A blog in an attempt to overturn the prejudice, the lies and the hate that has been generated by hatemongers. By right, cowardly liars who without any dignity or shame lied n lie to the innocent Worldwide Web surfers. Well, maybe not all are that innocent, but yet, they deserve the truth, if not entitled to it.
Bismillah, Ya Rahmaanu ya Rahim, Bismillah
Bismillah, Ya Fattahu ya Halim Bismillah
In the name of God, O The Merciful, O The Compassionate, In the name of God, In the name of God, O The Opener, O The Forebearer In the name of God
Ya Allah, Ya Mannaanu ya Karim, Ya Allah
Ya Allah, Ya Mannaanu ya Karim, Ya Allah
Bismillah, Bismillah, Bismillah
O Allah, O The Gracious , O The Generous, O Allah O Allah, O The Gracious , O The Generous, O Allah In the name of God, In the name of God, In the name of God
Yaa Rabbi sudilah pandang kami
Terangi jalan gelap ini
Jangan biarkan aku terus sendiri
Mencari mendaki dan berduri
O My Lord, have the grace to look at us Enlighten this dark road ahead Do not let me be, wandering alone Searching, climbing and full of thorns
Yaa Rabbi dengarlah doaku ya Rabbi
Hadirlah dalam kehidupan, kematian kami
Cuba dan uji kan ku lalui
Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim
O My Lord, listen to my prayer, O My Lord Be with us, In our livelihood, our death Trials and tests will I endure O Allah, O The Merciful, O The Compassionate
Michigan had 82,000 Baptists and 83,000 Jews in their state population. But in the prisons, there were 22 times as many Baptists as Jews, and 18 times as many Methodists as Jews. In Sing-Sing, there were 1,553 total inmates with 855 of them Catholics (over half), 518 Protestants, 177 Jews and 8 non- religious. There's a very interesting qualified statistic.
Steiner first surveyed 27 states, and found 19,400 Christians, 5,000 with no preference, and only 3 Agnostics (one each in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Illinois). A later, more complete survey found 60,605 Christians, 5,000 Jews, 131 Pagans, 4,000 no preference, and only 3 Agnostics.
In one 29-state survey, Steiner found 15 unbelievers, Spirtualists, Theosophists, Deists, Pantheists and 1 Agnostic among nearly 83,000 inmates. Calling all 15 "anti-christians" made it one half person to each state. Elmira reformatory overshadowed all, with nearly 31,000 inmates, including 15,694 Catholics (half), and 10,968 Protestants, 4,000 Jews, 325 refusing to answer, and 0 unbelievers.
In the East, over 64% of inmates are Catholics. In the national prison population they average 50%. A national census found Catholics 15%. They count from the diaper up. Hardly 12% are old enough to commit a crime. Half of these are women. That leaves an adult Catholic population of 6% supplying 50% of the prison population.
Liverpool, England produces three percent as many young criminals as Birmingham, a larger city, 28% coming from Catholic schools.
What does this tell you about parochial school systems or claims that religion is the guardian of morals?
Is Music Haram? Is Music Halal? Music, Haram or Halal?
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
First of all, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.
Given that your objection revolves mainly around music and why it is
permissible, here is the clarification for that in the light of fatwa
issued by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi :
The whole issue of singing is controversial, whether it is with
musical accompaniment or not. Some issues succeeded to gain the Muslim
scholars' agreement, while others failed. All scholars have unanimous
view on the prohibition of all forms of singing and music that incites
debauchery, indecency, or sin. As for musical instruments, given the
weakness of the evidence indicating that they are forbidden, the rule to
be applied here is the one states that all things are originally deemed
permissible as long as there is no Shari`ah text that prohibits them.
Singing is no more than melodious words; if these are good, singing is
considered good; but if they are bad, such singing is deemed bad. Talk
that contains forbidden content is prohibited. What if that talk is
accompanied with rhythm and melody?
