Waves of independence in Europe
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By Assad Bhuglah
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The European Union is regarded as a union of diverse territories. The progressive expansion of regional identities as a response to European integration acts as the main trigger of demand for regional autonomy. Europe faces the dilemma of how best to redesign its institutions towards more unity whilst maintaining its diversity of preferences and needs. Many areas in Europe have strong secessionist movements (e.g. Scotland, Catalonia, Basque, Flanders, Veneto) or have political parties agitating for greater ruling autonomy. Britain's vote to leave the European Union is almost certainly one of the most seismic political events in the Western world in the last couple of decades. While Britain leaving the EU is undoubtedly the biggest split ever witnessed in Europe, there are movements across Europe that could end up physically separating entire nations.
Known and Unknown
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At various places in the Quran and in different ways goodness is referred to as maruf (known), meaning that which is generally known. And evil has been called munkar (that which is unknown). In other words, vice is that which by instinct is unfamiliar to mankind. The innate nature (fitra) of man prompts him on what is wrong. Regardless of how many sins mankind may have committed or how many times they may have been involved in wrongdoing or in creating false philosophies, a vast majority of people never accepted established goodness to be evil, or evil to be good. The universal good has been recognized everywhere at all times. Collectively, the nations of the world have never agreed to a premise of accepting good to be evil or vice versa.
Human Deeds
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Al-e-Imran (The House of Imran) - Chapter 3: Verse 195 (partial)
"... a reward from the presence of Allah and from His presence is the best of rewards."
The Kurdish Conundrum
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By Assad Bhuglah
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The Kurds constitute the largest ethnic group without a country in the world. Between 25 and 35 million Kurds inhabit a mountainous region straddling the borders of Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia. They make up a sizable minority in a number of Middle Eastern nations, comprising about 10% of the population in Syria, 18% in Turkey, 15-20% in Iraq, and nearly 10% in Iran. Though they make up the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East, they have never obtained a permanent nation state.
Healthy Relations
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Ali Ibn Abi Talib reported, "When I took possession of the weapon of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, I found in the hilt of the sword a parchment saying, 'Keep relations with those who cut you off, behave well towards those who treat you badly, and speak the truth even if it is against yourself.'" [As-Saheehah of Abu Amr Ibnus Sammak]