Dr. Hasan Yahya Writings
Part Two: Samples of English Writings
Arabs and Muslims and race
relations in the United States of America
Hasan Yahya, Ph.D
The
history of race and ethnic relations in the American (U.S) society show that
perfect understanding among the diverse groups of the American society is far
from achieving in spite of the fact that serious attempts have been made to improve
race relations. The development of minority group
assimilation to the mainstream American society from Americanization through
the melting pot and finally to plurality of cultures still persist in
the literature of race relations. These developments varied in the volume of
racism, discrimination, and stereotyping. Even though, theoretically speaking,
it might be thought for a while that America is free of these practices against
Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Jews, Women, aged people, mentally ill or
disabled, gay and lesbians, and of course, Arabs. It might be thought also that
for a while that all African Americans (over 30 million) belong to fancy Cosby
Show family or Michael Jackson group. But reality is something else.
In this
article, contributions of Arabs to world culture are described, as well as
perception of Westerners in general, and Americans in particular of Arabs and
Muslims as a minority group. Arabs like Jews are Semites, that’s to say, their
language belongs to the ethnic family of languages. Few
number of scholars recognize that between the 8th and 12th
centuries, while most of Europe was in the throes of barbarism, the Arabs kept
a light the flame of Western civilization. To them belongs the unique
distinction of having the culture of the east as well as that of the west. From
China, Arabs introduced the papers to the West, They
furnished the language of science. In Mathematics, Arabs created and improved
system of numerals, and developed the mathematical use of the ZERO. They made
important contributions to the science of astronomy, music, alchemi, and
geography. In Medicine, they classified the pulmonary circulation of the blood,
distinguished between smallpox and measles, established psychological treatment
to mentally ill persons, and found the curative uses of many drugs. In
Chemistry, they learn to dissolve metals to ART, Literature, Architecture, and
Philosophy. They preserved many ancient manuscripts, study them and write about
them. As a consequence, Arab scholars were well versed in Aristotle three
centuries before the churchmen became acquainted with most of his books and
philosophy. Arabs created intricate forms of versification and wrote poems of
exquisite beauty. They produced numerous works of literature criticism, wrote
voluminous histories, and made innumerable translations.
Above
all, Arabs established one of the great religions of the world. Its unifying
power is attested by the fact, that although scattered and separated by
allegiance to various political states, they are in the very real sense ONE
nation of Islam. With all these contributions, Arabs and Islam in the
perceptions of westerners including Americans have negative meanings and almost
always used with little respect and appreciation. Is there a lack of knowledge
about Arabs and Muslims? Or is there a lack of interest in Arabs and Muslims?
Or is there an international neglect to a great people and great religion? The
British writers, Peter Mansfield in his book, “The Arabs” tells a story of
Americans in ARAMCO schools. Students were asked some questions to test their
knowledge about Arabs and Islam like: Who is the Arab? What is Islam? And Who is the Prophet Muhammad? The answer was that the
“Arabic” is a Bedouin wearing a “djellabia” (a long piece dress), carrying an
old pistol (or dagger), a camel jockey, in his way to attack his neighbors.
About “Islam” their answers were as follows: Islam is a luck game like bridge;
Islam is mysterious faith created by the KKK in the United States south. Islam
is an American Masonic organization, its members wear
strange dresses. About the Prophet “Muhammad”, the answers were no less humor,
Muhammad is the author of one thousand and one night, Muhammad is an American
Niger, and Muhammad has something related to mountain. Peter Mansfield
commented on such answers by saying: “It is obvious that these answers were
indications of ignorant persons who wanted to cover up their lack of
knowledge.” Films produced by Hollywood almost always portray Arabs in negative
terms. They are either “extremely wealthy” “barbaric and backward”, or “sex
maniacs”. These myths can be depicted from Valentino’s “the Cheik” through
Goldie Hawn’s “Protocol”. In “Lawrence of Arabia”, Arabs were depicted as
backward, divided, cruel, cowardly, decadent people, and back sappers. Many
critics think that is the way most Americans still think of them.
On
television entertainment, viewers are regularly treated to “Patently racist
caricatures of Muslims”. As one put it: “villains in todays’
“TV movies are likely to be Arabs when they are not South American drug lords,
inscrutable rich Asians, Nazi like Europeans or corrupt like Wall Street
financiers.” (Smith 1991) Some writers in the United States began show
injustices practiced against Arabs and Muslims, for example, Ostrow, a
free-lance writer describes these stereotypes as part of a
simple shorthand to let audiences know who was in charge, who was
subservient, and who was the villain.” In 1991-2, reports from the Middle East
rarely treated the Arabs as people with families who worry about their
children’s future or their environment. Arab deaths were discounted by the
government and repeated by the media as “collateral damages”. The Arab point of
view in many instances, was left out of the story.
This may be overstatement, but this is a complaint worthy of reflection. To
conclude this article, the writer is optimistic about the future of race
relations in the United States, but not sure about Europe, (France, Germany,
Spain, England, etc.,) Because the American public as I interacted with it, is
open to new experiences, eager for information, and knowledge about other
cultures especially Arabs and Muslims. It is this openness which give us the hope to communicate for more understanding among
the diverse groups of the American society. American policy- makers as well as
the public are more apt to deal with minority groups on the grounds of justice
and human rights slogans. I believe that if these slogans were applied equally
to the diverse cultures of the American society, including Arabs and Muslims,
then education, awareness, interaction, and communication will increase
reciprocal positive area of misconceptions. As a consequence, the area of
compromising may be enlarged to give more chance for peaceful resolutions of
race relations and conflict.
Book Review: Middle Eastern Tales
55 Stories 4 Kids - Arabic Version, Author: Hasan Yahya, Ph.D, Createspace-Amazon (2008) $18.99.), 116 p. (Ages 3 – 12).
When a highly educated person write about a serious subject
for kids, we
all should benefit from his/her insights.
Prof. Yahya tops his books with this one which reflects some of his
knowledge about best stories to make children learn and think to build certain
ethics. Culturally the book presents various faraway lands stories, in simple
Arabic language, to be used by parents and grandparents to narrate before
sleeping, or any time of the day. A good gift for familial
occasions. Families with kids from 3 to 12 years of
age.
The
author starts with The crow and the
Duck, the Frog and Ox, the hare and the Tortoise tales and ends with and his Dog The Hunter, and The Fox and the Grapes tales.
With this book, Yahya makes an important contribution to the development of a planetary consciousness so needed in these full of stress times searching for kids stories. Our children need literature to make their imagination travels easily and smoothly in the dream lives of the actors of the stories. The stories are fables collected and written in simple Arabic language to be read by parents and grandparents to their love ones. May be the most story telling appealing for kids. Professor Yahya in this book, is very influential in his style of narration.
In his introduction Prof. Yahya described his purpose of writing the stories. He writes: “I have decided to do something in my old age, I tried to write the fable tales for my grandchildren to tell them before or after sleep. I collected anecdotes, first from what my grandma was telling me about in my childhood, even though she was illiterate, like my grandpa, who used to tell us stories when he was in the army, at the beginning of the twentieth century. Their tales still wandering in my imaginative side of my brain. Other tales I remember from my school curriculum, in my second to fifth grade. I also included tales from far away lands, like China, Persia, Rome, Africa, and my-now-country, the United States. The literature is almost full of great writers, politicians, and teachers, who give examples when they talk or wrote, or describe, or explain. It is a wise method to use, to make people wonder, and begin to apply some ideas or thoughts to those who cannot-for any reason, mentally, or physically-understand. It is the wisdom, old and new, in these fable tales, and anecdotes, which force me to write this number of fables and tales. I believe, literate, illiterate, or even highly educated anywhere on earth are in serious need to learn in order to live in peace.”
I agree with the writer, in his sincere feelings working toward learning to promote peace in this world. In general the book was published twice in a short period. (493 words) www.dryahyatv.com
Eid al-Adha: A Great Occasion for Muslims
Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.Ds
This article is written for Muslims and non-Muslims for knowledge and understanding between cultures. After reading this article, you will gain some knowledge about a misunderstood Islamic occasions, sometimes among its followers. Yes, a lot of them think that this Eid is so cruel to sheep and is so uncivilized. Because they did not know the reasons for this Eid,Or they do judge the act from the outside. It’s just an invitation to take a deeper look on the occasion.
1. Eid al-Adha is one of the two main occasions for Muslim to celebrate. The
occasion is to share those who went for pilgrimage to Makka each year. Almost
about three million people gather each year to perform the fifth principle in
Muslim Faith. After Shahadatayn, prayer, fasting and giving alms or Zakat.
Muslim have to eat meat (Sheep, Cows, and checkens, are legal, but pork like in
the Jewish faith is illegal).Eid Al Adha, means the “Fest of Sacrifice”.
Muslims celebrate it in remembrance of the story of prophet Ibrahim. As you
know God tests us all the time. And God wanted Ibrahim to prove his strong
belief in him by checking if he’d do anything for the love of God. So God asked
him to kill his own son, which is something impossible normally, and which was
so harsh on Ibrahim, but still he chose to fulfill God’s will and sacrifice his
son. But the minute he was about to kill his son, God replaced the boy with a
sheep to be killed instead of the boy as a reward for his strong belief,
proving once again that God tests people’s faith but is never willing to hurt them.
