Sunday, February 8, 2015

The Dzhumaya Mosque in Plovdiv, BULGARIA [circa 1363]

1.In the ninth century, the Andalusian city of Cordoba had running water, paved streets, and street lights. Other European cities like Paris and London would not have such luxuries until 700 years later.

For the record, for those who want to question this, the people of that time had faith and practice but also provided the people in their society with practical worldly means as those mentioned in the post that benefited the public. They achieved both faith and a civilized cohesive functioning society.

2.“May I offer you the advice of the 14th century Arab historian Ibn Khaldun, who said: 'At the beginning of the empire, the tax rates were low and the revenues were high. At the end of the empire, the tax rates were high and the revenues were low.'

And, no, I did not personally know Ibn Khaldun, although we may have had some friends in common!”

- Roland Reagan, who cited Ibn Khaldun's economic theories during his presidency

3.The Dzhumaya Mosque in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Built in 1363, it is the oldest mosque in Bulgaria.
1363

4.Throughout Islamic history, some of the most prolific political activists were also scholars of Islamic sciences.

In 1915, Mahmud Hasan, one of the greatest Indian scholars of the 20th century, traveled to the Ottoman Empire to try to secure support for a planned Indian Muslim rebellion against British rule (other activists were sent to Afghanistan and Persia). He was caught in Mecca and was imprisoned by the British on Malta until 1920.

Because of his efforts at securing an independent India, Mahmud Hasan was known as "Shaykh al-Hind" by Muslims and Hindus during the movement for Indian independence.

The creation of Pakistan is only the true independence for Indian Muslims, as Pakistan is the only country in the world created by &for Muslims....!!!

Friday, February 6, 2015

TAMKO LA TAASISI 11 ZA KIISLAMU KWENYE MAENEO AMBAYO YAMEPOTOSHWA JUU YA MUSWADA WA MAHAKAMA YA KADHI TANZANIA


 Posted on 6/2/2015.


TAMKO LA TAASISI 11 ZA KIISLAMU KWENYE MAENEO AMBAYO YAMEPOTOSHWA NA MATAMKO YA BAADHI YA TAASISI ZA KIDINI NA MAGAZETI IKIWEMO MAASKOFU, BAKWATA NA GAZETI LA MIZANI KWENYE MCHAKATO WA KUTOA MAONI JUU YA  MUSWADA UNAOHUSU MAHAKAMA YA KADHI

Utangulizi

Sisi waislam, kupitia Jumuiya na Taasisi zetu za kiislamu chini, tumepitia matamko kadhaa yaliyotolewa na taasisi mbalimbali, watu binafsi, viongozi wa serikali na magezeti, hususan, maaskofu, jukwaa la wakristo Tanzania, gazeti la Mizani, Sheikh Jongo na Sheikh Mohammed Idd kutia kipindi cha Ar-risala kinachorushwa na Kituo cha TV cha Channel 10. 

Matamko hayo yana malengo ya kupotosha baadhi ya maeneo ya maoni yaliyotolewa na Waislamu, kupitia Jumuiya na Taasisi zao kuhusu muswada wa marekebisho ya sheria yanayohusu mahakama ya kadhi kwenye Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala tarehe 19/01/2015.

Muhtasari wa Maoni ya Taasisi Kumi na moja

Kwa muhtasari maoni ya waislamu ambayo matamko tuliyoyataja hapo juu yanalenga kuyapotosha yalibainisha makosa, kasoro na udhaifu mwingi ulioko kwenye muswada unaohusu mahakama ya kadhi kiasi cha kutia shaka juu ya uthabiti wa nia ya Serikali wa kutaka kuleta sheria itakayowezesha mfumo wa utoaji haki wa sheria za Kiislamu kufanya kazi hapa nchini kwa ufanisi zaidi kulio mfumo wa sasa unatoa nafasi kwa maafisa wa mahakama kama majaji na mahakimu kuhukumu masuala ya sheria za Kiislamu ambapo mara nyingi maafisa hao hawana sifa, ujuzi, maarifa na uzoefu wa kushika nafasi ya kuhukumu chini ya utaratibu wa sheria za kiislamu. 

