Bismillah [IslamCity] Common QUESTIONS About Islam - (4) Was Islam SPREAD by the SWORD
Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance. (Al-Qur'an, 16:125 (An-Nahl [The Bee]) *ISLAMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION* * * *INTRODUCTION* * * *Da'wah is a duty* * * *Most Muslims know that Islam is a universal religion, meant for all mankind. Allah (swt) is the Lord of the entire Universe, and Muslims have been entrusted with the duty of conveying His message to all mankind. Alas, most Muslims today have become callous towards this duty! While accepting Islam as the best way of life for ourselves, most of us are unwilling to share this knowledge with those to whom the message has not yet been conveyed. The Arabic word Da'wah means a call or an invitation. In Islamic context, it means to strive for the propagation of Islam.* The Glorious Qur'an says: *Ah! Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what ye do! [Al-Qur'an 2:140]* * * In order to convey the message of Islam, dialogue and debate become inevitable. The Glorious Qur'an says: * * *Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious! [Al-Qur'an 16:125]* * * *Twenty Most Common Questions* * * *In conveying the message of Islam to a non-Muslim, it is usually not sufficient to highlight only the positive nature of Islam. Most non-Muslims are not convinced about the truth of Islam because there are a few questions about Islam at the back of their minds that remain unanswered.* *They may agree with your contentions about the positive nature of Islam. But, in the same breath, they will say - Ah! But you are the same Muslims who marry more than one woman. You are the same people who subjugate women by keeping them behind the veil. You are fundamentalists, etc.* * * *Authored by Dr. Zakir Naik* *ISLAMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION* - *For more Queries contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *4. WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?* * * *Question:* *How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?* ** *Answer:* *It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.* *1. Islam means peace.* Islam comes from the root word 'salaam', which means peace. It also means submitting one's will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one's will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt). *2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace.* Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and antisocial elements to maintain peace in the country. *Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice.* *3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O'Leary.* *The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O'Leary in the book Islam at the cross road (Page 8): History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.* *4. Muslims ruled **Spain** for 800 years.* *Muslims ruled **Spain** for about 800 years. The Muslims in **Spain** never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to **Spain** and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in **Spain** who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.* *5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.* *Muslims were the lords of **Arabia** for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled **Arabia** for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.* *6. More than 80% non-Muslims in **India**.* *The Muslims ruled **India** for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of **India** to Islam. Today more than 80%
Bismillah [IslamCity] Joint panel proposed to prevent harassment of Indian Muslim youths
*Joint panel proposed to prevent harassment of Indian Muslim youths* April 22nd, 2008 by Mudassir Rizwan *By IINA,* http://www.twocircles.net/2008apr22/joint_panel_proposed_prevent_harassment_indian_muslim_youths.html New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has proposed a joint panel consisting of Muslim leaders and top intelligence and security officials to stop the harassment of young Muslims across India in the name of the fight against terrorism. He was talking to the leaders of India's major Islamic organizations, which called on him to intervene to end the harassment of Muslim youths. The delegation consisted of the leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Jamiat Ulma-e-Hind, the Muslim Personal Law Board (MPLB) and the Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, reported Pak daily newspaper Daily Times. The leaders expressed their concerns on the security of Muslims in India and complained of random arrests and media trials of Muslim youth. Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat President Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan said the prime minister expressed sympathy towards the delegation members and proposed the joint mechanism. However, he was sceptical of the effectiveness of such a panel. Another member of the delegation, Dr. Qasim Rasool Ilyas, said the leaders presented detailed cases of such harassment at the hands of Indian intelligence agencies across the country. He said there were several cases when security agencies had asked the media to conduct media trials to influence the judiciary. Dr Ilyas, a spokesman of the Muslim Personal Law Board, said they had asked Singh to stop the profiling of Muslims — a project started by the Home Ministry. Something happens somewhere and it is linked to Islam and Muslims. Security agencies immediately arrest Muslim youth, torture them and then try them in