#Lesser Jihad

[mkcosplayorcovid-19prevention]

96:4 Who taught by the pen,

5:90 O you who believe, intoxicants and games of chance and (sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows  are only an uncleanness, the devil’s work; so shun it that you may succeed.

dividing by arrows "Fuckin Arab Magic Arrows"???

4600 SW 41st Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608

(800) 694-9494

To any UK Imam.... who has Twisted "The Words" of Archery to mean Anything Other Than fighting Literally with A Bow and Arrows....

May Allah Let "Me" Fight you beforehand "Your Seeing" of the Bridge as Thin as A hair and as Sharp as a Sword

I just Re Watched Rambo and I know it was a Imagined Situation but at one point "in the Movie" He goes "Ham" with a Modern Bow and Arrow Against Burmese ahhh "Hostage" takers...

I think 🤔 maybe I would make the judgment...

A real bow and Arrow could be overkill in most real life situations, and if your Anger exceeds... Bows and Arrows... you Should "Leave it in Rambo's hands"

Deuteronomy 32:42

I will make my arrows drunk with blood,

    while my sword devours flesh:

the blood of the slain and the captives,

    the heads of the enemy leaders.”

[ross-hollander]

Lesser Known Legends...

...of the Inner Sphere and Beyond: everyone knows their The Bounty Hunter and their Black Marauder, but some notables never seem to really find the fame they deserve. For instance...

"The Grinch", name unknown, attacked Christmas tree farms in a pine-green Hatchetman across the Commonwealth in the years following the Jihad; speculated to have been disgruntled with the omnipresent holiday season sales advertising. Never apprehended. The damage was estimated to have been in the tens of millions.

Willy Divou, the "Red Paper Clip Bandit". Started in a raggedy CattleMaster, broke into military bases ranging from the Capellan Confederation to the furthest reaches of the Combine, swapping for a new, better 'mech each time. Arrested and executed after being baited with a rumors of an 'experimental improved Atlas'.

Theodora Mirene, the "Brick Wall". A Civil War mercenary whose grotesquely modified Stalker avoided differing weapons restrictions and parts availability in the various systems she operated in by not having any. She butted and body-checked over twenty enemy 'mechs down over her career, before retiring from battle strain.

Toni Anathol, "The Solaris Menace". Active from 2904-6 as the only person to ever reach double digits (27, all told) for streaking in the 'mech arenas. Was captured when he twisted an ankle brutally mid-run, but fans demanded his release. His career was over after that, though he received the only official Solaris Medal of Spontaneity.

"The Possum Pilot", spotted across numerous battlefields but consistent in their tactics during the Andurien Crisis. Always piloted an Archer so dilapidated as to appear to be a wreck, then sprung up and fired on unsuspecting FWL troops. Killed when stepped on by a Zeus that took them for underfoot wreckage. Body was unidentifiable.

Susan Ravenwater, "The Party Bus", a Hell's Horses pilot active during STAMPEDE with a dicey strategy of ordering every Elemental in their Nova onto their 'mech, and moving as a flanker to drop twenty-five Elementals into the fight when the enemy was fighting what they assumed was elements of a standard Star.

"Big" Boots A. Tajag, a mercenary for the Dominion during their war against the Combine. A dedicated Trebuchet pilot who practiced the self-taught "art of 'mech-jitsu". Never scored a confirmed kill in the field: only ever knocked over or tripped enemy 'mechs. Died to a Locust whose reverse knee joints baffled his technique.

Jared Hada, the "Turtle of Terror". Piloted a massive, over-armored Rifleman which would drop into planetside docks and depots, firing on anyone trying to enter or leave until a ransom was paid for access to the supplies. This worked until a Lyran supply depot simply waited him out, breaking in and arresting him when he fell asleep during the standoff.

[that-rad-jewish-girl]

Islam teaches that Muslims must kill all Jews to bring about the end-times. This is mentioned extensively in Hadiths. The Quran focuses more on Jews being the lesser people who should live in servitude to Muslims.

If you are not Muslim, just know that this is what it’s really about. This isn’t about a so-called “occupation”. This isn’t about “resistance”. This only starts in Israel.

They aren’t even trying to hide it. “Globalize the intifada” literally means to kill Jews worldwide. The leaders of Hamas have called for international jihad against Jews multiple times. Muslim influencers have admitted that regaining Israel is only the start of all this.

I’m trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I’m trying to operate under the assumption that most people don’t know what they’re supporting. It gets harder everyday. Especially when we see flyers saying “resistance is justified by any means necessary”. Or “rape is resistance”. Or the downward pointing red triangle alongside “we ❤️ Hamas”.

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Crab

Designed in 2719 during the last days of the Star League, the Crab was built as a medium-weight raider and guerrilla fighter for the Star League Defense Force. Although lacking jump jets, it possessed good overland speed and its all-energy weapons payload was suitable for long-range missions without the prospect for resupply. The Crab also boasted a highly advanced communications system, the Dalban Series K, and was built mostly with proven parts that were easy to maintain. The term "Crab walk" soon became synonymous with easy duty, since technicians spent less than half the time maintaining the Crab than with other 'Mechs of the same weight class. So popular was the Crab that many believed it was likely to become the standard medium 'Mech of the SLDF. Unfortunately the Amaris Civil War and the dissolution of the Star League put an end to any future plans for the Crab.

Less than 1,000 Crabs had been produced when the Succession Wars began. Cosara Weaponries' factory on Northwind was practically destroyed in 2786, one of many strategic targets attacked in the opening salvos of the First Succession War. Although dedicated technicians were able to keep portions of the assembly line open, producing what spare parts they still could to rebuild damaged Crabs, the technology used for both the original's advanced armor plating and communications system became lost. Designated as CRB-20 models, these Crabs were only slightly inferior to the original; with the destruction of the military infrastructure necessary for the Dalban Series K's more advanced functions to work, its replacement by lesser systems ironically became less of an issue. By the end of the Fourth Succession War 100 or so Crabs were still active in the Inner Sphere and all were CRB-20s.

