Sunday 27 January 2019

President Isa of World Uyghur Congress at the Islamic Cultural Centre

World Uyghur Congress President
at the Islamic Cultural Centre

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The President of the World Uyghur Congress, Mr. Dolkun Isa along with his delegation visited the Islamic Cultural Centre, London on Monday, the 21st of January, 2019 and met Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, the Director General of the London Central Mosque Trusts and the Islamic Cultural Centre and his staff at the Board Room of the Centre. Dr. al-Dubayan introduced the Islamic Cultural Centre and gave a brief history, background of the foundation of the Centre as well as the activities of the Mosque and the Centre.

World Uyghur Congress President
Dolkun Isa
The President of the World Uyghur Congress Dolkun Isa introduced the situation of Uyghur in Eastern Turkestan. He said, “Xinjiang is autonomous, China does not call Eastern Turkestan. China calls Xinjiang; it is a Chinese name. Xin is new and jiang is border territory. It is a new territory for China. The territorial size is 1.6 million square kilometres (640,000 square miles); it is five times larger than Germany; may be, five or six times larger than the United Kingdom. Most of the places are mountain; only 4.6 per cent inhabitable; 94 per cent is mountainous; but it is rich territory; it is rich in resources, uranium, gold. This is the main reason for the Chinese government. Though the territory is rich, but we the Turkestani people are very poor, because we cannot use all the natural resources; never been benefitted by the Uyghur people. It is used by the Chinese government.”



Speaking about the political climate of China, Uyghur President mentioned, “In 1949 the Communist Party came into power and took control of Eastern Turkestan and in 1955 they gave autonomy to Eastern Turkestan but Turkistani people never seen the real autonomy; just the fake autonomy; or paper autonomy. Even today we have also lot of rights according to constitution. Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution guarantee freedom; everybody can believe their religion; but today in practice we don’t believe in religion. Particularly the constitution did not really practice since the current president of China, Xi Jinping. Since 2013, he attacked all religions; not only the Uyghur Eastern Turkestani Muslims even Han Chinese, Tibetan and all the people already persecuted.”

President Dolkun Isa then talked about the Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966. There was ten years cultural revolution. “At that time lots of religious people were put in jail. People are talking about genocide, people talking of justice. May be, Hitler killed 20 million people or Stalin killed more than Hilter; but Mao Se Tung already killed 48 million people. But nobody was talking about this. He killed during Cultural Revolution time,” mentioned about Chinese Cultural Revolution period.

The current Communist Party Secretary Xi Jinping was party secretary in Tibet. In August 2016, he was appointed communist party secretary in Turkestan. About him President Isa said, “He brutally killed Tibetan people. From 2014 to 2016 more than 160 Tibetan people burned themselves. That is the only choice they have.”


Concentration camps
President Isa then talked about re-education camps. He said, “Xi Jinping used his experience in Tibet and implemented very strong way that rule in Turkestan. In March or April 2017 he started new regulation called re-education camp. It is actually concentration camp. Some international media called this re-education camp; others called it detention camps; some called concentration camp. However it is re-education centre. Today it has more than 3 million people; in 2018, its number was one million. Since then only after one year passed, we heard every day new people sent to the camp; never heard people came out from the camps. So many killed,”

Muhammad Salih 82 was killed
President Isa talked about Muhammad Salih. “Muhammad Salih translated Qur’an in Uyghur language in 1980s by the order of the Chinese government. But thirty years later because of this job, he was put in the camps in November 2017 and two months later he died in the camp. He was 82-years old,” he mentioned.

Mosques destroyed or demolished
Chen Quanguo became party secretay of the region in August 2016, moved from Tibet.  Speaking about him, WUC President Isa mentioned, “In 2016 after the Chen Quanguo appointed party secretary first and he started confiscation of the Qur’an. In 2016-2017, he destroyed 3,000 to 5,000 mosques in Turkestan. We tried to explain the whole of the world; but nobody listened to us really. Within one year, 3000 to 5,000 mosques completely destroyed. Step by step all the Islamic scholars arrested and sent to re-education camps; step by step in 2016 they issued some special cards to enter to mosques; and step by step they forbidden Ramadan fasting.”

Fasting During Ramadan Forbidden
WUC President spoke about Fasting in Ramadan was forbidden. He said, “In 2016, may be, you have heard this news in the BBC, CNN or all the international media reported over the fasting. Fasting was forbidden but some people felt to fast; so they started fasting secretly. Then Chinese government does not care whether the government employees eat and drink during lunch time; but in 2016 and 2017, Chinese government during the lunch time in Ramadan provided water and food; forced to eat and drink; otherwise they will be punished. Fasting is the personal choice; you fast or not; but in the 21st century in my country, fasting is forbidden.”


“It is the old tradition of the Turkestani people to fast during Ramadan. During the Ramadan time, all restaurants are closed; just open at Iftar time; but the government forced to open, you should open the restaurants during the daytime. Whoever closes the restaurant during the daytime in Ramadan, will have to close all the time. Their business will be closed. Plus they are forced to sell alcohol and cigarettes in all the Muslim restaurants,” he mentioned.

Alcohol-drinking competition in Ramadan
WUC President also mentioned about alcohol beer-drinking competition during Ramadan. He said, “In 2015, for the first time alcohol beer-drinking competitions during Ramadan time was introduced and implemented and last year in 2018 implemented among the woman.  In 2016, Chinese government gathered all the imams and all the sheikhs and forced them to dance in front of bus. And today China is not only against Turkestani people, not only against Uyghur people; it really starts war against Islam.”

China starts really war against Islam
Speaking about the Qur’an, WUC President mentioned, “In 2016 and 2017, government orders all the people to bring the Qur’an to the local government or to the police station before July 2017; Uyghurs who have Qur’an should bring to the local government; if you don’t bring and if they find this; then you would be punished. The local government asks why you keep the Qur’an; are you reading? Does not matter whether they read it or not. Some scholars do not read the Qur’an but just keep it; but then there are lots of questions and then they did arrest the people who were afraid to bring the Qur’an to the local government but there is one river Ulja river; people in the middle night throw the Qur’an into the river. This is the situation.”

Muslim names Forbidden
President Isa also mentioned about the Muslim names. He said, “When China saw there was no response from the Islamic world, it started step by step other harsh actions. China said, okay, I can do more; step by step they today you cannot give Muslim names even to your baby, to your children; Muhammad, Ahmad, Shahid, Ayesha, Khadija all these names are forbidden. You cannot give such a name to any baby today. Even then came the next regulation: under 16-year old if you have already such a name you have to change.  The government orders: ‘Please change the name, you don’t have to pay alteration and admission fee to the government. So nice of the Chinese government!”

Cannot greet Islamic greeting:
It is a cultural war
WUC President talked about the cultural war. He mentioned, “Today all the mosques are closed in East Turkestan but some mosques are open. China has two types of Muslims:  East Turkestani Muslims, Uyghur, Kazak, Uzbek and the Qui Muslims; then there are Tunqa Muslims; they are 11 million Muslims. They speak in Chinese language. But they are Muslims. They go to the Mosques but Turkestani people are not allowed to go to Mosque; cannot read the Qur’an, and today you cannot greet each other in Islamic greeting – Assalamu Alaikum. It is a cultural war; you cannot greet each other Assalamu Alaikum.”

Check point every 200 meters
WUC President then mentioned about the checking of smart phone. He said, “On your way police will stop you and ask you for smart phone. Every 200 meters there is check point. In the capital of Turkestan 960 police man in the station; it means every 200 to 300 meters there is check point. They ask the people to stop and ask for their smart phone. In any phone,  if they find any word religious or Islam that will be a big problem for you. That’s why people today, really afraid to use smart phone.”

President Isa lamented on the
silence of Muslim world
President Isa lamented, “All these things are happening in Eastern Turkistan, Muslim world just silent on this. Three years ago, one of the catholic pastors in New York burnt Qur’an on the street; world Muslims stood up; Turkestani people gathered and protested against him and it was stopped because it was in America. But today China burnt the Qur’an but no news, no reaction from the world. We cannot give the names; we cannot say Salam alaikum.”