2. Eid Al Adha is an occasion to remember God’s mercy and the devotion and
faith of the believers. It’s an occasion to share the poor and give them a
chance to eat meat that they can’t afford. If you can afford buying a sheep,
then never forget to donate as much as you can for the poor, this is the spirit
of Eid Al Adha, it’s not about showing off nor stuffing yourself with different
meat dishes. And make sure you use appropriate places for the purpose of
slaughtering, and streets aren’t the place for sure. Yet the difference between
what God asked us to do and what people are actually
doing is what destroyed the balance of nature. God asked us to be good to other
creatures, care for them and when we need them, we should do our best not to
hurt them. You shouldn’t cut off the leaves of a plant for fun, you shouldn’t
burn it and you should use it in a gentle way. Just like animals, you shouldn’t
torture them and you shouldn’t use them in a bad way. So no negative use, but
you can still use them. “I will not eat meat. I don’t want to have Mad Cow
Disease”, anyone who says this has the right to be scared, but the problem
won’t be solved that way. We wouldn’t have got Mad Cow Disease nor Birds’ flue
or any other animal disease if we took the right precautions before eating
their meat. And God has created us all to live together and improve. Animals
eat plants and other animals and sometimes humans. And Humans eat plants and
animals and some plants eat other plants and insects and live on the rest of
dead bodies. We’re all created as a natural circle and practice loyalty to God.
To justify this point, many people might not be satisfied with this argument,
but it’s serious, actually a lot of normal people test others’ loyalty towards
them in different ways. Men test women’s love, women test men’s loyalty, kids
test their family's appreciation, friends test each other’s trust… etc. Some
ways could be reasonable like for example a father asking his son to stop
smoking to show his love for his dad, or a mother asking her little girl to eat
all her dish to prove her love for her mom. And some are silly, like a woman
asking her husband to sell the dearest thing he has just to prove his love for
her. Or a guy asking a girl to forget about the whole world and run away with
him to a new place where he has no life and no future at all, just to prove her
love for him... But the difference between God’s
testing and people’s testing is that God just tests and isn’t waiting for
things to actually happen, and God rewards without you even doing the thing.
God wants nothing in return. But people, we ask, we want things to be done our
way, and then we’re just “pleased”. No rewards but a “thank you” that might not
even come from the bottom of the heart.
3. Eid al-Adha is an act celebrated to please God and have His forgiveness, no matter what logic behind it. Some people believe as animal friends and call for the rights of animals and all, when they actually aren’t any different from those who eat animal meat. It is a fact, that we all eat, some eat everything, some eat only vegetables, or fruits or serials. The thing is when you eat vegetables you are eating living creatures as well. And if something doesn’t have eyes nor legs, or if it doesn’t have a mouth, that doesn’t mean it’s dead! Plants are alive, they have souls, they have families, a grand tree, a baby plant … they’re just like all other living creatures.
4. One more point I have to explain here, concerning some words describe meat in the super-markets such as “Halal” meat. It means it was slaughtered following Islamic instructions, which are: taking a healthy animal (sheep, cow, chicken..), then saying: “In the name of God the Merciful” to it (yes you should talk to it to calm it down and show respect to its soul as well as mercy for its body) and then quickly cut a certain vein in a certain point in the neck. And if you make a quick research you’ll find out that it’s the best way for both the animal and the human, why? For the animal because it’s so quick, and hits the point where pain is felt the least, so it doesn’t hurt the animal at all, opposite to using electric shocks and stuff which leaves the animal suffering before it’s dead. And good for the humans because this cut vein releases excess old blood (following scientific pressure rules) leaving the body with only pure fresh blood that was newly generated and that will be easily took out of the body while cooking. Oh, and last but not least, the released blood should be cleaned away. (1150 words) www.dryahyatv.vom
Muslims
Around the World
Muslims
these days from Westerners point of view, are causing fear and despair among
them, especially after 9/11 attack on the United States of America. However,
Muslims exist in almost every country around the globe. A total of more than 400 million
Muslim live outside the Muslim and Arab countries. In China for example,
Muslims consists over 110 millions, in India over 100 million, and in the
former Soviet Union live more than 50 million Muslim.
In the
Western nations, however, numbers of Muslims are much less. For example, In the
United States the estimated number is between 3 and 10 millions. In France, over 4 millions, in Germany the
number exceeds three millions, and the United Kingdom
over three millions. (Yahya 1991)
Muslim
organizations in these countries were supported largely by Saudi Arabia, the
nationalist organizations were supported by Jamal abdul Naser of Egypt, and
Muammar al-Qaddafi of Libya in the early years, nonetheless, Organizations were limited to follow
their supporters and sponsors. In other words, they become irrational
organizations with no room for liberal to take part in these organizations. The
traditional way of dealing with these organizations, in my opinion, is totally
direct Muslims toward sharp divisions as
conservatists-authoritarianists-fundamentalists, and
liberalists-democratic-secularists. I
think, the sharp division was not only among Muslim
organizations, but between Muslims and non-Muslims as well. And that is the
problem. If liberals were called (non-believers, and Kafirs) according to first
division (especially the fundamentalists), what would be the non-Muslims. It is
worse than kafir, in their opinion.
Does this
situation changed through the years, the 9/11 tells us, that the fundamentalist
were more active than secularists. This situation can be perceived in the Arab
and Muslim nations. Mosques and local everyday practices ,
are dividing people in the same community. If the lack of rational and liberal
organizational practices continue to disappear fro the political and social
systems, instability, disorder, and conflict are expected to rise. The
temporary political regimes wanted from the beginning that traditionalism to
continue, for a simple reason, if people have democracy, justice and freedom of
political participation, they will force change in the political arena, and
expel many rulers from their thrones.
Unfortunately, even
though the appeal for social and political change is a global one, the
liberalist Western countries promote the opposite. They stand with these
temporary leaders for their common interest. But how long this will
persist? Change is coming, slowly,
perhaps, but it is coming. Theories of civilization and nation decline and
history are the best to tell.
Islam, and Muslims in North America
In large measure, we are what
our loyalties are: Loyalties to a family, to a tribe, a caste, a class, a
neighborhood, a religion, a nation, an ideology, or more realistically, a
combination of many of these.
(Cantril, 1976, p. 15)
In this study, the writer examined the role of religion in formulating
people’s opinions and investigated satisfaction among members of a particular
religious institution. The review of related literature and research represents
an attempt to draw together certain key ideas concerning factors that influence
the satisfaction of Muslim organization members. Included in the first section
are a discussion of Islamic beliefs and practices and a historical background
of Muslims in North America . Related organizational
theories are discussed in the second section, The
third section covers research on life satisfaction and contextual
variables. An integration of the three
preceding sections concludes the chapter.
Islam and Muslims, Historical Background
The Muslim World today can be linked to an eagle. Its body is the Arabian
peninsula (from South Yemen in the South to Turkey in the North), and its two
wings represent the east Asian (from Pakistan to
Indonesia) and the African Islamic nations - mostly Arabs- (from Egypt to
Sierra Leone).
Whether or not this description is accurate, it is useful in dividing the
Muslim nations into three Units in terms of their geographic
characteristics. Later in this book, we
will cover these characteristic in detail.
In terms of religion, in the last part of the sixth century, an
illiterate Beduin Arab renewed what was forgotten of the religion of Abraham,
Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus and created through the revelations contained
in the Qur’n the social rules and laws of equality, brotherhood, and justice.
Muhammad (pbuh), son of Abdullah and A’minah, was the successful pioneer for
social change. His qualifications were simply revelations from Allah (swt). The
revealed message was called the Qur’an, and the new religion was named Islam,
the religion of God.
Muslims, therefore, took their name from their religion and not from
Muhammad, the messenger of God. Some orientalists have erroneously called
Muslims “Muhammadans” and called Islam “Muhammadanism” (Bib, 1953; Goldziher,
1988,; Schacht, 1950).
Explaining this point further, Crag (1975) stated:
The great Arab-born monotheism
of Asia and Africa is unique among faiths in being denoted by a term that is
also common name. Hinduism takes its
name from a land and a river, Buddhism from the meaning of a founder figure, Judaism from people,
Christianity from the concept and achievement of “the Messiah.” Islam which is
never properly called
“Muhammadanism” differs
from all of these. (p. 5)
To understand the unique role that Islam plays in the Muslim’s life, it
is necessary to explain some important terms and principles of the Islamic
Faith. The basic Islamic beliefs and practices are discussed briefly in the
following section.
Islamic
Terms, Islamic Beliefs, and Practice
1. Islamic Terms:
Allah Akbar: God is the greatest
above all.
Qur’an: The collection
of the laws revealed by God (SWT) to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the
angel Gabriel Al-Rouh Al-Amin(the Honest Spirit,
PBUH). It explain everything (Q 12:111), and everything is clear in it (Q
44:3); it overlooks nothing (Q 6:38).
Sunnah: The way of the Prophet (PBUH), his sayings,
his practices, and his approved acts.
Halal: Legal
activities as fixed in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, to be practiced by Muslims in
their everyday lives.
Haram: Illegal
activities as fixed in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, to be avoided by Muslims in
their everyday lives.
Salah: Muslim prayer
performed five times a day, individually or collectively.
Friday prayer: A
weekly noon prayer, its condition to be performed collectively with traditional
steps; otherwise it is performed as Thuhur (noon) prayer.
Hajj: Pilgrimage,
performed once in a lifetime of every physiologically, psychologically, and
financially able Muslim. The Hajj is performed by visiting the Holy Ka’abah in
Makkah, with special arrangements of dress and acts.
