In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
The Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Bulletin
Friday, April 7, 2006 - Rabi-al-Awwal 8, 1427, Year:9 Vol:9 Issue: 53
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THIS FRIDAY BULLETIN CONTAINS EIGHT ITEMS:
1. THE VICEGERENT OR TRUSTEE OF DIVINE CREATION
2. CASTROS "HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE ME" IS STILL A REVOLUTIONARY CLASSIC
3. MUSLIMS ALMOST TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON OTHERS, SAYS MAHATHIR
4. CANADA SEVERS RELATIONS WITH HAMAS GOVERNMENT
5. LOST IN TRANSLATION: MEMRI'S SYSTEMATIC DISTORTIONS
6. VACATION EMIRATES STYLE, INCLUDES HALAL CUISINE & ROYAL LUXURY
7. UPCOMING EVENTS: CIC FUNDRAISING DINNERS
8. E-MAIL RESPONSES
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1. THE VICEGERENT, OR TRUSTEE OF DIVINE CREATION
[By Wahida Valiante -- Special to the Friday Bulletin]
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It is a common perception that the world is on the brink of a frightening
ecological disaster, because the planet cannot sustain the rate at which we
are consuming its resources. It appears that the relationship between human
beings and the rest of creation is seriously out of balance and if this
balance is not effectively restored, scientists predict that the next
generation will have no earth to inherit.
The Qur'an speaks of creation -- of which we are collective trustees -- and
gives guidelines on humanity's responsibility for preserving it. It
identifies Tawhid (unity), Fitra (human nature), Mizan (balance), and
Khalifa (vicegerency) as the foundation of environmental ethics. One could
say that the limits of our human condition are set within these principles
that constitute basic Qur'anic values.
The belief in Tawhid, or oneness of Allah, is a cardinal principle in the
Quran. There, Allah says of Himself: "Say; He is God, One, God, and the
Eternal, Absolute"(Quran 112:1-2), and about creation: "To Him belongs
whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, all obey His will and it is He
who originates creation..." (Quran 30:25) This unity is reflected in the
unity of humankind, and the unity of self and nature.
The whole of creation -- being the work of one Originator -- works within
one stable system and thus brings value to creation by affirming its
wholeness. Another verse in the Qur'an refers to the heavens and the Earth
as extensions of God's throne, thus conveying the idea that creation was
designed to function as a whole. This unity is meant to result in the
whole, a perfect and comprehensive order embodying universal principles and
laws that govern every form of existence, however complex it may be.
The Fitra refers to the primordial nature of creation -- its natural
condition and disposition. The optimistic view of human nature is rooted in
this concept. The Quran posits that the natural state of human beings is a
positive and good state - one in submission to Allah:
"So, set your face to the system of Islam. The nature of God, based upon
which he has nurtured humankind. There is no altering (the laws of) Allahs
creation. That is the established standard order or balance. However most
among humankind do not understand it (Quran 30:30)." This explains the
instinct in all individuals for right and wrong.
