On “death penalty and chopping of hands”...

Just thought of adding my bit to the public debate on this ‘hot’ topic...

By the way, I have nothing to say to the secularists and those against the Shariah out there...

No body with even a little bit of knowledge on Islamic Shariah will deny that the whole purpose of the Shariah is to bring justice and harmony to the people. Islam preaches justice and at the same time, compassion, and Allah Almighty is the Most Just and Most Compassionate. Thus the ‘penalties’ (which, by the way, only represents a tiny fraction of the whole Shariah) are prescribed to attain this.

I do not think President Nasheed spoke against this basic truth of Islamic Shariah. As far as I understood, he was not sure that the Maldivian Judiciary is in a state to implement the Shariah penalties as they should be implemented.

Having said that, the President, being the highest authority on Islam in the Maldives as per the Constitution, could have (or rather, should have) addressed this matter in a more responsible and sensible way. He could have expressed the importance of bringing the Judiciary up to the standard required by the Islamic Shariah, as it is of utmost importance to do so in an Islamic state.

The MPs and the Judicial Service Commission have got a gigantic task on their shoulders to make sure they truly live up to the oaths they took in the name of Allah Almighty to uphold Islam...

The University Bill – could not be any worse!...

The bill on the establishment of the Maldivian State University is now at the ‘Committee stage’ after being unanimously accepted at the Majlis last week. I just wanted to express very briefly, my views on this bill and how the MPs addressed the bill as a whole. I would also like to mention that these views are not just mine, but of several Maldivians, who have tried in vain to get this very important bill taken out of the Majlis and re-drafted so that it would form the foundation for the establishment of a truly visionary and successful university accepted at the international stage.

A group of Maldivians, led by Professor Hassan Ugail, discussed on this issue and we contacted several MPs before this bill was discussed in the Majlis and conveyed to them (by phone and email) some of the very basic yet important questions that the MPs need to ask amongst themselves and in the Majlis. I would like to mention just one of these important questions, which was: “would the MPs send their sons and daughters to this university for education if they have the means of sending them abroad?”.

The answer would, for sure, be a big NO!

The current state of the bill has no vision for the future. Its foundations are totally wrong. It is utterly unviable in terms of growing into a university that would become internationally acceptable, that could make us satisfied and proud of sending our children to that university.

The university should be established so that it could cater for the domestic market (which is estimated to be a maximum of about 2500 students) and the international market, with a long term vision in which in, let’s say, 15 to 20 years time the university will be a vibrant and attractive international academic institution with a strong research base. In the long run, it could thus be one of the main sources of income to the country, may be in the same scale as that from tourism! (As a matter of fact, thinking in the long term, it is really unwise that the government is quite extensively focusing on just one main industry, i.e., tourism, as the source of income to the country!).

There is no reason why the university cannot be built on such strong foundations that can reach such high targets; since they are achievable. However, it requires sincerity to the cause, sincerity to bring prosperity to the people of the country. But the reality, I’m afraid, is quite clearly the opposite of this! The MPs do not care at all about these things! (You could easily see in the Majlis what they care about; they would shout at each other, stand on the tables, and walk out of the Majlis etc when things they care about are discussed!)

The whole issue of establishing the Maldivian State University seems to be nothing but a means to gain short term political benefits (both by the ruling and opposition parties)!

Sad, in deed, is the situation!...

A plea to President Nasheed...

As an ordinary Maldivian I would like to sincerely plea to President Nasheed to take all measures to prevent the spread of the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants in our country.

If the President does otherwise, he would be just following the footsteps of his predecessor in intoxicating further our youth!

The overwhelming majority of Maldivians are Muslims and we do not need 'windows' to be created in the form of laws and regulations that allows alcohol and other intoxicants to be allowed into places where we normally live. If someone wishes to run a business in such places, targetted at tourists and other foreigners, then he/she should abide by the religious and cultural norms of the people in that place.

The rights of the majority of the people should not be overlooked and disregarded in favour of fulfiling the desires of a few individuals...

The statehood of Israel: is it a political or a religious issue?

Actually I do not have much time to write in length about this very important issue that has become ever more relevant to our people. However I just thought to highlight this issue on the statehood of Israel, since President Nasheed has said, on his return from the UN trip, that the problems regarding Israel are “political issues between Arabs and Israel”.

Just wanted to pinpoint that Israel, when it was established it was to give a so-called ‘homeland’ for the JEWISH people. It continued to expand since then in order to give home to the JEWs, and it is even now defying the UN resolutions and international laws and ever so fiercely and inhumanely killing innocent women and children and tearing down the house of the residents of Palestine and increasing the settlements to give homes to the JEWISH families.

Israel has always played the ‘jewish’ ticket to increase its foothold in the Middle East. Thus as long as it operates within the ‘jewish’ dimension it is a religious issue. This problem, thus surpasses all national, political or geographical boundaries, and inevitably brings the people of other religions such as Islam and Christianity into the picture.

Thus for President Nasheed to seemingly brush aside this reality of a “JEWISH state”, which the current Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition government so openly and emphatically push forward, is a bit naïve to say the least.

For President Nasheed and his Foreign Minister and the senior people of his Party this may be a political issue, but for the ordinary Maldivian on the street it is very much a religious issue. And it will remain so, so long as the Israeilis operate within that religious dimension…!

By the way, how ironic it is, that the moment they stop operating within that religious dimension, the very existence of the State of Israel would almost definitely, come to an end…!

What a pathetic situation...!

Isn't it shameful that the MPs, who are being given so much of our money every month whilst 40% of the population lives below poverty line, are totally irresponsible and show total indifference to the national priorities of the people whom they are representing?

It seems that out of all the crucial and urgent issues that our country faces and need to be urgently addressed, the top most priority for the country at the moment is to secure all sorts of luxuries for former presidents! (The bill in the parliament assigns from our money a totally outrageous sum every month to former presidents and prevents them from being prosecuted if they were not charged whilst in power).

If this is the most important thing that some of these MPs think that needs to be given topmost priority, then it is not just shameful, but totally pathetic that they have the audacity to do that!

The public needs to become fully aware of the political 'games' that are being played at the expense of our public and national interests. Without an informed public there is not much hope for a 'cleaner' democracy being established in our country...!

Ramadan Mubaarik!

I would like to wish all believing Maldivians a happy and blessed month of Ramadan. May Allah Almighty give us the ability to observe fasting the way our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) taught us, so that we attain 'Taqwa'.

Let's welcome the holy month of Ramadan with happiness and peace and make the best use of this opportunity to purify our souls!

Bilal Philips to visit Maldives!

Just thought of highlighing the event being organised by J-Salaf for 8-9th August at Alimas Carnival, with world renowned Western, English-speaking Islamic scholar Dr Bilal Philips, who is scehduled to give a series of talks.



I hope the opportunity will be used well in addressing critical religious issues the Maldives is facing, such as that of religious extremism and anti-religious "groups" or "movements".

I believe the arrangements will be made such that people will be able to talk to him and ask their questions and get answers from him. Thus, it is an excellent opportunity, I think, for every one who is sincere in gaining knowledge and following what is right and leaving aside what is wrong.

More information: http://www.thecall2009.com/