Maoni hayo, ya waislam, kupitia jumuiya na taasisi zao kumi na moja, yalidhihirisha dosari kubwa kwenye muswada huo kwenye maeneo yanayohusu, kutokuwepo kwa kifungu kinacho anzisha na/au kuitambua mahakama ya kadhi; kutokuwepo muundo wa mahakama ya kadhi inayokusudiwa; kutoelezwa sifa za kadhi; upungufu kwenye utaratibu wa uteuzi wa makadhi; kukosekana maelezo ya ajira na usalama wa ajira ya makadhi; mapungufu yanayoambatana na kuweka mamlaka ya kutengeneza kanuni za mahakama ya kadhi kwa ‘Mufti’ na ya kukazia hukumu kwa Waziri; kukosekana kwa utaratibu wa kudhibiti nidhamu, mwenendo na maadili ya makadhi; mapungufu kwenye uwigo wa mamlaka wa mahakama; hiyari kwa mdaawa Muislamu kufungua shauri lake la sheria ya Kiislamu katika mahakama ya kadhi; upungufu wa dhana ya mahakama ya kadhi kujiendesha;  mamlaka ya Waziri kutoa matamko ya sheria za Kiislamu; na ulazima wa mahakama ya kadhi kutajwa kwenye Katiba. 

Kwa hoja hizo, Waislamu kupitia taasisi zao hizo kumi na moja, walishauri kwa kupendekeza muswada mbadala kwamba serikali iuondoe muswada huo ili uboreshwe kabla ya kuwasilishwa bungeni kwa mjadala.
 

Upotoshaji Uliofanywa na Matamko Yaliyotolewa

Upotoshwaji wa maoni ya waislamu yaliyotolewa kupitia taasisi zao kumi na moja, uliofanywa na matamko yaliyotolewa na taasisi mbalimbali, watu binafsi, viongozi wa serikali na magezeti, umejikita kwenye maeneo haya ya fuatayo: (i) Kuwa taasisi 11 zilizowasilisha maoni ya Waislamu juu ya muswada wa mahakama ya kadhi zinawakilisha wachache; (ii) Kuwa asasi hizo 11 ni za Wahabi na hivyo maoni yao hayawakilishi waislamu wote; (iii) Kuwa Mufti ndiye kiongozi mkuu wa Waislamu; (iv) Kuwa Mufti ndiye anastahiki kuteua makadhi; (v) Kuwa BAKWATA ndiyo taasisi baba, nyingine watoto wake; na (vi) Kuwa mahakama ya kadhi italeta hukumu za kukata mikono, kuhukumu wasio kuwa waislamu, na kubagua wasio kuwa waislamu. Matamko ambayo yamebeba upotoshaji huu yametolewa kwa makusudi kwa lengo la hadaa kwa Waislamu, wananchi na serikali kwa jumla ili wasitilie maanani maoni yaliyotolewa na taasisi hizo kumi na moja ambayo kama yatafanyiwa kazi na Serikali yatawezesha kupatikana kwa Mahakama ya Kadhi inayokidhi matakwa ya sheria za kiislamu na wajibu wake kama mamlaka ya kutoa na kutenda haki.

Tamko Letu Dhidi ya Upotoshaji Uliotolewa

Hivyo basi, kwa lengo la kuweka sahihi kumbukumbu na kuondosha uwezekano wa upotoshaji huu kuchukuliwa kuwa ni kweli, ni vyema tukabainisha ukweli kama ifuatavyo:

1.      Jumla ya taasisi kumi na moja (11) ziliwasilisha maoni ya waislamu juu ya muswada wa mahakama ya kadhi. Hizi ni pamoja na taasisi ambazo zinatambulika, zimesajiliwa na zenye uwakilishi na mtandao wa kitaifa. Baadhi ya taasisi hizo ni Baraza Kuu, TAMPRO, BASUTA, JASUTA, IPC, HAY ATUL ULAMAA, Umoja wa Jumuiya na Taasisi za Kiislamu Tanzania; na Shura ya Maimam Tanzania. Maoni juu ya muswada wa mahakama ya kadhi yalipatikana baada ya mchakato uliohusisha wanachama na wawakilishi wa asasi hizo Tanzania nzima. Hivyo, siyo kweli kuwa asasi hizi kumi na moja (11) zinawakilisha maoni ya wachache. Ni wazi pia kuwa upotoshaji huu unadhihirisha kuwa waliotoa kauli za upotoshaji huu wanaona uzito wa umoja huu wa asasi za Kiislamu na maoni yao kweye suala hili la mahakama ya kadhi.

