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On October 13th 2006, one month to the day after Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensburg address of September 13th 2006, 38 Islamic authorities and scholars from around the world, representing all denominations and schools of thought, joined together to deliver an answer to the Pope in the spirit of open intellectual exchange and mutual understanding. In their Open Letter to the Pope (see english.pdf), for the first time in recent history, Muslim scholars from every branch of Islam spoke with one voice about the true teachings of Islam. Now, exactly one year after that letter, Muslims have expanded their message. In A Common Word Between Us and You, 138 Muslim scholars, clerics and intellectuals have unanimously come together for the first time since the days of the Prophet r to declare the common ground between Christianity and Islam. Like the Open Letter, the signatories to this message come from every denomination and school of thought in Islam. Every major Islamic country or region in the
http://www.acommonword.com/ ~ Details
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Muhammad's (PBUH) career changed the world he lived in. His legacy continues to influence us today. Learn more about him and view clips from the film concerning gender issues, other religions and prophets, violence and jihad, the Qu'ran, and how Muhammad (PBUH) informs American Muslims' lives today.
http://www.pbs.org/muhammad ~ Details
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Islamic World Update
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"The Messenger of God was imposing and majestic. His face was luminous like a full moon. He was taller than medium but not excessive in height. He had wavy hair, which he parted and it never went beyond his shoulders. He was light-skinned with a high brow. He had full eye -brows and a small space between them. He had a fine, aquiline nose. His beard was full, his eyes black. His physique was supple and lithe, with a full chest and broad shoulders. When he walked, he was determined and his pace was as if he was walking down hill. When he spoke he was always brief and reflective. He spoke when he saw benefit and spent long periods in silent contemplation. His speech was comprehensive being nei - ther wordy nor laconic. He had a mild temperament and was never harsh nor cruel, coarse nor rude. He expressed gratitude for everything given to him no matter how insignificant. When he spoke, his companions lowered their heads as if birds were perched upon them.
Islamic Media
BeeSpree / Published News Turkish Judges Advised to Drop Hijab Case .6 Vote(s) Kuwaitis Elect New Parliament .6 Vote(s) OIC calls for memorial day for the massacres of Muslims ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News There needs to be a day to commemorate the massacres of innocent Muslims that can be observed by as many people through3 Vote(s) New Oz Muslim TV comedy show depicting human side of Islam a hit Sydney, May 17 : A new weekly TV comedy show "Salam Cafe" in Australia, depicting the "human side" of the Muslims and providing v7 Vote(s) New York Rabbis Extol Pro-Israel Imam .3 Vote(s) Hindus Proud of "Honor Killing" .3 Vote(s) Brown Signals Retreat on Detention Bill .6 Vote(s) Bin Laden urges Muslims to liberate Palestine NEW: U.S. analyzing tape to see if speaker is Osama bin Laden, official says Speaker: Liberating Palestine should be the aim of every Muslim New mess7 Vote(s) OIC Warns Muslim Countries About Food Crisis ANTALYA - Head of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) warned on Wednesday that food crisis affected mostly Muslim countries because some of 4 Vote(s) New Public-Private Fund Aims to Serve Muslim Women Washington -- A unique, new public-private program aims to improve lives around the world, one woman at a time. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice5 Vote(s)
Haq Islam
Dua before Eating بِسْمِ الله وَعَلَى بَرَكَةِ الله Sultan Mahmood Ghaznawi and the Thieves One night Sultan Mahmood Ghaznawi went walking among his subjects after taking off his royal clothes and putting on ordinary clothes. He chanced to come upon a group of thieves who were consulting amongst themselves. On seeing him they asked: "Who are you?" The Realm After Death It is the belief ('Aqeedah) of deen that after death, mankind will enter a realm before the day of resurrection, which is known as Aalam-e-Barzakh. There are many sects in Islam who claim to be Muslims but do not believe in Aalam-e-Barzakh.' This is a grave misunderstanding on behalf of these people. Death is the ultimate reality that no human can escape. Imam Abu Hanifah and the Atheist Long ago in the city of Baghdad, there was a Muslim empire. On one side of the River Tigris were the royal palaces and on the other side was the city. The Muslims were gathered in the Royal Palace when an athiest approached them. He said to them, 'I don't believe in God, there cannot be a God, you cannot hear Him or see Him, you're wasting your time! Allah is the Provider Shaykh Sa'eed ibn Musfir narrates the following account: I was walking out of the Haram (the Ka'bah in Makkah) when I saw a man begging from everyone that passed by him. Replying to One who sneezes As a right one Muslim enjoys over another, one should reply to the person who sneezes. Shaykh Shah Jalal Shah Jalal is one of the most revered legendary Islamic heroes of Bangladesh and one of the key founding fathers of Islam in the country. He was a great saint and a great warrior. Along with his disciples, he made a unique contribution in liberating the people of Sylhet region.
Yahoo! News: World News
Thousands flee China quake area over flood fears (AP)  AP - Thousands of Chinese earthquake victims fled areas near the epicenter Saturday, fearful of potential floods from a river blocked by landslides.Bush pivots to Arab side of Mideast peace dispute (AP)  AP - President Bush pivoted to the Arab side of the Mideast peace dispute on Saturday, and got a far less glowing reception from his Egyptian host — a key player in the long-running fight — than he did in Israel earlier this week.US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Iraq (AP)  AP - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic critic of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, met with the Iraqi prime minister Saturday during a surprise visit to Baghdad.French navy ship near Myanmar with aid (AP)  AP - A French navy ship carrying 1,000 tons of food idled near Myanmar's coast Saturday, awaiting permission from the uncooperative ruling military regime to dock in the cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta.Tsvangirai postpones Zimbabwe return after threat (AP)  AP - Assassination threats have derailed plans by Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to return home to campaign for the presidential runoff vote, a party official said Saturday.Poor nations must repay British climate 'aid': report (AFP)  AFP - Poor countries will have to pay back aid given to them by Britain in an international aid project that was supposed to help them adapt to climate change, The Guardian newspaper said Saturday.Lebanese leaders aim to end political crisis (AP)  AP - Leaders of Lebanon's U.S.-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition met behind closed doors in Qatar on Saturday for the highest-level talks so far in the country's 18-month-long political crisis, which turned violent a week ago.Brazil's illegal logging hard to combat (AP)  AP - Acrid smoke from charcoal-making blankets this Amazon logging town with the smell of business as usual. Less than three months ago, federal agents swooped in to close sawmills, confiscate wood and smash charcoal furnaces in a government crackdown on illegal logging.No new poll watchers for Zimbabwe's run-off: state media (AFP)  AFP - Authorities in Zimbabwe have rejected opposition and international calls for additional election observers for the second round of presidential elections due on June 27, state media said on Saturday.Kidnapped Pakistan diplomat back home after end of captivity (AFP)  AFP - Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan returned home safely Saturday after being released from his captivity by suspected Taliban militants who held him captive for 96 days, officials said.
