Miracle436 - March 17 2017

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Volume 17 Issue 436 - Jamadi al Thani 19, 1438 AH / March 17, 2017

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BC NDP meets Muslim leaders Pakistani High Commissioner visits BC Sheikh Shatri visits Vancouver

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

E D I T O R I A L

Pakistan Begins its Long Overdue Census

Census is done to find out the true population of Pakistan including all provinces - not for the benefit of the politicians but for other national & local requirements.

First census in Pakistan was conducted in 1951, the second in 1961 while the third census was held in 1972. The fourth census was held in March 1981 and fifth one was held in March, 1998. Currently, the sixth census is already underway with a time frame (between March 15-May 25 2017).

For the first time in the history of Pakistan, transgender community has been included in the national population census under instruction of Lahore High Court (LHC).

The government is also planning on counting the number of people who suffer from disabilities, and even important metrics like the number of toilets in a household.

The census form has been so designed as to collect more information on important matters like infant mortality and the prevalence of disease but researchers from both the government and academia can at least use the census as a baseline to carry out further research. This census is going to be used for at least the next 10 years for every public policy decision.

Unfortunately, the politicians are habitual of complicating things to make them controversial for political scoring. Be it KB dam or CPEC, they tend to play games by using ethnic cards and regional slogans to carry out their dirty political agendas.

Bad example: In the last 1998 census, the rural Sindhi population was highly inflated causing

Karachi’s population to be lower percentage of the total Sind population. Fear is the ruling elite (the vested interests) in Sindh and Baluchistan will again attempt to inflate the population of Sindhis and Balochis and undercount the Pakhtuns and the Urdu speakers.

Furthermore, the census will provide an insight into the true number of religious minorities, especially Christians and Hindus.

Estimates are approximate and disputed, ranging from 2 to 10 million for the former and 2.5 to 4.5 million for the latter.

Nationality option: The census gives two nationality options: Pakistani or foreign.

Language option: Only nine languages among the country’s regional languages have been included in the form.

Expats excluded: Sadly, the estimated six million Pakistanis working abroad will not be counted.

Price tag: The census will cost nearly Rs20 billion and require the use of over 300,000 civilian staff and military personnel.

Other issues: Now that the census forms have been released, there are some worries about the information the government intends to collect. Afghan refugees will be counted separately and, given the current climate of hostility towards them, they are fearful that giving this information to the government may lead to their being rounded up leading to their deportation. https://www.thenews.com. pk/print/192098-So-it-begins ......

Additionally, all those who are unable to prove their citizenship status will be counted as aliens,

which could disenfranchise the millions of Pakistanis who do not have a CNIC. However, old shanaakhti cards, old passport or any official ID will be accepted. (As per the finance minister on TV) Problem in the past: In previous census exercises in the country, this had been a particularly strong sticking point since both Sindh and Punjab have difficulty in acknowledging the number of migrants settled in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

This time it is crucial that the census reflect a realistic picture of how the demographic balance has changed in each province since the last count was held in 1998.

The data gathered by the enumerators will be used for a wide variety of purposes that go far beyond seat shares in parliament and the NFC award. This is our chance to get a clearer picture of the demographic balance, as well as of urbanisation trends in the country. The data can be used by law enforcement as well as local governments — for example when deciding shares in district finance commission awards.

For so many reasons that have little to do with politics, the quality of the data must stand above reproach and suspicion, and with the start of the exercise, the burden of ensuring that rests more than ever on the shoulders of those tasked with overseeing the operation.

Transparency is the biggest support they will have in ensuring a credible outcome. In the past, suspicions have been raised as a result of the quality of analyses done on the census information, so it would

be an idea for the authorities to release the data quickly and make it accessible to multiple research communities simultaneously. h t t p s : / / w w w. d a w n . c o m / news/1320322/the-census-finally An important aspect of the census process is to evaluate the quality of the data.[8] https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Census • As per the United Nations estimate, the current population of Pakistan is 195,546,912, which is equivalent to 2.62% of the total world population.

• Pakistan ranks number 6 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population. The population density in Pakistan is 255 per Km2 (661 people per mi2).

• The total land area is 770,998 Km2 (297,684 sq. miles) • 39.2 % of the population is urban (77,107,125 people in 2017) • The median age in Pakistan is 22.7 years. (http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ pakistan-population/) One must understand there is no authenticity without credible data.

The real key is raising awareness among people of its urgent need and their responsibility to cooperate. The authorities must do everything to ensure that the results are credible and not marred by allegations of being manipulated.

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Contact Info Mailing and Office Address 9160-136A Street Surrey BC. V3V 7Z8 Canada Ph: 604-690-0400 Fax: 604-582-7809

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Wa a n l a y s a l i l i n s a n i i l l a m a ’ s a ’ a a T h a t m a n c a n h a v e n o t h i n g b u t w h a t h e s t r i v e s f o r.

People being put at risk by Christy Clark’s neglect of hospitals by: John Horgan We expect hospitals to be there for us in our time of greatest need. Unfortunately, after 16 years of neglect from Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals, our health care system is failing to keep up with the needs of B.C. families. This neglect is putting the health and safety of people at risk.

Overcrowding of emergency rooms has become a constant issue in many hospitals. In Abbotsford, doctors raised the alarm about emergency room overcrowding after the deaths of Nimrat Gil, a 3-year-old girl who died after she was sent home with over-the-counter painkillers, and Mary Louise Murphy, who also died after being sent home from the emergency room.

In Surrey, at least one doctor has come forward and said people will will die because of the overcrowding of Surrey Memorial Hospital’s emergency room.

Jean Donaldson, a Port Moody senior, went to Eagle Ridge hospital after suffering a brain bleed. She ended up spending more than a day in a bed in a hallway beside the gift shop, lying beneath a plaque thank-

ing her for her donations to the hospital.

Overcrowding is not the only issue with our hospitals. In Richmond, there are deep concerns about whether the Richmond hospital’s North Tower would stand up to even a moderate earthquake.

Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals have no plans in place to address the safety of patients in this tower, and no plan for serving the people of Richmond if there is a serious earthquake that causes the hospital tower to crumble.

Even if there isn’t an earthquake, the tower is over 79 per cent deficient, and it will only become more expensive to maintain it over time.

Unlike Christy Clark, who takes Richmond for granted, I would upgrade the Richmond Hospital and ensure people in Richmond have access to quality healthcare when they need it. And I would ensure our hospitals have the resources they need to keep our emergency rooms running smoothly.

It is clear Christy Clark hasn’t made health care a priority. Instead of fixing problems in our hospitals, she chose to give the richest people in B.C. a billion-dollar tax break. And ordinary people are suffering because of that choice.

People shouldn’t have to pay $20,000 to go to dinner with Christy Clark in order to get her to do basic things like take care of our hospitals and ensure people have access to health care.

The premier of B.C. should be working for the people of British

Columbia. But Christy Clark is working for lobbyists, corporations and other rich donors who gave her $300,000 on top of her salary. That’s why she doesn’t worry about the things that matter to ordinary people – things like access to safe and effective health care and well-maintained hospitals.

After 16 years of B.C. Liberal neglect, everyday people deserve a premier who is on their side, a premier who puts the needs of everyday people first.

City of Surrey Hosts Regional Workshop Aimed at Advancing Municipal Crime Prevention City Of Surrey and police leaders from B.C., Alberta and the Yukon gathered in the City of Surrey Friday, March 10 for a regional workshop on crime prevention and community safety.

The event was hosted by the City of Surrey and organized by the Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention (CMNCP).

The workshop was developed to support municipal stakeholders in building capacity for improved crime prevention efforts by enhancing interest, awareness, and knowledge of evidence-based practices that reduce crime.

“The City of Surrey, as the host agency and a founding member of the Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention, showcased our new Public Safety Strategy as a best practice,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “Surrey is a leader in

innovation and collaboration. This workshop is an opportunity for us to join with other municipalities to learn about the work we all do.”

Through presentations and informational exchange sessions attendees gained knowledge on; • regional issues and contexts • establishing collaborative Comprehensive Community Safety Strategies • pre-crime prevention strategies focused on youth, families and schools • the Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention and how municipalities can get involved “Through our new Public Safety Strategy, we effectively partner with stakeholders from the community, service agencies, multiple levels of government - locally and across Canada - to support our vision of a community that is safe and engaged,” said Terry Waterhouse, Director of Public Safety Strategies.

“Being a member of the Network supports this work.”

Background: The Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention (CMNCP) is a network of 17 municipalities representing over 30% of Canada’s population that is working towards greater investment in tackling the root causes of crime and violence.

CMNCP is committed to the greater use of effective and collaborative crime prevention strategies.

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Contents Editorial & Int. News Local Special Faith Immigration Politics Health Women Lifestyle Information Youth/ Kids Sports Urdu

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

PAKISTAN

Representatives of 23 Asian countries meet in Islamabad to mull EU-like bloc

Over 70 representatives of 23 Asian countries met in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of creating a regional bloc similar to the European Union (EU) during a conference hosted by the Senate. However, with huge rivalries among countries of the continent, the possibility of establishing such a bloc is remote. India and Afghanistan both sent envoys to the conference ─ a three-day meeting of a special committee on the creation of Asian Parliament and Asian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Political Affairs ─ which comes amid increasingly tense relations the two of them have with Pakistan. Ramzan Sajid, a parliament spokesman, said the conference from March 13-17 is likely to suggest the formation of an APA. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, addressing the gathering, told participants “that the destiny of Asia must not be directed by capitalist Western states”. Rabbani said Asia must look within itself and decide its own destiny, as ‘western imperialism’ will not help it solve its problems. “We, the parliamentarians of Asia sitting here, represent the people who are suffering, under-nourished, objects of poverty and victims of

terrorism. If we are unable to find an indigenous solution to the problems of our own people, history will not forgive us,” he said, according to a press release issued by the Senate Secretariat. Rabbani said that Asia is a land of natural resources, but these resources were exploited by ‘western imperialism’. He observed that Asia continues to suffer through neo-colonialism and pointed out the changing context of the world by highlighting the consequences of Brexit and the United States presidential election. Rabbani said the threat of racism is a threat to the Asian region which must be countered. The Asian people will lose hope in their parliaments if our generation fails to rise to meet their expectations, Rabbani told conference participants. Speaker of People’s Assembly of Syria Dr. Hadiyeh Abbas said she believed that the need for cooperation and solidarity is greater than ever before. Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan Lyonpo Jigme Zangpo said that diversity has always been the mass-code of Asia, and that fragmentation of our continent would never facilitate cooperation. The SCCAP committee must represent collaborated interests, commitment and symbolise unity in sharing our resources, he said, adding that another perspective to this mechanism is that although parliaments may vary in their working, they retain similar goals. A delegate from Cambodia deliberated on the importance of parliament in promoting peace and security in regional and global affairs. He noted that political stability is indispensable in Asia. Peace and security require efficient peace mechanisms. Hence, a parliamentary system is a prime method of promoting dialogue and cooperation, he said.

Source: Dawn

Forced change of religion a crime: PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said his government stood for the complete religious freedom of all communities and without discrimination, ensured them equal rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Addressing a ceremony held here to mark the Hindu festival of Holi, the prime minister said Islam treated all communities as equal, guaranteeing their rights by even enforcement of law. He said the government would ensure complete freedom for all the religious minorities and if required further legislation would be enacted with stringent enforcement of laws for their rights and protection.

He said Pakistan was created on the basis of equal rights

Basharat Shah

to all communities with complete religious freedom.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal had called for complete religious freedom for followers of different faiths, he added. The prime minister vowed that attempts to create provincial prejudices or bias would not be given room and hinder the path of religious tolerance and unity. He noted that diversity of religions and faiths was the vital ingredient for unity and all the communities would have to transform this element to further foster the bonds of brotherhood and affection. He regretted that in the past, some elements wanted to weaken Pakistan by misusing religious differences or distorting the history, but the nation had rejected such attempts. “As a nation, we share the common woes and joys. We are one,” he declared. Extending greetings to the Hindu community on their religious festival, the prime minister said his government was committed to ensure equal opportunities for all the communities so that they could excel in different fields of life as such steps would help usher in collective prosperity. “Our task is to transform this world into heaven,” he stressed. He elaborated that Islam is a religion which has attached the highest priority to the sanctity of life and property of all and declares equal punishment for violators. He said the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) had preached complete protection of religious worship places. To force someone to abandon his faith was a crime and such spirit was manifested in the Constitution, which was framed after a complete consensus of all the political parties and religious leaders, he added. The prime minister said all the faiths shared similar teachings. Allama Iqbal, he said, had declared religious intolerance as indication of the petty thinking

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and conceived Pakistan to be a place of religious freedom and harmony. On the occasion, Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, federal ministers Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal and Kamran Michael, members of parliament, provincial assembly, provincial PML-N leadership and a large number of Hindu community members were present. The prime minister said those elements, who tried to create fissures in a society on the basis of religion, had no place among the people. He stressed that the people should stand for truth and reality as these were the qualities which guaranteed complete peace and harmony in a society. He expressed pleasure over attending the event, saying today, all the communities across the length and breadth of the country were closely attached to bonds of interfaith harmony.

