July 13th, 2009 at 03:01am
Under Uncategorized
Very often on our courses, we illustrate the positive and negative pendulum that can hold sway in a diverse society. Positively, you make an improvement for one individual or a group and you secure a spin off benefit for those outside the group. Removing debris from a footpath will make things safer for those with mobility issues but also will enhance the environment and help those carrying shopping or even pushing a pram!
But sometimes, you make an improvement in one area and create tension, resentment, jealousy and at worse a severe backlash. The battle of the sexes, the perceived notion that “they” are getting more benefits than me and impatience with those less able is all part of this potentially poisonous cocktail! But nowhere it seems is this negative backlash more to the fore than between those who hold genuinely religious beliefs and those who wish to be free to live their lives under the law as gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals.
In recent months, there seem to have been an avalanche of claims reaching tribunals reflecting these theological and secular tensions. The overarching lessons emerging from what have been largely employers victories are to be found in common sense key questions:-
“Have you carefully considered the complaint or request in front of you?”
And if you have, has your response been:-
· Reasonable?
· Practical?
· Proportionate?
Viewed against this backcloth, the following recent cases can be seen in real perspective:-
Miss Ladale v Islington Borough Council
The applicant, a devout Christian, was employed as a registrar with the local authority. Her duties included registering marriages. When the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was introduced in December 2005, all registrars were required to carry out civil partnership ceremeonies.These were generally shared out in approximately the same proportion as marriage duties. Miss Ladale refused to carry out these new duties. Initially, she won her claim of direct and indirect discrimination as well as harassment. But an essential part of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling which overturned the earlier victory is interesting:-
“ The Council was entitled to decide that Miss Ladale could not pick and choose which duties she would perform depending on her religious views, at least in circumstances where her personal stance involved discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”
Gary McFarlane v Relate
Mr McFarlane was employed by Relate as a counsellor. He was trained by them to be a psychosexual therapist and his role in consequence was extended to giving advice on sexual problems encountered by couples. He too was a devout and practicing Christian. When he refused to give advice to same sex couples, he was initially suspended and ultimately dismissed for failing to uphold Relates equal opportunities policies. The tribunal ruled against him, with the telling comments:-
“His dismissal by Relate was a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of maintaining its commitment to providing a service to all sections of the community without any suggestions of discrimination. Relate would have treated any other employee in the same way, who, for reasons unrelated to religion had acted in a way so at odds with its equal opportunity policy.”
Mohammed Ahmed v TESCO
Mr Ahmed, recruited by the supermarket giant, as a forklift truck operator refused to handle alcoholic goods as part of his duties. He is a devout Muslim and as such he said could not handle alcohol. TESCO, who won the case, said that on appointment Mr Ahmed had never raised such objections and was indeed told in his job interview about the wide range of goods that were stored and subsequently sold in their supermarkets, including alcoholic drink.
John Mitchell v Strathclyde Fire Service
Mr Mitchell, a Christian fireman, was amongst a group of fire-fighters at a Glasgow fire station who refused to attend a gay pride march with some claiming that they were too embarrassed to attend in uniform and others saying that their presence would be “contrary to their moral beliefs”. They received a range of disciplinary sanctions from demotion to written warnings. The Fire Service decided to reach a settlement with Mr Mitchell in relation to his complaint, with an apology and an agreement to prevent him from discussing the case being part of the out of court settlement. This would have been an interesting case had it gone the whole way but it does point to the potential for “win-win” solutions outside the legislative framework.
“Win-Wins” have been secured in recent times in terms of:-
And, of course, the recent case of the Christian bus driver agreeing to drive buses with “No God” adverts only if no other vehicles were available. Other passenger transport authorities across the country have reached a similar compromise.
Many employment cases can be resolved on a “win-win” basis. But if they cannot, the overarching principles that lie paradoxically at the heart of any attempt at consensus will generally prevail in law. Namely, what is reasonable, practical and proportionate?
These are, of course, employment issues. Laws governing the provision of goods, facilities and services now embrace the religion & belief strand as well as sexual orientation and gender identity. It will be interesting in the months ahead if the same tensions between religious beliefs and the notion that the “customer is always right” prevail in this hard headed commercial environment?!