Yahoo! Sports
Lakers reach West finals, hold off Jazz (AP) Kobe Bryant has some time to rest his back. Not that he appears to need it. Bryant scored 34 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles held off a furious rally by the Utah Jazz for a 108-105 victory Friday night in Game 6, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years. Cavs ride James, force Game 7 at Boston (AP) The Boston Celtics are going home for another Game 7. They handled the Atlanta Hawks. LeBron James may not be as easy. James scored 32 points -- 19 in the second half -- and the Cavaliers forced a decisive and fitting finale to this home-sweet-home playoff series with a 74-69 victory Friday night over the Celtics, who have gone from regular-season road kings to postseason road kill. Pats coach Belichick lashes out at Walsh (AP) New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick lashed out at the team's former video assistant Friday, saying in a televised interview that Matt Walsh was a low-level staffer who was fired for "poor job performance" "There's not a lot of credibility," Belichick said in an interview broadcast on "CBS Evening News." "You know, he's tried to make it seem like we're buddies, and belong to the same book... Magowan stepping down from Giants (AP) Peter Magowan, the owner who brought Barry Bonds to San Francisco, built a new ballpark and kept major league baseball in the city, is stepping down as managing partner of the Giants. The 66-year-old Magowan will retire from his duties at the end of the season on Oct. 1 but maintain an ownership stake, the team said Friday. NFL owners could opt out of labor deal (AP) NFL owners could opt out of their agreement with the players union next week, leaving open the possibility of a 2010 season without a salary cap. The labor agreement is on the agenda for the league meetings in Atlanta on Tuesday. "If they don't do it next week then it will be soon after that," Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said Friday. Montgomery gets 46 months for fraud (AP) Olympian Tim Montgomery had everything he ever wanted. Once known as the "world's fastest man," Montgomery won a silver medal in the 400 relay at the 1996 Olympics and gold in the same event in 2000. In 2002, he set a record of 9.78 seconds in the 100-meter dash. "I've stood on top of the mountain," he said. Werth's 3 HRs, 8 RBIs power Phils to win (AP) Jayson Werth could not remember ever being this productive in a game -- that's including Little League. Werth homered in his first three at-bats and tied a Philadelphia Phillies record with eight RBIs in a 10-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. "Anything can happen on any given day, I guess," Werth said. Rays earn eighth win in nine games (AP) Andy Sonnanstine's strong pitching was no surprise. After carrying a shutout into the eighth inning, the right-hander has won his last five decisions for the Tampa Bay Rays. It was Sonnanstine's second-career two-hit game that the St. Louis Cardinals didn't see coming. "The guy doesn't even probably take BP, so you've got to give him credit," Cardinals starter Braden Looper said after the Rays' 3-1... Briscoe, 2 rookies crash at Indy (AP) Veteran driver Ryan Briscoe, a front-row qualifier last week, crashed hard in the second turn but was uninjured during practice Friday for the Indianapolis 500.
Yahoo! News: Technology News
AOL seeks growth in shift from mass site to niches (AP)  AP - A company rooted in bringing the Internet to the masses, AOL is shifting its focus toward serving niche audiences with the launch of dozens of specialty Web sites.AOL sheds its brand to draw specialty audiences (AP)  AP - Unless you're looking carefully, you'll likely miss the fact that the new Asylum Web site for young men is a creation of Time Warner Inc.'s AOL. Same for WalletPop on personal finance, Spinner on indie music and StyleList on fashion.Routine conduct at risk with MySpace suicide case (AP) AP - Think twice before you sign up for an online service using a fake name or e-mail address. You could be committing a federal crime. Cable companies to ramp up Web, HD, mobile service (AP) AP - Cable operators are riding high heading into this year's industry trade show, which kicks off this weekend. EchoStar to showcase first product for cable (AP)  AP - Former satellite TV provider EchoStar Corp. on Sunday will demonstrate its first product for cable companies at the industry's trade show: a unit that can tune in television and act as a cable modem.Signs point to imminent Ashlee Simpson wedding (AP)  AP - LOS ANGELES (AP) — Though Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are keeping a tight lid on their nuptuals, it's looking like a wedding is imminent. Aerial photos posted Friday at several celebrity Web sites, credited to the Insight News & Features paparazzi photo agency, purport to show the Simpson family home near Los Angeles dotted with large white party tents.Apple's iPhone Continues its Worldwide March (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - The iPhone's reach is expanding. Orange, France Telecom's flagship brand, announced that it will sell Apple's phone in additional countries in Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa. Say Goodbye to Muni-Fi (PC World) PC World - The days of imagining Wi-Fi blanketing a city are over with the exit of the last major municipally focused Wi-Fi service provider. Microsoft Open Source, Standards Chiefs Tout 'Openness' (TechWeb) TechWeb - InformationWeek - Interviews with Sam Ramji and Tom Robertson reveal Microsoft is strong on building open source business models and community as well as interoperability and industry standards. Deadline passes in EA bid to buy Take-Two Interactive shares (AFP)  AFP - A deadline for Take-Two Interactive Software shareholders to agree to a buyout by video game giant Electronic Arts has passed with neither firm commenting on the takeover bid's fate.
Yahoo! News: Business
Morgan Stanley cut 1,500 jobs this week: source (Reuters)  Reuters - Morgan Stanley cut 1,500 jobs
this week across its investment banking, trading and asset
management businesses, a person familiar with the situation
said Friday, a 5 percent reduction of non-broker employees.Wall St ends flat as energy gains offset sentiment (Reuters)  Reuters - Stocks finished little changed on
Friday as surging oil prices lifted energy shares and offset
data that showed consumer confidence sank to its lowest in 28
years.Consumers' mood as grim as early-80s (Reuters)  Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence tumbled to a
28-year low this month as rising prices strained household
finances, while another drop in single-family housing starts
underscored problems still plaguing the economy.American Axle and UAW reach tentative agreement (Reuters) Reuters - The United Auto Workers and American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc reached a tentative contract agreement late Friday aimed at ending an 11-week-long strike that had triggered thousands of layoffs and cost General Motors Corp at least $1 billion. Lehman Brothers job cuts to start next week: report (Reuters)  Reuters - Investment bank Lehman Brothers
Holdings Inc will begin cutting jobs starting next
week, CNBC Television reported on Friday, without citing
sources.Quake Unlikely To Derail China's Economy (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - While China grapples with the devastating May 12 earthquake in Sichuan -- now thought to have killed 50,000 people, leaving 5 million homeless and property damage at $20 billion -- the economic toll may be mild, analysts say. SMFG posts big rebound, forecasts modest growth (Reuters) Reuters - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) reported a threefold increase in fourth-quarter profit, rebounding from massive losses at its consumer finance unit a year earlier, and it forecast modest growth ahead. Abercrombie profit edges up on sales increase (AP) AP - Teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Friday that its first-quarter earnings rose 3 percent from a year ago on stronger sales.