Hawa wanaosema taasisi hizi zinawakilisha maoni ya wachache na ya wahabi, hawatuambii kuwa maoni yao yanawakilisha taasisi ngapi za kiislamu na ya madhehebu yepi. Ukweli ni kwamba hoja hii inadhihirisha hofu ya mshikamano wa asasi za Kiislamu katika kukabiliana na suala hili la mahakama ya kadhi. Ndiyo maana badala ya kujibu hoja na mapendekezo yaliyotolewa na asasi hizi, matamko hayo yamejikita kwenye kushambulia taasisi husika kwa hoja ambazo zina misingi ya kuwagawa Waislamu.

2.      Madai kuwa Mufti ndiye kiongozi mkuu wa Waislamu hapa Tanzania na kwamba ndiye anaye stahili kuteua makadhi nchini siyo sahihi. Inawezekana kwa taasisi kuwa na muundo wa uongozi ambao unamfanya Mufti kuwa kiongozi mkuu wa Waislamu wa taasisi hiyo na hapa huyo Mufti atakuwa mkuu wa taasisi husika na siyo Waislamu wote wa Tanzania. Mfano wa taasisi ambazo kiongozi wake mkuu ni Mufti ni BAKWATA. Hii haina maana kuwa kiongozi huyo ndiye kiongozi wa Waislamu wote nchi nzima. Tulieleza kwenye kamati ya Bunge kama tunavyoeleza hapa  kuwa zipo taasisi nyingi za Kiislamu zilizoandikishwa na mamlaka mbalimbali za uandikishaji wa asasi huru na vyama vya kijamii (NGOs) zenye maafisa wenye cheo cha Mufti. Kwa hivyo, siyo vyema sheria kuweka mamlaka yoyote  inayohusu mahakama ya kadhi (mfano uteuzi wa makadhi) kwa Mufti wa taasisi binafsi kwa kuwa kunaweza kukatokea mgongano na mgogoro mkubwa  kwa kila asasi kutaka kutumia mufti wake kuteua makadhi.

3.      Madai haya kwamba Mufti ndiye kiongozi mkuu wa waislam na anaye stahili kuteua makadhi yanalenga kupotosha hoja ya msingi kwamba siyo sahihi kwa sheria kumpa Mufti mamlaka yeyote yahayohusu mahakama ya kadhi kwa kuwa mufti huyu, ama wa BAKWATA au wa taasisi nyingine yeyote, siyo chombo kinachoundwa na sheria yoyote (bali katiba ya taasis husika) na wala hakuna sheria inayounda ofisi ya Mufti.  Mahakama ya Kadhi kuwekwa chini ya Mufti ni kuifanya mamlaka hiyo muhimu ya kutoa haki kuwa chombo kilicho chini ya Taasisi binafsi, jambo ambalo ni kinyume cha sheria. Kwa mfano, siyo kila Muislamu wa Tanzania Bara ni mwanachama wa BAKWATA na yuko chini ya Mufti wa BAKWATA. Ibara ya 20 (1) ya Katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania inatoa uhuru wa kujumuika na kujiunga katika jumuiya mbalimbali. Kuwalazimisha Waislamu wawe chini ya Mufti wa BAKWATA au Mufti wa taasisi nyingine yeyote ni kuvunja Katiba ya nchi. Hivyo basi si sahihi mamlaka ya kutoa haki kuhusishwa na MUFTI anayetokana na Katiba ya Taasisi binafsi.

4.      Kama tulivyokwisha eleza kwenye maoni yetu tuliyowasilisha kwenye kamati ya Bunge juu ya muswada wa mahakama ya kadhi, kwa istilahi ya Kiislamu “Mufti” maana yake ni alim (msomi) mwenye upeo mkubwa wa elimu ya dini na sheria. Ni mtu aliyebobea katika taaluma za dini na sheria. Si afisa wa Serikali wala hana dhima ya utawala au uongozi. Alim hutambuliwa kuwa Mufti na maulamaa wenzake wa eneo husika kwa kutambua upeo wake mkubwa katika fani za elimu ya dini na sheria. Alim akitambuliwa na kupewa hadhi ya mufti huchukuliwa kuwa ni marejeo kwa ajili ya kutolea ufafanuzi masuala ya elimu ya dini na sheria.Kwa hiyo Mufti jukumu lake ni kufutu mas’ala ya dini na sheria. Si kuwa mtawala au mpangaji wa masuala ya utawala. Ni dhahiri kuwa madai yaliyotolewa kuwa Mufti ndiye kiongozi Mkuu wa waislam hayana mashiko kilugha wala kiistilahi.

