Islam and Science *Pervez Hoodbhoy, Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and Battle for Rationality<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1615> *
Hoodboy presents as “heroes” (p. 107) some Muslim scientists and philosophers who supposedly held very unconventional views about Islam such as al-Kindi, al-Razi, Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, and Ibn Khaldun while he turns other brilliant leaders and thinkers such as ‘Umar bin al-Khattab and al-Ghazali into villains. This strict division between villains and heroes, as is often the case, proves to be mistaken under scrutiny. Thus one “orthodox villain” Ibn Taymiyyah considered another “orthodox villain” al-Ghazali as misguided. Similarly, Ibn Khaldun, one of Hoodbhoy’s heroes, condemns another of his heroes Ibn Sina as anti-religious. Furthermore, if “villains” like al-Ghazali seem to discourage the study of some sciences, then so do “heroes” like Ibn Khaldun who opposed the science of chemistry and Ibn Rushd who said: “books written by scholars should be forbidden to the ordinary person by the rulers.” Clearly, Hoodbhoy has not learnt very much over the past ten years, since his criticism of al-Ghazali and religious orthodoxy reflects the same lack of understanding of the writings of al-Ghazali and the complexity of the issues connected with predestination, free will, and cause-effect relationship that he manifested in his book. -- *Dr. Ahmad Shafaat* 2 Comments More...<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1615> Current affairs *Redefining Pak agenda<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1613> * The composite dialogue framework needs to be given a fresh look. It was structured in June 1997 at a meeting of the two foreign secretaries in Islamabad. In that structure, terrorism occupied a very low place. Since then, terrorism has emerged as the single most important challenge to India-Pakistan relations, more important than even the Kashmir issue. The priorities have changed. Therefore, let the dialogue acquire new shape and form. Action on terrorism by Pakistan cannot be allowed to be held hostage to the resumption of the composite dialogue, irrespective of the ambiguous linkage between them in the joint statement. This brings us to the question of Kashmir. Even if Kashmir has not been mentioned in the joint statement, it is a live issue waiting to be resolved. -- *Satish Kumar* More...<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1613> Islamic World News *Bigamy against true Islamic law, says Indian law panel<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1612> * Amend Hindu Marriage Act to stop conversion to Islam for polygamy Muslims angry over German football song's reference to Prophet Mohammed Taliban 'brainwashed' Pakistan teen suicide bombers 25 religious outfits, including LeT, banned in Pakistan Pak Christians express anger over killings Pakistan: How the ISI works The Muslim image seen from UK Somali extremists deny link to alleged terror plot Malaysia: promoting Sharia is not extremism Pak President honours youngest IT professional Hyderabad, India: A two-day seminar on the Holy Quran Quota for notified Muslims in Pondicherry, India Compiled by *Syed Asadullah* 2 Comments More...<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1612> Islam and the West *Islam’s return to Europe: Assimilation or confrontation<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1611> * It hadn’t taken long for Islam to make its new claim on Europe. Caldwell’s numbers give away the problem: “In the middle of the 20th century,” he tells us, “there were virtually no Muslims in Western Europe.” Now there are more than 15 million, including 5 million in France, 4 million in Germany and 2 million in Britain. A study by Britain’s House of Commons of the July 7, 2005, bombings against London’s Underground caught the hostility of the new Islamism to the idea of assimilation, to the principle of nationality itself. Three of the four bombers were second-generation British citizens born in West Yorkshire. The fourth, who was born in Jamaica and brought to England as an infant, was a convert to Islam. -- *Fouad Ajami* More.<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1611> -- Asadullah Syed --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Asalam o Alaikum, You Are Receiving This Message, Because You Are A Member Of FOCUS ON ISLAM, A Google Group [..:: The Best Group For Nice Islamic Mails ::..] \/<<<<>>>>\/<<<<>>>>\/<<<<>>>>\/<<<<>>>>\/<<<<>>>>\/<<<<>>>>\/<>\/ You can Post Your Comments and Suggestions to Me [Moderator of this Group] on this email address: [email protected] To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/focusonislam/ To post messages/mails to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Please forward our Mails to Your friends, and convence them to join our Group. 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