Source: Geo News

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High European Union court rules workplace headscarf ban is not discriminatory

Private businesses in Europe can forbid Muslim women in their employ from wearing headscarves if the ban is part of a policy of neutrality within the company and not a sign of prejudice against a particular religion, the European Court of Justice said Tuesday. Such a ban doesn’t constitute what Europe’s high court calls “direct discrimination.” The conclusion by the highest court in the 28-nation European Union was in response to two cases brought by a Belgian and a French woman, both fired for refusing to remove their headscarves. It clarifies a long-standing question about whether partial bans by some countries on religious symbols can include the workplace. The court’s response fed right into the French presidential campaign, bolstering the platforms of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a leading contender in the spring election who wants to do away with all “ostentatious” religious symbols in the name of secularism, and conservative Francois Fillon, who hailed the court’s decisions. France already bans headscarves and other religious symbols in classrooms as well as face-covering veils in streets. However, critics quickly voiced fears that the decision risks becoming a setback to all working Muslim women. “Today’s disappointing rulings ... give greater leeway to employers to discriminate against women — and men — on the grounds of religious belief,” said a statement by Amnesty International. “At a time when identity and appearance has become a political battleground, people need more protec-

tion against prejudice, not less.” Georgina Siklossy of the European Network Against Racism in Brussels expressed concern it could have dastardly effects on Muslim women — like making them choose between working and wearing religious garments — and other minority populations in Europe, like Sikhs with turbans or Jews with kippahs.

The Open Society Justice Initiative, which submitted a brief supporting the women, expressed disappointment. “The group’s policy officer, Maryam Hmadoum, contended that the decision “weakens the guarantee of equality that is at the heart of the EU’s anti-discrimination directive,” which the Court of Justice cited in weighing the cases. “Certainly, many employees who are asking themselves questions about religious signs in their companies will look at these decisions and probably put in place internal regulations,” said lawyer Claire Waquet, who represents the French woman in question. “Some will certainly do this.” The European Court of Justice made separate decisions on the cases, but linked them. In the Belgian case, Samira Achbita, a receptionist at a security firm, was fired in June 2006 for wearing an Islamic headscarf, banned in a new set of internal rules by her company that prohibited visible signs of their political, religious or philosophical beliefs. While the cases were linked by the European court, the French case differs and offers Asma Bougnaoui a reason for optimism because the reasons for her dismissal as a design engineer

Vancouver tops quality of life ranking in North America, survey finds

Don’t tell Toronto, New York or Los Angeles, but Vancouver was the only North American city to crack a European-dominated top 10 quality of living ranking of global cities. The B.C. metropolis came in at No. 5 in human resources consultant Mercer’s 19th such ranking, one of only two cities outside Western Europe to reach the top 10. Toronto ranked 16th, Ottawa was 18th and Montreal was 23rd. All of them beat the highest-ranked U.S. cities: San Francisco (29), Boston (35), Honolulu (36) and New York (44). High crime rates in Los Angeles (58) and Chicago (47) hurt their rankings. Vancouver also tied for 9th on a separate ranking of city infrastructure, making it again the only North American city to reach the top 10. The lists of 231 cities aim to give expanding multinationals detailed information on which to base salaries and premiums for expatriates they send abroad to work. Vienna took quality of life top honours for the eighth straight time, followed by Zurich, Auckland, Munich, Vancouver, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Copenhagen and Basel. Despite political and economic turbulence, western European cities tended to remain stable in the rankings, with the exception of Brussels (27), which dropped six places over terrorismrelated security issues. Rome (57) also fell four places due to waste-removal troubles.

Istanbul (133) also tumbled 11 spots over

severe political turmoil in Turkey. “Economic instability, social unrest, and growing political upheaval all add to the complex challenge multinational companies face when analyzing quality of living for their expatriate workforce,” said Ilya Bonic, senior partner and president of Mercer’s Career business, in a press release. The survey also includes hardship premium recommendations for more than 450 cities. “In uncertain times, organizations that plan to establish themselves and send staff to a new location should ensure they get a complete picture of the city, including its viability as a business location and its attractiveness to key talent.” Mercer also ranked city infrastructure, looking at reliable electricity, quality of drinking water, telephone and mail services, public transportation, traffic congestion, technology, alternative energy and the availability of international flights from local airports. In that ranking, Singapore took top honours, followed by a tie between Frankfurt and Munich, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, London, and Vancouver, Hamburg and Zurich tied for ninth. Montreal tied for 14th. “Overall, the infrastructure of cities in Canada and the United States is of a high standard, including the airport and bus connectivity, the availability of clean drinking water, and the reliability of electricity supplies. Traffic congestion is a concern in cities throughout the whole region,” reads the ranking report. Taking up the two last spots of 231 cities measuring infrastructure are Baghdad and Port au Prince. Baghdad also came up last on quality of life. “The success of foreign assignments is influenced by issues such as ease of travel and communication, sanitation standards, personal safety, and access to public services,” said Slagin Parakatil, a principal at Mercer who is responsible for its quality of living research.

“Multinational companies need accurate and timely information to help calculate fair and consistent expatriate compensation – a real challenge in locations with a compromised quality of living.”

Source: CTV News

were based, not on internal rules, but on the complaint of a customer unhappy with her Islamic headscarf. The court said that an employer’s readiness to take into account the wishes of a customer, not internal policy, doesn’t qualify for the measure set out by the European Union: a “genuine and determining occupational requirement.” “The question asked was, ‘Is it enough for a client to say it bothers me that you are sending me a veiled employee ... The (court) answered, ‘No, this is not enough,”’ said Bougnaoui’s lawyer, Waquet. The employer’s accommodation to a client “is not an essential and decisive factor.” “The employer,” she said, “has a role (and) needs to filter discriminatory requests.”

Each of the two cases had gone to their respective Courts of Cassation, which sought guidance from the European court.

The home courts must still rule on each case.

Source: CBC News

Astana talks marred by Syrian armed opposition boycott Don’t tell Toronto, New York or Los Angeles, but Vancouver was the only North American city to crack a European-dominated top 10 quality of living ranking of global cities. The B.C. metropolis came in at No. 5 in human resources consultant Mercer’s 19th such ranking, one of only two cities outside Western Europe to reach the top 10. Toronto ranked 16th, Ottawa was 18th and Montreal was 23rd. All of them beat the highest-ranked U.S. cities: San Francisco (29), Boston (35), Honolulu (36) and New York (44). High crime rates in Los Angeles (58) and Chicago (47) hurt their rankings. Vancouver also tied for 9th on a separate ranking of city infrastructure, making it again the only North American city to reach the top 10. The lists of 231 cities aim to give expanding multinationals detailed information on which to base salaries and premiums for expatriates they send abroad to work. Vienna took quality of life top honours for the eighth straight time, followed by Zurich, Auckland, Munich, Vancouver, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Copenhagen and Basel. Despite political and economic turbulence, western European cities tended to remain stable in the rankings, with the exception of Brussels (27), which dropped six places over terrorismrelated security issues. Rome (57) also fell four places due to waste-removal troubles.

Istanbul (133) also tumbled 11 spots over severe political turmoil in Turkey. “Economic instability, social unrest, and growing political upheaval all add to the complex challenge multinational companies face when analyzing quality of living for their expatriate workforce,” said Ilya Bonic, senior partner and president of Mercer’s Career business, in a press release. The survey also includes hardship premium recommendations for more than 450 cities. “In uncertain times, organizations that plan to establish themselves and send staff to a new location should ensure they get a complete picture of the city, including its viability as a business location and its attractiveness to key talent.” Mercer also ranked city infrastructure, looking at reliable electricity, quality of drinking water, telephone and mail services, public transportation, traffic conges-

tion, technology, alternative energy and the availability of international flights from local airports. In that ranking, Singapore took top honours, followed by a tie between Frankfurt and Munich, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, London, and Vancouver, Hamburg and Zurich tied for ninth. Montreal tied for 14th. “Overall, the infrastructure of cities in Canada and the United States is of a high standard, including the airport and bus connectivity, the availability of clean drinking water, and the reliability of electricity supplies. Traffic congestion is a concern in cities throughout the whole region,” reads the ranking report. Taking up the two last spots of 231 cities measuring infrastructure are Baghdad and Port au Prince. Baghdad also came up last on quality of life. “The success of foreign assignments is influenced by issues such as ease of travel and communication, sanitation standards, personal safety, and access to public services,” said Slagin Parakatil, a principal at Mercer who is responsible for its quality of living research.

“Multinational companies need accurate and timely information to help calculate fair and consistent expatriate compensation – a real challenge in locations with a compromised quality of living.”

Source: CTV News

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N E W S

Republicans weigh changes to health bill as doubts mount

President Donald Trump and congressional leaders are weighing changes to their plan to dismantle the Obamacare health law, a White House spokesman said Tuesday, as Republicans defended their effort following an estimate that it would cause 14 million Americans to lose insurance next year. Press Secretary Sean Spicer said White House officials and leaders in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives were considering whether to tweak their bill, which faces growing doubts within party ranks. The nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Monday estimated that by 2026, the plan would boost the number of people without health insurance by 24 million. Those findings prompted a few Republican defections and made it tougher for the Republican president to sell his first major piece of legislation. Trump hopes to deliver on a longtime pledge by his political party to undo Democratic former President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement. Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday with House Speaker Paul Ryan and with Joseph Swedish, chief executive of managed care company Anthem Inc. He also has hosted Republicans at the White House recently. “Part of the reason we are engaging with these individuals is to hear their ideas,” Spicer said. “We are obviously in talks with House leadership about the contents.” The debate comes as voter interest in the issue rises. Healthcare was a top priority for Americans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,747 people in March. Sixteen percent picked healthcare as their No. 1 issue, compared with 14 percent for the economy and 11 percent who chose terrorism. It was the first time healthcare topped the list since the poll started in 2012.

The poll has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points. Repub-

licans’ plan to replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, would repeal a penalty against Americans who do not buy health insurance and slash spending on the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled. It would also revamp tax subsidies that help people buy insurance if they do not get it from work. The amounts would be based on age, not income. Democrats say the Republican plan would hurt the elderly, the poor and working families but give tax cuts to the rich. Doctors, hospitals and advocates for patients and senior citizens also have panned it. After the CBO report, some House Republicans pulled support. Representative Leonard Lance of New Jersey, who said the report “modified the dynamic,” said the bill could not pass the Senate. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is from south Florida, tweeted: “As written the plan leaves too many from my district uninsured.” Spicer said the CBO struggles to estimate insurance coverage.

Before the 2010 law passed, the office projected more people would buy individual insurance plans through new online marketplaces than actually did. The White House has, however, promoted the CBO’s estimate of the plan’s effect on federal deficits. The report said it would cause deficits to fall by $337 billion between 2017 and 2026.

Trump’s administration must heal divisions in his party. Moderates, particularly in the Senate, worry about causing people to lose coverage, while conservatives do not think the bill goes far enough in undoing Obamacare. House leaders have resisted a conservative push to bring a quicker end to Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid. But they are considering changes to tax credits to help older, lower-income Americans. The CBO said that group could see higher premiums because the Republican plan would let insurers charge older enrollees more than they can under Obamacare. “We’re examining different options for how we can improve that,” Representative Kevin Brady, who heads a key tax-writing committee, said on Tuesday, without providing details.

Republican senators had lunch on Capitol Hill with Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss possible changes. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the bill could be amended in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Source: Reuters

Dutch PM Rutte set to beat antiIslam Wilders in Netherlands

The Netherlands’ main exit poll suggests Prime Minister Mark Rutte has won the Dutch elections, easily beating anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders. For the two-time Prime Minister Rutte, the poll indicated an economic recovery and his hardline handling of a diplomatic dispute with Turkey over the past week had won him support.