Mizan (balance) is the concept of the middle path, which the Quran
describes in the following terms:
"The All-Merciful has taught the Qur'an. He created human beings and He
taught them the explanation. The sun and the moon [follow] a reckoning, and
the stars and trees bow themselves and heaven -- He raised it up and set
the balance. Transgress not in the balance, and weigh with justice, and
skimp not in the balance. And earth -- He set it down for all beings,
therein fruits and palm trees with sheaths, and grain in the blade, and
fragrant herbs. Which of your sustainer's bounties will you deny?" (Qur'an
55:1-12)
Allah singled out human beings as his vicegerents; he taught them knowledge
and gave them free will, and assigned them the moral responsibility for
maintaining balance in creation: "It is He who has appointed you viceroys
(Khalifa) in the earth." (Qur'an 6:165) This vicegerent has an obligation
to the creator who has placed His creation in trust (ammanah) with the
explicit advice not to disturb the balance (Mizan)." (Qur'an 55:8)
This trust was offered to all of creation but only human beings chose to
accept it: "We did indeed offer the trust to the heavens and the earth and
the mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof. But
human beings undertook it ..." (Qur'an:33.75) The humanity will be called
to account: "Then on that Day, not a soul will be wronged in the least, And
ye shall but be repaid [according to] your past deeds" (Qur'an 36:54)
The relationship of the vicegerent with nature is not that of the owner and
the owned; it is rather that of the trustee, or steward, and that which is
held in trust. If "subservience" of everything to humanity is misunderstood
as the right to dominate and exploit, then there will be tyranny. The end
result of tyranny is a revolt against the tyrant. This is precisely what is
happening between human beings as tyrants and nature as the tyrannized,
proving that tyranny is effective only in the short term. "...He was indeed
unjust and foolish." (Qur'an 33:75 -76)
Khalid in his article," Guardians of the Natural Order" points to two
events in history that lead to the current ecological crisis. One is the
birth of the Cartesian world view which separates human beings from nature
(dividing mind and body), so that nature is considered as evil or primitive
and fit only to be subjugated. "With the birth of 'Cartesian' thinking in
the 16th-17th century humanity began to worship itself: in Descartes' own
words humans were 'lords and masters of creation'. They now had reason on
their side to support them in their acts of predation."
The second event, like Descartes' dualism, he points out, is the banking
system that has "sabotaged the Mizan (balance) of creation by not only
charging interest, but by doing so on money which they create endlessly out
of nothing. This explosion of artificial wealth provides the illusion of
economic dynamism: but in reality it is parasitic. Endless credit devours
the Fitra (human nature). If kept up, this would eventually result in the
Earth looking like the surface of the moon."
Muslims, over the last six centuries have lost their bond with nature
because their acquired knowledge is not grounded in an educational system
that (inspired by the Quran) internalizes and nurtures observational bonds
with nature. There are contemporary Muslim scientists, but hardly any
discoverers, explorers, inventors and thinkers which -- inspired by the
Quran -- could address the current ecological crisis to protect the
natural order, thus bearing witness to the truth that the whole of nature
is a reflection of God.
The Qur'anic solution resists any ideology (dualism), value or lifestyle
that distorts and destroys God's creation and balance. The human destiny
entails fulfilling the role of God's vicegerent on earth. It is a
spirituality that actively participates in upholding justice, freedom and
life, inherent in the divinely created balanced order.
(Wahida Valiante is a longtime professional social worker, family therapist
and author. She is also a cyber-counselor with Islamonline and national
vice-president of the Canadian Islamic Congress. She can be reached at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] )
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2. CASTROS "HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE ME" IS STILL A REVOLUTIONARY CLASSIC
[By Dr. Mohamed Elmasry]
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HAVANA, Cuba -- As a teenager growing up in Egypt, I was fascinated by the
life of a Latin American revolutionary named Fidel Castro Ruz.
The early 1950s were an era of struggle against both the old European brand
of imperialism and the emerging American one. People in Latin America,
Africa, and Asia -- including those in the Muslim world -- longed for
freedom from oppressive occupying powers and dreamed of achieving true
social justice. Back then, it seemed to me that Castro was the only one
putting those ideals into action; perhaps I was closer to the truth than I
knew.
It took another 50 years or so before I could visit Castros Cuba in person
and experience something of those revolutionary years through the unique
island nation that emerged. Canadians love visiting Cuba in the winter to
escape our harsh cold weather and long days with no sunshine. In less than
four hours you can go from Torontos cold and snow to Cubas tropical
warmth. In fact, Canada is the world's leading supplier of visitors to
Cuba. In addition to the convenience of short travel times, another telling
reason why Canadians prefer Cuba over other winter tourist destinations, is
that they will not find Americans there!
Relaxing on the sunny beaches of Cuba, I read for the umpteenth time
Castros classic book, "History Will Absolve Me." It's the text of Castros
own courtroom defence, after he led more than 150 young Cubans in an attack
on the Moncada army barracks in Santiago on July 26, 1953.
