What does Ramadan teach us?

who has slighted us. During Ramadan, people take time to pray and practice self-reflection. It is also a time to seek forgiveness, apologize and settle arguments. Letting go of anger and resentment is a good practice that helps us move beyond petty differences and focus on the good in our relationships. And self-reflection is an important part of letting go of old issues. If you are struggling in a relationship, ask yourself if you have responsibility. Then, think about how you may have hurt the other person–and how that also hurt you.

Lesson Three: Mercy and Compassion

All religions teach mercy and ask us to be compassionate of others. But Ramadan teaches Muslims to think about how they can be more compassionate every day for an entire month. That’s a lot of selfreflection! Many people help others by giving money or food–or perhaps contributing their time to a cause that helps others. While we may not devote 30 days to thinking about how we can give back, we probably have a few hours every week to assist those who are less fortunate.

Ramadan is experienced differently by everyone. We all lead different lifestyles, live in different communities and even fast at different hours around the world. Ramadan brings us all together through worship and fasting and allows us to reflect on shared experiences during this holy month. In this post we reflect on the different lessons and experiences that shape Ramadan for us and characterise it as the enriching and beautiful experience it is. One lesson Ramadan teaches us particularly well every year is of course, patience. From fasting long hours to reading and understanding the whole Quran – especially if Arabic is not your first language. Everything we do in Ramadan is driven by patience and not in a short-term sense either. Patience that the hunger, thirst and long nights staying up in worship will be rewarded accordingly is what drives many of us during this month.

Another lesson that is most valuable is practicing self-discipline.

How Your Closest Relationships

Liking the people you’re around may not just be good for your mental health — it could also be good for your physical and physiological health too.

According to a new study published last week in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the way you feel about your close personal relationships on a day-to-day basis may have an impact on how well your body physically functions.

“Both positive and negative experiences in our relationships contribute to our daily stress, coping, and physiology, like blood pressure and heart rate reactivity,” Brian Don, lead author of the study with the University of Auckland, New Zealand, said in a press release. “Additionally, it’s not just how we feel about our relationships overall that matters; the ups and downs are important too.” While previous research has looked at the impact that conflict within relationships has upon the body in terms of blood pressure or stress levels, this new research cast a wider net by looking at whether positive relationships had an impact on physical health as well as negative ones. Researchers tracked more than 4,000 participants drawn from all over the world over the course of three weeks. During that time, participants were required to check in daily through an app on their smartphone or smartwatch, giving information about their blood pressure, heart rate, stress and how they were coping on a day-to-day basis. Every third day, they would complete reflections on their current feelings about their closest relationship, focusing on both positive and negative experiences and feelings concerning that person. In general, people who reported more positive experiences with their closest relationship were more likely to also have lower blood pressure and lower reported stress levels, along with better coping. Researchers also observed that overall negative relationships that saw a lot of daily ping-ponging between improving and getting worse were predictive of more stress, poorer coping and higher blood pressure.

Those who had the highest overall positive relationships were less likely to report a wide margin of variability in their day-to-day experiences with that person, while those with the most overall negative relationships reported greater negative variability, suggesting an erratic relationship with someone could be a contributor to its overall negativity.

The blood pressure and heart rate measurements were recorded using an optic sensor that comes with some Samsung phones and smartwatches, such as the Galaxy S9. Researchers said that this data raises the question of how outside factors impact relationships, and thus physiological health. For instance, this could be yet another way that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health of the global population, they suggest.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, relationships have been facing unprecedented challenges, turbulence, and change,” Don said.

“What this means is that the COVID pandemic may have health implications not just because of the virus itself, but also indirectly as a result of the impact it has on people’s relationships. That is, because the COVID-19 pandemic has created considerable strain, turbulence, and variability in people’s relationships, it may indirectly alter stress, coping, and physiology in daily life, all of which have important implications for physical well-being.”

Researchers stated that while the overall impact of negative relational experiences on blood pressure in particular was small, the pattern they observed could become a larger problem if it contributed to elevated blood pressure throughout everyday life, potentially accumulating into “long-term physiological harm.”

