Do Gods Die?- Michael Jackson’s Death

By Zaythoun Suleman- What do Man in the Mirror, Heal the world, Thriller, Bad and Billie Jean have in common? Yep, MICHAEL JACKSON. Many of us awoke this morning with the news that the “King of Pop” had a full cardiac arrest and died last night.

Many of us received and sent texts late last night about his death. As the news travelled around the globe, fans and the general population were and still are in shock. Michael Jackson is dead!

At the age of 50, the life of the man who many of us grew up with ended. He was a son, father and brother and loved by many others around the world.

He was due to tour London in a couple of weeks with tickets sold out within an hour of the opening. People were still hoping to get in to see him even if it meant paying £1000 a ticket.

Many people will have many different memories of the child star that began his career at 5 years old, whilst most children were playing. His songs and dancing influenced much imagination. The moonwalk became the in thing as was wearing one sequinced glove and pants revealing glittery socks underneath.

As the news of his death spread, many of his followers gathered outside UCLA hospital and his home. Many in total shock and disbelief that such a thing had happened.

Why has it been such a shock? Why is it hard to believe?

When I received a text at 11pm last night, I thought it had to be wrong until I saw it on the news. I questioned why I was shocked as death comes to each and everyone of us, so why should it surprise me so much… Did I believe he could not die? As this thought occurred to me, I realised Allah swt speech “Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon – To Allah we belong and to him we shall return”

In the morning, I told my sons what had happened. To which one of them replied, “People thought of him as a God, but he died like everyone else”

Before I began practicing, his words from his song “Man in the mirror” influenced me! Many will remember the lyrics “I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways and no message could have been any clearer, if u wanna, make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change. You gotta get it right whilst you got the time…”

And “Heal the world; make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race…” He sang many influential songs.

Many say that Michael Jackson died as a Muslim. The Daily Mail dated 21st November 2008 reported Michael Jackson had reverted to Islam and had changed his name to Mikaeel but Allah knows best.

If this is the case. May Allah swt grant his soul ease after such a hard life and grant him the best in the Akhirah… ameen. When a person dies, he is remembered for what he has done in this life. Every one of us will leave an imprint on people’s lives, let us make a positive one in which we will be rewarded in the Akhirah also Insha Allah.

Michael Jackson’s death to his followers reminded me of the death of Prophet Muhammed sallallahu alaihi salam many years ago.

When the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salam died, Abu Bakr radiallahu Anhu came out to the waiting crowd of Muslims and said “O people, If anyone among you worshipped Muhammed, let him know that Muhammed is dead, but those who worshipped Allah, let them know that he lives and will never die…

French President Sarkozy calls for burka ban- A Superiority Complex?

By Majed Iqbal-Not enough with banning the headscarf from government institutions and buildings including schools, colleges and universities, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy sparked off deeper controversies by calling for the burka to be banned.

The comments were aired in the first presidential address in 136 years to a joint session of France’s two houses of parliament where the French premier described the burka, a veil, worn by many Muslim women as part of their Islamic attire as a “debasement” of women – and not welcome in France.

He added: “In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. The burka is not a religious sign. It’s a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement”.

“I want to say it solemnly; it will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic. We find it intolerable to see images of these imprisoned women when they come from Iran, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia.”

MEP Chris Davies from the North West added more fuel to the fire when he stated that the burka does not belong in 21st century Britain.

“In my experience, the burka acts as a mask, reducing identity and discouraging women from developing their own skills and personality.”

Europe has witnessed rising rates of intolerance against minorities which have most often been ascribed to right wing parties. However, many statements like the French Presidents have signaled a very fine line line between right wing parties and ‘mainstream’ ones in Europe especially related to tackling Islamic and Muslim related issues.

According to a survey of global opinion released in September 2008, it found that more than half of Spaniards and half of Germans said that they did not like Muslims and the figures for Poland and France were 46% and 38% for those holding unfavorable opinions of Muslims.

The survey mentioned “Opinions of Muslims in almost all of these (European) countries were more negative than are views of Jews,” analysts said. While Americans and Britons displayed the lowest levels of anti-Semitism, one in four in both countries were hostile to Muslims.

Despite the French premier glossing French Secular values as the ideal for any society, a quick track record at Frances record towards women is one worth considering before embarking on the debate of treatment of Muslim women.