Mother passed away in the
concentration camp
Speaking about his personal tragedy, Isa mentioned, “I personally lost communication in the middle of April 2017. Since then I have no news; my mother passed away in the concentration camp; my mother was 78 years old lady; and I lost contact with her. Just 12 June last year 2018 suddenly I got the sad news; breaking news that my mother passed away.”

“It is 21st century I tried to contact; communication is not the issue for the people. I am trying to contact world institutions how she was passed away? Still I did not have an idea about this. What was happening? She passed away in camps and I had no idea. International media rung the police station two three weeks later and I heard my mother was arrested one year ago; put her into concentration camps and she passed away nearly one year later. She was 78 years old lady. We believe in God, we believe in Allah; I can meet her in the next life. My father is 90 years old but I had no idea whether he is alive or dead. No news coming; no news,” lamented Isa.

WUC President also mentioned about his other relations. He said, “After I got the news of my mother passed away I was crying. I suffered quite a couple of months; okay I make dua for her; but I have no idea about my father; whether he is alive or dead. My younger brother has disappeared since May 2017; he was in concentration camps. This time just a couple of weeks ago, I heard about my older brother; he was a professor; he was sentenced for thirty years.”

What type of re-education is this?
WUC President questioned about the type of re-education is this. He said, “Today couple of hundreds professors, scholars, lawyers are in the camps. China said, we are re-educating them. Do you really re-educate the professors, for what purpose? Even some professors already 90 years-old; 90-years-old professors will be educated; yes. Actually the Chinese government have the ethnic cleansing policy there. They actually start war against Islam. We are suffering because we are Muslims. That’s the issue.”

Double-faced Chinese government
President Isa mentioned about the double-faced China. He said, “The Chinese government has two faces: if they visit Western countries they say woh, we are victim of terrorism, because the Western world believes Muslim and Islam is terrorism; yes China uses the same. Uyghur is Muslim. That’s why, China argued they are victim of terrorism; and on the China’s list I am on the top of the terrorist list. My name was in the Interpol; I have been suffering 21 years; fortunately last year 2018 February finally my name is deleted from the Interpol. I have been fighting; never stopped fighting. I have never seen bomb in my life. I have never seen real gun in my life; I just saw in the movie; but I am top number of terrorism.”


“China is trying all; if you read Qur’an you are terrorist; if you are saying Salam Alaikum you are immediately called terrorist; because in January 2016 China has passed a new bill Counter-terrorism Law. If you say Salam Alaikum; it is terrorism; everything is terrorism. If China has diplomatic communication with the Western countries they say we are victim of terrorism. We Turkestani are terrorists,” said President Isa and added, “If they go to Muslim countries, they say we have Muslim minorities. They cheat the people; because of ethnicity, because of religion, we really suffer for this.  Step by step they are doing it. They are coming to the other parts of China.  Muslims in China as well. So it is really an unimaginable situation now in Turkestan.”

We Turkestani seek help from the Muslim World
WUC President urged the Muslim world to help Turkestani Muslims. He appealed to the Muslim world. “We seek help from the Muslim world; your help; we need because it is 21st century if someone say China to stop; it works. Lot of lobbying work are needed. There is United Nations; there are more than 15 European countries; we have to work with them.  6th of November, 2018, United Nations review China’s human rights report. More than 4,000 Turkistani people gathered in the United Nations Geneva; we held a big demonstration.  Before this, on 27 April, another 5000 Turkistani people gathered before the European Council in the Brussels. We held big demonstrations. Now slowly slowly international media pay attention to the Uyghur situation and the United Nations special session on China 14 countries sit all and they asked the Chinese government to close immediately these camps and they closed these camps. UK also spoke; Germany also spoke. Unfortunately, no one Muslim country except Malaysia.”

Islam is illness and this must be
Eradicated: It’s a slogan
Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan wanted to know the human rights situation in other parts of China and also enquire about the other religious communities in China. President Isa replied, “There are lots of problem also; there is lots of human rights lawyer, human rights defenders were in jail and some persecution of Christians as well; because Chinese communists party is anti-religious government. Today Chinese Christians are also victims of Chinese persecution. Today Buddhists in Tibet also.”

“But if you compare the situations of Muslims with some other religious groups; it is unbelievable; because Chinese government say Islam is illness; yes, they openly say this. Islam is illness and this illness must be eradicated; it is a slogan,” mentioned WUC President Isa.


Thursday 17 January 2019

The Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang

The Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang:
A Form of “Cultural Genocide”

Dr. Mozammel Haque

“We must talk about the crisis Xinjiang in terms of possible “crimes against humanity” and – if not genocide, certainly a form of “cultural genocide.” It involves the elimination of culture, and a campaign of ‘Sinicisation’.” said Benedict Rogers, a member of the advisory board of the International Coalition to End Organ Trafficking in China (ETAC), and a trustee of the Phan Foundation and the Chin Human Rights Foundation, at an event “Understanding the Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang” at the Houses of Parliament.

Henry Jackson Society organised the event “Understanding the Uyghur Situation in Xinjiang” on 10th of January 2019, at the Houses of Parliament. Lord Hannay of Chiswick hosted as well as chaired the discussion in which Benedict Rogers, Rossie Blau, Dr. Enver Tohti and Rahima Mahmut discussed the Uyghur situation in Xinjiang.

While writing the report of the event, instead of the way the proceedings took place, I would go from the basic facts of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang, then what is happening with them in the region, what is their problems and then what the UK government is doing and what the international community should or could do? These are the questions I would like to deal with through the presentations and lectures delivered by the learned speakers and natives of Xinjiang.



Rossie Blau on Uyghur Community in Xinjiang
First of all, let me speak first about the basic facts of Xinjiang. Rossie Blau, editor of 1843, The Economist’s Lifestyle and Culture magazine, gave some facts. She said, “Xinjiang – means new frontier, new borderland began to fall under control of what we now call China in the mid-18th Century [[Kashgar, big, mainly Uighur city in Western Xinjiang, is far closer to Kabul and Islamabad than it is to Beijing]].

“This region is mainly populated by ethnic Uyghurs, whose culture and Muslim faith set them apart from much of the rest of China. Also Kazakhs and other ethnic minorities. In 1949, when Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came to power, Han population of Xinjiang was 4%” said Blau.

The population of Xinjiang was 22 million out of which Uyghur was 10 million, 45%; Han population of Xinjiang was 4% but today Han are 42%. That huge migration encouraged or at times forced by the Chinese Communist Party, said Blau and added, “For decades the region has been racked by a low-level insurgency by a small number of Uyghurs against growing Han influence.  Huge ramping up of repression in past decade in 2009 around 200 people died in ethnic clashes in Urumqi, the region’s capital. Security has since been ramped up.”

What is happening?
Rossie Blau who was based in Beijing from 2014-17 as China Correspondent for The Economist, reported from across the country on everything from politics and foreign policy to society, culture and ethnicity. She said:“Ordinary manifestations of Islamic faith criminalised, such as *rules came into effect that banned “abnormal” beards; *women wearing face veils or full-body coverings reported to police; *can’t give names that “exaggerate religious fervour”; *leaked list of banned names includes Muhammad and *under 18s can’t go to mosques or be taught the Koran at home.” 

2) Huge Ramping of Security
She also mentioned about the huge ramping of security. She said, “huge displays of paramilitary troops; *Extraordinary level of surveillance – security cameras, extremely intrusive; *Increased spending on security hardware and personnel in Xinjiang; *vehicles in parts of Xinjiang to install a satellite navigation system so people “can be tracked wherever they go;” *residents have had to go to health checks and reports of giant DNA basis. In recent months we’ve had reports of up to 1 million Uyghurs, and some Kazakhs, being held in camps - some go for the day; many go for months and some seem to go for years.”

What is desired End Result?
China wants to make everyone like Han Chinese 
Blau said, “What the Chinese government wants is to turn Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang into population who act like Han Chinese, speak Mandarin, and have very few vestiges of any other culture or influence; Playing the long game – and this is where an autocracy is so different from a democracy. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a dynasty, not going anywhere any time soon. And so it sits and waits this out, and then it will have pacified a population.” 