The study didn’t stratify participant responses based on what type of close relationship they were reporting their experiences about, meaning they didn’t measure whether a negative romantic relationship, for example, might be more detrimental to health than a negative close friend relationship.

The study also was limited by their sample, as participants were around 48 years old on average, with around 65 per cent male participants and 35 per cent female participants.

To be able to overcome our desires for something far greater than ourselves and out of personal choice is the epitome of self-discipline and its beautifully displayed during Ramadan amongst millions of Muslims. This month allows us to practice this self-discipline beyond Ramadan too through the healthy habits we pick up.

For many of us and the lifestyles we lead, praying on time at work can prove to be increasingly difficult – especially when meetings are scheduled right around prayer times. This leads us on to the final lesson we think Ramadan teaches us the most and that’s pride. Pride in the faith we practice, pride in yourself and in your body for being able to carry out long 18 hour fasts day in day out during this month. Pride in letting others also know of what Ramadan means to you and what fasting and prayer means to you. Those are just some of the skills we’ve learnt during Ramadan – but there are many more! What are some of the lessons you’ve learnt? Reflect and feel free to share with me at : asmashums@gmail.com

Three quarters of participants were white, and the majority hailed from the U.S. It’s important to note also that this study only looked at the association between these factors, and doesn’t contain evidence of a causal link between feeling down about a close relationship and experiencing physical impacts. Researchers are hoping that further examination will be able to establish the biological processes behind why a person’s overall blood pressure or stress levels may increase after a fight with a close friend. “It would be useful to examine other physiological states, such as neuroendocrine or sympathetic nervous system responses as outcomes of daily positive and negative relationship experiences, which may reveal different patterns of associations,” Don said.Source: ctvnews.ca/health

Donald trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony charges

NEW YORK - Former U.S. president Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records arising from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter. The plea came during a history-making arraignment in a lower Manhattan courtroom, with Trump becoming the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal prosecution.

The two officials who confirmed the plea spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because prosecutors had not yet released the indictment publicly.

The arraignment, though procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.

A silent and stone-faced Trump, his lips pursed in apparent anger, entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. He left court about an hour later, also without commenting.

Before the arraignment, he narrated his feelings in real time, describing the experience as “SURREAL” as he travelled from Trump Tower to lower Manhattan to face a judge. It represents the new split-screen reality for Trump as he submits to the dour demands of the American criminal justice system while projecting an aura of defiance and victimhood at celebratory campaign events. Wearing his signature dark suit and red tie, Trump turned and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed. He arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade from Trump Tower, communicating in real time his anger at the process...

Source: ctvnews.ca

finland joins NAto, dealing blow to Russia for Ukraine war

More than 350 arrests in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound: Israel policeto 34 felony charges

Israeli police arrested more than 350 people early Wednesday after clashes at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, a police spokesperson said.

In a statement, police said they had “arrested and removed over 350 individuals that violently barricaded” themselves inside the mosque in the Old City of annexed east Jerusalem. Those arrested included “masked individuals, stone and firework hurlers/throwers, and individuals suspected of desecrating the mosque,” it said. Israeli police attacked dozens of worshippers in the mosque’s compound before dawn in the wee hours of the day in what Israeli police said was a response to rioting. The incident sparked protests across the occupied West Bank and the Israeli military claimed nine rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel after sirens blared in southern towns. Violence in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem has surged over the past year and there is concern that tensions could escalate this month, as the Muslim holy month of Ramazan coincides with Judaism’s Passover and Christian Easter.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said seven Palestinians sustained wounds from rubber-tipped bullets and beatings in clashes with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. It added that Israeli forces were preventing its medics from reaching the mosque. “I was sitting on a chair reciting (Quran),” an elderly woman told Reuters outside the mosque, struggling to catch her breath. “They hurled stun grenades, one of them hit my chest,” she said as she began to cry. Source: dawn.com