I believe this brilliant self-defence should be studied by every university
student, especially those in law and political science. At only 26, Castro,
the young lawyer and revolutionary leader, became a national hero -- and
much of his public support came after "History Will Absolve Me" was
distributed in 1953.
Armed only with facts and an extraordinary courage, Castro denounced the
corrupt regime that had previously ruled Cuba and outlined a reform program
including free modern education, redistribution of land, full employment,
and industrialization; this program would became the road map for all of
Latin America. From his own words (slightly paraphrased) we read:
"The five revolutionary laws that would have been proclaimed immediately
after seizing the Moncada garrison and would have been broadcast to the
nation, must be included in this trials summary. (They are, as follows:)
1- Give sovereignty back to the people and proclaim the 1940 Constitution
as the supreme law of the State until such time as the people decide to
modify or change it.
2- Give non-mortgaged and non-transferable ownership to all tenants and
subtenants, lessees, sharecroppers and squatters who hold five caballerias
or less of land; the State would compensate former owners on the basis of
the rental they would have received for those plots over an average period
of ten years.
3- Grant workers and employees the right to share 30% of the profits of all
the big industrial, mercantile and mining enterprises, including sugar
mills.
4- Grant all sugar planters the right to share in 55% of the sugar yield,
to a minimum quota of 40,000 arrobas for all small planters who had been
established as such for three or more years.
5- Confiscate all holdings from embezzlers -- as well as their assignees
and heirs -- from previous regimes.
Problems relating to industrialization, housing, unemployment, education
and public health would be addressed immediately, along with the
restoration of civil liberties and political democracy.
Eighty-five per cent of small Cuban farm labourers pay rent and live under
the constant threat of being evicted from the land they till."
On Aug. 18, 2006 Fidel Castro will be 80 years old and should be proud of
his achievements as a reformer and veteran statesman. Despite an aggressive
American policy of isolation and embargo against his tiny country of just
11 million, he provided his people with one of the best education and
health care systems in the world -- free. He has also managed the Cuban
economy with extraordinary skill. Despite the inhumane sanctions imposed by
the U.S., Cuba has full employment and no child poverty or homelessness of
the kind so common in the U.S.
Castro is so hated by the Americans because he and his hard-working country
inspire other Latin American nations, as well as many in the overseas
developing world. And since 1959, he has refused to cash a single rent
cheque from the U.S. government in payment for its perpetual lease (since
1903) of land in Cuba's far eastern province of Guantanamo for use as a
military base.
In recent years, "Gitmo," as the base is known for short, has been where
Americans can hold POWs and torture them, in defiance of Geneva conventions
and international law, without laying any specific charges.
Leaders of Western countries, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy,
have begun to demand that the U.S. close its gulag-style detention centre
at Guantanamo Bay. Only weeks ago, a damning UN report -- supported by UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Louise Arbour, a former Canadian Supreme
Court judge who heads the UN Human Rights Commission -- found it falling
far short of meeting international standards of justice.
Arbour herself has condemned the American administration's policy of
holding detainees in secret and offshore prisons, or shipping them to third
countries, saying the practice has "an acutely corrosive effect on the
global ban on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment."
But the American administration ignores these calls for justice and
persists in demanding that Castro give his people more "freedom." This is a
classic example of pure hypocrisy, mixed with a high dose of ugliness and
evil.
(Dr. Mohamed Elmasry is national president of the Canadian Islamic
Congress. He can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED])
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3.MUSLIMS ALMOST TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON OTHERS, SAYS MAHATHIR
[By Umi Hani Sharani -- Business -- March 23, 2006]
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KUALA LUMPUR -- Muslims do not seem to have faith in their ability or
qualifications, as they are almost totally dependent upon others for almost
all their needs in life, says former premier Mahathir Mohamad.
Currently, the chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Mahathir
said that even in the extraction of the wealth and resources that Allah has
blessed the Muslims with, they are still dependent on others.