Scholars agree on the permissibility of singing without instrumental
accompaniment and where the content is not prohibited. This sort of
singing is allowed only in certain occasions such as: weddings, feasts,
welcoming a traveler, and the like. This is based on the hadith of the
Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) that states: “He (peace and
blessings be upon him) asked, ‘Have you given the girl (i.e., the bride)
anything as a present?' They (the attendants) replied, ‘Yes.' He asked,
'Did you send a singer along with her?' 'No', said `A'ishah. The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, 'The Ansar are a
people who love poetry. You should have sent along someone who would
sing: Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.'" In this
case, we can say that a woman can sing only in front of women and her
non-marriageable male kin.
In the subject of musical instruments, scholars disagree on the
matter. Some of them permit all sorts of singing, be it accompanied with
musical instruments or not, and even consider it recommended. A second
group of scholars permit singing only when is not accompanied with a
musical instrument. A third group declare it to be prohibited whether it
be accompanied with a musical instrument or not; they even consider it
as a major sin. In supporting their view, they cite the hadith narrated
by Imam Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Malik or Abu `Amir Al-Ash`ari
(doubt from the sub-narrator) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) said, 'From among my followers there will be some people who
will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk (clothes),
the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as
lawful.' Although this hadith is in Sahih Al-Bukhari, its
chain of transmission is not connected to Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) and this invalidates its authenticity. Ibn Hazm
rejects it for that very reason. Moreover, the sub-narrator, Hisham Ibn
`Ammar is declared ‘weak' by many scholars of the Science of Hadith
Methodology.
Besides, this hadith does not clearly prohibit the use of musical
instruments, for the phrase 'consider as lawful,' according to Ibn
Al-`Arabi, has two distinct meanings:
First : Such people think all these (the things mentioned) are lawful.
Second : They exceed the proper limits that should be
observed in using these instruments. If the first meaning is intended,
such people would be thus disbelievers.
In fact, the hadith in hand dispraises the manners of a group of
people who indulge themselves in luxuries, drinking alcohol and
listening to music. Therefore, Ibn Majah narrates this hadith from Abu
Malik Al-Ash`ari in the following wording: "From among my followers
there will be some people who will drink wine, giving it other names
while they listen to musical instruments and the singing of female
singers; Allah the Almighty will make the earth swallow them and will
turn them into monkeys and pigs.” (Reported by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih )
Conclusion on Permissibility of Musical Instruments
In the light of the above, it is clear that the religious texts that stand as a basis for those who maintain that singing is haram
are either ambiguous or inauthentic. None of the hadiths attributed to
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is valid as evidence
on the judgment of prohibition. Moreover, all these hadiths are declared
‘weak' by the followers of Ibn Hazm, Malik, Ibn Hanbal, and
Ash-Shafi`i.
In his book, Al-Ahkam , Al-Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn Al-`Arabi says,
“None of the hadiths maintaining that singing is prohibited are
considered authentic (by the scholars of the Science of Hadith
Methodology).” The same view is maintained by Al-Ghazali and Ibn
An-Nahwi in Al-`Umdah . Ibn Tahir says, “Not even a single letter from all these Hadiths was proved to be authentic.”
Ibn Hazm says, “All the hadiths narrated in this respect were invented and falsified.”
Proofs of Those Who Maintain that Singing is Halal :
First : The Textual Proofs:
They base their argument on some authentic hadiths of Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him). One of these hadiths is the
following:
`A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: “Allah's Messenger
(peace and blessings be upon him, came to my house while two girls were
singing beside me the songs of Bu`ath (a story about the pre-Islamic war
between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Awus). The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) laid down and turned his face
to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came and spoke to me harshly saying,
‘Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him)?' Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon
him) turned his face towards him and said, ‘Leave them.' When Abu Bakr
became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left.”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari)
This indicates that these two girls were not so young as claimed by
some scholars. If they were, Abu Bakr would not have been angry with
them in such manner. In addition, in this hadith, the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) wanted to teach the Jews that Islam has room for
merriment and that he himself was sent with a moderate and flexible
legislation. There is also another important lesson to learn here. It
draws our attention to the fact that one needs to introduce Islam to
others in a good fashion, along with displaying its moderateness and
magnanimity.
Moreover, we can also cite as corroborating this Allah's words that read, “But
when they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and
leave thee standing. Say: That which Allah hath is better than pastime
and than merchandise, and Allah is the best of providers.” (Al-Jumu`ah: 11)
In this verse, Allah Almighty joins pastime with merchandise. He does
not dispraise any of them, He just only rebuked the Companions who left
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone giving the khutbah (Friday Sermon), when they all rushed to attend to the caravan and beating of the drums celebrating its arrival.