IslamicTube.net - [Newest videos]
John Pilger - Palestine Is Still The Issue John Pilger - Palestine Is Still The Issue Watch HERE Added by: ukhtiDate: 2008-05-17 Bukhari Hadith - Time and Health - Mamdouh Mahmood Explaination of this hadith taken from the Book of Heart Softeners. Join www.sunnahfollowers.net Thursdays at 3pm EST for this class live Watch HERE Added by: SunnahFollowersNetDate: 2008-05-17 Khutbah - Fear Brings Security - Hasan Khalil Lecture detailing how we need to work on developing our hearts to have fear of Allah. Join www.sunnahfollowers.net Fridays for Khutbah featuring Shaykh Hasan Khalil Watch HERE Added by: SunnahFollowersNetDate: 2008-05-16 The Road To Palestine - by Robert Fisk Why have so many Muslims come to hate the West? In this controversial three-part series filmed in Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, and Bosnia, Robert Fisk—award-winning Middle East and Balkans correspondent for the London Independent—reports on Muslim unrest as ideology, religion, history, and geography come into conflict. The Road to Palestine provides the viewer with a glimpse into the ongoing conflict in the region around Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Through interviews with members of the militant Islamic group Hamas, as well as Zionist settlers and Jewish refugees, this documentary succeeds at revealing some of this tragic situation Watch HERE Added by: ukhtiDate: 2008-05-16 John Pilger on Iraq and Terrorism An excerpt from an interview with distinguished campaigning journalist John Pilger, for the forthcoming Media Workers Against the War Conference 'THE FIRST CASUALTY? War, Truth ; the Media Today', at the London School of Economics on November 17th, 2007. Watch HERE Added by: ukhtiDate: 2008-05-16 60 Years of Israeli Terrorism (video by calista48) 2008 Marks the 60th year of the Palestinian Nakba. The Palestinians in Palestine and the diaspora have suffered at the hands of the Israelis for 60 years. WARNING: CONTAINS SENSITIVE IMAGES OF SUFFERING ; DEATH Watch HERE Added by: ukhtiDate: 2008-05-16 Quran Tafsir - Baqara 104-105 - Mamdouh Mahmood Explaination is given of these two verses of the Quran. Join www.sunnahfollowers.net Wednesdays at 9pm EST for this class live and free of charge. Watch HERE Added by: SunnahFollowersNetDate: 2008-05-16 Fiqh of Islam - The Rows of the Prayer - Sh Mustapha Morsy Lecture details the rows of the prayer. Join www.sunnahfollowers.net Tuesadays for this class live at 12:30pm est Watch HERE Added by: SunnahFollowersNetDate: 2008-05-15 quran ayats regarding jihad quran ayats regarding jihad Watch HERE Added by: abdulraheemDate: 2008-05-15 Anwar AlAwlaki Lecture about Jihad Part 1 of 12 As-Salamu AlaykumThis lecture series contains the audio recording of a course on the classical book of Jihad. About the author The author’s full name was Ahmad Ibrahim Muhammad al-Dimashqi al-Dumyati, commonly known as Ibn an-Nuhaas and he died in the Year 814 Hijri, corresponding to the Year 1411 of the Gregorian calendar. Al-Sakhawi said about him: “He was eager to do good, preferred living in obscurity and showed no arrogance or pride due to his knowledge. Whoever would see him would think that he was a commoner – a handsome man, with a beautiful beard, short and medium built. He spent most of his life stationed in Jihad until he died as a martyr.” Ibn al-Imad said about him: “The Sheikh, Imam, scholar and exemplar.” In 814 Hijri the Romans attacked the people of Teenah in Egypt. The people of Dumyat, led by Ibn an-Nuhaas went to join their brothers in their fight against the invading forces. Ibn an-Nuhaas was killed in the battle, whilst facing the enemy and not fleeing from them, nine months after he completed writing this book. ================= About the book Sheikh Abdullah Azzam said about this book: “This is the best book on Jihad.” It is considered the most comprehensive study on the subject of Jihad because it was written by an author who practised, lived and experienced what he preached. Syed Qutb said: “Indeed our words will remain lifeless, until we die in pursuit of those words, then those same words will be brought to life and live amongst the people, inspiring them and bringing their hearts to life.” Watch HERE Added by: Sunnah101Date: 2008-05-15
Islamic Discussions
About Friend Salam This is the story of my best friend, age of 14, converted into Islam...... She had an English non-religious mother and a muslim father and her father divorced her mother years and years ago. From British law, they did not allow the father to look after the daughter... so he moved back to Libya with his family (with shame) ... She became in her mother's side of life - with no faith. She had boyfriends, she drank alcohol and many more... and her mum was fine with it.. (can i mention that the girl is called Yasmeena) So then Yasmeena had this very very bad illness (she told me not to tell anyone what it was) but trust me it is so bad she was put on life support... her mother cried in sorrow.. waiting for her beautiful daughter to wake up..and her father urgently came from Libya to England to pray for his daughter.. He read the qur'an in her ears gently, she woke up... She asked him what it was...and he explained... She told me that it made her feel warm and close to her father after 7 years of not seeing him. She also said that she felt safe when she read it in her ears. Mashalla now she seeks furthur knowledge about Islam (both hadiths and qur'an) , and doesn't even show her hair to non-religious girls which shows how protective and how important she shows her religion is... she goes to the Masjid to find new Muslim friends But really, Mashalla she learnt Islam by herself, watching television, researching, reading qur'an in English and also asking people about Islam in the Masjid... Now people call her sheikha Yasmeena, and I hope she will be one day =] InshallahPeace. Ma3 el salama Ala :-) Hell On behalf of my friend (who recently became a muslim) Finds it very hard for an all loving God to send people to hell, and why wouldnt he just forgive them.I need some help answering that. thanks Prophesies In Islam I am enthusiastic about how Astrology is taken in Islam. Believing astrology 100% will be great crime. Then astrologers are 100% wrong? Is it a science? Such many questions burning me for the last few days from when I am focusing on some thing very stunning to me. I am trying to bring Islam (indications in the Hadith and Quran), science, prophesies of Nostradams or Dicksons, Calender of Mayan Civilization, warning of Bishops and Jews scholars, Bible code and present Geo-political situations in the same alignment. When prophesiers from very different time of the history, Modern science speaks in the same tune should we focus on the topic with the light of Islam? I mean should we ignore it totally or we should think deeply? I have another article in the forum with the title Whats gonna take place in 2012? As I am studying on it I am facing many interesting and stunning data. As I go deeper I feel there is a tendency inside me to believe some of those. So should I go deeper? I dont know exactly what Islam thinks exactly about Prophesy. I think Prophesies are not 100% right as Knowledge of future only belongs to Allah. But is there any hidden indication by which prophesiers try to predict? If indications could be decoded correctly then some people can foresee? Plz dont reply without knowing much. It may confuse me and others. I know there are many wise people who could make it clear it to me. By this time I will try to ready another post under my another thread Whats gonna take place in 21st December 2012 How To Deal With Riba Actually i was a born muslim but not a practicing one .and now alhamduallah i am trying to become as better as possible what is happend is that now i find my self in a lot of bad habits and way of life some of them i got rid by the grace of Allah like i was working in a bank for credit card sales i left the job i was working in UAE but now when i came to pakistan i found that my uncle had purched some bonds wich give annual percentage return wich is haram ,actually the money he purched it was of my dad;s graduatty wich his comapny gave him when he passed away 1 year ago (may Allah grand him janah) So what technique i can take to make my uncle understand that he should take back the money from the saving center and my uncle is also a practicing muslim wich makes a job a bit easier rite Love And The Hadith im sorry for posting a stupid thread like this........ive never messed around with a women in my life and i am still a pure virgin at the age of 19 because i fear Allah...........and just so u kno ive never even spoken to this women in my lifeanyways i can tell u the story but it is too long......does the hadith say anything about falling in love with a women.....not just a crush but truly falling in love.....ive searched everywhere and ive read the quran twice and the thing that helped me alot was this quote from the quran 22. No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah.23. In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. For Allah loveth not any vainglorious boaster,- please someone help me it hurts so much......this is the most pain i have ever felt in my life.....it feels like i lost heaven, it feels like im already dead.....and no matter what i do i cant have her.......does the hadith say anything about the women feeling the same way someday?.i used to have dreams about her at least every other night.......and in all these dreams she was ignoring me.....but i remember the final dream i had about her was the best ever...........THE LAST DREAM: we were sitting in a car in the park and i was so amazed by her beauty I fell out of the car...there was a little kid next to me and i told him isn't she beautiful and he looked over my shoulder , then i looked over my shoulder and she was right in front of my face....i got up and she tried kissing me ..i was scared so i avoided her.....then all of sudden she appears at a far distance...being scared that she might leave forvever i call her back.....and she reappears next to my face........this time she comes up to me and says "what?"( with a beautiful smile) and then she quickly kisses me and laughs and then walks away.......and i woke up with a smile on my face.....and i was happy the whole day Basic Duties Of The Muslim QUOTEName of Questioner : Abu `Amr - United States Title : Basic Duties of the Muslim Question: Dear scholar, As-Salamu `alaykum. As a Muslim, I am in need of getting acquainted with my duties in order to fulfill the task that Allah ordains me to do. Therefore, could you, please, explain the basic commitments of the Muslim? Thank you in advance! Date: 23/Aug/2003 Name of Counsellor: Muzammil Siddiqi Topic: Morals & Values, Muslim Belief Answer Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.Dear brother, we really appreciate you question and implore Allah to enlighten your heart with the truth, Islam. In fact, the question you have posed is of great importance for it focuses on the Muslims role on earth.Muslims, as individuals and groups, have to fulfill certain basic duties which summarize the universal values of Islam. When these duties are observed they bring justice, peace and happiness in this world and they will indeed bring success and salvation in the Hereafter.Regarding these basic duties, wed cite some words of a Khutbah delivered by Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, at ISOC - Shawwal 20, 1422/ January 4, 2002:In the Glorious Quran, Allah, Most High, says, Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.' Your Lord knows best what is in your hearts: if you do deeds of righteousness, verily He is Most Forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again (in true penitence). And, render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: but squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (Himself) ungrateful. And even if you have to turn away from them in pursuit of the Mercy from thy Lord which you do expect, yet speak to them a word of easy kindness. Make not your hand tied to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that you become blameworthy and destitute. Verily your Lord does provide sustenance in abundance for whom He pleases, and He provides in a just measure: for He does know and regard all His servants. Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily, the killing of them is a great sin. Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils). Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the law). Come not nigh to the orphans property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfill (every) engagement, for (every) engagement, will be inquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight; that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination. And, pursue not that of which you have no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing, or of (feeling in) the heart will be inquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for you cannot rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height. Of all such things the evil is hateful in the sight of your Lord. These are among the (precepts of) wisdom, which thy Lord has revealed to you. Take not, with Allah, another object of worship, lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected. (Al-Isra: 23-39)Surat al-Isra was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah after his Night Journey from Makkah to Jerusalem. In this surah Allah mentions some basic commitments of Muslims. Without fulfilling these commitments no individual or group can succeed. Muslims have to live by these values and should invite the humanity to these principles. These principles are not limited to one race, tribe or group; they are universal in their scope and application. These are also called the Hikmah or the teachings of wisdom. It is wise for every one to follow them. If followed properly they are capable to increase the goodness and wisdom of all people. These principles are:1. To worship Allah alone: This means to recognize Allah as the ultimate reality and to recognize Allah as the Lord, to worship Him with all sincerity and to submit to Him in every aspect of life. A Muslims life is nothing but total commitment to Allah. We are not only monotheists (people of Tawhid) but we are also theocentric people. Allah is the center of our life and He is our total and ultimate concern.2. To be respectful and kind to the parents: This is to acknowledge the compassion and kindness of the parents, to be grateful to them and to do ones utmost to reciprocate that love and compassion. Filial piety and devotion is the second most important commitment of Muslims. Respect and kindness to parents is not just a social duty for us; it is our religious duty and obligation.3. To be good to your relatives, to the poor and the travelers: This is to remember that we are interconnected in this world. Our responsibilities are not only towards ourselves and our immediate families, but also to other relatives and to the society at large. We are all in need of each other and we are all fellow travelers in this path of life. We must see what we can do for others. Muslims must live a socially responsible life. Social responsibility begins with the family, other relatives and it includes all those who are in need.4. To be careful with your money and not to waste your resources: One should be neither too tight with ones money nor too lose with it. Extravagance is not right, but also one should not become stingy and miserly. A Muslim is committed to the balanced life style. Money should be earned in Halal (lawful) ways and it should be spent in the right manner. This principle can be applied to all resources that Allah has given us. Wise and conscientious use of resources is a very important commitment of Muslims.5. To take good care of your children: As we recognize the rights of the parents, we should also recognize the rights of children. Our children are our future. We must see that we raise healthy, intelligent and morally responsible children. Our commitment should be to raise them in safe and healthy environment. We must protect their life as well as their sprit and mind, their morals and manners.6. To steer clear of adultery and illicit relations: Sexual perversions bring the greatest harm to individuals and societies. Observing the proper rules in this matter lead to health, happiness and good moral society. Muslims are committed to pure, clean and socially responsible life style. Islam teaches that one should not come even close to adultery or fornication. This means proper dress code for males and females, proper behavior in mixed societies and proper control on social relations and entertainment.7. To respect every life and not to kill anyone unless in the pursuit of justice: This means that one should recognize the sanctity of all life and should not do anything that may jeopardize life. One should avoid aggression and violence, because these things lead to murder. Every Muslim must be committed to peaceful ways. Conflicts should be resolved by dialogue and negotiations, not by killings and murders. However, justice must be maintained, because just punishment brings safety and protects life.8. To take care of the orphans: Orphans and all those who are vulnerable must be taken care of. Their rights must be recognized and they should be protected from all harms. A Muslim must be deeply committed to the care of young, poor, infirm and handicapped. Kindness and compassion is the basic commitment of a Muslim. It includes every one, including the animals.9. To fulfill the promises and your commitments: Promises and contracts are an important part of human life and human civilization. When promises are not kept, people lose trust in each other and the whole society becomes weak. Muslims must be true to their words. Our commitment must be to speak the truth, to be honest and when we make a pledge we do our best to fulfill our pledges.10. To be honest in business dealings and not to cheat in weight or measurement: Honest business brings progress, success and blessings. All business whether it is commercial, social or political must be done with a sense of justice and fairness. A Muslim is committed to fair dealing in everything and with every one. Dealing with a Muslim means dealing with full confidence. A Muslim businessman is the most truthful businessman. A Muslim worker is the most honest worker. A Muslim in any profession should bring honor to that profession.11. To do things with knowledge and not to follow the hearsay or act on half- knowledge: The information agencies, the media have a great responsibility. A lot of injustice is done when the misinformation is given or the information is misused. Muslims should be committed to truth in information. They should promote truthful and honest reporting about everyone including their enemies. A report coming from a Muslim source should be the most trustworthy report. In a similar way Muslim should be extremely careful with their actions and reactions. They should not react without proper evidence against anyone. They should show the world how the information is ascertained.12. To be humble and have no arrogance: Moderation and balance is the best thing in ones behavior as well as in ones attitudes toward others. A Muslim is a dignified person, but he/she is humble. A Muslim is not boastful, arrogant or vainglorious. A Muslim thanks Allah for all His gifts. For everything the ultimate praise is for Allah and the real glory belongs to Allah.These are the basic commitments of Muslims, as individuals and as people. These are the principles of wisdom and the universal values of Islam. When they are followed they bring justice, peace and happiness in this world and they will indeed bring success and salvation in the Hereafter. Let us all try to make these our real commitments. Travel... Where Is Home? Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah, A question came to mind today in terms of travel and shortening prayers (and combining them). I left home (the US) a few years ago and live abroad. When I return to the US for a short visit, am I permitted or not to shorten prayers? I really feel more at home in the US than anywhere else in the world so shortening prayers while here for a short time would seem strange. I am temporarily in the US and home is really elsewhere now.I appreciate your help!peace! Muhammed Hey guys, I know I haven't been here for ages, but I thought I'd drop by.Now, just recently I have been debating with someone who appears to be very ignorant in their beliefs of Islam and Muhammed. As I do not know enough about Muhammed, I cannot pass judgement, so I thought I'd see if anyone here could help me.First of all, this person claims that Muhammed was a pedophile, who married a six year old girl and had sex with her at age nine. They claim to have proof of this, but I am not sure if they simply changed the words to suit themselves, or if it is actually true. Perhaps this person misinterpreted what they read? They also say that Muhammed beat his wives, loved violence and hated those, wished death upon, those who did not believe. I won't quote what they said because it is simply too offensive, but I would love for some non bias information about the prophet Muhammed to be shown me so that I may show this person that they are wrong in their beliefs.Insha AllahKyle Prayer And Tashahud Asslamo Alykom,When we pray more than two rakahs. after you finish second rakah, do we say all of the tashahud (like:Atahyato Lillah wa salawato wa tayibato.... and then second part :Allahmo salai 3ala Mohamed wo alee Mohamed....) or do we just say that first part?I know in the end we say both parts, but what my question is for the after second rakahhopefully i didn't write the question in a confusing wayJazakom Allaho khayrMahmood Death To The Infidels? QUOTEProphet Muhammad said the strong man is not the one who can win in a physical fight but the one who can restrain himself in a moment of anger. In that regard many Muslims fail, they respond with knee jerk reactions to the controversy ruling the day. The best way for Muslims to react to something they find offensive is through peaceful protest and boycott. Let me draw on the classic example, the riots over the Muhammad comic strips. If I had ultimate control over what those people did I would have made sure they protested, not rioted, and I would have had them put a boycott against the newspaper which published the strip.source: you can't post links until you reach 50 posts_botlbrush(contact admin if its a beneficial link)/blog/?p=237So what do you guys think?
