Society could withstand infidels but not injustice

A Moment of Reflection on Natural Disasters

On Friday March 11, 2011 who did not witness over the news or via any other media source the wreckage and damage caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan?

A mere few seconds of tremors with a destructive tsunami and the whole region was reduced to ruins, homes and buildings swept away, hundreds of people perished, devastation of property and infrastructure plus overwhelming damage.

If we truly observe, we will notice that recently, the environment has changed more frequently than ever before. Infact, these changes have had huge impact on human lives. For instance, there are more multitudes of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and others disasters. Both human lives and properties are lost in the process.

But we could ask why do such things happen at a particular place, affecting a certain community or country, and not others? Indeed, these disasters are tests for one’s faith and patience. These disasters also call upon us to self-reflect and remind us not to do things against the teachings of Allah or are destructive to our lives. If we have forgotten Allah and we have been negligent in our duties, these disasters are wake-up calls for us to reinforce our faith in Allah.

Not too long ago in the past year we have all witnessed a range of various forms of natural catastrophes throughout the world and many were just a few months apart.

According to many news sources some of the major disasters that made headlines in the year 2010/2011 were:

Haiti 7.0 Earthquake

A 7.0 earthquake struck the capital city, Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010 resulting in the deaths of 200,000 to 250,000 persons. The quake and the aftershocks leveled the city and surrounding area. Immediate relief efforts were drastically hampered by devastating damage caused to the ports, airport and roads.

Iceland Volcano Eruption

Amidst seismic rumblings recorded since December 2009, the Icelandic volcano erupted March 20, 2010. A second explosion followed on April 14, 2010. Air traffic across Northern Europe was grounded stranding millions of passengers. Aviation losses mounted into the millions of dollars due to canceled flights. Airlines did not fully recover from the aviation disaster until complete operations resumed after May 17, 2010.

Pakistan Flood Crisis

The flooding which swept through Pakistan beginning July 26, 2010 was the worst ever to hit that country. Fatalities in the floods reached almost 200,000 persons and further affected 20 million people The Pakistan flood relief effort is not over yet. The infrastructure damage was staggering. Nearly 10,000 schools and 1.7 million houses were destroyed and need to be rebuilt along with miles and miles of road, railway and infrastructure.

Australian Floods

A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010 and running into January 2011, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities.At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected and houses have been completely submerged

New Zealand Earthquake

A strong quake hit New Zealand's second-biggest city of Christchurch on 22 February, 2011, toppling buildings, causing multiple fatalities, trapping people beneath rubble and sparking fires.

So what is the duty of a Muslim at the time of such events and happenings? What are our responsibilities? What should be our reaction and attitude towards such catastrophic occurrences?

Let us refer to the different references established in the Quran and Ahadith relating to natural disasters and learn what a Muslim's approach and reaction should be towards such events.

First we have to understand that Allah controls the universe and operates it the way he deems appropriate. The Quran tells us that whatever occurs in the world happens only by the will of Allah.

مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Allah says in the Quran “no calamity occurs, except by the leave of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart. and Allah knows all things. (Taghabun 64:11)

Therefore as Muslims we must believe that Allah is all Wise and All Knowing and everything that Allah does is just and fair and only Allah knows fully His Will.

Second we have to recognize the power and might of Allah through such events and attribute these happenings towards Allah. Occurrences of natural disasters are proofs of Allah’s powers. Allah, with these disasters, makes evident to us that the sovereignty of the earth and the heavens is only in His Hands.

On numerous occasions many of us regard these natural happenings as a result of some natural or scientific phenomenon, and because of this it simply does not have any impact on us, resulting in absolutely no transformation or change in one’s life.

We have to remember that associating these events to anything other than Allah is a sign of rejecting Allah. That is why we find a Hadith of the Prophet wherein he states:

حدثني يحيى عن مالك عن صالح بن كيسان عن عبيد الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة بن مسعود عن زيد بن خالد الجهني أنه قال صلى لنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صلاة الصبح بالحديبية على إثر سماء كانت من الليل فلما انصرف أقبل على الناس فقال أتدرون ماذا قال ربكم قالوا الله ورسوله أعلم قال قال أصبح من عبادي مؤمن بي وكافر بي فأما من قال مطرنا بفضل الله ورحمته فذلك مؤمن بي كافر بالكوكب وأما من قال مطرنا بنوء كذا وكذا فذلك كافر بي مؤمن بالكوكب

One night it rained and Allah’s messenger led us in the Fajr prayer at Hudaibiyah and after completing it, he turned to us and said,” Do you know what your Lord has said?” We replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “Allah says “Some of my slaves get up believing in me, and others disbelieving in me. Those who say: We have been given rain through Allah’s mercy, choice, and Allah’s blessing, then he is a believer in Me, and has rejected the star. And whoever said: We have been given rain because of such-and-such star, then he is a believer in the star, and has rejected Me.”

Yet in another hadith the Prophet highlights the related subject in a different way.

حدثني يحيى عن مالك عن هشام بن عروة عن أبيه عن عائشة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنها قالت خسفت الشمس في عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فصلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالناس فقام فأطال القيام ثم ركع فأطال الركوع ثم قام فأطال القيام وهو دون القيام الأول ثم ركع فأطال الركوع وهو دون الركوع الأول ثم رفع فسجد ثم فعل في الركعة الآخرة مثل ذلك ثم انصرف وقد تجلت الشمس فخطب الناس فحمد الله وأثنى عليه ثم قال إن الشمس والقمر آيتان من آيات الله لا يخسفان لموت أحد ولا لحياته فإذا رأيتم ذلك فادعوا الله وكبروا وتصدقوا

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his father that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet said, "There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of the Messenger of Allah and the Messenger of Allah led the people in prayer. He stood, and did so for a long time. Then he went into ruku, and made the ruku long. Then he stood again, and did so for a long time, though not as long as the first time. Then he went into ruku, and made the ruku long, though not as long as the first time. Then he rose, and went down into sajdah. He then did the same in the second rakaah, and by the time he had finished the sun had appeared. He then gave a khutbah to the people, in which he praised Allah and then said, 'The sun and the moon are two of Allah's signs. They do not eclipse for anyone's death or for anyone's life. When you see an eclipse, invoke Allah, glorify Allah by saying "Allah is the greatest" and give sadaqah.

It becomes apparent from these Ahadith that the clouds which bring heavy rains, events of natural disasters or unnatural occurrences in the universe are from Allah alone. Allah is the one who creates them and releases them. So when one attributes these events to nature or any astronomical and scientific phenomenon or anything else, then one is at stake in regards to his faith in Allah.

Our faith teaches us that such occurrences, to which man has no control, occur by the authorization and order of Allah.

Third a Muslim should take events of natural disasters and other such signs as warning from Allah and hurry to repent, remember Allah and ask forgiveness from Him as disasters and calamities are an outcome of our escalating evil deeds and disobedience to Allah.

The Ahadith are full of warnings that certain actions will bring certain definite conditions. In other words these particular actions are a cause which will bring about a consequence. In a concise Hadith of Tirmidhi narrated by Abu Hurairah (R.A.) the Messenger is reported to have said:

حدثنا علي بن حجر حدثنا محمد بن يزيد الواسطي عن المستلم بن سعيد عن رميح الجذامي عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا اتخذ الفيء دولا والأمانة مغنما والزكاة مغرما وتعلم لغير الدين وأطاع الرجل امرأته وعق أمه وأدنى صديقه وأقصى أباه وظهرت الأصوات في المساجد وساد القبيلة فاسقهم وكان زعيم القوم أرذلهم وأكرم الرجل مخافة شره وظهرت القينات والمعازف وشربت الخمور ولعن آخر هذه الأمة أولها فليرتقبوا عند ذلك ريحا حمراء وزلزلة وخسفا ومسخا وقذفا وآيات تتابع كنظام بال قطع سلكه فتتابع

1. “When others possessions will be regarded as personal property.

2. When trust will be treated like booty (violated)

3. When Zakaat will be regarded as a burden i.e. to discharge zakat will become difficult

4. When learning will be acquired for other than a religious purpose

5. When a a man will obey his wife and is unkind towards his mother, he brings his friend near and drives his father far off. (The father will be treated like a stranger)

7. When voices will be raised in the Masajid

8. When the most impious will become leaders.

9. When the leader of a people will be the most worthless among them.

10. When a person will be honored merely out of fear for his evil.

11. When singing and musical instruments will become widespread.

12. When liquor will be consumed.

13. When the latter generations of this Ummah will curse their former ones.

THEN AWAIT VIOLENT WINDS, EARTHQUAKES, PEOPLE BEING SWALLOWED UP BY THE EARTH, DISFIGUREMENT, PELTING RAINS FROM THE SKY AND OTHER SIGNS WHICH WILL FOLLOW ONE AFTER ANOTHER LIKE BEADS OF A NECKLACE FOLLOWING ONE AFTER ANOTHER WHEN THE STRING IS CUT”

Thus, we should persistently fear Allah and seek His pardon for one's shortcomings and whenever we come across or experience such events we should ask ourselves have we violated any law of Allah? Could it be a punishment? If it is, let us repent and amend our ways.

Similarly, these disasters remind us all, that our lives today are very uncertain. Anything can happen. So, we should not postpone, nor delay, good things that we have to to do. Do them as soon as you can.

The Prophet has mentioned in a hadith by saying:

أخرجه الحاكم " أن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال لرجل وهو يعظه اغتنم خمسا قبل خمس شبابك قبل هرمك وصحتك قبل سقمك وغناك قبل فقرك وفراغك قبل شغلك وحياتك قبل موتك

” Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: you’re youth, before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death." Likewise, if we have the intention to stop committing sins, mistakes and all bad acts, and we all know what they are, then we should not delay in abandoning them.

Fourth it is imperative that we provide support to those who have been affected with such disasters; therefore we should renew our commitment to human values and charity which is an integral part of our faith and offer to these victims such help and aid which will alleviate their difficulties and sufferings. When we see people in pain and suffering we should pay extra attention to their difficulties as it has been emphasized in an extremely touching Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (R.A.)