The Ipsos polling company gave Rutte’s party 31 of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, compared to 19 seats for Wilders’ PVV. “Today was good day for democracy, to see all these lines of people voting. We haven’t seen that in a long time,” Rutte said at a post-election party in the Hague. “It was a night where the Netherlands, after Brexit, after the American elections, said ‘stop’ to the wrong kind of populism.” Wilders vowed to play a prominent role in Dutch politics going forward, despite the dismal exit poll results. “Thank you PVV Voters! We won seats!,” Wilders said in a tweet. “The first victory is in! And Rutte has not seen the last of me yet!!” The exit poll predicted 19 seats each for the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Democracy Party (D66). It was conducted at 43 of the 9,300 polling stations across the country on Wednesday. It had a margin of error of two

percentage points. Final results are expected in the coming hours. Weeks or months of coalition talks are expected to follow. The Dutch vote, which has been overshadowed by a diplomatic dispute between the Netherlands and Turkey, has essentially come down to a tight race between Rutte’s centreright party and that of far-right, anti-Islam populist Wilders. Most parties had pledged not to govern with the PVV. As many as 13 million people were eligible to vote in Wednesday’s election and 28 parties were competing for the 150 seats in the Dutch lower house of parliament. Turnout was just over 81 percent, eight percent lower than the record of 88 percent achieved in 1977. Matthijs Rooduijn, a political sociol-

Increase in asylum claims requires government response, IRB head says

The Immigration and Refugee Board is doing its best to cope with a growing number of asylum claims in Canada, but the federal Liberals must take action as well before an unmanageable backlog gets created, the head of the IRB says. The rapid pace of the increase in new claims sees the board - an independent tribunal that decides on immigration and refugee cases in Canada - potentially on track to receive 30,000 claims this year - triple the number lodged before it just four years ago. “There is a limit to what you can do ...” said IRB chairman Mario Dion of his agency’s efforts in an interview with The Canadian Press. “Efficiency has increased significantly, but there is no way we can deal with 30,000 cases when we’re funded for about 17,000.” While the public eye is on the pressures being created by people crossing illegally into Canada in the last two months to seek asylum, claims before the IRB began rising in earnest in the last six months. The board now anticipates their backlog could hit 30,000 cases this year and average wait times will increase by four to eight months, the board said in a report published late last week. They are working to manage it. The board was given about $4 million to handle an expected increase in claims from Mexicans after the government lifted visa restrictions on that country in December. Those numbers are rising - in November 2016 there were 24 claims for asylum from Mexicans and in February there were 85. Beginning in April, the IRB will start redeploying staff to split their time between backlog cases and new ones, and will fast-track what it defines as straight forward claims, among other things. While they have government funding for 94 people to decide claims, the IRB dug into its own pockets to hire about three dozen more. But now Dion is waiting on whether a plan he put before the immigration minister months ago makes its way into next week’s federal budget. He said beyond the always-necessary extra money, he’s hoping for legislative change. The Conservatives moved in 2012 ogist at Utrecht University, told Al Jazeera that Rutte projected himself as a strong nationalist and traditional leader, which is why voters may have chosen him over Wilders.

“The refugee crisis, the Brexit referendum - they were all good news for Wilders, but with right-wing parties embracing a similar stance, they were able to lure Wilders supporters,” said Rooduijn. Wilders, 53, has vowed to shut mosques, ban the Quran and close the country’s borders. He also wants to pull the country out of the European Union , an institution that it helped found, in a so-called Nexit. One Muslim voter told AFP news agency that Wilders’ fiery antiIslam rhetoric had prompted her family to come out and vote. “My mother has never voted before, but now she has and encour-

to address high intake levels and backlogs at the IRB by overhauling the refugee system. Among other things, they implemented an approach that differentiated claimants based on their country of origin and legislated deadlines for those claims to be decided. New claims lodged in Canada dropped from 20,141 in 2012 to 10,227 in 2013, and the backlog did come down, but other elements of the plan didn’t work as intended.

For example, while people from designated countries of origin were supposed to have their cases heard faster than people from elsewhere, it didn’t happen routinely. Short timelines made it harder to gather all the information required to hear the case, a recent internal evaluation into the program found.

If the DCO system was dropped, Dion said, things would be better. “It would simplify our life from a case management point of view,” he said. “I don’t have a political view.” The Liberals had promised action on the DCO system, saying when they formed office that they’d set up an expert panel to help review countries on the list.

That pledge wasn’t in Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen’s mandate letter when he was appointed in January, but there is mounting pressure from within government to offer a policy response to the increased number of asylum claims. A spokesperson for Hussen wouldn’t say much when asked about the status of the DCO review.

“Work is ongoing,” Camielle Edwards said in an email, but she declined to elaborate.

The backlogs and the DCO system combine to create a two-tier refugee program that stands in stark contrast to the Liberal government’s message of being welcoming to refugees, said Jenny Kwan, the NDP immigration critic. “The government needs to get on with it and put in the required resources to get these claims processed. It is blatantly unfair for the applicants,” she said.

“And it also puts in question of the integrity of the entire process when that happens.”

Source: CTV News aged the whole family to do so because the situation is serious.” Speaking to reporters after he cast his ballot at a school, Wilders said: “Whatever the outcome of the election, the genie will not go back into the bottle. This patriotic revolution, whether today or tomorrow, will stay.” Rutte, seeking to lead the Netherlands for a third successive term, is a liberal free-marketeer championing this year’s election on a pledge of safety and stability. Analysts said his uncharacteristically strong stand since the weekend in a diplomatic crisis with Turkey - when Dutch authorities expelled one Turkish minister while another was refused permission to fly into the country to attend a political rally has boosted his image with voters.

Source: Al-Jazeera

7

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

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Surrey-Green Timbers 604-590-5868 Sue.hammell.mla@leg.bc.ca

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

Narrated Abu Juhaifa: Allah’s Apostle came out at midday and offered a two-Rak’at Zuhr and ‘Asr prayers at Al-Batha and an ‘Anza was planted in front of him (as a Sutra). He performed ablution and the people took the remaining water left after his ablution and rubbed their bodies with it. Sahih Bukhari. 9:480

A

By: Spahic Omer tradition is a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A tradition is also said to be the passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication. Elements of a culture passed down as traditions are normally institutionalized customs, beliefs, precepts and practices. They signify modes of thought and behavior followed by a particular people continuously from generation to generation. Tradition could likewise be bound to rituals, where rituals guarantee the continuation of tradition. The concept is often seen as a polar opposite of modernity in a linear theory of social change in which societies progress from being traditional to being modern. Tradition is also found in political, philosophical, religious and artistic discourse where the idea is increasingly being projected as more dynamic and flexible, heterogeneous and subject to innovation and change than what some oversimplifying viewpoints and theories presuppose. The word tradition is derived from the Latin tradere or traderer literally meaning to transmit, to hand over, to deliver and to entrust for safekeeping. Tradition is customarily translated into Arabic as taqlid.

However, when juxtaposed with the true meaning of the Islamic message, neither tradition – above all the one based on the conventional Western interpretation of the concept – nor taqlid is fully qualified to be employed for the purpose of signifying the act of implementing and following it continuously as a heavenly-sanctioned life paradigm. Both of them fall short considerably of the required qualifications. This could be explained as follows.

Following Islam means following divine revelation (wahy) in the form of the Holy Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s authentic Sunnah. The two stand for the revelation of the ultimate truths with respect to God, man, angels, the Jinn, life, death, Akhirah or the Hereafter, and many other absolute ontologi-

Last edition Al Names were

FAITH

Islam and Tradition

cal verities pertaining to the physical and metaphysical tiers of existence.

Numerous ethical values, standards and norms, as well as definite injunctions and sets of laws, regulating a man’s relationship with his Creator and Master, his self, other people and the rest of animate and inanimate beings, also fall in this category. These are transcendent existential realities, ideas, beings and experiences. They are not affected, nor bound, by the confines and limitations of time and space factors, nor are they thus to be subjected to the relative criteria and standards dictated by such factors.

It goes without saying that Islam, by definition, can never become antique, archaic or obsolete. Nor can it become a mere tradition or a set of traditional or evolved beliefs, rituals and customs, in that it was not people who created or generated it in a space and in a moment of time, and as such transmitted and handed it over from generation to generation. This is so because as transcendent and absolute truth, Islam is ever-fresh, dynamic, original and inspiring. It always spurs a productive pursuit and spawns a cultural and civilizational legacy. Islam itself has never been generated or evolved either as a legacy or a tradition.

As far as Islam as a comprehensive and global religion that covers every aspect of life is concerned, the only thing that is eligible to be to some extent called a tradition and traditional is Muslims’ internalization and implementation of certain aspects of the perpetual Islamic message within their diverse terrestrial contexts where, nevertheless, qualified changeability, impermanence and diversity of styles and methods in relation to answering the pressing exigencies of time and space are not only expected, but also invited and appreciated. It is here that blind following is categorically rebuffed, and innovation and creativity anticipated and highly valued. It is here, furthermore, that Muslim customs morph into Muslim traditions, and the latter matures and subtly amalgamates itself with Islamic culture. As components of Islamic

Names Of A l l a h (SWT) & Mohammad (PBUH)

Samad

name

of

Allah(swt)

Al Haqq Mohammad(saw) name.

culture, conventions and traditions are still deemed only accidental rather than essential or substantial to the former’s being both a product and reflection of Islam as a total way of life embodied in the behavioral patterns of its adherents.

Hence, Islam has a distinct culture and civilization. The culture and civilization in Islam are not Arabic or eastern or Middle Eastern. They are also not monolithic. They have varieties and a rich diversity. There are elements in Islamic culture and civilization that are universal and constant and that are collectively accepted by all Muslims. But there are also elements that are diverse and different from country to country and people to people. The universals are based on the Qur’an and Sunnah while the variables are based on local customs and traditions of various people. The latter has been acquired on account of actualizing certain dimensions of the Qur’an and Sunnah in localized milieus under their prevalent inherent and man-generated circumstances. The particulars of Islamic culture, though legitimate and deeply embedded in the very fabric of Muslim societies, are by no means to be considered sacred, unqualified and immutable. Their meaning and significance are inexorably tied to Islamic revelation, and their appropriateness and functioning conditioned mainly by it.

This existential paradigm could also be identified as a principle of following religion and innovating cultures and civilization. Without a doubt, following religion without innovating, and innovating in sheer worldly cultural and civilizational matters, which from time

to time was ingeniously combined with borrowing from others, was a Muslim rule since the early days of Islam and its nascent civilization. Since customs and traditions are rather generic terms that encompass a wide variety of things and concepts that are a part of the complex culture, such an approach surely was a sign of Muslim religious fervor, enthusiasm and maturity, as well as a sign of their cultural and civilizational predisposition, potency and astuteness.

Hence, it could be suggested that the opposite of this tenet, that is, the unreserved holding on to and blind following of worldly and even some inconsequential religion-inspired customs and traditions – irrespective of whether they have been engendered my Muslims or non-Muslims – together with irresponsibly questioning and innovating established religious matters, was one of the root-causes of the Muslim dramatic cultural and civilizational decline, and still constitutes a major reason behind the inability of today’s Muslims to pick themselves up, make their voice heard and start making a notable civilizational headway of their own.

With reference to these concerns, God says, for example: “ . . . This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion” (alTawbah, 3).The Prophet (pbuh) also said that there is nothing that brings people closer to the bliss of Paradise (Jannah) and keeps them away from Hellfire but that he did not inform and teach them about. There will never emerge a need for any religious addition or innovation.

Similarly, he also said that whatever God has made lawful in His Book (the Qur’an), it is lawful (halal), and whatever He prohibited, it is prohibited (haram). However, whatever God did not refer to as either lawful or prohibited, such is to be regarded as a gift or a sign of God’s clemency (‘afiyah) towards men. “So, accept Allah’s ‘afiyah because it is not that Allah ever forgets or overlooks anything”, was the Prophet’s inference. Read more this article at Source: IslamiCity

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Islm.

Date

March 17-31, 2017 Jamadi ul T-hani18-Rajab 3, 1438 H Day Sunrise Fajar Sunr DhuhrAsarAsar Isha Date Fajar DhuhrZawal Asar (shafi) (hanfi) Maghrib Magrib Isha

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3

For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA

11

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

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12

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

LOCAL

POLITICS

Building a Better BC Fundraiser with John Horgan draws energetic crowd of supporters in Surrey

Surrey - Hundreds gathered to hear BC NDP Leader John Horgan and show support for candidates Harry Bains and Ravi Kahlon on Sunday evening. The Riverside Signature Banquet Hall was bursting at the seams, when more than 700 people took part in a massive fundraiser. Most Surrey BC NDP candidates were in attendance including Rachna Singh running in Surrey-Green Timbers, Bruce Ralston for Surrey-Whalley, Jinny Sims running in Surrey-Panorama, Jagrup Brar for Surrey-Fleetwood and Aman Singh, the candidate in RichmondQueensborough.

“The amount of people who came out in such weather to support Harry and I is evidence of the momentum of the BC NDP here in Surrey,” said Kahlon. “It shows how tired people are of Christy Clark’s policies and her disregard for real people.

“The message was loud and clear,” said Bains. “People were excited and the crowd was ready to tell Christy Clark that they want a BC NDP government that works for everyone, not just the top 2% of British Columbians.”

In Surrey, overcrowded schools, growing crime rates, lack of public transit and affordability are on the top of people’s minds. With the election just over two months away, people are gearing up to defeat Christy Clark and the BC Liberals and elect a government that cares about real people and will build a better British Columbia.

Article and Photo coverage: Al Ameen Post

Horgan and BC NDP Candidates host another roundtable with Muslim Coummunity Members

13

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

Tariq Azim Khan addressing students at McGill University Montreal

“If plebiscite can be held in Quebec or Scotland to decide their future, why not in Indian held Kashmir�, said High Commissioner, Tariq Azim Khan, while addressing students and academics at McGill University Montreal here today.

The High Commissioner gave a detailed background of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute and said that India continues to violate UNSC resolutions on Kashmir adopted in 1948 which says that India will maintain bare minimum force to maintain law and order in the occupied territories, whereas Jammu & Kashmir has become a place where there is highest concentration of military troops anywhere in the world.

He maintained that under the UN Security Council resolutions the people of Jammu & Kashmir have right to decide their destiny. However their right is being denied

by India and the international community should play its due role to grant them inalienable right to decide for their own future in accordance with UNSC resolutions.

