Documentary: Morocco – Pioneering Economic Growth (Video)

How is the country ‘Pioneering Economic Growth’ ?

[report broken video]

Look What You’ve Built! America’s First Accredited Muslim College (Video)

Now There’s an Academic Address for Islam in America. Together, Let’s Make it Permanent, http://www.zaytuna.edu 

The Barometer of Islamic Society

Source: blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com

By: Abdul-Baseer

In many countries, a yearly address is given to highlight the current status of society such as the State of the Union address delivered annually by the President of the USA.  These addresses tend to focus on economics as economics is the largest factor in voting and politics, as though money is not a measure of happiness in life, it correlates with political satisfaction.  Yet, as Muslims striving in the cause of Allah , we should have our own criterion to determine if our society is in a positive state or in a decline.  We should not depend on rulers or mass media which are not always honest or may be under coercive measures and far from independent, to avoid bias or false perceptions.

Tired Of Cash, Don’t Want Bitcoin? Try The Boniato In Spain (Video)

 Alternative currencies are popping up all over the world, including Spain, where the economic downturn has people looking for and needing something else: the boniato.

The Importance of Studying History According to Ibn Khaldun

Sources: http://lostislamichistory.com/ | http://shamela.ws/

Ibn Khaldun was a scholar of history, economics, sociology, and historiography. His summary of history and particularly its introduction, the Muqaddimah,  is seen by many as the basis for modern historical philosophy.

“Know that the subject of history is a noble science that can be very beneficial only if it gives us a proper understanding of:

1- Previous nations’s morals and character

2- The stories of the Prophets

3- Government and politics

For whoever embarks on the study of history, they will end up in a beneficial imitation of the mindset of previous peoples in the subjects of religion and worldly matters.

This subject is dependent on studying numerous sources, understanding diverse subjects, having the best insight and analysis, and being able to verify the truth of sources as they can deviate and be filled with mistakes. Historical research must not be dependent on bare copying of all reports. It should instead be based on an understanding of local customs, politics, the nature of civilization, and the local conditions of where humans live. You must also be able to compare primary and secondary sources, as they can help you differentiate between the truth and falsehood, helping derive conclusions that are believable and honest.”

Translation by Firas Alkhateeb.

Documentaries You Should Watch!

I’ve gathered a list of some of the best documentaries I’ve seen. While these films may not have been made with a Muslim audience in mind, both student and Imam will appreciate the eye-opening details each film has to offer. As a community, I believe we need to be more informed of the history behind the realities and societal ills taking place before us.

Before you delve into these documentaries, there’s one more thing I should mention. Though I believe it’s important for us to be aware of our surroundings, and more so for the community’s leadership, we must never forget that the best source of guidance is the speech of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) – the Qur’an, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him), and the knowledge of the scholars (may Allah preserve the ones alive and have mercy on the ones that have passed). Above all, we should turn to the Qur’an for enlightenment and guidance. A truly successful personality and truly successful society can only be built via the lessons and implementation of the concepts outlined in the Book of Allah. Without true internal direction from the heart, there can be no true external direction for society. And Allah knows best.

Note: Clicking on the title will open up its trailer or short preview. You can find many of these documentary films at your local video store. Others that are not copyrighted can be seen free at: www.topdocumentaryfilms.com

POLITICS AND HISTORY

1. “Why We Fight” (BBC, 2005)
2. “Fahrenheit 9/11” (Michael Moore, 2004)
3. “War on Democracy” (John Pilger, 2007)
4. “Hijacking Catastrophe” (Sut Jhally, 2004)
5. “Breaking the Silence” (John Pilger, 2003)
6. “Fog of War” (Robert McNamara, 2003)

 

HEALTH, FOOD, AND NATURE

1. “Food Inc.” (Robert Kenner, 2008)
2. “Super Size Me” (Morgan Spurlock, 2004)
3. “Planet Earth” (Discovery Channel, 2006)

 

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

1. “Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People” (Jack Shaheen, 2006)
2. “Control Room” (Magnolia Pictures, 2004)
3. “Hearts and Minds” (Peter Davis, 1974)
4. “Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media” (Herman, 1992)
5. “Weapons of Mass Deception” (Danny Schechter, 2004)
6. “The War You Don’t See” (John Pilger, 2010)

 

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

1. “The Century of the Self” (BBC, 2004)
2. “Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech” (HBO, 2009)
3. “Debate: Political Islam – Is it a threat to the West?” (Doha Debates, 2009)
4. “Bowling for Columbine” (Michael Moore, 2002)
5. “Hamza Tzortzis: Liberalism & Islam” (LSESU, 2011)
6. “Jesus Camp” (A&E Indiefilms, 2006)
7. “A Time for Burning” (William C. Jersey, 1966)
8. “Malcolm X: Make it Plain” (AE, 1994)

 

PALESTINE

1. “Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land” (Sut Jhally, 2004)
2. “The Israel Lobby” (Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer)
3. “Defamation” (Norman Finkelstein, 2009)
4. “Palestine Is Still the Issue” (John Pilger, 2003)
5. “Occupation 101” (Abdallah Omeish, 2006)

 

HUMAN RIGHTS

1. “The Road to Guantanamo” (Michael Winterbottom, 2006)
2. “Taxi to the Dark Side” (Moazzam Begg, 2007)
3. “Fallujah, The Hidden Massacre” (Italy, 2005)
4. “Generation Kill” (Journeyman Pictures, 2004)
5. “The War Tapes” (Deborah Scranton, 2006)

 

ECONOMICS AND GLOBALIZATION

1. “Commanding Height: Battle for the World Economy” (PBS, 2002)
2. “The Corporation” (Noam Chomsky, 2003)
3. “Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices” (Brave New Films, 2005)
4. “Money as Debt” (Paul Grignon, 2006)
5. “Darwin’s Nightmare” (Hubert Sauper, 2004)
6. “End of Suburbia” (Gregory Greene, 2004)
7. “Life + Debt” (Stephanie Black, 2001)
8. “Smartest Guys in the Room” (Alex Gibney, 2005)

 

MISCELLANEOUS

1. “Inside Islam: What a billion Muslim really think” (Dalia Mogahed, 2009)
2. “Islam: Empire of Faith” (PBS, 2000)
3. “Inside Mecca” (National Geographic, 2003)
4. “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple” (PBS, 2006)
5. “Death of the Freedom Fighter” (Al Jazeera, 2009)
6. “The Trouble With Atheism” (Dimitri Collingridge, 2006)
7. “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” (Premise, 2008)
8. “To Catch a Predator” (Dateline, NBC)
9. “An Islamic History of Europe” (Omaar Rageh, BBC)
10. “Free Fahad” (Siraj Wahaj, 2008)
11. “Entrapment or Foling Terror?” (Amy Goodman, 2010)

Source: SuhaibWebb.com