Unbeknownst to many, ComStar had secreted away massive stockpiles of Star League technology and 'Mechs, including the Crab. When it came time to form their own military, original CRB-27 Crabs were used to outfit the Com Guards, while at the same time gifting downgraded CRB-20s to the Draconis Combine during the War of 3039 as part of Operation Rosebud. Concurrently, the discovery of the Helm Memory Core allowed the refit line on Northwind to start upgrading the remaining downgraded Crabs to their original specification. Unknown to anyone in the Inner Sphere was the continued existence of the Crab in the arsenal of the Clans, although by the time of the Clan Invasion these had been relegated to second-line and garrison units. Eventually Cosara Weaponries was able to restart production of the original Crab in the 3050s and brand-new variants began turning up. Among these were new CRB-30s built by ComStar, later acquired by the Word of Blake, which made use of new C3 technology; it was also rumored ComStar sold these models to the Free Rasalhague Republic. During the Jihad the Word of Blake managed to capture the Northwind factory and begin producing their own radical variant known as the CRB-45.

The Crab carries two RAMTech 1200 large lasers, each housed in the claw and forearm of either arm. While excellent weapons, they are quite delicate with the focusing mirrors liable to be knocked out of alignment if used in hand-to-hand combat; fixing them requires the pilot to leave their cockpit and stick their head up into each arm's elbow to make the necessary adjustments. Backing up the large lasers is a Ceres Arms medium laser in the center torso, well-protected from the fusion engine and with easy access to the 16 heat sinks, and an Exostar small laser in the head, a last-resort weapon more suitable for fighting infantry and rioting citizens. Nine tons of ferro-fibrous armor provides good protection for its size as even the weakest locations, the left and right torso, can each survive a shot from a PPC. Originally lacking hand actuators, Cosara later provided a refit kit to install one in either or both arms.

The centerpiece of the Crab is its Dalban Series K communications system with an integrated 650 RND targeting-tracking system. It monitors all radio and short-wave bands to not only determine the 'Mech's exact location on a world but the approximate location of other units, friend or foe, without the use of satellites. The system was smart enough to predict enemy movements and project a path towards a given location while avoiding their notice. However, in contrast to the rest of the 'Mech, this system was extremely hard to maintain, even breaking down when not in combat. As the Succession Wars dragged on, only the most elite and prestigious mercenary and House units could maintain the system, and when the last living Series K-certified technician died it soon became a matter of guesswork.

The other notable feature of the Crab is its ejection seat, which performs in two different modes. When an explosion is imminent, the top hatch is blown off and the seat ejected up through the roof as commonly seen in other 'Mechs, with seat stabilization thrusters providing a controlled fall some 200 meters away. If more time is allowed, then the seat will instead rotate 90° and eject the pilot out the back of the 'Mech. This is a much briefer and gentler experience for the pilot, with their seat landing some 50 to 90 meters behind the Crab.

[tempfolder]

Revisiting “Dune”

Following the release of “Dune 2” in theaters, and the echoes of the surrounding discourse, I started to wonder whether I missed something in my original readings of the Dune novel. The messianic aspects of the novel’s ending were described differently from what I remembered. I decided it’s time for a re-read with a focus on that theme. I came away with a better understanding of the novel, but a diminished view on the story of Dune.

A Questionable Ending

My previous understanding was that Paul managed through his use of prescience to avoid the galactic jihad in his name that he was so worried about throughout the book. The whole point of marrying the daughter of the Emperor was to allow transition of power without a full blown war. That was the elegant gambit, the narrow path he managed to take through the future possibilities of his visions. I was surprised when at the very end of the film, Paul, disappointed with the response of the Great Houses to his ascendancy, sends out his troops to conquer space, initiating the holy war.

I thought that mostly this was “Dune Messiah” leaking into the main story. To be clear, I don’t care for any of the Dune sequels. I never read them, nor do I intend to - the original novel was obviously written to be a complete work. I treat the extrapolations added to the Dune universe in the sequels as only marginally relevant to the reading of the original text. But was this plot point present in the “Dune” novel itself?

On re-reading, the book seems to match the interpretation of the film. This thread is central to the narrative yet it is resolved somewhat ambiguously, so I’m not surprised I missed it earlier. Before the climactic battle with Feyd Rautha, Paul muses:

And Paul saw how futile were any efforts of his to change any smallest bit of this. He had thought to oppose the jihad within himself, but the jihad would be. His legions would rage out from Arrakis even without him. They needed only the legend he already had become. He had shown them the way, given them mastery even over the Guild which must have the spice to exist. A sense of failure pervaded him [...] This is the climax, Paul thought. From here, the future will open, the clouds part onto a kind of glory. And if I die here, they’ll say I sacrificed myself that my spirit might lead them. And if I live, they’ll say nothing can oppose Muad’Dib.

Yet just after the battle, he says to Chani:

That woman over there will be my wife and you but a concubine because this is a political thing and we must weld peace out of this moment, enlist the Great Houses of the Landsraad.

I guess that last excerpt was a hope and the first was a prophecy.

However, this seems to leave us with a lesser book, a weaker story. What was the point if all the efforts were indeed futile? What do we learn if all the powers of Muad’dib don’t help him resolve his dilemma? 

A True Messiah

Dune has Paul coded throughout as more than just a Hero. All the narrative hallmarks are there. Paul is a young prince of an ethically noble family avenging his father through the use of his unique genetics. He is physically and mentally top-of-the-line. He has Special Powers: The Voice, Mentat capabilities, Prescience. He intuitively wears his stillsuit perfectly; he calls up the biggest maker with his thumper; he can process the poison of the Water of Life; et cetera, et cetera. The novel goes out of its way to mark Paul as truly special. He is not an impostor who survives by tricking the local superstitious populace into crowning him - he is an honest-to-god miracle prophet. If Arrakis had water, the novel would find a way for Paul to walk on it. Lisan al-Gaib!

Why have him aware, almost from the get-go, of his “terrible purpose” and still have him eventually fail? Why set up a Messiah but end up with failure?