He said that even the Indian media has

recognized that the indigenous movement for self-determination going on in Jammu and Kashmir is now in the hands of local Kashmiri youth and it will not be possible for occupational forces to deny them their rights. He said that the international community should take notice of the situation as any conflict between two nuclear armed nations could be catastrophe for the regional peace.

In reply to a question the High Commissioner said that peaceful, strong and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism itself by losing 80,000 of its civilian and over 7000 of its armed personnel in fighting terrorism. Pakistan has suffered over US $ 100 billions in economic losses due to terrorism, he said.

He said that other countries in the region must refrain from fomenting their evil designs by supporting terrorism in order to dislodge recent economic developments in Pakistan. The recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan have the fingerprints of support

of foreign agencies.

Earlier Muhammad Aamer, Consul General of Pakistan, Montreal gave a detailed presentation to the university students on CPEC: Opportunities and Challenges for Pakistan. He said that CPEC is not the name of a single route or alignment, rather it is a comprehensive package of co-operative initiatives and projects encompassing: regional connectivity; information network infrastructure; energy co-

operation, industries and industrial parks; agricultural development and poverty alleviation, tourism, financial co-operation.

He added that CPEC is a game changer project which will transform the fate of Pakistan and will help Pakistan modernize with the infusion of billions of dollars of Foreign Direct Investment and it will result in thousands of new ventures and millions of jobs in every part of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada meets Pakistani Community in Vancouver

Photo coverage: Al Ameen Post

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

POLITICS

Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Shatri Visits Vancouver on a Tour With HCI

Human Concern International (HCI) welcomed renowned Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Shatri of Saudi Arabia on a Canada wide fundraising tour for Syrian refugees. HCI organised events in Vancouver, Surrey, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto in partnership with local Muslim organisations.

Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Shatri is an imam in Al Furkane Mosque in Jeddah, and is among the leading reciters of the Quran. He recites on the Quran Explorer app and is revered in the hafiza community. Shaykh Abu Bakr has attended many international Islamic events, particularly across the Middle East and in Saudi Arabia. This was his first tour of Canada.

The MAC (Muslim Association of Canada) Center on Kingsway drew around 200 Muslims of all ages on Wednesday 1st March to pray Esha led by Shaykh Abu Bakr and hear a beautiful recitation of the Quran and lecture in Arabic. Even though Shaykh Abu Bakr had earlier flown in from the UK he was keen to share an intimate meal with the MAC volunteers after the event.

Guildford Musalla in Surrey hosted the second event in BC. This is a relatively new Islamic Center and growing fast with over 350 Muslims from many origins attending the free family event.

The Shaykh took the opportunity to listen to listen to young Akasha Zafar who is learning memorise the Quran.

A beautiful recitation was also given by local Hafiz Hamadullah Qazi.

In addition to the Shaykh Abu Bakr amazing recitation, Shaykh Musleh Kahn from Toronto led the fundraising at both events. A presentation and video was also shown by the HCI Manager from the Toronto Mohammad Noorani, to highlight the work of HCI and efforts in the HCI Lebanon office.

The HCI Lebanon team has been working on the ground since the start of the long running conflict. The Lebanon office has provided over $6M in direct aid for tents, clothing, food and medical supplies. HCI also provides local volunteers to manage logistics to deliver these services. To get more information in HCI and programs visit www.humanconcern.org. If you missed the chance or would like to

donate more and receive a tax receipt, you can do so at HCI: https://www. humanconcern.org/syria/ “I want to thank Brothers Ahmad Khalil and Tariq Ramadan of the MAC Center and Brother Wasim Malik and the Board Guildford Musalla for opening their doors in supporting the event.

My thanks to all the volunteers, especially Sister Tanweer Ibrahim, Director of Nisa Homes, and Brothers Furquan Gehlen and Khalid Khan, who all made the event possible. A very big thanks to all of the families who came out to the see Shaykh Abu Bakr and support the HCI Lebanon effort for Syrian families. Fundraising totals will be made available once the Canada wide tour wraps up.” said Ishtiaq Salim, HCI’s Representative in BC. Ishtiaq said he is looking to expand the HCI team to take advantage of the “pool of BC Muslim talent“. Contact Ishtiaq Salim – 604 786 1161, if you are interested joining HCI in BC to develop partnerships that support local and international initiatives.

Source: Al Ameen Post

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST

Palestinians protest over PA-Israel security ties

The killing of a prominent Palestinian political activist in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah by the Israeli occupation army last week has once again exposed one of the most controversial truths of the Palestinian Authority (PA), a semi-governmental body ruling three million Palestinians in the West Bank. PA security forces arrested Basil al-Araj, 34, in April 2016, with five of his friends, accusing them of carrying unlicensed weapons and planning to carry out an attack on Israeli targets. Under the Oslo agreements signed between Israel and Palestine in 1993, the PA is obliged to share information with Israel about any armed resistance to the Israeli occupation in a practice known as “security coordination”. Araj and his friends were released after five months in PA prisons. While four of his friends were immediately re-arrested

by Israeli forces, Araj went into hiding for more than two months in an old house in Ramallah. On March 6, the Israeli army found Araj and killed him, causing outrage among Palestinians. On Sunday, protests rocked the city of Ramallah, in front of a court that was due to put Basil and his friends on trial, against the policy of security coordination between the PA and Israel, the killing of Araj, and the court’s decision to put the six Palestinian men on trial. PA security forces responded with force, beating unarmed protesters with batons, firing tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets, which only added fuel to the fire.

At least 11 people were injured, including the father of Araj who was transferred to a hospital. Palestinians took to social media platforms venting their anger against the PA that “crossed the line” and vowed to continue demonstrations. The incident has revealed the cracks in the current status

quo, where the Israeli occupation and the PA work hand in hand to suppress Palestinians who dare to speak out. In April 2016, shortly after the five men were arrested, Mahmoud Abbas, president of the PA, said: “Our security forces are working very efficiently to prevent terror. Just a couple of days ago, three young men were tracked down and arrested. They were planning an attack. In this context, our security cooperation with Israel is functioning well,” Abbas told the German news outlet, Der Spiegel. Speaking to Al Jazeera, a highranking Palestinian security official who chose to remain anonymous fearing reprisal, said: “Since Israel destroyed our main security centres in 2002, we rebuilt our security with the knowledge and the help of international donors (mainly US training), our security is in the service of the wellbeing of our people,” he said. The duties of the PA security forces, however, have

long been condemned by Palestinians, who even see them as “collaborators” with the Israeli occupation. “It is very clear we have the Palestinian security services collaborating with the Shabak - the internal Israeli security service. It is a one-way service to the benefit of Israel, not the Palestinians,” Shawan Jabarin, head of the Al-Haq human rights organisation in Ramallah, told Al Jazeera. “This type of coordination does not provide security to the Palestinians, rather, it is used against them. It is lethal, dangerous, and should be terminated,” said Jabarin. Though it has not been proven whether the policy of security coordination directly resulted in the killing of Araj, Al-Haq and other human rights organisations say they have “evidence of collaboration between the two sides”. “We have collected testimonies from Palestinians who were detained by both Israeli and Palestinian security forces. They said they were confronted

by Israelis with the information they gave to their Palestinian jailers during interrogation,” Jabarin said. It has been almost 23 years since the implementation of Oslo and a lot has changed, except for the policy of security coordination between Israeli and Palestinians. Despite the fact that Palestine Central Council, the intermediary body between the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and The Palestine National Council, decided to suspend security coordination with Israel in March 2015, the practice still exists. While relations between the PA and Israel have seen tough times through escalation of attacks, a large increase in the building of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, three wars on Gaza, and the end of any real negotiations for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, security coordination remains intact. Analysts say that as long as Israel continues to occupy Palestinian territories, the practice of security coordination will persist. “Once the Palestinians agreed on a [Palestinian] authority in the shadow of occupation, there will always be this kind of coordination,” Ali Jarbawi, professor of political science at Birzeit University in Ramallah, and exPA minister, told Al Jazeera. “It does not matter if the agreements are still valid or not, this will continue as long as occupation still exists,” he said. Radi Jarai, a lecturer at Al-Quds University, who spent 13 years in Israeli jails prior to the Oslo agreements, said: “[Israel] still runs its own network of spies and collaborators; they attack with or without permission or knowledge of the PA. You can call it security cooperation, or whatever you like. It will make no difference, but more misery for the Palestinians.”

Source: Al-Jazeera

Somalia pirates: Anger fuels return of ship attacks A volatile buildup of weapons and resentment along the northern Somali coast culminated in the hijack of an oil freighter this week, the first such seizure by Somali pirates since 2012, experts and locals say.

Gunmen hijacked the Aris 13, a small oil tanker, on Monday and are demanding a ransom to release the ship and its eight Sri Lankan crew, the EU Naval Force that patrols the waters off Somalia said on Wednesday. Now shipping companies are scrambling to find out whether the attack is a one-off, or whether pirates could once again threaten one of the world’s most important shipping lanes and cost the industry billions of dollars annually. Somali forces have been sent to try to free the tanker.

But locals say the attacks will continue and blame their government in the semiautonomous Puntland region for granting foreigners permits to fish in Somali waters.

“Since the fish are drained by foreigners, my colleagues plan to go into the ocean to hijack other ships. We have no government to speak on our behalf,” said fisherman Mohamed Ismail. Although Somalia remains mired in violence and poverty, the Horn of Africa nation has shown some small signs of progress in recent years despite a civil war lasting more than a quarter

of a century. A return to piracy could derail those fragile gains. Monday’s hijack followed a long hiatus in pirate attacks, with only four unsuccessful attempts in the past three years. The lull encouraged foreign fishing vessels to return to Somali waters, locals told Reuters news agency, fuelling resentment. “If you look at the sea at night, there are so many lights out there [from fishing vessels]. It looks like New York,” complained one former Somali official who asked not to be named. The final straw, he said, was when seven Thai fishing

Opening

vessels docked at Bosasso port last month.

The ships paid the local government more than $672,000 for fishing licences, a government contract showed. The move infuriated locals who felt they would see neither fish nor the cash. “When I saw those ships come into Bosasso port in broad daylight, I knew there would be an attack,” he said.

“The fishermen became desperate.” Only 14 foreign vessels are licensed to fish, including the seven Thai vessels, the Puntland government said. All others are illegal, said Ali Hirsi Salaad, director of Puntland’s

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Ministry of Fishing. “Fisherman are right to complain,” he said. Matt Bryden, the head of Nairobi-based think-tank Sahan Research, said coastal communities were rearming amid widespread anger at the failure to crack down on foreign fishing vessels. He displayed several photographs he said were of a recent shipment of assault weapons, saying that so many were arriving that in one area the price of a PKM machine gun had fallen from $13,000 in October to about $8,500 last month. “The price is going down because so many are being imported,” he said. The same source sent him a photo of the sea’s horizon at night, he said. The lights of at least 23 vessels that the man said were fishing boats glowed on the horizon. “Coastal communities are angry at the foreign vessels and at the authorities who they believe have licensed some of them,” he said. A Bosasso-based weapons dealer said orders for rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, and ammunition had increased. Jonah Leff, a weapons tracing expert with conflict Armament Research, said many pirates had turned to smuggling.

They take boatloads of people to Yemen and return with weapons, he said. “There’s been an influx of weapons,” he said.

Source: Al-Jazeera

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

INFORMATION

Amid death threats and hate over her anti-Islamophobia motion, Liberal MP Khalid takes the high road

By Laura Ryckewaert, The Hill Times

When rookie Liberal MP Iqra Khalid tabled her private member’s motion, M-103, last December, she said she was looking to start a conversation about systemic racism and religious discrimination in Canada. But before it even came up for debate in Parliament, she got a first-hand look at the darkest side of the issue.

Since putting her private member’s motion No. 103 in the House of Commons on the notice paper on Dec. 1, Ms. Khalid (Mississauga-Erin Mills, Ont.) said she estimates she’s received about 90,000 emails on the issue, along with “thousands and thousands” of phone calls and social media messages—divided about 60-40 between the negative and the positive, respectively. Among the negative responses, are the truly hateful, including “a number of death threats” now under investigation by the RCMP, she said.

“My initial reaction was confusion,” said Ms. Khalid, 31, of her thoughts after seeing the first angry, negative responses to her motion on social media around the end of December.

“I didn’t understand how a call for a study to really look into providing solutions for issues of systemic racism, religious discrimination … how that could be interpreted to restricting freedom of speech, going against our Constitution or creating sharia law in Canada,” she said.

Social media posts “brought the attention, and then the emails started to come in,” said Ms. Khalid, adding that, “there were a lot of positive emails, as well as the negative.”

A non-binding private member’s motion, M-103 proposes that the government should “recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear,” and “condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and take note of the House of Commons’ petition e-411 and the issues raised by it.” It asks that the House of Commons’ Heritage Committee study how the government could “develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia, in Canada, while ensuring a community centered focus with a holistic response through evidencebased policy-making.”