Seyam: Fasting (29 or
30 days) in the month of Ramadhan, when Muslims avoid food and drink from
before dawn to sunset.
Rebaa: Charging
interest without sharing profits and losses; it is prohibited by Islamic law.
Bida’h: Innovation in
the religious sense is bida’h (heresy) and something generally bad. It is the
opposite of the sunnah, or path, which is the way of
the Prophet (PBUH) or his community of Muslims.
SWT: Acronym for Allah
usually used after the name of Allah (SWT). Literally “Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala,” meaning “Praise the Lord.”
PBUH: Acronym usually
used after the mention of any of the Prophets (uhammad, Moses, Jesus, etc.,[PBUH]. PBUH reads in Arabic, Salla Allahu Alayhi
Wasallam,” which means “Peace Be Upon Him”.RAA:
Eman: The belief in
GOD, his messengers, the Day of Judgement, and al-Qadar, (the fate), whither it
was good or bad.
Taqwa: the highest stage of Eman
Surah: One condenced
group of Ayat in one surah. The total of Sura’s in
Qur’an is 114 .
Ayat: Verses of the
holy Qur’an spread in the Sura’s. Some are short as one letter, others extended
to many lines.
RAA: An acronym that follows the mention of the Prophet’s companions and
family; it literally reads “Radhia Allah Anhum,” meaning “Allah is pleased with
them.”
2. Islamic Beliefs and Practices,
Some fundamentals of the Islamic belief are explained in this sction to
help understand the group under investigation in this study. Islam means the
act of submitting or resigning oneself to God. A Muslim is one who submits
himself to one God, Allah. The basic belief of Muslims is to witness Allah as
only God and Muhammad as the apostle of Allah.
The six articles of faith, as revealed in the Qur’an, are as follows:
belief in Allah, His angels, His apostles, the Day of Judgement, and His
predestination of good and evil. Five obligatory practices are mentioned
generally in the Qur’an and explained specifically in the Sunnah, the written
words and actions of Muhammad. These practices are:
An individual is considered a “true Muslim” or believer if he/she follows
the above practices in everyday life and follows the rules of Allah and His
Prophet, as written in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Historical Background of Muslims in North America
In 1955, Italy celebrated the five hundred anniversary of Columbus’s
birth. A fair displayed his belongings, which included an Arabic book by
Al-Sharif al-Idrisi, an Arab Muslim geographer, which is said to be what
inspired Columbus to seek the New World. The first nation in the world
officially to recognize United States independence was Morocco, an Arab
country, in 1787 (Mehdi, 1978)
Oman was the first Arab Muslim nation to have trade relations with the
United States government; a trade treaty was signed by Sayyed Said and the
United States in 1834. An Omani ship arrived in New York in 1940 to deliver the
first cargo of goods (Mehdi, 1983).
The first African Muslim group came to the United States in 1717.
Religious words such as “Allah” and “Muhammad” were circulated among the
Arabic-speaking slaves, and a refusal to eat pork was identified with specific
names like Omar, Ben Ali, and Ibn Sa’id (Mehdi, 1978)
In 1856, five Muslims (two Turks and three Arabs) came to the United
States to care for a cargo of 33 camels brought from Arabia to serve the
nations’s army in the Southeast. One of these Arabs became well-known by the
nickname “Hadji Ali,” which later became “HI Jolly” (Makdisi, 1959; Mehdi,
1969, 1983).
The literature on Muslims in North America showed that beginning of Islam
was made in 1887 by an American convert, Muhammad Alexander Russell Webb. The
American Consul in Manila, who embraced Islam and established an office in New
York City called the Oriental Publishing Company. In
1893, the first issue of Muslim World appeared (Makdisi, 1959).
Ross, North Dakota, is the earliest recorded place where Muslims
organized for communal prayer in private homes before a mosque was built in
1920 (Mehdi, 1978). The group later was completely integrated in the host
society, and in 1948 the mosque was abandoned. The first recorded attempt to
build a mosque in America was made in Highland Park, Michigan, 1n 1919. Latter
became a church (El-Kholi, 1966).
The mosque that was built in 1924 and still exists today was built in
Michigan City, Indiana. Other mosques were built later in such areas as
Detroit, Michigan (1922); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (1934), known as the mother mosque
(Mehdi, 1978); Washington, D. C. (1952); Toledo, Ohio (1955); and East Lansing, Michigan (1979)
On the local
level, Muslim associations and organizations were established in
many places. For example, an Islamic association was established in Highland
Park in 1919. Another association, the young Men’s Muslim Association, was
established in Brooklyn in 1923 (Haddad, 1983).
On the national level, the Federation of Islamic Associations (FIA) was
established in the United States and Canada by the efforts of Abdullah Ingram
of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, through a personal request to president
Eisenhower in 1952. The wave of Arab nationalism led to the creation of the
Organization of Arab Students (OAS). Unlike the FIA, the OAS leaders were
non-American-born Arabs and advocated nationalist and socialist objectives
(Haddad, 1983). The Arab Muslim Brotherhood and non-Arab Indo-Pakistani Jamaati
Islam formulated a new Association opposing the OAS objectives. On the first
day of January 1983, a new organization called the Muslim Student Association
of the United States and Canada (MSA) was announced (Haddad, 1983).
In 1982, during the twentieth annual convention of the MSA, a new name,
the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), was announced to integrate Muslim
efforts under the organization (Al-Ummah, 1981). ISNA has the following project
extensions: the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), a financial institution;
the American Trust Publication (ATP); the Islamic Book Service (IBS); the
International Graphics Printing Services (IGPS); and the Islamic Teaching
Center (ITC). ISNA also has three professional associations: the Islamic
Medical Association (IMA), the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS),
and the Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers (AMSE) (MSA, 1980).
The increasing number of students sent by oil-producing Arab countries to
the United States and the English language used by ISNA created the need for a new
organization, the Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA). Announced in 1977, this
association uses the Arabic language. Leaders of MAYA deny the claim of
nationalism in their association by using the Arabic language and explain that
language is Islamic, not nationalistic, because it is the language of the
Qur’an, and membership in the associations open to any individual (Arab or non-Arab) who wishes to join
(Rabitatu-Asshabab Al-Muslim Al-Arabi, n.d).
On the international organizational level, the
Muslim World League (MLA) was established in Saudi Arabia in May 1962. The
league has several objectives> Its main purpose is
“the defense of Islam against those who seek to destroy it, and the support and
development of Muslim communities around the world.” To achieve its goals, the
league has established several offices in many nations and in 1974 became a
nongovernmental representative of the United Nations. The influence of the MLA
on Muslim minorities around the world has been sound (Haddad, 1983).
Although no reliable statistics exist on the number of Muslims living in
North America, estimates range from one-half million to six million, depending
on the source and purpose for which the number is used (Lovell, 1973). In 1975
the consensus among Muslim leaders was that approximately three million Muslims
were living in America (Haddad, 1983). Because there are more than 400 mosques
and Islamic associations in the United States, it is likely that this
population estimate is reliable, particularly if nonresident students and visitors
are included in the figure. (p.25) In these days Muslims are much more than
that figure, a Muslim authority have estimated the number of
Muslims in North America (the United States and Canada) as more than ten millions, where the number
of Mosques increased to pass the one thousand figure.
To live
in America as a Muslim, and as an Arab does not differ much from other groups,
such as Blacks, Native Americans, Hispanics, or other minority groups. They
tend to follow the same trend of residency as groups, but they remained un united following their religious sects or national
origins. They almost all share the agony
of striving to be known as peaceful group, have certain rights and obligations
toward the American Society. But still stereotyping and name calling are common
even in the mass media, Films, Journals, etc., (See Dr. Yahya’s Article about
Arabs and Muslims and race relations in
the United States of America, presented in a televised conference sponsored by
Lansing Community College in 1991 about interfaith and race relations in the
American Society.
Beautiful Arabic and
Islamic Names
Hasan Yahya, Ph.D
Are you familiar with the meaning of names in the Arabic and Muslim cultures? If you are not here are some knowledge for you!. This article gives you some important information about naming in the Arab cultures in which also including Islamic names. There is no Arabic name without a meaning, something impressive. I mean it's really great to have a meaning for your name, something that is related to a special even your parents went through, or something precious to the one who called you. Having a meaning to your name adds a special touch and relates you to your being in a nice way. I find it a lot better than having a name without meaning. Old Arab names usually are two types of names: one type for boys and the other for girls. For boys names should carry some sacred names or animal names to show power and dignity like Asad (Lion), Fahd or Nimr (Tiger), Laith or Osamah, or Ghadanfer (alson a lion’s name), or some words reflect power as Saif (sword), shuja’ (brave), for girls some of the birds and small animals are good names such as Khansa’, Ghazal (dear), Asfurah (bird), or flower. like Warda, Yasmine, Zahra or Fulla; they could mean a good smell of flower, e.g. Areej or Abeer. There are names that mean the singing of birds, like Taghreed, or the voices of Pigeons like Hadeel. You find names that mean the name of a sword, e.g. Saif, Mohannad or Hosam; or ones that are the synonyms of one of the names a lion is called with (since in Arabic you can find more than one word to address one thing with the same meaning), for example: Laith, or Dorgham. Jameel: beautiful, Latif:Nice, lulu’ah is an Arabic name means a pearl, Masa:diamond, and Dana:pearl or a planet, like Qamar, Shams or Kawkab,; or even a star like Najma for her and Najm for him. There are names that mean a high level like Sana'a or Ola. You can find names that express a certain feeling such as Sahar, Gharam or Hayam. There are ones that show appreciation like Shokran, Rida or Irfan, ambition like Monia, Amani, Ahlam and many other beautiful characteristics like Jamil, Jamal, Lutfi, Karam, Jude or Baha'a. Some name express the light of stars, moon, and shining like Nour, or Diya'a for light, or Najm ( star or Qamar (Moon)., , or Najm (satar) or Naiem (Paradise).