the media, which builds up stories against them, he added. He said the negative image portrayed by the media influenced judiciary. The leaders also said that prejudice against Muslims was growing among police and security agencies. Related Stories - Muslim religious leaders call on PM Manmohan Singhhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008apr16/muslim_religious_leaders_call_pm_manmohan_singh.html - Muslims should not vote anti-Islam or anti-Muslim political parties: Islamic Fiqh Academyhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008mar17/muslims_should_not_vote_anti_islam_or_anti_muslim_political_parties_islamic_fiqh_academy.h - Mushawarat urges govt. to probe SIMI-linked arrestshttp://www.twocircles.net/2008apr11/mushawarat_urges_govt_probe_simi_linked_arrests.html - Muslim Ulema condemn anti-madrasa and anti-Muslim campaignhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008feb05/muslim_ulema_condemn_anti_madrasa_and_anti_muslim_campaign.html - AIMMM condemns ban on SIMIhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008feb08/aimmm_condemns_ban_simi.html - To suspect Muslims' patriotism is anti-national: IUMLhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008feb26/suspect_muslims_patriotism_anti_national_iuml.html - Jamaat-e-Islami Hind concerned over antiterrorism policyhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008apr22/jamaat_e_islami_hind_concerned_over_antiterrorism_policy.html - AIMPLB asked to take action against casteism among Muslimshttp://www.twocircles.net/2008feb29/aimplb_asked_take_action_against_casteism_among_muslims.html - Majlis Bachao Tehreek presents a memorandum to National Minority Commissionhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008feb05/majlis_bachao_tehreek_presents_memorandum_national_minority_commission.html - Muslim leadership coming to rescue terror suspects in UPhttp://www.twocircles.net/2008feb26/muslim_leadership_coming_rescue_terror_suspects.html
Bismillah [IslamCity] MUST SEE YOUTUBE OF CNN'S WOLF BLITZER!!!
For those of us who may think that the mainstream media news personalities are objective and unbiased, I think you will find this debate with Wolf Blitzer very interesting. There should be no doubt after looking at this as to where he and the other news personalities loyalties really lie. Click the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-8aTGnjHnI Strive as in a race to achieve the goal of excellence in all that you do. For real insights visit: http://www.ascertainthetruth.com Regards, Nashid
Bismillah [IslamCity] The first-hand-Spy and the Angel of second-hand
R.Hamad andB.Kadish Another Israeli-spy is arrested in the USA for passing on first-hand-nuclear-research-information's from the USA on to the State of Zion. At that same day an Arab is found dead in a lake in Austin-Texas. The Police calls it immediately a suicide while all the evidences show a brutal assassination. This Arab was passing on second-hand-school-books and second-hand-clothes .. to the occupied-Palestinian children and schools. The irony, or the other-side-argument, would be that this Spy was also passing second-hand-information's and also towards Palestine , but then ,in his case,to the Stolen-Palestine, in that case ! The Spy happened to be of the Jewish faith while that dead Arab was a Muslim. The Spy happened to be harming the USA while that Arab did no harm..to nobody not even to the State of Israel. Does the USA know who are its enemies ?? Does the USA know how to make any Friend ?? Is the USA allowed to keep any friends...except Israel ?? Raja Chemayel a second-hand-observer of first-class-bias 25.04.2008 - Yahoo! For Good. Give and get cool things for free, reduce waste and help our planet. Plus find hidden Yahoo! treasure
Bismillah [IslamCity] Gaza's sewage tsunami (from ManicMuslimah)
Gaza's sewage 'tsunami' A five-month-old baby lay on a blanket in the shade of a hut made of metal sheets. Thin tree branches, with leaves and twigs intact, were laced around the ends of the hut to insulate it against the hot wind that blows into the sand dunes, rolling away to the border fence and on to Israel. The baby's mother sat with her legs tucked under her, hiding most of her face behind her black head-scarf. It flapped slightly in the breeze, and she used it to wipe her tears and muffle her sobs. The woman's name is Aziza Abu Otayek. She wept because she was remembering the death of another baby son, one morning in March last year, just after the older children had gone to school. Until that day their home was just downhill from a deep pond of sewage, pumped into a depression in the dunes and held there by earth walls because the water authorities in the Gaza Strip had nowhere else to put it. 