The motion also proposes the committee “collect data to contextualize hate crime reports and to conduct needs assessments for impacted communities,” and present its findings and recommendations within 240 calendar days after the motion passes.

M-103 was seconded by 12 other Liberal MPs and debated for the first time on Feb. 15. It is set to come up for debate for a second hour on March 21, and Ms. Khalid said “it will be scheduled for a vote soon thereafter.”

With her Liberal colleagues backing her, including Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) who has shown strong support, along with opposition members, including some Conservatives, she said, the motion is likely to pass and be acted on.

Ms. Khalid said she was inspired to draft it after an e-petition sponsored by her colleague, Liberal MP Frank Baylis (Pierrefonds-Dollard, Que.), garnered almost 70,000 signatures. Dubbed E-411, it called on the House to recognize that “extremist individuals do not represent the religion of Islam” and to condemn “all forms of Islamophobia.” She said she took the response to it as a call to action.

“I wanted to make it broader and to be applicable and to really understand the systemic racism, religious discrimination that all communities feel in Canada,” said Ms. Khalid last week in an interview with The

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Hill Times in her Justice Building office on stituency office and home. Ms. Khalid the Hill. lives with her parents in Mississauga and A rookie MP elected in 2015 with 49.7 per said while they’ve always been “the kind cent support, Ms. Khalid and her family imof people who never lock our doors,” they migrated to Canada from Pakistan in 1998 have started to now and have installed a when she was 12 years old—before then private home security system. spending a number of years living in Man“It’s kind of sad and annoying when you’re chester, England, while her father studied trying to come home late at night and the his PhD. Attending high school and unidoor’s locked,” she said. versity in Toronto before her family moved She said her family has been “very, very back to Mississauga, where they’d first supportive” and patient through the orlanded, Ms. Khalid said she comes from a deal, though she quipped that with three community that celebrates its diversity, but brothers—one older, two younger—there’s nonetheless, she experienced discriminasomething of a walk-it-off, “you’re doing tion growing up. okay,” attitude. Ms. Khalid said her caucus “That’s where I continue to say that no one fair” and was “really politicizing the issue.” colleagues have “been phenomenal in their After that, the hateful messages began to support” and encouragement and “in fieldcommunity is immune,” said Ms. Khalid. stream in, she said. ing some of the negativity themselves and Ms. Khalid comes across as a cup-half-full never letting me deal with the brunt of peoShe started drafting her motion in October, in consultation with “diverse kind of person, quick to smile and to laugh, ple in their riding[s].” groups” across her Mississauga-Erin Mills but when asked about the hateful messages She said Science Minister Kirsty Duncan riding, which she noted is one of the most she and her staff have received since late (Etobicoke North, Ont.) has, in particular, diverse in Canada, from local synagogues last year, she glances down, her face som- been a mentor and that, “the amount of to churches to mosques to Hindu tem- bre and tight. support that she’s provided over these past ples and more, the vast majority of whom She read out examples of the “direct dis- few months has really helped to keep me crimination and direct threats” she’s re- going.” penned endorsement letters in support. ceived in response to her motion in the Since publicly sharing her experience on Despite its non-binding nature, the motion House on Feb. 16, shocking many. A You- Feb. 16, Ms. Khalid said the hateful meshas sparked a firestorm of reaction, from Tube video, in which she’s called a “dis- sages have decreased while the positive gusting human being,” a “scum bag,” with ones have increased. During a recent break columns, to protests, to petitions.

“How long until my honest criticism of the individual saying they would “be there week in her riding, she said she visited a Islamism constitutes a speech crime in to film you on the ground crying … writing Sunday school class of children who had Canada?” queried National Post columnist the story with a big fat smile on my face. made her thank you cards.

Barbara Kay in a Feb. 7 piece on the mo- ‘Ha ha ha ha, [Ms. Khalid] got shot by a “It was a very touching moment for mytion, in which she says it’s “noteworthy that Canadian patriot’,” is just the “tip of the self,” she said. “I really do want to highlight the motion does not define Islamophobia.” iceberg,” she said. the increasing number of positive notes and “Looking back on my own oeuvre of Islam- “Kill her and be done with it,” said one letters of support that we’ve received here, related writing, I have to wonder if much message, “Why don’t you get out of my handwritten notes, beautifully decorated.” of what I have written—forthrightly, but country? You’re a disgusting piece of trash Ms. Khalid noted that shortly after the responsibly—would pass muster in a post- and you are definitely not wanted here by House debate on her motion on Feb. 15, the majority of actual Canadians,” read an- and amid the peak of negativity, she did M-103 Canada,” she writes.

A lack of definition of ‘Islamophobia’ in other. a Facebook live video outlining what the the motion is a point many have seized on, But Ms. Khalid said she is eager to stress motion was all about. To date, it has been and last month, Conservative MPs sought that she’s also received positive messages, shared more than 500 times, garnered 1,790 unsuccessfully to amend the motion by re- along with the negative. The peak of con- comments, and about 42,000 views, but she tacts to her office came about a week be- said Facebook analytics indicated “only 59 moving the word.

Currently, right-wing outlet Rebel Media fore the first debate, when she said she was people actually watched the video with the has an open petition, “Freedom to Offend: getting about “30 to 40 notifications on my sound on to the end.”

Support Free Speech, Not Sharia,” declar- Twitter feed” every hour.

“It really goes to show that I think we, as ing that the government is “preparing to “There was a time when it was really, real- Canadians, we really need to do more to silence anyone who criticizes Islam,” and ly an issue that Canadians were very much inform ourselves on the issues that really that the motion is “a blatant attack on free seized with, and I really appreciate that, I affect us, and to get to understand an issue speech.” Rebel Media also organized a appreciate the conversations that were oc- completely before forming an opinion,” she “Freedom Rally” the night of the first de- curring and continue to occur on this very said, adding she was, “a little disappointed bate on M-103 at a Toronto Christian col- important issue,” she said, adding a conver- in our media for the misconceptions that lege, attended by an estimated more than sation is what she wanted, and “at least it were spread.” happened and is continuing to happen.”

700 people.

With her motion soon be debated again, On March 4, a number of demonstrations At the peak of the deluge, Ms. Khalid in- in the meantime, Ms. Khalid said her ofwere organized protesting M-103 in To- structed her staff to lock the riding office fice has already started responding to the ronto and Montreal, with smaller ones in door behind her and screen calls, something 90,000 messages, good and bad.

Calgary, Saskatoon, and Regina. Counter- she said is no longer happening, though “We have a policy in our office that we protests were also organized, leading to they continue to get calls “throughout the respond to everything,” she said. “I’m resome clashes between groups in Toronto day” from across Canada. ally glad that Canada had the opportunity A day after Ms. Khalid gave the country to have this discussion and I’m really lookand Montreal.

Just five days before the motion came up a glimpse at the hate that’s been directed ing forward to continuing that discussion in for debate, on Feb. 10, there was a mass at her, the Peel Regional Police indicated the way of a formal study with Canadian shooting at a mosque in Quebec City’s it had increased patrols around her con- Heritage.”

Sainte-Foy neighbourhood, which left six men dead. The shooter was described in reports as an anti-foreigner, anti-feminist, far-right Trump supporter.

Even in her “wildest imagination,” Ms. Khalid said she hadn’t thought something like the shooting could have happened. st nd rd “It is not about one race over another. It is not about one religion over another.

Hate does not discriminate. I am sure the black community, the Jewish community, the aboriginal community, the Sikh community, and many more communities feel what their brothers and sisters of the Muslim faith feel today,” said Ms. Khalid when started off the debate in the House on Feb. 15, noting that Statistics Canada data from 2014 show a doubling of hate crimes Call- Mortgage Consultant, against Muslims over a three-year period.

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

FOOD

Soul-satisfying soups: How a humanitarian cookbook project is raising funds for Syrian refugees

BY: LAURA BREHAUT “Soups for me have always been something very comforting. I remember telling my dad once, ‘The soup is warming my heart,’” Barbara Abdeni Massaad says. “It’s comfort food.

It nourishes your body but it also nourishes your mind, and when you’re cold, what better substance to drink or to eat than soup?”

Freezing conditions compelled Massaad to first visit the Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The cookbook author and photographer lives in Beirut. It was wintertime, and even in the comfort of her heated apartment, it was chilly.

“I thought of all the refugees living in tents.

And I saw footage of the children in the tents being really, really cold. That hit me because I’m a mother of three children, and I can’t stand the fact that children are cold,” she says.

Massaad knew immediately that she wanted to help but didn’t know exactly how. She found the answer organically, in the form of a humanitarian cookbook project: Soup for Syria, (Interlink Publishers, 2015). The book has raised more than US$300,000 to date, with all proceeds going to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)’s food relief initiatives.

“Each one of us has a God-given talent (that we can use) to help somebody that comes to our country and is in need of something,” she says.

“At the beginning when I went to the camps, they didn’t know what I was doing or who I was. So I had to simplify it and say for example, ‘If I was a hairdresser, I would come and cut your hair for free. But I’m not a hairdresser so I’m going to try to do something with what I’m doing in my life.’ – so something dealing with food, journalism and photography.”

The seed for Soup for Syria was planted in a farmers’ market. Massaad is the president of Slow Food Beirut, which runs the Earth

Market in the city’s Hamra district. A friend suggested that they make soup to hand out to refugees at the market and Massaad thought “it was a brilliant idea.”

She had initially thought about cooking with the women in the camp, and sharing their recipes in a Syrian cookbook. Access to ingredients and hygiene issues posed challenges, so her focus naturally shifted to a collection of soul-satisfying soup recipes. She reached out to her network of friends – some of whom are world-renowned chefs and food writers – who were happy to oblige.

Contributors include London-based restaurateurs Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi(Gondi, Persian chicken and chickpea dumplings), California Slow Food icon Alice Waters(Carrot Soup), chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain (Soupe au Pistou), Michelin-starred Australian chef Greg Malouf

(Fennel Soup with Lemon and Cinnamon), and Egyptian-British cookbook writer and cultural anthropologist Claudia Roden (Borlotti Bean and Pasta Soup).

“I wanted to have these people close to this project and all of them were very enthusiastic.

It was wonderful – they gave me their recipes, so they feel like they’re part of it too,” Massaad says. “It’s been an awesome experience.

There are a lot of good people in this world.”

The fact that her mentor Carlo Petrini, founder of the international Slow Food movement, wrote the book’s foreword was particularly meaningful.

“His philosophy is basically, ‘You eat good food, you eat clean food, and you’re fair to the people who are making your food.’ He’s very, very sensitive to what’s happening all over the world. So I think he really loved the idea because it was through food, trying to make a

difference.”

Having lived through war herself, Massaad says that she is able to identify with the refugees somewhat. She was forced to leave Lebanon when she was 10-years-old. When she arrived in Florida, where she lived until she was 18, she didn’t speak English.

“I remember feeling like, ‘Oh my god, it’s so hard and everybody’s talking around me. I don’t understand a word they’re saying.’ And feeling (scared),” she says.

“When you speak to the refugees, don’t think that they’re happy to emigrate to Germany, France, Italy or Lebanon. They want to go home. That’s the goal… Even if you (place them in) the most developed country, they still feel like home is where the heart is. That’s where they want to be, which I understand.”

Massaad’s photographic portraits of some of the families living in the camp appear throughout the book. She says that meeting and photographing the children, and being able to bring them some joy, was the most meaningful aspect of the project for her.

“It was like a game – each one wanted to pose.

It was really cute,” she says with a laugh.

“They would fight: ‘Who’s going to be photographed?’ It was really funny.”

Soup for Syria is available in Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.S, and a Turkish edition is in progress. While Massaad is proud of the funds the project has raised, and hopes to raise more, she says that money wasn’t the only goal.

“Empathy, that’s the main objective,” Massaad says. “It’s about raising awareness that people are suffering. And these people are not so different from you and me – the beautiful children, the beautiful families. What they need is food, shelter, love and most importantly, dignity.”

Source: National Post

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

HEALTH

FUNDAMENTAL TREATMENTS FOR JOINT PAIN (PART 2 OF 2)

By: Nada Adam Thank you to all who contacted me with their health concerns following my previous article. I apologize that I was unable to call you back to discuss your concerns further, however, I had numerous discussion with Dr. Hijazi and this article I trust will be helpful to in-Sha’Allah. From the response of the readers, clearly the problem of joint pain is a global epidemic. We covered this topic because the readers called asked about it, however, Dr. Hijazi treats this ailment and many other ailments. As mentioned in previous articles, food is of major importance and from what we eat every meal, the humors are produced by the Liver daily.

FOOD IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF ILLNESS! If food is the cause of the non-moderate humors and the non-moderate humors are the cause of the illness. Then the reverse is true…the Direct Material cause of the illnesses are non-moderate humors and non-moderate food is the main cause of the illness.