5.      Hatuamini hata kidogo kuwa wanaotoa madai haya na upotoshaji huu hawajui nafasi ya Mufti katika mfumo wa sheria za kiislam na kilugha. Tunashawishika kuamini kuwa wanafahamu ukweli kama tulivyouweka hapo juu, bali wanapotosha kwa malengo mahsusi kwa sababu baadhi yao ni wasomi wenye shahada mpaka shahada za juu katika fani mbalimbali za dini ya Kiislamu.

6.      Madai kuwa BAKWATA ndiyo taasisi baba na taasisi nyingine ni watoto wake  hayana mashiko yeyote ndiyo maana hata Kamati ya Bunge haikutoa mualiko kwa BAKWATA pekee bali kwa taasisi nyingi za kiislamu ikiwemo BAKWATA. Ifahamike kuwa BAKWATA ni taasisi ya kidini kama zilivyo taasisi nyingine lakini pia BAKWATA ni taasisi dhaifu na iliyopoteza imani kwa Waislamu wengi nchini. Jina la taasisi hiyo haliifanyi taasisi hiyo kuwa ndiyo kubwa na yenye hadhi kuliko taasisi zingine za Kiislamu. Hata hivyo, kimuundo na kiuwakilishi, taasisi hii haina sifa ya kuwa ni taasisi kubwa na yenye mamlaka dhidi ya taasisi nyingine za Kiislamu kwa sababu zifuatazo;(i) BAKWATA haina wanachama tofauti na taasisi zingine ambazo zina wanachama; (ii) mara kadhaa BAKWATA imetoa matamko kuwa haiwakilishi Waislamu wote wa Tanzania; (iii) Asili yake BAKWATA haijaundwa na waislamu kwa umoja wao. Ndiyo maana uhalali wa BAKWATA kuwa ndicho chombo kikuu cha uongozi wa waislamu nchini umehojiwa na Waislamu mara nyingi.

7.      Kama tulivyoeleza kwenye maoni yetu juu ya muswada wa Mahakama ya Kadhi, tunarudia kusema tena kuwa iwapo Serikali itafuata upotoshaji huo kuwa BAKWATA ndiyo chombo kikuu kinachowakilisha waislamu wote na hivyo kuipa BAKWATA nafasi ya kuwawekea waislamu Mahakama ya Kadhi itahesabiwa na Waislamu kuwa ni hila ya Serikali kutaka kulazimisha mamlaka ya BAKWATA juu ya Waislamu hata wale wasioikubali taasisi hiyo.  Jambo ambalo litakuwa limekiuka haki ya msingi ya kila Mtanzania kujumuika kwa uhuru bila kutezwa nguvu au kushinikizwa. Inasikitisha kwamba, wakati mchakato wa maoni juu ya muswada wa mahakama ya kadhi unaendelea, baadhi ya viongozi wa juu wa serikali wametoa kauli ambazo zinaoana na hoja dhaifu kuwa BAKWATA ndicho chombo cha uwakilishi cha Waislamu na kwamba serikali imeuandaa mchakato wa mahakama ya kadhi kwa kuishirikisha BAKWATA kwa karibu kama chombo kinachowakilisha Waislamu wote. Hili ni kosa kubwa kwa kuwa BAKWATA siyo chombo cha waislamu wote nchini..

8.      Kuna matamko yametolewa na taasisi na watu binafsi ambao wanatumia muswada huu wa mahakama ya kadhi kuleta hoja zinazokusudia kuleta faraka za kimadhehebu kwa propaganda ambazo hazina msingi au ukweli wowote katika dini ya Kiislamu hasa suala la kupinga Mufti kuwa ndiye mteuzi wa makadhi na utengenezaji wa kanuni za mahakama ya kadhi. Tunaotoa udhaifu wa kumpa madaraka hayo Mufti tumezingatia hoja za kisheria, kidini na kimantiki. Hivyo si kweli kuwa tunapinga Mufti kupewa madaraka hayo kutokana na tofauti za madhehebu ndani ya uislamu. .