"We hire other people to do everything for us," he said in a recent
address. "The whole Muslim Ummah of 1.5 billion is one huge consumer
society, procuring all our needs from outside our community, including our
defense and security requirements. We produce practically nothing on our
own, we can do almost nothing for ourselves, we cannot even manage our
wealth," he added.
Mahathir said the Islamic world today is full of paradoxes and
contradictions. In spite of a number of Muslim nations being extremely
wealthy, there is not a single one of them that can be classified as
"developed" by any criteria.
"Certainly there is no Muslim world power ... for much of the past 1,300
years. [We are] lagging behind in modern knowledge, financial and
technological skills and in many instances, effective governments," he
lamented. In addition to poverty, ignorance and instability have become
such common features in the Muslim world that its detractors assume these
afflictions are the natural consequences of following the teachings of
Islam, Mahathir said.
Yet it is a historical fact that Muslims were at one time the world's most
advanced people in all fields of human endeavour. When European Christians
were wallowing in the Dark Ages and Jews were wandering rootless all over
the world, Muslims were the biggest traders, producers of goods,
strategists, navigators and defenders of their faith, he said.
Christians and Jews lived freely under the success of the Muslims; many
people embraced Islam so that much of the world became Muslim, he said.
Muslims were respected and no one dared to to desecrate the Qur'an or
insult the Prophet and his teachings. However, the great Islamic
civilization went into decline when Muslim scholars interpreted knowledge
acquisition, as enjoined by the Qur'an, to mean only knowledge of religion,
and that other knowledge was un-Islamic.
As a result, Muslims gave up the study of science, mathematics, medicine
and other so-called worldly disciplines. Instead, they spent much time
debating on Islamic teachings and interpretations, on Islamic jurisprudence
and Islamic practices, which led to a break-up of the Ummah and the
founding of numerous sects, cults and schools, Mahathir said.
Such have been the differences between them that they often kill and make
war against each other. "To this day, they are blowing up each other's
mosques to the delight of their detractors," Mahathir added. While Muslims
rejected worldly knowledge, the Europeans gained from the early studies and
researches of Muslim scholars, achieved their Renaissance and went on to
develop and gain wealth, knowledge and military power.
"We cannot be proud of the decline of the (Muslim) civilization and the sad
state of Muslims today. Nor can we believe that this is what Islam would
lead us to when we follow its teachings," said Mahathir.
He said Islam promises "hassanah" or the good life in this world and in the
next for those who accept the faith's teachings and practice them.
If Muslims do not enjoy hassanah in today's world, it cannot be because of
Islamic teachings, he pointed out. "It must be because we are not
practicing the injunctions of our religion or that we have misinterpreted
them. The fault lies with us and it is incumbent upon us to identify what
we do that is wrong and correct it," he advised.
(This article has been edited for the Friday Bulletin.)
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4. CANADA SEVERS RELATIONS WITH HAMAS GOVERNMENT
[By Sue Bailey -- Canadian Press -- March 2006]
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OTTAWA -- Canada has become the first country after Israel to cut funding
and diplomatic ties to the Palestinian Authority over the new Hamas
government's refusal to renounce violence.
The Conservatives say they will still offer humanitarian aid to
Palestinians through the United Nations and other agencies. But Foreign
Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said that Ottawa cannot go farther. "As you
know, Hamas is a terrorist organization -- listed in this country -- and we
cannot send any direct aid to an organization that refuses to renounce
terrorist activity, refuses to renounce violence."
The news shocked pro-Palestine groups who fear aid will be cut to those
living in squalid refugee camps.
The newly installed Palestinian Information Minister, Youssef Rizka, called
the Canadian action "hasty" and said it "shows obvious bias."
Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar told Associated Press television
he wasn't surprised by the decision.
"The question is if the Canadian state is willing to starve the Palestinian
people while the Israelis are committing big crimes against the Palestinian
industry, the Palestinian society," Zahar said.
A major Jewish organization welcomed the decision.
MacKay made the announcement after the Palestinian Legislative Council
approved the formation of a Hamas-led government. The group won a surprise
victory in the Jan. 25 Palestinian elections.