حدثني محمد بن حاتم بن ميمون حدثنا بهز حدثنا حماد بن سلمة عن ثابت عن أبي رافع عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الله عز وجل يقول يوم القيامة يا ابن آدم مرضت فلم تعدني قال يا رب كيف أعودك وأنت رب العالمين قال أما علمت أن عبدي فلانا مرض فلم تعده أما علمت أنك لو عدته لوجدتني عنده يا ابن آدم استطعمتك فلم تطعمني قال يا رب وكيف أطعمك وأنت رب العالمين قال أما علمت أنه استطعمك عبدي فلان فلم تطعمه أما علمت أنك لو أطعمته لوجدت ذلك عندي يا ابن آدم استسقيتك فلم تسقني قال يا رب كيف أسقيك وأنت رب العالمين قال استسقاك عبدي فلان فلم تسقه أما إنك لو سقيته وجدت ذلك عند

Abu Huraiyrah (R.A) states, "The Messenger of Allah, said, 'Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, will say on the Day of Rising, 'Son of Adam, I was ill and you did not visit Me.' The man will say, 'O Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds?' He will say, 'Do you not know that my slave so-and-so was ill and you did not visit him? Do you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you did not feed me?' He will say, 'O Lord, how could I feed you when you are the Lord of the worlds?' He will say, 'Do you not know that my slave so-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Do you not know that if you had fed him, you would have found that with Me. O son of Adam, I asked you for water and you did not give it to Me.' He will say, 'O Lord, how could I give You water when You are the Lord of the worlds?' He will say, 'My slave so-and-so asked you for water and you did not give it to him. Do you not know that if you had given him water, you would have found you would have found me with him”

Finally, it is the responsibility of every Muslim to reflect upon these events and take a lesson, also ask forgiveness for all shortcomings from Allah, be thankful to Him and recognize all the blessings which He has favored us with and express this gratitude by utilizing these blessings in compliance with the directives of Allah and not taking them for granted or being wasteful or extravagant.

May Allah protect us from every form of tragedy and assist those who have been affected and alleviate their sufferings and may we become those who are truly grateful to Allah for all His favors and blessings

( Ml Muhammad Badat- Canada)

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#20417

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:37 pm
Subject: What the Qur'an teaches

adammohomedsait@...

What the Qur�an teaches

Say: Do you indeed disbelieve in Him who has created the earth in two days? And do you claim others to be His equals? It is He who is the Lord of all the worlds. He it is who placed on the earth firm mountains towering above it, and bestowed His blessings on it, and measured out its varied provisions in four days, ensuring equity for all who seek (such provisions). Then, He applied His design to the sky, which was but smoke; and said to it and to the earth: �Come, both of you, willingly or unwillingly.� They both said: �We do come willingly.� (Clearly Expounded; Fussilat: 41: 9-11)

WE commented last week on the first verse in this passage and the meaning of the creation of the earth in two days. We mentioned that such days are not of the type we know on earth. Our days are a product of the position of the earth in its orbit and the time it takes to make one full circle in its position. The earth is the creation of God, the Lord of all the worlds. Yet the unbelievers allege that He has partners. How ridiculous!

We need to dwell for a moment on every phrase of this Qur�anic text before we turn our attention to the mention of the heavens in the next verse.

�He it is who placed on the earth firm mountains towering above it.� Mountains are often described in the Qur�an as �firm�, and in some instances the purpose of their positioning is that they �prevent� the earth from shaking or swaying. This means that the mountains are firm in themselves and stabilize the earth, ensuring that it remains well balanced. In times gone by, people used to think that the earth was based on firm foundations. They are told today that the earth is nothing more than a small ball that floats in a great expanse, without support. They may be scared when they listen to such words for the first time, and some of them may begin to look warily askance, worried that the earth might shake or fall in deep space. Let such people be reassured. God�s hand holds the heavens and the earth, preventing their disappearance. Should they vanish, no one else would hold them in place. Such people should banish worrying thoughts, because the laws that govern the universe are set in operation by the Almighty who holds sway over all things.

The same scientist says: �Every event that takes place on earth, whether on its surface or below it, causing one substance to be transferred from one place to another, has a bearing on the speed of the earth as it moves in its orbit. This is not affected only by the cycle of the tide. Even when rivers carry water from one place of the earth to another, this affects the speed of its movement. The blowing wind and whatever falls into the sea or protrudes on the surface has an effect on the earth�s speed as it moves in orbit. Another thing that affects such speed is any expansion or retraction of its size, even though it increases or decreases by no more than a few feet.�

With the earth being so sensitive, it is no wonder that firm mountains are positioned over it to ensure its stability and that it does not �sway with you�, as expressed in verse 15 of Surah 16.

And He �bestowed His blessings on it, and measured out its varied provisions.� When our predecessors read this statement, they used to think of the vegetation that grows on earth and the useful minerals God has placed in it, such as gold, silver, iron and the like. Now that we have learned more of the great blessings God has bestowed on this planet and of the provisions He has placed in it over long periods of time, this statement gives us a much broader meaning.

We have mentioned how some elements in the air combine to produce water, while the combination of others produce the soil that supports vegetation, and another process gives us rain, the source of all fresh water in rivers, wells and springs. All this reflects the blessing God bestowed on earth and its measured provisions.

Then, there is also the air we breathe: �The earth is a circle covered with a rocky crust, and the greater part of this crust is covered by a layer of water, while above both the crust and water there is air, a thick gas layer similar to the sea, with different depths. All living creatures, man, animal and plant, live in this layer enjoying what it gives us. As we breathe we obtain the oxygen necessary for us, while plants grow their structure using carbon, or rather carbon dioxide. We eat plants, and also eat animals which in turn eat plants, and in doing so ensure our physical growth. The nitrogen in the air is needed to reduce its content of oxygen. If we were to inhale oxygen on its own, we would be burned by breathing. There remains in the air the evaporated water which gives it its freshness, and the hydrogen, as well as small quantities of other gases, such as helium and neon. Most probably these were part of the original composition of the earth and remained in the air.�

The provisions we need for survival are wider in scope than the food we eat. Yet all our food is composed of the basic elements that are present in the earth or in the air. Sugar, for example, is a compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, while water is made of oxygen and hydrogen. The same applies to everything we eat, drink, wear or use as a tool. They are all made of earth�s elements.

All this refers in some way to the blessing bestowed on earth and the measured provisions placed in it, over a period of four of God�s days, the length of which is known only to Him.

- By Adil Salahi

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#20418

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:46 am
Subject: Why Cursing is Forbidden in Islam?

adammohomedsait@...

Why Cursing is Forbidden in Islam?

Posted by The MV (Saad) on August 11, 2009

MV: Unfortunately in these days I hear Muslims cursing a lot. (Especially those up in the ghettos) But many Muslims don't realize that cursing and slandering is forbidden in Islam and if they know then they often question why? Well to start off, it makes our Muslim Ummah (Community) look bad! Its a horrible way of showing that Muslims are kind especially in places such as schools. Lets not to say that I have never used foul language before, but I really try to avoid using them and I feel bad if I use them. Sometimes you may feel angry and a need to use them, in such times just chill, relax and try remembering Allah (SWT). The article bellow helps us realize why is cursing wrong in Islam.

Muslims should neither curse nor imprecate each other with words such as, 'May the Curse of Allah be upon you,' or 'I wish you to burn in Hell-fire,' etc.

Narrated Samurah Ibn Jundub (radhi allahu anhu), 'Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'Do not curse one another, invoking curse of Allah or Wrath of Allah or the fire of Hell.' [Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhee]

To curse a Muslim is akin to killing him. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'Cursing a believer is like murdering him.' [Agreed upon]The act of cursing is such that one who does it can himself become a recipient of it.

Narrated Abu Darda (radhi allahu anhu), 'Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'When a person curses (La'nah; to ask that something be deprived of Allah's Mercy) somebody or something, the curse goes up to the heaven and the gates of the heaven are closed. Then it comes down to the earth and its gates are closed. Then it turns right and left, and if it does not find an entrance to go anywhere, it returns to the person or thing that was cursed, if he or it deserves to be cursed; otherwise, it returns to the person, who uttered it.' [Abu Dawood] Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) also warned, 'Those who frequently resort to cursing would neither be accepted as witnesses nor as intercessors on the Day of Resurrection.' [Saheeh Muslim]

It is not allowed to curse, disgrace or humiliate even a sinner because in doing so, one helps the Shaytan, who is avowed to disgrace and humiliate Muslims before Allah. Narrated Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu), 'A drunkard was brought to the Prophet (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam). He (r) said, 'Give him a beating.' Then some beat him with their hands, some with their shoes, and some with (a folded) piece of cloth. When he left, someone said to him, 'May Allah disgrace you!' The Prophet (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'Do not help Shaytan overcome him by uttering such words.' [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

Moreover, it is incorrect to curse a sinner because perhaps, the person may have sought Istagfar (seek forgiveness for one's sins) and Allah, the All-Forgiving, may have forgiven the person for his transgression. It is related in Saheeh Muslim that during the time of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam), when a woman was being punished for the sin of adultery, her blood spurted upon Khalid Ibn Waleed (radhi allahu anhu), who swore at her. Thereupon, the Prophet (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'Khalid, be gentle. By Him, in Whose Hand is my life, she has made such a repentance that even if a wrongful tax collector were to repent, he would have been forgiven.' He (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) then prayed over her and she was buried. Therefore, the right conduct would be to pray for his or her guidance and refrain from any critique, cursing or humiliation.