Other than that there are people who are named after prophets' names such as Mohammad, Taha, Mustafa, which means the praised, or the selected, Ahmad: means I thank God for. Other names carry names of other Prophets such as: Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), Dawod (David) and Yahya (John the Baptist). Yunus (Jonah), Ibrahim (Abraham, Zakariyya (Zachery) or Jibreel (Gabriel) . Other names may describe the names of countries like Falasteen (Palestine) or Sorya (Syria), and there are the names of continents like Asia. Some names are actually the names of months, such as Ramadan, Sha'aban or Rajab. Or even names of days like Khamees or Joma'a. One other interesting thing about names in Arabic is the fact that there are 99 names for God. Each name has its own meaning that expresses a certain characteristic of God. Like Al Salam (peace), Al Rahman and Al Raheem (merciful), Al Mo'oti ( he who gives), Al Mohyi (he who gives life), Al Kareem (the generous), Al Mo'een (he who helps), Al Nour (the light) all these names are some of the beautiful ninety nine names of God in Islam.
By the way, there are names found like Kareem, Mo'een or Nour, that are without the "Al" which equals "the" in English, only few names can be used as names for people without using the "Al", for the "Al" is only used for addressing names of God. Some names are considered old, some are somehow modern, but it's sad to see a lot of Arabs start to give up their great meaningful names and use ones that come from other cultures and other languages, believing it would be cooler that way. My name for example is Hasan and Hussein which means nice (The names of Ali’s sons). It's used a lot, not a unique name, but I'm still proud of it .(The topic is a very interesting one, it needs more research and investigation) (775 words)
Hasan Yahya is a professor of sociology, an American Arab scholar, and columnist in several newspapers and Internet sites. He resides in Michigan, USA. He authored 20 plus books on sociology, psychology, poetry, politics, short stories in both Arabic and English. He also, published 170 plus articles. His webpage at www.hasanyahya.com
Principles of Books Review
Hasan Yahya, a Professor of Sociology
1. No Body is perfect, I believe. In writing books authors do not revise them because they have confident the reader finds his/her way to understand and criticize what s/he reads. A perfect work does not need criticism. As human beings, surely we can be any thing except perfect, with no mistakes or errors. On the same token, There are a hundred faults in my books, and a hundred things might be said to prove them, but it is needless to do that. A book may be amusing with numerous errors, otherwise it will be very dull without a single absurdity. The simple editing is dictation errors, or editorial errors. The worse in any book is the contradiction of ideas on the same topic.
2. To digest food, a stomach is required to enable full powers to do that. To a reader, however, s/he needs to enable his/her abilities, mentally and physically to grasp the meaning and visions of a book. A lot of ideas needs close relationship between the writer and the reader. When the writer writes, he has in his/her mind one thing, how to make the ideas reach the reader I its simplicity not in its hard meaning. Something analogous to this takes place with respect to the generality of minds, some understand the ideas whenever they pass before his/her eyes. Other some needs to read the idea twice or three times to grasp the idea and to where its meaning leads. Almost all readers are incapable of thoroughly digesting and assimilating what is presented to them in a very small compass. The rest may be capable of deriving that instruction from a moderate-sized volume,
3. It is necessary that the attention should be detained for a certain time on the subject; and persons of un-philosophical mind, though they can attend to what they read or hear, are unapt to dwell upon it in the way of subsequent meditation.
4. After grasping the whole book, the chapters organization is important to be shown accordingly as connected units to understand the whole book.
5. Praising the positive points in the book content and organization, some of the highlighted statement may be described as examples. If there are negative points concerning the content, organizations, is also recommended to be highlighted if necessary.
6. The documentation should be clear includes: the author or authors, the publication year, the number of pages, and the publishing house. The price may be also mentioned and compared with similar works.
Great Palestinian
Personalities Series
Edward Said
By: Hasan Yahya, Ph.D
In this series I will try to give an introduction to some great
personalities in the Palestinian History. There are many famous personalities
across time, but in later years personalities like Haidar Abdel Shafi and Dr.
Mustafa Barghouthi,
Ibrahim Dakkak, professors Ziad Abu Amr, Mamdouh Al-Aker, Ahmad
Harb, Ali Jarbawi, Fouad Moughrabi, legislative council members Rawiya Al-Shawa
and Kamal Shirafi, writers Hassan Khadr and Mahmoud Darwish, Raja Shehadeh,
Rima Tarazi, Ghassan Al-Khatib, Naseer Aruri, Elia Zureik and many others had a
great role in the Palestinian intellectual history.
I will begin here with Edward Said, after six
years of his depature of this world, He was a leading
Palestinian-American intellectual. He was University Professor of English and
Comparative Literature at
Said argued that Western writings on the Orient, and the perceptions of the East purveyed in them, are suspect, and cannot be taken at face value. According to him, the history of European colonial rule and political domination over the East distorts the writings of even the most knowledgeable, well-meaning and sympathetic Western ‘Orientalists’ (a term that he transformed into a pejorative):
“I doubt if it is controversial, for example,
to say that an Englishman in
Rashid Khalidi, in the earl I990s was teaching at Chicago, He "emerged "as one of the most
influential commentators from within Middle Eastern Studies." After my graduation from
Factors of Human
Development and Progress
in the Arab countries.
Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.Ds
Recently, the Middle East, especially Arab countries where concentrated in the news when it comes to conflict and terrorism? Is it because the Arab world is experiencing the highest rates of religious, sectarian and social violence? Or is it because it is changing to the regressive social change, in terms of human development and security? This article will try to answer these questions in sociological analysis.
Answering the questions may be direct to confess that religious mentality created political differences between groups as well as nations. And that policies to develop human security, physically and mentally is mismanaged by the status quo of traditional tribal governance, which is far from reasoning and critical thinking of moral rational justice. Indirectly, however, the second part of the direct answer, which describes the strong interrelationships between political tyranny and social injustice, which creates turmoil and conflict, on both personal and governmental levels.
Sociologically speaking, most Arab countries are governed by authoritarian [some totalitarian] systems, where social tension has a degree of dissatisfaction lead to conflict, unrest, and violence. Stability in this case cannot be legitimate in the face authoritarian governments. Arab regimes according to these totalitarian governments practice political arrogance (Saudi Arabia, Libya, Syria, Egypt, and other Gulf states for example,) dealing with social problems, using economic injustice, social oppression, and discrimination toward other nationalities, is a common cause leading to tension and rates of instability.
It is a fact that oil Arab countries have raised their income (whose revenue reached the nine billion Dollars a day, where $1.7 of which goes to Saudi Arabia), but still over seventy million Arabs live under the poverty line, for example, with less than $2 Dollars a day.
The recent Human Development Report (HDR) by the United Nations, there are almost 14 million people in Egypt alone, living under poverty line. Of these, four million do not earn their bread, while 20% percent of Egyptians own more than 80% percent of the national wealth. While this is close to the United States rates in wealth distribution, the United States takes care of it poor through social security and health care policies and benefits. Egypt is only an example, but it shares with the same case in many Arab countries, such as Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen and Syria. They all share authoritarian political system which lacks social justice, even though less rich than the Gulf States, In almost all Arab countries, corruption is becoming a typical behavior on both individual and institutional levels.
To sum up why social regression in the fields of human
development, is
taking place, and why human security as a slogan for HDR this year is
regressing. There are several factors may be noted here according to my previous
research on human development in the last 20 years:
1.
Women participation more (than
half of societies are handicapped in development in the Arab countries) In reality, it is much more than half. They are between 10
to 30% percent women participate in decision making other than traditional
family business? In addition, safeguard the rights of women is needed by
changing laws and attitudes which entrench gender-based discrimination. Women
in Arab countries have little access to justice and few possibilities of legal
redress when they are victims of violence. The increasing number of business
women is very weak indicator of progress in women participation, while in some
countries women illiteracy reaches 70% percent.
2.
Absence of the rule of law to guarantee
essential rights, freedoms and opportunities for political participation for
all. Where such absence of justice and secular rule of law is enhanced by faith
and religious beliefs as essential obstacles in the process of rule of law
development, socially, economically, and politically. Example, in six Arab
countries, there is an outright ban on the formation of political parties,
while restrictions on political activities and civic organizations in other
countries often amount to de facto prohibition. Almost all Arab countries lack
of civil rational society institution ruled by laws that respect human rights
away from religious belief. But most Arab states are far from this picture.
3. New rational approaches are needed to deal with problems (locally, regionally and globally) but prevented religiously, on the bases that “God gives, God takes,” where such belief depends on the other life imagination and status quo respect and fear. The real life where they live in, needs more than belief to build nations rationally and systematically, where both are not characteristics of religious belief.
4.
Causes of tension such as
inequality, injustice,
and political arrogance and emergency laws, should be replaced by a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being. For example unemployment among
the youth from governments is ignored, its rate is increasing, in some
countries reaches 40% percent. Taking into consideration population growth,
Arab countries will have to create 50 million new jobs by 2020 to accommodate
the anticipated workforce. The picture looks dim, with the status quo
unchanged.
