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Religious and historical shows are known to be fixtures on television during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, however, viewers this year will be eagerly anticipating to break their fast watching a ground-breaking series which chronicles the life of the second Righteous Caliph (thani al-Khulafa’ al-Rashidin), Omar ibn al-Khattab, also known as the Great Farooq.

Mazen Hayek, MBC Group’s Official Spokesman, tells Al Arabiya that “Omar” is anticipated to be the biggest and most important TV drama series ever produced in recent Middle Eastern TV history.

The series, which is the result of a joint collaboration between MBC Group and Qatar Media Incorporated, follows the life of Omar and his accomplishments, most notably the foundation of an Islamic state.

It also portrays Omar’s noble character to the audience, and the values he embodied such as good governance, equity, heroism and justice.

Given the significance of the main character and story to Muslims around the globe, the series is expected to attract audiences worldwide. The show will be airing in the Middle East and North Africa via MBC1, while ATV, a leading private TV network in Turkey, will air the Turkish dubbed version simultaneously with MBC in Ramadan; and MNC TV network in Indonesia, will air the subtitled version first, then the dubbed later.

Audiences in South East Asia, Europe and French speaking countries should also brace themselves; as the series is heading their way soon.

“O3 Productions which is the production arm of the MBC group is now in the final, contractual phases of closing the deals with leading networks and countries. There could well be a French version to-be considered for French speaking audiences in Africa, and one in English considered for Europe,” Hayek said.

As with any historical program, the project went through extensive research and authentication. In addition, a committee of prominent scholars and religious figures was formed to validate the text and made sure of the accurate interpretation of historical events, facts, and figures.

The trailer and available previews of the show indicates a huge amount of work high production values, 3D animation, props, and makeup in this year-and-a-half production. “If you think of similar treatments, you can only think of Robin Hood, Braveheart, and such Hollywood epic movies. We don’t have the exact budget of these big movies, but we’re talking of the same treatment in visual representation, at least.”

With a few days left to go before Ramadan starts; the hype surrounding this new series is at its peak… including among the media and advertising experts.

Faysal Zok, managing director of Initiative Media in Saudi Arabia expects the show to be a hit, given the extensive process in creating it.

“Historical series have proven success when done right, examples of that are the success of Hareem Al Sultan on OSN and Dubai TV, and Al Hassan Wa Al Hussein last Ramadan on Rotana Khaleejiah,” he said.

One aspect of the show which people are eager to find out about is whether the face of Omar will be shown on screen, since some Muslims believe that such a highly revered religious icon should not be portrayed.

“The series is expected to feature the faces of the Caliphs (Sahaba) and Omar, which is expected to create a controversy as to whether this is right or wrong, though we understood that MBC Group has already taken an approval from the three religious sources in the region (KSA, Egypt, and Qatar),” said Zok.

For his part, Hayek said viewers will have to wait until the first night the show is expected to air on MBC1 to find out whether Omar’s face will be shown. “The question about the series is not about whether the face is finally shown or not but, the real question is whether this mega TV historical series gives justice to Omar’s history or not. As a matter of fact, it does!”

Watch the trailer for “Omar” (in Arabic)

 

Source: alarabiya.net

The Islamic politics system is dependent on the three rules of towhid (Oneness associated with Allah), risala (Prophethood) as well as Khilifa (Caliphate).

The Towhid:

Towhid signifies that one Allah only is the Master Creator, plus Sustainer of the universe along with of all, which exists in this – organic or even inorganic. He only has the rights to command or prohibit. Worship and obedience tend to be due to Him only. No aspect of existence in all of the its multifarious forms your own organs plus faculties the apparent manage which people have above physical objects or even the objects themselves are created or a obtained by people in the right. They’re the bountiful commissariat of Allah along with have been bestowed upon people by Him alone.

Therefore, it isn’t for people to decide the goal together with purpose of the existence in order to set the limitations of the worldly authority not does anyone else possess the right to create these decisions for people. This right rests exclusively with Allah. This rule of the Oneness associated with Allah creates meaningless the idea of the legal plus political sovereignty of humans. No individual, family members, class or race could set themselves over Allah. Allah only is the Ruler plus His commandments comprise the laws of Islam.

The Risalah:

Risalah is a medium through which people receive the laws of Allah. You have received two points from this resource: the Holy Quran, a book into that Allah has expounded the law plus the authoritative interpretation with exemplification of which Book through the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), by word and deed, within his capacity like the representative of Almighty Allah. The Holy Quran laid down all the broad principles which human being life should be dependent plus the Allah’s Prophet, in accordance with such principles, established the model system of the Islamic life. The mixture of these two components is named the sharia (which means law).