QED Training provides a wide range of courses on equality laws, diversity issues and cultural awareness linked to both employment and customer care. Get in touch if we can be of assistance to you.
qedworks.com
qed.training@ntlworld.com
UK training expert in equality laws and diversity issues
By Law Article
July 12th, 2009 at 08:57pm
Under Consumer Law
The Lion is mentioned in the Bible 119 times, 110 times in the Old Testament and nine times in the New Testament.
The Lion is not mentioned in the Noble Quran; however, wild beasts (wild animals) is mentioned once.
In the Bible, Daniel 7:3-4 say that four great beasts came up out of the sea. The first of them was like a lion which had eagle’s wings. These wings were plucked off and the lion made to stand on two feet like a man; and the mind (heart) of a man was given to that lion. Nothing like that is found in the Noble Quran.
In the Quran, verse 5:3 says What if we have nothing to eat but the forbidden food to save our life, would Muslims eat it or no? They have to eat it to save their life. If they do not eat, it is a big sin.
==============================================
Daniel 7:3-4 in four different versions of the Bible:
New International Version
Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
New American Standard Bible
“And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.
“The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.
English Standard Version
And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.
The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
King James Version
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
==============================================
Chapter 5: AL-MAEDA (THE TABLE)
Verse 5:3 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:
QARIB: you are forbidden (to consume) the dead, blood and the flesh of swine; also flesh dedicated to any other than Allah, the flesh of strangled (animals) and of those beaten, that which is killed by falling, gored to death, mangled by beasts of prey, unless you find it (still alive) and slaughter it; also of animals sacrificed on stones (to idols). (you are forbidden) to seek division by the arrows, that is debauchery. those who disbelieve have this day despaired of your religion. do not fear them, but fear me. this day i have perfected your religion for you and completed my favor to you. i have approved Islam to be your religion. (as for) he who does not intend to commit a sin but is constrained by hunger to eat of what is forbidden, then surely Allah is forgiving, merciful.
SHAKIR: forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked, and the strangled (animal) and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall and that killed by being smitten with the horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten, except what you slaughter, and what is sacrificed on stones set up (for idols) and that you divide by the arrows; that is a transgression. this day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, and fear me. this day have i perfected for you your religion and completed my favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is forgiving, merciful.
PICKTHAL: forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swineflesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols. and (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. this is an abomination. this day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear me! this day have i perfected your religion for you and completed my favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam. whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful.
YUSUFALI: forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. this day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear me. this day have i perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. but if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed oft-forgiving, most merciful.
——-
The meaning of the verse:
Forbidden to you is carrion, that is, the consumption of it, and blood, that is, what has been spilt and the flesh of swine,
And what has been hallowed to other than Allah, in that it was sacrificed in the name of something other than Him, and the beast strangled, to death,
And the beast beaten down, to death,
And the beast fallen, from a height to its death,
And the beast gored, to death by another,
And what beasts of prey have devoured, of such animals except for what you have sacrificed duly, catching it while it still breathes life and then sacrificing it
And what has been sacrificed in, the name of, idols
And that you apportion, that is, that you demand an oath or a ruling, through the divining of arrows. There were seven of these [arrows], [marked] with flags, and they were retained by the keeper of the Kaaba. They would use them for arbitrations and when they commanded them they obeyed, and if they prohibited them they would desist; that is wickedness, a rebellion against obedience. And on the Day of ‘Arafat’ in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, the following was revealed: Today the disbelievers have despaired of your religion, of you apostatizing from it, having hoped for it [earlier], for now they perceived its strength; therefore do not fear them, but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, that is, its rulings and obligations
(After this verse, nothing about what is lawful or unlawful was revealed).
And I have completed My favor upon you, by perfecting it [your religion], but it is also said by effecting their safe entry into Mecca; and I have approved, chosen, Islam for you as religion.
But whoever is constrained by emptiness, by hunger, to consume some of what has been forbidden him and consumes it, not inclining purposely to sin, to an act of disobedience; then Allah is Forgiving, to him for what he has consumed, Merciful, to him by permitting it to him, in contrast to the one who [purposely] inclines to sin, that is, the one actively engaged in it, such as a way layer or a criminal, for whom such consumption is forbidden.
What if we have nothing to eat but forbidden food e.g. swine to save our life, would Muslims eat it or no? They have to eat it to save their life but they have not to eat extra amount; they just eat the amount that would save the life. Also, it is a big sin if they do not eat and hurt their life!
———————————————–
Back to my question for the smart reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit,
Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt.
And, President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors.
