Lawyer team to file lawsuit over Bali bombers' executions

The Bali bombers' team of lawyers, the Muslim Defence Team (TPM), are planning to file a lawsuit against the government over their clients' execution which they say violated human rights.

"The executions were not conducted in accordance with existing procedures. We are preparing to take legal action," one of the lawyers, Agus Setiawan, said as quoted by Antara.

The rights of the convicts' lawyers and families were violated because they had been forbidden to meet the convicts at Batu Prison, Nusakambangan Island, and were not able to fully take care of the bodies after the executions, Agus said.

Separately, Lulu Jamaluddin, the younger brother of Bali bomber Imam Samudera, said his family could not accept his brother's death.

"We will file a lawsuit against the Attorney General's Office," he said.

Amrozi, 47, Muklas (Ali Gufron), 48, and Imam, 38, were executed by firing squad near their prison, shortly after midnight early on Sunday, for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. (dre) -- The Jakarta Post, Mon, 11/10/2008 8:31 AM (GMT + 9)

Indonesia executes Bali bombers, backlash feared

Islamist jihadists protest...

Islamic extremists (jihadists –ed.) rallied in the Indonesian capital Thursday against the imminent execution of three Bali bombers, as defence lawyers demanded the families be allowed final visit.

Chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great -ed.), some 100 militants descended on the offices of the national human rights body as the bombers' lawyers met officials inside to demand access for the families.
The radicals condemned the executions, believed to be hours or days away, and praised bombers Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and Imam Samudra, 38, as "holy warriors."
They carried banners pledging to follow the bombers' path of jihad or "holy war" and warning that "hell" awaits the executioners.

Defence lawyer Mahendradatta urged the human rights body, Komnas Ham, to back the families' demand for visiting rights.
Komnas Ham chairman Ifdhal Kasim said the prisoners had a right to meet their families before they faced the firing squad. "A prisoner awaiting execution must be given a chance to meet their families," he said, promising to take up the matter with the prosecutors office which handles executions.

Meanwhile the families wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pleading for a delay in the executions, defence lawyer Fahmi Bachmid said. He said however that the letter was not a request for clemency.



The bombers have said they want to die to become "martyrs" for their dream of creating an Islamic utopia (caliphate -ed.) across Southeast Asia.
"We don't know the contents of the letter. The families only told me that they hope the execution will be postponed until the president gives an answer to the letter," he said.

The bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.

The government has said the condemned men will be executed by firing squad in "early November" after they exhausted the appeals process (except for seeking presidential clemency khuda kay liye. -ed.). -- Agence France-Presse - 11/6/2008 5:19 AM GMT

Khuda Kay Liye, Salamander Is Coming!

The three Islamist militants (jihadis –ed.) convicted over the Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people have received notification of their imminent execution, a prison source said Saturday.

The source at the Nusakambangan island prison (sijn –ed.) off southern Java also said the bombers had been placed in isolation (waqfuka bil-haqq ma‘aka –ed.) away from other prisoners in preparation for their date with the firing squad.

"The letter ordering the execution was submitted last night at 9:00 pm (1400 GMT Friday)," the source said. He did not say whether the letter gave a precise time for the executions.

Officials have not confirmed the letter and neither the families nor the lawyers for the bombers have received the usual three-day notice of execution.

The government has said only that Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and attack strategist and ringleader Imam Samudra, 38, will be executed by firing squad in early November over the 2002 attacks on the resort island of Bali. -- Agence France-Presse - 11/1/2008 5:09 AM GMT

The 2002 bombings targeted nightspots packed with Western tourists, killing more than 160 foreigners including 88 Australians. The bombers said they were retaliation for US-led aggression in Afghanistan and Iraq.

They were convicted and sentenced in 2003 under a new anti-terror law which was applied retroactively, leading anti-death penalty campaigners to question the legality of their executions.

The bombers, members of the Jemaah Islamiyah regional “terror” network, have expressed no remorse for the carnage they unleashed six years ago.

In a string of media appearances and interviews the authorities have allowed them to conduct from prison, they have parroted Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's world view (tasawwur –ed.) of a militant Islam at war against an evil West.

Mukhlas claims to have met bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1980s, and named his son Osama. They have promised retribution from God and their followers in the event of their execution.