Al-Muhajabah's Global Feed
Why Won't McCain Support Our Vets? The following is an email from WesPAC (also posted at Daily Kos and Huffington Post) Robert Lopez served 8 years in our military, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as a tank commander. He was told he'd get his whole education bill paid for when he got out of the service. Mr. Lopez has fought and sacrificed for our country but like so many others, Mr. Lopez has faced the bleak reality of a government that has turned its back on its veterans. That is why Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel proposed the new GI Bill, which would bring back WWII-style standards of providing vets with full tuition, room and board. And that is why 51 senators have signed on, including 9 Republicans like John Warner, giving this GI Bill tremendous bi-partisan support. But it isn't enough. Faced with unprecedented filibusters, the only way to ensure Senate passage of the GI Bill is to get 60 co-sponsors. So far, John McCain has refused. The same McCain who insists he supports our troops. The same McCain who is voting lockstep with the Bush administration (who have also resisted this bill). We need to get John McCain to do the right thing -- to sign now and signal to other Republican leaders that we should be strongly behind our vets. Sign the petition to John McCain! Click to watch the video! The original GI Bill transformed American history, providing education for returning soldiers. Not only was this our nation's moral duty for the unbelievable sacrifices of our World War II veterans, it helped create America's middle class and spurred decades of economic growth for our country. Why then is John McCain silent on passing a new GI Bill for our "new greatest generation?" Robert Lopez thinks John McCain ought to stand in his shoes to know how difficult it is to be a vet and have to pay staggering education costs. THIS is your call to arms. Pass the video along and implore your friends to sign the petition. Click here to watch the video and sign the petition today! WesPAC, VoteVets.org and Brave New Films feel passionately about giving our veterans the support they rightly deserve. Our government owes our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan the opportunity to receive full educational benefits. These patriots have fought hard for our government; it's time our government started fighting hard for them. Sincerely yours, Wes Clark, Robert Greenwald, and Jon Soltz No Torture. No Exceptions. Now this is more like it! Originally published in Washington Monthly Torture--the word evokes images of dark, damp dungeons and outlandish punishments and pain. But torture can take many forms, and it lives today. Incredibly, Americans are part of it. And we must put a stop to it. Torture is illegal, ineffective, and morally wrong. The United States has signed numerous treaties condemning torture and abjuring its practice. Those treaties are the law of the land. And, yes, waterboarding is torture: in the past, we convicted and punished foreign nationals for torture by waterboarding. There are no legal loopholes permitting torture in "exceptional cases." After all, those were the same excuses used by the torturers we once condemned. The honor of the American man-at-arms is one of our most potent weapons. It is enshrined in the Geneva Conventions. It encourages our enemies to surrender to us on the battlefield. It protects any of our own soldiers who may have been captured. It encourages noncombatants and civilians to trust us and cooperate willingly. And it does not countenance the abuse of captives in our care. We have known this from the outset of the Republic. General George Washington emphasized the proper treatment of Hessian prisoners during the Revolutionary War, reasoning that we might win them over. In many cases, we did just that. During the Civil War, we issued the Lieber Code, emphasizing that torture to gain confessions or information was never permissible. Ever since, it has been the standard to which the American armed forces have adhered. During World War II, we trained interrogators to elicit voluntary information from our adversaries, and it worked. Today, the FBI is firm in its belief that proper interrogation doesn't require torture and that better information can be obtained without it. Something in the American soul has always demanded fair treatment and respect for the individual. Perhaps it was our flight from the repression of the Old World and the practices of European monarchy. We were different. We expressed it in our Declaration of Independence. We captured it in our adaptation of English common law, in our trials by juries of peers, and in our spirit of justice. We were a better nation for it, more respected, more influential, and more secure. Certainly, we committed historical wrongs that today we wish we could set right, but overall we advanced, step by step, striving to live the values we professed. Until now. Until weak, fearful leaders had so little belief in our values and principles that they gave away our birthright and proud claim in order to follow a shadowy emulation of the very dictatorships and tyrannies we had struggled against. For shame, America, that we aren't brave enough and strong enough to live our values. Today, in the struggle to finish off the extremists plotting against us, it won't be torture and fear that win the day for America. Far from it. Nations that torture end up despised and defeated. No, to win we'll have to live up to the values we profess, the belief in human rights, equal justice, fair trials, and the rule of law. These ideals are potent weapons. They will give us allies, friends, information, and security--but only if we live them. We've done it before. In the thrust and parry of the cold war, America's adherence to proper standards and international law won us respect, allies, friends, and, ultimately, the influence that helped bring down the Soviet system. And we can have the same success in our fight today. We just have to make more friends and fewer enemies. And in such a strategy, there's no place for torture. Or for those who would torture. Yes! A more perfect union Understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point. As William Faulkner once wrote, âThe past isnât dead and buried. In fact, it isnât even past.â We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. Segregated schools were, and are, inferior schools; we still havenât fixed them, fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, and the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between todayâs black and white students. Legalized discrimination - where blacks were prevented, often through violence, from owning property, or loans were not granted to African-American business owners, or black homeowners could not access FHA mortgages, or blacks were excluded from unions, or the police force, or fire departments â meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations. That history helps explain the wealth and income gap between black and white, and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of todayâs urban and rural communities. A lack of economic opportunity among black men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for oneâs family, contributed to the erosion of black families â a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened. And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods â parks for kids to play in, police walking the beat, regular garbage pick-up and building code enforcement â all helped create a cycle of violence, blight and neglect that continue to haunt us. (link) Obama hits it out of the park again. In my opinion, he didn't need to give this speech and shouldn't have had to. He is running for president not for chief spokesman on race in America. But the moment came and he seized it. This is why I support him so strongly. Congressman Kucinich Mourns Loss of Former Senator and Mentor Howard Metzenbaum The following is a press release from March 13, 2008, by Kucinich's office in Congress FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2008 5:46 PM Congressman Kucinich Mourns Loss of Former Senator and Mentor Howard Metzenbaum Labor propels Kucinich to big win Originally published in People's Weekly World Labor propels Kucinich to big win Author: Rick Nagin Kucinich Wins Democratic Primary in Ohio Originally published in the Washington Post Kucinich Wins Democratic Primary in Ohio By JULIE CARR SMYTH The Associated Press Wednesday, March 5, 2008; 6:50 AM Something special WesPAC sent the following email on March 4, 2008: 4 and 7. That's the number of days left until two critical special Congressional elections in Illinois' 14th and Indiana's 7th districts. IL-14 was the seat of former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who along with Tom DeLay, led the corrupt Republican machine in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats have world renowned physicist Bill Foster running for the seat. I think you'll agree replacing Hastert with an accomplished scientist is an upgrade. IN-7 was the seat of Democrat Julia Carson, who passed away last year. Her grandson Andre has tremendous experience in law enforcement and is seeking to continue his family's amazing record of service. 