Hamas has since been pressed by Canada, the European Union and other
countries to change its ways. MacKay says Hamas has ignored those calls.
"The stated platform of this government has not addressed the concerns
raised by Canada and others concerning non-violence, the recognition of
Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including
the Roadmap for Peace. As a result, Canada will have no contact with the
members of the Hamas cabinet and is suspending assistance to the
Palestinian Authority."
MacKay added that the new government must make a "clear commitment" to
peace before Canada will end the diplomatic freeze.
International Co-operation Minister Josee Verner stressed that Canada
supports a negotiated end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Canada also makes an important distinction between assistance to the
Palestinian Authority and to Palestinians. Canada will continue to support
and respond to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people" through
the UN and other agencies, she said. "Canada will also continue to work
with the voices of moderation within Palestinian society."
That was little comfort for Faraj Nakhleh, acting president of the Canadian
Arab Federation.
"What is at stake is that there's a population of about 3.5 million people
in the West Bank and Gaza that is starving."
After decades of Israeli occupation, Palestinians are now effectively being
punished for democratically electing a government they believe can help, he
said. "Suddenly we're saying: 'It's okay to have a democratic vote, but if
we don't like the result then you can't have that.' I'm not defending any
Hamas group. All I'm saying is, they were elected."
At the very least, Canada and other countries should be making the same
peaceful demands of Israel, says Wahida Valiante, national vice- president
of the Canadian Islamic Congress.
"It's a two-way street. Canada is blindly following the lead of
Washington," and of pro-Israel lobby groups, she said. Cutting off contact
will not help Palestine improve its democratic system.
Ottawa has been sending $25 million a year to Palestine, but the Liberals
had planned hefty increases. Instead, the $25 million will now be cut by
$7.3 million to $17.7 million, said Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Marie-
Christine Lilkoff.
Liberal MP Keith Martin visited the West Bank in August. "It was profoundly
tragic," he said. "Palestinian people live in abhorrent conditions. Yet,
they desperately want to become self-sufficient."
Frank Dimant of B'Nai Brith welcomed the decision. "Canada has stood true
to its principles by refusing to do business with a terrorist entity whose
avowed aim continues to be the destruction of the Jewish state."
(This article was slightly edited for the Friday Bulletin.)
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5. LOST IN TRANSLATION: MEMRI'S SYSTEMATIC DISTORTIONS
[By Rima Barakat -- Rocky Mountain News -- March 27, 2006]
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As soon as the word came out regarding the upcoming visit to Denver of Dr.
Ekrima Sabri, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, the American
Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League sprang into action to
disrupt the visit. Both groups immediately sent letters accusing the Grand
Mufti of being anti-Semitic and asking co-sponsors to withdraw their
support. A press release was sent to the media denouncing the visit.
News columns by Vincent Carroll (March 7) and Dave Kopel (March 11) simply
seconded the pro-Israeli lobby sentiment. All of their "evidence" seemed to
be a regurgitation of the same quotes and accusations. This leads me to
suppose that the critics either carbon- copied each other's statements or
that they acquired most of their "translation" from one special source:
MEMRI, The Middle East Media Research Institute.
MEMRI claims to be an independent nonpartisan research institution. One of
the co-founders of the organization, Yigal Carmon, is a retired colonel of
the Israeli military intelligence. Checking the MEMRI website, I found it
served up blatant, unbalanced propaganda and was littered with inflammatory
articles aimed to incite hate and bigotry toward any person whom MEMRI
considers anti-Israeli, or anti-Zionist.
Academics as well as professional journalists have repeatedly censured the
organization's quality and integrity. Brian Whitaker of The Guardian
questioned the honesty of some "translations" posted by MEMRI. Whitaker
specifically referred to an interview with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem,
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, by Al-Ahram Al-Arabi in Oct. 2000 -- the same
interview quoted by the ADL, the AJC and Carroll.
Al-Ahram: Q: How do you deal with the Jews who are besieging al-Aqsa and
are scattered around it?