Second : In Respect of Islam's Spirit and Basics:
It is a fact that Allah had prohibited for the Children of Israel some
of the good things of this worldly life as a punishment for their
misdeeds.
He says, “Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews, We forbade
them good things which were (before) made lawful unto them, and because
of their much hindering from Allah's way. And of their taking usury when
they were forbidden it, and of their devouring people's wealth by false
pretences. We have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful
doom.” (An-Nisa': 160-161)
Before sending Prophet Muhammad, He Almighty referred to him in the earlier scriptures as, “Those
who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write,
whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are)
with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them
that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and
prohibit for them only the foul.” (Al-A`raf: 157)
Thus, Islam left nothing good or sound but declared it to be halal
(lawful). This is a sign of mercy to this Ummah (nation or community),
moving along the line of its comprehensive and eternal message. Allah
Almighty says, “They ask you (O Muhammad) what is made lawful for them. Say: (all) good things are made lawful for you.” (Al-Ma'idah: 4)
If we are to delve deeply into this matter, we will find that love for
singing and melodic voices are almost a human instinct. We can observe
an infant lying in his cradle soothed and sleeping by the sound of a
lullaby. Mothers and nannies are always in the habit of singing for
babies and children. Moreover, birds and animals respond to nice voices
and rhythmic melodies.
Thereupon, if singing is thus a human instinct, it is not for Islam to
defy humankind's instincts. Islam came to refine and promote the human
instinct. Ibn Taymyiah says, “Prophets were sent to polish and
discipline man's instinct and not to change or modify it.” This is
pursuant to the hadith that reads, “When Allah's Messenger came to
Madinah, he found them (i.e., the people of Madinah) celebrating two
days. He said, ‘What are these days?' They replied, ‘We used to rejoice
in these days during the pre-Islamic era.' He (peace and blessings be
upon him) said, ‘Verily, Allah Almighty has given you two alternative days which are much better: these are Al-Adha and Al-Fitr days (`Eids).' ” (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i)
Moreover, if singing is to be considered rejoicing and play, these are not haram ;
this is in pursuant to the famous idea that man needs some time to
relax a bit and rejoice. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
said to Hanzalah who thought himself to be a hypocrite for his
attendance to his wife and children and the change that affected him
when he was apart from Allah's Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him), “O Hanzalah! Part of your time should be devoted (to the
worldly affairs) and part of time (should be devoted to prayer and
meditation).” (Reported by Muslim)
`Ali Ibn Abu Talib says, “Amuse yourselves for some time, for if hearts are exposed to too much strain, they turn blind.”
Abu Ad-Darda' said, “I refresh myself with some amusement in order to make myself stronger on the path of right.”
Imam Al-Ghazali answered someone who asked him: “Isn't singing some
kind of play and rejoice?” He said, “Yes. But, all that exists in this
present life is mere play and rejoice. All that takes place between a
husband and his wife is play, except sexual intercourse that is the
direct cause of reproducing children. This has been reported from
Allah's Messenger and his honorable Companions.”
In fact, leisure time is refreshing to the heart and alleviates its
tensions at the same time. Excessive strain and efforts render the heart
bored and blind. Amusing the self refreshes and renews its strength and
vigor. One who continuously works hard at something should take a break
for a while in order to restore and regain his energy and firm will
lest he totally collapses in future. When one takes a break, he thus
restores his strength and vigor. Only Prophets can stand absolute
seriousness. Having leisure time is a form of treatment for diseases of
the self, weariness and boredom. But, leisure should not be excessive.
This will go against the whole issue of rejoicing hearts to make them
able to go on.
One who is familiar with and experienced in the nature of the human
heart and self knows for certain that recreation and relaxation are
necessary treatments for one's well-being.
These proofs on the permissibility of singing are extracted from the
texts and rules of Islam, and these are sufficient to clarify the issue.