4 and 7. That's also the number of days you have left to make a difference. Contribute to Bill and Andre's campaigns today! http://www.actblue.com/page/somethingspecial Bill Foster Taking Dennis Hastert's seat carries significant symbolism, and I can't think of a better candidate to replace him than Bill Foster. Bill Foster has an impressive resume, designing world class research machines and starting a multimillion dollar business that provides hundreds of jobs for people in Illinois. I know that someone with Bill's drive and intelligence is the right man for the job and can turn Illinois' 14th Congressional District blue in the March 8th special election. But Bill's race to victory won't be easy: his opponent, Jim Oberweis, has a history of deceiving voters. Oberweis was once fined $21,000 by the FEC for violating a federal election law, and in past campaigns he used fake headlines in TV ads. Let's make sure Bill has the resources to take on his opponent -- and fight against whatever the Oberweis campaign throws at him. Bill Foster's special election on March 8th is just days away. Help take Dennis Hastert's old seat -- click on the link below to contribute to Bill now! http://www.actblue.com/page/somethingspecial Andre Carson Andre Carson is also facing a tough special election on March 11th in Indiana. He is running for the 7th Congressional District that his grandmother, Julia Carson, held until she passed away last year. Andre has a strong law enforcement background, having served for nine years as the Officer/Investigator for the Indiana State Excise Police. His extensive experience in national security matters includes his work in the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence Fusion Center, where he served in an anti-terrorism unit to keep Indiana's residents safe. Andre's race against the Republicans in Indiana is going to be close, but I know that with your help, he can win the 7th Congressional seat. Click on the link below to donate to his campaign today! http://www.actblue.com/page/somethingspecial Winning the special elections in IL-14 and IN-7 will help Democrats start off the 2008 elections with a bang and a sign for things to come in November. It will show the media, the pundits, and the public that this is the Democrats' year. But special elections are incredibly unpredictable because of the low turnout and can come down to just a handful of votes. Both races are tight, so any amount you can give to Bill and Andre in these final days could be the difference between winning and losing. It could be the difference between a voter going to the polls or staying home because they don't know an election is happening. Contribute to Bill and Andre. Help carry them to victory today! http://www.actblue.com/page/somethingspecial Thank you. Sincerely, Wes Clark more Kucinich congressional news Teamsters, Kucinich team up vs. union-busting Joe Cimperman hopes to tear down his former hero, Dennis Kucinich - Profile of Kucinich's primary opponent and his case against Kucinich Playing Games With Kosovo Originally published in Newsweek International POINT OF VIEW Playing Games With Kosovo Moscow sees Serbia as its final bulwark in the Balkans against the steady advance of the West. By Wesley K. Clark | NEWSWEEK Mar 3, 2008 Issue | Updated: 11:34 a.m. ET Feb 23, 2008
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MDC leader will not return Zimbabwe Zimbabwean opposition party says leader Morgan Tsvangirai will not return home to campaign for the June 27 run-off due to security fears. US shirks duties towards Iranian diplomats Washington has claimed that the US military shall not be blamed for the terrorist attack on the Iranian embassy personnel in Baghdad. Iran's economy grows 6.7 percent The Economic Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Iran says Iran's economic growth rate in the last Iranian year was 6.7%. Heavy Somali clashes leave 50 dead More than 50 people, including civilians, have reportedly been killed and dozens injured in heavy clashes across war-torn Somalia. Ukraine conductor performs Iranian songs The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Vladimir Sirenko, will be performing two original Iranian musical compositions. Blast kills Afghan child, hurts 4 A bicycle bomb detonated by remote-control has killed a child and wounded over four people in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar. Reps. rap Dems. over energy plan US senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski have called on Republicans to urge Democrats to do more to address the growing energy crisis. Israel wary of future rocket attacks Israel's former air force chief claims Israel can expect to be targeted by a barrage of rockets in a future war with 'Iran's proxies'. Iran: Attack will not affect Iraq ties Iran has said the terrorist attack against the Iranian embassy personnel in Baghdad will not affect the country's relations with Iraq. Bush leaves Saudi Arabia for Egypt George W. Bush has left Saudi Arabia for Egypt where he will meet Mahmoud Abbas and address the World Economic Forum on the Middle East.
Democracy Now! Video
Democracy Now! 2008-05-16 Friday Headlines for May 16, 2008; Israeli Writer-Activist Tikva Honig-Parnass, Who Fought for Israel's Founding in 1948, on 60 Years of Palestinian Dispossession and Occupation ; As Israelis Celebrate Independence and Palestinians Mark the "Nakba," a Debate with Benny Morris, Saree Makdisi and Norman Finkelstein Democracy Now! 2008-05-15 Thursday Headlines for May 15, 2008; As Palestinians Mark 60th Anniversary of Their Dispossession, a Conversation with Palestinian Writer and Doctor Ghada Karmi; Palestinian Rap Group DAM Use Hip-Hop to Convey the Frustrations, Hopes of a Dispossessed People Democracy Now! 2008-05-14 Wednesday Headlines for May 14, 2008; 1968, 40 Years Later: Student, Worker Protests Sweep France, Leaving Indelible Mark on the Country and the World; Legendary Author Gore Vidal on the Bush Presidency, History and the "United States of Amnesia" Democracy Now! 2008-05-13 Tuesday Headlines for May 13, 2008; DEMOCRACY NOW! EXCLUSIVE: Fmr. Military Intelligence Sgt. Reveals US Listed Palestine Hotel in Baghdad as Target Prior to Killing of Two Journalists in 2003 Democracy Now! 2008-05-12 Monday Headlines for May 12, 2008; World Renowned Philosopher Slavoj Zizek on the Iraq War, the Bush Presidency, the War on Terror & More ; 81 Dead in Lebanon as Hezbollah Clashes with US-Backed Pro-Government Forces Democracy Now! 2008-05-09 Friday Headlines for May 09, 2008; 14 Killed in Sudanese Government Bombing of Darfur Village; Free from Nigerian Military Custody, "Sweet Crude" Director Sandy Cioffi on Oil Politics in the Niger Delta; Author, Blogger Arianna Huffington on How John McCain Has Changed Since Telling Her He Didn't Vote for Bush in 2000 Democracy Now! 2008-05-08 Thursday Headlines for May 08, 2008; 200 Arrested in Massive Show of Civil Disobedience Over Police Acquittals in Killing of Sean Bell ; As Aid Delivery Arrives in Cyclone-Ravaged Burma, Fears Death Toll Could Top 100,000 ; Former Senator George McGovern Switches Support from Clinton to Obama; "Torture Team": British Attorney Philippe Sands on the White House Role in Sanctioning Torture ; "Economic Hit Man" John Perkins Recounts US Efforts to Block Nationalization of Panama Canal Democracy Now! 2008-05-07 Wednesday Headlines for May 07, 2008; Clinton Vows to Stay in the Race as North Carolina, Indiana Primaries Extend Obama's Lead; Broadcasting Legend Bill Moyers on the 2008 Elections, the Rev. Wright Controversy, the Media, Vietnam and More Democracy Now! 2008-05-06 Tuesday Headlines for May 06, 2008; Report from Burmese-Thai Border on the Devastating Cyclone that Has Killed Over 15,000 People in Burma; Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear; "Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism"; Democracy Now! Bids Farewell to Denis Moynihan, DN!'s Longtime Outreach Director, Now CEO of Free Speech TV Democracy Now! 2008-05-05 Monday Headlines for May 05, 2008; 10 Arrested at General Dynamics Protest in Vermont; Thousands of Somalis Protest Deadly US Air Strike; Autonomy Vote Threatens to Pull Bolivia Apart; Iran: Elections Under Threat; "Guantanamo's Child: The Untold Story of Omar Khadr"
LI Islamic Forum cool clips Assalamu Alaykum everyone, just stumbled across these clips on youtube and found em really funny so I thought I would share them with you all. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZXDkUX8WjU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk Very funny prank! :sl: [media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo1R17Gq6dg[/media] I laughed soo much on this video! I hope you guys will laugh to:) :w: Books, Books, Books! So, as everyone here has been so kind, I think I will mooch off your hospitality a bit more and ask about reading advise:p I was wondering if anyone knew of any good books on the folloing topics -Islam and Science -Fair and objective history of Islam -Islam and interfaith Issues -Islamic political Theory -Islamic Philosophy/Theology :? Any input is appreciated:) Trying to Introduce A freind to Islam Hey, like the title says I am trying but I don't know how to do it. I find it hard to answer things like: 1. How do you know for sure? 2. What if the prophets were lying 3. Why shouldn't I be content with my life? For me, it seems obvious because of the aount of effort I put in to examining Islam. But what do I say to a person like this? He says he believes in God but I think his belief is vague and without direction. *!* The internal waves&The Darkness in the deep seas and Oceans *!