Inside this month issue
Muslims in Honours List
FEATURED Solo Sex
Bullies &
Issue: 10
January 2009
Saudi denies counter terror Operation
Murderers Israel’s Illegal War against Innocent Palestinians
Special Report on Pages 3 & 8
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the Passion
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I January 2009
Israel has all the answers for War but none for peace As the Israel army move into ground attack it is clear the intensions of Israel’s brutal plans, they seem to have all the answers for war but none for peace. As the UK and USA look on this could lead to destroying communities and faith within each other in other countries and the hard work that scholars of all faiths have done could be jeopardise, by the time UK and USA figure out who’s right and who’s wrong the war will be lost for all humans. George W Bush comment on Hamas being at blame for these
attacks gives a clear indication that USA have no intentions of stopping this barbaric attack on innocent Palestian’s and he would be equally to blame for the life’s being lost in Gaza but then what would you expect from a man who has a legacy of failures and has little value within the human race and a reputation for being a Warlord, majority of people will be happy to see him go and for the
elect president Obama, well if his to go the way of Mr Bush then his doom for failure from the start.
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Al-Sudais asks Muslims to rally behind Palestinians
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I January 2009
LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS
In his Friday speech, Imam of the Grand Mosque Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais appealed to international bodies to take steps to ensure an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and condemned state-sponsored terrorism against innocent people. “On behalf of all Muslims in the world we call on the international community and other organizations to immediately stop this Zionist terrorism,” Al-Sudais said. He further urged all Muslim countries to rally behind the Palestinians and offer them help. Addressing the Palestinians, he said, “Brothers in faith, be optimistic, you will be victorious with the help of Allah. Dawn breaks after the darkness of the night. Relief will come after the misery,” he said. Quoting a verse from the Holy Qur’an, he said, “So lose not heart, nor fall into despair, for you will gain mastery if you are true in faith.”
He added that the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked the believers to be patient and optimistic at times of hardships. “The great prophets of Islam achieved their goals against all odds with their optimism, hope, patience, strong faith and prayers.” He told the people of Gaza that the Hijrah new year was the right occasion to keep their hopes alive. “Let us begin the new year of the Hijrah calendar hoping for good news because the blessed Hijrah of the Prophet (pbuh) inspired the succeeding generations with optimism and hope for great achievements,” he said. He also underscored the significance of Muharram, the first month of the new year. “It was in Muharram that Allah’s Messenger Musa (pbuh) achieved victory over the mighty tyrant Pharaoh,” he said. He also commended the efforts of the Saudi government and people to help Gazans.
In his sermon at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Sheikh Salah Al-Budair expresses grief over the pitiable state of Muslims in Palestine where people are being massacred, buildings destroyed and lands grabbed by Israel. He stressed the need for greater unity and mutual support and called on the believers to offer all possible assistance to the people of Gaza. “Is it befitting to the Muslims, who are the largest in the world in terms of population and richest in resources, to throw their brethren to the mercy of a bunch of wolfish Jews?” Sheikh Al-Budair said, adding that the “world is being ruled by a jungle law.” He told the Muslims to unite because “it is the duty of people of Islam to strengthen themselves with mutual support so that they can protect their land, holy places and religion particularly at times of calamities and disasters.”
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Banks accused of targeting Save the Ummah Muslim charities www.uwt.org
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LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS
British banks are being accused of systematically targeting Muslim charities after a second humanitarian organisation had its accounts closed. Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT), which carries out relief operations in more than 20 countries, expressed its ‘dismay’ in receiving a 30 day notice from Barclays Bank without any apparent reason. The closing of its accounts comes after Interpal, Britain’s leading charity operating in the occupied territories, had a similar notification about Lloyds TSB no longer clearing its cheques. UWT, which has been banking with Barclays since its inception in 2001, criticized the decision to close its accounts as being ‘without justification’. “This decision will not only affect the great work carried out by UWT but will affect millions of people who rely on UWT,” the trust’s director of operations, Mohammed Ahmed said. “Targeting charities in this way 297x210_COMBINED_PASION ISLAM_3304_english.ai 14/05/2008 18:16:14
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shows there is a conceited attempt to stop the good work in politicallysensitive regions by leading British Muslim charities,” Ahmed said in a statement obtained by IRNA. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) criticized what it called the ‘summary closures and denial of services’ by the banks towards institutions affiliated to its umbrella organisation. “We are deeply worried by these developments because in every reported instance no explicit reasons are given by the banks,” said MCB deputy secretary general, Daud Abdullah. “Clearly those worst affected would not be the officials who administer the charities but the tens of thousands of impoverished people who rely on their humanitarian aid and support,” Abdullah warned. “We have already communicated our concerns to the highest level of government, the Charity Commission
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I January 2009
and the banks concerned and have been assured that the matter is dealt with utmost urgency,” he added. Some organisations are so incensed by the closure that they are calling on Muslims to petition British bank and review who they are banking with. UWT said that despite the measures it was still able to use conventional banking facilities to disperse funds for its projects and urged donors to continue to support its projects across the Muslim world.
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England’s first Masajid to be refurbish
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A £3m project to refurbish what is believed to be England’s first Masajid gets under way this month. The restoration of the Grade II listed building at Number 8 Brougham Terrace in Liverpool will begin after emergency repairs to the roof are completed. The mosque was opened on Christmas Day 1889 by Henry William Quilliam, who converted to Islam in 1887, adopting the name Abdullah Quilliam. The Masajid stopped running in 1908 when Abdullah Quilliam went travelling. Dr Mohammad Akbar Ali, 85, set up the Abdullah Quilliam Society in 1997 with the intention of restoring the mosque to its former glory. Galib Khan, the current chairman of the Abdullah Quilliam Society, said he hoped part of the building would be opened in the next six months. About £2.5m still needs to be raised He said: “It’s a heritage site for us.
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This truly is the birthplace of Islam in Britain. We want to make it into a heritage centre for Islamic culture and interfaith dialogue. We will start on the refurbishment once we have finalised the lease arrangements with the city council.” The emergency repairs to the roof cost about £100,000 and £2.5m still needs to be raised towards the restoration project. Mumin Khan, chief executive of the Abdullah Quilliam Society, said: “We have reached a milestone and breakthrough by raising more than a quarter of a million pounds in pledges for the work with one of the Bangladeshi-language channels. “This allows us to start the refurbishment phase of the project while carrying out further fundraising.” A spokesman for English Heritage, the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, said: “It is an immensely important monument
I January 2009
Top: Shows the Masajid in its current state originally opened in 1889 Below: An Artist drawing of the Masajid after the it’s million pound completion
to Islam in Britain and it is believed to be England’s earliest mosque.” The refurbishment work is due to begin this month.