'Wall of human waste' On 27 March 2007, the walls gave way. Aziza heard someone shouting, telling her to run away. She got out of the hut, then went back in because she had forgotten her head covering. The wall of raw human waste slammed into them. It knocked her down and tore the baby from her arms. He drowned. They found his body against the wall of the mosque a hundred metres away. He was nine months old. His grandmother was also drowned. Aziza worried about her new baby until he was born at the end of last year, because when she was hit by the flood she swallowed some of the sewage and she thought it might have harmed him. They named the new baby Mohammed, after his dead brother. While she talked, he gurgled happily, untroubled by the flies that buzzed around his eyes and lips. Aziza has an older son, a four-year-old called Ramadan. His father said he asks about his dead brother, and when he is cross he says he prefers the first Mohammed to the second one. But Ramadan seems a cheery little soul, though he has nightmares about the flood. He looks around the lakes of almost raw sewage that still lie near their home and asks his parents if another wave is going to come. One might. The pond that killed Ramadan's brother and grandmother is not the only one near their home. The others are much bigger and full of sewage. Growing population A Palestinian water engineer called Sadi Ali gave me a tour. He explained that the sewage lakes have grown so big because Gaza's growing population - 1.4 million, half of whom are under 16 - has overwhelmed what were anyway inadequate facilities for dealing with waste water. though, to his great regret, they pump tens of thousands of litres of untreated sewage into the Mediterranean every day, they have to do something with the rest. Sadi said that the lakes are 11m (36ft) higher than the surrounding land, and only the earth walls around them hold the muck in. In this single spot alone - and he said other parts of Gaza were as bad - the lakes were so big that if the dykes burst a tsunami of sewage 6m (20ft) or 7m (23ft) high would swamp an area inhabited by 10,000 people. Conflict with Israel Sadi Ali worries that a stray bomb or missile could break a dyke. There is a £40m ($80m) plan, funded by international donors, for a proper sewage treatment system for north Gaza. Sadi Ali is trying to build it. But it is well behind schedule. The problem is the same one that dominates every part of life here - the conflict with Israel. Restrictions imposed by the Israelis - which they say are vital to protect their own people - have slowed down, and sometimes completely stopped the import of raw materials for construction like cement and piping. Contractors have not been able to move freely. The latest problem is the lack of fuel. Try building a sewage system in a war. Gaza has been battered by years of fighting. When we set up the television camera near the sewage lakes a little barefoot boy, barely more than a toddler, came up and asked if we were going to attack the Israeli positions. He might have been asking if it was going to rain. For him, and several hundred thousand other Gazan children, explosions are part of the soundtrack of their lives. The boy must have assumed the camera and its tripod looked like a weapon. After that we worked faster, in case the Israelis thought the same thing. ref: http://news. bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/programmes/ from_our_ own_corresponden t/7354571. stm __ Remember Gazans in your duas plz. j786SURAH22
Bismillah [IslamCity] Countering Palestine Solidarity Work in Canada
Article below offers an analysis of Palestinian and Zionist work in Canada.
More on University activism below at Continue reading
The Bullet [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Countering Palestine Solidarity Work in Canada
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:58:17 -0400
From: The Bullet [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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sans-serif; text-decoration: none; }~~ T h e B u l l e t
~
A Socialist Project e-bulletin No. 100 April 25, 2008
Countering Palestine Solidarity Work
in Canada Zac Smith Words wreak havoc when they find a name for what had up
to then been lived namelessly Jean Paul Sartre
Over the past several months of 2008, Israel advocacy organizations have
entered a period of ongoing mobilization in an effort to decisively counter
what they see as the growing influence and impact of the Palestine solidarity
movement.
After spending years trying to find its footing in the aftermath of the Oslo
Accords, the Palestine solidarity movement has found a new strategic focus with
the emergence of the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS),
which has effectively shifted the terms of the Israel-Palestine debate and
presented a clear analysis of the apartheid reality facing Palestinians.
These shifts have thrown the mainstream Zionist movement into a state of
crisis as it finds itself unable to effectively counter the charge of
apartheid. In addition, Zionist organizations find themselves increasingly
isolated (with the exception of right-wing, conservative and Christian
evangelical circles) as the solidarity movement continues to gain traction
amongst an ever larger spectrum of audiences and organizations.
It is against this backdrop that a divided Zionist movement is seeking ways
to reverse their organizational and ideological disarray. Most significantly,
the emergence of this repressive trend directed at Palestine solidarity work is
converging with a broader targeting of students who are active in other
struggles.
Shifting Solidarity: The Development of
a New Politics in the Aftermath of Oslo The onset of the second Intifada in
September 2000 open the eyes of many who had up until then still harboured
illusions as to the nature of the Oslo process. Far from leading to the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the process merely served
to distract from the ongoing colonization of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Instead of a winding down of the occupation, the matrix of Israeli control
intensified. Land continued to be expropriated, Palestinian population centers
were increasingly isolated and surrounded by expanding settlements, and life
remained regimented by hundreds of Israeli checkpoints.