According to 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices report, there was a 21 percent increase from 2006 to 2007 in the number of women killed by their spouses in domestic violence disputes (from 137 to 166) whilst current figures have shot to 400 a year. Approximately 38,000 women are raped each year in the country.

Sarkozy was keen to highlight how secular values must be the benchmark for France and seemed to gleam at the achievements made in France in ensuring equality for all.

However, despite laws which require that women receive equal pay for equal work the 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices report highlighted that there was a gender pay discrepancy of around 25 percent. According to a 2007 survey by the government’s statistical agency, fewer than 20 percent of private sector executives were women, despite comprising 58.5 percent of the public workforce.

French women comprised approximately 50 percent of cabinet ministers in the government and were generally underrepresented in the legislature and in other levels of government leadership.

The War on Terror has now re-defined its focus to addressing what are acceptable Islamic ideas and practices and what are not such that Muslim women are now being questioned on even their dress code and role in Society.

The unprovoked debate of the burka to be brought into the limelight only once again serves to show the efforts in the last years in many European countries actively pursued by governments to force feed secular values to Muslim communities which themselves are questionable and open to scrutiny and debate. Hence Sarkozy confirmed this when he said

“I tell you, we must not be ashamed of our values, we must not be afraid of defending them.”

It seems that the French Premier was towing a similar tone like the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi did in 2001 when he cited that “Western civilisation is superior to Islamic civilisation”.

The French Premier talked about “Debasement” of Women who wore a burka but has yet to answer for the divide in gender opportunities, sexual harassment at the workplaces and the rising rates of domestic violence that are carried out by men against women in France to this day.

Will you be my Valentine.....Please?

By Majed Iqbal- It's that time of the year again when the Majnu's of this world- yes that Aashiq crowd whose diet consists of a Bollywood movie a night come out and confess their love to ‘the one'.



Yes, were talking about Valentines Day when romance is in the air and a day on which postal services are jammed with delivering cards and letters, or playing the role of a 'cupid', forwarding messages of 'true love'.

Youngsters will be making Valentine's cards, and lots would be collecting money from their pocket money to buy gifts for their so called loved one. And there is that air of anticipation and anxiousness of receiving an anonymous card from a secret admirer!

At schools, colleges and Unis people boast about the number of admirers they have. It's all about the ratings game! So the more you have the bigger the player the lad is or the more ‘pulling power' the girl has. Others will be hiding their faces with humiliation in the realisation that nobody showed any romantic interest in them.

So what's the harm in all this some may ask? After all, is it not a day for girls and guys to indulge in a bit of fun?

Austrian Family Horror- A case for 'normalisation' of incest?

By Majed Iqbal- "They appeared normal, just like any other family," Guenter Prameiter, who runs a bakery just down the street, said. "They had a swimming pool in the garden. We would hear them [the children] laughing, the three of them," said a third.

These were the comments raised by neighbours describing the Austrian father who kept captive his daughter Elisabeth, now 42, in three windowless underground rooms ever since she disappeared in 1984.

The news of the Austrian man who imprisoned his daughter and fathered a hidden incestuous family having seven children with her has left people speechless in the country. Police described the revelations as "one of Austria's all-time worst crimes" and Guenther Platter, the country's Interior Minister, called it "unfathomable".

While we all ponder on the details of the horrors unveiling in the house over the years which have been graphically described in press and Television stations, it is of paramount importance that we all take a step back and evaluate our thoughts and responses on this story.

"I'm a Bimbo girl- In a Bimbo World"

By Yasmeen Ahmed- Why couldn't the blonde bimbo add 10 and 7 on a calculator? She couldn't find the 10 key. A bimbo is walking down the street with a pig under her arm. She passes a person who asks, ''Where did you get that?'' The pig says, ''I won her in a raffle''.What are the blonde bimbo's first words after 4 years of college? 'Would you like fries with that?'



'Bimbo' ....a word used to describe an 'attractive, clumsy, easy, airheaded' female. She is often seen as a dumb blonde and bears the brunt of numerous jokes in society (as highlighted above). And a 'bimbo' doesn't have to be blonde, Oh NO!! As long as a woman/girl fits the general description, then she can be classed as 'a bimbo'.

So, is it ok and acceptable to us that women are given this degrading label? And, what if young women out there actually aspire to become 'a bimbo'? It's a very disturbing thought, isn't it?

A new web game named Miss Bimbo was launched in the UK just a couple of months ago. Players taking part in the beauty contest simulation game are challenged to become 'the hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo ever'.