She also mentioned, “Teach Uyghurs in Mandarin even if that means they are less well educated; Remove any chance to read the Koran or teach your children; Turn mosques into tourist attractions; Mullahs into tour guides, as monks increasing are in temples in Inner Mongolia, and Tibet; and Reduce links between Uyghurs and the outside world, just as those in Inner Mongolia were effectively completely cut off from Mongolia, families separated etc.”

Dr. Enver Tohti
Dr. Enver Tohti is a human rights activist and public speaker on the atrocities carried out against the Uyghur. Tohti’s former role as a surgeon brought him in contact with the horrifying crime of organ harvesting. He said, “Massive detention and arbitrary killing are no longer a myth, but it is the fact now. The number of cases, the number of detainees no longer has a meaning, because, one is more than enough. With puzzled eyes closely looking at the CCP’s action one could not comprehend it. One will question that did not the CCP’s thinktankers are educated? Did not they know what they are doing has been tried by Hitler?”


To understand it, Dr. Tohti decided to look back to their history, and there is the answer. He said, “The Manchurians, they have made whole China, apart from the language, look like Manchurians! They have dress like them. And here we are that Xinjiang is the place that Sinisization has gone badly wrong! So they found that they can not bear that the so called barbarians are still pretty much alive, because:
You heart, my skin must be different! 非我族類,其心必異!

“Therefore, eliminating the barbarians is the ultimate duty of the CCP! So, I was puzzled, but not surprised! They have realised that their action is under western surveillance of satellites, so they come up the idea to remove, transfer prisoner at nights, so your satellites cannot take pictures any more,” mentioned Dr. Tohti and added, “The redistribution of the prisoners across the country has, however, a hidden agenda, that is that in case of Chinese regime collapse that the Uyghur who is believed to have power to rebel will not have enough manpower to form a meaningful resistance.”

“An insider source said that the destinations of those prisoners are the major organ transplant centres of China. This explains how the CCP able to find an organ in as short as 4 hours. Just imagine a Chinese fish restaurant, there is a water tank full of fish, and you can choose the one you want,” mentioned Dr. Tohti.

In this connection, Dr. Tohti reminded the background of the Uyghur community and their nature. He said, “Sandwiched by the super powers during the history, and as the last keeper of Nestorian Christianity, that the Uyghurs have always been the victims of the power struggle in the region and had never thought to conquer any other nation but always maintained peace with the neighbour. Because there was peace in 1940s, when there were 5 million Uyghur and only 100,000 Han Chinese. Therefore, the truth should be told, and the reconciliation has to be made.”

Rahima Mahmut - An Eyewitness
Account of what is happening
Rahima Mahmut, a Uyghur singer born in Ghulja, in the north of what was Eastern Turkestan, brought up in a large religious family; educated in Mandarin and studied at the Dalian University of Technology from 1987 to 1992. She participated in the famous 1989 Democracy movement. On returning from the University she worked in the Petrochemical Industry in Dushanzi (Maytagh in Uyghur), one of the largest Petrochemical plant in Eastern Turkistan where she found only 10% of the workforce were from ethnic minorities.

Rahima was speaking and telling her own account of what she has seen during her student life and professional life. She said, “I witnessed widespread discrimination against Uyghur people in every aspect of their daily life, especially in the opportunities for promotion, and jobs. This was a common phenomenon throughout Eastern Turkistan. On February the 5th 1997, people in my Home Town of Ghulja took to the streets protesting against the governments discriminating policies against Uyghur people, demanding religious and cultural freedom, and equality. As usual, the government crushed the peaceful demonstrators with military force where hundreds were killed, thousands were arrested which was followed by mass executions.”


Rahima also mentioned, “I was on my winter vacation visiting my mother and family with my two-year-old son, I witnessed how the military and police terrorised the whole city, searching homes and arresting innocent people. It was heart-breaking to witness the helplessness and despair felt by my people. Many of my relatives and family friends were arrested and later sentenced to a long prison term.” 

Rahima came to the UK in 2000 to study and have lived here ever since. She said, “For the last 18 years, I was unable to return to see my family and my beloved homeland because of my involvements in speaking out against the Human Rights violations imposed on my people by the Chinese government.  And my last contact with my brother was in January 2017 and I was told not to contact them anymore. Up till today, I don’t know how they are, if they are safe or interned in re-education camps. I have tried to find information indirectly, but it has not been possible. Whoever I approach is terrified to get involved as the political environment is so terrifying.” 

Rahima also mentioned about mass detention. She said, "Not long after I spoke to my brother, news about the mass detention of people and the placing them into so-called re-education camps started to emerge. The gruesome details of how people were targeted and criminalized in the claim of cracking down on religious extremism, which in fact apply to all ordinary practicing Muslims.”

She also mentioned, “People were targeted because they are related to the activists living abroad, or have travelled outside China, or studied in foreign countries, or have relatives living in other countries, or have been on a religious pilgrimage to Makkah without state authorisation, also who display their faith in their appearance and clothing, and have been known to listen to religious sermons in the past, or have been detained or served prison sentence in the past.”

Rahima described the chilling and horrendous situation of those possibly up to 3 million people who are held and detained in so-called re-education camps or prisons. She said, “We believe that there are possibly up to 3 million people are held in the camps. They have been detained in so-called re-education camps or prison, their accounts about the torture is chilling and horrendous. One person who was released only two month ago revealed that there are people kept in detention for over a year before being moved to a so-called re-education camp. He said that the place of detention was a nightmare. During his time of detention of over three months, he was tortured daily, 60 people were crowded into a 60 square meter cell.”

“When asked why he was arrested, he stated he didn’t know, and he believed that because he is Uyghur,” Rahima said after interviewing some people who were detained and added, “The horrific details which he described affected me so deeply that I was unable to sleep for two nights. What we are reading in the papers is only the tip of the iceberg, as there are many more horrendous crimes against humanity taking place at this very moment.”


Rahima also said, “This is just an insight to what is happening to the people held in detention and camps, and people who are outside of these establishment are not free of intimidation either, as they have no freedom of speech, language, dress, eat, drink, and religion. The entire way of Uyghur cultural heritage and tradition has been taken away from them, including their funeral rights.”

Benedict Rogers on
Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang
Benedict Rogers, one of the speakers, is a British human rights activist and writer based in London. His work focuses on Asia, specialising particularly in Burma, North Korea, China and Indonesia, but has also covered the Maldives, East Timor and Pakistan. He is the East Asia Team Leader at the international human rights organization CSW.  He is the co-founder and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party’s human rights commission, and authored its 2016 report on China, The Darkest Moment: The crackdown on human rights in China 2013-2016, its report on forced organ harvesting in China and its forthcoming report on China’s Confucius Institutes. He has written three books which focus on Burma and co-authored two others on Christian human rights obligations.

Mr. Rogers provided an overview of the appalling human rights crisis in Xinjiang, China. He said, “On Tuesday, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee was told by a panel of China experts that “grave human rights violations” on a “vast scale” were being perpetrated in the worst human rights crisis in China since the era of Chairman Mao. Credible reports suggest that at least one million, some estimate as many as three million, people are detained without charge in political re-education camps in Xinjiang, for acts as basic as having a Whatsapp function on their mobile phones, having relatives living abroad, accessing religious materials online, having visited particular countries, engaging in religious activities – or sometimes no reason is given at all. They have no access to legal counsel, no mechanism for appeal, and the family are not told where the detainee is held or when they will be released. Detainees in these camps are held in dangerously unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, where torture, beatings, sleep deprivation and solitary confinement are common.”

He also mentioned, “In October 2018, CSW published a report based on interviews with witnesses and family members of victims and publicly available material including: government notices for recruitment for construction workers and procurement for construction of the camps; Chinese state media commentary; eyewitness testimony from former re-education camp employees, detainees and visitors; academic research; international media and Google Maps images. Major human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Uyghur Human Rights Project have published detailed reports.”


What was the UK’s response?
Mr. Benedict Rogers mentioned about what has been the UK’s response so far, and what more could it do? He said, “The Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told Parliament that the UK views the situation “with a lot of concern”, and he has pledged to raise it “in all appropriate forums”. British diplomats visited Xinjiang in August and they confirmed the report about the existence of re-education camps as “broadly accurate”. The British ambassador to China signed on to a letter by 15 western ambassadors, spearheaded by Canada, to Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang’s Communist Party leader. The Foreign Secretary has raised it with the Chinese Foreign Minister.”