5. Arsenal and arms accumulation swallow revenues of oil, and takes its toll of national revenues. In some cases danger is imagined from neighboring countries such as Iran and Israel, bribery by billions are paid for arms deals instead of searching rationally to solve social turmoil’s and tensions which lead to violence.
6. Ineffectiveness of human mentality concerning basic physical needs, like water, food, health, and environmental disasters, supported by the belief that God solves all problems should come to a holt. Humans are perceived as having no ability to change their future. This factor stands an obstacle as a rule. This is, unfortunately, a stamp of traditional totalitarian systems continuing to be ineffective dealing with daily problems.
7. Replacing theologian beliefs by secular intellectual reasoning is a must for the Arab countries to be succeeded . Such role is perceived as a disaster in traditional societies, to escaping mental powers of intellectuals and justice reformers.
8. The concept of nationality is mismanaged by internal and external forces. For example, citizenship is divided into one, two and three divisions where discrimination is practiced against non citizens in most Arab countries.
9. Population growth threatening the environment . The average number of live births per woman in the Arab region is 3.6 compared to a global average of 2.6. At this growth rate, the region is expected to be home to nearly little less than 400 million people by 2015, up from approximately 330 million currently.
10. Related to the above factor, sustainable resources for population growth needs institutions, enacting and enforcing laws, to integrate environmental concerns into development planning, and raising environmental awareness through youth education. Furthermore, desertification threatens about 2.9 million square kms , or roughly one-fifth of the total area of Arab countries. Meanwhile, natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate, as population pressures mount.
In conclusion, much of human development reports show these problems, but far short from implementing them without radical political change of authoritarian regimes, and religious approaches deal with secular issues. Traditional heirs of governments have to change, and give way to new generations believe in secularism and scientific development rather than traditional one. Arab countries should move radically to replace traditional idea of human development for the other life, forgetting the necessary life on earth. An idea was enforced in Europe three hundred years ago. Otherwise social progress and human security will continue to be in danger in the Arab nations. (1250 words) www.dryahyatv.com
About Philosophy
Philosophy is not a limited
doctrine, or a theory made by one person, or produced by one nation, It is a major subject covers human
thought in terms of Man and God on earth. The
soul and the body, the Church or the State. And therefore,
Philosophy is not an easy term to define. The best to answer the question: What
is philosophy? Was Bertrand Russell was the best to define philosophy. I will
summarize in the following lines. historically it means the
conceptions of life and the world in general.
Philosophy is a product of two elements: religious conceptions and
scientific reasoning. Bernard Russell
considers philosophy as “an intermediate between theology and science”.
(xiii) He termed it as the “No Man’s
Land”, From Theology, it
consists of speculations of matters of definite knowledge. From science, it appeals to human reason
rather than to authority-traditional or theological-. Therefore, philosophy is
the bridge between theology and science. In other words, The definite knowledge belong to science, and the
indefinite (the dogma) which surpasses definite knowledge belong to theology.
“The No Man’s Land,” is where the philosophers take place. They are attacked by
the two sides. What gives philosophy importance over both is, that philosophy
tries to answer, what science cannot answer, and to show that the confident
answers of theologians are no longer seem to be convincing, The philosophers believe in the mind and the
matter which compose the world. Certain questions belong to philosophy, such
as: what is the definition of mind and
matter?. And which is subject
to the other? Have the universe
any unity or purpose? What goals set forth for the universe? Are there laws of
nature? No answer in the laboratories for these questions, “Theologians have
professed to give answers, all too definite; but these answers cause modern minds to suspect. The studying of these questions, if not the
answering of them, is the business of philosophy. Bertrand Russell continues to
explain the answers from historians point, “ever
since men became capable of free speculation, their actions,
…… have depended upon their theories as to the world and human life, as
to what is good and what is evil.”(xiv) In order “to understand an age or a nation,
we have to understand its philosophy, and to understand its philosophy we must
ourselves be in some degree philosophers.”
Philosophy as distinct form
from theology, began in
Greece in the 6th century B.C.
Its second great period began in the 11th to the 14th
centuries. It was dominated by Catholic
Church. The third period Russell described was from the 17th century
to present time. Which is dominated
exclusively by science while traditional religious beliefs remain important, but
felt to need justification. Few of the philosophers of the last
period were orthodox from a Catholic standpoint, and the secular State is more
important in their speculations than the Church.
Individual liberty and Social
solidarity were in continued conflict in all periods. For example, in Greece,
the loyalty to the city State
was the grounds for social cohesion. In that period Christianity popularized
the opinion that God’s duty is more important than the duty
to the State. As Socrates and the Apostles
said:” we ought to obey God rather than Man.”
During the period of darkness,
the second period between 5th and 11th centuries, the
conflict between duty to God and duty to the State took a new form. It became a
conflict between the Church and the ruler. The secular power, however, was in
the hands of kings and rulers as Barons. The king had to share his power with
feudal aristocracy. Armed force was under the king control. But the Church was
still victorious by monopolizing education in the absence of kings fighting
each other. And the belief that Church
still possess the power.
The role of Church was representing order in place of anarchy. Later,
some numbers were for different reasons at variance with the Pope. For
example, Frederick II,
invented a new religion, represents the extreme of anti-papal culture. Thomas
Aquinas was the classical exponent of papal philosophy in Frederick times. Dante 50 years later, achieved a synthesis,
and gave the balance exposition of the medieval period of ideas. The Renaissance
papacy led the Reformation, which destroyed the unity of Christendom and the
scholastic theory of government that centered around the Pope. In the Renaissance period new
knowledge, the Copernican astronomy assigned to the earth and to man a humbler
position than before. Pleasure in new facts took the place, among intelligent
men of pleasure in reasoning, analyzing, and systematizing.
In politics, all power is ultimately from God,
He has delegated power to to
the Pope in sacred things and to the Emperor in secular matters. Both the Pope
and Emperor lost their importance in the 15th century. The new
national monarchies in France, Spain, and England had in their own territories,
a power which neither Pope nor Emperor could interfere. This was a sign that the Roman belief in the
unity of civilization is no more existed. This political disorder found
expression in Machiavelli’s Prince. From the 16th century, onward,
the history of European thought is dominated by Reformation. It began as a
revolt of northern nations against the domination of Rome. A combination of
National, economic, and moral motives strengthen the revolt against Rome.
Northern Europe people and rulers accepted the innovations Luther theology have provided. In Catholic
doctrine, divine revelation did not end with the
scriptures, but continued through the medium of the Church. Where people can submit as duty their private opinions.
Protestants, on the contrary, rejected the Church as a method of revelation:
truth was to be sought only in the Bible, where each person could interpret for
himself. If men differed in their
interpretations, no assigned divinely authority to decide the dispute.
In practice, the State claimed the right that had formerly belong to the Church. This was contrary to the fact
of the Protestant theory which says: there should be no earthly intermediary
between the soul and God.
Russell asserts that modern
philosophy begins with Descartes, where the fundamental certainty is the
existence of himself and his thoughts. And from which the external world is to
be inferred. This was the first stage of development
, through Berkeley and Kant, to Fichte. From this extreme, philosophy became
attempting, ever since, to escape into the world of everyday reality. Where subjectivism in philosophy and anarchism in
politics goes hand in hand.
Against the more insane forms
of subjectivism in modern times there was the doctrine of liberalism, which
attempted to assign the affairs of government and the individual. Locke began
this modern form, he opposed to “enthusiasm” and “individualism” as to absolute
authority and blind subservience to tradition.
Hobbes, Rousseau, and Hegel represented different phases of this theory.
Their doctrines are embodied in Cromwell, Napoleon, and modern Germany. These
philosophies remove Communism from practice to a little extent of State
supremacy or State worship.
Russell summarizes his thought
on philosophy by saying: “Throughout this long development, from 600
B.C. to the present day, philosophers have been divided into those who wished to tighten social bonds and those who wished to
relax them.” (xxii)
Russell brilliant conclusion
was: “In general, important civilizations start with a rigid and superstitious
system, gradually relaxed, and leading, at a certain stage, to a period of
brilliant genius, while the good of the old tradition remains and the evil
inherent in its dissolution has not developed. But as the evil unfolds, it
leads to anarchy, thence, inevitably, to a new tyranny, producing a new
synthesis secured by a new system of dogma. The doctrine of liberalism is an
attempt to escape from this endless oscillation. The essence of liberalism is an attempto secure a social order not based on
irrational dogma, and insuring stability without involving more restraints than
are necessary for the preservation of the community. Whether this attempt can succeed only the future can determine.”
(xxiii)
As a result of the above
introduction, My Opinion is given in the following section:
It never came to my mind to
stand against the basic beliefs of the religions of God. The different and changing testimonies of the
followers of these religions make me defend philosophy in the face of
practiced religions of the world. It is my position, that
if a certain religion promotes hatred of other religions or beliefs, is
not a religion. And therefore, it should be attacked on the basis of justice. If the
laws of each religion justify hatred of other religions, then it should be
understood, that my actions are also, justified.
Ignorance makes people attack
other people’s belief and religions. Religions in their basic Godly form,
cannot be criticized, we criticize the followers beliefs of hate to other
religions. Take for example the defamation of Prophets, or attacks against
Muslims, they are not justifiable, the sharp difference between Catholics, and
Protestants, and the between Arabs and Jews.