Divorce- Celebrity Style !

By Majed Iqbal- What started off as love in the air leading to tying the knot has now evolved into hatred in the air and tightening the noose! The Heather Mill's divorce battle over Sir Paul McCartney's reputed £825 million fortune to be decided by a High Court judge has caught attention nationally in the media and reached out world wide to audiences.



March 17th, the date set for the ruling on the epic divorce has been perfect in providing gossip material over an issue which has become part and parcel of celebrity lifestyles that we are bombarded with on a daily basis through cable, Sky, and jazzed up celeb mags.

Nobody seems to really care less at what is happening in the lives of celebs with their miss-fit marriages as long as it makes good reading and allows hardcore gossip addicts to feel that they are in the lead with what's "hot or not" in their circles giving them somewhat a false sense of leadership.

Heather, who is representing herself, is expected to repeat sensational allegations that Paul was abusive and violent after drink and drug binges and is believed to be demanding £50 million.

Schwarzenegger- Its only a leaf!!

By Majed Iqbal- Hollywood star turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger is once again in the news. But this time ,not for his handling of the fire-rage sweeping away in his constituency but for defending something from his past. The actor turned Governer suggested that cannabis is not a drug. Schwarzenegger was pictured smoking marijuana in his 70s bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron.

But he said in an interview: "I didn't take any drugs. “When told that he had admitted to smoking marijuana, Mr. Schwarzenegger replied: "That is not a drug. It's a leaf." Mr. Schwarzenegger seems to share similar experiences with Tory leader David Cameron, who met recently to discuss green issues and who also like Schwarzenegger refused to comment on his stint with drugs during his university life. This may explain Schwarzenegger’s position on refusing to condemn politicians who took drugs, saying it was not necessarily a matter of public interest.

"A politician's job is to do what's best for the people and to improve the country, the economy, the environment. Why should I care if a politician takes sleeping pills every night so long as he can do his job?"

The SAD SIGHT of Muslim Youth during Ramadhan (Rochdale)

By Mohammed Imran

Asalaamualaikum, I am sorry to have to share this with you during the blessed month of Ramadhan. While doing security outside Neeli Mosque I was thinking it has been a quieter a time this Ramdhan in regards to misbehaving youth especially after the Gang fighting from last year but then I read something like this.

"Jean Ashworth has slammed Rochdale Police following a call she made about a group of between 30 and 40 Asian youths she witnessed smashing a car up on Woodbine Street on Sunday evening (30 September).

The car had been abandoned in the street two weeks ago and Councillor Ashworth had reported it last week when there was very little damage to it other than a dent on the drivers side. However, the car was still in the same place when she took her grandson home last night and she saw that the front window had been smashed.

Later in the evening she witnessed youths running down the road hurtling bricks through all of the windows, she immediately telephoned 999, and was given a log number, and went outside to hear the youths saying they were coming back to "torch it" at 9.15pm. Councillor Ashworth telephoned 999 again and asked for an immediate police response as the large gang were "really intimidating".

The SAD SIGHT of Muslim Youth during Ramadhan (Rochdale)

By Mohammed Imran

Asalaamualaikum, I am sorry to have to share this with you during the blessed month of Ramadhan. While doing security outside Neeli Mosque I was thinking it has been a quieter a time this Ramdhan in regards to misbehaving youth especially after the Gang fighting from last year but then I read something like this.

"Jean Ashworth has slammed Rochdale Police following a call she made about a group of between 30 and 40 Asian youths she witnessed smashing a car up on Woodbine Street on Sunday evening (30 September).

The car had been abandoned in the street two weeks ago and Councillor Ashworth had reported it last week when there was very little damage to it other than a dent on the drivers side. However, the car was still in the same place when she took her grandson home last night and she saw that the front window had been smashed.

Later in the evening she witnessed youths running down the road hurtling bricks through all of the windows, she immediately telephoned 999, and was given a log number, and went outside to hear the youths saying they were coming back to "torch it" at 9.15pm. Councillor Ashworth telephoned 999 again and asked for an immediate police response as the large gang were "really intimidating".

Councillor Ashworth said: "It was a really frightening situation, I stood outside as my car was parked opposite. Two police officers arrived and were quite shocked to see the large number of youths and also the amount of damaged caused to the car. I expressed my concern and asked if the car would be removed, they said they didn't know and had to wait for instructions from headquarters.