Dr. Khaled Hijazi said, “If the cause of the joint pain is from the predominance of Blood humor, the fundamental treatment is: Blood depletion in the opposite direction of the opposite arm or hand of the location of the illness. But if the illness exists on both sides, blood depletion is needed from both sides. If the illness is in the arm, and the hand, blood depletion is performed from Median Vein of Forearm (AkHal) located in the middle of the forearm. If the illness is in the leg, blood depletion is performed from the Basilic Vein so that considerable quantity of blood is expelled, regardless where the location of joint pain is on the leg. (NOTE: Quantity is specified by a skilled Physician of Humoral Medicine, in accordance to the strength and age of the patient and the strength level of the ailment.)

The patient then takes a special Humoral Laxative in accordance to the necessity of elimination and drinks special medicine that prepares the humors for elimination prior. The patient increases consumption of this medicine in the initial stage of treatment and at the end, he also uses a Topical Deterrent that is applied topically on the

area of the illness to ensure the substance of the illness is dislocated from its area without recurrence. After blood depletion, it’s necessary to increase the humoral sedative, when the pain increase, as well as, near the end of treatment. The patient uses relaxant herbs such as Viola, (KhuTmi) Hollyhock and other similar herbs as a dressing on the pain.

Once the stage where the substance is ready for elimination is achieved until the end, it is recommended to use Almuhalilat…(Medicinal Analyzer) of the Causative Humors of the illness – such as (Kleel Almalik) Melilot, Chamomile and other similar herbs applied as a dressing or by Drip Therapy from their infusion.

If the joint pain is because of Corrupted Blood caused by mixing with yellow bile, its fundamental treatment is: by depletion and taking laxative as well. However, expelling a considerable quantity of blood is not necessary and not recommended in this case. After consuming the laxative for elimination it’s recommended to use Cold Diuretics like: Dandelion and Bizir Khyaarayn and other similar beneficial herbs. It’s not needed to use analyzer dressing at all. In both cases, Alsakanjebeen (honey/vinegar mixture) is beneficial for predominance of blood and yellow bile but needs not be strong in sourness.

If the cause of the joint pain is from yellow bile only, the fundamental treatment is by: preparing the humors for elimination, and then taking the laxative for elimination; vomiting is very beneficial in this case and no need for depletion at all. Note: joint pain that is caused by yellow bile only is rare and exceptional.

If the cause of the joint pain is the Phlegm, the fundamental treatment is regurgitation (vomiting) which is beneficial for that. He also takes the medicine for preparation and elimination numerous times…After completion of modification of the predominant humors and elimination of the non-moderate humors, it is recommended to use Hot Diuretic medications i.e. Fennel seed, melon seed and other similar temperament things, and patient should not use exclusively the Analyzer Medication in this case and should not use exclusively Topical Deterrent Medication.

If the cause of the joint pain is black bile, the fundamental treatment is by doing blood depletion therapy, after a complete preparation for the humors to be dispelled.

It is recommended to take the black bile elimination laxative and use the ointment that produces elasticity.”

What was mentioned here are general terms for some protocols/remedies for certain temperaments; however, each person is unique and has a specialized case, situation and medical treatment must be tailored and customized individually.

However, most people who suffer from joint pain also suffer from other ailments which make their illness more complex.

The more compounded the illnesses, the more evidence that more 2 or more humours have become non-moderate causing an unbalanced ill body.

A person may suffer from joint pain but also experience headaches regularly. A medical assessment (takes 1 hour) must be done on the patient to determine if the cause of the headache stems from the same cause as the joint pain. Perhaps the same patient also suffers from Obesity, Diabetes, Cholesterol and/or even High Blood Pressure. Dr. Hijazi will take into consideration the headache and the cause(s) of the headaches; in addition, to the joint pain so that, the medicine prescribed for that patient will be complete and synergistic for both ailments.

“If a person suffers from multiple ailments, all the treatments prescribed NEED to be COMPLETELY SYNERGISTIC for all the ailments so that nothing prescribed (Herbs) will contraindicate with another so that, patient will experience no side effects. For this reason, when treating a patient, the whole patient’s circumstances must be taken into consideration for a safe recovery from illness(es),” Dr. Hijazi stated.

For example, if a patient suffers from headaches and joint pain, a skilled humoral doctor would know to take into consideration

that some herbs though beneficial for joint pain will increase the occurrence of headaches; where as, another patient suffering from joint pain alone without headaches would benefit from the same herb for his joint pain.

In other words it’s not 1 pill fits the entire population as big pharma wants you to believe.

You are probably wondering what’s the next step. You know you have a problem, you know that pharmaceutical drugs are not the answer, you’ve been praying to find a solution and there are many people who call themselves doctors unrightfully but none have provided you with a remedy that actually cured you so far. So what’s next?

If you’re ready to finally get the answers you need, please call me to book an appointment to have an examination with Dr. Hijazi, (it’s a 1 hour in person meeting).

He will ask you lots of questions to assess/ determine your original humoral temperament. This is the temperament that God created you to have, the combination of the 4 humours in the order that determines your personality type and ideal health. In the same meeting, he will also assess what temperament you are today from all your symptoms and/or ailments you are currently suffering from.

So if you’re suffering from illness, then it’s a guarantee that your humors have changed from original sequence thus causing you one or multiple illnesses. The only way to gain your health back is to find out where you are today and what true health means for your unique body composition…you will also receive a list of foods according to temperament so you will know what eat to get back to health again.

BECAUSE FOOD IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ILLNESS! If you’re taking pharmaceutical drugs, don’t worry. Dr. Hijazi treats all ailments for your entire body and not just isolates one area of the body. If you’re taking one or many pharmaceutical drugs daily, Dr. Hijazi will not tell you to stop taking them cold turkey. He will guide and monitor your case exclusively to ensure your transition from pharmaceutical drugs to drug free is gradual and safe for your health and body.

If you have any topics you wish for me to cover or you wish to invite Dr. Hijazi to speak at your events complimentary about this medicine, please let me know. I can be reached at 604.314.6759 or email anada@ shaw.ca

Saaz Institute hosts a successful Educational Celebration of Indian Classical Music

On March 12th, Saaz Institute hosted a successful Musical and Educational Celebration of Indian Classical Musical event. The event featured an interview of a young musician, Sharanjeet Singh Mand by Dr. Thomas Hunter, lecturer of Asian Studies at UBC. After the interview, Sharanjeet and Cassius Khan, renowned tabla player performed for the audience. Mr Sukhi Bath presented the appreciation plaques to the artists.

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

LIFESTYLE

Prophecy Comics teaching faith and values

By: Soner Coruhlu In an age where the masses are bombarded with visual and audio stimulants we must realign our strategies and methodologies in promoting ethics, morals and values based on the teachings of God, the Supreme. It is difficult, nay, it is near impossible for humanity to digest and filter the information that saturates the earth today. An imam, priest or rabbi lecturing to an audience is barely heard in our time of propagandistic influx and even the evangelists with an audience of millions must compete against blockbusters, novels and T.V. series that entice the minds of billions due to the fictional appeal and imaginative prowess they project.

With regards to our precious youth, who will ultimately become the future legacy of this world, it is imperative we use means of teaching that will not only stimulate their minds but have a lasting, vibrant impact on their hearts. The core teaching that is common among all the major religions of the world is to respect life and persevere in the struggle to help humanity.

A crucial requirement upon many of us is to first and foremost, recognize the lack of concern we have on the importance of teaching morality and ethics and good conduct to our youth, be they Muslim or non-Muslim. The importance of Good character is a necessity that crosses borders and boundaries of re-

ligious diversity. What good is the fast to an individual if, in his daily life, he is cruel to his parents or oppressive to his children or unkind to his neighbors or unhelpful to his colleagues, a person who is a detriment unto others? Hence the concern for fellow human beings and the environment is a fundamental requirement we must begin to teach our youth at an extremely early age so that their foundation, their building blocks, are an embodiment of righteousness. This is a vital requirement for sustainability in a global world where technological advances and abundant industrialization necessitate a more responsible and compassionate humanity due to the potentially destructive nature brought about by such technologies.

How do we grab the attention of our youth however? When games such as Grand Theft Auto or blockbusters such as Terminator or animations such as the Simpsons exist, how much appeal will our imams, most of whom have very little exposure to these competing forms of stimuli, have by giving a simple lecture in a classroom or on the minbar? If the youth even bother to turn up to such a lecture to begin with, what will the youth remember of the lecture when they go home and begin reading their comic book on Spiderman or the Fantastic Four?

The Prophecy Comics is an attempt to address this issue. It is a means in which current methodologies and techniques of

appeal are used but in the case of Prophecy Comics, the means is used in order to teach lessons of great import. Lessons that are critically important to youth who may live in the harsh lands of the dessert or the bustling and busy cities of the west. It may seem too far-fetched but when one considers the consequences and neglects to understand the impact on the minds of our youth by alternate and very appealing sources, one begins to recognize the need to support such a vision, whether it be this particular project or one of a similar nature.

The first series is a compilation of four books that deal with the creation of the universe, the angels, humanity and others.

It takes us through the accounts that precipitate the fall of humanity and Satan, both physically and spiritually. The series also delves into the tragic fall of humanity when murder is introduced into their midst and the consequences that arise as a result of such a destructive act. Following this series which is entitled, ‘The Dawn of Mankind’ is a narration of many other prophets and the circumstances that surrounded them in their time. The narrations will deal primarily with their struggle to improve the lives of humanity, their struggle against oppressors and their warning of the temptations put forth by Satan and his demon minions.

The speech of God, the Angels and Satan are common throughout all books and ap-

pear in almost all the issues in the Prophecy Comics series.

Alas, it is with great regret that the author/ producer of Prophecy Comics experienced only a lack of support for such a unique project but when analyzing the state of affairs in the world today and the importance placed on profit over social well-being, it is something that did not, nor does it, come as a surprise. This project was initiated almost 5 years ago and due to the lack of support, legal issues and an attempt to ensure traditions are not offended, it has been an ongoing struggle for a single individual to accomplish. All assistance and support, even constructive feedback, will be greatly appreciated. Announcing this series to others and directing them to the Prophecy Comics website (www.prophecy.com.au) will also be a great help.

Source: IslamiCity

Adab - Courtesy and Respect BY: ABDUL KABIR HELMINSKI Adab is courtesy, respect, appropriateness.

Adab is not formality; it helps to create the context in which we develop our humanness. Every situation and relationship has its proper adab: between students on the path, in relation to family members and elders, in relation to one’s teacher. Every level of being also has its adab, including coming into the presence of Truth (Al-Haqq).

The model of adab in the Islamic tradition is the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing upon him), who said: “None of you will have authentic faith until your hearts are made right, nor will your hearts be made right until your tongues be made right, nor will your tongues be made right until your actions be made right.”

As one begins to become aware of the benefits and possibilities of adab it becomes strikingly clear how much has been lost in contemporary culture in the name of some hypothetical personal freedom and individuality.

When a student in the quest of Devine knowledge steps over the threshold into a house of God, he leaves the “world” and its concerns behind. The house of God is the school of love. We come here to observe, listen, and learn, and to practice service -- not to pursue the ambitions of the world, not to satisfy or promote our own egos, nor to consume exciting “spiritual” experiences.

Following are the adab that are followed in a Sufi place of worship called tekke and are applicable for any Islamic gathering.

It is vitally important to arrive at the tekke in a state of ablution--this can consist of taking a shower shortly beforehand. It’s good to have a clean breath and body. One might even consider what one eats before a gathering. If some have the fragrance of musk and roses, while others smell of garlic and onions, the “atmosphere” suffers, so to speak.

Wearing modest, clean, and simple clothes is a sign of self-respect. We are coming to a place and occasion of worship -- not to a sporting event or a nightclub.

It is important that we arrive at least a little before the actual time of the meeting. It

is not necessary to give an obligatory hug to everyone you see -- especially before the meeting when there may be little time.

Once the meeting has begun, our focus is on the process that has begun. Latecomers should find a place to sit if there is room in the circle -- but without disturbance of anyone’s meditation. At the end of dhikr, we greet the people to our right and left. It is intended, however, for this to be a simple greeting -- not an extended meditation.

Anyone sponsoring a newcomer to the tekke should first if possible introduce him or her to the host.

The life of the tekke brings us into relationship with people whom we might not choose to be with in the everyday world, and yet slowly we come to understand that every relationship is important and has been provided as an opportunity to know ourselves and purify our hearts. This circle of lovers is learning to manifest the reality of Oneness (tauheed), the reality of brotherhood/ sisterhood/real fellowship. We must treat each other not just as family, but even better than most families treat each other. It may be that at the tekke we learn how to treat our own family as they ought to be treated.

We learn to observe, to control our impulses when that is called for, and to lose our “selves” when that is called for. We learn to behave as if everyone else is of a higher station than ourselves. Our conversation is centered on God and coming into harmony with God and each other. Gossip and backbiting is one of the worst actions any seeker can indulge in -- not only the speaking of it, but the listening to it, as well. Backbiting is defined as saying anything behind a person’s back that would displease them (whether it is true or not).

Since we are attempting to bring our selves into alignment with Reality, we will face many tests and it is inevitable that there will be some interpersonal tensions from time to time. Adab helps us to avoid some of the destructive behaviors that could disturb or even destroy relationships in gatherings.

