HistoryFor centuries Muslims have developed ways to integrate their religious beliefs with the external economic realities of the nations they live in. This has had varying degrees of compatibility with the empires and customs they encountered. Like most things in Islam, commerce adapts to al-urf, “the custom”.In the 1980s and 1990s Muslim bankers and religious leaders developed ways to integrate Islamic law on usage of money with modern concepts of ethical investing. Consequently, a sophisticated economic discipline has emerged with its own concepts, analytical tools and institutions. Some of these are revived traditional micro venture capital and ethical investing frameworks that thrived in medieval times. However, they incorporated many modern techniques and technologies. Some consider the emergence of these economic practices to be part of a revival of Islam and an Islamization of knowledge. Others see them as a practical response to problems of global debt and debt slavery. A number of researchers suggest, however, the underlying causes of the genesis of modern Islamic economics was based more on the desire to reflect beliefs about Islamic identity than to establish a more ethical or religiously sound banking systemReferencesMuhammad Nijatullah Siddiqui, Muslim Economic Thinking, (Islamic Foundation, Leicester, UK) Syed Nawab Haider Naqi, Ethics and Economics: An Islamic Synthesis, (Islamic Foundation, Leicester, UK) M. Umar Chapra, Islam and the Economic Challenge, (Islamic Foundation, Leicester, UK) Angelo M. Venardos, Islamic Banking & Finance in South-East Asia: Its Development & Future, (World Scientific Publishing, Singapore) Fatwa Dewan Syariah Nasional – Majelis Ulama Indonesia Fatwa about many issues in Islamic Economics Islamic Economics book list Islamic Banking references Islamic Banking references (GDRC) ————————–Islam Muslim Islamic banking finance insurance marriage clothing fashion software qurban Makkah & Madinah.

Can we live a day without TV? Many Indonesian bloggers almost simultaneously posted a piece about a day without television to commemorate National Children Day on July 23.

Many of them are worried about the quality of Indonesian tv programs which they see as a threat to the children creativity specially when it is seen from quality point of view.

Lita Mariana at Banana Talk, Priyadi, Triaji, Solyaris, and Bocah Cilik are among Indonesian bloggers who urge everyone to stop watching a tv program to pay respect for children and to warn Indonesian tv channels about their programs that could harm children in many ways.

This “one day without tv” campaign is initiated by Kidia a portal media dedicated specifically for children education.

Lita Mariana fully supports such campaign. As a mother of a couple of kids, she is very concerned with many tv programs that she thinks could pose a threat to the way the kids will behave in the future.

So what the point of making such campaign when they know that their voices will reach the deaf ears of Indonesian tv producers if it’s not accompanied with a proper law? A comment here tell us the reason.

Says Rendy AK
It’s not about anti-TV as a technology. It’s just too-much-violence-and-junk-shows on (Indonesian) TV. This is not about proposing a bill that makes TV ilegal, just showing respect to the National Child Day.

As we all know Indonesian TV show is far from child-friendly. Despite that Indonesian children spend more time on TV than on other activities.
Masindi gives an interesting comment on Banana Talk post about how not watching tv can benefit you:
We have lived happily without TV since many years ago:

Read here: ” Celebrating Life at Home Without TV”

-We’ve read more books.
-We’ve entertained more guests (really, we had meaningful conversations and played musical instruments).
-We’ve copulated more often.
-We’ve tried more interesting recipes.
-Now, we’ve got all the time in the world to take care of Noe.

Jemaah Islamiah / Jama’ah Islamiyah or popularly known as JI is said to have been formed in Malaysia in the late 1980s, by a handful of exiled Indonesian extremists.

The network grew to include cells across the Indonesian archipelago, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Smaller cells might also exist in elsewhere in the region.

Its goal is the establishment of an Islamic state in Indonesia and in other parts of South East Asia. In its formative years JI advocated using largely peaceful means to pursue these goals, but in the mid-1990s the group took on a more violent edge.

This growing militancy was nurtured in part through contacts between JI figures, and senior al-Qaeda personnel then in Afghanistan, says David Wright-Neville of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Under the influence of the latter, JI embraced the idea that its goals could only be secured through a “holy war”.

A growing number of JI members became unhappy at the disproportionately large number of unintended Muslim victims of the bombing campaign.

Indonesian security analysts report that the organisation split into two broad factions – bombers and proselytisers. The latter are attempting to steer the organisation towards using preaching as its main weapon.

Adding to these internal divisions has been the sustained pressure applied to JI by Indonesian counter-terrorism agencies, often in concert with counterparts from further afield, notably the US, Australia and other South East Asian states.

This pressure has led to more than 200 arrests of suspected JI members across the region.

JI’s alleged spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, was imprisoned on minor charges stemming from the Bali attacks in 2002, but later acquitted.

The capture of logistics chief Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali, arrested in Thailand and now in US custody in Guantanamo, and the death of a senior bomb maker, Fathur Rahman al Ghozi, killed in a shoot-out with police in the Philippines, have been important.

