The Essential Difference between a Muslim and a Believer

قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (Al-Quran,  Al-Hujarat 49:14) The Al-A’arab say, “We have believed.” Say, “You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not…

Decriminalisation of Drugs: Portugal’s Success Story

Portugal and the Drug War By Helen Redmond The War on Drugs is a global war without end. The battle takes more prisoners than all conventional wars combined and yet the availability of psychoactive substances never significantly diminishes. Those who sell and consume illegal drugs are subject to some of the harshest punishments ever meted…

The Wonders of Iwahig Prison

“You can help people change by restoring their dignity,” said Iwahig prison director. Yes, indeed. The Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan, Philippines is an active prison where 2,000 criminals who are serving time move freely about and around this fenceless and barrier-less correctional facility, without any intentions of escaping. Iwahig penal colony is in fact…

‘Football Gambling’ – a ‘No’ or a ‘Yes’ to Yet Another Licensed Gambling Activity?

‘Horse-Racing’ is an old sporting activity and so is the game of ‘Polo’. Both feature riders on horses.  But unlike polo, horse-racing is often associated with gambling. In fact horse racing had become sporting events organized solely for ‘syndicated gambling’ purposes and for its ‘betting’ audience. Strangely though, motorbike racing that features riders on the…