The literal meaning of interest is the money paid for borrowing money, or the rent on money, and it is always according to a fixed ratio. It is known by every living person and interest has become completely institutionalized and it is commonly accepted in every modern economy. Most of the people accept dealing in interest except for Muslims. Devout Muslims stay away from dealings that involve interest.

The reason why Muslims refuse to receive and pay interest is that Islam has strictly forbidden such practice. But this is not considered by Muslims like any kind of a harsh restriction, they know that staying away from interest dealing is directly or indirectly benefiting them. They believe that all Islamic teachings are based on wisdom, knowledge and justice and there are sound reasons for every single thing is Islam. So the forbidding of interest has some reasons, some of which we are able to see.

When you read the Islamic texts about interest, you will come to know how strict the warnings are against dealing in interest (both receiving and paying). Islam condemns many acts, like adultery, fornication, consuming alcohol, murder and homosexuality. But the extent to which interest is condemned in Islam is on another level and Sayyid Qutb has written that Usury is more strongly denounced than any other issue. It has even been compared to having sexual relations with your mother.

The Quran gives a strong warning to people who deal with interest and warns them of the hellfire.

The dealings of stock are permitted in Islam, Muslims can buy and sell shares in the stock market and make a healthy living through it. But it is important to note that not all types of share are allowed in Islam. Common shares are allowed in Islam but preference shares are prohibited. The reason being that common shares don’t have a fixed rate of return, and the shareholders will receive dividends according to the company’s profits. On the other hand preference shares are more like loans that companies take from the general public. Preference shares have a fixed rate of return and the profitability of the company does not affect the dividends. Furthermore there are two types of preference share, cumulative shares and non-cumulative shares, both of which are condemned in Islam. In case of cumulative shares if the company incurs a loss and cannot make dividend payments they will have to pay the accumulated amount next year. But in case of non-cumulative shares if the company incurs a loss and the company is not able to make the interest payment, they will not have to pay the accumulated amount next year.

Preference share dividends are more like interest payments because both have a fixed rate and the profit on both is guaranteed.

About the author

I love to write creative articles. I have been writing on different social and religious topics for 2 years now. Give me a creative topic and I will write it for you.

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Having faced an uphill battle in the U.S. cable TV market since its English-service founding in 2006, Al Jazeera announced yesterday it will acquire Current TV, a basically defunct channel founded by a group of business partners including Al Gore. Up until now the Qatar-based news organization has only been broadcasted on the cable networks in a handful of U.S. cities. Having initially been thought of by many Americans as a network of propaganda, Al Jazeera has gained a new following and credibility in the United States thanks to its detailed coverage of the Arab Spring.

Most Americans first heard of Al Jazeera in 2001 when it became infamous for broadcasting several Osama bin Laden speeches. At that time the George W. Bush administration was publicly hostile towards the network, and the U.S. military destroyed the network’s broadcast center in Kabul, Afghanistan with a missile in the 2002 invasion, and its Baghdad office was bombed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, killing an Al Jazeera journalist.

Prior to Wednesday’s announcement Al Jazeera had sought a place in the U.S. market, but political and commercial factors kept most cable companies from carrying the network. The Bush administration would have looked unfavorably at such a development and it was feared Americans would boycott or simply turn off Al Jazeera programming. Thanks to the more favorable Obama administration and the network’s coverage of the Arab Spring this perception has changed and Al Jazeera is seen to have come into its own as a respected main stream news outlet. During coverage of the Egyptian uprisings, internet traffic increased 2,500% on its website, with half of that figure being attributed to viewers in the United States who could not watch Al Jazeera coverage on their regular TV networks.

As of 2009 Al Jazeera English was available in every major European market and has been noted for its absence in the United States. Its presenters and reporters come from many well-known networks including the BBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS.

In the past Al Jazeera has received criticism for having an anti-American and anti-Israeli bias, more so in its Arabic broadcasts than Al Jazeera English. It has also been criticized for being soft on its coverage of protests in Bahrain, accused of holding a double standard compared with its coverage of the current Syrian civil war, as well as being overly sympathetic to its home-country royal financiers in Qatar.

Anyone who has seen the documentary about the the First Gulf War and Al Jazeera, “Control Room,” will remember the U.S. Central Command Spokesperson Josh Rushing and his good-natured debates with other Al Jazeera journalists. Ironically a few years later Rushing quit his military job and joined the Al Jazeera English service, going on to gain a popular following with his program Fault Lines.

Al Jazeera has said it plans to create a new channel based in New York tentatively called Al Jazeera America, with 40 percent of its programming coming from Al Jazeera English and the other 60 percent being produced in the United States.

About the author

Joe Beaumier

Joe Beaumier is 29 years old from the United States. He recently spent a year living and studying in the Middle East and now lives in Sweden.

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A curry maker was left stunned after being refused a market stall – because his products were halal.

Jeff Thomson, founder of Curried Away, asked for a plot on Bury's Artisan Markets. But he was shocked when Paul Barrah, who operates the markets on behalf of the town's council, replied to his email simply saying: "Hi, I'm sorry but my markets don't use halal products. Regards, Paul."

Bury council has now launched an investigation into the matter and say they will meet Mr Barrah who organises the market days in Ramsbottom, Prestwich, Radcliffe and Whitefield, to discuss the issue.