Even the deceased Muslims should not be censured or condemned for their wrongdoings, for, they have reached their end and they are receiving the return of their deeds in the Hereafter. Aa'isha (radhi allahu anha) narrated, 'The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'Do not abuse the dead, because they have attained that which they had forwarded (i.e., their deeds, good or bad).' [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

Taunting is prohibited

Taunting is to insult, reproach mockingly or disgrace someone, for e.g. with reference to his lineage, appearance or shortcoming. Narrated Ibn Mas'ood (radhi allahu anhu), 'Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'A true believer is not involved in taunting, or frequently cursing or in indecency or abusing." [At-Tirmidhee]Abusing is prohibited

Narrated Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu), 'Allah's Messenger (sallallahu aliahi wa-sallam) said, 'When two persons indulge in abusing each other, the beginner will be the sinner, so long, as the oppressed does not transgress the limits.' [Saheeh Muslim]

This Hadeeth tells us that if a Muslim abuses another and says unfair things about him and in return, the recipient also abuses him and says unfair things to the same extent, then the entire burden of the sin of abusing lies upon the person who initiated the quarrel. However, if the one, who is wronged, exceeds the limits in revenge, then he will also be guilty to the degree of his excess. Thus, even though, revenge is permissible, it is better to forgive and be patient

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#20419

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:35 am
Subject: Fwd: Gujarat genocide 2002: Commemoration Meeting in Mumbai on Feb 27

jhang45

From: Javed Anand <javedanand@...>

Date: Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Subject: Gujarat genocide 2002: Commemoration Meeting in Mumbai on Feb 27

For wide circulation and publicity

�Ten years of the Gujarat Genocide�

Invitation to a Commemoration Meeting in Mumbai:

�Justice for Victims of 2002 Genocide�

Day/Date: Monday, February 27, 2012; 6-8 pm. (Meeting starts at 6 pm sharp)

Venue: St. Xaviers College Main auditorium, Next to Rang Bhavan,

5, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai. (Phone: 22620661)

February 27/28 mark ten years both of the tragic death of 57 persons due to fire in a compartment of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra station and the criminal manipulation of this tragic incident as a pretext for the Modi government sponsored anti-Muslim genocide throughout the state.

On February 27, thousands of victim-survivors of the mass crime, lawyers, jurists, activists, artistes and intellectuals from all over the country will assemble at Gulberg Society, Ahmedabad for a commemoration. Through words and images, reminiscences and video-clips, photo exhibition, names of �Missing Persons� enlisted on a �Wailing Wall�, honouring those who risked their lives to save neighbours who were the target, music and tears, the Crimes Against Humanity committed ten years ago will be recalled and the plight of the traumatised and the displaced highlighted. The survivors from Gulberg Society will lead the assembled people through the housing colony and recount the horrors of February 28, 2002. A collective resolve will be renewed to continue the struggle for justice to the victim-survivors and punishment to the perpetrators and masterminds of the carnage.

The entire programme at Gulberg Society, symbolising the Holocaust in Gujarat will be webcast for viewing Live on the afternoon/evening of Feb 27 and posted on U-tube subsequently so that we remember, never forget.

Simultaneous Commemoration Meetings are planned in several cities, including Mumbai and Delhi. For a part of the meeting on Feb 27, we hope to be able to view the programme webcast Live from Gulberg Society. The Mumbai meeting is being jointly organised by ALL justice and peace-promoting individuals/organisations and St Xaviers College. We urge you to be there and also publicise it widely within your circle of family, friends and colleagues urging them to be there too.

Convenor: Javed Anand, Citizens for Justice and Peace (M: 9870402556)

Co-convenors:

Dolphy D�Souza, Bombay Catholic Sabha (M: 9820226227)

Fr Lancy Pinto, Justice and Peace Commission (M: 9769814788)

Hasina Khan, Awaaz-e-Niswan/Forum Against Women�s Oppression (M: 9870162113)

Irfan Engineer, All India Secular Forum (M: 9869462833)��

Noorjehan Safia Niaz, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (M: 9833072690)

--
Javed Anand
+919870402556
+91-22-26602288
Nirant, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai 400049

#20420

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:18 pm
Subject: On Angels, Shirk, and Last Day

adammohomedsait@...

How do we Believe in the LAST DAY (QSEP).pdf

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

In this mail I am attaching the second batch of three booklets from Quran Sunnah Educational Programs (www.qsep.com):

Faith in the Angels
Four Foundations of Shirk
How do we Believe in the LAST DAY

These booklets are packed with useful information, from authentic sources, and will be very helpful in our correct understanding of Islam.

Please read them and share them with your people too.

The following are the books/booklets sent you previously. If you have not received all, let me know, and I will re-send you what you want:

The Fundamentals of Tawheed

Are we Forced or do we have Free Will

Eeman and its Components

Exposing Shaytan

Wassalam.

ADAM MOHOMED SAIT

3 of 3 File(s)

Four Foundations of Shirk (QSEP).pdf

Faith in the Angels (QSEP).pdf

#20421

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:44 am
Subject: A Decade of Gujarat Carnage:2002 ISP III Feb 2012

jhang45

A decade of Gujarat Carnage 2002

�

Ram Puniyani

�

India has witnessed many an acts of communal violence. Starting from the Jabalpur riot of 1961 to the last major one of Kandhmal (August 2008). Many an innocent lives have been lost in the name of religion. Amongst these the Gujarat carnage is a sort of marker. It came in the backdrop of massive Anti Sikh pogrom of 1984, the anti Muslim violence of post Babri demolition and the horrific burning of Pastor Graham Steward Stains in Kandhmal. It was a quantitative and qualitative departure from the other major carnages which have rocked the country.

�

To begin with the burning of Sabarmati S 6 coach was cleverly projected to be an act done by neighboring Muslims and in turn the violence was directed against the Muslim population of Gujarat, on the ground that the Hindu sentiments are hurt. The section of Hindu community was deliberately incited by the decision of state to take the burnt bodies of victims in a procession, against the advice of the collector of the city. The Bandh call given by VHP created the ground for violence. Here the social engineering was at its display, and dalits and Adivasis were mobilized to unleash the violence against the hapless innocent Muslims, accompanied by the propaganda which demonized the Muslim community as a whole. While in earlier acts of violence, the state police have been an accomplice and the silent onlooker to the violence, here a sort of active collusion of state machinery and the communal forces was on display.

�

The BJP ruled state Government had unrestricted run in the state as the Central Government was being ruled by BJP led NDA and the other allies of BJP were too enamored by the spoils of power to spoil the broth by speaking out. Modi had already instructed the officials to sit back when the Hindu backlash will take place. The leading light of socialist movement, George Fernandez, went to the extent of taking the violence against minority women in the stride by saying that rape is nothing new and it happens in such situations. What more was needed for the rioters to run amuck and to central BJP leadership to let the things go on. The pattern of violence against women was particularly horrific, targeting at their reproductive organs and shaming them to no end.

�

While the architect of Gujarat pogrom Narnedra Modi kept saying that violence has bee controlled in three days, and central BJP leadership patted him for this, the matter of fact was that violence went on and on painfully for a long time, uncontrolled and unrestricted. The attitude of the BJP controlled state was pathetic and showed the religious bias in relief and rehabilitation work. The compensations given to minorities were abysmally low, state quickly retreated from the refugee camps on the ground that the refugee camps are �child production centers�, hitting the minorities where it hurts most. The biases against them were on full display. The atmosphere was created by communal forces in such a manner that the riot victims could not go back to their houses as the people in their areas demanded a written undertaking from them, that they will withdraw the cases filed in the context of violence and that they will not file any cases. Most of the police as machinery either refused to file the FIRs or if registered they kept enough loopholes for the criminals to get away. It was in this atmosphere that the process of getting justice became a close to impossible task. The communalized state apparatus, the attitude of police and judiciary led the Supreme court to direct the shifting of cases away from Gujarat.

�

The investigation against Narendra Modi by the state police was an impossible task and so the Special Investigation team was constituted. Unfortunately, that also did not help the matters. Accompanying all this violence and attitude of state government the minorities started feeling extremely insecure. They were boycotted in trade and other social spaces. The result is the sprawling slum of Juhapura as the symbol of polarization of communities along the religious lines. The total dislocation of the monitories created multiple problems at the level of education and sources of livelihood for the minorities.

�

The religious polarization and section of media has created a Halo around Narendra Modi, while strictures against him are coming by, about his failure to protect places of religious worship of minorities, the malafide intentions of state in filing cases against social activist Teesta Setalvad, many another cases are still pending, crying for justice for the victims of Gujarat. Having consolidated the section of majority community behind him, assured of their ongoing support, Modi started the high profile propaganda about development and has been trying to distract the attention from the havoc which he has wrought in the state. The big capitalists are finding the state of Gujarat as a happy hunting ground for massive state subsidies, so the media controlled by them is singing praises and modulating popular opinion in his favor, creating a larger than life size image, development man, in order to suppress his role in the violence against minorities.

�

In this dismal scenario, there have been many an examples of victims and social activists standing for the cause of justice and doing the practically impossible task of getting justice for violence victims despite all the efforts to turn them hostile and protect the guilty of the communal crimes. While the massive propaganda and state policies are trying to turn the minorities into second class citizens, there are efforts which have gone on simultaneously to retrieve the democratic values in the face of such adverse intimidating situation created by the communal forces. Lately, apart from Court judgments, the civil society response has been picking up and the civil society is trying to overcome the stifling situation and trying to make its voice louder. While we are nowhere close to what should ideally be there in a democratic set up, the responses of civil society and social action groups are noteworthy in the matters of getting justice for victims and in the matters of recreating the liberal space which has been undermined by the communal forces. Times alone will tell if democratic values will be successfully brought in this �Hindu Rashtra in one state�

#20422

From: Anne Doucette <anne.doucette@...>
Date: Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:19 pm
Subject: Letter to Jesus 1 - Try Again

littleonebef...

I'm sending these out again, just for Lent. Let me know if don't want anymore e-mails. There will be 7 in all, it looks like.

Jesus,

�

First of all, hi. It's me again.

�

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted." (Eccl 3:1-2)

�

As always, here is my real motivation, or at least my favorite way of phrasing it: I want to show you how much I love you, Jesus, especially in the silliest and most randomly personal of ways, including with words, if necessary.

�

Sometimes, it is, you know. Through words, and pictures, and other abstract forms, I can share what it is like to actually kneel and pray in the small chapel that Francis of Assisi built in - of all places - Assisi. These words will never be the same as being in that actual physical location, and that is okay. It does not diminish the value of that physical experience, at all.