These developments were aided by the destruction of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) as a fighting force. Since the late-1960s the PLO had been
the driving force behind Palestinian nationalism. Almost overnight, however, it
ceased to be a vehicle of resistance and liberation, busying itself with
running the worlds most highly publicized municipalities, as Eqbal Ahmed
accurately noted.
With Oslo, the focus of the Palestinian struggle narrowed from resisting the
advances of a settler-colonial state to one of accommodation and state
building in West Bank and Gaza Strip. This accommodation with Zionism
sidelined the efforts of refugees and represented a retreat from the
fundamental demand of the Palestinian national movement: the right of return to
lands from which they were expelled in 1948.
The demand for the right of return had united and linked a dispersed nation
those in exile abroad and in the refugee camps of the neighbouring Arab states,
those living under Israeli
Bismillah [IslamCity] Thousands Of British Elite Embrace Islam: Study Brothers in Islam
*Thousands Of British Elite Embrace Islam: Study* http://www.islamonline.net I have received letters from people … who are looking for a religion which does not compromise too much with the modern world, Eaton LONDON, February 26 (IslamOnline.net) – Jonathan Birt, the son of Lord Birt and Emma Clark, the granddaughter of former liberal prime minister Herbert Asquith, are only two of 14,000 mostly-elite white Britons having reverted to Islam. In the first authoritative study of the phenomenon, carried by the *Sunday Times* on February 22, some of the country's top landowners, celebrities and the offspring of senior Establishment figures have embraced the Muslim faith after being disillusioned with western values. The new study by Yahya (formerly Jonathan) Birt, son of Lord Birt, former director-general of the BBC, provides the first reliable data on the sensitive subject of the movement of Christians into Islam. He uses a breakdown of the latest census figures to conclude that there are now 14,200 white reverts in Britain. *Mass Conversion * Speaking publicly for the first time about his faith this weekend, Birt argued that an inspirational figure, similar to the American revert Malcolm X for Afro-Caribbeans, would first have to emerge if the next stage, a mass conversion among white Britons, were to happen. You need great transitional figures to translate something alien (like Islam) into the vernacular, Birt, whose doctorate at Oxford University is on young British Muslims, was quoted by the *Times*. The image of Islam projected by political Islamic movements is not very attractive, he said. Initially, Birt said he had no coherent reasons for reverting, but in the longer term I think it was the overall profundity, balance and coherence and spirituality of the Muslim way of life which convinced me, he said. *'All Rage' * Meanwhile, it emerged this weekend that Emma Clark, the great-granddaughter of a British prime minister has reverted. Emma, whose ancestor, the Liberal prime minister Herbert Asquith, took Britain into the first world war, said: We're all the rage, I hope it's not a passing fashion. Clark, who helped design an Islamic garden for the Prince of Wales at Highgrove, his Gloucestershire home, is now helping create a similar garden for a mosque in Woking, Surrey, on the site of a car park, said the British newspaper. Furthermore, fresh evidence came this weekend that Islam has received formal acceptance at the heart of the Establishment. The Queen has approved new arrangements to allow Muslim staff at Buckingham Palace time off to attend Friday prayers at a mosque. A member of staff in the finance department is the first to take advantage of it, said the British paper. *'Trophy Lists' * Others have come to Islam through love or marriage. Kristiane Backer, a former girlfriend of the cricketer Imran Khan, said she was introduced to the religion through love but reverted after her break-up. She has shrunk from speaking publicly about her religion before because of fears it might affect her work prospects. Imran sowed the seeds, but when (the relationship) finished (the faith) took on a momentum of its own, she said. Drawn to Sufi mysticism, Baker said that white reverts had to overcome prejudice both from those born into Islam and from non-believers. In the mosque women come up and say to me, 'You have hair showing: you must cover up completely.' I say, 'Mind your own hair, you're here to think about God' . Many reverts have been inspired by the writings of Charles Le Gai Eaton, a former Foreign Office diplomat, it added. I have received letters from people who are put off by the wishy-washy standards of contemporary Christianity and they are looking for a religion which does not compromise too much with the modern world, said Eaton, author of Islam and the Destiny of Man. *Wary * Some prominent reverts are even more wary, said the *Times*. The Earl of Yarborough, 40, who owns a 28,000-acre estate in Lincolnshire, declined