Perhaps the intent was to contrast the Hero-led Fremen with the eco-aware Fremen? Their long-term terraforming project abandoned in favor of universal conquest? Liet’s father explicitly mentions this (“No more terrible disaster could befall your people than for them to fall into the hands of a Hero”). If that was the point, why have Paul promise to have flowing water on Arrakis with his ascendancy? That would mean the Fremen rightly chose the faster path to achieve the same terraforming result.

Perhaps the intent was to show the damage that can be done by messianic figures? Yet Paul is not a messianic figure, he is an actual messiah. There is rich critique to be made of the madness of the crowds in the face of a false prophet; much less so in the face of a true one.

Perhaps the idea was to show that even the most justified revenge path leads even the most noble to universal murder? Yet Paul is not Hamlet, he is not mad with revenge, nor does it cause him to make tragic mistakes. Revenge is just one of several motivators. Paul seems more aligned with Fremen liberation and the prevention of the jihad than with kanly (with Gurney serving as contrast in that aspect).

Had the ending suggested that the jihad was averted, with Paul successfully threading the political and military needle to ascend to the throne, it would have made a simpler, but better novel. Its payoff would have matched its set-up. It would have made Paul’s powers meaningful and his sacrifices worth it - his dead firstborn, his brush with death in the Water of Life, his Chani who remains forever a concubine. After all, if War isn’t averted, why bother with the political marriage? 

The Appeal

I want to make a digression and ask: why do we like Dune? 

After all, most of the characters aren’t particularly likable (*cough* Paul *cough*). The high-level arc isn’t particularly exciting, both in the optimistic reading (white savior leads oriental warriors to avenge father) and in the pessimistic one (white savior leads oriental warriors to break colonial yoke and unleash jihad). And there’s all that awful poetry.

So why so loved? I think, in large part, due to the apparent complexity of “Dune” (the novel). The complexity is there to provide the reader with a satisfying feeling of touching a rich world. It is a hill to climb, a challenge to overcome, gradually figuring out what’s going on, rewarded with understanding through effort.

The apparent complexity is present on multiple levels, beginning with the very liberal seasoning of the text with neologisms, with words and terms on loan from other languages. It’s there in the heavy dosage of intrigue, of feints within feints within feints. It’s there in the annotated dialogues where every half said or unsaid word conveys deep meaning to all-insightful participants. It’s in the half-familiar half-alien symbolism and mysticism of the Bene Gesserit and the Fremen.

Just as the text itself is intentionally complex, the world it describes is intentionally simplified. The universe of Dune is rich but small. Yes, it spans tens of thousands of years and thousands of planets, but it feels like the Holy Roman Empire. The mere suggestion that desert people can become conquerors of the galaxy just because they’re used to fighting for moisture is an indicator of how simple this universe is. Of course the Empire is feudal and archaic. Of course the skies of Arrakis are empty. Of course the shields force them to use knives. Of course there are no computers. The in-universe reasons aren’t important; there would simply be no novel otherwise. It also looks much cooler this way.

Which is also my larger point: a lot of Dune’s complexity is only apparent. It’s complexity for spectacle’s sake much more than it is necessary. Using the Hebrew “Kwisatz Haderach” is a lot cooler for the English reader than the literal “shortening of the way” that it stands for. A complex intrigue where you give Leto Arrakis just to betray him and give it back to the Harkonnens sounds cool, but always puzzles when you think about it too much. The best example of something that is visually striking but doesn’t weigh much upon scrutiny is the Gom Jabbar test.

A Bigger Gom Jabbar

Really, impressive scene. The box, the needle, the pain, the Voice. Iconic. Is it a profound test though? Big dilemma you gave Paul here, Reverend Mother, either suffer pain or die. Is this insightful? It wasn’t even a “hidden” test where the subject was supposed to reject the false binary option given to him by the Reverend Mother. No. Pain or Die. You decided not to die? Human after all!

If you squint a little, you can see a similarity between the showy complexity of the essentially hollow Gom Jabbar, and Paul’s meandering resistance against the tide of the jihad. Something that is superficially both complex and cool, but on deeper inspection doesn’t bear much weight as a story. If Paul’s dilemma was to either perish in the desert or to manifest as the messiah and suffer the moral pain of a billion deaths in the universal jihad – well, not a big dilemma is it? On closer reading of the novel it turns out there wasn’t even a “hidden” option that rejects this false binary.

Was there? The open question I ask myself is - was there something that Paul could have done to avoid the jihad? Was there a choice? Some pivotal point where it’s clear that Paul made a mistake? If there was, it sure is hidden well. If there wasn't, then Dune is a lesser story. It’s a lot of cool prose, but it’s a lesser story than I thought.

[soundsanssprechen]

Eru, mon Cher

I try to salve my Salvationary instincts Pencils leave trails of carbon Crushed powder Lead on, naturally Army of me Each one married thrice And beheaded by nicety I have a holy mission for you Zeitgeist’s latest face has decreed Hamsa, his hand open Trinity, her eyes defogged Me with my hand on my heart Rubicon fruits won’t yield to Nine Sail north to find calmer seas Picks mined coal My Lórien I hold them near Mithrandir of many colours Saruman was but a shadow of fear Mairon they claim their throne again Illúvater Ich bin eins mit zwo Mein wahrer Vater Neue Wörter singt mir so “Wo bist du hin?” Denn ich sehe die Vögel kontrollieren So it’s Jihad then? Against which demon must I fight Ancalagon the black crushed three mountains When his first Dragon broke with might The world was lowered below old sea Atlantë followed Sauron Südwest Sailed deep until Sun spoke soft sans sound Deep into Celembrimbor‘s lament New men no more Just decaying stewards of lessers Lords In Angmar‘s grave marked By woman scorned And childish hope of a safer home Macbeth was hacked to pieces Raw mace smashed his shield and more

[canichangemyblogname]

Hello all!

There are posts going around on X, FaceBook, TikTok, and Tumblr claiming that Hamas has called for a global day of Jihad this Friday against "Western" targets and allies. Other posts claim he has called for a worldwide day of violent strikes on Jewish institutions. Many of these posts use news articles from right-wing and tabloid sources, like the National Review.

