Justice among Wives

Because the woman is the weaker partner in the family relationship, Islam places strong emphasis on the importance of being fair to women, and not to abuse them in any way. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) describes those who are kind and good to their wives as the best of people. He (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: “The best among you are those who are best to your households; I am the best among you to my house-hold.”

On his deathbed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) continued to remind the followers of three areas as needing continuous attention. The first concerns man’s relationship with Allah while the other two are concerned with human relations, concentrating on the need to protect the rights of two vulnerable groups in society, namely, women and slaves. He said repeatedly: “Attend to your prayers. Do not ask those whom your right hands possess to accomplish for you what they cannot do. Fear Allah in your treatment of women.”"

Polygamy in Islam

Quran :

[4.3] And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.

Why Polygamy Is Allowed in Islam
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1140333531684

Justice among Wives
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503544806&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaEAskTheScholar

The myth of Muslim support for terror

WASHINGTON – Those who think that Muslim countries and pro-terrorist attitudes go hand-in-hand might be shocked by new polling research: Americans are more approving of terrorist attacks against civilians than any major Muslim country except for Nigeria.

The survey, conducted in December 2006 by the University of Maryland’s prestigious Program on International Public Attitudes, shows that only 46 percent of Americans think that “bombing and other attacks intentionally aimed at civilians” are “never justified,” while 24 percent believe these attacks are “often or sometimes justified.”

Contrast those numbers with 2006 polling results from the world’s most-populous Muslim countries – Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Terror Free Tomorrow, the organization I lead, found that 74 percent of respondents in Indonesia agreed that terrorist attacks are “never justified”; in Pakistan, that figure was 86 percent; in Bangladesh, 81 percent.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070223/cm_csm/yballen

Deutsche Bank reveals attempts to ‘unlock’ Sharia investment market

A new white paper detailing a model investment structure for Sharia-compliant securities has been unveiled by a leading global investment bank.

Deutsche Bank hopes its white paper will be adopted by other financial institutions to help “alleviate” supply shortages in the Sharia-compliant investment market, allowing it grow and meet the needs of consumer demand.

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/investnews/article.htm?ArticleID=18046841

Post 9/11, Islam flourishes among U.S. blacks

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Islam is growing fast among African Americans, who are undeterred by increased scrutiny of Muslims in the United States since the September 11 attacks, according to imams and experts.

Converts within the black community say they are attracted to the disciplines of prayer, the emphasis within Islam on submission to God and the religion’s affinity with people who are oppressed.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=300602007

US mayor converts to Islam

Macon Mayor Jack Ellis has converted to Islam and is now working to legally change his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis.

Ellis, who was raised Christian, said Thursday that he became a Sunni Muslim during a December ceremony in the west African nation of Senegal.

“You do it because it feels right,” said Ellis. “To me it’s no big deal. But people like to know what you believe in. And this is what I believe in.”

If anybody wants to know about Islam, I can hold an intelligent conversation,” Ellis said. “What I’ve found is how little we know about the religion.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/02/america/NA-GEN-US-Mayor-Islam.php

More Hispanic Americans are Converting to Islam

The number of Hispanic Americans converting to Islam is growing rapidly — particularly in New York, California, Texas and Florida, which have the greatest concentration of Hispanic residents. Muslim leaders say interest in Islam has increased in the past few years, and they also note that Muslims and Hispanics, many of whom are immigrants, share a number of common concerns. Steve Mort reports from a mosque in Florida that has seen a steady increase in Latino worshippers.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-02-09-voa33.cfm

Dubai tours offer positive view of Islam

Leader funds mosque tours for Western visitors to clear up misconceptions

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15400715

Many blame Islamic-Western tensions on “intolerant minorities,” poll finds

Most Canadians reject the notion the Islamic and western worlds are engaged in a clash of civilizations based on culture and religion, according to a new international poll.

The GlobeScan survey found a majority, 56 per cent, of Canadians regard the conflict between Islam and the West to be primarily about “political power and interests.”

Only 29 per cent said religious and cultural differences are to blame.

Many Canadians, 55 per cent, also cited “intolerant minorities” on both sides of the divide as an important contributing factor to the tension. Canadians were much more likely to assess shared blame than to specifically cite Muslim, 12 per cent, or western, seven per cent, minorities.

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Advanced geometry of Islamic art

A study of medieval Islamic art has shown some of its geometric patterns use principles established centuries later by modern mathematicians

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