�

I needed my own building, Jesus, my own little chapel built in the worst part of town, maybe, but wherever it may be we need a spot and a building, a starting point. We need contrasts, distinctions.

�

This building is starting to take shape now, right before my eyes, and it scares me. It is at once as small as my human soul and as vast as the 'place' which will 'house' the sum total of ALL the souls will who will live forever IN ALL TIME.

�

It has to be like this. I get that. But it is still daunting, especially how not daunting this is, how my spirit is watching all of this and giving a satisfied nod. That worries me too!

�

I can't believe I agreed to try writing these letters again for Lent. This seems more and more like a bad idea.� I want so much to delete all of this and forego chocolate instead. (Yes, even Hershey Kisses with macadamia nuts.� http://www.amazon.com/Mauna-Loa-Hersheys-Kisses-Macadamia/dp/B004FVKBJA). I would rather give even that up. Maybe.. Definitely. I have to look you in the eyes and ask you to tell me this again, to let the answer work its slow, torturous through my soul, hitting all those murky sinful patches along the way.

�

Tell me again. How hard was it to get up again after they killed you, after they let you die? How hard was it to look those people in the eyes - again? How hard was it to be with your friends and family, knowing you could not stay in one place for long, that everything had eternally changed? How hard was it to forgive your enemies? How hard was it to be here, on earth, in one place, in one body?

�

I want to point out, in closing, how remarkably self-involved this feels. But maybe that's good, that I'm aware how self-involved I can be at times and how stupid it looks.

�

Your sister and your bride, and the very least of all your people

#20423

From: InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu Mar 1, 2012 2:38 pm
Subject: File - IFDC Message

InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com

Dear IFDC friends,

Please post good articles on different religions and articles that shed light
into the concepts of each religion on different aspects of life. You may also
send useful other e-mails aimed for general knowledge, health and science,
serious or interesting news articles you would like to share with others,
current issues and your opinion on them, moral stories and even comics etc. The
purpose of this group is to create understanding between religions and cultures,
and create love, peace, harmony and brotherly affections between the followers
of different religious groups by exchanging the teachings of each religion on
all aspects of life. Let us be like the bricks of a strong wall, and be together
to oppose all the injustice in the World towards humanity regardless of the
faith of the ones who commits it.

No insults or criticisms aiming to hurt the feelings of anyone are allowed.
Sincere inquiries to know will be encouraged. All messages are moderated and
will be approved only if it meets all the expected standards and morality.
Please invite your friends to the group. They can subscribe by sending an e-mail
to the following address:
InterfaithDialogueCenter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

or visit and join the group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InterfaithDialogueCenter

Group email address for posting your articles, messages and responses is:
InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com

If you want to upload any files in the group website, please write to or send
the file to:
InterfaithDialogueCenter-owner@yahoogroups.com

You can also visit the group to read the uploaded files in Files section and
links to other reading meaterials in the Links section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InterfaithDialogueCenter


May God bless us all.

Moderator
IFDC

Disclaimer:
The opinion of any individual member does not reflect the collective opinion of
the list or that of the List Moderator or that of the service provider. The List
Moderator does not accept responsibility for the posting of any single member.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (65)

#20424

From: InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun Mar 4, 2012 2:38 pm
Subject: File - Jobs Corner

InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com

Hello Friends,

You can use this facility in the IFDC page for announcing Job vacancies or
details of those who are seeking a Job. visit

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InterfaithDialogueCenter/grouplets/subscriptions

Moderator

Reply | Messages in this Topic (103)

#20425

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:39 am
Subject: Aspects of Islamic Faith - Which charity is best?

adammohomedsait@...

Aspects of Islamic Faith � Which charity is best?

We are always confronted by people who request charity. They may have a genuine case which needs help. How does Islam view such people and their action? Hakeem ibn Hazam, one of the Prophet�s companions, used to request the Prophet�s help, knowing that he did not refuse anyone. After giving him on several occasions, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him a few words that are highly significant. Hakeem quotes the Prophet as saying: �The upper hand is better than the lower one. Start with your dependents. The best charity is that which is taken from what is in excess of one�s needs. Whoever seeks to be contented God will grant him content, and whoever seeks to be self-sufficient will have God�s help in being so.� (Related by Al-Bukhari).

The Hadith focuses on two important points: the first compares the one who gives and the one who takes, and the other is giving to charity what we are in need of. We will look briefly at both points.

The majority of scholars agree that, in the context of the Hadith, the �upper hand� and the �lower hand� refer to the one who gives and the one who requests help, respectively. Thus the Hadith urges people who have plenty to give away to those in need, while at the same time it urges the ones in need to refrain from requesting charity. The �lower hand� does not refer to the one who takes without asking, if he needs help; otherwise, people who really deserve help will refrain from taking zakat and charity, which could lead to defeating the very purpose of zakat, which is a very important and basic principle of Islam. Besides, taking zakat and charity when one is in need is perfectly permissible. It is contrary to Islamic principles that a person who does something permissible will be considered, as a result of doing it, lower than one who fulfills a duty incumbent on him. Indeed, the one who takes what is permissible to take may well be a better and more God-fearing than the one who gives. Ibn Al-Arabi says: �The lower hand is certainly that of the one who begs; not the one who takes without begging.� Ibn Hajar says: �The preference here is between giving and taking, which does not necessarily mean that the giver is a better person than the taker in every case.� What he means is that giving is better than taking, but the taker may well be the better of the two.

The second point concerns giving away what one needs. Al-Bukhari says: �Charity can only be paid when one has what is sufficient for one�s needs and the needs of one�s dependents. It is not acceptable that one gives to charity what is needed for his own essentials and the essentials of his dependents. Nor is it acceptable to give to charity when one is in debt. The repayment of one�s debt takes priority over charity, or sadaqah. To give to charity what one needs to repay one�s debts constitutes wasting other people�s money, which no one is allowed to do.

The question arises whether one can give in charity all that one has, leaving oneself poor, in need of help. It is well known that when the Prophet urged his companions to contribute to the equipment of the army, Abu Bakr donated all his money. The Prophet accepted that. However, this related to that particular occasion. Otherwise, scholars have made clear that this is permissible only if the donor is in full control of his mind and faculties, has no commitments and is able to withstand the resulting difficulty. Failing that, or if he has dependents who are not equally ready to tolerate the resulting poverty, he must not give away all his money. The best charity, as the Prophet outlines, is that which is given out of what one has in excess of what meets his own and his dependents� needs.

� Adil Salahi

1 of 1 Photo(s)

#20426

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:21 pm
Subject: How the Quran shapes the brain

adammohomedsait@...

Never laugh at the mistakes of others, perhaps Allah will forgive them for their ignorance but punish you for your arrogance.

How the Quran shapes the brain

"If it wasn't for their political problems and constant fighting between each other, the Muslims would have been on the moon by the 1400's" was the statement made by a non-Muslim professor in a 400-level undergraduate class on the history of science. It seems that the rate of discovery and advancement in science achieved by the Muslims was quite impressive and has yet to be replicated. What was it that they were doing that allowed for their fast progress?

The teacher in me immediately thinks about their education system, and the neuroscientist in me wants to examine the factors involved in shaping the brains of such a civilization. Interestingly, many Muslim religious scholars will say something about how the Muslims were the leaders when the Quran was the center of their education, and only when they abandoned the Quran that they lost their reign. The amazing thing about this is that while Muslim religious scholars are typically talking about spiritual and moral realities, there is actually a material reality to what they're saying, which takes place in the brain.

A quick disclaimer here: The list of all that is affected in the brain by the Quran and how that can influence other functions is quite exhaustive. But in the interest of keeping it short, I chose some major areas to present in this article.

Before getting into the brain and how the Quran changes it, one should be familiar with how traditional Muslim education took place. In case you're wondering where I'm getting this from, it's from reading the biographies of major figures of scholarship in the traditional Muslim world such as Ibn Rushd, Ibn Sina, and others. This is also based on my personal experience and what I have been told by some of my teachers.

The very first thing taught to an aspiring student was the Quran, which had to be memorized completely. Unlike anything else encountered in spoken Arabic, Quran recitation is a very specific science. Local dialects of Arabic or different ways of pronunciation are not permitted when reciting the Quran. In fact, part of learning the Quran is learning what is called in Arabic taj'weed, which means elocution. The very first thing the student must do is replicate exactly how the teacher is reciting the verse. This refers to where individual letter sounds are being generated in the mouth and throat and where the tongue is to be placed exactly. Once this is done, the student writes the verse on a wooden board in the Othamni script, which follows different spelling rules than regular Arabic writing. The student then takes his board and goes away to memorize the verse. A typical memorization session for a beginner starts with repeating one verse multiple times as it is read on the board to also memorize how it is spelled using the Othmani script. The next day the student reviews the verse several times before returning to the teacher to receive the following verse. After repeating it with the teacher to ensure exact replication of sound and pronunciation, the student writes the new verse and goes away to begin a new memorization session. The third day begins with reviewing the first verse one final time, followed by the second verse several times before going to receive the third verse. On the fourth day the first verse is not reviewed anymore as it would have taken hold in memory, and the second verse takes its place for being reviewed while the third verse is repeated several times before going to receive the fourth verse. At the end of the week is a complete review session for everything that was memorized in the previous days.

As the days pass the capacity for memorization increases and the student is able to take on several verses or even pages at a time instead of only one or two verses. The writing using Othmani spelling continues, as well as the review sessions.

Eventually, the whole Quran having more than 6,200 verses is memorized word for word with their specific pronunciation and Othmani spelling. Now the hard task begins as the student works to review all the verses on a monthly basis so as to not forget them. This usually means taking the 30 parts of the Quran as it has been divided to facilitate memorization, and reviewing one part everyday until all 30 have been recited by the end of the month.

It should be mentioned here that the Quran has 10 different modes of recitation. This refers to the placement of diacritical marks on the words and how certain words are pronounced. Some students take this task on and memorize the Quran in all the different modes of recitation, which requires a very careful attention to where the pronunciations are different so they're not confused with each other given how subtle they sometimes can be.