Member of the Egyptian union of Writers
By Law Article
July 12th, 2009 at 02:57pm
Under Consumer Law
The Lion is mentioned in the Bible 119 times, 110 times in the Old Testament and nine times in the New Testament.
The Lion is not mentioned in the Noble Quran; however, wild beasts (wild animals) is mentioned once.
In the Bible, Daniel 7:3-4 say that four great beasts came up out of the sea. The first of them was like a lion which had eagle’s wings. These wings were plucked off and the lion made to stand on two feet like a man; and the mind (heart) of a man was given to that lion. Nothing like that is found in the Noble Quran.
In the Quran, verse 5:3 says What if we have nothing to eat but the forbidden food to save our life, would Muslims eat it or no? They have to eat it to save their life. If they do not eat, it is a big sin.
==============================================
Daniel 7:3-4 in four different versions of the Bible:
New International Version
Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
New American Standard Bible
“And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.
“The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.
English Standard Version
And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.
The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
King James Version
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
==============================================
Chapter 5: AL-MAEDA (THE TABLE)
Verse 5:3 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:
QARIB: you are forbidden (to consume) the dead, blood and the flesh of swine; also flesh dedicated to any other than Allah, the flesh of strangled (animals) and of those beaten, that which is killed by falling, gored to death, mangled by beasts of prey, unless you find it (still alive) and slaughter it; also of animals sacrificed on stones (to idols). (you are forbidden) to seek division by the arrows, that is debauchery. those who disbelieve have this day despaired of your religion. do not fear them, but fear me. this day i have perfected your religion for you and completed my favor to you. i have approved Islam to be your religion. (as for) he who does not intend to commit a sin but is constrained by hunger to eat of what is forbidden, then surely Allah is forgiving, merciful.
SHAKIR: forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked, and the strangled (animal) and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall and that killed by being smitten with the horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten, except what you slaughter, and what is sacrificed on stones set up (for idols) and that you divide by the arrows; that is a transgression. this day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, and fear me. this day have i perfected for you your religion and completed my favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is forgiving, merciful.
PICKTHAL: forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swineflesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols. and (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. this is an abomination. this day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear me! this day have i perfected your religion for you and completed my favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam. whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful.
YUSUFALI: forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. this day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear me. this day have i perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. but if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed oft-forgiving, most merciful.
——-
The meaning of the verse:
Forbidden to you is carrion, that is, the consumption of it, and blood, that is, what has been spilt and the flesh of swine,
And what has been hallowed to other than Allah, in that it was sacrificed in the name of something other than Him, and the beast strangled, to death,
And the beast beaten down, to death,
And the beast fallen, from a height to its death,
And the beast gored, to death by another,
And what beasts of prey have devoured, of such animals except for what you have sacrificed duly, catching it while it still breathes life and then sacrificing it
And what has been sacrificed in, the name of, idols
And that you apportion, that is, that you demand an oath or a ruling, through the divining of arrows. There were seven of these [arrows], [marked] with flags, and they were retained by the keeper of the Kaaba. They would use them for arbitrations and when they commanded them they obeyed, and if they prohibited them they would desist; that is wickedness, a rebellion against obedience. And on the Day of ‘Arafat’ in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, the following was revealed: Today the disbelievers have despaired of your religion, of you apostatizing from it, having hoped for it [earlier], for now they perceived its strength; therefore do not fear them, but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, that is, its rulings and obligations
(After this verse, nothing about what is lawful or unlawful was revealed).
And I have completed My favor upon you, by perfecting it [your religion], but it is also said by effecting their safe entry into Mecca; and I have approved, chosen, Islam for you as religion.
But whoever is constrained by emptiness, by hunger, to consume some of what has been forbidden him and consumes it, not inclining purposely to sin, to an act of disobedience; then Allah is Forgiving, to him for what he has consumed, Merciful, to him by permitting it to him, in contrast to the one who [purposely] inclines to sin, that is, the one actively engaged in it, such as a way layer or a criminal, for whom such consumption is forbidden.
What if we have nothing to eat but forbidden food e.g. swine to save our life, would Muslims eat it or no? They have to eat it to save their life but they have not to eat extra amount; they just eat the amount that would save the life. Also, it is a big sin if they do not eat and hurt their life!
———————————————–
Back to my question for the smart reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit,
Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt.
And, President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors.
Member of the Egyptian union of Writers
By Law Article