In addition to this, the people of Madinah, who were very pious and
God-fearing, the Zahiriyyah, who were very literal regarding the textual
proofs, and the Sufis, who were very strict and rigid, were all quoted
to have declared the permissibility of singing.
Imam Ash-Shawkani says in his book “ Nayl Al-Awtar ”, “The
people of Madinah and those who agreed with them from among the
Zahiriyyah and the Sufis maintain that singing is permissible, even when
it is accompanied by a musical instrument such as the lute or the
flute. Abu Mansur Al-Bughdadi Ash-Shafi`i narrate that `Abdullah Ibn
Ja`far saw nothing wrong in singing, and he, himself, used to compose
the music for his own slaves who used to sing these melodies in his
presence. This took place during the time of Commander of the Faithful,
`Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Abu Ja`far Al-Bughdadi narrates the same after
Al-Qadi Shurayh, Sa`id Ibn Al-Musaiyb, `Ata' Ibn Abu Rabah, Az-Zuhri and
Ash-Shi`bi.”
Ar-Ruwaiyani narrates on the authority of Al-Qaffal that Malik Ibn
Anas maintained that singing with musical instruments is permissible.
Also, Abu Mansur Al-Furani quotes Malik as maintaining that playing the
flute is permissible.
Abu Al-Fadl Ibn Tahir narrates, “The people of Madinah never disputed over the permissibility of playing the lute.”
Ibn An-Nahwi narrates in his “ Al-`Umdah ”: “Ibn Tahir said, ‘The people of Madinah showed consensus over this (issue). Also, all the Zahiriyyah maintained the same.'”
Al-Mawardi attributes the permissibility of playing the lute to some
of the Shafi`i followers and students. This has been narrated also by
Abu Al-Fadl Ibn Tahir after Abu Ishaq Ash-Shirazi; and it is narrated by
Al-Isnawi after Ar-Ruwaiyani and Al-Mawardi. Again, this is narrated by
Al-Adfuwi after Sheikh `Izz Ad-Deen Ibn `Abd As-Salam. It is also
narrated after Abu Bakr Ibn Al-`Arabi.
All these scholars consider singing that is accompanied by musical
instruments permissible, but as for singing that is not accompanied by
musical instruments, Al-Adfuwi says, “In some of his
jurisprudence-related books, Al-Ghazali narrates the consensus of the
scholars on its permissibility." Also, Ibn Tahir narrates the consensus
of the Prophet's Companions and those who succeeded them on this very
topic. Ibn An-Nahwi states in Al-`Umdah that singing and listening was deemed permissible by a group of the Companions and the Followers.
Conditions and Terms:
There are some conditions and terms that should be observed regarding listening to singing, as follows:
1. Not all sorts of singing are permissible. Rather, the permissible
song should comply with the Islamic teachings and ethics. Therefore, the
songs praising the tyrants and corrupt rulers disagree with Islamic
teachings. In fact, Islam stands against transgressors and their allies,
and those who show indifference to their transgression. So, the same
goes for those songs that imply giving praises to such attitude!
2. Also, the way the song is performed weighs so much. The theme of
the song may be good, but the performance of the singer – through
intending excitement and arousing others' lusts and desires along with
trying to seduce them – may move it to the area of prohibition,
suspicion or even detest. The Glorious Qur'an addresses the wives of
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “O
you wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep
your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart
is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech."
(Al-Ahzab: 32) So, one has to show caution to music when there is
softness of speech accompanied with rhyme, melody, and special effects!
3. Singing should not be accompanied with something that is prohibited
such as alcohol, nakedness, mixing of men with women that is common in
pubs and nightclubs, etc.
4. Islam has declared excessiveness as prohibited in everything. The
same goes for excessiveness in leisure and recreation even though these
things are permissible ! This indicates that the emptiness of the mind
and heart has to be observed and tackled during man's short-term life.
One should know that Allah Almighty will ask every one about his life
and his youth in particular.
There are some things in which one is to be his own judge and Mufti.
If there is some kind of singing that arouses his own lust or desire,
and takes him away from the real life, he should avoid it then and block
that very gate from which the winds of trial and seduction may come and
erase his religion, morals and heart. If he does this, he will live in
peace and tranquility.
