as there is legally sanctioned room for settlement of disputes by non-state bodies, the court cannot isolate the mechanism operating for it in any particular community and order its abolition. Source: CR Sasikumar

Summary

 

The Supreme Court has not declared fatwas illegal. It has situated them within the law.

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More From Tahir Mahmood

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The Supreme Court has not declared fatwas illegal. It has situated them within the law.

A victory day for the Muslims, a day of deliverance for all others — these diametrically opposed perceptions of the apex court’s ruling on the fatwa and Dar-ul-Qaza traditions of Muslim society are being projected by the Urdu and English media respectively. Neither is warranted by the letter and spirit of the court’s absolutely innocuous judgment.

A few years ago, a Delhi lawyer had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the fatwa system and shariat courts, alleging that these were tantamount to running a “parallel judiciary” in the country. A division bench has now pronounced its judgment, which has been reported in the print media under sensational captions and is being hotly debated on TV channels. All this hurly burly is based on sheer misinformation about the system challenged and reflects a grave misreading of the judgment.

The Arabic word “fatwa” means an exposition of religious law by a Muslim cleric or seminary in answer to a specific query. It is like a lawyer’s opinion, which the querist may or may not act upon. The fatwa-giver writes his opinion as per his own understanding of religion, right or wrong, and does not claim it to be authentic — fatwas always conclude with the words wallahu a’lam bi-sawab (god knows better with certainty). Muslim law neither obliges any person to seek a fatwa in any matter nor makes it incumbent upon her to follow it if obtained.

As regards shariat courts, known as Dar-ul-Qazas, these are in the nature of what is known in law as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and generally decide personal law discords of disputants who voluntarily approach them and agree to abide by their verdicts. In some cases, where one party to a family dispute (generally a wife) seeks relief from a Dar-ul-Qaza and the other party unscrupulously keeps absent just to harass the complainant, a decision may, in the interest of justice, be given ex parte. No Dar-ul-Qaza decision, whether given ex parte or after hearing the parties, constitutes what is known in law as res judicata so as to bar the jurisdiction of any state court to entertain and decide the dispute.

A Dar-ul-Qaza hierarchy was first established on a mass scale in Bihar in 1919 and has successfully been operating there for over nine decades. Dar-ul-Qaza decisions are often taken by the disputants to local civil courts, which treat them as arbitration awards and pass decrees accordingly. Justice C.K. Prasad, who wrote the Supreme Court judgment, served in Bihar for long years as advocate general and high court judge.

He must be fully conversant with the true nature of the so-called shariat courts and his decision reflects a proper understanding of the system. He had spoken his mind during the hearing of the case in February this year when he told the petitioner: “You are assuming all fatwas are irrational. Some fatwas may be wise and may be for [the] general good also. People in this country are wise enough. If two Muslims agree for mediation, who can stay it? It is a blend of arbitration and mediation.” His judgment is fully in accord with this thinking.

That the court has declared fatwas or Dar-ul-Qazas to be “illegal” is a fantasy; that it has endorsed these religious traditions with impunity a delusion. Obviously, as long as the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution is available to the citizens, the court cannot restrain a mufti from giving his opinion on a religious matter. And, as long as there is legally sanctioned room for settlement of disputes by non-state bodies, the court cannot isolate the mechanism operating for it in any particular community and order its abolition. The SC therefore has done nothing of the sort — the petitioner’s demand for that has been clearly rejected, and rightly so.

At the same time, the court has made it clear, again absolutely rightly, that neither a fatwa nor a Dar-ul-Qaza verdict can be forcibly implemented by anybody against the wishes of the person who obtained it. It has further observed that in a bilateral dispute, a third party’s request for a fatwa should not be entertained by the muftis. Unfortunately, both practices are rampant.

Unconcerned persons having no locus standi in a particular dispute seek and obtain a fatwa, and the neighbours of the parties in dispute or the local community organisations harass them for not acting upon it. Instead of speaking out against such clearly unlawful practices in a mild way, the SC, in my opinion, could have issued mandatory directions in this regard. Of course, it has said in so many words that a person whose legal rights are being violated can always approach a state court for relief.

Instead of rejoicing over the judgment, Muslims must duly take its real message and translate it into concrete action. Others must let the judgment remain what it is — there is nothing in it for them to “celebrate”. Muslims should also evolve ways and means to ensure that fatwas are issued only by real experts in religious jurisprudence.

