Lazy Lob
02-06-2007, 03:02 AM
May I draw your attention to an article in the Times:
From The Times
February 06, 2007
My brother’s sacrifice was for peace and understanding
Being a Muslim in the Armed Forces
Zeeshan Hashmion
Last Wednesday I woke up to find out that I had 41 missed calls plus a dozen or so voicemail messages, mostly from the media, but a few from my loved ones. I soon found out the cause — the eight arrests linked to an alleged plot to kidnap and execute a British Muslim member of the Armed Forces.
My immediate thoughts were of concern for members of my family, who live not far from the locations raided by the police. Upon speaking to my family, who were under siege by journalists, I foresaw a hectic time ahead based on my experience of the days after the death of my brother, Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi, in Sangin, Afghanistan, on July 1, 2006.
So why did my brother and I decided to join the British Army, having been born in Pakistan and being proud Muslims? Our education was a combination of the Western form, in private schools, and religious education in a local mosque in the evenings. Both have been equally important for the nurturing of mind, body and soul. Our late respected teacher, who taught us Koran, was the ideal combination of deen wa duniya — religion and the world.
It was people such as him and my parents who taught us to respect people as fellow humans rather than on the grounds of their religious, ethnic and geographical identities. What I also remember is a famous saying by the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Actions are by intentions.” It is one’s true intentions and not the physical act itself that qualifies one for Allah’s reward in the afterlife.
It goes on here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1336519.ece
From The Times
February 06, 2007
My brother’s sacrifice was for peace and understanding
Being a Muslim in the Armed Forces
Zeeshan Hashmion
Last Wednesday I woke up to find out that I had 41 missed calls plus a dozen or so voicemail messages, mostly from the media, but a few from my loved ones. I soon found out the cause — the eight arrests linked to an alleged plot to kidnap and execute a British Muslim member of the Armed Forces.
My immediate thoughts were of concern for members of my family, who live not far from the locations raided by the police. Upon speaking to my family, who were under siege by journalists, I foresaw a hectic time ahead based on my experience of the days after the death of my brother, Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi, in Sangin, Afghanistan, on July 1, 2006.
So why did my brother and I decided to join the British Army, having been born in Pakistan and being proud Muslims? Our education was a combination of the Western form, in private schools, and religious education in a local mosque in the evenings. Both have been equally important for the nurturing of mind, body and soul. Our late respected teacher, who taught us Koran, was the ideal combination of deen wa duniya — religion and the world.
It was people such as him and my parents who taught us to respect people as fellow humans rather than on the grounds of their religious, ethnic and geographical identities. What I also remember is a famous saying by the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Actions are by intentions.” It is one’s true intentions and not the physical act itself that qualifies one for Allah’s reward in the afterlife.
It goes on here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1336519.ece