The officers left the scene at 10.25pm without any confirmation the car would be removed.Councillor Ashworth said in response: "I am furious at the police, the car should have been removed."

Then again maybe I should not be surprised as I also see in the mosque youngsters being kicked out because they misbehave during Tarawih. They claim then they have nothing else to do so it leads to activity like vandalism and fighting. Unfortunately this does not show us in a good light. While we sit in the mosque praying Tarwih outside our youngsters are causing havoc. You may say I am being over dramatic and this is just a one off case or even a slur just to make us look bad. Personally I believe there is a problem.

Is it not our duty as Muslims to work towards a better society starting with building a better community. How can we do that by letting this go on. There is an idea which I do have to say was discussed in a few circles last year but nothing ever accounted from it. Street team during Tarawih time. This would involve a number of small groups of brothers walking and driving around their respective local neighbourhoods. Milkstone, Deeplish, Newbold, Wardle, Spotland. By doing this as a start we can be looking after our neighbourhood by having a presence. More importantly we can also engage with those who are walking around. By speaking to the young brothers who are walking around we can chat to them about what's going on, what they are doing and what others are doing.

Who knows this little bit of Dawah could help them and in turn help our community. Maybe this can be trailed in the last week of Ramadhan this year and if it works we can fully implement next year. I would rather this happen than the police to get involved and leave the youngsters with nothing else than a record and an ego.

The RHYS JONES Tragedy

By Majed Iqbal- It was Wednesday night, 22nd August, when the mother of 11-year-old Rhys Jones cradled her dying son in her arms after he was shot on the streets of Liverpool by a youth who rode past on a BMX bike. One of the bullets hit Rhys in the neck, one hit a car and another missed.



The murder comes in the latest series of killings of young people this year. The Liverpool boy was the seventeenth young victim of gun crime in the UK this year. Other high-profile cases include 18-year-old Nathan Foster, a youth worker who was shot in the street in south London earlier this month and 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu, who was shot in Peckham, also in south London, in February.

Nearer to home, on Friday 24th August, a 20-year-old woman attacked by a gang of youths in a park in Rossendale, Lancashire, died in hospital. Lancashire police charged five teenage boys, aged between 15 and 17.

An inquest into the killing of Jessie James, 15, who was shot dead in Manchester last year, heard he was killed because he refused to join a gang.

THE CASE OF RHYS JONES - Preventing "Violent Extremism"?



By Majed Iqbal

It was Wednesday night, 22nd August, when the mother of 11-year-old Rhys Jones cradled her dying son in her arms after he was shot on the streets of Liverpool by a youth who rode past on a BMX bike. One of the bullets hit Rhys in the neck, one hit a car and another missed.

The murder comes in the latest series of killings of young people this year. The Liverpool boy was the seventeenth young victim of gun crime in the UK this year. Other high-profile cases include 18-year-old Nathan Foster, a youth worker who was shot in the street in south London earlier this month and 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu, who was shot in Peckham, also in south London, in February.

Nearer to home, on Friday 24th August, a 20-year-old woman attacked by a gang of youths in a park in Rossendale, Lancashire, died in hospital. Lancashire police charged five teenage boys, aged between 15 and 17.

An inquest into the killing of Jessie James, 15, who was shot dead in Manchester last year, heard he was killed because he refused to join a gang.

The spate of Youth crime this month has topped the agenda for media, politicians, Government, community and faith leaders and sparked off a huge debate in wider society on the origins, impact and repercussions of such behaviour currently looming in our communities.
Gordon Brown said the killing was a "heinous crime" that had "shocked the whole of the country". He said: "The people responsible will be tracked down, arrested and punished."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith reassured the public that the issue of gun crime was still her priority after conceding to the fact that there were too many guns on the streets.

Already there have been a number of opinions as to what the causes of these crimes were and how they should be tackled. From alcohol abuse to social deprivation, poor education to difficult home lives and from single parent families to poverty. The Cheshire chief constable, Peter Fahy blamed cheap alcohol and its availability to young people for youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Other commentators went as far as proposing military service for youth with behaviourial issues, following the model from some states in America where the Army participates heavily during School hours to inculculcate discipline and respect of authority.

While the government has been hell bent on tackling ‘extremism’ and ‘Islamism’ as ‘major threats’, real and pressing issues like youth crime, which have been making regular appearances for years on end have been left sidelined. The government has been more interested in playing the ‘Politics of fear’ game with Muslims, with its bullying line whilst neglecting another form of violence which has been more catastrophic than the attacks by militant criminals on UK soil.