Warning against playing with the word “ haram ”
To conclude, we address the respectful scholars who tackle the word “ haram ”
easily and set it free in their writings and fatwas that they should
observe that Allah is watching over them in all that they say or do.
They should also know that this word “ haram ” is very
dangerous. It means that Allah's Punishment is due on a certain act or
saying, and should not be based upon guessing, whims, weak Hadiths, not
even through an old book. It has to be supported by a clear,
well-established text or valid consensus. If these last two are not
found, then we revert the given act or saying to the original rule:
"permissibility governing things". We do have a good example to follow
from one of our earlier pious scholars. Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased
with him) who said: “It was not the habit of those who preceded us, the
early pious Muslims, who set good example for the following
generations, to say, 'This is halal , and this is haram . But, they would say, ‘I hate such-and-such, and maintain such-and-such, but as for halal and haram , this is what may be called inventing lies concerning Allah. Did not you hear Allah's Statement that reads, 'Say:
Have you considered what provision Allah has sent down for you, how you
have made of it lawful and unlawful? Say: Has Allah permitted you, or
do you invent a lie concerning Allah?” (Yunus: 59) For, the halal is what Allah and His Messenger made lawful, and the haram is what Allah and His Messenger made unlawful.
In Islam, no one could ever overrule the Last Prophet of
Islam, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him.
In
Islam, the absolute way could not be defined by anyone except by the one whom
was sent by the Most Merciful to His most beautiful creatures, the human
kind.
Not everyone
reads the Koran, the Hadith and Islamic materials. Not everyone reads
educational materials for that matter. Not everyone is the same. Each and every
individual is totally different from one and the other. No single rigid dakwah
method should be used to convey the message of the true religion of peace.
Haram is
what is harmful to mankind. Something that is not harmful is placed in the
Harus category or the Allowed category. Why should we decree something that was
allowed by the Prophet as harmful?
Who are we
to decree such a fatwa? Are we more knowledgeable in Islam and truth than the
Prophet himself? Don’t we believe in the Messenger of Allah anymore?
Can we
overrule the Teacher of Islam, the last Prophet of Allah to mankind?
And we are
not even immune from mistakes and errors like the Prophet s.a.w.
I am the
follower of Muhammad s.a.w. The last Prophet of the series of Prophets
sent by the One God, the Only True Creator of the Worlds. I obey only him.
My God has
sent him to me as a guide and mercy. No one is above him.
I am not the
follower of others than him. No one is above him in my religion. No matter how
knowledgeable and pious they may appear to be. No one is more pious and
more knowledgeable than the Prophet of Mercy.
Please do
not shy away non-Muslims from Islam by trying to show just how alien Islam is
to good human nature.
Only the bad
behaviours are incompatible with Islam. Yes, when music is polluted with
essence of Haram, it becomes Haram or forbidden, I am not a denier of
this.
But to say
all music is haram since there are singers that exposed themselves to sin or
called people to sin, would be a huge mental block for anyone who is interested
in Islam. Why? Because melody and art is ingrained in our body, mind and soul.
Listen to the Koran if you don’t believe me. This miraculous proof of Islam is
still relevant in today modern world of people who loved and adorned beautiful
melodies as it was during the booming of language art and poetry some 1,400
years ago.
Don’t take
it away from them. Without art, the heart and mind would not be balanced.
Without balance, we will definitely slip.
May Allah
protect us from innovating something in this already perfect religion that
suits the nature of the human being. Amin.
I salute
those true ulama and scholars of Islam that dare to stand with a different
view from the extreme view of Islam innovated by mere human beings. And this
fine ulama is one of them. Alhamdulillah.
Thank you
for upholding the way of the Prophet of Mercy. The best way. The middle way of
two extremes.
Even eating
could be haram if by doing it, a man would destroy the safety and the well being
of himself. Should we rule out eating as haram too?
Religion is
defined by the Koran, the Hadith and the Ijtihad of the Majority of Ulama. If
we lose this fine guideline and hierarchy, then guidance would be replaced by our mere logic
thinking. At that time, we would be prone to error and miscalculate and
misjudge. We would end up misguiding many and their sins would be upon us, the
ones that had showed the wrong path to them in the first place. And God help us
if we ever tempted in adoring our own fragile views.