A special relationship exists between the student and his/her teacher. The respect

and affection that develops results in consideration and attentiveness to the teacher especially during meetings. The teacher is the one who sets the tone of the circle and guides the discourse. Ideally, he is like an empty center who responds to the innermost needs of the circle. He perceives the spiritual winds, trims the sails, and sets the course of the boat.

You may not always agree with your teacher.

Take what is useful or meaningful to you and put it in a bag in front of you. Take what you do not agree with or do not understand and put it in another bag behind you. It may be that one day, far from the dervish circle and your teacher you find in that bag something you really need.

Our possibilities together on this path would be served by increasing our awareness of some simplified aspects of adab: • To be straightforward with sincerity and truthfulness.

• To be aware of and have regret for our own faults, rather than finding fault with others.

• To be free from the preoccupation, worry, vanity and ambition over the world and the worldly.

• To be indifferent to the praise or blame of the general public.

• To do what one does for Allah’s sake -not for the desire for reward or the fear of punishment.

• To adopt an appropriate humility and invisibility in public and in the meetings of the dervishes.

• To serve the good of one’s brothers and

sisters with all one’s physical and other resources.

• To seek to heal any wound you may have caused to another, and to correct any misunderstanding within three days if possible.

• To know that no good will come out of the expression of anger or excessive hilarity.

• To be patient with difficulties.

• To be indifferent to favor or benefit for oneself, for “receiving one’s due.”

• To be free of spiritual envy and ambition, including the desires to lead or teach.

• To strive to increase one’s knowledge of Islam through the Qur’an, hadith and the wisdom of past teachers.

• To be willing to struggle with one’s ego as much as it prevents one from following proper adab, and to realize that the greatest ally is Love.

• To have a teacher whom one loves and is loved by, and to cultivate this relationship.

• To accept suggestions and even criticism from one’s teacher with gratitude and non defensiveness. (The proper response is always “Eyvallah” -- “All good comes from God.” • To seek instead to make one’s practices more and more inwardly sincere, rather than outwardly apparent.

• To realize that one’s teacher is a human being with his own limitations; he (or she) has some states that are inspired and some states that are not. Yet if there is enough love between student and teacher the limitations of personality will be gracefully overcome.

Abdul Kabir Helminski was the publisher of Threshold Books for twenty years, a company which specialized in quality translations of sacred literature, especially those from the Islamic tradition. He is the author of two books, Living Presence and The Knowing Heart, as well as eight translated collections, especially focusing on the work of Jalaluddin Rumi. His books have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, and Turkish.

SOURCE: ISLAMICITY

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

WOMEN

WORLD HIJAB DAY IN VANCOUVER

What is Happiness?

By: Shabnam Khan - FamilCounsellor Happiness, many of us believe is linked to wealth and status. We have traditionally measured happiness through our accumulation of possessions: trendy clothes, fine jewelry, homes in the best neighborhoods and many more. These are the things we work for and there’s nothing wrong with that.

It is the time to carefully examine the lifestyle we have accepted in the past, but are now questioning. It is time to ask why most of our population lives in the constant state of exhaustion. Is this “balance”? Where has the vital energy in our bodies and souls gone? If we seek true happiness, we must first explore how our world has become victimized by fear. On some level, most people live in the constant state of anxiety and fear which affects their mental, physical and spiritual health.

Individuals cannot experience true happiness without sense of personal power in their lives. How can we restore our own sense of authentic power within ourselves? Our challenge is to explore the concept of power as force (power over) and the power as strength (power with). It is important we make the distinctive between the self-serving, destructive power of domination and greed.

Opportunities for true happiness, balance and strength exist in every minute of the day, but most of us have lost the ability to recognize the happiness, waiting to be

discovered in the simple moments of our lives.

Happiness is your natural gift. Life does get busy and sooner or later our lives are out of balance.

This is the time to stop being a victim of our lives and make choices that will create an intentional life of happiness. Happiness is living in a proactive way because you have made the decision to live every day of your life as if each experience is a class in the classroom called life.

Choosing happiness is about being a hero of your life, not the victim. Happy people have an attitude of gratitude no matter what circumstances they face. Happiness is inextricably linked to gratitude and reverence for life. Happiness is the ability to receive love and to surrender for love.

Each day you discover happiness in any form, it will make your life precious and more sacred. Remember, being happy is a healthy choice, not only for yourself but also for people around you. True happiness is a sustainable piece of art.

For any inquiries please email at shabnam@skcounselling.ca

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL The BC Muslim Board of Women’s Council hosted the World Hijab Day on March 4 2017 at the Riverside Signature Banquet Hall in Surrey. This was the first event of its kind in Vancouver and Nisha Zuber, the event MC, welcomed over 200 women in attendance.

The purpose of the women’s event was to bring more awareness and better understanding of the hijab within the Muslim community and the BC community at large. The event was attended by different faith groups, Muslim organizations, religious groups, and representatives of Women’s Council.

Education Director of Women’s Affairs, Sr. Zein Ali, presented a PowerPoint slide presentation titled “What is Hijab?” which addressed not only appearance, but also manners and

behaviour. Ali noted that the deeper meaning of Hijab includes the way a person walks, speaks, looks and thinks, and forces a man to look at a women with respect rather than as an object. Several guests also discussed how modesty represents the crown of a Muslimah.

Award-winning CBC reporter Bal Brach and Zukhvinder Virk of the Multifaith Action Society shared their journeys of growing up in the Sikh faith, and Zarah Tinholt touched on Christian perspectives of head coverings and attire. Mary Nazmun also discussed her life in a Methodist orphanage and her conversion to Islam.

Many guests tried hijab and were offered it to be taken home.

Article Source: ALAMEENPOST.COM

the society. There are other few people who are in the same boat; but are still afraid to do whatever they pleases openly. As soon as few of this people break rules, other shameless members of the society start to openly commit mischief as well. They even justify it today because “everyone is doing it”. For us Muslims, we do not accept entirety of culture nor reject entirety of a culture. There is a middle path.

By Asma Shums Our society is made up of families, single parents, unmarried people, old, young, adolescents, and children. Not to forget the pregnant mothers. Societies contain those who are Muslim and those who are not.

Usually we all expect to have normal family life, picture perfect. An ideal happy life but in reality, it is hardly perfect. We all try to live happily as we age, each day as we live in its moment. Somewhere along the path, some give up, some die trying and some achieve it. Some people say they do not care for society but one person’s behaviour adds up to another and this is how society starts to go bad. The default is that person is good and want good for society. A person’s greed or shamelessness and lack of modesty usually stays within himself and does not spread out of his home or comfort zone due to the presence of a larger audience (i.e. society) and the embarrassment and backlash one may face if they let it out on public.

When any person dares to do something unacceptable from society’s norms, rules, he suffers rejection of

Each human being has good and bad qualities in them. On time, this qualities surface. In fact in the times of difficulty and challenging situations only real character of a person surfaces. If the inner self of a person is towards good, they will stop themselves from coming acts of mischief and dishonour. That is why it is important for a family to keep their character and bond strong and to keep each other in check. Have elderly as their mentors. The elders, be it parents or grandparents, must take more care in having their character and manners in check so the children can follow them as each children, even in a non-Muslim family grow up observing their parents mannerisms. If the parents only know how to behave badly with each other (in abuse or foul speech) then the children will follow suit.

Of course, every child does not follow completely but there is a great possibility that it shapes them to look at the world similarly. It is very essential to keep a healthy mental state as well as physical atmosphere (not be a kitchen of overeating) where all family members are taken care of and nourished. This can only be done by following the guidelines of the One who created us.

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Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

YOUTH

The Unique Gift of Life

By: Maher Hathout The following is excerpted from the book “Islam 2.0” by Dr. Maher Hathout in which he shares a conversation with the Muslim youth.

Your life is a very precious gift from God. Count back to one year before your first birthday, and then try to imagine your state – your state of nothingness. You can not. You may be able to contain and grasp “things,” not “nothing.” You were born and came to life, not because you wanted to, but because you became. Through a decision by an authority higher than you, and through a process that you did not participate in, you came to occupy a place in existence.

With the dramatic event of your birth, you came to life with three huge realities.

First, you are unique. Nobody else is identical to you, not even your identical twin or, in this age of cloning, even your clone, because your psychological, spiritual and energetic content is poured into your physical being in a unique way. When God blows a spirit into each individual, it manifests in a special way. You are one of a kind.

Second, you are immortal. Your biological structure, which is the product of the substance of earth, will degrade and recycle in the biological cycle on earth, but your energy, soul and spirit will always be. If you appreciate your uniqueness and your immortality, your individual values, responsibility and accountability will emerge. God reminds us in the Qur’an that; “[And God shall say.’] “And now, indeed, you have come unto Us in a lonely state, even as We created you in the first instance,’ and you have left behind you, all that We bestowed on you [in your lifetime].

And we do not see with you those intercessors of yours whom you supposed to have a share in Gods divinity with regard to yourselves! Indeed, all the bonds between you [and your earthly life] are now severed, and all your former fancies have forsaken you!”

(6:94)

“and every one of them will appear before Him on Resurrection Day in a lonely state. ” (19:95) The third reality that comes with the

happy event of your birth is a cobweb of expanding circles of relationships. These are different from the countless relationships you acquire throughout your life, such as your friends, neighbors, teammates, and spouses. The first package of relationships that come with your birth day are not subject to your choice; you do not choose your parents, siblings, kin, ancestors, race, gender, place of birth or even country of origin. This category of relationships is a gift form God, you accept, appreciate, and nurture. While the acquired relationships like spouse, friends, and career need prudence.

While you will inevitably gain and lose, everything you lose may be regained, except one thing, time.

It is interesting that you probably know the exact time, date and place of when and where your birth took place, but this is only because you were told about it. What is less clear is the elusive and mystical moment you truly became aware of your existence.

This blurry time, when you became cognizant that you are you, and that you actually exist, just snuck up on you. From the moment of that realization, each individual experiences life in a unique way. While you

mation of these basics. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described the religion as “Deen al Fitra,”” meaning the way of the unadulterated original nature and as the Qur’an described: “And do, set thy face steadfastly towards the [one ever-true] faith, turning away from all that is false, in accordance with the natural disposition which God has instilled into humanity.’ [for] not to allow any change to corrupt what God has thus created – this is the [purpose of the one] ever-true faith,’ but most people know it not.”

(30:30) may be exposed to the same circumstances as many others, how you feel, perceive, taste, understand and react to life circumstances is unique to you.

During the predetermined length of your life, you embark on new information, experiences, and habits in which you learn and perform as a human on this planet. While you will inevitably gain and lose, everything you lose may be regained, except one thing, time. If you lose time, it is gone.

Any period of time is a chunk of life, both precious and irretrievable. Based on these simple realities, you will have some basic decisions to make: Are you going to waste your life or are you going to use it? Is your life going to center around you or will you reach wider spheres of involvement and concern? Wasting life partially or totally, i.e. in one lump or in installments, all can be considered a crime close to murder or suicide, even if the gradual waste does not seem that dramatic.

There are many forms and ways to waste a lifetime. With a careful look around you, you can recognize many of them: leading an aimless and purposeless life; abusing your own body, mind and soul; eroding the environment, being shallow and inefficient; all are ways to let the wonderful opportunity that we call life slip away. A life centered on your own self is selfish and never provides fulfillment. Since human beings are interdependent, you will not be happy if surrounded by unhappiness, envy, and animosity. A life that is not dedicated to a higher cause is an elusive quest for unattainable happiness.

There are three elements to what may be described as a happy life: • a life that is fully utilized (i.e. a life of awareness and purposeful activism), • a life that is dedicated to a higher cause, • and a life that is lived in balance.

The concept of balance is very important because an imbalanced life is one that is not in harmony with the laws of nature or existence. Nature is in perfect balance and is all around us, from the orbits to the galaxies to the structure of molecules and atoms to the diversity of species to the physiology within any unit of these species. A simple example which demonstrates this point lies within your own body. Anatomically, you are a fusion of two halves in balance (eyes, ears, nostrils, limbs). The right and left brain are distinct but, through their connection, maintain balanced performance.

Perfect balance further exists between the muscles of flexion and extension, the structure of your skeleton, and in the miraculous work of the endocrinal and hormonal system.

The balance that exists between the spiritual and moral, through the soul, body, and intellect, gives you the ability to see and recognize the fine lines in behavior, that if crossed, will lead to imbalance. The line that exists between courage and reckless-

ness, caution and cowardice, saving and stinginess, honesty and rudeness, generosity and squandering, pride and arrogance.

Conversely, injustice, encroachment on the rights of others, bias and double standards all act to tilt the scale of balance and run contrary to the laws of existence and the nature of creation as manifested in the large and small creatures within the kingdom of God. God says in the Qur’an:

Through integrating these basic realities of life with the message of God and His call to comply to His will – which is manifested in His natural laws of existence in its universality, global humanity and harmony as comprehensive, internal, and external peace – that you can become a Muslim, citizen of the world, mercy to all, guardian of justice, supporter and enjoiner of what is good, opposer of what is evil, and promoter of human dignity for all.