Rogers continued, “And in China’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations, the UK issued a specific recommendation calling on China to implement the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and allow the UN to monitor the implementation. The Committee itself has described Xinjiang as: “something that resembled a massive internment camp shrouded in secrecy, a “no rights zone”, while members of the Xinjiang Uyghur minority, along with others who were identified as Muslim, were being treated as enemies of the State based on nothing more than their ethno-religious identity.”

What more the UK should or could do?
Benedict Rogers welcome all of these steps. But the question now is what more should or could the UK do? He said, “Firstly, I believe the UK could be more public in its condemnation. The situation has reached a level which merits public statements. Silence or perceived silence is not acceptable in response to a crisis of this kind.”

He also said, “Secondly, I would urge the UK to work with others in the international community to establish an independent, international, impartial and comprehensive UN-led investigation and to work towards the establishment of a mechanism for accountability.”

Thirdly, Rogers said, “at a domestic level, the UK Home Office should ensure that no individual who would be at risk of arbitrary detention and other abuses in Xinjiang is forcibly returned to China from the UK.”


Benedict Rogers said, “I would also urge members of both Houses of Parliament to seek a debate in both Houses on the situation in Xinjiang. There have been parliamentary questions, oral and written, but we believe it is now time for a full debate, in both Houses.”

Concluding Remarks of Rogers
Rogers concluded his speech with three final points and then the words of a survivor of the camps. He said, “First, I want to highlight concerns around DNA testing of Uyghurs and others, which has been reported recently, and the forcible transportation of Uyghurs from Xinjiang to other parts of the country, including Heilongjiang. The concern here is two-fold – first that the DNA testing could be used for biometric surveillance, and/or that it could be used in connection with forced organ harvesting – an abuse that is currently being investigated by the independent China Tribunal[1] chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, who prosecuted Slobodan Milosevic, and which has issued an interim judgement concluding that this practice has been committed “beyond doubt” on a significant scale.”

“Second, we must talk about the crisis Xinjiang in terms of possible “crimes against humanity” and – if not genocide, certainly a form of “cultural genocide”. It involves the elimination of culture, and a campaign of ‘Sinicisation’.” said Rogers and added, “China’s state media, as quoted by the New York Times, has stated that the goal in Xinjiang is to “break their lineage, break their roots, break their connections and break their origins”. As the Washington Post put it: “It’s hard to read that as anything other than a declaration of genocidal intent.””

Rogers also said, “Finally, it is very important to see this in the context of Xi Jinping’s wider crackdown on human rights throughout China. While it is absolutely right to focus on Xinjiang right now, the crisis there must be seen alongside the crackdown on Christians – involving the destruction of crosses, closure of churches and imprisonment of pastors – as well as the continuing repression in Tibet, the campaign against Falun Gong, the pressure on freedom of expression, the crackdown on human rights lawyers and the erosion of freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong.”


Benedict Rogers closed his speech with the words of Mihrigul Tursun, who told the United States Congress at a hearing last year that:
“I was taken to a cell, which was built underground with no windows. There was an iron gate and the door opened through a computerized lock system. There was a small hole in the ceiling for ventilation and we were never taken outside for fresh air. There was a toilet bowl in the corner out in the open without toilet papers. There were cameras on all four sides so the officials could see every corner of the room, including the toilet area, and they could hear every noise we make. There was one light that was always on.

“I knew most of the women in my cell. They were my neighbors, young daughters of my former teachers, and doctors, including a doctor, who had been educated in the UK and treated me in the past. They were mostly well-educated professionals such as teachers and doctors. There were around 60 people kept in a 430 square feet cell so at nights, 10 to 15 women would stand up while the rest of us would sleep on sideways so we could fit, and then we would rotate every 2 hours….

“We had 7 days to memorize the rules of the concentration camp and 14 days to memorize all the lines in a book that hails the Communist ideology. Those women whose voice were weak or cannot sing the songs in Chinese, or remember the specific rules of the camp were denied food or beaten up…

“They forced us to take some unknown pills and drink some kind of white liquid. The pill caused us to lose consciousness and reduced our cognition level. The white liquid caused loss of menstruation in some women and extreme bleeding in others and even death. I was also forced to take some unknown drugs. They checked my mouth with their fingers to make sure I swallowed them. I felt less conscious and lethargic, and lost appetite after taking these drugs.

“I clearly remember the torture I experienced in the tiger chair the second time I was incarcerated. I was taken to a special room with an electrical chair. It was the interrogation room that had one light and one chair. There were belts and whips hanging on the wall. I was placed in a high chair that clicked to lock my arms and legs in place and tightened when they press a button. My head was shaved beforehand for the maximum impact. The authorities put a helmet-like thing on my head. Each time I was electrocuted, my whole body would shake violently and I could feel the pain in my veins. I thought I would rather die than go through this torture and begged them to kill me.”[2]

“The time for action is long overdue,” Benedict Rogers concluded his speech after quoting the long words of Mihrigul Tursun and said the time for action is long overdue.






Tuesday 15 January 2019

Questions on Islamophobia at House of Lords' Chamber

Baroness Finn asks Question on Islamophobia
at House of Lords’ Chamber

Dr. Mozammel Haque

I am fortunate enough on Monday, the 14th of January 2019 that I attended the Lords’ Chamber as guest of Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham and listened to the two issues, one question was asked by Lord Ahmed on Humanitarian Situation in Yemen and another question was asked by Baroness Finn on Islamophobia. Followings are the question and reply on Islamophobia at the House of Lords chamber on 14 January, 2019.

Potential Consequences of Adopting
an Official Definition of Islamophobia
Baroness Finn (Con) asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential consequences of adopting an official definition of Islamophobia.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Wales Office (Conservative Party) replied, “My Lords, we remain deeply concerned at hatred directed against British Muslims and others because of their faith or heritage. This is utterly unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our country. We know that ​some have suggested that establishing a definition of Islamophobia could strengthen efforts to confront bigotry and division. Any such approach would need to be considered carefully to ensure that this would have the positive effect intended.”



Formal definition of Islamophobia drawn to avoid
Creating  a wider threat to free speech?
Baroness Finn (Con) said, “The formal definition of anti-Semitism is carefully but narrowly drawn and has helped to focus minds and resources on this pernicious hatred. How will my noble friend ensure that a formal definition of Islamophobia, if introduced, has a similar impact but is narrowly and carefully drawn so as to avoid creating a wider threat to free speech?

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth replied: “My Lords, it would be useful for my noble friend to look at the debate we had before Christmas, on 20 December, on this issue. I will certainly provide her with the link. It illustrated some of the difficulties that exist. It took some time to establish the definition for anti-Semitism. As I said, we would need to proceed with great care. In the interim, there is clearly an issue of hatred and bigotry directed against Muslims that we must confront.”

Twice Members of the House of Lords tried to join in the discussion.

Ensure all faiths and beliefs are equally protected?
Then Lord Singh of Wimbledon (Cross Benches) joined in this debate and said: “My Lords, there is no common statistical basis whatsoever suggesting that members of any one faith suffer more discrimination than others. Emotive words like Islamophobia are simply unhelpful pleas for special consideration. Does the Minister agree that the Government have a basic responsibility to ignore all special pleading and ensure that all faiths and beliefs are equally protected?”

Hate crimes against Muslims
Have risen dramatically
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth replied to the above question: “My Lords, I would first say to the noble Lord—who contributed to the debate on this issue on 20 December—that of course all faiths, heritages and races should be protected, and indeed are protected. I would also gently say to him that the statistics show numerically that there are far more attacks and bigotry in relation to the Muslim community than any other.”

Consider the definition from and the work
Done by APPG on British Muslims
Baroness Hussein-Ece (Liberal Democrats) joined in this debate and said, “My Lords, the Minister has acknowledged that hate crimes against Muslims have risen dramatically. The Government’s own figures show a rise of 40%, almost equal to that of anti-Semitism. Will the Government accept that it is becoming increasingly normalised? We have commentators and columnists who think it is perfectly proper to argue that racism and hate speech against Muslims is acceptable and, in fact, should be normalised. Will the Government carefully consider the definition from and work done by the APPG on British Muslims, after consulting 800 community organisations, 80 academics and more than 60 parliamentarians, on offering that protection, and send out a strong signal that they intend to offer ​some protection? It is not special pleading; it is about reducing hate crime in the same way done for British Jews as well.”