The writer has been chair of the National Minorities Commission and member, Law Commission of India


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Israelis vulnerable all around the world for the carnage in Gaza

Israelis are vulnerable all around the world. The Muslim World can very well respond by holding them responsible for the carnage in Gaza. But the ruling regimes are afraid of their own position, protected and supported by US and its allies British and Israelis, and therefore hardly be expected to move against any Israeli interest.

Only massive show of protests by the entire population and not just the Muslims, can force the rulers to act with some conviction and force.

We must gather support from all across the board, for the tragedy is human, even though it has community dimensions.

Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai

<ghulammammed3@gmail.com>
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Khalid Baig <kbaig50@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 5:05 AM
Subject: George Galloway asks: Muslim Leaders, Have You no sense of shame?

To: Khalid Baig <kbaig50@yahoo.com>

DNA does it again - By Arunabh Saikia - Newslaundry.com

http://www.newslaundry.com/2014/07/11/dna-does-it-again/

DNA does it again

Posted by

Arunabh Saikia

| Jul 11, 2014 in Criticles, Featured | 69 comments



Is it censorship or is DNA taking pre-emptive corrective action after Amit Shah was appointed party president of the BJP? Here’s how the drama around journalist Rana Ayyub’s opinion piece on Shah published in the DNA played out.

4.18 pm: This is what Ayyub tweeted



Now, since DNA has a track record of indulging in vanishing acts like these and we at Newslaundry are always on the look out for drama, we decided to dig in.

For the record, on April 30, DNA had taken down an article titled “Mamata Banerjee calls Narendra Modi ‘butcher of Gujarat’; here are 9 myth busters on 2002 post-Godhra riots” written by Shehzad Poonawalla. Newslaundry had reported that episode too.

4.20 pm: We logged on to the DNA website to check for ourselves Ayyub’s claims. This is what we found.



4.23 pm: We called up Ayyub and asked her who had commissioned the article. She said the piece was originally commissioned by a national newspaper but refused to divulge the name. “I write two columns a month for DNA and so decided to give it to them after the newspaper refused to publish it.” Ayyub stated that it was Kunal Majumder and Harini Calamur of the web team at DNA who usually commission her pieces. Ayyub also told us that her sources at DNA confirmed to her that the story had indeed been taken down.

4.31 pm:  We called up Kunal Majumder, Associate Editor (Digital) at Zee Media – and responsible for DNA’s online content according to his Twitter bio. Majumder, however, refused to confirm anything and told us that he was “not the one who decided what went up and what was taken down”. “I also got to know when Rana came to know”, he said. He asked us to get in touch with Harini Calamur, Head, Digital Content, Zee Media Corporation.

4.36 pm: We made our first call to Calamur – which went unanswered.

4.42 pm: We sent a text message to Calamur explaining in detail why we were trying to get in touch.

4.47 pm: Our second attempt to get in touch with Calamur over the phone. Futile again.

4.53 pm: We sent a mail to Calamur seeking a response, categorically mentioning that the story, which was to go online in the evening, needed a response from her for it to be fair. (At the time of this report being uploaded the only text we’ve received from Calamur said “Can’t talk now. Call me later” [6.33 pm])

5.00 pm:  Meanwhile Twitter went berserk – sickulars and nationalists were at war again.






5.30 pm:  Twist in the tale – the story magically resurfaced.

This led to speculation that there was a glitch in the system, and it had been a technical issue all along. Some (including the more naïve in our office) thought that Twitter outrage and threats to boycott DNA had made them rethink. Ramachandra Guha thought so too.

 

5.45 pm: NOT! Just as we thought the drama was over, Ayyub tweeted again.

 

5.48 pm:  We went online again to check the story and the story had disappeared again.
Yes, it had and till the time of this report being uploaded, the story in question remains offline. For those uninitiated, Ayuub in her opinion piece had argued that Indian politics has hit a new low with the rise of Amit Shah  (here’s a cache copy of the article).

What is a mystery so far is whether DNA’s editors took the article down in an overzealous bid to appease the new dispensation or were there actually orders from someone to take it down. Indian news media’s history is replete with examples of pre-emptive censorship. Remember the “crawled when asked to bend” remark? Who knows, maybe for some, you don’t even need to ask.