Surely, the Brown government should be re-considering in investing the £5 million for tackling ‘Violent Extremism’ to gang, gun and crime culture for youth? If violence on the streets of Britain and protecting its citizens is the governments principle and foremost role then the £32 million pathfinder fund dedicated for next years project on tackling ‘Violent Extremism’ surely should be re-invested to the current crime phenomenon amongst youths?

Perhaps Ruth Kelly and new Communities minister Hazel Blears should roll out a new curriculum for local community centres and schools to tackle the radicalization of youth towards gun crime?

Are the demands too far fetched?....... and don’t serve political Capital in the current climate?

Rhy jones, a young lad described as “a very good footballer, a lovely and funny kid” will be remembered by all of us, sharing in the grief of the loss of life of an innocent child caught victim to a ruthless crime culture.

It seems that our concern as Muslims for the sanctity for life, wherever this maybe or whatever the background of the victim, is more sincere than those put in charge of looking after society.

Men want more family time



By Majed Iqbal

Men are increasingly yearning for a better work-life balance and want their partners to share the role of breadwinner so they can spend more time with their children, according to a survey published today. Male Magazine FHM commissioned a study, questioning 2,000 men around the UK with an average age of 30 about their views on Work life, equality and family.

Surprisingly, findings showed that men feel women have now changed their minds and want to go back to old roles. Half of men with a baby or young children say their partner "now wants him to earn enough so she can be a full-time mother", while 38% say their partner wants them to earn enough to allow her to work part-time.

Another study, published yesterday by the government's digital information and advice service Directgov, found that almost a third of UK parents feel their greatest stress is not spending enough time with their children.

The studies conducted highlight an attempt to understand the pressures being faced in modern British Society in tackling changing gender roles, achievement of both career goals and fulfillment, and a happy family life.

In a society modelled on commercial gain and the principles of benefit, both men and women are viewed as an economic product. The value of a person rests upon how much can be sucked out of each individual to generate wealth regardless of their gender.

It is therefore understandable why the Labour Government introduced a ''National Childcare Strategy'' in 1998 to provide thousands more child care places that would provide the mothers a place to leave their children while they pursued their careers, providing financial benefits such as the working families tax credit to make childcare more affordable.
T
his in itself creates problems expressed in the survey where 40% of those with children aged seven to nine, could not reconcile Britain's long hours working culture with family responsibilities, affecting both fathers and mothers equally.

The juggling of responsibilities for males and females has resulted in a number of problems within western societies. It has caused a strain on marriages and increased divorce due to the limited time the husband and wife spend with one another and with their children.

Even after 30 years of championing equality, women's rights, shared responsibility in the UK only 4% of judges are women, 11% are managers, and 2% of FTSE 100 directors are women.

In a book by Lisa Belkin called ''Life's Work: Confessions of an Unbalanced Mom'', she writes, ''Not a one of us seems to be able to give 100% of themselves to their job and 100% of themselves to their family, and 100% of themselves to taking care of themselves''.

Such ideals, values and visions are harmful for society and individuals and should in no way be a standard for Muslims. Islam provides its own solutions which create vibrant family structures, a source of happiness and tranquillity, and a bright future for children.

It is high time that the host population and government consider deliberating over Islamic ideals rather than continuing to force the Muslim community to integrate with a set of values which has been damaging to its own social fabric.

Allah (swt) says: ''And wish not the things in which Allah has made some of you excel others. For man is allotted from what they have earned, (and likewise) from the woman there is allotted from what they have earned'' [An-Nisa: 32].

Men want more family time !

By Majed Iqbal- Men are increasingly yearning for a better work-life balance and want their partners to share the role of breadwinner so they can spend more time with their children, according to a survey published today. Male Magazine FHM commissioned a study, questioning 2,000 men around the UK with an average age of 30 about their views on Work life, equality and family.



Surprisingly, findings showed that men feel women have now changed their minds and want to go back to old roles. Half of men with a baby or young children say their partner "now wants him to earn enough so she can be a full-time mother", while 38% say their partner wants them to earn enough to allow her to work part-time.

Another study, published yesterday by the government's digital information and advice service Directgov, found that almost a third of UK parents feel their greatest stress is not spending enough time with their children.

The studies conducted highlight an attempt to understand the pressures being faced in modern British Society in tackling changing gender roles, achievement of both career goals and fulfillment, and a happy family life.