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I opened The Independent this morning to find a photograph of someone I once knew staring back at me. An entire decade has passed since we last set eyes on one another, but this article by Johann Hari brought memories flooding back. Not because his article resonated with me, mind you, but because his narrative [...]

Who said Muslims were pacifists? I have never heard a Muslim say such a thing. In fact, the only religious community I have encountered personally who take an anti-war stance are the Quakers. My father is now an Anglican priest, but his passionate faith did not prevent us from spending our childhood climbing all over tanks, artillery and fighter planes at military museums and air shows.

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not your lusts lest you swerve, and if you distort or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do.”

This weekend I intended to tidy my study, which is indisputably the messiest room in our house. Unfortunately, as often happens, I soon found myself side-tracked from the task and absorbed in reading a document that had no obvious place amongst my piles of bills and letters. It turns out it may not have been the most appropriate reading material for a Sunday afternoon, because now imagined images keep flashing before my eyes, causing me to weep.

Two Muslim authors have told us today that we must not condemn the terrorist atrocities carried out in India yesterday: Umar Lee argues that American Muslims should not condemn them and Yusuf Smith that Western Muslims should not. They both argue their case effectively and I can see where they are coming from, but I [...]

Quote: “I am rather getting tired of the deafening silence of an immense majority of British Muslims when it comes to condemning terrorism.” Deafening silence? What, do we each run newspapers that have a daily circulation of 7,800,000 like The Sun? Or do we have access to an audience like BBC Radio 1 (9.8 million [...]

As Robert Cottage from Colne, Lancashire, finally goes on trial at Manchester Crown Court, pleading guilty to possession of explosives, Home Secretary John Reid is set to address Christian children about looking for the tell-tale signs of extremism in their parents. Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron, came under fire last night for his call [...]

Eleven people have been charged in connection with an alleged plot to blow up several transatlantic airliners. If this was their plot, can we then be in any doubt about the mess we are in? If the allegations are true, there is now an even greater need to make the fatwa against the targeting of [...]

Defending The Transgressed By Censuring The Reckless Against The Killing Of Civilians

Apparently the loss of British life is only a tragedy if it is a means of scoring points against Islam. If ever we are unfortunate enough to mention our faith or to walk to the mosque for prayer, our socialist companions remind us that Muslims blew up three tube trains and a bus in London [...]

If only we dwelled on this. Would there then be any of this chaos? In the Name of God, not in my name or your’s. If we reflected, would men of religion cut down innocents with explosives, thinking their deeds are good?

It is a manifestation of the dignity of man that Islam has placed an infinite value on human life.