to discuss anything about his faith. I have nothing to say to you, said Yarborough, who has apparently taken the name Abdul Mateen. Muslim leaders are harnessing modern campaigning methods to promote their faith. Groups have *sprung up on the internet*http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/june02_index.php?l=6publishing trophy lists of white reverts. The state-funded school in London founded by Yusuf Islam, formerly the singer Cat Stevens, has turned to Premiership footballers to provide role models, said the *Times*. Sources close to the school say reverts including Nicolas Anelka, the Manchester City striker, and Omer Freddie Kanoute, of Tottenham Hotspur, have made visits. The trend is being encouraged by Muslim leaders who are convinced that the conversion of prominent society figures will help protect a community stigmatized by terrorism and fundamentalism. The Muslim Council of Britain has co-opted Joe Ahmed-Dobson, son of Frank
Bismillah [IslamCity] Help an Extremely Sick Person
Help an Extremely Sick Person Syed Bughdadi Shah, a resident of Peshawar, Pakistan, and Hafiz e Quran, is extremely sick after the failure of both kidneys. He is now living on dialysis. The kidney transplant surgery is the only solution. He has already contacted a doctor in a Rawalpindi hospital for the surgery. He has a kidney donation from a relative; however, he and his relatives are extremely poor and cannot afford the transplant surgery, which costs Rs. 300,000 (approximately Canadian $4,800). A local journalist from Peshawar, Imran Durrani, contacted DailyMuslims.com to help this person. Instead of posting the appeal on the web, I am sending you this appeal by e-mail. I am not in a position to help him individually; therefore, I am requesting financial contributions from all kind and charitable people. Before this e-mail, I inquired of independent sources, and they confirmed the case was genuine. I realize that, in this age of fraud and unscrupulous predation, it is important to investigate such requests. Do you know the best Wazeefa (or Azkar) to save yourself from any chronic disease? Help the sick people by all your means -financial assistance, time spent in prayer, and compassionate support. If anyone is interested in helping the patient directly, I can provide the contact. I will either send the collection of your money from Canada directly to his family or will ask Helping Hand or ICNA Relief to deliver this money to the patient (considering the convenience and your consent). Move quickly to save his life. The saying goes, Justice delayed; justice denied. Here we can say, Relief delayed; relief denied. Time is a matter of life or death in this case. E-mail me, Jawed Anwar, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or contact me at (1-647) 500-9676. Jawed Anwar Editor Publisher
Bismillah [IslamCity] what is Aqeedah?
What isAqeedah? Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen in Sharh Lam’ah al-I’tiqaad Praise be to Allaah. Aqeedah refers to those matters which are believed in, with certainty and conviction, in one’s heart and soul. They are not tainted with any doubt or uncertainty. The Arabic word ‘aqeedah stems from the root ‘aqada, which conveys meanings of certainty, affirmation, confirmation, etc. In the Qur’aan, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): Allaah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths (bimaa ‘aqqadtum al-aymaan)… [al-Maa’idah 5:87] The verb paraphrased here as deliberate oaths is ‘aqqada/ta’qeed, which refers to when one has determination in the heart. It may be said in Arabic, ‘aqada’l-habl (the rope was tied), i.e., it was pulled tight together. The word i’tiqaad (belief) is also derived from this root, and has the meaning of tying up and making strong. The phrase a’taqadtu kadhaa (I believe such and such) means: I am convinced of it in my heart; this is a rational conviction. In Islam, ‘aqeedah is the matter of knowledge. The Muslim must believe in his heart and have faith and conviction, with no doubts or misgivings, because Allaah has told him about ‘aqeedah in His Book and via His Revelations to His Messenger sal’lal’laahu alaihi wa sallam. The principles of ‘aqeedah are those which Allaah has commanded us to believe in, as mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allaah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers. They say, ‘We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers’ – and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).’ [al-Baqarah 2:285] - and as defined by the Prophet sal’lal’laahu alaihi wa sallam in the famous hadeeth which describes how Jibreel came to him and asked him about Islam etc.: Eemaan (faith) is to believe in Allaah, His angels, His Books, the meeting with Him on the Last Day, His Messengers, and the Day of Resurrection. So in Islam, ‘aqeedah refers to the matters which are known from the Qur’aan and sound ahaadeeth, and which the Muslim must believe in his heart, in acknowledgement of the truth of Allaah and His Messenger. www.islamicknowledge.co.uk __ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html