The original source is Reuters, and it actually says very little compared to what outlets like the Daily Mail are reporting.

The former leader of Hamas' political wing and current head of Hamas' diaspora office, Khaled Meshaal, has called for Muslims in the Islamic world to protest Friday in support of Palestinians. Meshaal also called on Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt to help in the conflict.

His reported statement is as follows:

"I call on you... to head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday, the Friday of Al Aqsa Flood. Deliver a message through the squares and the streets, a message of anger, that we are with Palestine, that we are with Gaza, with Al Aqsa, with Jerusalem, and that we are a part of this battle, this is first.

Second, Gaza is calling you for help, with relief and money, with whatever you own, whoever can help; this is the moment of truth... We are facing truth, and here I say clearly, without hesitation, this is the moment for the nation to join in the fight, to fight with them.

I call firstly on the surrounding countries, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, all of its sons and daughters; officially and popularly, your duty is bigger because you are closer to Palestine.

Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan, from all of your sides and backgrounds, this is a moment of truth, and the borders are close to you; you all know your responsibility, and this applies to all nations.

To all scholars who teach jihad for the sake of God and who preach the fighters and martyrs, to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application so that words are not just words."

There is no definite meaning to the concept of jihad as the concept is constantly evolving in meaning, practices, strategies, teaching, and understanding. It has been interpreted and re-interpreted for a variety of political reasons. In the context of Islamic law, the "lesser" jihad generally refers to an armed struggle against outsiders in the way of Allah. The "greater" jihad, on the other hand, refers to the struggle to be a good Muslim and pious, and this is the common meaning of jihad for 99.999% of the 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, which is why I caution against alarm.

More responsible news outlets report that without greater elaboration, Meshaal's comments have not made it clear whether he purely intends to provoke political protests and plead for relief, or if there is a deeper meaning given he still represents Hamas. They have stressed that pro-Palestinian acts are not inherently aligned with terrorism and violence at a time when people have been taking to the streets in major cities worldwide to peacefully protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people. These protests are unrelated to Meshaal's statement. Less responsible news outlets, however, are reporting this as a call for a global military jihad against Jewish people as well as "Western" countries and their allies.

Officials have cautioned against jumping to conclusions, warning that interpreting Meshaal's statement as a call to global military action can lead to violence. Fearmongering will only contribute to the likelihood of sectarian violence. It is also more likely to contribute to antisemitic and Islamaphobic hate crimes in the Global North. The advice of conservative political strategists like Joey Mannarino (who I have seen many people and outlets quoting) to Americans is an overreaction.

The Jewish Community Center released a statement after Reuters published Meshaal's statement, saying that while there aren’t any known threats against Jewish institutions in the U.S., it will remain on high alert. Out of an abundance of caution, they are taking proactive steps to provide greater security for Synagogues, Jewish community centers, and Jewish neighborhoods. Jewish advocates recommend that Jewish people remain vigilant during this time as the outbreak of violence in Israel often leads to a spike in antisemitic crimes in the Global North.

Contrary to what some claim, you will not have to avoid any public spaces on Friday. Not trains. Not planes. Not shopping malls. There are *no* known threats against U.S. institutions or Jewish institutions in the U.S. If you do not live in Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, or Palestine, you are likely to remain unaffected by any protests, riots, or violence inspired by this conflict. So, please, do not inspire panic about Friday.

I urge the WASP-y Americans and non-Jews reblogging right-wing news coverage and fretting about their safety over the next 24 hours to remember that this isn't about you. And, please, for the love of peace, stop depicting this as a holy war, reducing the conflict to Muslims v. Jews, and claiming this as the start of WWIII. You are *not* helping anyone, least of all the religious minorities you’re claiming to support.

Let's keep the focus on relief and liberation for the Palestinian people and on relief for the victims of terrorism. And let's take efforts to make our own country a safer, more secure, more welcoming, and more comfortable place for religious minorities. That includes Jewish people.

Thank you,

Evan

[tawakkull]

ISLAM 101: Spirituality in Islam: Part 241

Mujahada (Striving)

According to people of the heart, mujahada (striving) means doing what is required by having been endowed with will-power. It includes struggling against the carnal self and seeking ways to defeat it, always preferring to fulfill the religious obligations without neglecting even the secondary ones, when they clash with carnal appetites; never being satisfied with one’s worshipping, acts of obedience to God and doing good, yet being content with what is absolutely required for worship and obedience by way of disciplining one’s eating, drinking, sleeping and speaking.

Those having a certain degree of knowledge of God have always dealt with striving in two categories: one, the major or greater striving (jihad) and the other, the minor or lesser one. The former means struggling against the carnal self and Satan and striving to have a sound belief and to be endowed with virtues or good morals, being able to worship God well, and struggling against evil morals, bad habits and tempers, while the latter denotes being alert against and, when necessary, fighting the enemy. People who serve people with knowledge and thoughts, by imbibing and internalizing belief, the truths of Islam and the morality of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, and by representing them in their daily lives and conveying to others, encompass both kinds of striving, and therefore need to have the “endowment” necessary to fulfill both.

In every work or article written on austerity, communication of the Divine messages, and physical or minor striving (jihad), the subject is discussed in the light of relevant verses such as Strive in God’s way in the way that striving for His sake requires (22:78). Here we are interested in major striving.

Major jihad, or striving, in the language of Sufism, denotes that in the face of the mean impulses of the carnal self, the whisperings of Satan, and the excessive desires and pressures of the body or corporeality, we should demonstrate that we are beings endowed with will-power. We should also try to show due respect for the heavenly faculty that we have as human beings, which is a composition of our inner senses, our consciousness, perception, and heart. Jihad in this meaning is the greatest of all strivings, and one who performs it is great and esteemed in God’s sight; such a person is favored with His company. It can be said that it is more difficult to rebel against the impulses and desires of the carnal self and to lead a life in worshipping and performing other acts of obedience to God in piety, sincerity and abstinence in order to obtain God’s approval and good pleasure, than to fight against the enemy under a shower of bombs and shells at the front. It is because of such difficulties that God’s Messenger told the soldiers returning from fighting,Now you have turned from the minor jihad to the major one.[1] It was in this way that he instructed his Companions in such a vital matter. On another occasion, saying, A true fighter is one who fights against his carnal self for God’s sake,[2] he taught that the major or greater jihad consists in the struggles against Satan and the impulses of the carnal self.