There are a couple of important qualities about the Quran that relates to how it sounds. Verses in the Quran rhyme and change rhythm often, which gives a pleasurable effect to the listener. Furthermore, as one recites, they're supposed to sing it rather than simply read it. In fact, the very practice of Taj'weed (elocution) forces the reciter into a singing tone as they enunciate the words of each verse.

A final note to bring up is in regards to the Arabic language and writing in Othmani script. Part of studying the different modes of recitation requires the student to write not only in an unusual spelling, but also to exclude the diacritical marks from the words. This would allow the student to learn the variations of recitation without having the diacritical marks visually interfere with their memorization of different modes of recitation. Moreover, the grammar of the Arabic requires the proper use of diacritical marks in pronunciation so as to not confuse things such as the subject and predicate. This means that the one learning the Quran must always keep track of how the words are enunciated so as to not alter the overall meaning of the verse.

How all of this relates to the brain is quite impressive. The brain is recognized to be a malleable organ that can change its connections and even its size of certain areas based on how active they become. Understanding how involved the brain is of someone learning the Quran using the traditional Muslim method can explain how they were able to achieve such success in their knowledge endeavours.

While learning the Quran, the careful attention to listening and pronunciation of verses stimulates an area of the brain located in the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe is also where the hippocampus is located, which is the memory consolidation center. It's also the brain region activated for processing of musical sounds such as the case when the Quran is recited. Moreover, it becomes involved when the student engages in handwriting exercises similar to the ones on the wooden board. Where this matters is that this is the part of the brain whose activity levels and capacities have been correlated with a person's aptitude for learning new information. The more activation this area receives, and the more involved this activation is such as the case with the Quran, the better and more efficient it becomes in its functions for learning and memory.

The parietal lobes are also quite heavily engaged as one learns the Quran. The left parietal lobe deals with reading, writing, and functions in speech. It's also the part whose activity is important for math and logic problems. The right parietal lobe handles speech tone, which is related to elocution. It's also responsible for visuospatial relationships and understanding facial expressions. The front part is responsible for the sense of touch discrimination and recognition, which is active during handwriting. The back part plays an important role in attention. Both lobes are also activated during skill learning tasks. Overall, having parietal lobes that have been well activated translates to better logic and math-solving skills, eloquence in general speech, better ability at reading emotional states from facial cues, improved attention, and enhanced capacity for understanding visuospatial relationships. This last one can explain why Muslims were so good at astronomy.

Other brain regions the activity of Quran recitation strongly activate are the frontal lobes and the primary motor cortex. The frontal lobes activity deals with higher order functions, including working memory, memory retrieval, speech production and written-word recognition, sustained attention, planning, social behavior, in addition to others. For example, as the student is reading the Othamni script, his brain must quickly decide on the proper pronunciation of the word, which without the diacritical marks means it must be distinguished from other possibilities that include not only wrong words, but also wrong enunciation depending on the specific recitation he's using out of the 10 valid ones. The amazing thing about this is that the brain after practice will do these things without conscious control from the student. This trains the area of the brain responsible for inhibition, which is important for social interaction. Children with ADHD have been shown to have this area to be under-developed.

Given the Quran's content that for example includes descriptions of individuals and places, it activates the occipital lobes, which are involved in generating mental imagery. This brain region is also important in visual perception. Becoming active as a result of generating mental imagery indirectly improves visual perception capacities since the area activated is within the same region. The Quran is also rich in its content for history, parables, and logical arguments, all of which recruit different areas that become more efficient and better connected as they are continually activated due to the consistent review sessions.

Putting all this together, it's no wonder Muslims were able to make such vast contributions to human knowledge in a relatively short amount of time, historically speaking. After the aspiring student during the height of Muslim rule has mastered the Quran, his education in other sciences began by the time he was in his early teenage years. Given the brain's malleable nature, the improved connections in one region indirectly affect and improve functions in adjacent locations. The process in studying the Quran over the previous years has trained his brain and enhanced its functions relating to visual perception, language, working memory, memory formation, processing of sounds, attention, skill learning, inhibition, as well as planning just to name a few. Now imagine what such an individual will be able to do when they tackle any subject. It makes sense how someone like Imam Al Ghazali can say he studied Greek philosophy on the side during his spare time and mastered it within 2 years.

What was the Muslims' secret for their exponential rise in scientific advancement and contribution to human knowledge? Literally, the Quran when it was the centre of their education system.

1 of 1 Photo(s)

#20427

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:26 am
Subject: �There is something I fear more for my Ummah than the Dajjaal.�

adammohomedsait@...

ALLAH Says: "(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to All�h and His Messenger (PBUH) (Surah Nisa 59)

Imam Muslim in the introduction of Sahih Muslim narrated from Ibn Sireen that "knowledge is religion, so look thoroughly at whomever you take your religion from."

Abu Dhar RA said, �I was in the pr esence of the Prophet PBUH one day and I heard him saying, �There is something I fear more for my Ummah than the Dajjaal.� It was then that I became afraid, so I said, �O Messenger of Allah! Which thing is it that you fear for your Ummah more than the Dajjaal?� He [the Prophet ] said, �Misguided and astray scholars.� [Ahmad 21335 and 22447, Sahih by Shoaib al Aranout.]

Also our beloved Prophet PBUH said: �Indeed it is among the signs of the Hour that knowledge be sought from the asaghar (minor / lesser people in knowledge).� (Recorded by Ibn al-Mubarak in az-Zuhd, 61 and al-Lalaka�i in Sharh Usool
I�tiqad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa�ah, 102 and authenticated by Albani in Jami Sagheer and silsilah sahiha)
[This was by brother Syed Mohammad Arif]

Now, brothers and sisters, the fitnah of Dajjal is the greatest of all fitnah but prophet (SAS) had declared something which is greater than the fitnah of Dajjal. Hence, brothers and sisters be on your guard and go back to our roots and our roots are Quran and authentic Hadeeth. Gain as much knowledge on Islam as is possible. And keep praying to ALLAH to guide you on the right path and to make you remain firm on it till your death. InshaALLAH, then none can harm your faith in the least sense, not even Dajjaal.

1 of 1 Photo(s)

#20428

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:48 am
Subject: Fwd: E-Digest: cow on Indian Political Chess board

jhang45

Cow- Political Chessboard 2.docx

Dear Friends

Please find attached an E Digest on the issues related to Cow, Beef etc. being brought in on the political arena. It is in PDF and Word format both. Hope you find it useful in the background of current debate on the issue.

Best wishes

ram puniyani

Preface

Cow slaughter, beef eating have been being brought up on regular basis by communal forces. This issue is used to browbeat the Muslim minorities in particular. Time and over again this issue in the form of inciting communal violence, inciting anti dalit killings, inciting the killing of someone in the trade of cow selling is targeted. The issue is now being used more often as a divisive communal agenda and the aim of this is very clear. It is a political tool in the hands of communal forces.

There are very rigorously researched papers proving that cow was consumed extensively in ancient Vedic period. In India, the consumption of beef is more than that of goat mutton or chicken. Many an Indian communities are eating beef. The latest law in M.P. is the worst in the line of the impositions by state. This law empowers the police to arrest any body suspected to be carrying, storing or eating beef.

This E Digest is a compilation of major essays, articles and interviews on the theme. The aim of this E Digest is to bring together all the amiable material on the topic.

�

Ram Puniyani

�

Contents

Page No

1.�� Cow and the Elusive Hindu Identity �� 04

-�� D.N. Jha

2.�� Commissar Sadhvi�s Cow Agenda�� 14

-�� Ram Puniyani

3.�� The Dilemma of Cow Slaughter in India �� �17

-�� Anshul Kumar Pandey

4.�� Hindutva Politics and the holy Cow�� 21

-�� Manoj Joshi

5.�� �Holy� Cow and �Unholy� Dalit�� 24

-�� S. Anand

6.�� Holy Cow! Who Moved My Meat�� 35

-�� Divya Rajagopal

7.�� Cow in Contemporary Political Chessboard�� 37

-�� Ram Puniyani

8.�� Cow�s Urine as Medicine: Faith�s leap into blind alleys�� 39

-�� Ram Puniyani

9.�� Using the Cow�� 41

-�� Javed Anand

10.�� Tribute to the holy cow�� 43

-�� Jawed Naqvi

11.�� What a hypocrisy, Gau Mata!�� 46

-�� A.J. Philip

12.�� M.P.: Path way to Hindu Rashtra�� 50

-�� Ram Puniyani

13.�� Interview �� 52

�� A Political tool� Interview with D.N. Jha

2 of 2 File(s)

Cow- Political Chessboard 2.pdf

#20429

From: "John G. Spethman" <sabadocjgs@...>
Date: Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:14 am
Subject: Re: [IFDC] Fw: Muhammd (pbuh)

sabadocjgs

Dear Mr. Khan,

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, you site the errors that most Muslims subscribe to. Please see my responses below.

The Christianity of today is not what Jesus preached but what the church developed and for money and control of people.

Answer: Christianity began with preaching. Jesus' preaching and the command for the Apostles to go an preach. They taught the Faithful through the Church that Jesus established through Peter, the first Pope. The Church became to be known as the Catholic Church because heresies began to spring up teaching things that the Apostles never taught to those in the Churches they founded nor the leaders of the Church who came along after the Apostles.

The Christianity today is the Christianity of Jesus' time. The Catholic Mass is the reenactment of the Last Supper which Jesus instructed his Apostles to carry on. The Mass is central to Christianity then and today. The belief in Jesus' divinity, crucifixion, resurrection, and salvation through belief in Jesus were preached to both Jews and Gentiles alike. The Central Tenants of Christianity have not changed in over 2,000 years but how people practice it individually is no different than how other people of faith practice theirs.

The Church developed to neither obtain money nor to control people. The Church then and now continues to shared Jesus' Good News through the Gospels and the writings of His Apostles as found in the Bible. People have a free will to choice to follow Jesus or not. Jesus never threatened nor coerced anyone to believe. He invited them to believe. He said "I AM the way, the truth, and the light. He who believes in me shall have eternal life."