The author can be contacted at arunabh.saikia90@gmail.com and on Twitter @Psychia90

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March of Caliphate-Baghdadi - The global community must urgently combat the spectre - By Rajinder Kumar - The Indian Express, Mumbai, INDIA

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/march-of-caliphate-baghdadi/

The Indian EXPRESS

opinion

March of Caliphate-Baghdadi

July 9, 2014 12:05 am

 

 

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The caliphate has openly challenged the legitimacy of governments of all Muslim countries of the Middle East.

Summary

The global community must urgently combat the spectre.

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By: Rajinder Kumar

  The implications of the declaration of a caliphate by the followers of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi have not been fully realised by the international community, particularly the Islamic countries. By its very concept, a caliphate is not confined to areas currently held by the ISIS or to Muslim communities/ countries, but extends to the whole world. I will henceforth refer to the ISIS as the Caliphate-Baghdadi.

By declaring al-Baghdadi amir of the caliphate, a challenge has been thrown to all other jihadi groups to either recognise his leadership and submit to his command, or contest it by taking him on. Ayman al-Zawahiri of al-Qaeda now has serious competition for the leadership of jihadi groups. Being in control of substantial territory and having no dearth of funds, the Caliphate-Baghdadi is likely to benefit from desertions from other Sunni jihadi groups and declarations of allegiance from other Islamist terrorist groups across the globe.

In Islamic thought, the “ummah” represents a universal world order ruled by a caliph in accordance with the shariat, modelled after the community founded by Prophet Muhammad at Medina in 622 CE. It includes Jews and Christians living within its territory as separate, albeit inferior, communities. Since the concept of a caliphate does not recognise the nation state — the only legitimate entity, the ummah, encompasses all Muslim lands — the Caliphate-Baghdadi has openly challenged the legitimacy of governments of all Muslim countries of the Middle East. There is a possibility of some sections in these countries declaring their allegiance to the caliphate, thus exacerbating the latent discontent in almost all of them. It is to be seen how the regimes of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey react to this development.

Shias in general and Iran in particular should be the most worried by the Caliphate-Baghdadi, which considers Shias to be apostates who should either be forced to return to the original faith (the Salafi version of Sunnism) or be annihilated. The persecution of Shias in Iraq under Saddam Hussein was reciprocated after the fall of his regime in 2003.

In fact, the genesis of the Caliphate-Baghdadi can be traced to Shia atrocities on Sunnis after the formation of the Nouri al-Maliki government with Iranian patronage. In Syria, too, there was widespread repression of Sunnis under the Shiite Assad regime.

The failure of al-Qaeda to carry out any spectacular action against the “enemies of Islam” in recent years has caused disenchantment among potential recruits in the West. The Caliphate-Baghdadi is likely to rekindle their interest, and many of them could proceed to the conflict zone in the Middle East. Al-Baghdadi is also likely to call upon his followers to carry out attacks in the lands of “infidels”, specially the US, to prove his global reach and capability.

Russia and China are also likely to be targeted. Chechen and Dagestani Islamic groups could declare their affiliation to the Caliphate-Baghdadi. While China has leveraged its clout with Pakistan to largely escape al-Qaeda-led terrorism, there is every possibility of Uighur Islamic groups delinking themselves from al-Qaeda and affiliating with the Caliphate- Baghdadi. Central Asian republics, already under threat from pro-Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) terrorist groups, are likely to be immediately affected. The movement of youth from radicalised groups in South Asia to the Caliphate-Baghdadi is also likely in the coming days.

India should be worried about the emerging situation in the Middle East. A large number of Indians have gone there, mostly illegally, for employment. We need to accept that we have absolutely no capability to intervene in the situation in any way. Even countries that may have some sort of link to the Caliphate-Baghdadi are unlikely to prove much help. However, no harm is likely to come to such Indians, as it would not serve the objectives of the Caliphate-Baghdadi. Rather, the caliphate would need them to run essential services in the areas under its occupation. The only threat is of getting caught in the crossfire.

India could face economic distress as a substantial share of our crude oil comes from that area. International restrictions on the import of crude from Iran further limit our options. The economic collapse of Iraq, a major trading partner, would impact our exports. There is also a major security risk of some radicalised Indian youth, particularly those influenced by the HuT’s ideology, joining the Caliphate-Baghdadi. The HuT has covertly established strong roots among a section of educated and tech-savvy Indian Muslim youth and is also making inroads among SIMI cadres. This might lead to the import of another strain of international terrorism into India.