Somalia drought may have killed 43,000 in 2022, half under 5: UN

BRUSSELS - Finland joined the NATO military alliance Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a historic realignment of Europe’s post-Cold War security landscape triggered by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Nordic country’s membership doubles Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance. Finland had adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II, but its leaders signaled they wanted to join NATO after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through its neighbours. ”The era of nonalignment in our history has come to an end --- a new era begins,” President Sauli Niinisto said before his country’s blue-and-white flag was raised outside NATO headquarters. A short distance away, outside the security fence, a few dozen people wrapped in flags of their own chanted, “Ukraine needs NATO.” In praising Finland’s membership, U.S. President Joe Biden noted it came on the 74th anniversary of the signing of NATO’s founding treaty on April 4, 1949. “When Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could divide Europe and NATO. He was wrong,” Biden said in a statement. “Today, we are more united than ever. And together -- strengthened by our newest ally, Finland -- we will continue to preserve transatlantic security, defend every inch of NATO territory, and meet any and all challenges we face.” The move is a strategic and political setback for Putin, who has long complained about NATO’s expansion toward Russia and partly used that as a justification for the invasion. Source: ctvnews.ca

Fiji: MiDA Act 2010 repealed on floor of fiji parliament

members of the media fraternity in the country. “The MIDA 2010 amongst other things regulates the ownership, registration and content of media organisations in Fiji,” Mr Turaga said.

He said the repeal of MIDA did not mean that media organisations and reporters could report on anything and everything without having authentic sources and facts.

After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, rate of fatalities could rise in first half of 2023, research finds. Somalia’s ongoing record drought may have killed as many as

43,000 people last year, and half of them were children under the age of five, according to a report released by the government and United Nations agencies.

The research released on Monday marked the first attempt to estimate countrywide deaths in a crisis that experts warn is more severe than the country’s last major drought in 2017 and 2018. Led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the study warned that the rate of fatalities could rise in the first half of 2023 as it projected total deaths for this period from 18,100 to 34,200.

Source: aljazeera.com

Be Isme Rabbi

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The Media Industry Development (Repeal) Bill 2023 was passed in Parliament at 11.06am today despite fierce debate from the Opposition parliamentarians.

While presenting the motion in Parliament on Monday pursuant to Standing Order 51, Fiji’s Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said the Bill to repeal the existing Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) 2010 meant that freedom of expression would be assured for

The debate was limited to one hour only with six speakers registering their interest to participate in the debate – Opposition MP Premila Kumar, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo, Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto, Deputy PM and Minister for External Trade Manoa Kamikamica, Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad.

The Bill was passed after a vote: 29 for the motion, 21 against and three did not vote.

Yesterday, Fiji media leaders met in Suva as it committed to commence work to revive the Fiji Media Council – the body that holds to account media standards and complaints in the country. Source: fijitimes.com

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GIVE YOUR ZAKAH, LILLAH, SADAQA or DONATIONS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PAIN AND SUFFERINGS OF THE ORPHANS IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA. Yes, We Care !!!

Surrey donates almost $40,000 in iCnA Relief Canada’s Fundraiser for humanitarian causes

Event photographs at Pg 10

By: Abdul G. Ghaffari

ICNA Relief Canada organized Fundraising Iftar / dinner for the Turkiye & Syria Earthquake Relief and Pakistan FloodRelief. The event held at Reflections

Banquet

Hall Convention Center in Surrey on Sunday, March 26, attracted 300 participants who donated almost $40,000. Renowned scholar Sh Daood Butt, Director Islamic Center Milton, Ontario and Taha Mao, Director Domestic Programs, ICNA Relief Canada were keynote speakers. The program started with a beautiful recitation, by Br Furqan Memon. Sheikh Daood Butt talked about the plight and suffering from earthquakes and floods in Turkiye,

Syria, and Pakistan. He urged the participants to earn the pleasure of Allah swt in the holy month of Ramadan and to generously donate for humanitarian causes. He admired ICNA Relief for extending support to the suffering humanity through its volunteers effectively on ground. Sheikh Daood said that we should put ourselves in the shoes of those undergoing through hardship to get the feeling and motivation to help them and should show compassion and empathy, instead of mere sympathy. He emphasized the Orphan Sponsorship program and said that by spending $720 per annum, or $60 per month you can take care of an orphan.