A: I enter the mosque of Al-Aqsa with my head up... I have never greeted
them when I came near one. I never will.
MEMRI's version: Q: How do you feel about the Jews? A: I have never greeted
a Jew when I came near one. I never will. They cannot even dream that I
will. The Jews do not dare to bother me.
(It is noteworthy that Carmon has admitted this "translation" mistake.
Still, it remains uncorrected on his website.)
In another instance, Halim Barakat (no relation), a professor at Georgetown
University, published an article in Al-Hayat Daily of London titled "The
wild beast that Zionism created: Self-destruction." By the time MEMRI
"translated" it, the title was distorted to "Jews have lost their
humanity." Barakat objected, "Every time I wrote Zionism, MEMRI replaced
the word by Jew or Judaism. They want to give the impression that I'm not
criticizing Israeli policy, but that what I'm saying is anti-Semitic." It
seems obvious that MEMRI is adamant on stigmatizing anyone who criticizes
Israel and/or Zionism as being anti Jewish.
Similar conclusions were echoed in the January 2005 Greater London
Authority report. A study was commissioned to investigate the "Islamic
conspiracy dossier." This dossier was compiled to defame a renowned Muslim
scholar and was presented to British officials in an attempt to prevent
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi from entering Britain to participate in a London
conference. The report found that "nearly all the distortions came from
material produced by the Middle East Research Institute."
Today, the standards of Israeli-Palestinian political and religious
discussions have been redefined by pro-Israeli organizations that are
working amongst us. If non-Jews voice disagreement with Zionist ideology or
expressed moral outrage against Israeli oppressive policies, they are
immediately accused of being anti-Semitic and /or anti-Jewish. If one
happens to be Jewish, one is branded as being a "fringe" or "self-hating"
Jew.
The continuous attempts of the AJC and the ADL to hinder frank academic
discussions pertaining to Israeli government policies may further undermine
their credibility. Last October, pro-Israeli organizations tried to
interfere with the Friends of Sabeel conference in Denver. Priests and
academics were, again, accused of being anti- Semitic or "fringe" Jews. Co-
sponsors were asked to withdraw. Among the 70-plus co-sponsors, nobody
withdrew.
Sabri's visit offered the opportunity for Christians representing many
denominations, who gathered recently alongside their Muslim brethren, to
hear his message. He told us that his "Hands are extended with love and
peace" and so should ours be.
We pray and hope that political negativity and Islamophobic stands would
not cause the local Muslim-Jewish communities to miss future opportunities
to foster greater mutual understandings.
(Rima Barakat is a Denver-area Muslim activist. This article was slightly
edited for the Friday Bulletin.)
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6.VACATION EMIRATES STYLE, INCLUDES HALAL CUISINE & ROYAL LUXURY
[By Muhammad Athar]
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As I sat on the palace balcony watching the waves crash onto the shore,I
knew wed made the right decision.
"Why dont you just go to Mexico like everyone else?" friends had asked. I
have to admit, I was tempted. If you saw the ads in my newspapers travel
section, youd know why. Florida: $599. Puerto Plata: $1199. An all-
inclusive here, a Caribbean cruise there - each one promising a tropical
paradise with sand as white as snow.
The problem is few - if any - of these places cater to travellers with
Islamic values in mind. If youre among the growing number of Muslims who
care about things like modesty and dont fancy sharing a beach with topless
sunbathers, then where do you go?
Enter the United Arab Emirates. The tiny gulf nation on the northeast tip
of Saudi Arabia has invested billions into its tourism industry, and its
marketing itself as the next great sun spot for Canadian travellers. And
guess what? Theyve got Muslims in mind.
The story of the UAE reads like a fairytale: Bedouins were poor. Bedouins
found oil. Bedouins got rich. The country went from rags to riches so
quickly that fishing villages became cities seemingly overnight. The end
result is a cosmopolitan, pluralist society filled to the brim with luxury,
but with just enough old-world hospitality to remind you that youre in the
Middle East.