A way out could be for Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei to ask his protégé, Iraq PM al-Maliki, to step aside and make way for a non-sectarian leader, so that the march of the Caliphate-Baghdadi could be slowed by placating non-radicalised Sunnis. Khamenei should not stand on prestige because of his rivalry with Ali al-Sistani, the main religious leader of Iraqi Shias and a moderate figure. Khamenei must realise that in the absence of political reconciliation with moderate Sunnis in Iraq, it will be difficult to prevent the Caliphate-Baghdadi from spreading its activities to Iran. As a gesture of goodwill, restrictions on oil imports from Iran should be eased. Unless the global community, particularly the countries of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and the Western bloc led by the US, Russia and Iran take immediate steps, the threat of widespread jihadi terrorism and takeover by anarchist forces looms ominously over the world.

The writer, former special director, Intelligence Bureau, handled the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan

express@expressindia.com

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/37962146.cms?

My comments live on Timesofindia.com over their report on Supreme Court ruling on "Sharia Court":

	The Times Of India
	Dear Reader,
	Your comment on the article ''Supreme Court ruling on sharia courts draws sharp reaction from Muslim clerics'' is now displayed on timesofindia.com.
	''Media in general and Time of India in particular are bent on treating Muslim affairs with contempt and disdain, using very undiplomatic language, words and constructions. The court line that fatwa has no legal sanction, is repeated again and again as if to put down Shari’a and its verdict on personal affairs. The fact is that Muslims have never sought legal sanctions for their Shari’a affairs. Only mischief makers and so-called progressives are bent on injecting confusion by requiring a secular state to interfere in matters of constitutional rights of freedom of religion. People should reject such divisive and trouble mongering interventions by one and all that have no regard for India's integrity and security. They sow the seeds of trouble just to create disaffection between the communities. Supreme Court had rightly rejected the plea for intervention. In fact, Court could have forestalled such mischief by those unconcerned with the subject matter, by imposing heavy fines on such motivated PIL.''
	To reply to this comment , or see the whole conversation, click here.
	Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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	Team TOI ----- ----- ------ ----- ----- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/37962146.cms? Supreme Court ruling on sharia courts draws sharp reaction from Muslim clerics PTI | Jul 7, 2014, 05.59 PM IST 449  comments Share More READ MORE Supreme Court Ruling on Sharia Courts|Supreme Court|Sharia courts|Muslim Personal Law|Muslim Clerics on Sharia Courts Disapproving of a sharia court issuing fatwa and order against a person who is not before it, the Supreme Court said it has no sanction of law and no legal status. RELATED Fatwas have no legal sanction, SC says NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's verdict on Monday declaring that a sharia court has no legal sanction drew sharp reaction from Muslim clerics who said that the Constitution allows them the right to work and act according to Muslim personal law. Zafaryab Jilani, member of the Muslim Personal Law Board, said, "We are not doing anything parallel to the judicial system and we don't say that any order passed by a Qazi is binding on all. Our sole motto is to resolve a matter with the consent of two parties involved in accordance with sharia." Khalid Rasheed Farangi, a Muslim cleric, said that under the Constitution, Muslims have the right to work and act according to Muslim personal law. "Indian Constitution has given us the right to act and work according to our Muslim personal law. The Supreme Court of India. "One must also keep in mind that Sharia Application Act, 1937, has very clearly said that in those cases in which both parties are Muslims and the matter is related to nikaah, talaaq, zihar, lian, khula and mubaraat, the decisions will be taken in the light of the Muslim personal law," he said, adding that the verdict needs to be studied properly before a final statement can be given. Maulana Mohammad Sajid Rashid, president of Kul Hind Imam Association, said the plea filed in the apex court is itself wrong as it is a religious matter. "If a person is practising a religion, he/she has to follow its preachings. A Muslim who does not follow the sharia is not a true Muslim," he said. TOI illustration by Zahid. Maulana Anisur Rehman, member of Imarat Shariah, Patna, however, agreed with the apex court ruling, saying that the judgment is not wrong and it is not going to hinder the functioning of sharia courts. "For arbitration, when two parties or people consensually approach the sharia court, it is lawful. The Supreme Court is not wrong, but I need to go through the entire verdict properly," he said. Disapproving of a sharia court issuing fatwa and order against a person who is not before it, the Supreme Court on Monday said it has no sanction of law and no legal status

Different thoughts, different photographs and different fasting times around the world

Different thoughts, different photographs and different fasting times around the world.