In Tenggulun, the family of Mukhlas and Amrozi -- a former mechanic known as the "smiling assassin" for his childish courtroom antics -- remained defiant.

"If they die because they are standing up for the religion they will be placed in paradise," 52-year-old elder brother Muhammed Chozin told AFP.

Their 70-year-old mother said on Friday her sons were right to "kill infidels." "I don't cry. I leave it all to God," Tariem said. "I feel that killing infidels isn't a mistake because they don't pray."

Lawyers for the bombers have launched a string of appeals to delay the death sentences being carried out, and said Saturday they would launch a fresh, unspecified, legal bid to save the bombers' lives.

Family members of all three bombers and their lawyers have flown to Jakarta and will later go to Bali to present an "extraordinary" appeal to the Bali court that convicted them, lawyer Fahmi Bachmid told AFP.

Bachmid refused to specify what kind of legal appeal the lawyers would make. Indonesian authorities and the Supreme Court have said the bombers have exhausted all avenues for appeal, except for seeking presidential clemency…

Security forces have been placed on high alert across the country as a precaution against an explosion of Islamist anger at the first executions to be carried out under Indonesia's anti-terror law.

Sensitive areas like foreign embassies, tourist spots, shopping malls and ports were under close guard. On the mainly Hindu resort island of Bali, 3,500 police were on the streets, officials said.

In the East Java city of Surabaya, hand-written posters appeared overnight promising "retaliation" for the bombers' execution. "The blood of martyrs nourishes jihad (holy war)," one poster said. "One word for Amrozi's killers: retribution," said another. – [kerabu w/ extract from: Agence France-Presse - 11/1/2008 6:52 AM GMT, 11/1/2008 8:43 AM GMT]

“Beware! that things do not produce effects by themselves; fire does not burn because of its nature – tabi‘eyyah, nor does water irrigate because of its natural inclination,” our sheikh told a circle in pondoq, where he further said, “The fire of Namrod did not burn Abraham (as). Al-Khawlani (ra) was not burned when he was cast into the fire. The salamander is not burned by fire.

“O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham.” [21:the Prophets:69]

يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Al-budala’: The Exchanged Ones, or Alternates. They are seven. Whoever of the People of Sufism has journeyed from a place, having left a body in such shape that no one knows he is missing – this, and no other, is the Exchanged One. They belong to the heart of Abraham (as).

Saham Iblis: Oh… what a blazing inferno!

The whole universe belongs to Allah (swt), and the means of subsistence (arzaq) are His creation. ‘He set on the earth, mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days/Periods, in accordance with the needs of those who seek Sustenance.’ [41:Explained In Detail:10]

The angels are fed on our means of subsistence. All that is good comes from Allah (swt), and all that is bad comes from Him. When He shoots at the servant with the arrow of misfortunes -- siham iblis: Oh, what a blazing inferno! ->Finance crisis inflicts more pain as recession fears grow.

Recession fears prompt more stock falls

KLCI hits 4-year low

But then, when the servant shuts her eyes in the face of the shooting, along comes the physician of nearness (qurb) to treat her wounds, the physician of love (hubb) to lift her up, and the physician of ardent longing (shawq) to embrace her. The process begins with unpleasant adversities.

World leaders urge finance reforms as gloom deepens

Our sheikh says, ‘Economic inflation is the King’s whip, which He uses to administer corrective punishment.

‘The believers are the King’s agent (‘amil) in the village of this world. The believer feeds himself from his earnings (kasb) and his material means (sabab), acknowledging that it all comes from Allah (swt). Then, when he has grown stronger in his Faith, he gets his food through his absolute trust (tawakkul). He still sees it coming from Allah (swt); his former attitude to this remains unchanged. Even if he were to sit in the River of Tigris for a thousand years, his heart would remain attached to Allah (swt).’

The Qur’an says, ‘Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction. Those who believe and do right: Joy is for them, and bliss their journey's end.’[13:the Thunder:28-29]

Know that dhikr (remembrance) is first made with the tongue, and then it moves in deeper to reach the heart. Loves comes along, and ardent longing (shawq) moves back out to reach the tongue. So, make praying for forgiveness (istighfar) the regular practice of your tongue, grateful acknowledgement (i‘tiraf) the regular practice of your heart, and quiet calm (sukun) the regular practice of your innermost being (sirr).