While the minor striving can occasionally be necessary or compulsory, a believer must continuously fulfill the major one. In addition, success in the minor striving depends on success in the major one. For this reason, everyone must purify their inner world, so that they may acquire harmony and accord in all their acts-sitting, rising, thinking, speaking, working, etc.-doing these for the sake of God. It is only by success in this striving that one can be supported by God’s Will, which is the real factor in making human endeavors on God’s way beneficial and fruitful.

For those whom belief has not guided to an appointed goal, who have not disciplined themselves with Islamic principles of spiritual training, who have not deepened in doing good consciously so that God sees them, who cannot lead a life of unwavering sincerity nor live in the consciousness of God’s constant supervision, it is not possible to be people of the truth; they cannot restore rights nor display coherent attitudes in social relations. Those imprisoned in the cycle of eating, drinking, and sleeping can neither keep their corporeality under control nor direct their spirits to lofty ideals for spiritual victories nor keep the doors of their consciousness open to God to be rewarded with His company. What is most impossible for them is to free themselves from hatred, rancor, and other malicious feelings in order to embrace all existence only because of God.

A perfect society can only be made up of perfect individuals, and an individual cannot be perfected without spiritual training. It is therefore useless to try to build a sound community with individuals who suffer from mental and spiritual shortcomings. The perfect individuals needed to compose a perfect community are shaped in the crucible of striving.

Such a striving is based on controlling carnal desires and impulses and on having an operative mechanism of conscience. A spiritual journey is the safest way of striving. Concerning what a mortal enemy the carnal self is, Hakim al-Busiri[3] says:

How many lethal delights there are that the carnal self presents to humankind as pleasant; Almost no one has ever been able to perceive that it presents poison within the butter.

It would be appropriate to end this section with a poem by Hüda’i,[4] which is regarded as a bridge to the spiritual journey:

O carnal self! Give up your many mistakes and errors, Relent and be just and fair from now on! Abandon cherishing these long-term ambitions, Relent and be just and fair from now on!

Why do you have these habits and innovations? Why such fondness for fame and adornment? Why expend so much effort that way? Relent and be just and fair from now on!

One day the wind of death will blow, To ruin the garden of the body; So fulfill your obligations in sincerity; Relent and be just and fair from now on!

Do not be obstinate, O Huda’i! Submit yourself to Divine orders. Come and mention the Master, Relent and be just and fair from now on!

O God, we ask You for forgiveness, health, and Your approval, favors, friendship, and nearness to You.

And let God’s blessings be on our master Muhammad, the master of those made near to You, and Your beloved one and Messenger, and on his family and Companions, who had great yearning to meet with You. [1] Hatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh al-Baghdad, 13:523. [2] Al-Tirmidhi, “Fada’il al-Jihad,” 2. [3] Muhammad ibn Sa’id al-Busiri (1211-1295) was an Egyptian saintly scholar, calligrapher and poet. He has poems in which he expressed his deep love for the Messenger and his Companions. [4] Huda’i was the father of Shahidi Ibrahim (see, footnote: 121). He was from Mughla in the western Turkey and lived in the 15th century. He belonged to the Mawlawi Order. (Trans.)

[hindulivesmatter]

You literally called "love jihad" a crime against Hindus. So, people electing to have interfaith marriages are somehow committing a crime against Hinduism by doing so. Muslim men who marry Hindu women are doing it to carry out some type of Great Replacement by converting them to Islam to make India more Muslim.

I wanted to put that plainly because you're clearly banking on that your non-Indian followers don't know what that means. You are saying that people choosing to marry who they love are somehow against Hinduism because those people are not Hindus. You are claiming that Muslim men who fall for Hindu women are actually part of some great conspiracy.

I want people to understand how crazy and conspiracist this logic is so they understand why to take every claim you have of "hindus are still oppressed in India" with a massive grain of salt. You are literally promoting the Hindu version of The Great Replacement Theory and of white people panicking over white women having mixed race babies.

You do not care about Muslims. It is a smokescreen. You think they are lesser and you support people oppressing them.

Yes, love jihad is extremely dangerous to Hindus. Luring a girl under false pretenses and then converting her without her consent is called love jihad. That is not the same as interfaith marriage.

Do you want me to deny the alarming number of cases of women being murdered by their Muslim partners? Or the fact that if a couple is entering an interfaith marriage, always have to convert to Islam. By that logic then, why can't the Muslim person convert to Hinduism?

I'm banking on my non-Indian followers? If they don't know what it means, they can either ask or do a Google search.

"You are saying that people choosing to marry who they love are somehow against Hinduism because those people are not Hindus."

When the fuck did I ever say that? Stop putting words in my mouth holy fucking shit.

"You are claiming that Muslim men who fall for Hindu women are actually part of some great conspiracy."

Again, NO. I am saying that there are cases of Muslim men, CHANGING THEIR NAMES TO HINDU NAMES, WEARING HINDU SYMBOLS, and courting Hindu women. They then reveal themselves after they are married. Do you even hear how insane you sound?

"I want people to understand how crazy and conspiracist this logic is so they understand why to take every claim you have of "Hindus are still oppressed in India" with a massive grain of salt. You are literally promoting the Hindu version of The Great Replacement Theory and of white people panicking over white women having mixed-race babies."

I'm sorry, I had to laugh here. What the fuck is wrong with you. Did you even go through my blog before sending me this? I literally reblog cases of actual Hinduphobia and violence against Hindus. That's literally it.

"You do not care about Muslims. It is a smokescreen. You think they are lesser and you support people oppressing them."