[2:2] This Book has no doubt in it - a guidance for the God-fearing,
[2:3] who believe in the Unseen, and are steadfast in Salāh (prayer), and spend out of what We have provided them;
[2:4] and who believe in what has been revealed to you and what has been revealed before you; and they have faith in the Hereafter.
[2:5] It is these who are guided by their Lord; and it is just these who are successful.
[2:6] Surely for those who have disbelieved, it is all the same whether you warn them or you warn them not: they do not believe.
[2:7] Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing; and on their eyes there is a covering, and for them awaits a mighty punishment.
[2:8] And among men there are some who say, “We believe in Allah and in the Last Day”, yet they are not believers.
[2:9] They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they are not deceiving anyone except themselves, although they are unaware of it.
[2:10] In their hearts there is a malady, so Allah has made them grow in their malady; and for them there is a grievous punishment, because they have been lying.
[2:11] When it is said to them, “Do not spread disorder on the earth”, they say, “We are but reformers.”
[2:12] Beware, it is, in fact, they who spread disorder, but they do not appreciate.
[2:13] And when it is said to them, “Believe as people have believed,” they say, “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Beware, it is, in fact, they who are the fools, but they do not know.
[2:14] When they meet those who believe, they say, “We have entered Faith;” but when they are alone with their satans, they say, “Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking.”
[2:15] It is Allah who mocks at them, and lets them go on wandering blindly in their rebellion.
[2:16] These are the people who have bought error at the price of guidance; so their trade has brought no gain, nor have they reached the right Path.
[2:17] Their situation is like that of a man who kindles a fire, and when it illuminates everything around him, Allah takes away their lights and leaves them in layers of darkness, so that they see nothing.
[2:18] Deaf, dumb and blind, they shall not return.
[2:19] Or (it is) like a rainstorm from the sky, bringing darkness, thunder and lightning; they thrust their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps for fear of death, -and Allah encompasses the disbelievers-
[2:20] and lightning (all but) snatches away their eyesight; every time a flash gives them light, they walk by it; and when darkness falls upon them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He would certainly take away their hearing and their eyes: surely Allah is powerful to do anything.
[2:21] O people, worship your Lord who created you and those before you, so that you may become God-fearing.
[2:22] He is the One who made the earth a bed for you, and the sky a roof, and sent down water from the sky, then brought forth with it fruits, as a provision for you. So, do not set up parallels to Allah when you know.
Do listen to them too. Only then they make perfect sense. The order and the numbers of the words, how the words, the verses correlates with each other in a melodious, firm and gentle reminder for mankind. The beings that love and appreciate both, melody and language arts more than others.
US mainstream media and the public's willful ignorance is to blame for lack of knowledge about true cost of wars.
In 2009 a US "kill team" operating near Kandahar was accused of "killing innocent civilians for sport and mutilating their bodies by cutting off fingers and ripping out teeth to keep as trophies," in the words of a reporter for the UKGuardian. Investigators discovered some 4,000 photographs documenting these horrific acts. The German weekly Der Spiegel, citing US and NATO concerns that publication of the trophy photos could spark riots in Afghanistan as the result of "a new Abu Ghraib", ran three of the suppressed images. The feared riots never materialised.
None of the pictures appeared in the United States. The story lasted one day.
When it comes to the carnage of war, even a simple count of civilian casualties is hard to come by for Americans trying to find out what's going on in wars being fought in their name, by their fellow citizens, using weapons financed by their tax funds.
In yet another marked departure from Vietnam, when the Department of Defense obsessively attempted to count the number of military and civilian dead on both sides of the conflict, the US claims to no longer track the number of civilians killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Pentagon complained about the famous Lancet study which found that more than a million Iraqis had perished since 2003, but had no numbers with which to counter it.
Then there's the muddling of the few numbers that are available. US media outlets reported that civilian casualties were up 15 per cent in Afghanistan this year - but parsed the blame. Civilian deaths caused by anti-government forces, they said, were up 28 per cent. Pro-government forces, on the other hand, were responsible for nine per cent fewer dead civilians. Left unsaid: if not for the US and NATO, the war might have been over years ago.