Muslims in New Years Honours List
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I January 2009
Ebrahim Dockrat, 47 of Batley, West Yorkshire has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in West Yorkshire. He is the chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside’s Hate Crime Scrutiny Panels, an independent CPS body which looks at the way cases with race, religious, disable, elderly and homophobic cases are handled by the Crown Prosecution Service. An initiative that was originally conceived in West Yorkshire in 2004 and the success has been so significant that the CPS has implemented the creation of these panels across the country. In other roles, he is the Skills development Director for the Learning Skills Council in Yorkshire and the Humber, Chair of the West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board Diversity Panel and a former chairman of 4 years and currently member of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society based in Batley. He told Passion Islam: “Whilst I feel very privileged and honoured to receive this accolade, I also feel very humbled by this nomination, as we all know very often it’s a collective effort on part of a team that enables one to realise a goal and this is very much the case in our work on the Hate Crime Scrutiny Panels”. Muhammad Chishti, 35 an Imam from Rochdale and a father of three has laso received a MBE for services
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to the Muslim community in his home town, where he has been actively involved in community and religious affairs for a number of years. An Imam at Forest Bank Prison for eight years, and has served in the same role at Buckley Hall Prison for the past two years. His work involves planning and delivering weekly sermons to Muslim inmates, and he has been particularly effective in helping them make plans for resuming life when they have completed their sentences. He said of his award: “I feel genuinely honoured, though I had to ask myself what I had really done to merit the award. To me, I just do what I do.” He said: “My prison work is something that I have found particularly rewarding, and I have been humbled when inmates have told me that had they had an Imam like me, they might never have ended up inside in the first place. “Similarly my multi-faith work is something that I believe is both very important, and again rewarding. I have been involved in numerous sermon exchanges with other faiths and it is essential that we inter-react and learn to respect each other.
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“I think it is all a matter of being approachable. I consider myself a human being first, and a Muslim second. It takes a great deal of time to build relationships, but it can be done.” Salima Hafejee, of Bradford, A former director of the Bradford Youth Development Partner-ship and member of the Youth Justice Board, has been awarded an OBE for her services to community relations in West Yorkshire. She left her post with the partnership in August 2008 and now works as an independent consultant supporting voluntary and statutory youth services. She is a magistrate in Bradford, an independent trustee of the National Academy of Parenting Practitioners and chairman of the region’s National Empowerment Partnership.
Muslim group welcomes FA Stance against Islamophobia
The Muslim Council of Britain welcomed the strong stance adopted by the Football Association as it seeks to stamp out Islamphobia and racism on football terraces. The MCB endorses the Football
Association’s concerns over the leniency of a sentence handed down to a person who admitted chanting racist Islamophobic abuse at Middlesbrough Footballer Mido. The conviction of Barry Hutchinson under the Football Offences Act 1991, was the first conviction of its kind in the case of Islamophobia. While the conviction is very much welcome by the Muslim Council of Britain, the MCB is greatly disappointed and concerned with regards to the leniency of the sentence handed down. Mr Hutchinson was merely fined £270 with £45 costs rather than receiving, which he
ought to have, a football banning order which would have prevented him from attending future matches in the country. Both the Football Association, Middlesbrough FC have also reacted strongly in criticism of the sentence. Writing to the FA’s Chief Executive Brian Barwick. MCB’s, Dr Muhammad MBE welcomed the FA’s position on the issue saying “we concur very much with the FA’s reaction to the sentence. We would like to display our satisfaction on the firm position which you have taken in illustrating your disappointment on its leniency.”
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Passion Islam
I January 2009
‘End unlawful attacks and meet Gaza’s emergency needs Amnesty Palestinian civilians are being killed and injured in the Israeli air strikes and are increasingly lacking adequate medical care, food, medicines, electricity, water and other necessities, Amnesty International said the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in which more hundreds of Palestinians have been killed. “The horrific death toll risks growing due to the unavailability of adequate medical care for the hundreds of injured. The health sector in Gaza lacks equipment, medicine and expertise at the best of times and has been further depleted due to the prolonged Israeli blockade. It is now completely overwhelmed and unable to cope with the large number of casualties,” said Amnesty
International. Israel must grant the wounded access to hospitals in Israel and to Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank. The Egyptian authorities should also open Egyptian hospitals to those in need of medical care which is not available in Gaza and must ensure that its border guards do not resort to excessive use of force against those fleeing the bombing . The Hamas defacto administration must also ensure that its security forces and militias do not, under any circumstances, hinder or prevent the passage of the wounded or others patients trying to leave Gaza. Despite assurances from the Israeli authorities’ that humanitarian aid is
being allowed into Gaza, the reality is that the quantity of humanitarian aid and supplies which has been allowed into Gaza in recent months is only a fraction of what is required. “It is utterly unacceptable for Israel to continue to purposefully deprive 1.5 million people of food and other basic necessities. Such a policy cannot be justified on any security or other grounds and must end immediately,” said Amnesty International. “Israel must allow international humanitarian and human rights workers immediate and safe access to Gaza.” Amnesty International reiterates its call for an end to reckless and unlawful Israeli attacks against densely populated residential areas which have killed thousands of
Palestinians since 27 December, including scores of unarmed civilians and police personnel not taking part in the hostilities, and injured several hundred others. Amnesty International also calls once again on Hamas and all other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza to stop firing indiscriminate rockets against towns and villages in southern Israel, which have killed two Israeli civilians and injured several others in the past three days. Following reports that an unconfirmed number of detainees, including political detainee members of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, were killed and injured in Israeli air strikes on security installations and detention centres, Amnesty International calls on Israel not to target detention facilities. Hamas should also promptly
provide information about the fate of the detainees to their families and allow families to visit them where possible. Civilian residential homes and other buildings, including a university, have been targeted by Israeli air strikes. Compounding the atmosphere of fear resulting from the Israeli bombardments, Israeli forces have been sending seemingly random telephone messages to many inhabitants of Gaza telling them to leave their homes because of imminent air strikes against their houses. Such messages have been received by residents of multi-storey apartment building, causing panic not only for those who received the calls but for all their neighbours. Such practice was widely used by Israeli forces both in Gaza and in Lebanon in 2006, but has not been reported
since. The threatening calls seem to aim to spread fear among the civilian population, as in most cases no air strikes were carried out against the buildings. If this is the purpose, rather than to give effective warning, this practice violates international law and must end immediately. The international community, especially the members of the Quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States of America) as well as countries of the League of the Arab States, must go beyond the rhetoric and exert concrete pressure on both parties to the conflict to end the abuses of international law they are committing. The High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions should also consider holding an emergency meeting to address the situation.