Thats why you don't find in bible, the words and concepts of trinity,nor of divineness of Jesus.

Answer: The specific words are not in the Bible but they are found there never-the-less. Jesus instructed His Apostles to "baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." There are documents from the First Century that report people being baptized in this way. Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan is the Trinity narrative. Jesus comes out of the water and a Dove is seen descending from Heaven called the Holy Spirit and a voice from heaven being heard saying "This is my Son in who I am well pleased. Listen to him."

When Jesus asks His Apostles "Who do people say that I am." Peter replies "You are the Christ, the Anointed one, the Son of the Living God." Jesus replies that no man has told you this but it comes from my heavenly Father.

The Apostles bowed down and worshipped Jesus when he walked on water and calmed the Sea of Galilea.

At Jesus' trial, He equates Himself with God by saying "I AM." The Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy.

The Gospel of John is devoted entirely to defending Jesus' divinity.

When people question they are said believe,believe hard.So what happens they leave christianity and either become Atheists or Agnostics or Budhist,or Hindu or Muslims.This trend is on the rise.

Answer: Jesus said this would happen. There are people who is choose not to believe when they hear Jesus' message of Salvation. There are also people who are embracing Christianity too. People enter and leave religions all the time.

The christianity of today is devoid of spirituality because spirituality requires someone to do sacrifice,self control,share.

Answer: Christianity contains all the virtues you site. There are people who pay the religion lip-service for whatever reason. All religions have people like this. As a Catholic, we have entered the time of Lent. It is 40 days of fasting on Fridays, daily prayer, self-sacrifice, alms giving and prayerful reflection on our relationship with Jesus and our heavenly Father. My Catholic faith is deep and rich in Spirituality because in my Faith we have a relationship with our heavenly Father. I have experienced my heavenly Father's peace, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional Love. I grow closer to my heavenly Father in this life, intimately and will spend eternity in HIS presence when he calls me from this life.

But todays christian invented the concept"Jesus died for my sins",this belief has made a christian free to do any and every sin without remorse.

Answer: Jesus dying for our sins comes from Jesus himself. Scripture is replete with this. The writings of the Apostles and their preaching state this very thing.

This in no way allows any Christian to freely commit sin and not be remorseful. Unfortunately, there are some who claim to be Christian who live their life in this way. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in Jesus' words nor the Apostle's words that confirm this. We are do the exact opposite. He are to strive to life good, decent, holy lives in keeping with Jesus' teachings and examples.

This has made christian into a materialist man.This has changed Christianity into a cult around the worship of Jesus.

Answer: Jesus says "You cannot serve two Masters, God and Money." You will love one and hate the other." Jesus also says "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" Jesus also says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." People have a free will to live their life. Christianity does not condone materialism nor selfishness.

Christianity has always worshipped Jesus as the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Materialism has not done this. Again, the Apostles taught and preached this.

God Bless

From: Muhammad Khan <mjkhan11373@...>
To: "InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com" <InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: [IFDC] Fw: Muhammd (pbuh)

John,

To understand something you have to start impartially.The Christianity of today is not what Jesus preached but what the church developed and for money and control of people.Thatswhy you don't find in bible, the words and concepts of trinity,nor of divineness of Jesus.When people question they are said believe,believe hard.So what happens they leave christianity and either become Atheists or Agnostics or Budhist,or Hindu or Muslims.This trend is on the rise.

The christianity of today is devoid of spirituality because spirituality requires someone to do sacrifice,self control,share.But todays christian invented the concept"Jesus died for my sins",this belief has made a christian free to do any and every sin without remorse.This has made christian into a materialist man.This has changed Christianity into a cult around the worship of Jesus.

God bless you.

Muhammad Khan,

From: John G. Spethman <sabadocjgs@...>
To: Islaaminfo <info@...>
Cc: "InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com" <InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com>; "Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com" <Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com>; "muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com" <muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com>; "political_analysts@yahoogroups.com" <political_analysts@yahoogroups.com>; "ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com" <ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com>; "muslimcity@yahoogroups.com" <muslimcity@yahoogroups.com>; "history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com" <history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com>; "discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com" <discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com>; "issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com" <issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com>; "al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com" <al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com>; "islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com" <islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com>; IslamicViews <IslamicViews@yahoogroups.com>; S A Hannan <sahannan@...>; revealingthetruth <revealing_the_truth@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnah <AhleSunnah@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnat11 <ahlesunnat11@...>; sahannan <sahannan@yahoogroups.com>; "PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com" <PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com>; realwideminds <realwideminds@yahoogroups.com>; "FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com" <FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: [IFDC] Fw: Muhammd (pbuh)

Hello,

No thank you. I believe Islam is a religion but it is not the truth in the purest sense. I do not believe Mohammed is a prophet but a man who believed he

was visited by an angel and given a book. Mormonism and Islam share these similarities.

A colleague of mine who is a Muslim once said to me that Christianity and Islam cannot both be true. He is correct. Islam and Mohammed's position on

the basic tenents of Christianity are incorrect.

God Bless

From: Islaaminfo <info@...>
To: John G. Spethman <sabadocjgs@...>
Cc: "InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com" <InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com>; "Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com" <Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com>; "muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com" <muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com>; "political_analysts@yahoogroups.com" <political_analysts@yahoogroups.com>; "ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com" <ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com>; "muslimcity@yahoogroups.com" <muslimcity@yahoogroups.com>; "history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com" <history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com>; "discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com" <discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com>; "issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com" <issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com>; "al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com" <al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com>; "islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com" <islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com>; IslamicViews <IslamicViews@yahoogroups.com>; S A Hannan <sahannan@...>; revealingthetruth <revealing_the_truth@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnah <AhleSunnah@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnat11 <ahlesunnat11@...>; sahannan <sahannan@yahoogroups.com>; "PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com" <PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com>; realwideminds <realwideminds@yahoogroups.com>; "FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com" <FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 9:01 AM
Subject: Re: [IFDC] Fw: Muhammd (pbuh)

Hi I think the issue at hand is not the real issue. The real issue is that you do not accept Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) to be the truth. If I can prove to you that Islam is the truth, are you willing to accept? Take Care Bye

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 12:20 PM, John G. Spethman <sabadocjgs@...> wrote:

My statement stands. Again, these are people's opinions. Perusing many of the statements can be refuted by another person's opinion and history.

As for Islam being the fastest growing religion, this is not completely true. It may be true in some areas of the world but not the entire world. Furthermore

when making this claim, it does not take into consideration the growing number of ex-Muslims. It is difficult to compile this not because it does not exist but because Islam kills those who leave the religion. You would be shocked by the number of Muslims who are quietly leaving Islam and embracing other religions or becoming agnostic/atheistic.

From: Islaaminfo <info@...>
To: John G. Spethman <sabadocjgs@...>
Cc: "InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com" <InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com>; "Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com" <Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com>; "muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com" <muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com>; "political_analysts@yahoogroups.com" <political_analysts@yahoogroups.com>; "ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com" <ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com>; "muslimcity@yahoogroups.com" <muslimcity@yahoogroups.com>; "history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com" <history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com>; "discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com" <discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com>; "issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com" <issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com>; "al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com" <al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com>; "islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com" <islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com>; IslamicViews <IslamicViews@yahoogroups.com>; S A Hannan <sahannan@...>; revealingthetruth <revealing_the_truth@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnah <AhleSunnah@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnat11 <ahlesunnat11@...>; sahannan <sahannan@yahoogroups.com>; "PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com" <PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com>; realwideminds <realwideminds@yahoogroups.com>; "FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com" <FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 3:41 AM
Subject: Re: [IFDC] Fw: Muhammd (pbuh)

WHAT NON-MUSLIMS HAVE TO SAY!

"Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?"Lamartine, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277.

"He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports." Bosworth Smith, MOHAMMAD AND MOHAMMADANISM, London, 1874, p. 92.

"I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today." --G.B. Shaw,THE GENUINE ISLAM, Vol. 1, No. 81936.

"But Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity. It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation. No other society has such a record of success uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavours so many and so various races of mankind . . . Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition. In its hands lies very largely
the solution of the problem with which Europe is faced in its relation with East. If they unite, the hope of a peaceful issue is immeasurably enhanced. But if Europe, by rejecting the cooperation of Islam, throws it into the arms of its rivals, the issue can only be disastrous for both." --H.A.R.Gibb, WHITHER ISLAM, London, 1932, p. 379.

"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher."
Annie Besant, THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD, Madras,1932, p. 4.

"His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement – all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad."W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.

"In little more than a year he was actually the spiritual, nominal and temporal rule of Medina, with his hands on the lever that was to shake the world." John Austin, "Muhammad the Prophet of Allah," in T.P. 's and Cassel's Weekly for 24th September 1927.

"Four years after the death of Justinian, A.D. 569, was born at Mecca, in Arabia the man who, of all men exercised the greatest influence upon the human race . . . Mohammed . . . " John William Draper, M.D., L.L.D., A History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, London 1875, Vol.1, pp.329-330

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."
Michael H. Hart, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p. 33.

"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated." --De Lacy O'Leary, ISLAM AT THE CROSSROADS, London, 1923, p. 8.

"Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world." --Lectures on "The Ideals of Islam;" see SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF SAROJINI NAIDU, Madras, 1918, p. 167.

"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people..." HILLARY RODMAN CLINTON, Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1996, p.3

Already more than a billion-people strong, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. ABCNEWS, Abcnews.com

"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country." NEWSDAY, March 7, 1989, p.4

"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States..." NEW YORK TIMES, Feb 21, 1989, p.1
Moslems are the world's fastest-growing group..." USA TODAY, The population referance bureau, Feb. 17, 1989, p.4A

"Muhammed is the most successful of all Prophets and religious personalities. " Encyclopedia Britannica

"Islam is the fastest growing religion in North America." TIMES MAGAZINE

"Islam continues to grow in America, and no one can doubt that!" CNN, December 15, 1995

"The religion of Islam is growing faster than any other religion in the world." MIKE WALLACE, 60 MINUTES

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 7:17 PM, John G. Spethman <sabadocjgs@...> wrote:

These statements area a matter of opinion. History shows that not all of these accolades are true.

