After two years of restrictions, Muslims were looking forward to performing Hajj but the Saudis have imposed new restrictions especially for pilgrims from North America, Europe and Australia. We have long argued that Hajj administration should be taken out of Saudi control. They are not the owners of Hajj and unfit to run its affairs.
June marks another anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s departure from this temporary abode to join heavenly company. In bringing about the Islamic revolution, he challenged the global order imposed by the victors of the Second World War. It has revolutionized people’s thinking worldwide.
After a hiatus of two years because of restrictions imposed by the worldwide pandemic, Quds Day rallies are back this year.
Despite US bluster, America and NATO regimes are not about to send their troops into Ukraine to fight against Russia. The reason? Russia is a nuclear power and NATO forces would trigger a third world war. The lesson is clear: being a nuclear-armed state deters would be aggressors.
We in the Crescent International are proud to mark an important landmark: 50 years of publication despite great difficulties. We thank Allah and our small but dedicated list of supporters. That Crescent International is the only international Islamic English language magazine in the world today is reflective of the sad state of journalism in the Muslim world.
During the pandemic at least 160 million people have fallen into poverty but the billionaire class, all of them Americans except one, have increased their wealth and have turned into trillionaires. This is not the result of being smart; they manipulate the system to their advantage.
By erecting another wall, this time around the already besieged Gaza Strip, the Zionist regime merely reveals its weaknesses. If the Palestinians have not been subdued by military might, how can a wall, albeit a hi-tech one, can subdue their spirit of resistance and yearning for freedom?
British home secretary, a Hindu extremist and Zionist, has declared even the political wing of Hamas as a “terrorist” organization. Hamas heads a duly elected government in Gaza but for Ms. Priti Patel, that is not good enough. She is doing her Zionist masters’ bidding.
Muslim unity is a Qur’anic command although unfortunately there are some Muslims that have fallen into the trap of sectarianism and has caused much damage to the Ummah. Disunity among Muslims has also given an opportunity to predatory powers to destroy many Muslim countries.
Barring the defeated powers (US, NATO and India), the rest of the world wants peace and stability in Afghanistan. If Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours put their heads together and coordinate policies, peace is not only possible, it is highly desirable.
The lightning speed and peaceful way in which the Taliban took control of the country, including the capital city Kabul indicates their brilliant planning and wide support among the masses.
Unlike distant powers, Afghanistan’s neighbours, especially Pakistan, Iran, China and Russia have a huge stake in a stable and peaceful country. They should assist the Afghans to come to a suitable arrangement in which all ethnic groups are represented and do not feel alienated.
Islamophobia is a global phenomenon. It is also the last respectable form of racism. Even in a country like Canada that prides itself on being multicultural, Muslims are attacked and murdered in cold blood. Unless Islamophobia is declared a hate crime, Muslims will continue to suffer and die.
Despite inflicting horrific damage on Gaza and killing hundreds of innocent civilians the Islamic resistance movement in Palestine was able to change the equation by forcing the Zionist aggressors to sue for ceasefire. The Islamic resistance has created a new reality.
Islam considers giving in the way of Allah and feeding the hungry and poor as meritorious act especially in the month of Ramadan. There is, however, another aspect that most Muslims have not paid attention to: the reasons for poverty and the need to alleviate it.
While it is well known that global spending on weapons is extremely high, in the last five years this has reached a staggering total of $1.92 trillion. The US leads the world in military spending with an annual budget of $732 billion, far out-spending its nearest rival China at $261 billion.
There is much talk about how to save the Iran nuclear deal. There is a simple solution: the US must lift all sanctions illegally imposed on Iran when Donald Trump walked away from the deal in 2018. Joe Biden says Iran must take the first step. That is a non-starter; he must snap into reality.
A new (even if rather old) face in the White House has led to the mistaken belief among some people that the US would return to normalcy now. Apart from some cosmetic changes, America’s policy of belligerence, militarism and exploitation is unlikely to change.
The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the worst nightmares for most people. Will the year 2021 be any different? We look at some possible developments.
The year 2020 has been disastrous. It started with the US assassination of General Qassem Solaimani of Iran and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis of Iraq. On November 27, Dr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated. In-between Covid-19 has ravaged societies. Can it get any worse?