When the innermost being (sirr) becomes a heaven and the heart (qalb) an earth, God lets the heart share the banquet (sur) of the heaven of the innermost being. If He so wills, He brings the two of them together.

This is something unique; it is the stage (maqam) of istiwa where we should look for the truth of aw adna (or nearer). So long as possibility and want are there, even as a consequence of opposition, we are within the realm of qaba qawsayn. But when possibility and want completely disappear, we reach the summit of aw adna.

Let the blessed ones enjoy their pleasure, the poor lover is happy with the pain he has. And peace be on him who follows true Guidance!

Banking on Allah banking escapes fallout of global financial crunch

“The collapse of the capitalist system based on usury and paper and not on goods traded on the market is proof that it is in crisis and shows that Islamic economic philosophy is holding up. “ -- al-Qaradawi

Islamic banking has largely escaped the fallout from the global financial crisis, thanks to rules that forbid the sort of risky business that is felling mainstream institutions. But experts say that because of its heavy reliance on property investments and private equity, the booming 1.0 trillion dollar global industry could be hit if the turmoil worsens and real assets start to crumble.

"In the current financial turmoil, it is interesting to note that Islamic financing may have prevented a majority of the mess created by the conventional banking and financial institutions," Kuwait Finance House said in a report. "The outlook for Islamic financing is bright and will likely take the lead in terms of providing funding for major projects as the conventional banking system reevaluates its business model."

The rules of Islamic banking and finance -- which incorporate principles of sharia or Islamic law -- read like a how-to guide on avoiding the kind of disaster that is currently gripping world markets.

(1) Islamic law prohibits the payment and collection of interest, which is seen as a form of gambling, so highly complex instruments such as derivatives and other creative accounting practices are banned.

(2) Transactions must be backed by real assets -- not shady repackaged subprime mortgages -- and because risk is shared between the bank and the depositor there is an incentive for the institutions to ensure the deal is sound.

(3) Investors have a right to know how their funds are being used, and the sector is overseen by dedicated supervisory boards as well as the usual national regulatory authorities.

"Islamic banking has, thus far, remained positive, despite the current challenging global financial environment," said Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the central bank governor of Malaysia, which is Southeast Asia's leader in Islamic banking. Zeti said this month that because of the slowing global economy, plans for Islamic "sukuk" bonds had been postponed or scrapped by companies including Kuwait's Abyaar Real Estate Development Co. and Malaysia's Perisai Petroleum.

And Jennifer Chang, a partner at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, said that given the extent of the global crisis, Islamic banks may suffer damage despite their strong position. "Islamic banks, especially in the Middle East, got heavily into private equity and real estate investments, and a lot of loans may be backed by properties. So if the property market goes down, there will be an impact," she said. "If a borrower is not able to pay then the bank will foreclose and the question is -- can you sell the property in the market and at what value? These are issues which all banks can face."

There have been calls for the conventional banking industry to take a leaf out of the book of Islamic finance, which also shuns investments in gaming, alcohol and pornography in favour of ethical investments. Influential Sunni cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi earlier this month called on Muslims to take advantage of the turmoil to build an economic system compatible with Islamic principles. "The collapse of the capitalist system based on usury and paper and not on goods traded on the market is proof that it is in crisis and shows that Islamic economic philosophy is holding up," said the Egyptian-born, Qatar-based cleric.

In recent years the sector has broken out of its niche and been embraced by mainstream banks. As well as basic bank deposits and investment accounts, it has expanded into areas including equity funds, bonds and Islamic hedge funds.

Abhishek Kumar, a senior research analyst at Financial Insights, a company under market research and analysis firm International Data Corp (IDC), said recent events may further boost the sector. "More and more institutions will be interested in providing Islamic services to diversify their risk portfolio," he said, while warning that in the current financial storm there were no absolutely safe harbours. "We're not really sure what the real extent of the impact is, and whether we've passed the worst of it or not, But the extent is not going to be as bad as in the mainstream sector," he said. -- Agence France-Presse - 10/20/2008 1:18 AM GMT

‘Trade is just like usury’ … Did they really say that?