Bro. I'm sorry, so just speaking up about Hinduphobia means I do not care about Muslims? I promise it isn't that deep. We don't have an agenda like the one you've made up in your head. All we want is to co-exist in PEACE. I will never understand you people. Violence against Muslims is a real thing, and I 100% condemn it. You make up shit about us in your head, and pretend we're foaming at the mouth, ready to murder all the Muslims. You lunatic.

[mkcosplayorcovid-19prevention]

Ali reported: When the weapon of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had been assembled, I found on the handle or blade of his sword three sayings, “Maintain relations with those who cut you off, speak the truth even if it is against yourself, and be good to one who is evil to you.”

Abu Qilabah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “The example of the people of whims is that of the hypocrites. Allah Almighty mentioned the hypocrites with different words and deeds; the summary of that is misguidance. The people of whims disagree over their whims, but they come together upon the sword.”

The changes in warfare associated with the introduction of firearms did not eliminate the sword but rather proliferated its types - Encyclopedia Britannica

[thethief1996]

Sorry to bother, but I am seeing reports come out Abt the missile being fired from a jihad group not Israel. What proof of it being Israel?

Not a bother at all! It's great that you're seeking out information. I'll do a quick recap so you can understand what's going on.

Last Friday (14/10), Israel issued a warning urging 1.1 million Palestinians to leave Northern Gaza and move South in 24h, including the staff, patients and refugees residing in 22 hospitals. The World Health Organization issued a statement asking Israel to backtrack on that decision, since 2000 injured Gazans were being treated and thousands were taking refuge in these facilities. The medical staff categorically refused to abandon their posts.

About the evacuation orders: the hospitals were directly called to evacuate, including al-Ahli. Al-Quds hospital was called on Friday and initially given the deadline of 6 AM to evacuate, then pushed further to 4 PM. Ahmed Muhanna of Al-Awda hospital said they received a similar call initially giving two hours to evacuate, and explicitly said the 35 doctors would stay. Nisreen al-Shohafa, head of the emergency room also in Al-Awda hospital, reported to Al Jazeera that the IDF called and said the hospital should evacuate because it would be bombed.

On Saturday (15/10), the Archbishop of Canterbury said al-Ahli, which is an Anglican-run hospital, said it was hit by rocket fire and four staff members were injured. Al Jazeera verified these reports and said two Israeli artillery shells hit the hospital on Saturday.

Yesterday, al-Ahli received three evacuation orders successively, according to the Anglican leaders who run the hospital. After the Israeli army issued these orders, the hospital was bombed.

An IDF spokesperson said there was an operation happening in the area at the moment, but they were using different ammunition from the one that caused that type of damage.

Two hours after the bombing, the IDF issued a statement blaming the strike on a misfired missile launched by the PIJ on Twitter, and corroborated with video evidence. The video evidence was debunked by a New York Times journalist from the visual investigations team, who said the alleged video showed a timestamp 40 minutes after reports of the initial blast. After this, the IDF edited their original tweet to erase the video so it simply stated they had investigated their own operational systems and found the rocket was fired by the PIJ towards Israel.

The IDF continued with this narrative, posting a video today showing the type of craters caused by Israeli bombs and the damage of the hospital. Similarly, the BBC has analysed the data they could find and said it was inconclusive if the blast was Israeli or not.

The only problem is, the data they are analysing are videos and pictures of the blast. You'll see that both links in the previous paragraph show the same picture of a small section of the parking lot. The same image was circulated as proof by a senior research fellow for Airpower and Military Technology at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London. David Lisovtsev, an Israeli analyst, posted a video sourced from a Zionist Telegram channel and said it looked like a failed Hamas rocket. A spokesperson to the IDF posted a video showing an alleged conversation between two Hamas leaders planning the rocket launch, and when he was questioned about the credibility of it, said the IDF had lied before but this time it was different.

There has been no independent investigation, because no journalists or forensics teams are allowed into Gaza. I cannot emphasize enough to you that all these reports by Israel are based on blurry videos and maybe three pictures of the parking lot (I am being hyperbolic).

TL;DR

The evidence that the bombing was conducted by Israel is the following: They bombed the hospital with lesser artillery four days prior, they were conducting an operation in the area at the time of the blast, they called the hospital three times and told the 10k refugees to flee hours before the bombing and the evidence provided to the fact it wasn't them is jumbled at best.

The evidence that the bombing was conducted by PIJ, Hamas or any other Palestinian institution: The IDF investigated themselves and found themselves not guilty. Other journalists looked at videos and pictures and said the crater was not big enough to be caused by an Israeli missile.

[dandelionh3art]

Both "jihad" and "Allahu Akbar" are terms rooted in Islamic tradition, but they have been widely misunderstood or misrepresented.

Jihad

"Jihad" is an Arabic word that translates to "struggle" or "striving." In Islam, it represents a broad concept of working towards a good or noble cause. There are different types of jihad, which can be categorized into:

1. Greater Jihad (Al-Jihad Al-Akbar): This is the internal, personal struggle to become a better person, such as striving to improve one’s character, act compassionately, follow ethical principles, and resist selfish desires. Many Muslims view this as the most important form of jihad.

2. Lesser Jihad (Al-Jihad Al-Asghar): This can refer to defending the community or faith when it is under attack, which can include, in extreme cases, a physical struggle. However, this form of jihad has specific ethical guidelines within Islamic teachings, emphasizing defense and proportionality, not aggression.

Allahu Akbar

"Allahu Akbar" is an Arabic phrase that translates to "God is the Greatest." It’s a common expression of faith among Muslims and is used in a variety of contexts, such as in daily prayers, expressions of gratitude, or moments of awe or wonder.

Both "jihad" and "Allahu Akbar" are part of everyday life for many Muslims, embodying ideas of self-improvement, faith, and reverence for God. Unfortunately, these terms have sometimes been misused or taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings about their meanings and significance in Islamic culture.

[scurvyratt]

Although I didn't like the way Said died, I do think that the only way his story could have ended "happily" was with his own death.