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth replied: “My Lords, I share the ambition to ensure that the incidence of hate crime comes down. There is evidence of better reporting; that is one reason, although not the only reason, why the statistics show an increase. It is worth mentioning that. It is important to confront this wherever we look. The noble Baroness will be aware that we recently renewed the hate crime action plan, which is now going forward to 2020. I very much value the work done by the APPG and by others on this issue. Of course the Government will look at this in the round, as we will the other evidence and the very valuable debate we had just before Christmas.”
Will he commit to working inside the government?
To get a definition adopted without delay
Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op) joined in the debate and said, “My Lords, will the noble Lord go further and join me in congratulating the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims on producing this report and its definition of Islamophobia? It makes clear that Islamophobia is rooted in racism—racism that targets Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. Its report and definition have been endorsed by British Muslims for Secular Democracy, the Muslim Women’s Network UK, the Muslim Council of Great Britain and, as the noble Baroness, Lady Hussein-Ece, said, by more than 800 other organisations. Will he commit to working inside government to get a definition adopted without delay?”


Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth replied: “My Lords, I say to the noble Lord, who I do not think was present at the debate in question, that there are split views on this issue. It is not quite as straightforward as he suggests. Of course we want to work with the APPG and others, and we are certainly committed to any way of confronting and bringing down bigotry and hatred. But I want to make sure that we get this right, and that means not rushing it. I appreciate that the noble Lord will be part of that endeavour and look forward to his support in that.”

Shared endeavour to bring down anti-Muslim hatred
And Islamophobia and confront them both
Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl) joined in this debate and said, “My Lords, I say to the Minister, with due respect, that there was not such division as he suggests. However, as he may be aware, those of us who have spoken in the debate since the Islamophobia debate on 20 December have received some unsavoury intimidation. Does he agree that any definition that seeks to protect a community must be rooted in that community? Does he therefore agree that any attempts to undermine the community’s agency is in itself a part of that problem? To the House, I say that those of us who have worked tremendously hard over years and decades will not tolerate any division between us while we fight Islamophobia, other prejudices and anti-Semitism.”

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth replied: “My Lords, first, if the noble Baroness goes back to that debate, she will find that there were certainly Muslim contributors who had different views. I am not saying that they did not want to confront Muslim hatred and Islamophobia—they did—but there are certainly different approaches that we would have to look at. I share her view about making sure that, in a shared endeavour, we bring down anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia and confront them both.”

Is it not better to learn from what the
Stephen Lawrence inquiry did?
The Archbishop of York joined in the debate and said; “My Lords, on the overall question of definitions, sometimes it is much easier to do things when we handle them as concepts. In the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, we struggled with the question of racism, particularly when it is found in institutions, so we ended up saying: “The concept that we apply to this case of institutional racism is this”. That is much easier than a definition because a definition can restrict what you want to say. Is it not better to learn from what the Stephen Lawrence inquiry did? We in that inquiry also struggled with the question of homophobic incidents in many other places. In the end, we adopted the word “concept” as opposed to a definition, because a definition is always contingent on who speaks and who does what. May I advise that it might be worth while visiting the way in which the Stephen Lawrence inquiry handled the question of institutional racism?”
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth replied: “My Lords, the most reverend Primate is right and I take his advice on this very seriously. There is obviously major work to be done here and I will certainly revisit issues relating to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry and how we learned from what came forward there. It is vital that we get this right; I am sure we all share in that ambition. It is about making sure that we do it, not about rushing to judgment and coming to a set conclusion without looking at the evidence. I am keen to see the evidence and to act on it.”



Thursday 10 January 2019

Is There Abrogation in The Qur'an

Is There Abrogation in the Qur’an? 

Dr. Mozammel Haque

People generally wanted to know about the abrogation in the Qur’an. Actually the same argument was happened with the Jewish theologians long time ago before Islam. Majority scholars except a few accepted abrogation happened in the Qur’an. But there is no abrogation in some parts, such as about i) the stories or historical facts as told by Allah Subhanahu wa Taala, ii) about Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala, iii) Manners and iv) Allah’s names and abilities, shifat and asma.

So only in one part, abrogation is made; Abrogation only in rituals and instructions. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala Himself said in the Holy Qur’an in verse 106 of chapter Al-Baqara: Allah Subhanahu wa Taala said when I changed the verse in the Qur’an I replaced it with something similar or even better. In the Qur’an Ayah in Arabic is used. Ayah has different meanings: it means, i) verse; ii) signs of nature and miracles.

Thus we see Allah Subhanahu wa Taala when changes verse HE replaces it for something better or easier; we can see this in the case of i) Fasting; ii) change of Qibla; iii) visit to cemeteries and graveyards and iv) Nikah or Muta marriage.

Thus, abrogation happened – gradual instructions from one stage to another stage, such as in case of wine and Alcohol.

What the scholars say about the abrogation in the Qur’an. Majority accepts abrogation happened in the Qur’an. Even the Shia believes in it. But very few in the old days said there is no abrogation in the Qur’an.

Now the next question is: How many verses have been changed or abrogated. Scholars have different opinions. In the whole Qur’an, there are 6,300 verses. Out of 6,300 verses of the  Qur’an, there are only few verses abrogated. It is between five and 15; the maximum 20 out of 6,300 verses of the Qur’an.

Abrogation in the Qur'an
At the Islamic Cultural Centre
This important topic – Abrogation in the Qur’an was lectured by Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan, Director General of the London Central Mosque Trust and Islamic Cultural Centre, London, on Saturday, the 5th of January, 2019. The above is a summary of the whole lecture.
Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan:
Abrogation in the Qur’an
The following is the Lecture of Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan on abrogation in the Qur’an.

Dr. al-Dubayan started by saying, “The subject or the theme requested to talk about is the Abrogation in the Qur’an. Is there any abrogation in the Qur’an? What we mean by the abrogation? I think abrogation has another meaning. What does abrogation mean here? When the scholars talk about the abrogation in the Qur’an or something it abrogates in the Qur’an, the first idea we know, of course, by all that is the Qur’an. Is there anything in the Qur’an abrogated or omitted or dropped outright? Now all that’s one thing but when the scholars talk about abrogation they don’t mean this.”

“The scholars mean in general, i.e. there is a verse revealed talking about something; after sometime another verse was revealed to cancel or abrogate the first meaning or the previous verse; that means to change the instructions in the first one. This is the abrogation of the Qur’an. Is this happened in the Qur’an? Or this did not happen in the Qur’an? Actually the same argument happened with the Jewish theologians long time ago before Islam; whether there is some abrogated in the Torah or is it all valid hundred percent as it is revealed. It is the same question now,” mentioned Dr. al-Dubayan.

There are some scholars who said that it is difficult to happen. Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “Those who say it is difficult to happen that Allah Subhanahu wa Taala say something HE will never change it; then if HE change something then why HE changes it; is it something new for HIM that’s why he changes it His orders or His instructions or Allah the Almighty all knowing everything then when He says something He means something then He, may be, change it to be better or to be easier later on. This is the argument actually in the Islamic theology and it actually happened with the Jewish theology before.”

Majority of scholars say yes,
abrogation happened
Dr. al-Dubayan said, “The majority of scholars in Islam, majority, except a few, actually said: yes, it happened. Because they said when Allah Subhanahu wa Taala revealed or instructed us to do something; HE wants us to do it, may be, for a certain time. Then after that because of the change of the circumstances in the society, Allah then made another judgement or another instruction for something new or He will make it easier by writing what he said before. There is another verse coming to tell us about the judgement or new instruction.”

“HE is the one who instructed the first; HE is the one who instructed the second; so there is no contradiction at all because it is from the same source; that is Allah Subhanahu wa Taala for whom we do our prayer and other worship. So there is no contradiction as long as it comes from the same source. You cannot explain this because Allah forgets or Allah knew something new. No; HE knows everything but it comes like stages; for this stage HE gives us instructions for that time and after some time then HE gives us some new instruction another stage,” explained Dr. al-Dubayan.