Muhammad still top name in Peterborough
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Topping the charts as the most popular name given to bouncing baby boys born this year in Peterborough is Muhammad, a testament to the city’s diverse cultural population. The traditional Muslim name hit the number one spot for the second year running above names such as Jack, Thomas and Harry in the list compiled by Peterborough Register Office. Interim superintendent registrar Rosalind Yardy (53) said: “It certainly does demonstrate the diversity of the communities in the city. I think next
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year we’re going to see different spelling variations highlighting the cultural percentage of the population
I January 2009
in Peterborough, and I think we’ll see more European names.” How they stand, Peterborough’s 2008 top ten babies name number in brackets shows last years position. Top Boys 2008: 1. Mohammed (1) 2. Oliver (3) 3. Jack (2) 4. Daniel (-) 5. Charles/Charlie (8) 6. Alexander (9) 7. Thomas (4) 8. William (-) 9. James (10) 10. Benjamin (-)
Baroness urges courts to recognise Sharia divorces Sharia divorces should be recognised by courts and the Government, according to one of the country’s most senior legal figures. Baroness Butler-Sloss, the former head of the Family Division, called for judges to stop granting civil divorces to separating Muslim couples unless they had already been through a religious divorce. She claimed the move would end the “injustice” of women being left unable to remarry if their husband refused to grant them a divorce, because under Islam only men have the power to end marriages. In a debate that she chaired on Islam and English Law at London’s Temple Church, Lady Butler-Sloss, England’s first female Appeal Court judge, called for ministers to change the law for Muslims, so that a decree
absolute could not be issued by a civil court until evidence had been
obtained of a sharia divorce. This would extend to Muslims the rights created for Jews under the Divorce (Religious Marriages) Act 2002, to prevent obstructive husbands withholding divorces from their wives. Under Islam, a woman cannot issue the talaq to end a marriage except in rare circumstances. She can ask a sharia council to dissolve the marriage but in doing so she would forfeit part of her financial rights. Lady Butler-Sloss said she was “very tempted” to ask a question in the Lords as to why the 2002 Act should not be extended. She said it was an “injustice” to Muslims. A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said religious groups could apply to the Lord Chancellor to become recognised by the Act. Agencies
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MI5 to spy on jails Passion Islam
I January 2009
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Spy chiefs are putting undercover officers into Britain’s jails to monitor Islamic radicals thought to be recruiting terrorists. There are almost 10,000 Muslims in Britain’s jails— with 90 of them serving time for terror offences. Now ministers have been warned action is necessary to spot future extremist ringleaders and suicide bombers. It is the first time MI5 has put terror spies into jails. In the past they have relied on listening bugs and police informers. But now they fear more and more young men are being converted and radicalised in prison. An Imam who works with prisoners told Passion Islam “More and more inmates are turning the corner and realising the true value of
Islam through the original sources, radicalism within prison is still there but as well as more and more prisoners are turning back to the true Islam of peace and not the false twisted Islam which many have created, in the prison we all work together Muslims and non Muslims to better and value themselves and others” An Inmate told a leading national newspaper “What I believed in which I thought was the right Islam was the wrong Islam, I have changed my life completely inside the prison with the help of the local scholars who work with us here, I have learnt to respect and value things around me and how peaceful Islam is and that terrorism is very ugly disease which needs to be eradicated from society”
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A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin
I January 2009
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Date set for huge expansion to Prophet’s mosque
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WORLD NEWS
The expansion work at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah aimed at accommodating 500,000 more worshippers will start by the middle of next month, Asharq Al-Awsat daily reported. “The proposed expansion of the mosque would be the second largest after the first expansion project launched by late King Fahd in 1986 that created space for one million worshippers at peak times,” Madinah Mayor Abdul Aziz Al-Hussein said. During the first expansion, the mosque’s courtyards were extended to the western side up to Manakha Street, to the east up to Abu Dharr Street and to the north up to Sahaimi Street, which increased the capacity of the mosque to 270,000 worshippers inside and 730,000 in the courtyards. Three years ago Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ordered several projects aimed at increasing the capacity and facilities in and around the two holy mosques. Several billion riyals have already been spent on the projects that include the expansion of Masaa (place for walking between Safa and Marwa); construction of four levels at the Jamrat in Mina; and expansion of the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The new SR4.7 billion expansion project at the Prophet’s Mosque include 182 huge umbrellas to protect worshippers from sun and rain. The automatic umbrellas will protect approximately 200,000 people. The expansion of the eastern courtyard of the mosque would create an additional capacity for 70,000 worshippers with an underneath parking area for 420 cars and 70 large buses. New toilets and boarding stations will also be built in that area. Three tunnels will also be constructed to connect the mosque with the King Faisal Road 1. The project also includes the construction of new streets and pavements and electrification of the areas around the mosque, the mayor said.
The official added that 586,624 sq. meters of land will be acquired in the area between the King Abdul Aziz Road in the south, Airport Road in the north, the Pillars Street in the east and King Faisal Road in the west for the construction of more utilities and beautification of the city. When completed, the new project would create space for 500,000 in an area of 137,400 sq. meters. “In order to facilitate the expansion project, the municipal authorities have already stopped issuing licenses for new buildings near the area earmarked for the project except for buildings meant for pilgrim services,” the mayor said.
Muslim World League Chief meets British Islamic Council delegation The Secretary General of Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdullah Al Turki met members of a delegation of British Islamic Council last month. The delegation was headed by the former Secretary General of British Islamic Council Iqbal Saqrani, who is also president of Britain’s Islamic Council Society. During the meeting,
they discussed issues of mutual concern between MWL on one hand, and the Council and the Society which supervises a number of Islamic schools and offices in Britain and abroad, on the other hand. Dr. Al Turki expressed the League’s readiness to cooperate with the Council in the interest of all Muslims in Britain.
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Saudi denies counter terrorism operations in Haj Passion Islam
I January 2009
The Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has denied reports published in a Washington-based online newspaper that Saudi officials had launched a massive crackdown on Al-Qaeda terrorists who were allegedly planning to attack pilgrims participating in this year’s Haj. The Middle East Times, a sister publication of the Washington Times which is owned by News World Communications, carried the report on Dec. 16 quoting unnamed US intelligence officials. The report said the Saudi government’s operation followed alerts that Al-Qaeda planned to launch a bloody assault on pilgrims. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, described the report as “incorrect.” “We didn’t
launch any huge counterterrorism operation,” he said, adding that there was no intelligence of an attack targeting the pilgrims. The Times report stated that this year’s pilgrimage began on Dec. 6 under the nervous eye of Saudi security forces that included 20,000 ground troops, flights of combat helicopters and a large number of armored vehicles deployed at key locations. It added that “technical and other surveillance was increased” in and around Makkah, and that “the site was monitored by 10,000 security cameras and Saudi agents mixed with the pilgrims. Communication between Saudi fast reaction and special security units was improved and capability augmented.”
men and women categories. Bumalha said that some new categories including memorization of three sections (Joz) of the holy Quran will be added to the competition. The Dubai Quran Memorization and Recitation Competition is sponsored by the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktum.