So to explain, Said was a jihadist imo. I know that term has an extremely negative and violent connotation these days, but I don't think that he was a terrorist or extremist lol. Jihad has nothing to do with terrorism: "In its most general meaning, jihad refers to the obligation incumbent on all Muslims, individuals and the community, to follow and realize God’s will: to lead a virtuous life and to extend the Islamic community through preaching, education, example, writing, etc." Many Muslims also refer to jihad as a struggle against oppression. So not every Muslim is a jihadist, but I think Said is due to the fact that he is an imam and civil rights leader.

There are also the concepts of "lesser jihad" and "greater jihad". Lesser jihad is more of a physical battle against those who are oppressing you or committing wrong doings. We can see this in Said when he partakes in the riot for example. Greater jihad is an inward battle against oneself. The struggle against greed, lust, ego, selfishness, evil, etc. There's a ton of examples that can be used for this, especially in the last two seasons when he loses it after he kills Adebisi lol. Also when he gives up on pursuing Cutler's (ex) wife for his cause.

Nowww how does this relate to his death? Well, being a martyr is also a big deal in Islam. Muslims believe that there are seven levels of heaven, and that those who die as martyrs automatically go to the highest level. There are many different ways that one can die as a martyr in Islam, such as dying during child birth or dying while fighting for your independence (everyone who has been killed in the current Palestinian genocide is considered a martyr). But another way, is to die in the pursuit of jihad.

I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore lol, but I think that death as a martyr was like, the perfect death for Said since he was so committed to his jihad, his people, and fighting for civil rights. Also because he could be very self righteous and wanted to be seen as a hero (though I do think he changed in the later seasons, especially after Adebisi. Me doing a character analysis when I don't even remember what happened ijbol). I don't think that any other ending would have been satisfying for him because his ultimate desire was for liberation/equal rights/justice, etc. and like obviously that will never be achieved lol....

Also yes, I do think that Said would probably be considered a martyr since he mainly dedicated his life to Islam and educating/helping others (even tho he was kinda a flop tbh...) and he was assassinated. I mean he even gave up the opportunity to leave prison just so he could stay with his boyfriend Arif the other Muslims.

I know some people say that Said's death was fitting for the show (sudden, random, and by a stranger) but likeeeee. Idk I just did not gaf about that Idzik dude like come on they couldn't have come up with anything else?

Source: https://www.unaoc.org/repository/Esposito_Jihad_Holy_Unholy.pdf

[faerromagnetic]

Ideas for a Star Wars x Dune Fanfic

Basic Premise: Paul is both the Kwisatz Haderach and the Chosen One. Paul is younger here. Around 12 Years Old. With a 10 year jump for his training as a Jedi. Not sure how he should interact with Padme honestly.

After Escaping the Trade Federation, a Naboo Starship carrying the Queen, her Retinue, and two Jedi have found themselves doing an emergency landing on a planet inside the Corrino Empire. A Desert planet named Arrakis.

Currently, the planet itself has been transferred to the hands of the honorable Duke Leto Atreides. While the Queen of Naboo is afforded the protection of the Duke, the Jedi are regarded with more suspicion due to the presence of the Lady Jessica. While undergoing the repairs of the Naboo Starship, the Harkonnens attack. With the Duke tasking Jedi Master and Apprentice Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-wan Kenobi with the protection of his family.

During this, Paul and Jessica escape into the Desert, being rescued by the Fremen. Paul still gets his Visions of the Future, and the possible Jihad he will lead. Using the Force, Qui-Gon finds Sietch Tabr and the powers of Paul which are beginning to Awaken. Finding a possible way out of his doomed Fate, Paul joins the Jedi. His mother, more distrustful of the Jedi, and finding that she can avenge her House and Husband better by influencing the Fremen.

As Paul is about to leave, Darth Maul attacks the Jedi, stealthily tracking them since Naboo. They get away, with Paul being brought back to Coruscant. Events of Episode 1 happen.

Lore Ideas:

All Bene Gesserit are Force Sensitive, at least as much as your average Jedi. So are your Guild Navigators, and Mentats, albeit to a lesser extent.

Duncan and Gurney would definitely have been a Jedi Knights in another Life.

The Spice Melange opens you up much much more to the Force.

Blasters and Lightsabers can overwhelm a Holtzman Shield, but due to the differences in methods (Super Heated Gasses vs Continuous Wave Lasers) it doesn't actually trigger the Nuclear blast. This allows melee combatants to parry lightsabers with barehands or swords.

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Warhammer IIC

The original Warhammer was designed as an assault BattleMech. However, it had been superseded by later and heavier 'Mech designs, though it remained a powerful weapons platform. The Clans wisely maintained and built on this solid frame a real assault 'Mech, the Warhammer IIC. Thanks to their technological expertise, they were able to add ten tons with the same speed and firepower and nearly 50% more armor than the original. The Warhammer IIC is built on an Endo Steel frame and is protected by twelve tons of ferro-fibrous armor. The result is a dangerous 'Mech, able to hold its own in any battle against the Inner Sphere. Also note that the armor was the primary concern when designing the IIC version, as just ten tons of standard armor was considered insufficient for an assault-style 'Mech.

One of the premier examples of Clan Diamond Shark's efforts to develop visually refreshed and modernized "Phoenix" versions of classic second-line machines, the Warhammer IIC would receiving a major "marketing boost" when Clan Star Adder used it to good effect in their pre-Wars of Reaving efforts against Clan Blood Spirit's holdings on York, a "mere" second-line machine destroying the best OmniMechs the Blood Spirits had to offer. Later establishing production in the Inner Sphere at Trellshire Heavy Industries on Twycross, the Sharks would first offer it initially to their fellow Clans, but by the late stages of the Word of Blake Jihad variants of the Warhammer IIC were being sold to every major Inner Sphere power and many major mercenary units.

Meanwhile in the Periphery, the Warhammer IIC was simply too expensive for those smaller realms to consider, aside from the Outworlds Alliance with Clan Snow Raven initiating production of the 'Mech at their Industrial Complex Alpha for internal and external buyers. Though experimenting with a variety of variants for such things as vacuum combat, the "prime" model remained the bedrock of Snow Ravens' production of the 'Mech, ramping up output to take the Sea Foxes crown as the premier supplier of the 'Mech by the ilClan era.