No abrogation in some parts of the Qur’an
But there are some parts where there is no abrogation. In order to understand this properly, Dr. al-Dubayan divide the Qur’an according to the themes. He said, “First of all, there is no abrogation in that part of the Qur’an when Qur’an talks about the historical stories; because these are facts; and when the Qur’an talks about Jesus or Moses, for example, or talk about Adam or other stories or Joseph; there is no abrogation in this because Allah told us some facts happened already; so there will be no change already happened or took place.”

“That’s one. It is not possible; Allah Subhanahu wa Taala told us that Joseph said that and after that, may be, some verses said: No, Joseph did not say that he said this; because this is a story; it is a historical fact. All the stories in the Qur’an and all the historical facts which Allah mentioned about other people; there is no abrogation or no changing or no cancellation at all. That’s one,” explained Dr. al-Dubayan.

Secondly, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned another part. He said, “The Divine Doctrine, the Tawheed, Monotheism. This is to belief Allah Subhanahu wa Taala is One and HE is the One who deserves to be worshipped and to give all kinds of worship, rituals for Allah. There is no abrogation in this because this is the core of the whole faith. If you change it, then the Faith does not exist any more. This is the second part.”

Explaining the other parts of the Qur’an where there is no abrogation, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “The third part is about manners. When Allah told us that not to cheat, not to spy on other people; not to kill other people; not to harm your brothers and people around you; it is not possible that in another place somewhere in the Qur’an HE said: no, you can cheat, you can lie. Manners stay as they are. No abrogation at all. I am trying to make simple for you as much as I can.”

“When Allah Subhanahu wa Taala tells HIS names HIS abilities describing Himself; no abrogation about this; no cancellation; because they are facts as they are. When Allah says: HE is Almighty; All-Hearing; All-Seeing - these are objectives; these are qualities; descriptions of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala;  Shifat, the Shifat and Asma, names. No abrogation in this. They are valid eternally, always,” said the ICC Chief.

Dr. al-Dubayan then mentioned there is only one part of the Qur’an where there is abrogation. He said, “It is only one thing abrogation could happen according to the majority. The vast majority of the scholars, especially in the old generation; it is only about the rituals and instructions. This part could be abrogated if Allah Subhanahu wa Taala wanted this or wanted this to change, okay.”

Allah Himself said about Abrogation
In the Al-Qur’an
Allah the Almighty Himself said in the Qur’an whenever He changed He replaced it with another one. Dr. Al-Dubayan mentioned, “Allah Subhanahu wa Taala said in the verse106; chapter Baqara in the Qur’an about abrogation. It said: whenever we changed Ayah, then we replaced it with another or even with a better one. Now the problem with this verse, Allah mentioned the word Ayah. The problem with the word Ayah in the Qur’an has different meaning. One of the meanings is verse; we hold this meaning that means Allah Subhanahu wa Taala said when I changed the verse in the Qur’an; I replaced it with something similar or even better. But the word Ayah could mean sign any sign. When Allah Subhanahu wa Taala talks of His presence; sign of His Creation He called them Ayah; this is Ayah.”

“In the nature, there are all the signs of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. When He said We come to bring this new verse When Allah change one of this sign then He will replace it. Has Allah changed natural sign? No. This is the second meaning,” he said.

Different meanings of Ayah in Arabic
Dr. al-Dubayan said about the third meaning of Ayah in Arabic. He said, “The third meaning; it could mean miracle. So the word Ayah in the Qur’an in Arabic has come for three meanings; all in the Qur’an, by the way. Ayah means verse in the Qur’an; Ayah means signs of nature, let us say the creation of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and Ayah is a miracle. So the miracles of Moses, Jesus or Muhammad they are all Ayats, or Ayah. The Qur’an says this as an Ayah. The stick of Moses is an Ayah; it is the miracle; so this is the meaning.”

Dr. Al-Dubayan also explained Ayah and said, “This verse of the Qur’an if we come to this meaning it means when We changed one of the miracles I sent to you; I give you something similar or even better. So it does not talk about abrogation at all. It does talk about the miracles of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala when one finished then another one comes. This is with those who do not like or accept the change in the Qur’an, they say there is no abrogation in the Qur’an. They say Ayah means here miracle; it does not mean verse. Those who accept this abrogation, they say Ayah here means verse; that means Allah Subhanahu wa Taala when He needs change something; He is the one who told us and He is the  one who changed. Why He changed because now it is easier for us because there is a new development in the society. That’s why, Allah Subhanahu wa Taala told us something new. It was not like before.”

Allah Abrogates for something
Better or easier: First Fasting
Now in order to elaborate and to make it more clear, Dr. Al-Dubayan wanted to give some examples. He said, “Actually when we come to the Qur’an itself and we read it all and we come to places where it teaches us; we will find; there is lot of things actually have changed. One of them is the fasting. You go to the Qur’an, a verse of the Qur’an is saying: Those who can fast (a), instead of fasting, they can pay or give a meal for a poor person instead of fasting; fine. Then if we continued reading the Qur’an; we will find another verse which tells: He who is there or attend there in the month of Ramadan, then he must fast.  What does this mean? That means the first one which actually teaching or instructing for certain time; after Muslim becomes, lets say used to, accustomed to fasting, Allah Subhanahu wa Taala makes it then like pillar of Islam, the obligatory. It is not cancellation. It is a gradual teaching from one stage to another stage.  One stage it was difficult for them, then after sometime, after few years, they used to it. Now it is like obligatory fasting. That’s one.”   

Change of Qibla
Dr. Al-Dubayan then gave another example. He said, “The Qibla itself. In the beginning of Islam, about thirteen or fourteen years, Muslims used to take the direction of Jerusalem or Al-Quds as a Qibla. After the Prophet ( Peace be upon him) went to Madinah, short time, may be one year or two,  then the Qibla changed to Makkah. Then those who used to north they changed their face to south; because Madinah is in the middle.  Jerusalem is in the north and Makkah is in the south. So the Qibla was in the north and it becomes south. What happened here; then the same question? Is it Allah changed this? Why? That means this abrogation is something there, you cannot deny this 100 percent; there is no change at all. Otherwise you have to explain why the direction of Qibla was changed. That’s another example.”

Visit to Cemeteries and Graveyards
Dr. al-Dubayan gave another example of the abrogation. He said, “Prophet (peace be upon him) himself in one of his Hadith said: I told you before; not to visit cemetery or graveyard. Now I instructed you to visit graves and cemeteries because they will remind you of the Day of Judgement and the Akhirah. That means there were some instructions not to go to cemeteries; now he is telling us to go. So there is a change abrogation about this. So it is there.”

“Why? The explanation of this is: this is gradual, may be, in the beginning of Islam Allah Subhanahu wa Taala told the Prophet to tell the people not to go to cemeteries and graveyards.  Allah Subhanahu wa Taala does not want people to mix their worship with something which is similar with shirk. That was in the beginning of it. People were still fresh new in their minds. So Allah Subhanahu wa Taala prevented them from going to the cemeteries and graveyards. Then after that, Allah Subhanahu wa Taala allows them to go to the cemeteries.”

In this connection, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned within bracket: “(When we say going to cemeteries or visiting graveyards we don’t mean going to shrines, touching walls, touching doors. No;  you go to cemeteries, there to say salam to those dead and to ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to forgive them and to forgive you, your parents, your relatives, your loved ones, your friends even to those people you don’t’ know in the graveyards. This is a Sunnah. Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam he himself did it and he asked us to do it.)”.

In this connection Dr. Al-Dubayan also mentioned about his childhood memories. He said, “I remember when I was young, people in the small city, I actually lived, Friday early in the morning many people, especially old people, go early to the graveyards to the cemeteries to say their relatives salams to them and make dua for them and then they go from there directly to the mosque to pray Friday prayer. They remember also during the Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. After they finished their Eid prayer; they go to the cemeteries. It is not a duty that day particularly, but this is a practice people used to do it; but it’s not a duty on that day. You can go to cemetery any time.”