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The final stage of the Tenth Edition of Dubai Quran Competition is planned to be held from February 14 to 23. According to Ibrahim Bumalha, head of the competition’s organizing committee, the event will be held in the fields of memorization and recitation of the holy Quran in two categories for men and women. He said that there will be two jury panels made up of 10 Quran scholars for
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The report added, “No four-wheel vehicles were allowed because of fears of car bombings.” Al-Turki, refuting the claim, said security forces take part in serving the pilgrims every year to assure a successful pilgrimage. “This is not something new. It’s normal, we do it all the time ... These types of security measures have been taken well before the Kingdom was struck by a wave of terrorist attacks in 2003. What’s the big deal?” he added. Referring to a claim that Saudi counterterrorism operations started three months ago with preemptive raids on suspected Al-Qaeda cells and hundreds of arrests, Al-Turki said, “No such arrests were made.”
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Dubai Quran Competition planned
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I January 2009
1.9 Million visitors to Islamic theme park in Malaysia Since it opened its doors to tourists in February 2008, the Islamic Civilization Theme Park in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, has attracted 1.9 million visitors. Za’abar Mohd Adib, an official of the Malaysian Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee, said all 21 replicas of monuments had been completed, the New Straits Times reported. Za’abar Mohd Adib also said
the river cruise package needed to be upgraded to attract more people to the park apart from continuous promotions. Launched on February 3, 2008, the theme park features 21 replica mosques including the Taj Mahal in India, the AlHambra in Spain, Al-Aqsa mosque in Quds, the Kaylan Tower in Uzbekistan and the Kudus Minar in Indonesia.
Indonesia hosts World Islamic Economic Forum
Indonesia will host the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) on March 1-4, and the event will focus on food security, energy and the financial crisis, according to the state-run news agency, Antara quoted Deputy Chairman of Indonesia’s Regional Representatives Council Irman Gusman, who is also Chairman of the WIEF Steering Committee, as saying, “This forum is of vitally importance because Islamic countries, particularly those in the Middle East, are no longer backward.” He said that countries in the Middle East had surplus funds amounting to
USD 1.5 trillion which were deposited in the Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF). “SWF was set up as a stateowned financial institution to serve as an investment instrument overseas,” he said adding that other countries like Singapore, Malaysia and China had also set up similar funding facilities,” Gusman said. Indonesia is expected to take advantage of the SWF to face the world economic crisis by asking owners of the surplus funds to invest in Indonesia. “We can take the
advantage of the Beijing-Dubai-New Delhi axis. Here lies our future,” he said. He said that at present China, India and the Middle East were now leading the front line in settling the global economic problem.
The threat of terrorism in the Netherlands remains highs. A report by the National Coordinator for CounterTerrorism warns that the Netherlands and Dutch interests abroad remain a primary target for Muslim extremists.
The main reasons, the report notes, is the anti-Islam film Fitna made by farright MP Geert Wilders. The report also finds that measures introduced to combat radicalisation and polarisation are bearing fruit. It says
fewer sermons are inciting violence or hatred while more and more Muslims are denouncing extremism. The report concludes that only some three percent of the country’s Muslims are open to radicalisation.
Terror threat still high in Netherlands due to Fitna
Passion Islam
I January 2009
WORLD NEWS
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Prince Naif warns against misinterpretation of Quran, Sunnah Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz urged Muslims to guard against misinterpretation of the Glorious Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “Sunnah is the second source of legislation after the Holy Qur’an and there should be no attempt to misinterpret it,” Prince Naif said and warned that any attempt to manipulate them would result in disunity among the Muslim ranks. Prince Naif, who is also Chairman of the Supreme Commission of Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz international Award for Prophet’s Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies, was patronizing last month the closing ceremony of handing over the award in its Third Session held by the general secretariat of the award. “The aim of honoring the best researchers in Sunnah and contemporary Islamic studies is to encourage research in the studies of Sunnah, the second source of Islamic law, and highlight its values such as tolerance and humanitarian character,” Prince Naif said. The
winners of awards this year included Dr. Abdul Razzaq bin Ismail Hermas and Dr. Yasser Ahmed Al Sayyid Noor in the Prophet’s Sunnah branch for their research on the sources of the Prophet’s Seerah between narrators and historians. The prize for the contemporary Islamic studies section went to Dr. Muhammad Hasanein Hasan Hasanein. The prize for “religious edicts (fatwa), their importance, controls and effects” was shared by Dr. Muhammad Yusri Ibrahim and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Muhammad Bin Abdullah AlDakheel. In a statement after the ceremony, Prince Naif said he felt happy at meeting a number of Islamic scholars and thinkers and people concerned with Islamic affairs, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Naif noted the weakness and backwardness of Muslims in various domains, and warned against the dangerous phenomena like terrorism, extremism, immorality and bad behavior. He said all these have resulted because the
Muslims have come to ignore the proper Islamic creed included in the Holy Qur’an and Prophet’s Sunnah. Prince Naif said non-Muslims could be excused for failure to understand Islam and the sources of the Islamic legislation, but the sons of the Muslims will never be excused if they fail to understand their religion. Prince Naif congratulated the winners of the awards this year and urged them to unwaveringly work in the service of Islam. Prince Naif also announced the establishment of an endowment involving a hotel and commercial complexes at the central zone surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque. Its proceeds would be utilized for financing another annual prize for those who work for the revival of the Sunnah. He watched a documentary film on the Endowment. The Endowment is designed like a 14story hotel on an area of more than 10,000 square meters. Its hotel includes shopping centers, restaurant and other utilities.
Nigeria to launch Islamic Translation Centre
Arrangements have reached advanced stage by the Kano state branch of Nigeria’s Council of Ulama to establish a translation centre aimed at promoting Islamic culture and Literature. The centre will be similar to the famous Baitul-Hikimah during the reign of Abbasid dynasty in Baghdad. Speaking to Daily Triumph newspaper, the Chairman of the Council Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil said that the translation centre will go along way in translating Muslim scholars’ works on various branches of religious human knowledge into Hausa and English languages. According to Sheikh Ibrahim, the uniqueness of Arabic language not only as a divine language but even in science subjects had invited the idea of establishing the centre. “When I tabled the demand before Alhaji
Garba Yusuf Abubakar while he was the commissioner of information; he welcomed the idea but in the process he was transferred to another ministry as such the effort was dashed.” He maintained that, as the chairman of Nigeria Council of Ulama, he revisited the idea and now everything possible will be done to see to the realization of the idea. On Muslim unity, the Islamic scholar asserted that it is impossible to get the Ummah united on minor issues as the Almighty (SWT) did not destine so to take place rather, major issues should be given priority when talking of unity among the Ulama and their followers. Dwelling on successes recorded during his one year in office as the chairman of Nigeria Council of Ulama, Kano state branch, Sheikh Khalil said that he can boastfully say
that the emergence of his leadership has brought concrete unity among the Ulama of all sects, and that even the newly constituted Kano state Council of Chief Imams had thumbed up his resort to tolerance and maturity in preaching. Another success according to him is his embarking on tour to seven zones across the state to interact with his counterparts where he started with three out of the seven and soon he will be in touch with the remaining four. On shifting his ‘Fahimta Fuska’ a radio phone-in program to a behind time, the Islamic scholar said that only the station’s authority can effect the change.