9.      Kadhalika, wapo viongozi wa dini ambao si Waislamu (mfano maaskofu) wametoa matamko ya kupinga Mahakama ya Kadhi kwa hoja kuwa italeta hukumu za kukata mikono, kuhukumu wasio kuwa waislamu, kubagua wasio kuwa waislamu nk. Hoja hizo zote siyo za kweli na watoaji wa hoja hizo wanajua ukweli kuwa mahakama ya kadhi inayokusudiwa ni mahakama itakayotumia sheria za kiislamu ambazo zinatumika kwenye mahakama za kawaida toka enzi za ukoloni mpaka leo. Inajulikana wazi kuwa mahakama ya kadhi itashughulika na mambo binafsi ya watu kwa mujibu wa sheria za Kiislamu ambazo ni sehemu ya sheria halali zinazotumika hapa nchini, mfano mambo kama ndoa, talaka mirathi, wakfu na malezi ya watoto. Kinachofanywa na viongozi hao wa dini wasiokuwa waislamu ni kuivunjia heshima jamii ya Kiislamu na kupotosha ukweli ambao uko wazi.



…………………………………………………………………………
        Sheikh Suleiman A. Kilemile
Mwenyekiti  wa Hay Atul -Ulamaa
03/02/2015

Sunday, February 1, 2015

LET MUSLIMS FORWARD THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM

From  Abba Abana,  UMBS, Uganda.
Forwarding any type of mails via modern means of communication
We are concerned with ‘’Forwarding mails via modern means of communication’’ and hereby give a clue to our brethren about emails that Muslims are sending out to "everyone on their lists." It seems that a lot of them are not really based on the teachings of Islam that is the Quran and authentic Hadeeths.
"O you who believe, fear Allah and keep your duty to Him and always speak the truth." Holy Quran [33:69].
"Whoever attributes to me something that I did not say, let him reserve his seat in the Hellfire." - Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Today we have multiple methods of mobile phones (SMS), WhatsApp, BBM etc. and e-mail to spread advice, exhortations, reminders and guidance which is a good deed, because it is possible to reach hundreds of people with one click of the button. The worst is the opposite side of the coin which this short and brief article is all about!
It is well known that the one who guides others to do good is like the one who does it, and that the one who calls others to guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow him.
With special reference to Nigeria today, due to closeness of Presidential Elections in February 2015, we noticed many fabricated news, lies, tarnishing images of politicians, campaigning for self-services, forwarding all types of grudges and abuses to meet desired goals. Think of Allah, as you will be asked every point you mentioned or forwarded to anybody whether a lie is or for the campaigning purposes of your party.
فَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيۡرً۬ا يَرَهُ ۥ (٧) وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ۬ شَرًّ۬ا يَرَهُ ۥ (٨)
Holy Quran Chapter 99:  Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! (7) And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it. (8).
Another one is doctoring mails originally sent out by the sender for desired purpose on lawful and truthful basis but among the recipients on the list changed or twisted the earlier truthful statements or reminders etc. The worst is using religion to fight for their own rights which hitherto are already biased.  
Muslim (2674) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever calls others to guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” 
And Muslim (1893) narrated from Abu Mas’ood al-Ansaari (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who tells another about something good is like the one who does it.” 
If a Muslims writes some advice or article on Islamic topic, and sends it to a hundred people, and many of them follow his advice, then he will have a great reward for that and the same applies to false or lies which you will be asked. We should make use of these means of communication and raise the level of the messages that are transmitted through them, so that they will be most effective and beneficial.
The very unfortunate is some people mix this good deed with a bad deed, which is a kind of lying and falsehood.
 “Say (O Muhammad (SAW): ‘(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al‑Fawaahish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge’” Holy Quran [al-A’raaf 7:33] 
These people think that they are making people spread good by encouraging and warning them, but they are mistaken and they are overstepping the mark. They should limit themselves to that which is mentioned in Sunnah, which is sufficient, praise be to Allaah, such as saying: “Whoever spreads this good, there is the hope that he will have a reward like that of all those who act upon it.” That should be sufficient to encourage people to spread it. 
The one who receives any false messages should advise the one who sent it and explain to him that he should stop using these false incentives.
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقُۢ بِنَبَإٍ۬ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْ أَن تُصِيبُواْ قَوۡمَۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ۬ فَتُصۡبِحُواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نَـٰدِمِينَ (٦)
Holy Quran Chapter 49: O ye who believe! if a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done. (6)
Let us remember some very important points to keep in mind:
1. As Muslims we cannot lie about anything, especially about our religion.

2. We can always prove what our religion teaches because we have original recorded sources of our religion:

A) The Quran
B) Teachings of Muhammad (SAW).

This is a very unique part of Islam, not available in any other ancient religions.

3. Sometimes "questions" contain misinformation. We must qualify and verify what it is that someone is saying against what they are implying. In most cases we don’t authenticate before forwarding same.