* :arabic6: *_The internal waves&The Darkness in the deep seas and Oceans_ * *By The Researcher * *Magdy Abd Al-Shafy Abd Al-Gawad* *The English Department* *Manager* :salamext: The Holy Quran is God's word , it has many different attributes in addition to the miracles of Prophet Mohummed , these attributes is the fact that _a number of scientific truths that we have only been able to uncover by the technology of the 20th century were stated in the Qur'an 1,400 years ago. ._ _These miracles help the believers to believe more and more and it is in the same time a word to the unbelievers in different times_ , As this age is , truly , the age of science , so the scientific miracles in the Holy Quran come to surface just to challange the nbelievers and at the same time to give the strong evidence that it is God's word .Unbelievers who read these miracles are supposed to believe that Quran is God's word . prophet Mohummed was unlettered man , who lived in the desert most of his life where there were no possible means to communicate with the places of civilization , thought such technological discoveries were not known in any place in the time of prophet Mohummed . There are many miracles and proofs latent in the Holy Quran ; they are numerous . When Quran refers to the scientific fact that were proved recently it attracts the attention to God's supreme greatness in creation , when man poders about these verses and associate them with the discovered facts , he will realy feel afraid and inferior to God ,God says in the Holy Quran in this concern what means *" The erudite among His bondsmen fear Allah alone. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Forgiving."**More over Quran calls man to ponder and speculate about His miracles of creation "**53. We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth. Doth not thy Lord suffice, since He is Witness over all things?[41:53* _*in fact **God supported His last Prophet Muhammad with many miracles and much evidence which proved that he is a true Prophet sent by God. Also, God supported His last revealed book, the Holy Quran, with many miracles that prove that this Quran is the literal word of God, revealed by Him, and that it was not authored by any human being. This chapter discusses some of this evidence. *_ *this proves without doubt that the Quran must be the literal word of God, revealed by Him to the Prophet Muhammad , and that the Quran was not authored by Muhammad or by any other human being. This also proves that Muhammad is truly a prophet sent by God. It is beyond reason that anyone fourteen hundred years ago would have known these facts discovered or proven only recently with advanced equipment and sophisticated scientific methods. * *The Quran on the deep seas and oceans and internal waves * *God has said in the Quran in this concern what means : **_Or (the unbelievers state) is like the darkness in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds. Darknesses, one above another. If a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it....(_Quran, 24:40) * *We can understand from the following sentences in the previous verse, ...in a deep sea."that the seep sea is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds..... It is clear that the second set of waves are the surface waves that we see, because the verse mentions that above the second waves there are clouds. But what about the first waves? Scientists have recently discovered that there are internal waves which _occur on density interfaces between layers of different densities._ * *What does verse mean ? * *(1)There are successive layers of darkness till we reach the dark sea.* *(2)the word ( Zolmat in Arabic rendered "darkness in English ) used in plural in the verse , here is another miracle as the Quran uses the word in plural, which means that there are successive stages of darkness or a number of layers of darkness before we reach the dark sea and these layers are caused by the clouds , then the layer of darkness caused by the surface sea and the water below and then the layers of darkness caused by the internal waves .* *(3) This part of the verse "If a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it.... " refers to the age of submarines as no can go so deep by himself or without being aided by technology . * *_Does this verse match the newly-discovered facts regarding the internal waves ?_* *_Now to this miracles in detail_ * *How can the darkness occur in the deep sea ?* *To answer this question ,we will talk about three stages of darkness " * *The first stage clouds the first barriers * *introduction * *people know the clarity of the water of the seas ( granulation of colour into seas and oceans )by the use Secchi disc. Even though the Secchi disc measurement of water clarity is an approximate evaluation of the transparency of water, it is used primarily for its simplicity. A more accurate measurement of underwater irradiance can be made by the use of photometer, but that amount of accuracy is not needed for the Self Help Program instituted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resource in 1974. * Image: http://www.maknoon.com/e3jaz/images/sea.jpg *_The Secchi disk is used to measure how deep a person can see into the water._ It is lowered into the lake by unwinding the waterproof tape to which it is attached and until the observer loses sight of it. The disk is then raised until it reappears. The depth of the water where the disk vanishes and reappears is the Secchi disk reading. The depth level reading on the tape at the surface level of the lake is recorded to the nearest foot.* *Image: http://www.mlswa.org/images/secchiboat.gif * *The clouds are the first barriers to absorb the sun rays * *.* **The rays emitted from the sun is composed of electromagnetic waves starting with the radio waves to the X-rays , the overwhelming seen light is the spectrum along with the infrared , the ultra violet rays and some elementary accelerated particles such as the electrons . Most of the ultra violet rays are blocked by the Ozone layer . When the rest of the sun rays reach the below strata of the gas atmosphere of the earth , the clouds reflect and disperse about 30% .The clouds , the condensation nucleus , the particles of the hanging dust and water vapour absorb about 19% of the light . So during the process of light reflection , absorption and dispersion , the clouds block or screen about 49% of the sun rays causing a relative darkness under the clouds. ** **A Passenger on a plane flying over the clouds will see the light of the sun so bright but if the plane flies under the clouds , that is , between the clouds and the surface of the sea , the passenger will realize that the light of the sun begins to fade away and becomes less bright ; this means that the _area between the clouds and the surface of the sea is a little dark because the rays of the sun can not penetrate the clouds , which are a strong barrier that prevent the light to pass freely,thus resulting in a layer of darkness under the clouds._** **Surface waves on the sea and the oceans cause the second drakes ** **When the rest of the sun rays reaches the surface of the sea , about 35% of the infrared rays is consumed in evaporating some of the water forming the clouds and in photosynthesis process of naval plants .As to the rest of the white light that actually reach the surface of the sea , it doesn't penetrate the surface wave completely as the surface wave reflects about 5% out of it making the bright colour of the surface of the sea .** **Sunrays trying to penetrate the seas water ** **_The journey of the rest of the light during the first 200 meteres_ ** *Image: http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Quran_on_Deep_Seas_and_Internal_Waves_002.jpg * *_The darkness in deep seas and oceans is found around a depth of 200 meters below. At this depth, there is almost no light . Below a depth of 1000 meters there is no light at all. Human beings are not able to dive more than forty meters without the aid of submarines or special equipment._ Human beings cannot survive unaided in the deep dark part of the oceans, such as at a depth of 200 meters . * *_Between 3 and 30 percent of the sunlight is reflected at the sea surface. Then almost all of the seven colors of the light spectrum are absorbed one after another in the first 200 meters , except the blue light._ (**Oceans**, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27.) * *Image: http://www.maknoon.com/e3jaz/images/sea1.jpg * *How does this darkness occur ?* *Light that will penetrate water will undergo several processes that will make it vanquish gradually ; among these are Light refraction , photolysis , absorption by the different water particles and minerals dissolved in water and the hanging materials in water and the living creatures along with its organic wastes * . *_Under the surface waves_* *Image: http://www.quranicstudies.com/images/articles/wave.jpg * *In this picture we see a ray of light going through the depth of the ocean. * *The upper layer has absorbed the red color in the first _10 meters_ . _If a diver would dive to a depth of 30 meters and gets wounded there, he would not be able to see his blood, because the red color does not reach this depth. In the same way, as we see in this picture,orange rays are absorbed next. Then at the depth of 50 meters yellow rays are absorbed. At the depth of 100 meters green rays are absorbed. At depths beyond 200 meters , blue rays are absorbed, and so on. _* *So the colour of seas and oceans seems blue because this colour is dispersed in the first 200 meters* *.* *Image: http://www.55a.net/firas/ar_photo/8/submarine.jpg * *Dark seas submarine* *Despite the striking speed of light (300,000 km per second in space and about 225,000 km per second in water ) , it can only travel as far as 1000 meters ; only after 200 meters downwards darkness begins ; only (0.01%) out of the sun rays goes . Only this very little amount of light continues its journey till it disappears completely at the depth of one km below the sea surface and that is because of the infraction of light , dispersion and absorption .