The death of bomb-making expert Azahari bin Husin, shot dead during a police raid on a terrorist safehouse on Java island, also struck JI a blow.

Courtesy: BBC.co.uk

Scrolldown to see Noordin Mohammad Top various pictures / photos / images.

Noordin Mohammed Top (born August 11, 1968) aka Noordin Mohammad Top is one of the most wanted men in Asia.

Born in Kluang Johor, Malaysia, he is thought to have been a key bomb maker and/or financier for Jemaah Islamiya (JI) and to have now left JI and set up a splinter group. Top was reported by the United States Department of Justice’s FBI to be “an explosives expert.” The FBI also has reported him to be “an officer, recruiter, bombmaker, and trainer for the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group.”

Noordin and Azahari Husin were thought to have masterminded the 2002 Bali bombing, the 2003 JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta, the 2004 Jakarta embassy bombing and the 2005 Bali bombings.

Noordin, nicknamed the “Moneyman”, was an indoctrinator who was good in recruiting militants into becoming suicide bombers and collecting funds for militant activities.

Having long since been wanted by Malaysian and Indonesian authorities, in 2006, he also became listed on the FBI’s third major “wanted” list, the FBI Seeking Information – War on Terrorism list.

His aliases, as reported by the FBI, include: Noordin Muh Top, Noordin Mat Top, and Noordin Din Moch Top.

Officials believe the former accountant has orchestrated a series of attacks across Indonesia.

Noordin was thought to be a key recruiter and financier for regional Islamist militant group, Jemaah Islamiah, but analysts say he has now formed his own militant group.

The Indonesian government has managed to stifle militant strikes since September 2005 – the second major attack on Bali, which left 23 dead.

The man thought to have been Noordin’s closest ally, Malaysian bomb-maker Azahari Husin, was killed in 2005.

Two self-proclaimed JI leaders were then jailed in April 2008 and three Bali bombers were executed in November that year.

***

FBI also considered him to be the most wanted terrorist. Here’s a data from FBI’s website about Noordin Top

Noordin Mohammad Top
Photograph of Noordin Mohammad Top Photograph of Noordin Mohammad Top
Aliases: Noordin Muh Top, Noordin Mat Top, Noordin Din Moch Top

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth Used: August 11, 1968 Hair: Unknown
Place of Birth: Johor, Malaysia Eyes: Unknown
Height: Unknown Sex: Male
Weight: Unknown Complexion: Unknown
Remarks: Top is reported to be an explosives expert. Additionally, he may wear glasses and have facial hair.

DETAILS

Noordin Mohammad Top is reportedly an officer, recruiter, bombmaker, and trainer for the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group that was involved in the bombings of a Bali nightclub, a Jakarta hotel, and the Australian Embassy in Indonesia between 2002 and 2004.

–
Note:
Wikipedia.org
BBCNews.com
FBI.gov

Noordin Mohamed Top in Photos:

Many Indonesian bloggers respond to the current brutal and terror act against civilians in Palestine and Lebanon with disgust and condemnation.

Indra Pramana who is very concerned about the current escalation of tension in the middle-east, especially the use of excessive force by Israelis against civilians in Palestinian territory and Lebanon, questioning the actions of the Jewish state and the silent voice of the world on the events:
I still don’t understand, why Israel has to kill a lot of innocent civilians, including children, only because they want to save two of their soldiers which are being captured by Hezbollah militants. Why they have to bomb the Beirut international airport? Why they have to sacrifice the life of a lot of Lebanese civilians, including children?

Why all countries around the world did not immediately condemn the attack? When North Korea did a “show-off” with its missiles, most of all countries around the world immediately condemned the move. When terrorists strike Mumbai’s rapid transportation with several blasts to its trains, all countries immediately condemned the attack. Why up to the moment, it’s quite difficult for most countries around the world to condemn the Israel’s attack? Why so far, only Indonesia condemned the attack, while the Philippines only issued Lebanon travel ban for its citizens? And why the UN Security Council finds it difficult to come out with a resolution to condemn the attack?

I really hope that the international community can immediately look into this matter. This matter is obviously more serious than the North Korea issue. North Korea only performed a show-off, while in this case, a lot of civilians, including children, has been killed by the brutal attacks. I also really hope that the international community can do the necessary to stop Israel’s attacks, so there’s no further innocent people become victims.
While many Indonesian bloggers condem the acts of the Israelis against Lebanon and Palesine, Romi Satro Wahono highlights more on the root cause of conflicts happens in any parts of the world including in the Middle East where he elaborates three major factors of conflicts and war that happen throughout the history of the world adding a note that it’s the US who has waged the most wars:
First, ambition to show off and gain recognition on the part of more powerful countries with all possible pretext to support the action.