4. If you find the answer to your question makes you say, "I didn't know that" or "This is good" are you ready to worship your God (Allah) by submitting your choices to His Will? This what Islam is really all about?
The most important subject is the worship of Almighty God, without any partners or associates or "gods" besides Almighty God.
Remember that the Devil only has ONE GOAL - to put as many of the sons of Adam in the Hell Fire as he can. That is it! He does not really care how they get there. And it works - for the enemy.
Shaytan (the devil) knows that most Muslims are ignorant of their religion and think that they know enough that they don't need to ask anyone about what they are doing. Or else, he counts on the fact that they will consider that it looks like something that will "help" the ummah (Muslim community) to do good deeds, even if it is a "little white lie."
We must discourage this practice of just "forwarding this to everyone on your list." You see many Muslims today do not really know a lot about Islam and they are easily confused by these people who know how to make up things to fool us or mistranslate or misrepresent the verses of the Quran and the Hadeeth of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
May Allaah help us all to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. 
And Allaah knows best.
Assembled by Abba Abana, Dated 31st January 2015

FACEBOOK DECLARING WAR ON RELIGIONS BY BANNING RELIGIOUS POSTINGS !!!

MAY  ALLAH   PROTECT   US   FROM  ATHEISMASTAGHFIRULLAH !


Facebook To Ban Religious Posts, Memes After Criticism From Atheism Groups

Posted about 5 days ago | 
 
 
In a closed-door session with shareholders on Tuesday  27 January, 2015,  Facebook executives wheeled out a set of new rules which, when implemented later this year, will ban their users from creating status updates and image posts related in any way to religion, while also vowing to disband groups and take down pages with religious goals or affiliations.
 
Facebook will introduce their new rules in three waves. The first will see religiously-themed pages being removed, as well as religious groups, private or otherwise, being disbanded. The second wave will prohibit the posting, sharing, and general distribution of religious images and memes; images asking Facebook users to pray, or encouraging them to believe in one or any religion, will be banned, with warning messages and even account suspensions for those who repeatedly attempt to violate the rule.
 
The third and biggest wave, which is due to come near the end of the year, will impact regular Facebook users themselves, with new filters which will seek out status updates that use “religious keywords,” such as “Jesus,” “prayer,” “Church,” or “God.” Facebook staffers will read flagged status updates to determine whether they should be removed or not, with warning messages and suspensions going out to those who violate the rule.
 
Not all religious content will be banned from Facebook, though. Paid advertisements for religious organizations, services, and events will still be allowed. Also, promotional pages for movies, books, and video games with religious themes will be exempt from the new bans, though what Facebook refers to as “primary religious texts,” such as the Bible, The Torah, and the Quran, will not be given this exemption.
 
The new anti-religion rules come after several waves of protests from atheist and agnostic groups, who claim user-created religious content is offensive to them and, as one group put it, “promotes generation after generation of forceful indoctrination into their belief systems, which we do not want our children exposed to.”
“For years, religious groups have been allowed to spread their propaganda on Facebook and other social media sites freely, so this is a huge win for thinking people everywhere,” says Amber Wallace, founder of the American Atheist Coalition, the group that led the charge on the new Facebook changes. “Religion is fraudulent in nature. I consider this a win not for atheists, but for humans of free will everywhere. A life without religious dogma is definitely a life worth living.”
 
Atheist author John Rush says the new rules will end one of Facebook’s most nefarious double-standards. “Last year, Facebook announced `satire’ tags for satire websites, and this week, they announced a new war on `hoax sites,’ like Daily Currant or The Onion. They say they want to ban hoaxes and get them out of News Feeds. But what about religion? That’s the greatest hoax ever carried out on mankind, but you didn’t see anyone at Facebook taking a stand, not until now anyway. It’s nice to see an end to their hypocrisy, at long last.”
 
But Facebook users of faith aren’t thrilled about the new rules. “When is Facebook going to realize that it isn’t their job to police their social network?” asks Reverend Mike Weis, who plans to file a lawsuit over the bans. “There’s such a thing in this country as freedom of speech. Facebook isn’t obligated to the first amendment, but we, as users, should expect it of them. Blocking content because some minority of users finds that content offensive is the exact antithesis of what this nation of ours was founded on. And  that means, in the very least, that Facebook is about as anti-American as a website can get.”
 
- See more at: http://nationalreport.net/facebook-ban-religious-posts-memes-criticism-atheism-groups/#sthash.Fa9BzqJc.Irx4jlKX.dpuf