Director Domestic Programs, Taha Mao briefed about ICNA Relief programs and services spanning 22 countries since 1997.

ICNA Relief served more people and communities than ever before disbursing an amount of $22,857,810 in relief and humanitarian efforts. Spent $833500 on deserving 11241 families comprising of 44250 individuals through its 11 food banks across Canada and served 5000 hot meals to the homeless. Helped settle 92 refugee families in Canada so far. Provided $84000 to zakatdeserving. Donated quarter million dollars to three hospitals. ICNA Relief’s Orphan sponsorship program helped over 6000 orphan children who received support of about $2.5 million in 13 countries. Almost $500,000 was distributed in 14 countries before last Eid-ul-Fitr. Spent $160,000 for healthcare projects in India and Syria. Spent over $1.25 million in response to disaster and emergency relief. Disbursed over

$131,000 and served over 400,000 people with fresh meat. Spent about $500,000 ensuring quality education for tens of thousands of children. During 2021, management expenses were only 4.22%, while fundraising expenses were only 4.01%. More than 91.77% of donations were directly spent on programs and deserving people.

Ghulam Mustafa Sajid, Regional VP, ICNA, urged the participants to donate for the ICNA Resource Center Surrey Project. President ICNA Vancouver, Br Abdullah Javed also addressed the event. Donations can still be made online at icnareliefcanada.ca/donate OR by sending an e-transfer to VANCOUVER@ICNACANADA.CA.

Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah did fundraising for its under construction project

Event photographs at Pg 10

On April 1st, the fundraising for the construction of Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah, Surrey, BC at the Iftar dinner in Grand Taj Park Banquet Hall Surrey was hosted under the Islamic Association of Western Canada. Alhamdulillah, in a very well-attended community raised almost $150, 000 in donations and Qardh-e-Hasanah. May Allah bless and reward everyone who donated or gave Qardh-e-Hasanah.

Mr. Hadier khan was the master of the ceremony, and Br, Saad Rasool did the recitation of the Holy Quran and Nasheed also Br, Muzamil, and Br, A.R.Salis recited beautiful Naat e Rasool e Maqbool (saw). Allama Mohammed Ayyub Ashrafi and Imam Syed Soharwardy motivated the community with references to the Quran verses and Sunnah to more participation with the contribution of materials and donations to pay the over- due Masjid construction invoices of around $600, 000. Brother Asad Gondal (President of BCMA), Br, Syed Asif, Br, Sajid Hameed, and Br, Muhammad Arjumand Tahir also contributed to raising funds. Mr. Haroon Raza presented the latest Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah’s construction presentation. Ghulam Hussain (Vice Council General of Pakistan, Vancouver BC), many prominent community members, CMMC Media directors, and religious leaders came to this event to show their support. Alhamdulillah, once again, the program proved that the entire Muslim community is united to complete the construction of the Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah and gave generous donations. May Allah bless the entire management team, all the volunteers, donors, supporters, and sponsors, for their time and donations, for making this fundraising event successful.

Bilal Cheema and islamic Relief Host a community iftar in Surrey

Event photographs at Pg 10

Bilal Cheema and Islamic Relief Canada hosted a Community Iftar in the heart of Surrey, at the Surrey Arts Center that reflected the diversity of the beautiful city. The Community Iftar was an opportunity to bring together community representation from all faiths and community groups to mark the beginning of the blessed Islamic month of Ramadan. Leadership and community representation from Indigenous, Sikh, Hindu and Christian groups joined member of the Muslim community to learn about the significance of this month and the teachings and values that guide Muslims during the holy month.

Imam Sadique Pathan and Shaykh Sheryar

Bashir shared the fundamental principles, teachings and customs of the month.

Participants at the event walked away with a better understanding and appreciation of Ramadan. Participants were welcomed by a young Sister Fatima Qureshi, volunteer with Islamic Relief Canada.

The event also featured a welcome by Indigenous Councillor David Kenworthy from Katzie First Nation.