The Khilifah:

Khilafah means the representation. Person in accordance with Islam is a representative of Almighty Allah on the planet, His vice-gerent that is to say through virtue of the strengths delegated to him through Allah plus within the limits recommended he’s required to practice Divine authority. In order to illustrate what it signifies, let’s consider the case of the estate of yours that another person has been appointed in order to manage on your behalf.

The four states of affairs invariably obtain. Initial, the actual ownership of any estate remains vested within you and not within the administrator; subsequent, he administers the property directly according to your instructions; third, he practices is authority in the limits prescribed with you; plus fourthly, within the administration of believe in the executes your will as well as fulfils your intentions not his own.
In conclusion, this is just what Islam means once this affirms that humankind is the representative (or khalifa) of Allah in the world. Therefore, these four conditions tend to be involved in the idea of Khalifah. The state that’s organized in accordance with such political theory will actually be a caliphate underneath the sovereignty of the Allah.

After the incident of 9/11, political Islam is viewed like a virulent force, which threatens national security. Inside the response, western government authorities took extreme political along with militaristic action looking to cripple the politics ideology’s domestic as well as international expansion. Sadly, however, there’s been little development in this department. Yet, for a small, however increasing minority of the Muslims, the western along with its imperial intermeddling in Islamic Middle East affairs (such as Palestine and Israel) is categorically reprehensible. Utilizing this like a point of the departure, severe acts of the terrorism have already been committed supposedly within the label of ‘jihad’.
The best iconic representative of the political Islam is doubtlessly the late creator al-Qaeda is Osama bin Laden.

Moreover, for almost two decades, the actual Islamist figurehead has long been synonymous with the militant sort of Occidentalism in addition to has been named for the major orchestrator at the back of 9/11 bombings. Depending on these charges, numerous believe that the well-timed assassination of such ‘evil man’ through US military force was both just as well as necessary. Nevertheless, bin Laden’s expiry does very little in order to ameliorate any social together with political preconditions associated with radical Islamism on its own. With or even without Bin Laden, these religio-political attitudes will continue to become embraced by particular Muslims who’re vindictively antipathetic towards the Western. Under these circumstances, any age-old discussion of attacking symptoms however evading the sickness is rather appropriate.

This sociological interpretation clarifies the West fraction of the worldwide political Islamist movement. Right here, European as well as North American Muslims whom feel socially, culturally plus politically alienated coming from their own secular, democratic host nations readily embrace the doctrine that provides their personhood the meaningful raison d’être. It account elucidates reasons why countless radical Muslims were in actual fact non-Islamic into their daily behavior.

Quite often, these forms of ‘secular Muslims’ had been initially petty criminals whom then became radicalized in the penal system. Information suggests that several were also alcohol and drug abusers before these people became inspired politics Islam. What such findings suggest is which with feelings of alienation with anomie Western Muslims much like some other social groups crave the sense of purposefulness into their life worlds. Based on all these circumstances, politics Islam offers the sufficient amount of antidote to this specific existential crisis.

The historically latest growth of politics Islam must be understood within sociological plus global political terms. With recognizing which anomic Muslims in the West are definitely susceptible to it embracive politics narrative, the must rectify the societal preconditions which make them experience alienated in the initial place is tremendously important. Furthermore, there even has to become any acknowledgment of the Western as well as its role within propping up repressive dictators consequently as prolonged as they could keep on taking out raw materials from areas. Such factors together with a more respectful international policy should be obtained into consideration.

Today’s modern world has a confused society possessing a huge number of problems regarding mental peace, social disorders, economic problems, etc. The young generation is also facing uncertainty about themselves. Committing a suicide has become the order of the day.

Values, norms, ethics, etc. make the society civilized and not only teach but polish the members of a society. These values can solve the problems of any society of any age. Values change by the change in the philosophy, ideology, culture, tradition, religion, etc.  But the most important and influential factor from all of these is the religion as it covers and administers rest of all the factors as well as modern and imminent problems of the modern world.

Islam is the sole and most impressive religion of all the religions for it covers all the problems regarding not only to the ancient world but also to the modern world. One of the main causes of the modern age is the lack of trust among the human-beings which led them to harassment, and it deteriorated the peace of mind of the man. When one talks about Islamic values and modern times, one should be clear that Islam teaches human rights. In this regard, some of the human rights are given below.