“This is Sunnah; but if someone goes to the shrines and graves and ask for help; now this is a problem - either to ask for help from somebody who is already dead; or to get blessings for the grave or from the shrine or to touch the walls or the curtains; where there are curtains or something or pay money to the grave; this is not allowed in Islam. Distinguish between the two. There is one thing; only visiting to the cemeteries or graveyards which is Sunnah; the Prophet did it. But to have this building; to get blessings from the grave - this is not allowed in Islam at all. Because when you think something is blessing or giving blessing you have to have evidence. This is really blessing,” said the ICC chief.

In this connection, Dr. al-Dubayan gave an advice to those who go to shrines for seeking help, “For your problem the only one who can help you is Allah Subhanahu wa Taala . I talked this is about Tawheed. This is very important. And those who believe that this man who is in grave actually can do something for you, who can help you; they come to shirk; very close to shirk. May be, they commit shirk itself. Allah knows better. But we have to be very careful.”

Nikah or Muta marriage
Then Dr. al-Dubayan gave another example of abrogation, Nikah or Muta marriage. He said, “One of the examples we have here is the Nikah, Muta.  Shia believes in Muta; they believe it is allowed. What is Muta? Muta is: a man comes to a woman and says to her that we are going to marry for certain time, one day one week, two months or one year, two hours whatever; this is a Muta. If you come to close a marriage contract with somebody man or a woman and then you will say this is for temporary time; this is muta in Islam. It is not allowed. Marriage usually with the intention this is actually forever; may be, it does not work after; but when I come for marriage, I come with the intention that I really choose this woman to be my wife and live with her for the rest of my life. And she has the same intention. Okay, may be, it does not work between them; we find we are different. Not with the intention I am going to enjoy this woman for two days or this week and after that then everybody goes home. No. this is not allowed in Islam.”

About this short time marriage, Dr. al-Dubayan gave an example from Hadith which was later prohibited. He said, “That was allowed in Islam for very short time in the beginning; that was during actually one of the battles happened in Madinah the companions of the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam at that time when most of them were bachelors. They arrived, it was allowed for them for very short time. Then after this, Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam said; it is not allowed in Islam. Anybody who married a woman, it’s a really permanent marriage; you cannot go away from there. This is scholars of the Sunnah all of them. Only Shia continues this. They say, it is allowed. But Sunnah says it is not.”

In support of this, Dr. al-Dubayan cited a Hadith from Ali ibn Abi Talib. He said, “We have Hadith from Ali himself. We all know when the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam died Ibn Abbas was only 13 years old. He was not adult, like Ali ibn Talib; Abu Bakr or Omar or Uthman. Ibn Abbas thought for short time Muta is still allowed. Ibn Abbas himself; can you imagine this. Then Ali ibn Abi Talib RA corrected him. He said you are a lost person; you lost yourself; he said this to him. The Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam has prohibited the muta and from that moment Ibn Abbas gave up. This is one of the cases the judgement or the instruction has been changed.”

Abrogation happened – Gradually
Dr. al-Dubayan said it is clear that abrogation was happened and it happened gradually from one stage to another stage. He gave an example of abrogation in case of wine and alcohol. He said, “Sometimes it is a gradual instructions coming from one stage into another; like the wine, alcohol drinks. When Allah Subhanahu wa Taala told us about the wine or alcohol; He said in one verse to Muhammad: they ask you about drinking alcohol or say wine and gambling games; there are lot of sins in this and there are also lots of benefits for the people. So He did not say it is forbidden; but there are some good things in it and bad things in it.”

Abrogation gradual – one stage to another
In case of wine and alcohol
“Muslims in the beginning of Islam used to drink before, including of course alcohol and wine for sometime. After this, there was another verse after sometime, if you are drunk you don’t go to pray; so to do so who want to go to pray in the mosque they must not be drunk. That means there will be very short time for anybody to drink; may be, after Isha till the Fajr time. If someone drinks before Zuhr then you cannot attend Zuhr and if you drink after Zuhr you cannot attend Asr; if you drink after Asr you cannot attend till Maghreb. So Allah Subhanahu wa Taala minimizes the time for people, okay to make it difficult; may be a chance to drink may be after Fajr till Zuhr. You have little bit of few hours time or may be after Isha till Fajr time. So it was actually minimised to a certain time,” explained Dr. al-Dubayan how it was minimised in another stage.

Dr al-Dubayan also explained this stage was for sometime and said, “Companions of the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam used to drink. They feel that prayer is very close; they don’t drink; they stopped because of this verse. You see the gradual instructions. After sometime Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says this wine, gambling, going to idols; it is dirty, filthy, works of the devils; so avoid it; avoid it means give up. That’s it. Go away from it. That’s a last one when in this verse Muslims understood. Then drinking alcohol wine is not allowed. In the beginning, Allah Subhanahu wa Taala told them okay; there are some good things in drinking wine and there are some bad things in it and after sometime HE said if you drink alcohol wine don’t go to pray; that means you have to delay your prayer; or you have to give up your drinking in order to attend the prayer. Make it a very difficult. And then after that HE told them you have to avoid it; avoid this.”

“In these three cases, we are going gradually from having something which has two sides; good side and bad side; then minimising time; then stop it. When this verse actually came or revealed to Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam; then the companions immediately poured wine on the floor, immediately. They have to follow the instructions directly. They don’t hesitate; they don’t say, for example, what about if we leave it for tomorrow; or day after tomorrow we are going to start. Without any hesitation, they immediately poured all the containers or bottles where they used to keep this wine,” Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned the response of the companions when the final verse stopping the drinking wines and alcohols revealed to Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam.

What the scholars say about this
Abrogation after this example
Dr. al-Dubayan has four of these examples but he mentioned some of them. After citing examples of gradual instructions from one stage into another stage in case of wines and alcohols, he said, “Majority of scholars actually accept abrogation in the Qur’an They said; Allah Subhanahu wa Taala is the one who gave the first verse; Allah Subhanahu wa Taala gave the second verse also. It is up to HIM who instructed us to do this and HE instructed us to do this. Why He changed it because of sometime social reasons, sometimes for gradual instructions to take them from one stage to another to make it easier for people. Because people drinking wine everyday and then suddenly in one day say stop you are not allowed; it would be difficult. He took it gradually from one stage to another stage, from time to time.”

Majority of scholars accepted with an
exception of few - Abu Muslim Al-Asfahani
Though the majority of scholars accepted that there was abrogation in the Qur’an, there was one in the third century named Abu Muslim Al-Ssfahani who said there is no abrogation in the Qur’an at all. Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “This is the majority of scholars; only there are few actually in the old days; one of the scholars in the third century, his name is Abu Muslim Al-Asfahani. Abu Muslim said at that time there is no abrogation in the Qur’an at all. Every verse that we think then, Abu Muslim Al-Asfahani said there is another meaning. He tried to interpret the meaning in another way. Like what we did with the meaning of Ayah. When you understand this verse that means the abrogation is naturally when you understand it is natural signs He does not talk about abrogation. He talks in one of the ways that is the way Abu Muslim used to.”

Even Shia believes there is abrogation
“Majority even Shia themselves believe there is abrogation in the Qur’an. Logically is it accepted? They said yes; it is accepted; it does not mean that Allah Subhanahu wa Taala changed His mind about something. No; it means Allah Subhanahu wa Taala gave us something which is good for certain time; then HE changed it for something better for another time. So HE is taking care of us by taking us gradually,” said Dr. al-Dubayan but at the same time mentioned “We have a problem for sometimes about this. What is the problem?”

The Problem is the order of the Qur’an
Verses were arranged by the Prophet himself
Dr. al-Dubayan said, “The problem is the order; the order of the Qur’an itself. As we know and as I talked about how the Qur’an was compiled; Qur’an itself now as we see it today is one Book. The order of the verses inside the Qur’an, inside each chapter, this is done by the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam; not by us, not by the companions. When the verse revealed to the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam; the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam is the one who said to the writers and there were about 15 writers around him, one of them is Zayed ibn Thabit, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Omar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan. The Prophet used to tell them put this verse in that place where Allah Subhanahu wa Taala said this and this; put this one after. The order of the verses inside the chapters, we have nothing to do about it. The companions also took it as it is.”