Asif Khan

Chicago

Ramadan is a month long spiritual gym where we work on metaphysical muscles through more deliberate disciplines, prayer, reflections and worship. It is an annual Muslim attempt to simultaneously grow vertically in their relationship with their Lord and horizontally with fellow human beings through emphatic and various acts of charity. It is a month of self-auditing and self-evaluation where believers check their accounts in Heavenly currency terms. May we all able to bring ourselves to a level where we can accept and welcome all what Ramadan can give us.

-Abdullah Antepli

Ramadan is a narrow path that reminds us fasting is not just about abstaining from food and drink, but also from backbiting, gossiping, malice, suspicion, miserliness, extravagance, vulgarity, immodesty, infidelity, arrogance, ignorance, cowardice, and thinking ill of others, so that when food and drink become permissible once again, we have built an internal fortress to permanently abstain from the aforementioned bad habits.

-Qasim Rashid

Muslims who participate in Ramadan are not only supporting and reinforcing each other's spiritual state in a coherent field of resonance, they are also contributing to the global coherence of humanity by sending the energies of love, devotion, and ego-transcendence into the collective soul. Fasting in Ramadan, because it offers an intense lived experience of the holy, saves Islam from being merely a form of belief and takes it to the level of spiritual perception, which is the sustenance of faith.

-Shaikh Kabir Helminski

In the Bible it is stated 'Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in us' (I Cor. 6:19), and in the Qur'an God says, 'I breathe into him [Adam] My Spirit' (28:72).

With these verses in mind, the spiritual practices of fasting, prayers, charity, and intense meditation during Ramadan reminds us that our body is a base for the presence of the Spirit. Experiencing the presence of the Spirit reminds us to appreciate the body as sacred as well as rediscover and reconnect the sacredness of nature. The combination of reestablishing our link with nature’s ecology and a deeper God-consciousness (tawhid) fosters a heightened awareness of the One present in all things.

Ramadan’s sacred time re-delivers what it means to be human; it provides insight into knowledge of love, beauty, and truth while living a life of gratitude. Ramadan tells us that cultivating wisdom is beyond dogma and doctrine, rather the focus is on the Spirit.
-Qamar Ul Huda


An officer of Malaysia's Islamic authority uses a telescope to perform "rukyah", the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan, in Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur. Muslims scan the sky at dusk in the beginning of the lunar calendar's ninth month in search of the new moon to proclaim the start of Ramadan, Islam's holiest month.


A boy watches helpers distribute food as he waits to break fast with devotees on the first day of Ramadan at a mosque in Singapore.

Children break their fast on the first day of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Manan Vatsyayana, AFP/Getty Images


Muslims attend an evening mass prayer session called "tarawih" to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 28, 2014.

Photo/Binsar Bakkara


A man reads the Koran in a mosque in Sanaa ahead of Ramadan. Photo courtesy Reuters

 

A man reads the Koran in a mosque in Sanaa ahead of Ramadan. Photo courtesy Reuters

Filipino Muslim students read Koran at classroom next to Blue Mosque ahead of Muslims holiest month of Ramadan in Taguig, Metro Manila. Photo Reuters

Children read and memorize the holy Quran, Islam's holy book, at a mosque in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.  Noorullah Shirzada, AFP/Getty Images

A Palestinian man reads the Quran in the Sayed al-Hashim Mosque in Gaza City.  Mahmud Hams, AFP/Getty Images

Children recite passages from the Quran at an Islamic school in Nairobi, Kenya.  Sayyid Azim, AP

Vendor looks on as he sells dates at a market ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Utaiqah neighborhood, south of Riyadh. REUTERS

People attend a Friday prayer outside a worship hall of the Niujie Mosque in Beijing, ahead of the holy fasting month of RamadanREUTERS

Muslim faithfuls pray at Assalam Mosque on June 28, 2014 in Nantes, western France, on the eve the first day of Ramadan