From: Abdul Wahid Osman Belal <awobelal@...>
To: Afghanistan_Today@yahoogroups.com; muslimintelligencer@yahoogroups.com; political_analysts@yahoogroups.com; ar_ruuh@yahoogroups.com; muslimcity@yahoogroups.com; interfaithdialoguecenter@yahoogroups.com; history_islam-owner@yahoogroups.com; discussing_religion@yahoogroups.com; issuesonline_worldwide@yahoogroups.com; al-islamforall@yahoogroups.com; islamisthetruth@yahoogroups.com; IslamicViews <IslamicViews@yahoogroups.com>; S A Hannan <sahannan@...>; revealingthetruth <revealing_the_truth@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnah <AhleSunnah@yahoogroups.com>; ahlesunnat11 <ahlesunnat11@...>; sahannan <sahannan@yahoogroups.com>; PAKISTANTIMES@yahoogroups.com; realwideminds <realwideminds@yahoogroups.com>; FriendzforAllah@yahoogroups.com
Cc: IslaamInfo <info@...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 10:22 PM
Subject: [IFDC] Fw: Muhammd (pbuh)

ABDUL WAHID OSMAN BELAL --- On Tue, 14/2/12, E ISLAM <info@...> wrote:

From: E ISLAM <info@...> Subject: Muhammd (pbuh) To: awobelal@... Date: Tuesday, 14 February, 2012, 14:34

Muhammad (pbuh)Muhammad was the greatest personality anyone has ever seenThe most honest, just and loving human beingHe had the most beautiful, bright shiny smileAnd the most highest ranking profileNo one could beat him in eloquenceYet the mushrikeen said he was a bad influenceEverything he did was not for fameBut it was to help save us from the eternal flameHis humour was also greatLike when he told the old lady she won’t enter throughJannahs gateIn Jaahiliyyah they would all in him place their trustBut when he came with the truth, they threw on him dustHis habeebatain were Aa’isha and Abu BakrAmoung his sahaabahs expedition was there Al-AmbarHe had given Khalid bin al-Waleed the title of SayfullahAnd his beloved uncle Hamzah was known as AsadullahAt Taa’if he had to endure such painBut he made dua to Allah that through its progeny the Ummahshould gainAt the Battle of Mu’tah was his cousin Ja’far slainThis too caused him a lot of painHis sword was the ZulfiqaarAnd he told us to seek forgiveness from Allah al-GhaffaarHe prayed sincerely night and dayJust so that humanity may come on to the right wayIn the Quraan he is known as an-NatheerThis was amoung the titles given to him by As-Samee’ul BaseerHis last illness proved to be severeHe knew he would not make it another yearWhile on his deathbed his cry was ‘Ummati Ummati’Knowing all the while that he was sinless, still he prayed to his Rabb, ‘Ighfirlee’ (forgive me)Allahumma Salli wa Sallim ala Nabiyyil UmmiKhairun Naasi min Arabiyyin wa Ajami--If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, http://eislam.co.za/info_list/?p=unsubscribe&uid=293e6461c51b3dd16d4cedb3dbcd26bcTo update your preferences and to unsubscribe visithttp://eislam.co.za/info_list/?p=preferences&uid=293e6461c51b3dd16d4cedb3dbcd26bcForward a Message to Someonehttp://eislam.co.za/info_list/?p=forward&uid=293e6461c51b3dd16d4cedb3dbcd26bc&mid=104--Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com --

Reply | Messages in this Topic (5)

#20430

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Thu Mar 1, 2012 9:16 am
Subject: Death and Resurrection

adammohomedsait@...

Death and Resurrection.pdf

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

We are all aware that we are in this world for a limited period, and one day, like all before us, and all after us, we will die and face Allah on the Day of Judgment, where we will have to account for all we have done (and not done) in our brief sojourn in this world. But how many of us really ponder on the eventuality of death? Woody Allen remarks that when death comes to him, he would rather not be there. Wishful thinking, but something we cannot look forward to. Our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked us to remember our own death at least thrice a day; at another time he said twenty. Probably the reason he did so was for us to always remember our eventual destination and live carefully (within the limits set by Allah).

Please read the brief pdf attached, �Death and Resurrection�, which is very informative and instructive. Please share it with all whom you care for, with the same exhortation. Insha Allah, we will all benefit from this action, and hopefully also be better informed on these matters.

The following are the books/booklets sent you previously. If you have not received all, let me know, and I will re-send you what you want:

The Fundamentals of Tawheed

Are we Forced or do we have Free Will

Eeman and its Components

Exposing Shaytan

Faith in the Angels

Four Foundations of Shirk

How do we Believe in the LAST DAY

Islamic Principles for the Muslim's Attitude during Fitan

The Day of Resurrection in light of soorah an-naba

The Modernists and the Hadeeth Rejectors

The Ruling Concerning Mawlid

What you must believe about your Creator

Worldly Difficulties- Reality, Causes and Benefits

Q & A on Islamic Matters- Vol. 1, 2, 3 & 4

Ibn Kathir's Stories of the Prophets

Salvation through Repentance

ADAM MOHOMED SAIT

1 of 1 File(s)

#20431

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Fri Mar 2, 2012 12:34 am
Subject: Bol ki Sach Zindaa Hai Ab Tak: Ten Years of Gujarat 2002-Please circulate

jhang45

10 YEARS OF RESISTANCE

Bol ki Sach Zindaa Hai Ab Tak

Ten Years of Gujarat 2002

�

March 4, 2012

Constitution Club Lawns, Rafi Marg, New Delhi

10.30 am to 9.30pm

�

Ten years Journey through the voices of victims, activists, academicians, artists

A Day Long Convention and a Cultural Tribute

�

We invite people from across India to join us in remembering Ten years of Gujarat 2002, paying homage to the victims and taking our struggle forward to politically defeat the forces of hatred in Gujarat.� We are not in a position to support the travel or stay but we do hope that individuals and organizations will join in to commemorate ten years of Gujarat.

�

Over 250 victims from Gujarat and senior activists will be participating in the convention.

�

10.30am- Inauguration of the Exhibition: Reflections of a Journey- conceived and designed by Shabnam Hashmi . Sanjiv Bhatt will inaugurate the exhibition

�

11.00 am � 11.45 noon

BOOK RELEASE:

�Lest we Forget History� written by PGJ NAMPOOTHIRI and GAGAN SETHI

Panel: Justice Verma, Syeda Hamid, Farah Naqvi, PGJ Nampoothiri, Gagan Sethi

�

11.45noon � 1.30pm

List of speakers: BRINDA KARAT, DIGVIJAY SINGH, HARSH MANDER, JITENDRA AHWAR,� MAHESH BHATT, SANJIV BHATT, VRINDA GROVER

�

1.30-2.15pm- Lunch

�

2.15-4.00pm

List of speakers: HANIF LAKDAWALA, DR.HARSHVARDHAN HEGDE,SHABNAM HASHMI, SHEBA GEORGE, UTTAM PARMAR, ZAKIA SOMAN, VOICES OF VICTIMS

�

4-4.30PM- TEA BREAK

�

4.30-9.30pm

�

A Cultural Tribute

The artists include AVNI SETHI- a young kathak dancer and a designer, EKLEKTIKA- a rock band, DHRUV SANGARI-sufi singer, IMAAD SHAH- actor, singer, theatre and cinema artist, MANU KOHLI-singer, MEHMOOD FARUQI AND DANISH HUSSAIN- dastan goyee, NAMRATA PAMNANI- a dancer, SABA AZAD- an actress, singer and dancer from cinema and theatre, SANJAY RAJOURA- a standup comedian, SKA VENGERS - �a rock band. ( please see attached invite for schedule).

�

Programme Organised by ANHAD, BHARTIYA MUSLIM MAHILA ANDOLAN, JANVIKAS, SIASAT

1 of 1 File(s)

4 march invite.jpg

#20432

From: InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:36 pm
Subject: File - Jobs Corner

InterfaithDialogueCenter@yahoogroups.com

Hello Friends,

You can use this facility in the IFDC page for announcing Job vacancies or
details of those who are seeking a Job. visit

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InterfaithDialogueCenter/grouplets/subscriptions

Moderator

Reply | Messages in this Topic (103)

#20433

From: Anne Doucette <anne.doucette@...>
Date: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:18 pm
Subject: Letter 4 - Listening

littleonebef...

John 16:12

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."

�

Jesus,

�I am thinking in terms of eschatology, life after death, what comes next.� I know sometimes we read words like "I still have many things to say to you" and draw odd conclusions about what this could mean.

�

I think it is pretty clear from the context that you meant the apostles had to mature and become better people so as to better appreciate the transcendent value of earth, so as to be able to understand heaven. Virtues. Purity of heart. Charity. Stuff like that.� Or, as the Father is fond of reminding me, How can I possibly beseech heaven for the eternal salvation of someone I'm not willing to spend 10 minutes with? I tend to think he is being cute until I give it a try and realize how truly transcendently RIGHT the Creator of all life really IS about these things. Funny how that all works out.

�

Remember when God told Moses that he was going to wipe out the Israelites and set up Moses instead? Moses interceded for his people, so God relented. And then Moses got back to the camp and they were all partying and committing idolatry.

�

�It all sounds well and good on the mountaintop, which is why the Father sets us up with this little dialogue first so that way *we* know when we get into the heat of things, that's right I did stand up for everyone.

�

He is like a fencing teacher who tests our abilities by pretending as if he knew only the moves I know thus far as opposed to every move everyone can ever possibly know and then some. And when I get frustrated and ask him to stop playing with me, to tell me what he really thinks, he takes me in his arms and reminds me that I am his baby girl. And I can feel my Father's heartbeat, Jesus, pounding in my own chest, the love which chooses unity, to be both separate and together, all the delicious agony of wanting so much to understand one another that I cannot cease to be me or to want my Father to stay Him, or you to stay you, despite all the force pushing us together. My own will joins with his in keeping us eternally apart - and I do not know where I begin and you end in that place. At that point I know we are truly one in mind and heart, in total agreement more than big enough to hold the entire universe and all that will take place in it ever.