• The safety of honor
• Security of private life
• The right for disapproval against despotism
• Freedom of declaration
• Safety of religious attitude
• Safety against reckless confinement
• Clemency

Similarly, Islam teaches a strong moral system. Besides, the human rights Islam provides a very powerful moral system. In this regard, there are four directions for its devotees:

• Sincere and true faith
• Sincerity and true faith should be shown in charity
• Good citizenship and supporting association
• Firmness and Steadfastness in all situations

The above mentioned criterion is necessary to judge a particular conduct whether it is good or bad. It is significant to consider while talking about Islamic Values and modern times. Moral system of Islam also comprises of some of the following norms:

• God-perception
• Social obligation
• Belief in the Day of Judgment
• Faith of Heaven and Hell

Islamic values are definitely human problem solving as well as the blessings of God. The people of modern times can find solution of their problems in Islamic values at any rate. Therefore Islamic values and modern times have a very significant relationship.

Information on embryology and human reproduction & development are spread all over the Quraan. Most of the verses on the subject had not been expounded on. In the recent past a lot of emphasis has been put to appreciate the verses fully. Due to lack of proper scientific awareness, improper translations & commentaries it had been extremely difficult to interprate the verses. The urge to get information on embryology began long ago during the times of prophet Muhammad when questions were asked extensively on the verses relating to human production and embryology. The Hadith literature is used as the basis of answers of the Apostle.

Different Islamic scholars have done several translations of some of the verses in the Quraan touching on this subject matter. Sheikh Abdul Majid Zendani, a great professor of Islamic studies in one of the leading universities in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) is one of such scholars. He translated the statement from Sura 39:6.

Information on illustration of foetus development in the womb is equally documented to have been drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15^th Century. It is also documented that Galen described the placenta and the development of foetus in one of his books called On the Formation of the Foetus. This was done far much earlier in the 2^th century AD.

It is also well recorded in history that doctors in the 7^th century A.D. knew very well that the foetus developed in the womb. Earlier explanations of the same had been provided by Aristotle in the 4^th century B.C. Details into the development of the foetus was given far much later in the 15^th century from the records available. However, more was discovered upon the discovery of the microscope in the 17^th century by Leeuwenhoek. This made it easier to provide clear descriptions on the early stages of development of the foetus. Final descriptive explanations came in 1941 when Streeter developed the first system of staging. The most comprehensive explanation was given by O’Rahilly in 1972: he described the three stages of human development as to be confined to the anterior abdominal wall, uterine wall and then the amniochorionic membrane.

Sura 23:13 is equally a verse on the human development and embryology. It focuses on the zygote which later splits to form a blastocyst which then implanted in the uterus where it develops into a human being. Sura 23:14 is equally interpreted and is another important verse on the subject matter. It describes the human embryo from the days 7-24 when it usually clings to the endometrium of the uterus. The Sura describes in details the development of the foetus as compared to the verses.

Sura 32:9 describes the development the human senses. It describes the development in a certain order i.e. the appearance of the appearance of the primordial of the internal ears first followed by the eyes and lastly the brain differentiates.

Sura 22:5 illustrates that the embryo is mainly composed of differentiated and undifferentiated tissues.  The tissues described are the mesechyme and the cartilage bones. The mesechyme usually differentiates later into the muscles and ligaments. The verse also acknowledges the fact that God determines which embryo would stay in the uterus till full term and whether it will be a boy or a girl.

The science of modern embryology has facilitated to a great extent the understanding of the verses in the Quraan on embryology and human development. The science has afforded many followers of prophet Muhammad a new understanding of the subject matter.

FULL – Dr. Zakir Naik The Quran and the Bible in the Light of Science vs Dr William Campbell – Chicago, April1, 2000.
Organized by the Islamic circle of north america ICNA.

At the pulpit of an inner-city Chicago mosque, the tall blond imam begins preaching in his customary fashion, touching on the Los Angeles Lakers victory the night before, his own gang involvement as a teenager, a TV soap opera and then the Day of Judgment.

“Yesterday we watched the best of seven…. Unfortunately we forget the big final; it’s like that show ‘One Life to Live,’ ” Imam Suhaib Webb says as sleepy boys and young men come to attention in the back rows. “There’s no overtime, bro.”The sermon is typical of Webb, a charismatic Oklahoma-born convert to Islam with a growing following among American Muslims, especially the young. He sprinkles his public addresses with as many pop culture references as Koranic verses and sayings from the prophet. He says it helps him connect with his mainly U.S.-born flock.