Bismillah [IslamCity] The art of war
The Art of war: John Hoyland: Blood on the canvas, by a modern master John Hoyland has been called Europe's answer to Mark Rothko. On a visit to his London studio, esther walker discovers why the celebrated painter has turned to Robert Fisk of The Independent for inspiration in his latest artworks I borrow anything from anything, says the artist John Hoyland. I'll borrow from other people's work, nature, flowers – anything. In his latest exhibition, Greetings of Love, Hoyland borrows from a more unlikely source, perhaps: a photograph of blood-spatter on the floor of a hospital in Lebanon, accompanied by a piece, about the 33-day conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel in 2006, by The Independent's Robert Fisk. I've always liked Robert Fisk's writing and I admire him. I thought the piece that he had written was rather moving, and I looked at the photograph that went with it and it looked just like one of my paintings. The piece, published in August 2007, was a reflection on the previous year's war in Lebanon and, in part, a review of the book Double Blind by the Italian photographer Paolo Pellegrin. Pellegrin's picture, taken in Tyre's main hospital, shows a large splash of blood on the black-and-white tiled floor of a hospital; the victim had been badly injured in an Israeli rocket attack on 6 August, 2006. I hate wars, reads Fisk's piece. I was thinking this over as I pawed through Double Blind, from which these photographs are taken. Its terrible, rage-filled, blood-spattered pages are an awful memory to me of last year's war in Lebanon. It began on my birthday – my 60th birthday – when a dear friend called me up and told me what a terrible birthday I was going to have, and I asked why, and she told me that two Israeli soldiers had been captured by the Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and I asked Abed, my driver, to head south, because I knew that the Israelis would bomb across Lebanon. And I was right. The resulting work by Hoyland is a powerful, richly coloured image, with the artist's trademark layers of thick paint, rivers of colour running down the canvas, and his nerve-cell-like central focus. But Hoyland insists that the piece is not deliberately political. I don't see Lebanon as a political piece, although the title would indicate that. I was simply struck by the constant threat to people living in the Middle East and the sheer horror of the things that happen. I suppose my sympathies would always be with the victims and the underdog, so I suppose in that way it is political. Lebanon is part of a wider exhibition inspired by loss. Both Patrick Caulfield and Piero Dorazio, both artists and close friends of Hoyland's, died in 2005 and Greetings of Love is, in part, a farewell. He has referred to the paintings for Dorazio, Poem for Piero, and Caulfield, Souvenir for Patrick, as letters to friends and elegies. I spend a lot of time looking for structures and looking for things to hang a painting on, says Hoyland. You've got to have a structure otherwise you'll just paint chaos. But at the moment I'm in this thing where I'm not painting sexy or structured pictures, I'm just surprising myself with what comes out. And I've done a lot of paintings recently that, without thinking about it, turn out to be about loss. Hoyland, now 73, is regarded as the leading abstract artist of his generation, and is sometimes referred to as Europe's answer to Mark Rothko. I don't think he would have liked that comparison, says Hoyland, laughing. I knew him a little bit and he didn't really like other people following him at all. Hoyland is part of a band of post-war Mod Brit artists such Albert Irvin, Alan Davie and Bridget Riley who , after briefly falling out of fashion, have enjoyed a recent return to popularity. Last year Davie sold a work for £234,000, and Hoyland's bright creations have been selling for £50,000 each. . V C War and conflict are a subject close to Hoyland's heart. National Service was scrapped the year that Hoyland was due to be called up. I was lucky that I never had to confront that. I would never have gone into the forces if I had been called up, even though some of my contemporaries seem to have enjoyed it. And the whole purpose of becoming an artist is to be an individual; the idea of going somewhere and being given a number and doing everything you're told doesn't appeal to me. I just don't go in for all this shooting people who you don't know; it sounds crazy to me. The war in Iraq, Hoyland feels, was similarly inexplicable. I've always been 150 per cent against the war, the folly of it and the lack of wisdom on behalf of our leaders. I mean, they might be smart people but they've got no wisdom. They're just like smart lawyers. But I'm older than them so maybe that makes a difference. Hoyland was born in Sheffield in 1934 and attended the Sheffield School of Art and then came down to London to study at the Royal Academy school of