Ignorance of the people about the essence of their existence on Earth, is the reason for their
conflict. It is not God, who makes
people fight each other. It is the belief of people and their self-interest
which cause conflict. 1 + 1 = 2, can any one negate this fact in
mathematics. The development of
pregnancy through several stages, can any one reverse these stages as a
biological fact?
Philosophically speaking, mind
is the basic ingredient of human differentiate him from animal, and therefore,
human should use their minds to promote happiness in life Not in the unseen
life. Reality described by philosophers through the separation of Spirit and
Body. While spirit cannot be defeated or demolished completely, as we know, the
body is limited by age. Age is limited by years, but soul is not limited by
years.
Mind should be the strong
castle of human to defend superstitious ideas and metaphysical phenomena.
Limitation of human mind is combined with limitation of humans’ age on earth.
Other humans may continue using the mind to continue the march toward unfolding
knowledge about the Universe. But one human cannot do so. The works of old
philosopher are leading but not completing the modern human mind. Socrates, Galileo,
Christ, and Pain and many others were excluded
from their communities and paid their lives for what they believe in.
Their intuition was leading humans to use their minds for the purpose of having
happy life, by applying the logic of this life at its best.
Theologians
and Time of Uncertainty:
The majority of the ignorant theology, and the powerful
authority in the absence of logic have lost in historical events, the essence
of human existence on Earth. Even in these days of 2008, the world still
governed by the majority ignorant or the powerful authority who believe that
war for example, is the only way to protect the self or the nation’s
interest. Unfortunately, the knowledge obtained so far, about the world was
used to destroy it. Or to destroy human
happiness.
Values are changing, the good
of the past is no more good in present . Values of
the rich is very much different from the poor. And values of ignorant people are different
from those of well advanced in knowledge.
Human Being is no more living
for their family, wife, and kids,
They are working for their own pleasures. Money is no more serving the purpose
of basic needs, it becomes
numbers like human beings. Numbers without feelings, without
minds, without souls. Money should not be an end by itself, but a means
to survive and serve those who need it. Look for the Oil producing countries,
how they are fooled by oil companies. Oil is contributing in the world misery
of millions of people in poor countries around the world including the
countries producing or consuming oil. In
the poor countries, war between religious sects is inevitable, and in the rich
countries, the distance between poor and rich is sky rocketing. So you might ask, what is the solution for
the world to come to mind?
This
a good question, and it makes anyone-including
myself-nervous. But to be nervous, is not the right way to answer the question.
The question, anyhow, is part of the answer. The terms used in the question,
how? Read it again, we may replace the first term (what?) in the question by
the last term (mind) to become, “mind is the solution for the world to come
to.” As you see, the solution is using the mind. Not emotions
or feelings or faiths. It is simply the mind which lead us to understand
ourselves, to understand our environmental surroundings,
the nature, and the creatures in it. Is this hard to grasp or comprehend ? I did not think
so. In the case of religions, if Jews,
Christians, Muslims or any other faith followers use their minds to solve their
problems, especially in Palestine, sure they will be able to reach a
conflict-free world all over the world.
Faith is like man and women,
man or woman cannot accept the fact that a woman or a man cheat on them, Their ego will be destroyed by the free will of others. The
other man, or the other
woman.
Thomas Pain
and Bertrand Russell:
In his Why I am Not a Christian. About
Thomas Pain, the British and later American philosopher, and his Age of Reason, writing. Bertrand Russell, also originally British
(American) wrote:
“In his own neighborhood, he (Pain) was mobbed
and refused a seat in the stagecoach; three years before his death he was not
allowed to vote, on the alleged ground of his being a foreigner. He was falsely
accused of immortality and intemperance, and in his last years were spent in solitude and poverty.
He died in 1809.(p145) “The
greater part of the Age of Reason consists
of criticism of the Old Testament from a moral point of view. Very few nowadays
would regard the massacres of men, women, and children recorded in Pentateuch
and Book of Joshua as model of righteousness, but in Pain’s day it was
considered impious to criticize the Israelites when the Old Testament approved
of them.”(p.143) The Age of Reason
ventured to doubt whether God really commanded that all males and married women
among the Midianites should be slaughtered, while the
maidens should be preserved. (p.144)
In my belief, God does NOT
belong ONLY to Jews or ONLY to Muslims, or for that matter to Christians or
ONLY to any other sect, God belong to all, humans or else. Gods are many in peoples faiths, but religion of God
is ONE religion. God, therefore, could not choose certain people to be chosen,
or to be the best nation, or give birth to destructive
ideas, or give orders saving one part of people, and to destroying other parts
of people in peace or in war. God does not give permission to kill, to exploit,
or to deceive other people for your own self-interest. It is not good for you,
bad for others. The good should be good for you and for the others in the same
time. It is unbelievable to the mind to argue about the value of one’s right by
denying the other one’s right. Otherwise, we are ignorant and irrational
persons. This is why philosophers are different from lay men. Reasoning should lead the mind to happiness,
not to satisfy self interest, or sect, or belief, or ignorant majority
(traditional, conservative, or liberals, in any place, or in any time).
Rational history of rationality can tell us. I think Crescentology
rules, should lead the world toward happiness in this world
Russell continues: “During the
American Revolution Pain inspired enthusiasm and confidence, and thereby did
much to facilitate victory. Governments, he says, ”may all be comprehended under three heads. First, superstition. Secondly,
power. Thirdly, the common interest of
society and the common rights man. The first was a government of priestcraft , the second of
conquerors, the third of reason.” (139)
About the Palestinian Problem:
I strongly support the third, I am intellectually inclined to support freedom
and independence of Palestine - freedom from aristocracy, and opinion sensors, and
every species of tyranny- for the cause of Palestine. Dogmatism in Gaza, and secularisms of the West Bank Authority are not adequately selected to govern their constituents. It
is believed that suffering of the public and the poor in the refugee camps in
both territories should be the bases of future solution. Palestinians
nowadays, are divided politically and ideologically into two groups, The first under dogmatic rules, and the second under the
power of money, wealth, and lack of democracy. Palestinians have the
right to decide their future in a rational democratic way. Palestinians have to decide
whether to continue suffering or to consider Israel as a neighbor State, and
live in peace, for ever.
The Jews were expelled many
times through their history, Jewish and non-Jewish historians may tell more
about how many time relinquishing of Jews happened in history, the Assyrians
removed them in 722 B.C., Nebuchchadrezzar destroyed the temple and removed a
large part of the population to Babylon in 586 B.C., there were a large-scale
murders of Jews in Germany at the time of the first crusade, and in England, at
the time of the third crusade. on the accession of
Richard Coeur de Lion. Massacre of large number of Jews in Europe, those who
were not massacred were often despoiled of their property and forcibly
baptized. At York, where the first Christian Emperor had begun his reign, was
aptly enough, the scene of on of the most appalling mass-atrocities against
Jews. No one can imagine how horrible was the holocaust
in recent history against the Jews in Europe in the 1940s of last century.
Palestinians also suffered, expelled, and moved, but compared to the sufferings
of Jews in history is not qualified. I believe, Jews
have to be given finally safe haven in Israel. Jews have has to be given
assurances not to be terrorized with rockets, and suicide bombers supported by
theologians. it is her right, even though they are the
occupiers of the land. They will not stop terrorizing Palestinians unless
Israelis' security was guaranteed. Stop the rockets and suicide bombers, and
let us see how much Israel respects its word. I hope Palestinians will be given
time to live peacefully without danger. Let Palestinian live
as a nation like other nations. Hate has to stop,
and mutual recognition temporarily-at least for 50 years to come-have to lead
both Israelis and Palestinians to the right track. Jews have lived for many
long years together in almost all Arab countries. This time of history is for
powerful denomination worldwide, let the minds and
hearts reduce that power by compromising for the sake of new generations. Let
Palestinians confess, they are defeated (with all Arabs failed attempts) in
liberating Palestine, but they did not relinquished. Palestinians still have
their rights to decide. Give both Israelis and Palestinians the next 50 years
to live in peace. Both diverse it. No one can guess
about history. But the problem will vanish through the years, I guess. History
is our teacher, and people make history not the other way around.
About Modern
Arab States:
Arab States formation was made
away from their own choice. In 1917, Britain and France
divided the states under their control in Sikes-Pico meeting. Syria and Lebanon
were under France denomination, while Jordan, Palestine and Iraq became under
the British rule. Borders were made by the two nations. The population
in these countries follow the maps made by the super powers of
the time. Leaders, lately who accept the Occupier rules, was given authority
and support to establish their government. Nationalism,
was the worst slogan in recent history provided by modern world. Nationalism
became for those who have the power against minorities who have no power. In
every Arab country, nationalism was promoted to support the status quo of
government. Leaders were chosen according tribalism, and sectarianism. Common
people were suppressed and prevented from government jobs and military. And ignorant Bedouins
were recruited to protect the rulers in every country.
Those of large families (Land Lords)who were
supporting the British and the French occupation were also recruited around the
ruler to protect him. Later, supporters of the governing party have superiority
over other sections in their nations. Like the case of resurrection al-Ba’ath Party, or sheikhdom rulers side.