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Dajjal - The Dark Messiah
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‘…But I will tell you something which no Prophet has told his people. Verily he (Dajjal) is one-eyed and Allah is not one-eyed.’(Bukhari) The change in the weather had been sudden and dramatic, tossing the small fishing vessel around like a piece of flotsam; until it was no more than that. Its crew, a group of Sahaabah radiyallahu anhum (the companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad , peace & blessings be upon him), were washed up onto the shore of a foreign beach. When they regained consciousness, they found that they all had survived the wreck. They decided to explore the island to see whether they could find someone to help them, maybe supply them with a boat. It wasn’t long before they met a woman washing her hair in a rock pool. She directed them to a cave, managing to convey to them that there was someone there who wanted to speak with them. Intrigued, they entered the cave. Within, they found a short man with only one eye, chained to the cavern wall. Right away, he began to ask them questions, whether certain events had taken place or not. They answered truthfully because of their nature. They could feel the evil of this man like a physical presence. When they had confirmed all that he had
asked, the man said, ‘Alas, my time is near.’ The companions managed to get off the island and returned home safely. Upon arriving, they told their story to the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him). It was then that they first heard of Dajjal, the Dark Messiah. There are three aspects of Dajjal: 1. The individual 2. A world wide social and cultural phenomenon 3. An unseen force. The latter two aspects of Dajjal have been explained and outlined brilliantly by Ahmed Thomas in his book ‘Dajjal - The King Without Clothes.’ Through intense research, he has managed to write a brilliant account of scary facts that bring home the full weight of reality. He explains the social and cultural phenomenon as a system that is being prepared by the minions and followers of Dajjal, through which he will operate and spread his evil. The Unseen Force is defined as the supernatural beings, such as Djinns and UFO’s, who abduct and posses humans to further his cause. Contemporary books such as ‘Omen’ and ‘Body Snatchers’, paint a
frightening image of possibilities. In this article, I intend to unveil the first aspect; the individual. The Book of Revelations by John (New Testament) contains prophecies regarding the Anti-Christ. However, over the times, many alterations have occurred in the original text and the commentaries have deviated from the actual meanings. That and the lack of consistency have left it in doubt of reliability and accuracy. Hence, there only remains the Hadith of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him) as the only accurate source of information. In a Hadith narrated by Imran ibn Hussain radiyallahu anhum, the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said, ‘Since the birth of Adam till the advent of Qiyaamah (Judgement Day) there is no fitnah (tribulation) much greater than that of Dajjal.’ (Muslim) In anyone’s book, Dajjal is the embodiment of evil. A wise man once said, ‘Know your enemies and keep them close to you. By knowing them, you know your weakness, thus neutralising their potency.’ There are many Hadith which describe Dajjal’s appearance, his height and his
I January 2009 powers. Ubadah ibn Saamit radiyallahu anhu narrates that the Last Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said, ‘I have explained Dajjal to you, but I fear that you might not have understood. Maseeh-ud-Dajjal will be short and his legs will be crooked. The hair on his head will be extremely twisted. He will have one eye, while his other eye will be flat. It will be neither deep, nor protruding.’ Ibn Umar radiyallahu anhuma narrates from the Last Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) regarding Dajjal, ‘…red complexioned, fat, curly haired man, blind in the right eye which looks like a bulging grape.’ (Bukhari) According to the many Ahaadith describing Dajjal, the most distinguishing feature of his face besides the bulging eye will be the Arabic letters Kaaf (k), Faa (f), Raa (r), on his forehead. These letters spell Kufr (disbelief). All believers, regardless of their literacy will decipher these letters. It has also been ascertained from the Hadith that he will emerge from between Syria and Iraq, and his emergence will become known when he is in Isfahaan, at a place called Judea. He will be of Jewish origin and the Jews of Isfahaan will be his main followers and they will refer to him as the Messiah. As he goes on through the world, Jews and a great number of non-Jewish women will flock to him upon witnessing his false miracles. Imran ibn Hussain radiyallahu anhu narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him), ‘Those who hear about Dajjal should stay away from him. By Allah! A person will approach him thinking himself to be a believer. But on seeing his amazing feat he will become his follower.’ Abu Dawood) ‘The Beast was taken and with him the false prophet who wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them.’ (Revelation:19) The miracles and feats spoken of by the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) and John, the writer of the Book of Revelations, are further clarified by the Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Huzaifah radiyallahu anhu: ‘Dajjal will be blind in the right eye. He will have thick hair on his body and he will also have Paradise and Hell with him. Though his Paradise will
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appear as Jannah, in reality it will be Hell, and likewise, though his Hell will appear like Jahannnam, in reality it will be Paradise.’ (Muslim) Those who obey the Dark Messiah will enter his Paradise (and thus enter Hell), and those who denounce him will enter his Hell (and so shall in reality be entering Paradise). He will travel by means of a gigantic mule, at impossible speeds. He will cause droughts and famine upon those who reject him. But the remembrance of the true Lord will satiate them. Ubadah ibn Saamit radiyallahu anhu narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him), ‘If you still have any doubts regarding him (Dajjal), then remember, your Sustainer is not one-eyed.’ Ibn Umar radiyallahu anhuma narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him), ‘Allah is not one-eyed, while Maseehud-Dajjal is blind in the right eye.’ (Bukhari) He will remain on the Earth for a period of forty days, of which the first day will be as long as a year, the second day as long as a month, the third as a week and the rest will be normal in length. He will try to gain entry to the two holy cities Makkah and Madinah, but the angels who guard them will bar him from them. From there, he will flee to Syria, where he will meet resistance from the forces of Imam Mahdi, the leader of the Muslims. Then shall the battle between Good and Evil begin in earnest. Imran ibn Hussain radiyallahu anhu narrates from the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him), ‘There will always be a group of people upon the path of Allah, overpowering their enemies until the Order Of Allah comes and Isa alaihis salaam (Jesus - peace be upon him) descends.’ Finally, when the spirit of the Muslims begins to ebb, Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) will be commanded by Allah to descend from the heavens. He will not descend as a prophet, but as a follower of the Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him) and Islam. ‘Anti Christ in Christian Theology, the opponent of Christ. The appearance of the Anti Christ is believed to signal the second coming, at which Christ would conquer his
SPECIAL FEATURE I 19 opponent. The concept may stem from the idea of conflict between light and darkness, which is present in Persian, Babylon and Jewish literature and which influences early Christian Theology.’ (Hutchinsons Encyclopaedia) As before, through the medium of the Hadith, the event of Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him)’s return and all that follows has been accurately recorded. He will descend on Mount Afeeq, on the white Eastern Minaret of Damascus. He will descend from the heavens with his hands resting on the shoulders of two angels. His cheeks will be flat and his hair straight. When he lowers his head it will seem as if water is flowing from his hair, when he raises his head, it will appear as though his hair is beaded with silvery pearls. He will descend during the time of Fajr and the leader of the Muslims will address him thus, ‘O`Roohullah, lead the salat.’ Isa (Jesus - peeace be upon him) will decline with the words, ‘The virtue of this Ummah is that they lead each other.’ After the prayer, Isa (Jesus peeace be upon him) will prepare himself to do battle and shall take up a spear. An army shall return from a campaign launched before the arrival of Isa (Jesus - peeace be upon him). They shall bring glad tidings of victory over India, granted to them by the Lord Almighty. Isa (Jesus - peeace be upon him) shall set out in pursuit of Dajjal. All those who embraced the evil of Dajjal shall perish even as the breath of Isa (Jesus - peeace be upon him) touches them. The breath of Isa (Jesus - peeace be upon him) shall proceed him as far as the eye can see. Dajjal will be captured at Lydda. The Dark Messiah shall begin to melt, as lead melts in fire. The spear of Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) shall plunge into Dajjal’s chest, ending his dreaded reign. The followers of Dajjal will be rooted out, for even the trees and rocks will speak out against them. Then all battles shall cease and the world will know an age of peace. Then truly the sheep will lie in the shadow of the wolf without fear. The rule of Jesus will be just and all shall flock to him to enter the folds of the one true religion, Islam.