Chapters were done by the companions
Thus Dr. al-Dubayan was explaining what is the problem; the problem is the order of the Qur’an. So far as the verses in the chapters of the Qur’an are concerned, it was dictated by the Prophet himself to the writers. But as regards the chapters, it was done by the companions, not all, only few but that too with the knowledge of the Prophet. Dr. al-Dubayan explained this. He said, “The Companions did their best to know is the order of the chapters; for example why the Surah Al-Fateha, the short chapter, is in the beginning; then Surah al-Baqara which is 286 or 285 verses, the second one, not the first one, for example.”

“This is, most of it, not all, is the order done by the Companions but some orders we know it from the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam. For example, Surah al-Baqara and the Surah al-Imran, the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam mentioned about them in Hadiths besides each other. So the Companions put them together because the Prophet Sallallu wa Sallam mentioned them together. But, for example, why the chapter Iqra is at the end; and it is the first chapter revealed of the Qur’an. It is not the first one. It is the first chapter; this is the order mostly done, not all of them, mostly done, it seems to me that the companions put the al-Fateha because it is the most important chapter; it is read at every prayer; you read it all the time when you stand for prayer; that’s why they put it in the beginning,” said Dr. Al-Dubayan.  

The ICC chief also mentioned, “They put the long chapters in the beginning; then they put those which is similar to each other; for example, the chapters or the Surah Allah Subhanahu wa Taala in the beginning said; Ha Mim; they put them beside each other; nine; and the short chapters of the Qur’an they put them at the end; in the last juzuz; because may be that’s why it was taken by the children they read that one because short verses.”

Relation between abrogation
and order of the Qur’an
Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned how the order of the Qur’an was made. Then he discussed the relationship of this issue with the issue of abrogation. He said, “The problem is inside the chapters themselves; sometimes we don’t know which verse revealed before the other; sometimes there are arguments among scholars this verse came before this one or this verse came after this one. If you say this one abrogates the other one; then you have to prove this one was the first and not after. This is one of the areas scholars have different opinions about many many things. I gave you an example.

Dr. al-Dubayan gave the example of Ibn Abbas about the order of the chapters and verses. First of all, he introduced the background of Ibn Abbas before going to the discussion. He said, “Ibn Abbas is the greatest commentator of the Qur’an and many Hadiths we have, say about verses of the Qur’an, even the meaning, came from Ibn Abbas. About this you have to be careful also. Lots of Hadiths about the Qur’an, about the verses of the Qur’an with the name of Ibn Abbas are fake. Yes, fake or very weak. Of course, there are those which are correct. How do I know? When all these Hadiths saying about Ibn Abbas said; Ibn Abbas said; Ibn Abbas said. How do I know this is fake or very weak or authentic?”

Under the circumstances, Dr. al-Dubayan said: “I have to go to the Traditionists, to the. Muhaddishins. They are the ones who tell me about it or you yourself have to be scholars like them; like al-Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi. You can then check, judge about the narrators; about the chain of narrators; about the meaning; about who is this person who told; who is his teacher; his  immediate teacher. Okay, he meets his teacher? Is he is an authentic? Is he liar? He used to have a good memory or sometimes he forgets? Sometimes the person is reliable but because he is old, he forgets sometimes; his memory is weak. Weak does not mean he is bad person; he forgets sometimes.  We have to be very careful and there is Hadith. There is a book called Tafsir Bin Abbas covering all the Qur’an A to Z. Many of the Hadiths in this book are not authentic.”

Killing people and his punishment
After giving an introduction about Ibn Abbas and the Hadiths came through him, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned one particular Hadith about killing a person and his punishment. Dr. Al-Dubayan said, “Ibn Abbas used to say: he who killed someone there is no Tauba, no repentance for him. Who killed someone, that’s it; it’s over. Why? The killer is going to the Hell Fire on the Day of Judgement. Based on what? If you asked him, he will say based on the verses of the Qur’an: “He who kills actually his punishment will be the Hell Fire eternally; he will stay there.” Ali Ibn Abi Talib discussed with him. At the end of the discussion, Ali said yes but except Allah on the Day of Judgement forgives him. Ibn Abbas said; there is no forgiveness for killing. Based on that one. Ali Ibn Abi Talib said; no, there is forgiveness. Based on what? Ali ibn Abi Talib said, based on the other verse. If you see other verse: “Allah does not forgive to have Shirk about worship but HE forgives anything else HE wants including of course whatever. If Allah wants.”

Relation of Fears and Hopes
At the Same time
Next, Dr. al-Dubayan discussed the relationship between the Muslim and Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. He said; “This is the relation of fears and hopes at the same time. You will do the good things because you have the hope that Allah will forgive you and reward you; at the same time if you do something bad you have fear that Allah will punish you. Between hopes and fears this is the real relation. The real relation is not only to have hope and say; do whatever you want, Allah is a forgiving sense; HE will be going to forgive me. I trust Him; that’s fine. But Allah shows he mentioned in the Qur’an HE forgives things but HE mentions also His punishment is very hard. Don’t forget that, when it said. So the relation is fears and hopes. Don’t lose fears and don’t lose hopes. If you lose hopes with Allah Subhanahu wa Taala that is not good; that means, you don’t trust. If you lose fears with Allah Subhanahu wa Taala, that is not good also. That means you are underestimating Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Muslim who understands the religion is going between these two - hopes and fears.”

“This is the argument of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Now we see these two; how the companions understood these verses. You accept when Ibn Abbas said this verse is after; yes, the other one which Ali referred is general one. It’s a judgement. It allows everything. Allah does not change His judgement. This is the way how the companions looked at the issue. So the companions understood there is abrogation sometimes in the Qur’an,” mentioned Dr. al-Dubayan.

How many verses have been abrogated?
Now the ICC chief discussed about the most important question of how many verses have been changed or abrogated. Dr. al-Dubayan said, “The question is how many verses of the Qur’an already changed or abrogated? The scholars based on the argument said, they have different opinions. Some of them said only five verses; the Muslim said eight; others said 20 verses, not more than 20 and how many verses we have in the Qur’an? About 6,300 verses exactly; of course, the number of verses in the Qur’an is not always the same. How come?”

“Uthman ibn Affan, the third Caliph, sent the Qur’an to Basra, Kufa, Syria, Sham and then counting the verses the companions used to have some differences in counting.  That’s why, if you open the Qur’an based on Qirat you will find Surah al-Baqara has 286 verses. If you take another Qur’an, it is the same text,  no changes in the text; but the Qirat of Abu Amar al-Basri which came from Basra and Iraq; you will find Surah al-Baqara has 285 verses,” mentioned Dr. al-Dubayan.  

Dr. al-Dubayan continued, “Somebody will say, oh my God, one verse is missing. Nothing is missing. It is the same text but two verses. One long verse counted in that Qur’an as two;  as it is counted in another as one. Scholars have certain books about this: The numbers of the Ayats of the Qur’an. There are 20 verses about this. Imam Sarkhasi said; there are 63 verses. I think one of the highest the biggest number talked about is who is in Spain and Andalus. He said there are more than 200 verses. But that’s too much actually. I believe there are verses which has changed, I believe it is not more than I think between five and 15; maximum 20 out of 6,300 verses of the Qur’an.”

Abu Muslim Al-Asfahani
Talking about the recent researchers about the Quran, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned about some scholars who support the idea of Abu Muslim Al-Asfahani whose Tafsir has been lost unfortunately. He said, “We don’t have it. They tried to support his ideas. There is no abrogation of the Qur’an at all. There is only changing because of the signs, gradual changes, and also there are different meanings; there are different interpretations; but at the same time Abu Muslim himself must answer difficult questions because those who believe abrogation in the Qur’an he says any change in the meaning this is what we called abrogation. We don’t mean changed. Allah will cancel the whole meaning; dropping out and he will put in; we don’t mean that. We mean any change that is abrogation. Abu Muslim said there is nothing; he tried to interpret actually those verses we understand it in another way.”

Imam al-Razi and Muhammad al-Ghazali
Dr. al-Dubayan also mentioned about some other recent scholars such as Imam al-Razi and Muhammad al-Ghazali. He said, “Imam Al-Razi is not supporting this idea. Muhammad al-Ghazali is the contemporary scholar who passed away about 20/25 years ago. He is supporting this strongly and he says if there is any, it would be like not more than two three verses of the Qur’an. This is about abrogation of the Qur’an.”