Your wrong about Muslims not integrating in non-muslim societies. I grew up in Sri Lanka where there is a significant Muslim minority that is well integrated with the rest of SL society. In fact they are so integrated that they enjoy a disproportionately higher share of the national income! It is only because they maintain good relations with the majority and other minority communities that they’ve managed to do so well.

Also what is wrong with having your own halal products? Aren’t there entire industries that cater to the religious requirements of non-muslims? Yes there are! So why are you so against businesses that cater to needs of Muslims?

While there is such a thing as banking in a halal way, unfortunately we have now tried to fit conventional finance into a Halal skin and marketed everythign and anything as Islamic Finance.

Usury is a clear cut no no in Islam but just because you package a bottle of wine in Tetrapak it doesnt become Halal.

However, you turn the wine into vinegar and keep it in the wine bottle it is Halal.

OK I am rambling. Fact of matter that Usury is bad. And all that is claimed to be Halal is not.

If there is a buyer/seller market for Halal products and services, then let there be light. If I like eating Kappooras in my Kat-a-Kat then please let me enjoy my Kappoora Kat-a-Kat. However if you know that my Kat-a-Kat provider is using dog’s bollocks then please do let me know. I am open to eating goat’s bollocks, but dog! I just say no.

I notice that you also picked up on the Islamic Finance mushrooms that are growing like a fungus in dung. From my analysis of this plant specimen, most Islamic Finance is fungus pretending to be an orchid

OK let’s cut to the chase. Here is some material that lets people analyse the Islamic Banking circus from the Dark Side of the Moon. Please process this material and spread it so that the Orchid triumphs over the Fungus.

http://www.islamic-finance.com/item18_f.htm

http://www.iiu.edu.my/enmjournal/152art2.pdf

http://www.al-inaam.com/Books/riba_in_new_getup.pdf

http://zakat.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/fatwaonbanking.pdf

May the force be with you!

PS Fungi on Pizza with Black Olives rock!

Mr.mirza- I am assuming that his reference to former rockstars was more towards the likes of junaid jamshed.

I think you’re being a little harsh on HalalTube. You’re reading into the name for no reason. It’s a team of Muslims who are making it easier to find great lectures by Islamic scholars. Read the “About” section >> http://www.halaltube.com/about.

It’s a valid niche and there’s immense need and scope for technology as an enabler and organizer of vast masses of information. I can’t see a thing wrong with it. Also I’ve browsed through the site (very basic) and they don’t indicate any bias or dislike of YouTube which remains the most visited source of Islamic video content on the web. Of course there’s an element of isolationism in all societies and communities but definitely not in this case.

And is your reference of “former rockstars with beards” directed towards Cat Stevens? Why do men these days have a problem with hair? Let their be hair!

All the best – and keep writing!