And now its closer than ever before. Etihad Airways, the official airline
of the UAE, recently launched direct service from Toronto to Abu Dhabi. It
flies three times a week, making the emirates more accessible for Canadians
than anywhere in the Middle East.
Now, when youve been on as many planes as I have, you know what to expect.
A cold pillow, a warm meal, and enough free drinks to make you wish the fat
guy down the aisle would stop hogging the washroom. This is where Etihad
will surprise you. The in-flight service is excellent, the meals are
freshly prepared, and youll also get a custom-made overnight pouch and
toys for the kids. They also insist that meals on all flights are prepared
"according to strict halal and Islamic requirements." That means Muslims
can order the peppercorn steak and roast chicken - without feeling guilty
about it.
And thats just the beginning.
"This is definitely a place where Muslims will feel comfortable," says Cleo
Eleazar, a communications manager with the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai. "People
are often surprised when we tell them the food is halal. But they shouldnt
be. Were very careful to respect the local religious customs."
For halal-hungry Canadians, that opens up a world of possibilities: Enough
Big Macs, Whoppers, and Fried Chicken to make Colonel Sanders blush.
Imagine picnicking along Abu Dhabis Corniche while the kids scarf down
their first ever Happy Meal. Not bad for a Kodak moment.
If you dont care much for fast food, head over to Spectrum on One, the
Fairmonts signature restaurant. Like most upscale UAE establishments, its
light-years beyond any halal offerings in Canada. Chefs scurry about in six
open-concept kitchens, each featuring flavours from a different part of the
world. On any given day, youll find south Indian chefs flame-broiling
skewered kingfish and east Asians preparing fresh sushi. Its like watching
Iron Chef America, except you actually get to eat the food at the end.
(Note to food- lovers: Try the stir-fried Szechuan hammour -- its worth
thewait.)
I know what youre thinking: If your answer to "Big Mac?" is "big deal" --
why would you take a 15-hour flight to the Middle East when the Caribbean
is just a short flight away? -- the answer is in the details.
"The Emirates has a bit of everything," says Rumyanka Tzolova, a
communications manager with the Kempinski Hotel group. "Youve got great
beaches and shopping, and then less than an hour away, you can go hiking in
the mountains or even skiing. You cant really get that anywhere else"
In shopping malls, youll find women in designer burqas riding escalators
next to girls flaunting the latest Armani fashions. In the souks, men in
Arabian disdasha - long flowing robes that hang down to your ankles - speak
into their Bluetooth headsets while haggling for the best prices. Throw in
the fact that both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have private beaches and spas
exclusively for women, and youve got enough activities to keep the whole
family busy for weeks.
That brings us back to the palace. In December 2001, Abu Dhabi began
construction on the Emirates Palace, reportedly the most expensive hotel
ever built. Its primary function was to host royalty from neighbouring
states, but in February 2005, the government opened its gates to the
public. Rumours are the hotel cost more than two billion dollars, but
nobody knows and the government isnt telling.
>From the moment you arrive, youll be treated a monarch - ironic, since you
might pass by one or two in the grand lobby. The palace features over a
thousand chandeliers, a hundred and twenty-eight kitchens, two helipads,
and 1.2 km of private, fine-combed beach. Each of its 394 luxury rooms and
suites comes with a plasma TV and its own butler. Thats right, a butler.
Hell be on call 24/7 to tend to your every request, from confirming plane
tickets to making restaurant reservations. And if youre still feeling jet-
lagged, hell prepare a special bath of milk, honey, and spices just for
you.
The Emirates Palace is the kind of place where you never have to lift a
finger. Dont feel like walking to the front desk? No problem. Your butler
can arrange for a golf cart to pick you up. Feeling cold after youve left
the swimming pool? Beach attendants will wrap you in plush terry robes the
moment you get out. In many ways, it represents the best the UAE has to
offer. Luxury, fantasy, and the ability to do whatever you want, whenever
you want. Its exactly the way a good vacation should be.