The most popular Warhammer IIC variant, from initial production through to the Dark Age era, mounts paired ER PPCs (either Mk. XVII or newer Type DDS "Kingston") which inflict fifty percent more damage than the regular Successor States' PPCs. Added to an Patern J7 SRM-6 launcher and five 14a Medium Pulse Lasers, this firepower overwhelms most 'Mechs of equal or lesser tonnage. Twenty double heat sinks keep the design relatively cool.

[mid0o]

Chris Hedges: I am in the studio of Al Jazeera’s Arabic service watching a live feed from Gaza City. The Al Jazeera reporter in northern Gaza, because of the intense Israeli shelling, was forced to evacuate to southern Gaza. He left his camera behind. He trained it on Al-Shifa hospital, Gaza’s largest medical complex. It is night. Israeli tanks fire directly towards the hospital compound. Long horizontal red flashes. A deliberate attack on a hospital. A deliberate war crime. A deliberate massacre of the most helpless civilians, including the very sick and infants. Then the feed goes dead.

We sit in front of the monitors. We are silent. We know what this means. No power. No water. No internet. No medical supplies. Every infant in an incubator will die. Every dialysis patient will die. Everyone in the intensive care unit will die. Everyone who needs oxygen will die.  Everyone who needs emergency surgery will die. And what will happen to the 50,000 people who, driven from their homes by the relentless bombing, have taken refuge on the hospital grounds? We know the answer to that as well. Many of them, too, will die.

There are no words to express what we are witnessing. In the five weeks of horror this is one of the pinnacles of horror. The indifference of Europe is bad enough.  The active complicity by the United States is unfathomable. Nothing justifies this. Nothing. And Joe Biden will go down in history as an accomplice to genocide. May the ghosts of the thousands of children he has participated in murdering haunt him for the rest of his life.

Israel and the United States are sending a chilling message to the rest of the world. International and humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention, are meaningless pieces of paper. They did not apply in Iraq. They do not apply in Gaza. We will pulverize your neighborhoods and cities with bombs and missiles. We will wantonly murder your women, children, elderly and sick. We will set up blockades to engineer starvation and the spread of infectious diseases. You, the “lesser breeds” of the earth, do not matter. To us you are vermin to be extinguished. We have everything. If you try and take any of it away from us, we will kill you. And we will never be held accountable.

We are not hated for our values. We are hated because we have no values. We are hated because rules only apply to others. Not to us. We are hated because we have arrogated to ourselves the right to carry out indiscriminate slaughter. We are hated because we are heartless and cruel. We are hated because we are hypocrites, talking about protecting civilians, the rule of law and humanitarianism while extinguishing the lives of hundreds of people in Gaza a day, including 160 children.

Israel reacted with indignation and moral outrage when it was accused of bombing the al-Ahli Arab Christian hospital in Gaza, which left hundreds of dead. The bombing, Israel claimed, came from an errant rocket fired by Palestine Islamic Jihad. There is nothing in the arsenal of Hamas or Islamic Jihad that could have replicated the massive explosive power of the missile that struck the hospital. Those of us who have covered Gaza have heard this Israel trope so many times it is risible. They always blame Hamas and the Palestinians for their war crimes, now attempting to argue that hospitals are Hamas command centers and therefore legitimate targets. They never provide evidence. The Israeli military and government lie like they breathe.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), which has staff working in Al-Shifa, issued a statement saying patients, doctors and nurses are "trapped in hospitals under fire." It called on the “Israeli government to cease this unrelenting assault on Gaza’s health system.”

“Over the past 24 hours, hospitals in Gaza have been under relentless bombardment. Al-Shifa hospital complex, the biggest health facility where MSF staff are still working, has been hit several times, including the maternity and outpatient departments, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries,” the statement read. “The hostilities around the hospital have not stopped. MSF teams and hundreds of patients are still inside Al-Shifa hospital. MSF urgently reiterates its calls to stop the attacks against hospitals, for an immediate ceasefire and for the protection of medical facilities, medical staff and patients.”

Three other hospitals in northern Gaza and Gaza City are encircled by Israeli forces and tanks, in what a doctor told Al Jazeera was a “day of war against hospitals.” The Indonesian Hospital has reportedly also lost power. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that 20 of 36 hospitals in Gaza no longer function.

Israel and Washington’s cynicism is breathtaking. There are no differences in intent. Washington only wants it done quickly. Humanitarian corridors?  Pauses in the shelling?  These are vehicles to facilitate the total depopulation of northern Gaza. The handful of aid trucks allowed through the border at Rafah with Egypt? A public relations gimmick. There is only one goal – kill, kill, kill. The faster the better. All Biden officials talk about is what comes next once Israel has finished its decimation of Gaza. They know Israel’s slaughter will not end until Gazans are living in the open without shelter in the southern part of the strip and dying because of a lack of food, water and medical care.

Gaza before Israel’s ground incursion was one of the most densely populated spots on the planet. Imagine what will happen with 1.1 million Gazans from the north piled on top of over 1 million in the south. Imagine what will take place when infectious diseases such as cholera become an epidemic.  Imagine the ravages of starvation. The pressure will build to do something. And that something, Israel hopes, will be to push the Palestinians over the border into the Sinai in Egypt. Once there, they will never return. Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Gaza will be complete.  Its ethnic cleansing of the West Bank will begin.

That is Israel’s demented dream. To achieve it, they will make Gaza uninhabitable.

Ask yourself, if you were a Palestinian in Gaza and had access to a weapon what would you do? If Israel killed your family, how would you react? Why would you care about international or humanitarian law when you know it only applies to the oppressed, not the oppressors? If terror is the only language Israel uses to communicate, the only language it apparently understands, wouldn’t you speak back with terror?

Israel’s orgy of death will not crush Hamas. Hamas is an idea. This idea is fed on the blood of martyrs. Israel is giving Hamas an abundant supply.