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SOLO SEX
Those who achieve insufficient satisfaction from sexual intercourse and return to masturbation, or never give it up, the torments are great. Everywhere they look, their friends are unashamedly enjoying the pleasures of normal sexual relationship. No part of society caters for them and they are even cowardly shy to campaign for “Masturbators Liberation.” Sex life for most of them is fairly empty. One of the most humiliating problems that the constant male masturbator suffers from when he attempts to have sexual relationship is premature ejaculation or the failure to maintain an erection. When he is masturbating, he tends to reach his orgasm as quickly as possible, but in sexual intercourse he normally has to attempt to control his excitement, which can impose a great strain on a person who indulged in self-abuse over a lengthy period. Therefore people who continuously masturbate, lose out all round. The physical pleasure becomes reduced to a natural act like urination, or excreting, and at the back of their minds there is an awareness that they are missing on the real pleasures of life. No adult can honestly claim to masturbate without a guilty feeling of
complete uselessness. Masturbation is merely an exhaustive, rather than constructive undertaking, resulting in nothing but total loss. Once orgasm has been achieved there is Nothing else left, except for a feeling of complete emptiness. The following extracts from the writings of a dignified physician of the Unani medicine will give one some idea of the damage done through masturbation: “Most often, students, bachelors or widowers and hypocritical godly persons are its victims. It is such an evil practice that has ruined many families and many more are being ruined today. The lack of manly vigor and decline in the standard of young men’s health is evidence enough for this horrible social evil, eating into the vitals of an otherwise healthy nation. If only our young men could foresee the consequences of this evil at their own hands bring on them! It can be said with some certainty that eighty percent of our young men are the victims of masturbation. This accursed practice affects equally the heart, the brain, the liver, the stomach, the kidneys along with the reproductive organs. This practice makes the muscles and the nerves of the reproductive organ sagging and lifeless. Accumulation of fluids in the veins makes it unfit for
its normal function. There is extreme feebleness in the power of erection. The heat of the friction between the delicate muscles of the organ and the tough hide of the hand damages the former beyond repair.” (Miftahi, Modesty and Chastity in Islam) Following the excitement which accompanies masturbation, comes the feeling of shame, anger, humiliation, and the sense of futility. This sense of guilty and humiliation deepens as the years go on, into a suppressed rage, because of the impossibility to escape. The one thing that it seems impossible to escape from, once the habit is formed, is masturbation. It goes on and on, on into old age, in spite of marriage. And it always carries this secret feeling of futility and humiliation. And this is, perhaps, the deepest and most dangerous cancer of our civilization. Instead of being a comparatively harmless vice, masturbation is certainly the most dangerous sexual vice that a society can be afflicted with, in the long run. Masterbation Under Islamic Law Islam strictly forbids the waste of seminal fluid through masturbation. The one who discharges his seminal fluid with his hand is damned. This evil practice removes the normal
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bright look of a man’s face, and he looks melancholy and dejected. He loses his health and quite frequently his vitality and sexual stamina through this disgusting practice. The Qur’aan declares: “The Believers are those who abstain from sex except with those joined to them in marriage bond, or those whom their righht hand possess for (in their case) they are free from blame, but those who crave something beyond that are transgressors.” Beyond the wife and slave woman all ways and means of sexual satisfaction are unlawful. They include adultery, sodomy, masturbation, etc. From this it can be deduced that masturbation falls under the context ‘but those who crave ...’ and is therefore immoral and a sin in Islam. Views expressed by the Shafi’i jurists on this matter are clearly illustrated by Imam Nawawi whose opinion is typical of the Shafi’i Jurists as a whole. He declared that masturbation was absolutely forbidden. It was only permitted when it was performed by the hand of a man’s wife or concubine, for he has a right to the enjoyment of her hand as he has to the rest of her body.” The author of Subul al Salam according to al-Juzairi, states: “Some of the Hanbali and Hanafi Jurists are of the opinion that masturbation may be permissible in the event that one fears (that is, not engaging in it) would lead to his committing adultery, fornication. But be cautious that such a view is weak and is not to be relied upon.” According to Maliki school of thought masturbation is deduced to be illegal from the following hadith narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Radhiallaahu Anhu): “We were with the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “O assembly of youths ; whoever among you possesses the physical and financial resources to marry, should do so, because it helps him guard his modesty, and whoever is unable to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.’ Therefore, the jurists of this school are of the opinion that if masturbation was permitted, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would have acknowledged its permissibility because this is much simpler than fasting. Since the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not mention it,
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demonstrates that it is prohibited. From the evidence presented so far, it can be seen that Shari’ah not only classifies this type of unnatural waste of seminal fluid as illegal, but also advocated strict measures for its prevention. Remedy for Masturbation The anathema of masturbation is very common among young and adolescent boys. One reason for this habit is the unrestricted movement of women on the streets, in the market places and at recreation centres. Women go about in tight-fitting and revealing garments, unmindful of the presence of men. Obscene scenes in plays and films promote sexual self-indulgence. Periodicals and magazines that contain romantic and sexual matter lead young boys and girls to shamelessness and immodesty. Youngsters who are not inspired by the fear of Allah Ta’ala and of the consequences of their actions, are apt
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to gratify themselves by committing fornication and other unlawful acts, or by resorting to self-indulgence. These harm the body, the mind and affect one’s psychological health. Physical Health A person who masturbates becomes weak and thin, palpitation increases and his memory becomes weak. The digestive system is impaired and inflammation of the lungs occurs. One may also become anaemic. Sexual Health Impotency is the natural outcome of masturbation. A boy who has indulged in the habit of masturbation is not capable of marriage when he grows up. If he does marry, his wife hates him and often husband and wife may divorce. If the woman is pious, she will become depressed and if she is not, she will resort to unlawful acts. Psychological and Mental Health A person who masturbates will suffer
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psychological problems and is liable to mental illnesses like forgetfulness, loss of memory, weak determination, preference for solitude, extreme shyness and fear, being sorrowful and possibly contemplate some serious crime or even suicide. Injunction of Shari’ah in this regard The act of masturbation is despicable. It is a grave sin and is unlawful. The noble Qur’aan commands the guarding of private organs. With the exception of sexual intercourse with one’s wife, all forms of sexual satisfaction are unlawful and these include fornication, adultery, homosexuality and masturbation, or any other sexual perversion. On the day of Qiyaamah, the perpetrators of such acts will suffer a dreadful punishment and will be deprived of the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala. The remedy for this disease Early marriage is a perfect, beneficial and natural remedy for this dangerous addiction. Optional Fasts If, for some reason, it is not possible to marry at an early age, voluntary fasts may be kept. By fasting, lustful thoughts are curbed and thus one’s sexual urge is reduced. Further, fasting promotes fear of Allah Ta’ala and creates humility. There are various kinds of voluntary fasts. One is the Sawm-e-Daawood [the fast of Daawood - Alayhis salaam] which means fasting every alternate day. Fasts can also be observed on Mondays and Thursdays, six days during the month of Shawaal, the ninth and tenth of Muharram, or any other day (besides the five prohibited days).