None of this is to say that the UAE doesnt have its share of problems, or
that there arent other Muslim countries with their share of resorts. But
when it comes to a halal vacation, the UAE is hard to beat. After all,
everybody deserves to be treated like royalty on their vacation. At least
for a week.
(This article was slightly edited for the Friday Bulletin.)
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7. UPCOMING EVENTS: CIC FUNDRAISING DINNERS
===========================================================================
CIC FUNDRAISING DINNERS TO BE HELD IN VANCOUVER MONTREAL TORONTO AND
WATERLOO -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW, PLAN TO ATTEND
The Canadian Islamic Congress announces its 2006 fundraising dinners to be
held, Inshallah, in:
Vancouver (MAY 27), Montreal (JUNE 3), Toronto (SEPT 9) and Waterloo (SEPT
10)
Each event will feature prominent North American speakers. Plan to attend
the CIC dinner nearest your home for a good cause, distinguished guests,
good food and good company.
Buy your tickets online today at
http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/dinner/
===========================================================================
8. E-MAIL RESPONSES
===========================================================================
Re: CANADA'S DECISION TO SUSPEND ALL AID TO DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED HAMAS
GOVERNMENT GOES AGAINST NATIONAL VALUES...
Dear CIC;
I'm writing to you to express my gratitude for saying what many Canadians
feel about our government's hypocritical approach to democracy.
Wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Amro Gamal Ottawa, Ontario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: HISTORY DISPELS THE LIES ABOUT ISLAM By Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
Mohamed; Thankyou for your article. I agree wholeheartedly, although we may
be moving toward a greater level of blaming fundamentalist Christians and
Jews for much of the terror in the world committed by the U.S. and Israel.
I don't do that. Bush and Sharon are not religious people; they use or
abuse religion. But the case can be made that the calls for more war are
coming from very publically religious people (i.e., Pat Robertson or Jerry
Falwell).
But I wanted to ask how you refute books like The Politically Incorrect
Guide to Islam (Robert Spencer) or MEMRI, which published nothing but
"quotations" that seem to demonstrate the violence within Islam itself. Of
course, the statements are out of context, but it is the preponderance of
the coverage. (see www.MEMRI.org). Anyway, I agree with you about Islam.
Maybe it is just the scale of propaganda that we are struggling against.
Bob Merrill
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thankyou for your wonderful article. We need more people like you to
promote true Islam. I have passed your article to many of my friends who
are non-Muslims.
As for myself, I am from Bahrain but live in New Zealand. I have always
taken people as I find them and most people are good by nature. As the
Qur'an says: people follow their parents' teaching -- but somewhere in
their hearts there resides a measure of love whose source is God and which
makes us all brothers/sisters in humanity...
May Allah bless you with wisdom and kindness.
Your brother, Ahmed Asgher
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your valuable article.
All books have conveyed the same message from Allah "Sabur, Towret, Injil
and Quran" ... All books teach the same value and respect for humanity but
our greedy desires divide nations, not the books from Allah or the
believers.
Adam Jeeraar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah;
I am pleased to write to you after seeing your valued article: History
Dispels The Lies About Islam.
I totally agree with you and hope to be able to communicate with you on
other issues ....
K.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: HISTORY DISPELS THE LIES ABOUT ISLAM By Dr. Elmasry
Dr. Elmasry -- Asalamalykoom.
Your article ... regarding the lies about Islam is extremely well written.
I congratulate you for this and may Allah increase your wisdom and your
continued effort to help our religion.
I strongly suggest that you submit this for publication in local and
national papers. It might also be appropriate for publication in Readers'
Digest. The article would receive better attention for publication if the
title was changed to something like "The True Face of Islam " or a similar
title.
Yours in Faith,
Dr. Hyder Fazal
===========================================================================
NOTE: Some letters may have been edited for clarity and length;
however, writers' opinions are unaltered.
===========================================================================
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER:
All material published by The Friday Bulletin is the sole
responsibility of its author(s). The opinions and/or assertions
contained therein do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of
The Friday Bulletin, nor those of the Canadian Islamic Congress and
its officers.
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