Moderate Islam, practicing Muslim

In accordance with the following verse in the Qur'an, “Keep to the right course as you have been commanded, and also those who turn with you to Allah, and do not exceed the bounds. He sees what you do.” (Surah Hood, 11:112), Islam is itself a moderate religion and those who are following it are moderate anyway. "The above verse is self-explanatory as it means, be steadfast in following the truth, to the best of your ability, without overstepping the limits through exaggeration and extremism."

"Once, while teaching his companions, one of the rites of pilgrimage, the Prophet (PBH) warned them against going to extremes, pointing out that doing so was the reason behind the destruction of past nations: “Beware of extremism in religion, for the only thing that destroyed those before you was extremism in religion.” (Sunan Ibn Maajah: 3029)."

Therefore, there is no need to label a follower of Islam as a "moderate" Muslim. Islam is moderate and modern, and unchangeable since it has emerged during the time of the Prophet (PBH). We just contradict ourselves by labelling it.

This is also surprising that some people take reference of the Qur'an and Hadith out of context; whereas every aspect of Quran and Hadith relate with a background. We, also, sometimes, say, I am practicing Muslim, but as a Muslim you are meant to be practicing anyway. We should rather say, (if you are not practicing) I am not a practicing Muslim.

#SyedRumman

Olive Branch

Olive Branch by Syed Rumman

You were mistaken since the day you thought it was my weakness,
Rather I gave you the chance to rethink,
Rethink to return me the shadow of my olive tree—
But, you showered me with the inglorious century!

You thought you owned my olive branch;
Oh dear! You forgot—the garden still says my name; belongs to me! 
I am the life of all the lifeless!

You are repeatedly mistaken—I have just shown you what you only could visualise;

The sun I gave you still rises from here, 
The days you see are gifts of my wishes;

Remember—oh forgotten boys—you had never had the name until I gave it!

You are immersed in lies; your pathways are anchored in falsehood. 
Your endless enmity named you as a vampire bat.

The lives you are taking are given away by us—in the name of truth; 
They will revive in strength—
Our numbers are countless in sands! 

Our one becomes the millions going beyond the land!

Today, listen to the whisper until I scream—
Olive colour lies in my every drop of blood; 
My one earthquake will be your last breath.

Therefore, I say —
"Today
I come to you bearing an olive branch in one hand,
And
A freedom fighter's gun in another. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. 
I repeat! Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

Olive Branch 

Syed Rumman

21 July 2014
London

(Late Yasser Arafat, the leader of PLO, addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time on 13 November 1974. His speech is known as " The Olive Branch Speech of Arafat" in the pages of history regardless of any controversies.

"Today I come to you bearing an olive branch in one hand and a freedom fighter's gun in another. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."