Bilal invited Indigenous participation to ensure we are reminded on whose ancestral lands the gathering took place. Councillor Kenworthy stayed for the evening and thanked the organizers for the inclusive nature of the event.

Members of Surrey City Council, Member s of the Provincial Legislature and Members of Parliament also graced the event and had an opportunity to meet and engage with participants. Madame Mayor Brenda Locke reiterated the Islamic greeting she heard earlier that evening with “Peace Be Upon You” and thanked the organizers for welcoming community participation as we build our growing city.

Host Bilal Cheema spoke about community, suggesting the month of Ramadan is an exercise of community building through the pursuit of purposeful and meaningful community engagement. He elaborated on the sacrifice from worldly affairs and the pursuit of familial, community, spiritual connection made by Muslims during the month of Ramadan. He highlighted the generosity and kindness that propel Muslims to help and support one another during the month and the focus on sharing and charity that is displayed from mosque to mosque; home to home.

The evening was concluded with a delicious dinner that was enjoyed by all.

National Zakat foundation’s 10 year Anniversary Grand Iftar fundraising Gala

Event photographs at Pg 10

On March 25th, the National Zakat Foundation (NZF) hosted its first ever Grand Iftar Fundraising Gala in British Columbia, at Taste of Lahore’s Hall. The event was sponsored by Islamic Relief Canada and The Cookie Cutter, with approximately 100 people in attendance. During the Grand Iftar, guests were given a warm welcome by National Zakat Foundation’s Regional Development Manager of BC - Husna Hussain, as well as NZF’s Program Director - Zaid Mirza, and Head of Outreach and Development - Adil Siddiqui who were attending from Mississauga, Ontario. National Zakat Foundation’s Fundraising Gala focused on the importance of Zakat and giving Zakat locally to Muslims living in Canada especially during these times of inflation, economic crisis, and high unemployment rates. The evening consisted of keynote speeches from NZF’s Shariah Advisory Board; Imam Taha Masood and Imam Nabil Khan. Imam Taha Masood spoke on the Sunnah and Prophetic teachings regarding the 3rd Pillar, emphasizing the requirement on every Muslim to pay Zakat not only as a religious obligation, but as an honorable duty and opportunity to seek re- wards from Allah Subhan Wa Ta’ala. Imam Nabil Khan led the fundraising segment of the event and discussed how the Sahabas in Islam even waged war to establish the Pillar of Zakat, further emphasizing the seriousness of Zakat education, collection and distribution among Canada’s Muslim community. National Zakat Foundation’s Regional Manager of BC, Husna Hussain, also spoke of her heartbreaking experiences in dealing with cases and calls she had received across the province that impacted her, as well as the fact NZF’s team ran out of giving Zakat funds to the community nationally on March 13th, 2023.

British Columbia Muslim Association’s (BCMA) Vice President Iltaf Sahib, British Columbia Muslim Schools’ (BCMS) Principal Syed Imran Ahmed, Nisa Homes, AlIhsan Institute and Islamic Relief Canada’s respective teams were also in attendance, bringing together BC’s largest Muslim organizations for the sake of collecting and giving Zakat locally during this blessed month of Ramadan.

The event concluded with an Iftar, and dinner provided by Taste of Lahore Restaurant, and Salat-al-Maghrib.

Allhumdulilla The Miracle Media is proud that the Miracle is the only one in the BC Muslim Print Media market which is non-stop a bi-weekly publication during the Pandemic 2019-2022 and after the Covid crisis till this day.

Its availability at Website. miraclenews.com, Facebook (the Miracle Newspaper), Twitter, (https://twitter.com/Miraclenews1), and at two other digital printing service providers, “Press Reader” at https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-miracle/latest and “Magzter “ at https://www.magzter.com/CA/ Miracle-Media-Group-Inc in all over the world.

Surrey donates almost $40,000 in iCnA Relief Canada’s Fundraiser for humanitarian causes

Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah did fundraising for its under construction project

Bilal Cheema and islamic Relief Host a community iftar in Surrey Arts Centre

National Zakat foundation’s 10 year Anniversary Grand Iftar fundraising Gala