For Arabs, democracy is far
from attending, traditionalism, aristocracy, and tribalism are strongly oppose
democratic systems, for the sake of their self-interest, in many Arab
countries, tyranny is still practiced,
and the only opinion heard is the opinion of the governing party. In the Soviet
Union,
tyranny did not last forever, in Germany the same, and in
Italy it did not last. In the Arab countries too, it will not last forever, I
hope in the Arabic countries tyranny of tribalism and sect dogmatism will come
to an end soon, and to begin democracy and freedom of minds
and souls. Justice have to prevail,
and equal opportunities have to be practiced to be ascribed to democratic
system.
On Theology:
Philosophy
is concerned with defining human goals in daily life
not in the eternal life. This may create conflict with religion; the Islamic
civilization has experienced numerous controversies between theologians and (fuqaha) and freethinkers or philosophers in this
respect. As I see it, theology is not promoting human
happiness, but human suffering for simple reason, the idea of sin. The feeling
of sin, and the hard worldly punishment as well as in the hereafter-in the
hill-fire, for those who commit adultery or drinking wine are in opposition to
personal freedom and democratic principles.
God already picked up those who are in Heaven,
and those who are assigned to Hill whether or not they sin in their lives. And
God’s will, cannot change by not following his commandments. He is much more
than involving Himself in worldly matters of human beings. Thos
who benefit from Gods rules, are censoring justice and
freedom for their own interests. Now we come to censorship of enlightened
opinions and freethinking.
Examples of censorship of
freethinking and actions against the status quo:
In their late meeting, the Gulf
States Rulers announced a rule, to prevent media of the satellite and
writers from criticizing the States heads. This decree is dangerous for two
reasons. The self-interest of the powerful
authority, and the ignorance of civilized world. Where these
governments are still believe in tribalism and traditions, which is recklessly
hurled against anyone whose opinion is disliked. In the march to democracy and
freedom, freethinkers have to lead the nations toward freedom and democracy.
But they are prevented and expelled. But
nothing would remain not changing, and nothing eternal, we are taught, except God. The appointed
Censorship agency, for the government in every Arab country, whether they are
ignorant or educated, they have to support the governing king or Emir, or
president or sultan. They have to sensor any opinion against them. This is
insane in the march for freedom and democracy. Like in the Soviet Union in the
time of Czar, and later in time Stalin,
sensors were highly supported to sensor any opposition to the emperor in the
first example, and to the communist party in the second.
About
Academic freedom:
The essence of academic freedom, is that teachers should be
selected for their expertness in the subject they are to teach and that the
judges of this expertness should be other experts. Experts on the subject
matter can be judged with a fair degree of unanimity. The Saudi government send unqualified
representatives to choose teachers from other Arab countries, they were testing
teachers of their knowledge of Qur’an. They asked
them to recite some Sura’s and Ayat
from Qur’an such as, al-fatihah,
and al-nas or al-alaq sura’s. If the teacher fails to
recite, they are not accepted in the job, even the job in teaching mathematics
or chemistry, or literature. Toleration with those who cannot recite Qur’an, is essential part of wise
democracy. But it is not always sufficiently practiced.
What Happened to Muslims
organizations in the United States:
The union between Muslim
Brothers and Jama’ti Islam of Pakistan was not made
for the benefits of Muslims, but for the benefits of the community and
associations leaders. ISNA was formulated to curb the illegality of forming
associations by foreigner students. The need for a legal status in the United
States for Islam to be, is to be controlled by America, therefore, Those Muslim
Americans from the Middle East (the Muslim Brothers) and the continent of India
(Pakistan and Bangladesh-Jamati Islam) should control
Muslims in the United States. They are already rich by the zakat
collection, and sadaqat of Muslims, and built their
empires upon the needs of Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. In Argantina,
they invest their money to rais cattles
and sheep to be sold to Muslim pilgrimage every year. The new leaders began to
use some clergy (men) imams from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Pakistanis for
the purpose of leading the prayer, and
answering certain theological questions. Some people will be angry to read
this, ISNA, was and still a puppet in the CIA and self-interest hands. To
protect their interests in America as land owners, investors, and business
owners and for
printing Islamic books, Financially they are secured authoritarians. The doors
of interfaith were made open for them to waste the time of their
followers. Followers of Islam, like the
followers of Christians, or those of Jewish faith were
all deceived their followers in America. Muslims theological leaders in America
still follow the old testaments of Muhammad and his companions. Friday Prayer
is performed as Muhammad taught them, and even the content, should be of the
way Muhammad begins, continues and ends the ceremony. The Muslim immediate
concerns in almost all Muslim Mosques in the United States are rarely touched
and dealt with. The revenues collected every months from alms (Zakat), or donations (Sadaqat) are
censored to talk about their use. Muslims are fooled by the clergy men who
always ask for more donations. And no one has the right to inquire, where these
donations go. Or who benefit from them. They built schools as investment of the
money, they bought lands,
restaurants, businesses, and support the idea of Martyrs in the cause of God.
Instead of using these donations to promote their communities participation in
the American Society, and to control some of the media, as the Jewish leaders
did in the last fifty years. Muslims are inferiors to the disbelievers,
or those who may inquire about these donations. This is locally may be
resolved, but internationally it is difficult to solve. The Muslims are far from organizing
themselves on a scientific grounds, I remember an organization leader when he
had a meeting with the employees, his lecture was totally about God, and the
Prophet, nothing in his speech was about the daily problems face the business,
or rules of modern management or communication rules with others or how to
promote business. It was like Friday
prayer. Associations and organizations should have goals, and processes to make itself for the benefits of Muslims, as the Jewish
associations. The Jews are far ahead on any other religion, in taking care of
Jews anywhere on Earth. No religion
resemble them. And I believe, they
should be commended for their successful efforts.
The idea of intellectuals and
secularists is very dangerous one to the theologians in every religion. In the Jewish faith, in the Christian faith, and
in the Islamic faith. They all share intolerance, lack of
Judgment and ignorance of ideas might unite between them. Politics is riding
almost all followers of the three mentioned religions. Their followers anywhere
are drugged by the teachings of their clergy men, as they are the only
followers of God who will open his paradise for them and denies other religions
from Heaven, but to expel them in Hill.
In Christian faith, Jesus Image
in one church, is different
from other churches. Catholic beliefs
are different from those of Protestant beliefs. And both are misused by the Old
Testament, or the New
one.
In the Jewish faith, however,
it took a very different direction,
Jews have understood early the power of mind, through Espinoza, Marx, and Durkheim, to control circumstances of the modern world.
Psychology, Medicine and attorneys of law, In
addition the field of jewels business and banking were the means to control
people. These fields were controlled in
the United States by Jews. Psychology departments and tests writings, have changed the image of Jews in America
after the 1940s. Politically they
supported those who may support Jewish goals, such as creating and supporting
the State of Israel. They were very successful in that
field. Most Americans follow blindly this direction.
Both Christian and Jewish
faiths were united early as Judeo-Christian faith to stand opposing the
religion of Islam. Muslims are not less
in their position from other religions. All religions share conflict with the
other. And none is true in their allegations.
Theology has to come to an end, and to die , in order freedom and
democracy to rise. The intellectual mind
have to take the lead in the world as well as individual nations.
The need is not for war between nations, or religions, or civilizations,
but to satisfy the needs of the people everywhere on Earth in spite of their levels of belief, or creed,
nationality or color, or level of education. This is my opinion, and for it I
will continue to live, in the coming life.
Crescentology theory if applied will lead to
this end. I guess.
Qualities
of Good Writers and Successful Teacher?
By Hasan Yahya, Ph.D
This
article unlike other articles I wrote previously for Future.info. with little difference. It is about “writing” itself and
“teaching” as a noble career in many societies in the East and west, as well as
in south and north. In all religions and all ethnic groups, teachers are the
noble people on earth whom I personally cherished and respected all my life.
Both jobs writing and teaching almost all people are familiar with in
life.
Writing
is a talent, no doubt, and an “art” for sure in the same time. To write an
article or any piece of art is an easy task, but it is produced after certain
questions such as about what? And How? When? and Where to publish. Time and space are included
. If these questions were answered, one question remains to be answered
too. Ye, you guessed right! For whom which forms the audience
or interested in what the subject you write.
Many
people may say: “If I have the time , I might write a
good book.” Others however, may say: “I like what I read.” In any case it does
not matter whither you use a pen or a pencil, or a feather like old days, which
are rarely used in modern times except
in journalistic editing and correction of already written piece.
In
these days, the magic word is computer. The computer is a great invention by
using the internet which constitute an unlimited
source of almost all fields of knowledge for all ages who have little
experience with certain computer skills. The computer helps writers and readers
alike. It also helps in spelling, editing, omitting, exchanging sentences, and
words or letters, and even paragraphs and whole pages.
No
matter these days if
you write an short article or a book, in any language, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch,
English, French, German, Japanese. Or
Urdu, (alphabetically), computer gives you the power for even translation.
As far
as this article is concerned, so far, readers are getting some familiar answers
for the questions posed above. But readers may not be professionals, but they
have taste and emotions as well as minds , so they
like or dislike what they read. They might accept an argument or reject it. In
any case, readers are the wealth of any educated nation. Readers include all
types of people, all types of personalities, therefore, any type of writing
will have an audience
interested in reading occasionally or on daily basis like reading
a text book, a newspaper, a book, or magazine,
there are always readers for any type of
writing. In America , as well as Africa, India,
Indonesia, or in many other countries, there are thousands of jobs needed in
life. Too many publications are written by experts in certain fields, farmers,
gardeners, workers, carpenters, and even scientists on “how to” to learn about
making things or even how to look happy, to be optimistic, and to increase your
memory. There is no area in knowledge is missed by writers.