“Are we going to reach them with an Arab message or with a Pakistani message? Or are we going to reach them with an American message?” asks Webb, 38, of Santa Clara. He is a resident scholar and educator with the Bay Area chapter of the nonprofit Muslim American Society, but reaches others in lectures and through his popular website, which he calls a “virtual mosque.”

Webb is at the forefront of a movement to create an American-style Islam, one that is true to the Koran and Islamic law but that reflects this country’s customs and culture. Known for his laid-back style, he has helped promote the idea that Islam is open to a modern American interpretation. At times, his approach seems almost sacrilegious.

Although the call to prayer at a mosque is always issued by a man, Webb once joked about it being made by one of his favorite female R&B artists: “If Mary J. Blige made the call to prayer, I’d go to the mosque; I’d be in the front row.”

At a Muslim conference in Long Beach last year, he suggested that mosques adopt a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays. Afterward, he was accosted by a local imam who accused him of poisoning Muslim youth. “I told him, ‘Quite frankly, you’re going to be irrelevant in 10 years,’ ” Webb says.

He is fluent in Arabic, the language of the Koran, and studied for six years at one of the world’s leading Islamic institutes, Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. His time in the Middle East convinced him that not all religious practices there make sense for Muslims here.

As recently as a decade ago, U.S. congregations readily accepted immigrant imams who had arrived straight from Islamic universities, often with a traditional approach to preaching. Many spoke little English and were unable to communicate with non-Arab congregants or connect easily with youth.

But increasingly, U.S. Muslims expect their religious leaders to play a broader, more pastoral role, says Hossam Aljabri, executive director of the Muslim American Society, a national religious and education group. “Communities want imams who can come in and go beyond leading the prayer and reading Koran. They want them to fill the social role of counseling and dealing with neighbors.”

Religious scholars say the faith’s basic tenets would not change but much of the law that governs Islam may be interpreted differently in various communities.

Webb believes, for example, that barriers between men and women in U.S. mosques are not necessary, although they continue to be used in many traditional congregations. Unlike some imams, he does not object to music and believes Muslims here should be free to celebrate such secular holidays as Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving.

But given the ethnic diversity of U.S. Muslims, finding a consensus for a single American Islam could be difficult. Some favor major reforms that would alter the faith’s core beliefs. Others oppose any change.

In 2007, Webb stopped teaching at SunniPath, an online academy of traditional Islamic education, tussling verbally in the process with a few of its scholars, who are critical of what they term “modernist Islam.”

“Modernists are doing a disservice to Islam…. They validate things that are slack in Islamic practice,” Sheikh Nuh Keller, a teacher at the academy, said at the time. “We say to the modernists, nothing needs to be modernized.”

Although Webb has spent much of his time in Egypt in recent years, his U.S. following has grown. His website, where he posts writings on such topics as relationships, personal development and Islamic studies, gets more than 10,000 visitors a day, and sparks extended conversations.

In November, one reader asked if it was OK for Muslims to celebrate Thanksgiving. Webb’s response that the holiday was allowed upset some who thought that could lead to more questionable practices.

“Soon it will be [permissible] for me to take that ‘Santa Claus’ gig at the mall…….or it is already????” asked one commenter, Ahmed.

Others appeared to appreciate Webb’s effort to balance Muslim teachings with life in the West.

“We prefer to dismiss all culture as the antithesis to Islam,” wrote Tricia. “We lack … indigenous scholars who can give us a refined view of culture that distinguishes blameworthy from admirable cultural practices.”

Imams need to be culturally relevant, Webb says. When young men ask his advice on becoming religious leaders themselves, he tells them, “Go watch ‘Nick at Nite’ for a year.”

“He’s the most approachable imam in the U.S.,” says Nour Mattar, founder of the country’s first Muslim radio station. “And he’s not boring to listen to, that’s huge.”

Christened William by his parents, Webb grew up in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond. His father, David, is a professor of American history at a local college, and his mother, Mary Lynn, worked as a human resources director.

Webb attended a local Church of Christ twice a week throughout childhood. “In my family, on your birthday you got a Bible with your name on it,” he says. But even at a young age, he questioned some Christian beliefs, including the Trinity.

When he was a teenager, he and several friends became immersed in a burgeoning hip-hop scene. After the others joined a local street gang, Webb, then 17, did too.

