The D-8 Group
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By Assad Bhuglah
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In 1997, eight leading Islamic countries with similar development levels, including Turkey, founded the Developing Eight Organization (D-8) to improve their respective positions in the world economy, create new opportunities in trade relations, become more influential in international decision-making mechanisms and raise life standards. Twenty years ago, a shared vision motivated the leaders of D-8 countries to establish this organisation to promote cooperation in the key areas of agriculture, industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, trade, transport, energy and tourism. However, the progress achieved so far falls short of their expectations.
Blindspot!
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Hadith Forgery
History and Context
7. Careless Religious Zeal
Another category of fabricated hadith is associated with the religious zeal of individuals whose devotion to Islam led them to careless ascription of hadith to the Prophet. This is illustrated by the forgeries committed by one Nuh bin Abi Maryam on the virtues of the various suras of the Quran. He is said to have later regretted what he did and explained that he fabricated such hadith because he saw people who were turning away from the Quran and occupying themselves with the fiqh of Abu Hanifa and the battle stories of Muhammad bin Ishaq and that he did so as part of carrying out hisba, that is promoting good and forbidding evil, and that he "lied for the Prophet and not against him". This is considered as one of the worst forms of forgery as it almost succeeds to be convincing and becomes difficult to isolate. Numerous other names occur in the relevant literature, including those of Ghulam Khalil and Ibn Abi Ayyash of Baghdad, who were both known as pious individuals, but who invented hadith on devotional matters. Other examples of this kind include the so-called hadith that "the superiority of Rajab over other months is like the superiority of the Quran over other speech, and the superiority of Shaban over other months is like that of mine over other Prophets, and the superiority of the month of Ramadan is like that of God over His servants."
The Prohibition
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Al-Baqara (The Cow) Sura 2: Verse 219 (partial)
"They ask you about wine and gambling. Say: 'In them both lies great sin, as well as some benefit for humankind; but the evil that they cause is greater than the benefit which they bring.'"
The Quran repeatedly moves from soaring expressions of spiritual verities to details of mundane human behaviour. A full appreciation of our relationship to God is, as the Quran has been saying from the very beginning, found in how we act upon and live out God consciousness in all the aspects of our daily life. Worship is expressed not just in prayer but also in how we deal with mundane activity. It requires finding the right balance in all our activities, not being intoxicated with our self-interests or passions, but being ever mindful of the need for clear and sober judgement so that we apply the moral and ethical guidance of the Quran as far as we are able in even the smallest aspect of our lives.
What is the outlook for trade agreements post-Brexit
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By Assad Bhuglah
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The post-Brexit is hinging on a cloud of uncertainty. It is not clear when the UK will kick off trade negotiations with its different partners. It is also not clear how the UK will accommodate its trade regime with EU or how many trade agreements it can negotiate in parallel with the rest of the world. There is no indication how the UK will re-define its trade relations with its Commonwealth constituency. Then, it is too early to pronounce on what could be the final position of the British population once the Brexit fever has cooled down.
Read more: What is the outlook for trade agreements post-Brexit
From darkness to brilliance: confronting depression and loneliness
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Read more: From darkness to brilliance: confronting depression and loneliness