Writing
is a craft, a practice of art, such as music, painting, ceramic, and even playing
football, they are all talented and smart people have the will to excel beside
their talent. It is a process of learning may begin immediately after birth.
Therefore, it is possible to create a talented writer.
What concerns young
writers is to find encouragement from readers close to the writer first, before the farther in distance or space. Many
young writers are talented in their middle or high schools. In fact, it is an not exaggeration to say that some children in the
elementary stage show early talents in imagination and smart ideas or
imitations. But who will discover these talented young writers during their
school years? Of course, preliminary
thinking may bring parents or elder brother or sister or close relatives in the
family, this it true, but the most factor and may be
the best to discover young talents is the teacher his/herself with an expert
ears and eyes. Teachers can be successful in teaching. Those successful and
talented teachers are mostly the discoverers of talented students, confer with
parents to cooperate how to encourage and promote young writers’ talents to
present an art-like pieces.
Teachers,
however, I mean to be a successful teachers in order to fulfill their duty
toward young generations in any society or culture, certain elements have to be found by education or
in-service workshops to reach the level
of successful teacher. The rest of the article now will pinpoint these elements
of successful teachers.
Elements of Successful Teachers for all educational stages from pre-school to college or university. Top successful teachers in every field share common characteristics and attitudes. If you want to be among the top instructors in your field, with a little previous planning, try incorporating these seven outstanding attributes for success:
1. Clarity--successful people know who they are and where they are going. They have developed a clarity of vision of their primary and secondary goals. In any time, take a moment to reflect on your progress in life and why you are teaching. How does teaching correspond to your values, and what do you hope to achieve in your classes?
2. Courage--often called the foremost of the virtues--is the ability to act as if you have already attained your goal. Courageous people know that progress requires effort, persistence and the will to overcome obstacles. Courage is the driving force behind those who continuously seek improvement ideas, modify them where necessary and apply them.
3. Common sense--the ability to learn from experience or to adapt new learning activities and teaching methods. Instructors with common sense strive for intellectual honesty and maintain an objectivity toward the teaching/learning process. They seek to find what works and share it with others to promote the common goal by listening and encouraging your student to excel.
4. Career conception in other words, see yourself as your own boss. Embracing the self-employed attitude means that you take charge of your career instead of just letting it happen. Let your love to your work be imitated by your students.
5. Commitment to a mission--it is known that almost everything you do in teaching follows from your personal mission and that of your department or institution. Commitment to an overriding purpose results in a positive mental frame work that helps to build your instructional design and heighten the effectiveness of your communication with students and colleagues.
6. Fairness— in treatment among your students enhances your respect among them, and make them show their hidden talents and make yourself a discoverer. Try these secrets in your career as a teacher, and focus on the secrets of successful teachers. You will be discoverer of young writers in your school environment.
Finally, as you see there is no
seventh element, but you are smart reader to add may be another five or six
characteristics of successful teacher as yourself. I am sure, you will and you
CAN. By the way to remind you, Buddha, Iqbal, Jesus, Moses, and
Muhammad, were great talented teachers in history and in their own
people. If you become a good writer or successful teacher you will be close to
be proud as a good exemplar like them for many people not only in your nation
but in the whole world.
******************
About the author:
Hasan Yahya is an American Arab scholar, and a professor of sociology. He published 25 plus books and 220 plus articles on sociology, psychology, politics, poetry, IQ Test Measurement and short stories in both Arabic and English. His articles may be found on articlesbase.com, Face book and other internet sites. His recent book published on Amazon titled: Lawlaki: Lawlaki Poetry Diwan, Zawjat lil-Bay's: Tales and articles, 2000 Bayt Min al-Shi'r al-Arabi and al-Zawaj wal-Jinse fil-‘Alam, Zawjat lil-Bay’, and al-Zawaj wal-Jinse fil ‘Alam, all in Arabic.(On Amazon, 2009). His recent activities reflects his talents and knowledge on youtube’s Dr. Yahya Channel TV under the name of askdryahya. www.hasanyahya.com
************************************************************************************************
Dr. Hasan Yahya Books On Amazon
Books in English:
Psychology: (1 Book)
Personality and Stress Management https://www.createspace.com/3355058
Religion: (Two books)
Islam: Finds Its Way https://www.createspace.com/3436642
Brief Arab and Islamic Ethics (bilingual) ÇáÊÚÇáíã ÇáÅÎáÇÞíÉ
Ýí ÇáÅÓáÇã -
ÈÇááÛÊíä . https://www.createspace.com/3355806
Poetry: (2 Books)
Poetry Diwan: Love Fear and Hope https://www.createspace.com/3355775
Moon Flowers https://www.createspace.com/3355058
Politics and
Sociology: (5 Books)
Arab Palestinians and Jews: Sociological Approach https://www.createspace.com/3374903
The Beast in Me, America https://www.createspace.com/3354440
Crescentologism https://www.createspace.com/3436624
Crescentology https://www.createspace.com/3335792
Legal Adultery: Sexuality & World Cultures https://www.createspace.com/3399546
***********************************************************
Books in Arabic:
Religion:
Al-Islam Wa-Masalih al-Bashar ÇáÅÓáÇã æãÕÇáÍ
ÇáÈÔÑ
https://www.createspace.com/3436902
Sociology:
Ílm al-Ijtima’al-Tatbeeqi Úáã ÇáÇÌÊãÇÚ ÇáÊØÈíÞíApplied Sociology
https://www.createspace.com/3356480
Adwa’Ala al’Fikr al-Gharbi ÃÖæÇÁ Úáì ÇáÝßÑ ÇáÛÑÈí
https://www.createspace.com/3356556
Kids Books:
ßÊÈ ÈÇáÚÑÈíÉ ááÃØÝÇá
55 Stories 4 Kids 55 ÞÕÉ ááÃØÝÇá
https://www.createspace.com/3354521
20-20 Hikayat Wa-Aghani Lil-Atfal
- Tales and Songs for Kids ÍßÇíÇÊ
æÃÛÇäí ááÃØÝÇá
https://www.createspace.com/3443764
Al-Tiflah al-Mithaliyyah-Qisas Arabiyyah ÇáØÝáÉ ÇáãËÇáíÉ : ÞÕÕ ÃØÝÇá
https://www.createspace.com/3443745
Sociology:
Research Methods in Social Sciences ãäÇåÌ ÇáÈÍË Ýí ÇáÚáæã ÇáÇÌÊãÇÚíÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3356483
Crescentology and Human Nature ÇáäÙÑíÉ ÇáåáÇáíÉ æÇáØÈíÚÉ ÇáÈÔÑíÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3359215
Maqalat Ijtimaýyah (On Social Development) ãÞÇáÇÊ ÇÌÊãÇÚíÉ Úä
ÇáÊäãíÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3375716
Psychology: (2 books)
Therapy Cases: Mental and Physical ÍÇáÇÊ ÚáÇÌíÉ : ÚÞáíÉ æÌÓãíÉ æäÝÓíÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3356551
Arabic IQ Measurements ãÞÇííÓ ÇáÐßÇÁ ááÃØÝÇá
https://www.createspace.com/3357077
Short Stories and
Plays: (5 books)
28 Arabic Short Stories 28 ÞÕÉ ÚÑÈíÉ ÞÕíÑÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3355774
Al-Shart al-Thalith:
Plays, Stories and knowledge ÇáÔÑØ ÇáËÇáË : ÞÕÕ æãÓÑÍíÇÊ æãÚÑÝÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3436618
Tales From America ÍßÇíÇÊ ãä ÃãÑíßÇ : ÞÕÕ ÕÍÝíÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3357431
Zawjatu al-Sultan ÒæÌÉ ÇáÓáØÇä : ãÌãæÚÉ ÞÕÕíÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3391866
Zawjat Lil-Bay’ ÒæÌÇÊ ááÈíÚ : ãÞÇáÇÊ Úä ÇáãÑÃÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3394072
Family, Love and Marriage: (3
books)
Marriage and Sex in World Cultures- Al-Zawaj Wal-Jinse ÇáÒæÇÌ æÇáÌäÓ Ýí ÇáÚÇáã
https://www.createspace.com/3398110
Qawa’d al-Hub wa-l-Zawaj : Love and Marriage Rules ÞæÇÚÏ ÇáÍÈ æÇáÒæÇÌ
https://www.createspace.com/3413802
Al-Hub wal-AbrajÇáÍÈ æÇáÃÈÑÇÌ
https://www.createspace.com/3413879
Six Diwans: Poetry in Arabic (5 books)
2000 Bayt Min Uyoon al-Shi’r al-Arabi 2000 ÈíÊ ãä Úíæä ÇáÔÚÑ ÇáÚÑÈí (ãä ÃãÑíÁ ÇáÞíÓ Åáì äÒÇÑ ÞÈÇäí)
https://www.createspace.com/3394075
Diwan al-Qadar ÏíæÇä ÇáÞÏÑ
https://www.createspace.com/3359583
Diwan Bahri al-Aghani ÏíæÇä ÈÍÑ ÇáÃãÇäí
https://www.createspace.com/3359585
Diwan Lawlaki: Aghani Lil-Hayah ÏíæÇä áæáÇß : ÃÛÇä ááÍíÇÉ
https://www.createspace.com/3391862
Kabri Aálik: Be Mindful ßÈÑí ÚÞáß : ÏíæÇä ÔÚÑ
https://www.createspace.com/3413862