A credit crunch that originated in the United States (wherein NY is the riba city of the world -ed.) is sending shockwaves across the world, causing global stock markets to sink to fresh lows. Despite authorities' best efforts to stave off the crisis, there are growing fears that they may be powerless to stop the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression.

Scene 1: SATANIC TOUCH

Know that riba literally means a growth or an addition. The additional amount, collected over and above (za’id ‘ala) the capital given as a loan, is interest or usury. It is an abuse or a misuse of the power one holds over the weak or the needy, and therefore, strictly forbidden.

Those who say usury is only like trading cannot rise up save in a state of insanity as those rise up whom Satan has prostrated by his touch.

الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لاَ يَقُومُونَ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا
“Those who devour usury cannot stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch hath driven to madness. That is because they say: ‘Trade is just like usury,’ but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury.” [2:the Cow:275]

Scene 2: Did they really say that?

“I am confident in the long run, the (default: ribawi –ed.) economy will come back.”
- US President George W. Bush

msn malaysia news: They really said these things … Quotes of the week

Scene 3: CRACKING UP

"The school of Marxism has collapsed and the sound of the West's cracking liberal democracy is now being heard."
- Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the global financial crisis.

Related Articles: ‘This is a reminder: If you like you may take the path to your Lord.’ [76:al-insan:29]

The Qur´an & Riba – by Sayyid Tahir
The Importance of the Prohibition of Riba in Islam - by Imran N. Hosein
Strategy for the Elimination of Riba with Special Reference to Existing Debts - by Sayyid Tahir

We have nothing else to say except: ‘Our Lord! forgive us our sins and transgressions in our duties, establish our feet firmly, and help us against those who resist Faith’ [3:ali imran:147];

ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

‘Whomsoever I kill, I am his ransom’

AFP has reported that Australian PM Kevin Rudd says that the holy warriors are cowards. We simply cannot hear this: it makes the Ali blood in our veins boil. These offensive words don’t call for explanation or interpretation, no matter whether their sayer is Rudd or Bush. ‘Grievous are the words which come out from their mouths.’ [18:the Cave:5]

Know, and God may guide us, that they, the holy warriors, are the martyrs of Love. The holy hadith ‘Whomsoever I kill, I am his ransom’ is a reference to their stage (maqam).

They are always under the crushing (sahq under qahr) weight of their affective experience (halan wa dhawqan), and have no moment of rest. For rest is in forgetting, and since they are in the stage of perpetual effacement (mahw da’im) -- awaiting execution -- there is no possibility for them of forgetting Allah (swt) and asking for forgiveness from infidels.

“The distinguishing mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration. Such is their likeness in the Torah and their likeness in the Gospel -- like as sown corn that sendeth forth its shoot and strengtheneth it and riseth firm upon its stalk, delighting the sowers -- that He may enrage the disbelievers with the sight of them.” [48:the Victory:29]

The degree of their realization and knowledge of all that which has been created is as perfect as the creator (khaliq), save the finest span between the finite and the infinite.

The first degree of realization (tahaqquq) they reached is the scene of istiwa in the highest part of the horizon (ufuq) which is the highest stage of the angelic force (jabarut), at which appear the two arcs -- the arc of creation, khalq and the arc of Godhead, uluhiyyah -- to meet each other. Here they heard a voice (saying): "Glory be to Me. I am the Lord of the angels and the spirits. My mercy subdues My wrath."

Then moving further beyond (wara’) the dualistic view (ithnayniyyat) they entered the state of awaiting or pending -- not terminated -- between the finite and the infinite, joining point (nuqtah, dot) of the two arcs, after which comes the phase of aw adna (or nearer) where all dualistic considerations concerning the two arcs disappear. The whole becomes a circle wherein the absolute infinite manifests overall encompassment and penetration. At this stage of total submission and absorption, they come into direct communion (munajat) with the infinite absolute and receive most important message which is known to them and their Lord.

Imam Ja‘far bin Muhammad as-Sadiq says: "It was in this state the command relating to wilayah or imamah with finality was revealed to the Holy Prophet." The Imam further says that "what he saw" has nothing to do with the ordinary sense of seeing but it refers to the realization the cognitive self of the Holy Prophet achieved.