Second, war as a very profitable business. You can see the table in his blog on the top five countries who export and import weapons and its values in US dollars

Third, poverty, injustices, and big social gap between the haves and the have-nots.
Some commenters seem to agree with him. Arif Widianto, for example, comment that:
Saya tidak terkejut kalau Amerika merupakan negara yang terbanyak terlibat dalam konflik (perang) internasional. Industri senjata di negara tersebut merupakan industri yang besar dan harus diserap. Kalau pasar tidak menyerap, minimal negara sendiri yang menyerap. Boleh dilihat, setiap kali Partai Republik berkuasa di Amerika, dijamin bakal akan ada perang di suatu belahan dunia karena Partai Republik disokong oleh industri senjata. Lihat George Bush dan George Walker Bush sebagai sedikit contoh dari penguasa yang berasal dari Partai Republik. Kedua orang ini menggelar perang yang cukup dahsyat di akhir abad 20 dan awal abad 21.
I am not surprised to see the US as a country with the most involvement in international conflicts (war). Weapon industry in the country is one of the biggest business and has to be dealt with. If the (international) market does not absorb that (weapon) production, it’ll become the burden of state to do it. See, everytime the Republic is in the helm of power, it’ll be rest assured there would be a war in other parts of the world because the Republic party is supported by weapons industry. See for example George Bush Sr. and Jr as a case in point. The two father and son president have waged the greatest war in the late 20th century and early 21st century respectively.

To benefit from their summer vacation by obtaining new practical experiences that burnish their university certificates and hence qualify them to enter the labor market if they wish. In this respect, Mr. A. Hameed Alhammadi, Senior Manager, Human Resources and Services at the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) announced: ‘the Bahrain Islamic Bank is keen every year and throughout the year to open up its doors for male and female graduates from the University of Bahrain to get their practical training in order to complete their practical and theoretical curricula that are required for graduation. ‘We are pleased that we were able this year to accept 12 female and 7 male graduates out of them 11 are holders of BSC certificates and the other 8 are diploma holders, and we hope they will be able to complete the practical and theoretical training that is designed for them’ he continued. It is worth mentioning that all those accepted by the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) have started their practical training at the beginning of this month where they enrolled in a short induction course through which they get acquainted with the bank operation, its services, the differences between Islamic and traditional banks, and the characteristics of Islamic banks. They were allocated to different sections in the headquarter in addition to a number of the 12 branches distributed in different parts of the kingdom. Mr. Alhammadi further stated: ‘our previous experiences with UOB graduates makes us keen to repeat them every year. There is a reasonable number of male and female graduates from this university working full time at the bank which makes us give them the opportunity to prove themselves and their capabilities and hence have the honor to work for this well-established bank’. Of note to say, the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) gives its employees utmost importance. This is reflected in the Bahrainisation percentage at the bank which is considered the highest among all banks in Bahrain (98%), coupled with the many benefits that the employees get and concluded with the best training and development programs provided to them by the bank. From their side, a number of trainees expressed their feelings and gratitude to the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) for accepting to host and train them at this critical period of any graduate age, where the desired race to obtain the benefit of graduation from one side, and consolidate the practical training with the theoretical one from the other side to equip them with better confidence in themselves whilst seeking jobs for the first time after graduation.————————–Islam Muslim Islamic banking finance insurance marriage clothing fashion software qurban Makkah & Madinah.

Alalawi: Manager at Corporate and Institutional Banking BIsBMr. Abdulla Hameed Alalawi has recently joined the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) family, the first Islamic bank in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as Manager at Corporate and Institutional Banking department. To meet the successive developments in the Islamic banking industry and within the strategic framework that aims to modernize staff and management organizational structure at the bank and consolidate it with qualified Bahraini expertise. ‘Our continuance to arm ourselves with Bahraini human resources cadres is a definite proof of the extent of high confidence that we entrust in the youth of this generous kingdom.” commented Mr. Yousif Saleh Khalaf, Bahrain Islamic Bank Chief Executive Officer. “The joining of Mr. Abdulla Alalawi to the family of Bahrain Islamic Bank and the remaining brothers and sisters who joined before him both in the leadership or executive level is a distinctive proof that the qualified Bahraini option is what we aim and work for’ he added. From his side, Mr. Alalawi expressed his delight to join the bank by stating: ‘I am extremely pleased to join the bank family. The feeling of amicability that I was met with in my first day reflects the spirit of one family which the Bahrain Islamic Bank enjoys”. He further added: ‘ Although I have spent 20 years in the banking industry, it is the first time that I indulge myself and work for Islamic banks that have improved considerably and have become a difficult figure that cannot be ignored or live without; they have even become strong contender to traditional banks’. Mr. Alalawi has assumed many pervious posts such as Banking services Affairs Manager of Corporate and individuals sector at the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait. He comes to Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) equipped with extensive banking experience which reaches 22 years during which he held many managerial and executive posts. Mr. Alalawi holds a diploma in Executive Management from the University of Bahrain and Middle and Advanced Diplomas from the Bahrain Institute for Banking and Finance. The Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) is a member of the International Union of Islamic Banks and its percentage of Bahranisation has reached more than 98% and such percentage is considered one of the highest percentages among Islamic and traditional banks that operate in Bahrain. ————————–Islam Muslim Islamic banking finance insurance marriage clothing fashion software qurban Makkah & Madinah.