* *The average depth of oceans is estimated as 3795 meteres and the deepest doesn't nearly outdistance eleven km (11.034 M) . Between this two points the depths of oceans and seas range between four and five km and the average depth in the very deep oceans and seas range between eight and ten kilometers this means that the depths of these seas and oceans are in complete fearful darkness* *_The internal waves_ * *These two parts of the ocean differ with respect to their properties and haracteristics, and the surface is further separated from the deep part by waves. These internal waves were only discovered in the year 1900. Scientists have recently discovered that there are internal waves which "occur on dense interfaces between layers of different densities. The internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. * Image: http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/The_Quran_on_Deep_Seas_and_Internal_Waves_003.jpg *Internal waves act like surface waves. They can also break just like surface waves. Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can be detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a given location. The length of these waves vary between tens and hundreds of kilometers and its height reaches 200 meters and its speed is a bout 100.5 CM per second and It spans over period from four minutes and twenty-five kilometers * *Life in the deep seas and oceans & Bioluminescence* *Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. The name originates from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence may be generated by *symbiotic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiotic)* organisms carried within a larger organism. It is generated by an enzyme-catalyzed *chemoluminescence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemoluminescence)* reaction, wherein the pigment *luciferin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciferin)* is *oxidised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidisation)* by the*enzyme (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme)luciferase (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciferase)*. *Adenosine triphosphate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate)* (ATP) is involved in most instances. The chemical reaction can occur either within or outside of the cell. In bacteria, the expression of *genes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene)* related to bioluminescence is controlled by an *operon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operon)* called the *lux operon (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lux_operon&action=edit)*.* *Deep in the ocean, where sunlight can no longer penetrate, lies an incredible world of darkness. And against all odds, this just happens to be the location of one of nature's most impressive artificial light shows. The creatures here have evolved their own ways of dealing with the darkness. Through a process known as bioluminescence, God has granted them the ability to use chemicals within their bodies to produce light. If you have ever seen a firefly then you have witnessed the same process in action. Bioluminescence is mainly a marine phenomenon. It is not found in freshwater. On land, it is seen only in a few species of fungi and insects. It is the oceans where this unique ability achieves its highest form. Hundreds of species of fish and invertebrates flash their colors in a light show that can sometimes rival the streets of Las Vegas* *.* *_Deep sea creatures_ * Image: http://www.imagequest3d.com/pages/current/pictureoftheweek/viperfish/l013_jpg.jpg *_The viperfish lives in the bathyal zone. The bathyal zone extends down about 4,000 meters._ Food is scarce in this region. The viperfish is able to survive in this area because he is a fierce hunter. He floats on his back and the tip of his spine glows. This glowing attracts fish. The fish come near and he stabs them with his long lower fangs. The viperfish also has curved teeth which prevents his prey from escaping. * http://www.cityhillmiddleschool.com/viper.htm Image: http://www.extremescience.com/images/SabreTooth.jpg *The world's record holder for deepest fish goes to the brotulid* family, about which scientists know almost nothing. _These fish are benthopelagic, living at depths of 7000 meters or more. The world's deepest fish (Abyssobrotula galatheae) was found in the Puerto Rican Trench at a depth of 8,372 meters (that's over five miles down!)._Their eyes appear to be virtually nonexistent.* *Image: http://www.extremescience.com/images/Warty-AnglerGlow.jpg * *Image: http://www.extremescience.com/images/Fangtooth3.jpg * *Image: http://www.extremescience.com/images/rattail.jpg * Image: http://www.extremescience.com/images/BathysaurusSide3940.jpg *other craetures * *Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/gaussia.jpg * Not only are they large and very hardy, but these pigmented copepods produce some of the brightest bioluminescent displays. They eject puffs of light when they do an escape flip. Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/aglantha.jpg This small hydromedusa in the genus Aglantha is bioluminescent, but the blue and purple colors in this photo are formed by iridescence of thin tissues in its bell. The thickness of the tissue and angle of light striking it can cause bright colors to show up, similar to what happens with the ctenophore Beroe (http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/beroe.html), although produced by a different mechanism. The orange color near the mouth is pigmentation, probably to mask luminescence or attract prey. *Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/histio.jpg * The deep-dwelling squid Histioteuthis heteropsis is covered with photophores, perhaps used to mask its silhouette from predators and prey. *Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/aequorea.jpg * You may not have heard of it, but the hydromedusa Aequorea victoria is probably the most influential bioluminescent marine organism. Calcium-activated photoprotein and green-fluorescent protein (http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/aequoreagfp.html) (GFP) were first discovered and cloned from this cnidarian. Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/beroe.jpg The rainbow colors on ctenophores are* not* bioluminescence. They are merely diffraction acting on the ambient light. This shallow-dwelling species, Beroe forskalii, produces a bright luminescent display when disturbed. (Approx size 10 cm). *Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/aglantha.jpg * *small hydromedusa in the genus Aglantha is bioluminescent, but the blue and purple colors in this photo are formed by iridescence of thin tissues in its bell. The thickness of the tissue and angle of light striking it can cause bright colors to show up, similar to what happens with the *ctenophore Beroe (http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/beroe.html)*, although produced by a different mechanism. The orange color near the mouth is pigmentation, probably to mask luminescence or attract prey. * *Image: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/myctophid1.jpg * Myctophids, or lanternfish (not to be confused with anglerfish), are among the most numerous fish in the sea. They have species-specific patterns to the distribution of their light organs, leading some to suggest that they must be used to recognize potential mates. Whether or not this is true, they likely use their luminescence for counterillumination as well. . *What do scientists say about this miraculous verse * *Professor Rao says:** _"It is difficult to imagine that this type of knowledge was existing at the time around 1400 years back. Maybe some of the things they have simple ideas about such, but to describe those things in great detail is very difficult. So, this is definitely not a simple human knowledge. A normal human being cannot explain this phenomenon in that much detail. So I thought the information must have come from a supernatural source."_* *Yes, the source of such knowledge must be from a level beyond that of man. It cannot be from nature, as Professor Rao said, but this is far beyond nature, and far beyond human capability. What Professor Rao was trying to say is that this is something which cannot be attributed to a natural being, for_ it is truly the speech of the one who knows nature, the universe and its secrets, as the Qur'an tells us:_* *Say: The (Qur'an) was sent down by Him who knows the secrets (that is) in the heavens and the earth..**.** (Qur'an 25:6).* *It is from Allah. In this way, the testimonies of the scientists are concentrated one after the other in order to prove that this guidance and light contains in it the indisputable evidence of its truth, for the Qur'an is the source of guidance until the Last Hour.* *By Magdy Abd Al-Shafy Abd Al-Gawad * Magdy_fighter@hotmail.com Magdy_fighter62@Yahoo.com :wasalamex *!* Woman in Human History! *!* *_:arabic6:_* *_Woman in Human History_* *Written by : Samr Al-Zain * *Translated by : El-shenawy Mohammed El-shenawy * *Revised By Magdy Abd Al-Shafy* Image: http://www.55a.net/firas/photo_lang/all_main_photo/71046women_resize37273.jpg :salamext: *Woman is considered the half of the society,* *_and with her goodness all the society will be goodness as she is the mother who nurtures , and the good wife who is behind every great man. She has rights and duties we shouldn't ignore. Did woman get her rights through the successive eras? _* *_Here is a cursory look to the status of women through the successive eras :_ * *Woman in the past * *The Roman civilization decreed that the woman was a slave to man, and had the rights of the underage or had no rights at all. The old Indian laws considered that Epidemics, death, hell, poison, serpents, fire were better than woman." and her right in life ended with the end of her husband's who was her master and owner. When she saw his corpse was burning, she had to drop herself into his fire otherwise she will incur on herself the eternal curse and misfortune . :raging:* *The Greek considered woman rubbish, she was sold and bought, and was |