So understand that mukhlas is the one who has been chosen by God and reserved for Himself. We can look for the truth of ‘the eye did not swerve, nor did it go wrong’ here. At this level Love means the will to obey. Here the object is to remove the evil objects. Therefore, when evil objects are removed – as per istiwa, the prophetic walayat is realized. After that, whatever progress we make will be in the area of prophetic perfections. ‘Our Lord! forgive us our sins and transgressions in our duties, establish our feet firmly, and help us against those who resist Faith’ [3:Ali Imran:147];

ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Brotherhood of Believers

Funding a Winning Battle, Learned

Addressing the people who embraced Islam after the fall of Mecca, the Prophet (saw) once said: “If you spend in God’s way a heap of gold equal to the mountain Uhud, it will not be equal to a mudd – roughly a kilo – of wheat which my comrades have spent, nor even half a mudd.” This explains the greatness of the first Muslims who responded to the Prophet’s call and believed in him, devoted their lives, spent their wealth and rendered great services to Islam.

This is the reason why the Qur’an says:

لَا يَسْتَوِي مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَاتَلَ أُوْلَئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا مِن بَعْدُ وَقَاتَلُوا

“You are not equal to those who spent money before the Conquest and fought; for they are far above those who spent afterwards and fought.” [57:the Iron:10]

Before the fall of Mecca the Muslims were a very poor community, so those who spent in the cause of Allah (swt) in such days of distress are superior to those who spent after the removal of poverty when economic prosperity was achieved.

It is a historical fact that the wealth of Khadijah al-Kubra (ra) inherited by Fatimah az-Zahra (ra) and her children was spent to feed not only the displaced muhajirs but also to finance the battles fought by the Holy Prophet (saw) to defend the small community of Muslims.

As far as the fighting in the way of Allah (swt) is concerned none can be cited save Ali (kwj) whose valour and courage won all the battles fought by the Holy Prophet (saw).

Imam Ali (kwj) said: "Allah told the Holy Prophet: ‘Wealth is Mine. The possessor of it is a trustee. The poor and the have-nots of this world are My family. Woe unto those possessors of wealth who do not discharge their duty concerning My trust.’"

O you who inherit wealth! You must remember that what came into your hands should have been spent in the cause of Allah (swt) by your ancestors, who by hoarding it have already earned the displeasure of Allah (swt) and now you must not follow your fathers’ footsteps but “spend out of what He hath made you trustees.”

أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ

‘O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere turning.’

The oft-forgiving Lord (swt) invites us to turn to Him with sincere repentance so that He may bestow His grace on us and forgive our sins.

The Holy Prophet (saw) said: "A sincere repentant never sins again as the milk drawn from the breast never can go back to its source."

Imam Ali (kwj) said: "A sincere repentant (i) is ashamed of his past sins, (ii) takes up the duties overlooked and fulfils them, (iii) makes good the willfully ignored conditions of a trust managed by him, (iv) forgives those who provoke him, (v) does not demand repayment of loans from those who are in financial distress, (vi) makes firm determination not to sin ever again, (vii) surrenders his self to the adoration, devotion and service of Allah when it had swelled to the point of exploding due to inordinate consumption of worldly pleasures, transgression and disobedience."

Sincere repentance implies giving up and discontinuing of evil in thought and action with a firm determination not to repeat it ever again. If it is done then Allah (swt) will efface our past sins and admit us to the eternal land of bliss and happiness, Sa’adah.

So, we can expect this kind of Sa’adah to happen on the 27th night’s, Lailatul Qadr:

Our Light will run forward before us and on our right hands, while we say, “Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for Thou hast power over all things.”

Our greeting will be: "Good news for you this day! Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein ye are immortal. This is indeed the highest Achievement!"

We shall say: "Praise be to Allah, who hath revealed this truth to us; we would not have got it had He not shown it to us. Verily, the messengers of our Lord have come down with truth."

And we shall hear the cry: "Behold! The Garden before you! Ye have been made its inheritors, for your deeds of righteousness."

Now, we have made our object clear, so let us draw back upon the reins, try and see what is behind the curtains.