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Shun whatever excites sexual thoughts Young people destroy themselves when they pursue things that incite emotions and become like animals in fulfilling their desires. It is essential for young people to keep away from gatherings and opportunities that may arouse their sexual passions, or where they may come across women in revealing or tightfitting attire. They must abstain from listening to romantic tales or reading pornographic novels and magazines, hearing music and indecent songs or viewing such films. Engage in fruitful pursuit Adolescents and teenagers should not sit alone when they have nothing to do. This will allow their imaginations to run wild and sexual passions will be aroused. They should spend their time properly so that they do not get arousing and lustful ideas. They can keep themselves busy with physical exercise, pure recreation, sensible reading and religious lessons. Good Company It is important to select good and pious friends and companions. Such friends may guard us from erring and although they are rare, they are found everywhere. Search for such company and let yourself spend time with them. Remember that people imitate their friends. Therefore, to strengthen your Imaan, character and physique, keep away from evil companions and adopt the company of virtuous people. Act on medical advice Doctors of medicine give the following suggestions on how to restrain lustful desires and sexual urges: Have cold baths in summer, pour cold water on the penis in
An Invitation to add us
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other seasons. Engage in physical exercises and sports (some doctors recommend special exercises to curb lustful desires) Abstain from spices and all types of food that excite sex Cut down on tea, coffee and invigorating beverages. Reduce intake of meat and eggs to a minimum. Do not lie down flat on the back or on the stomach. Rather lie on the right side in compliance with the Sunnah. Fear Allah Ta’ala. When fear of Allah Ta’ala is rooted in a person, all sinful and evil acts will be shunned. One will then realise that Allah is always watching, and is aware of everything, whether apparent or hidden. One will take account of every act of disobedience and omission of duty and will know that Allah will punish the disobedient from His Creation. Young people must attend gatherings where Allah Ta’ala is eulogised. One must offer one’s Fardh Salaat and make it a habit to offer nafl Salaat and recite the Qur’aan on a regular basis. One must cultivate the fear of Allah, the habit of muraaqabah (meditation), and the realisation of Allah’s Majestic Powers. This is possible when one accustoms oneself to rising in the latter portion of the night for the tahajjud Salaat, keeping optional fasts, listening to the chronicles of the Sahaaba [Radhiallaahu anhum], spending time with pious people, keeping contact with the righteous and remembering death and the Hereafter. Therefore, develop such habits so that you are not drawn into temptation and sensuality. Remember that the punishment for disobedience and sinning is the fire of Jahannam.
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Khadijah Source of happiness No change in a man’s personal circumstances could ever be greater than that which the Prophet (peace be upon him) went through when he received his first revelations, announcing his new role as God’s last messenger to mankind. Prior to that, he was an ordinary person living in his hometown, conducting his wife’s business, looking after his family and with little interest in public affairs. Now he had a mission that aimed to bring about a fundamental and lasting change in human life. Any woman in Khadijah’s position could be forgiven if she counselled her husband to turn down his assignment and maintain his life pattern. They were happy together, leading a comfortable life. She was bound to think of the effect of this new task on her family, realizing that she had four daughters, only one of whom was married, while two were engaged. The family had lost two sons in infancy. With the woman’s eye to protect her family and stave off danger, Khadijah could be excused if she preferred the comfortable sort of living she had had with her husband for 15 years or longer. Yet Khadijah was not that sort of woman. She was the first to recognize the importance of the mission assigned to her husband and to know that his character fitted the
role he was to play. This is clear in her comforting words as he intimated that he was worried about himself. She said to him: “You have nothing to fear; be calm and relax. God will not let you suffer humiliation, because you are kind to your relatives, you speak the truth, you assist anyone in need, you are hospitable to your guest and you help in every good cause.” She thus showed her profound sense of proportion. She highlighted those elements in her husband’s character that fit with the role of a prophet who seeks to reform people’s life. Up to that point in his life, Muhammad (peace be upon him), the man who had not been given any mission yet, reflected a character that cared for people, providing help wherever help was needed, to kinsfolk and strangers, to guests and lone travellers, to all in need. Such a person deserves no humiliation, and God who is fair to all would never allow him to suffer such a fate. That was her good sense working at the start of the great event that shook her family to the core. Most importantly, it shook its direct recipient, the man whose love had established deep roots in her heart. Therefore, she acted with great wisdom to reassure him. She went straight to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who had
embraced Christianity and acquired profound knowledge in divine religion. Waraqah assured the anxious couple that what happened bore no ill omen. Indeed, he said that he hoped that Muhammad was the Prophet heralded by earlier messengers like Jesus (peace be upon them all). Yet Khadijah tried something else to reassure her husband. She asked him to let her know of Gabriel’s presence when he next saw him. Informed of Gabriel’s presence on his next visit, Khadijah said to the Prophet: “Sit on my left thigh.” When he did so, she asked him whether he still saw him. The Prophet said: “Yes.” She told the Prophet to move over and sit on her right thigh. As he did so, the Prophet confirmed that he could still see Gabriel. She asked him to sit on her lap and he did so, again confirming that he could still see him. She then took off her head-covering, while the Prophet still sat on her lap. At that moment, he told her he could see him no more. She said, “Rejoice and be firm. This is certainly an angel, not a devil.” It was her clear thinking that led her to try this method, realising that an angel would not stay in a room where a man and his wife were in a closely intimate position.