But his participation in the Bloods Pomona 456 was relatively minor, he says. He didn’t sell drugs and mostly hung out with other members looking for fights; at 19, he spent a week in jail for stealing hubcaps. In one serious incident, Webb says, he was the driver in a drive-by shooting, although no one was hurt or charged with a crime.

His teenage time in the gang and as a DJ at house parties figure prominently in his speeches and public persona, as a way to gain traction with young Muslims. That appears to work, at least with some. After his sermon in Chicago, a boy of about 12 turned to his mother, asking, “Did you hear his speech? He said he’s from the ‘hood.”

Webb was introduced to Islam at 19. He was selling music tapes at a swap meet when he met a Muslim man selling incense and handing out Korans. Webb took one home and read it in secret for several months.

He converted during his freshman year at the University of Central Oklahoma and broke the news to his parents at Thanksgiving dinner that year — when his mother had cooked a turkey and a ham, the latter forbidden by Islam.

Mary Lynn Webb says she was not happy at the time about her son’s conversion, but is pleased today when she sees him preaching to eager audiences. “I’m proud of him. It’s amazing, really, when you think that he doesn’t have that background” in Islam, she says. “I think it may have saved him from something had he stayed in the rap world.”

In college, Webb met Asma Ayoub, a Muslim Malaysian immigrant who was studying anthropology. They married in 2000 and have two children. Webb calls his wife his “greatest teacher.”

As he worked toward his bachelor’s degree in education, he also studied intensively with a local Muslim scholar. He later became imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City before moving to Santa Clara in 2002 at the behest of the Muslim American Society there.

The group sponsored Webb’s formal Islamic education at Cairo’s Al-Azhar. He returned to the Bay Area full time last summer.

Since then, he has worked on an educational curriculum that will focus on the experiences of young Muslims in the West. He is contemplating turning it into his own institute.

Webb hosted a town hall on his website last year where Muslim leaders debated the issue of youth radicalization. He reposted it during recent congressional hearings by Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) on militancy among U.S. Muslims.

But only rarely is Webb approached, he says — in person or by email — by anyone tempted by calls to violence from extremists. Young Muslims more often ask him about Darwinism or student loans.

When he does get such questions, he directs the youth to what he says their true jihad should be, including assimilating into American society and supporting their families.

“You see people who come to listen to him that wouldn’t listen to anyone else … people they were never able to reach out to,” says Imam Khalid Latif, Muslim chaplain at New York University.

On a hot day last year, Webb walked into Chicago’s Marquette Park, where dozens of artists were gathered for a Muslim music festival. He had been invited to speak and felt it was a good way to ease back into U.S. culture after his time away.

“I don’t think you’ll have a lot of clerics showing up here,” he said. “I know I’m going to see some things I’m not going to like.”

The festival was a departure from another conference he had just attended, where most women wore the hijab and the audience was divided into sections — for women, men and families. At this one, called “Takin’ It to the Streets,” women in shorts, tank tops and tattoos mingled with men in traditional robes. During the headlining performance by Grammy-nominated rapper Mos Def, Webb watched as couples danced and people near him smoked pot.

As he walked among the stages and booths, he was stopped often by admirers — at 6-feet-4, the blue-eyed imam stands out at Muslim events. Some asked for on-the-spot advice, as if he were a walking confessional: What should I do about this guy I broke up with? Where should I study Arabic? Is what I’m doing as a Muslim rapper OK?

Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, the event’s organizer, said not many scholars would accept the group’s invitation.

“It means a lot when people who represent scholarship and … authenticity within the Muslim community are present,” he said. “Even though they are not necessarily saying, ‘I condone wholesale what’s going on.’”

After Mos Def’s performance, Webb hugged him, saying, “Don’t let the community make you feel guilty about what you do.”

“Man, thanks,” said the rapper, a convert to Islam.

But for some, even this imam, despite his talk of gang life and near-encyclopedic knowledge of rappers, is too conservative. His invitation to the festival stemmed from a heated discussion on his website about the negative influences of Muslim hip-hop. Some artists initially had mixed feelings about his attendance.

And that is the challenge Webb faces, Nashashibi says. “He is trying to speak to multiple audiences in what is perhaps the most diverse subsection of the Muslim community across the world.”

After the panel, a man handed Webb a flier for a party after the festival.

“I can’t go to that; smoking weed, dancing with girls and wet T-shirt contests,” the imam said of the event, which promised none of that. He added with a grin, “I gotta draw the line somewhere.”

[email protected]

Source: http://www.latimes.com