“And the skies.’ has He raised high Only then can you cooperate with those and has devised [for all things] who seek righteousness and awareness. a measure so that you [too, 0 hu- Only then will Islam be your zone of commanity,] might never transgress the fort, will you come home to Islam, feel complete harmony and be liberated not measure [of what is right].’ weigh, shackled, lightened not burdened, natural therefore, [your deeds] with equity, not artificial. Only then will your life as a and cut not the measure short!” Muslim be to enjoy not endure, allowing you to be yourselves, not a facade.

(55:7-9) So for the Human Race, We May Say: HapWithin this framework of understanding py Birthday! and appreciation of the simple unadulter- Source: IslamiCity ated nature of life and creation lies the true understanding of Islam. Islam is the affir-

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22

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

Blue Mosque: The Jewel of Istanbul

Architecture

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman mosque development.

It incorporates some Byzantine Christian elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. The architect, Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, synthesized the ideas of his master Sinan, aiming for overwhelming size, majesty and splendour.

Interior At its lower levels and at every pier, the interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade İznik style ceramic tiles, made at Iznik (the ancient Nicaea) in more than fifty different tulip designs. The tiles at lower levels are traditional in design, while at gallery level their design becomes flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit and cypresses. The tiles were made under the supervision of the Iznik master.

The price to be paid for each tile was fixed by the sultan’s decree, while tile prices in general increased over time. As a result, the quality of the tiles used in the building decreased gradually.

The upper levels of the interior are dominated by blue paint. More than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs admit natural light, today assisted by chandeliers.

On the chandeliers, ostrich eggs are found that were meant to avoid cobwebs inside the mosque by repelling spiders. The decorations include verses from the Qur’an, many of them made by Seyyid Kasim Gubari, regarded as the greatest calligrapher of his time. The floors are covered with carpets, which are donated by the faithful and are regularly replaced as they wear out. The many spacious windows confer a spacious impression. The casements at floor level are decorated with opus sectile. Each exedra has five windows, some of which are blind.

Each semi-dome has 14 windows and the central dome 28 (four of which are blind).

The coloured glass for the windows was a gift of the Signoria of Venice to the sultan.

Most of these coloured windows have by now been replaced by modern versions with little or no artistic merit.

The most important element in the interior of the mosque is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it. It is surrounded by many

dome on a tall tholobate. Its historical elementary school (Sıbyan Mektebi) is used as “Mosque Information Center” which is adjacent to its outer wall on the side of Hagia Sophia. This is where they provide visitors with a free orientational presentation on the Blue Mosque and Islam in general.

A heavy iron chain hangs in the upper part of the court entrance on the western side.

Only the sultan was allowed to enter the court of the mosque on horseback. The chain was put there, so that the sultan had to lower his head every time he entered the court to avoid being hit. This was a symbolic gesture, to ensure the humility of the ruler in the face of the divine.

Minarets

windows. The adjacent walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles. To the right of the mihrab is the richly decorated minber, or pulpit, where the imam stands when he is delivering his sermon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy days. The mosque has been designed so that even when it is at its most crowded, everyone in the mosque can see and hear the imam.

The royal kiosk is situated at the south-east corner. It comprises a platform, a loggia and two small retiring rooms. It gives access to the royal loge in the south-east upper gallery of the mosque. These retiring rooms became the headquarters of the Grand Vizier during the suppression of the rebellious Janissary Corps in 1826. The royal loge (hünkâr mahfil) is supported by ten marble columns. It has its own mihrab, which used to be decorated with a jade rose and gilt and with one hundred Qurans on an inlaid and gilded lecterns.

The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems. Among the glass bowls one could find ostrich eggs and crystal balls. All these decorations have been removed or pillaged for museums.

The great tablets on the walls are inscribed with the names of the caliphs and verses from the Quran. They were originally by the great 17th-century calligrapher Seyyid Kasim Gubari of Diyarbakır but have been repeatedly restored.

Exterior

The facade of the spacious forecourt was built in the same manner as the facade of the Süleymaniye Mosque, except for the addition of the turrets on the corner domes.

The court is about as large as the mosque itself and is surrounded by a continuous vaulted arcade (revak). It has ablution facilities on both sides. The central hexagonal fountain is small relative to the courtyard.

The monumental but narrow gateway to the courtyard stands out architecturally from the arcade. Its semi-dome has a fine stalactite structure, crowned by a small ribbed

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is first one of the two mosques in Turkey that has six minarets, the second one being the Sabancı Mosque in Adana. When the number of minarets was revealed, the Sultan was criticized for being presumptuous, since this was the same minarets number as at the mosque of the Ka’aba in Mecca. He overcame this problem by ordering a seventh minaret to be built at the Mecca mosque.

Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque. Each of these fluted, pencilshaped minarets has three balconies (Called Şerefe) with stalactite corbels, while the two others at the end of the forecourt only have two balconies. Before the muezzin or prayer caller had to climb a narrow spiral staircase five times a day to announce the call to prayer.

Today, a public announce system is being used, and the call can be heard across the old part of the city, echoed by other mosques in the vicinity. Large crowds of both Turks and tourists gather at sunset in the park facing the mosque to hear the call to evening prayers, as the sun sets and the mosque is brilliantly illuminated by colored floodlights.

Source: : SULTANAHMETCAMII.ORG

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un

Mrs. Quresha Shams Jillani, wife of our beloved editorial board member and renowned author and poet Mr. Shams Jillani, passed away on March 5, 2017. The Miracle Media group offers its deepest condolences to Mr. Jillani and the rest of the family. May Allah (SWT) grant her the highest place in Jannah and grant patience to everyone. Ameen

23

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

MIRA PC A LK EI S ST P AENC I A L

78th Pakistan Resolution Day – 23rd March 1940

T

By: Farhan Imaan INCPak he people of Pakistan celebrate the 23rd of March, every year, with great zeal and enthusiasm, to commemorate the most outstanding achievement of sub-continent Muslims who passed the historic Pakistan Resolution on this day at Minto Park, Lahore in 1940.

The Lahore Pakistan Resolution also known as Karar darey Pakistan was indeed a landmark in the history for the Muslims of the sub-continent. Before this, the Muslims of sub-continent had no goal and no future in view and Muslim politics remained in the hands of the individuals with conflicting interests and inclinatio_ns. As soon as Lahore Resolution was passed by the Muslim League, the Hindu press started criticising the Muslim League and declared this resolution as Pakistan Resolution. The personality of Mohammad Ali Jinnah was also criticised by the Hindus and their prominent leaders. Mohammad Ali Jinnah got nationwide popularity after Lahore Resolution, because the Muslims of India had a lot of expectations from him and he was the only source of inspiration for the Muslims.

The All India Muslim League played a vital role in the creation of Pakistan in the year 1940. Muslim league had become a stronger political party for the Muslims of Indo-Pak Subcontinent, under which the Muslims were struggling for a separate homeland for them. The great leader of the Muslims, Mohammad Ali Jinnah by the time had become the lining symbol of Muslim unity and Muslim politics and the Muslims had so completely centred on him that he had become almost an institution in himself.

Pakistan Resolution Day

The resolution which was passed at the session reads: “No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign”.

It further reads, “That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in the units and in the regions for the protection

In the words of Quaid-i-Azam: “Hindus and the Muslims belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither inter-marry nor inter-dine and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations that are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their concepts on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes and different episodes…” of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of the minorities, with their consultation. Arrangements thus should be made for the security of Muslims where they were in a minority”.

The Resolution turned down the concept of United India and recommended the creation of an independent Muslim state consisting of Punjab, N. W. F. P (now Khyber Pakhtonkhwa), Sindh and Balochistan in the northwest, and Bengal and Assam in the northeast.

The Majority of Pakistani specially The Youth is Patriot and follow the footsteps of Quaid-e-Azam, but unfortunately Pakistani Government time to time messed up the idealogy of Pakistan completely. In 1940 The muslims decided their destiny hence not for the way it is in the present 2014, everything is totally opposite and messed up completely.

Last Year Balochistan Liberation Army ( BLA ) Blown off Quaid’s Residency. Sad and Shameful for the Government, Only one gaurd as assigned to take care of this treasure, that’s not all you won’t believe what’s happening at Mazar-e-Quaid, Quaide-Azam always spoken about the Justice but that does not exist anymore for the ordinary Pakistani at all.

Where is Quaid’s Pakistan?

Why only Youth Cares and nobody else even remembers what he said and what Pakistan should’ve been by now. In 1960 ” Pakistan was about to be the Asian Tigers ” one of the leading South Asian Country in the region but after the fall of Dhaka everything changed.

Until 1973 There was no Authentic Constitution in the country, although 1958 Constitution existed but don’t know who and how practiced it. What 1973’s constitution changed for an ordinary man in Pakistan !NOTHING until now there is no sign of Justice.

Don’t Blame the youth for the wrong decisions and plannings, Government is busy somewhere else while distributing Laptops and Loan with Interest which is Haram in Islam for the Youth.

Still we have the chance to Save Pakistan from these Corrupt people in Power, You and I make the difference, trust me, we live

and die for our motherland and we have that same spirit to lead our country proudly, InshaAllah we will succeed.

We are determined, United , Committed and Devoted to serve our People, We have no difference and this day is very important for us, we are Thankful of everyone those who Anticipated in Pakistan Resolution in 1940, Without it, we wouldn’t had this beautiful land known as Pakistan ” No matter where you go in Pakistan, You feel like Home” because it is. – Take Care of Pakistan and Quaid’s Dream come true…. Love Live Pakistan .

24

Jamadi ul Thani 19. 1438 March 17, 2017

MIRAC S PL O E RS TPSE C I A L

Lahore final could pave way for World XI visit to Pakistan

The PCB is looking to build upon the momentum of a successful and incident-free Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore on Sunday, by hosting a T20 series in the

country against a team of foreign players in September this year. It is unclear currently what the nature of the touring side will be. A senior PCB official said it would be a “com-

monwealth XI” but a report in the Guardian referred to a World XI. Giles Clarke, the ECB president, and head of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Force, is a driving force behind the venture. He visited Pakistan in January and was given briefings on security arrangements for visiting sides. It was his first visit to the country as head of the Pakistan Task Force and he met with senior officials of the Punjab government to assess the security arrangements. He then gave a presentation on his visit at the ICC board meeting soon after.

On Monday, he congratulated PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan on the “successful staging” of the PSL final, calling it a “tremendous achievement”. Referring to the series, he said: “Very well played. We will be there in September.” According to the Guardian, the team that will visit Pakistan is expected to assemble in Dubai on September 17 before flying to Lahore for the matches on September 22, 23, 28 and 29. Among the interna-

tional players to play in the PSL final were Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Jordan and Morne van Wyk, who travelled in bullet-proof buses to the ground amid high security. Sammy, who captained Peshawar Zalmi to a 58-run win in the final, spoke in glowing terms about the experience. “To me it was more than just a game,” he said after the match. “When you have not been in a place you always have your doubts. You get different views, different opinions. But I spoke to Javed [Afridi, the Peshawar team owner] and Shahid Afridi and they influenced my decision to come here. “The fans here deserve to see their players playing as they haven’t seen it for quite a while. I am glad I came here. Being here felt like playing in St Lucia, playing in India or anywhere else in the world. And like I said at the toss, today I felt cricket was the winner.”

Source: Cricinfo

Nike to launch high-tech hijab for female Muslim athletes

Nike Inc will launch a hijab for female Muslim athletes early next year, becoming the first major sports apparel maker to offer a traditional Islamic head scarf designed specifically for competition, the company said on Wednesday. The head covering, marketed under the “Pro Hijab” brand, is designed to allow athletes to observe the traditional Islamic practice of covering the head without compromising performance. Made from a lightweight, flexible material, the hijab is expected to hit stores shelves in early 2018, Nike said in a statement. In recent years, the hijab has become the most visible symbol of Islamic culture in the United States and Europe. Many Muslim women cover their heads in public with the hijab as a sign of modesty, but some critics see it

as a sign of female oppression. With sensitivities over immigration and the perceived threat of Muslim extremism running high, the head scarf has led to attacks against Muslim women. At the same time, the hijab has evolved in a symbol of diversity that Nike has embraced. The Women’s March on Washington, held the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, used the face of a woman wearing a hijab in an American flag pattern as its promotional image. Muslim athletes visiting Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, just outside of Portland, have complained about the difficulties of wearing a hijab while competing, according to the company. The company consulted with Muslim women athletes from around the world, including Middle Eastern runners

and cyclists, in designing the hijab. Other companies have also set their sights on hijab sales to Muslim athletes. Last year, Danish sportswear company Hummel unveiled a soccer jersey with an attached hijab for the Afghanistan national women soccer team.

Non-professional women Muslim athletes have used athletic hijabs made by smaller companies. But Nike’s annual net sales in the billions, and its reach in popular culture, can do more to bring Muslim athletes into the fold, said Amna Al Haddad, a Nikesponsored weightlifter from the United Arab Emirates who consulted on “Pro Hijab.” “(It will) encourage a whole new generation to pursue sports without feeling there is a limitation because of modesty or dresscode,” Haddad said. Source: GEO News

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