Jesus, the son of Mary, in the Qur’an
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From Surah Al-Imran (verses 45-63) 45. (Remember) when the angels said: “O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word [“Be!” – and he was! i.e. ‘Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)] from Him, his name will be the Messiah ‘Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah.” 46. “He will speak to the people in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous.” 47. She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.” He said: “So (it will be) for Allah creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!” and it is. 48. And He (Allah) will teach him [‘Isa (Jesus)] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom, etc.), (and) the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel). 49. And will make him [‘Isa (Jesus)] a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah’s Leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe. 50. And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Taurat (Torah), and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey me. 51. Truly! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path. 52. Then when ‘Isa (Jesus) came to know of their disbelief, he said: “Who will be my helpers in Allah’s Cause?” Al-Hawariun (the disciples) said: “We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in
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Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allah).” 53. Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger [‘Isa (Jesus)]; so write us down among those who bear witness (to the truth i.e. La ilaha ill-Allah – none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). 54. And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill ‘Isa (Jesus)], and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners. 55. And (remember) when Allah said: “O ‘Isa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you [of the forged statement that ‘Isa (Jesus) is Allah’s son] of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you (Monotheists, who worship none but Allah) superior to those who disbelieve [in the Oneness of Allah, or disbelieve in some of His Messengers, e.g. Muhammad, ‘Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), etc., or in His Holy Books, e.g. the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Qur’an till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute.” 56. “As to those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe torment in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers.” 57. And as for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) and do righteous good deeds, Allah will pay them their reward in full. And Allah does not like the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers). 58. This is what We recite to you (O Muhammad) of the Verses and the Wise Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an). 59. Verily, the likeness of ‘Isa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was. 60. (This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt. 61. Then whoever disputes with you concerning him [‘Isa (Jesus)] after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, [i.e. ‘Isa (Jesus)] being a slave of
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Allah, and having no share in Divinity) say: (O Muhammad) “Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves – then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.” 62. Verily! This is the true narrative [about the story of ‘Isa (Jesus)], and, La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One and the Only True God, Who has neither a wife nor a son). And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. 63. And if they turn away (and do not accept these true proofs and evidences), then surely, Allah is AllAware of those who do mischief. From Surah Al-Ma’idah (verses 17, 46, 72-76, 111-118) 17. Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary). Say (O Muhammad): “Who then has the least power against Allah, if He were to destroy the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), his mother, and all those who are on the earth together?” And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He creates what He wills. And Allah is Able to do all things. 46. And in their footsteps, We sent ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) , confirming the Taurat (Torah) that had come before him, and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel), in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Taurat (Torah) that had come before it, a guidance and an admonition for Al-Muttaqun (the pious). 72. Surely, they have disbelieved who say: “Allah is the Messiah [‘Isa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary).” But the Messiah [‘Isa (Jesus)] said: “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode . And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers. 73. Surely, disbelievers are those
I January 2009 who said: “Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).” But there is no ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. 74. Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful. 75. The Messiah [‘Isa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddiqah [i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth). 76. Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “How do you worship besides Allah something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you? But it is Allah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.” 111. And when I (Allah) put in the hearts of Al-Hawarieen (the disciples) [of ‘Isa (Jesus)] to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: “We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.” 112. (Remember) when Al-Hawariun (the disciples) said: “O ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Can your Lord send down to us a table spread (with food) from heaven?” ‘Isa (Jesus) said: “Fear Allah, if you are indeed believers.” 113. They said: “We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in Faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses.” 114. ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.” 115. Allah said: “I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among (all) the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinns).” 116. And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): “O ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?’ “He will say: “Glory be to You!
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It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. 117. “Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allah) did command me to say: ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. (This is a great admonition and warning to the Christians of the whole world). 118. “If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise .” From Surah An-Nisa’ (verses 157159, 163, 171 ) 157. And because of their saying (in boast), “We killed Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah,” – but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of ‘Isa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) ]: 158. But Allah raised him [‘Isa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, AllWise. 159. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), but must believe in him [‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allah and a human being], before his [‘Isa (Jesus) or a Jew’s or a Christian’s] death (at the time of the appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he [‘Isa (Jesus)] will be a witness against them. 163. Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad) as We inspired Nuh (Noah) and the Prophets after him; We (also) inspired Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma’il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya’qub (Jacob), and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya’qub (Jacob)], ‘Isa (Jesus), Ayub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Harun (Aaron), and Sulaiman (Solomon), and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms). 171. O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Isa
SPECIAL FEATURE I 25 (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, (“Be!” – and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: “Three (trinity)!” Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs. From Surah Al-An’am (verse 85) 85. And Zakariya (Zachariya), and Yahya (John) and ‘Isa (Jesus) and Iliyas (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous. From Surah Al-Mu’minun (verse 50) 50. And We made the son of Maryam (Mary) and his mother as a sign, And We gave them refuge on high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams. From Surah Al-Zukhruf (verses 59, 61, 63-64) 59. He [‘Isa (Jesus)] was not more than a slave. We granted Our Favour to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel (i.e. his creation without a father). 61. And he [‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)] shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour (Day of Resurrection) [i.e. ‘Isa’s (Jesus) descent on the earth] . Therefore have no doubt concerning it (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). And follow Me (Allah) (i.e. be obedient to Allah and do what He orders you to do, O mankind)! This is the Straight Path (of Islamic Monotheism, leading to Allah and to His Paradise). 63. And when ‘Isa (Jesus) came with (Our) clear Proofs, he said: “I have come to you with Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) in which you differ, therefore fear Allah and obey me, 64. “Verily, Allah! He is my Lord (God) and your Lord (God). So worship Him (Alone). This is the (only) Straight Path (i.e. Allah’s religion of true Islamic Monotheism).” From Surah As-Saff (verse 6)And (remember) when ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you confirming the Taurat (Torah) which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed . But when he (Ahmed i.e. Muhammad) came to them with clear proofs, they said: “This is plain magic.”
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A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-yearold grandson. The old man’s hands trembled,his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. We must do something about Grandfather,” said the son. I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather
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The Wooden Bowl CORRESPONDENCE
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ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your
It looks like those artist have been at it again Sent in by Mohammed Batley
food when I grow up.” The four-yearold smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Allah mentions in Surah Al Isra 17:23-24 - And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.”
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A great magazine informative and nicely laid out, please keep continuing the effort of this great work. Ameen Abbas Melbourne, Australia
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This is the second time have seen your magazine and I think its beautiful and some very interesting articles, a genuine concerning magazine for the Ummah, I hope all the brothers and sisters involved, may Allah SWT reward you. Ameen. Anisa Mayfair, London Now its even easy to contact us, see our contact us form on our website www.passionislam.com