Jeff, 62, described how he contacted Mr Barrah, saying that his business was an Asian food market selling curries and snacks to take home or eat on go.

He wrote that all his food was halal – food prepared to make it permissible to eat under Islamic law. Jeff, who is Scottish, said: "I was looking around for markets to host my stall for next year. I picked this market, emailed them and got the response back that they don't do halal.

"I was shocked because I have not come across this before. All the markets I have dealt with in the past, this hasn't been an issue. In these days of ethnic, cultural and religious integration it surprised and disappointed me to find a market operator who doesn't accept halal products. I am pleased Bury council seems to have taken the matter on board and plans to meet their market contractor."

Jeff, who used to live in Bolton, and now lives in Burnley, launched Curried Away in 2009 after retiring from a 40-year career in PR and marketing. He already trades at markets in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Ashton-under-Lyne – and was looking to expand by selling his food in Bury.

A council spokesman said: "Bury council currently has a contract with Mr Barrah who operates Farmers Markets in Ramsbottom, Prestwich, Radcliffe and Whitefield. The current contract runs until March 2013. We will be investigating this matter and will be seeking to meet with Mr Barrah before the next market on January 13 in Ramsbottom to discuss the issue and seek his views.

"Although it is considered that he is not in breach of his existing contract we would consider assessing the wording of any new contracts issued after March 2013 to ensure that they fall in line with the council's equality policies."

Mr Barrah declined to comment.

Manchester Evening News, 24 December 2012

You'll note that the report is headlined, in typical taboid press style, "Fury as Bury market boss tells halal curry maker: Sorry, you can't have a stall". It seems that nobody can express concern about anti-Muslim discrimination, even in the mildest and most reasonable terms, without being accused of reacting with "fury".

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A new book by Geert Wilders aimed at the American market is not due to be officially launched until May 1, but details gleaned from advance and review copies are already doing the rounds.

The book is entitled Marked for Death, Islam's war against the West and me and according to Wilders' own website 'tells the story of Geert Wilders' fight for the right to speak what he believes: namely that Islam is not just a religion but primarily a dangerous ideology which is a threat to Western freedoms.'

The book will be officially presented at an as-yet secret location in the US, and is regarded by some as Wilders' calling card to America. The Dutch MP has made no secret of his international ambitions and is keen to launch and International Freedom Alliance, he said last year.

Magazine HP/De Tijd looks at one incident in the book in which Wilders writes how he was robbed by "three Arab youths" in the Utrecht district of Kanaleneiland – an area of poor housing and high unemployment.

In fact, the robbery took place in a more upmarket part of town several kilometres away the magazine says, citing references to the incident in a biography of Wilders published several years ago.

Tom Kleijn, Washington correspondent for television show Nieuwsuur says the book is a dry, almost academic recount of "how Wilders has become what he is". The book even contains an index and sources, he points out. "Wilders has a small, rich and fanatical group of followers in America," Kleijn said. "But it remains to be seen if this book will boost Wilders' popularity."

Current Dutch president Mark Rutte is not mentioned once, but Wilders states five times that he and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Dutch Somali Muslim critic who now works for a US think-tank, are of the same opinion, Kleijn points out.

Nos correspondent Eelco Bosch van Rosenthal describes how Wilders emphasises his admiration for former US president Ronald Reagan and states current president Barack Obama is a dhimmi – a submissive non-Muslim in a Muslim state.

Dutch News, 21 April 2012

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A church has been banned from using a market stall to hold its weekly outreach service following a complaint about "hate-motivated" leaflets published by the group.

The Norwich Reformed Church held a weekly outreach bookstall from the Norwich City Council-owned site on Hay Hill, but has been informed it is no longer allowed to use the stall after the council received a complaint about literature on it. The complaint prompted a review of the materials produced by Reverend Alan Clifford, pastor of the church, and the council contacted police as materials, particularly the leaflet entitled Why Not Islam, were considered to be hate-motivated.

The church has been prohibited from using the site, while the council-run Eaton Park Community Centre has also been contacted with a view to ceasing any further bookings made by the church.

A council spokesman said: "We received a complaint from a member of the public about material published by the Norwich Reformed Church (associated with the Farthing Trust) which uses council facilities. This was considered to be hate-motivated and, in accordance with the agreed Norfolk Multi Agency Protocol, we contacted the police.

"Although the police advised that no criminal offence had been committed, we have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to foster good relations between people of all backgrounds and religions. By allowing premises owned by the council to be used by an organisation publishing such material, we would be failing in that duty. People across Norfolk have recently been urged to stand up to hate-motivated and intolerant behaviour through a publicity campaign and as a council we have to play our part and take action where necessary."

Rev Clifford, who has written to the Christian Institute for advice, said an "extraordinarily silly" form of "political correctness" had emerged. He said: "While the opinion of the Christian Institute is awaited, it is hoped that in due course, common sense might prevail, and that Norwich Reformed Church's rights to worship and witness will be restored."

A police spokesman confirmed a complaint had been received from a member of the public regarding leaflets that were distributed but, following discussions with the council, the force's diversity team and CPS it was "deemed that no offences were carried out".

Norwich Evening News, 14 April 2012

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