�

Love you, always.

Anne

�

PS - 4 down three to go... Yay.

#20434

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:23 am
Subject: Verily After Hardship Comes Ease

adammohomedsait@...

Verily After Hardship Comes Ease

By Shaykh Aaidh Al-Qarni

At a time in which the Muslims are beset with trials from every periphery, it is a time when Muslims should continue being Muslims, only better Muslims.

I would say to my dear brothers and sisters in Islam �don�t be sad�; if you are on the true religion � believing in One God and all the Messengers sent to mankind, then don�t be sad.

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala says in Quraan

��Bear with patience whatever befalls you�.� (31:17) and �Be not sad, surely Allaah is with us.� (9:40)

Our Prophet Sall Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:

�Verily, if Allaah loves a people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him is contentment, and whoever is angry upon him is wrath.� [Tirmidhi]

Being sad is not encouraged in Islam

�So do not become weak, nor be sad�� (3:139)

�And grieve not over them, and be not distressed because of what they plot.� (16:127)

Sadness prevents one from action instead of compelling one towards it. The heart does not benefit through grief. The most beloved thing to the devil is to hinder the worshipper in the path of Allaah. The Muslim must repel sadness and fight in any way that is permissible in Islam.

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala is sufficient for us

�Allaah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allaah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allaah. And Allaah is the owner of Great Bounty.� (3:173-174)

�And put your trust in Allaah if you are believers indeed�� (5:23)

�O you who believe! Seek help in patience and the prayer�� (2:153)

By leaving your affairs to Allaah, by depending on Him, by trusting in His promise, by being pleased with His decree, by thinking favourably of Him, and by waiting patiently for His help, you reap some of the greater fruits of faith. When you incorporate these qualities, you will be at peace concerning the future, because you will depend on your Lord for everything. As a result, you will find care, help, protection and victory.

Pre-ordainment

�No calamity befalls on earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees � before We bring it into existence.� (57:22)

The pen has dried, and the pages have been lifted: all events shall come to pass have already been written. Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: if this belief were to be firmly ingrained in your heart, then all hardships and difficulty would become ease and comfort.

The Prophet Sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam said,

�Whoever Allaah wishes good for, He inflicts him (with hardship).� (Bukhaari)

For those who are afflicted with disaster, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with your Lord.

�He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned.� (21:23)

Verily, with hardship, there is relief

�Verily, with hardship there is relief.� (94:6)

�Perhaps Allaah may bring victory or a decision according to His Will.� (5:52)

Prophet Ibraheem alayhissalam did not feel its heat because of the help he received from Allaah.

�We (Allaah) said : O� fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibraheem.� (21:69)

The sea would not drown Prophet Musa alayhissalaam because he uttered in confident, strong and truthful manner:

�Nay verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me.� (26:62)

And the Prophet Muhammad Sall Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said to Abdullah bin Abbaas radiyallahu anhu:

�..Be mindful of Allaah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allaah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity� And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.� [Tirmidhi]

Accept life as it is

If you read the Quraan you will see that all the Prophets alayhimussalaam went through trials and tribulations. Life is a test so let us learn from the best examples of our Prophets.

�Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and were shaken.� (2:214)

We should know that if we are pleased with our Lord, He will be pleased with us. And if you are pleased with your Lord no matter what the situation is, then you will find that you have earned your Lord�s pleasure. On the other hand, there are hypocrites whom Allaah rejects their deeds. They are displeased with what Allaah sends down and they hate seeking His pleasure; thus their deeds are performed in vain.

Your recompense is with Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala

When Allaah, the Exalted takes something away from you, He compensates it with something better, but only if you are patient and seek His reward.

Prophet Muhammad Sall Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:

�Whoever loses a loved one from the people of this world and then seeks recompense with his Lord, will be compensated with Paradise.�

Those who are in this world and are close to Allaah will be raised in the highest of heaven:

�Peace be upon you, because you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!� (13:24)

Truly, the life of this world is short and its treasures are few. O afflicted ones, if you are patient you lose nothing; and though you may not perceive it, you are profiting.

Extract honey but do not break the hive

�Repel (the evil) with one which is better, then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity (will become) as though he was a close friend.� (41:34)

��.and harm them not. And put your trust in Allaah.� (33:48)

Prophet Muhammad Sall Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said,

�Verily, Allaah ordered me to keep relations with those that cut off, forgive the ones who does an injustice with me, and to give to those who withhold from me.�

�Those who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allaah loves the good-doers.� (3:134)

Remembrance of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala

�Verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest.� (13:28)

�Therefore remember Me and I will remember you�� (2:152)

We should not be surprised when we hear that people who remember Allah are at peace. What is truly surprising is how the negligent and unmindful survive without remembering Him.

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taaala says in the Quraan,

�They are dead, lifeless and they know not when they will be raised up.� (16:21)

Truly, He is near when supplicated: He hears when he is called and He answers when He is invoked, so humble yourself before Him and ask of Him sincerely. Repeat His beautiful names, and mention Him alone as worthy of worship. Mention His praises, supplicate to Him: you will find then � by the will of Allaah � happiness, peace and illumination.

�So Allaah gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.� (3:148)

Loving Allaah, knowing Him, remembering Him, seeking peace in Him, singling Him out for complete love, fear, hope and dependence � these qualities when combined in a person, constitute a sort of heaven on earth. These are qualities that bring peace to those who love Allah, a sort of peace that has no comparison in this world.

It is important that a special relationship exists in the heart between the slave and his Lord, a relationship that allows the slave to feel so close to his Lord that he requires no other. Thus, he finds company when he is alone, and he tastes the sweetness of remembering Him and supplicating to Him. Allaah's slave will continually face hardship and difficulty until he dies, but if he has a special relationship with his Lord, all of the hardships of life will become easy for him.

The prayer�.the prayer � we must return to our masjid

�O� you who believe! Seek help in patience and the Prayer.� (2:153)

By earnestly performing the five daily prayers, we achieve the greatest of blessings: cleared off our sins and increase in rank with our Lord. Prayer is a potent remedy for our sickness, for it instills our faith in our souls.

As for those that keep away from the mosque and away from prayer, for them is unhappiness, wretchedness and an embittered life.

�For them is destruction and Allaah will make their deeds vain.� (47:8)

Take a moment to reflect

O whose mind has wandered in grief, O you whose eyes are loaded with tears; relax and know that your Creator aids, and that His mercy will bring you peace. And know that your reward is secure with He Who doesn�t disappoint the one who seeks to please Him. Be at peace, for after poverty comes joyous meeting, and after sleeplessness comes sound rest. O you who are oppressed in the lands, who suffer from hunger, pain, sickness and poverty, rejoice in the knowledge that you will soon be satisfied with food and that you will be happy and in good health.

Let us make these supplications, their purpose being to eliminate hardship, anxiety and grief:

�There is no worthy of worship except Allaah, the Ever Forbearing, the Most Great. There is none worthy of worship except Allaah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. There is none worthy of worship One Who sustains and protects all that exists, there is none worthy of worship except You, and by Your Mercy do we seek Your aid.�

�So be patient, with a good patience�� (70:5).

___________________________________________

References:

The Noble Qur�aan (Muhsin Khan/Muhammad Hilali Translation)

Don�t Be Sad � Shaykh �Aaidh Al-Qarni

Ash Sharh
Surah 94. Solace, Consolation, Relief

1. Have We not expanded thee thy breast?

2. And removed from thee thy burden

3. The which did gall thy back?

4. And raised high the esteem (in which) thou (art held)?

5. So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief:

6. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.

7. Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour hard,

8. And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention.

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#20435

From: Abdul Wahid Osman Belal <awobelal@...>
Date: Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:41 am
Subject: Society could withstand infidels but not injustice/Justice Ch. Ijaz Ahmed-1 Courtesy: The Nation Pakistan

awobelal

Society could withstand infidels but not injustice

March 17, 2012

From the cradle to the grave one leads through different stages and channels. And while I review phases of my education, my otherwise illiterate lather stands as a citadel or beacon of light. His simple and down to earth teacher-parent cooperation cum coordination set the goals for me. Shifting me from the village school to ‘city of colleges’ Lahore at the tender age of 11 years was a mile stone in my educational career. My educational journey remained tainted due to aptitude dilemma of science vs arts. After my law graduation my apprenticeship and junior partnership with citadel of law, Mr. S.M. Zafar and that also purely on merit will remain my personal pride. I had sleepless days and nights to learn and assist him. I had acquaintance with Mr. Hayat Dar (late), the then Estate Officer, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lahore, through late Khawaja Asad Ullah. On elevation of Mr. Justice Manzoor Hussain Sial to Lahore High Court, on the advice of Mr. Dar Khawja Ghulam Sadiq (the then Chairman of the Board) approved my assignment as the legal adviser. While issuing the appointment letter the Chairman smilingly congratulated me on my future elevation to the High Court. I do not know it was his vision, experience or the precedence observed. During these proceedings I discussed it with Babu Ji, my spiritual guide who said that this would be divine decision and that we should only knock His door and avoid material support. Needless to mention I was also assigned to Punjab Text Book Board, and later Punjab University as their legal adviser. Despite, political wranglings and bureaucratic hic ups, I served as the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lahore, legal adviser for a long time and the assignment terminated only on my elevation to the bench as predicted by late Khawaja Ghulam Sadiq. During all this period I kept on diligently and effectively assisting Mr. S.M. Zafar too, but some how I was not deservingly rewarded. My spiritual guide, Babu Ji, had refrained me from knocking any door for any help. One day I was conveyed from the provincial Governor for my suggested nomination to the erstwhile Martial Law era Majlas-e-Shura which I declined with all humility. It was later revealed that this was due to covert efforts of my brother-in-law (the then Col. Hasan Akhter) A turning point came in my legal career when I participated in presentation of Mustafa Khar’s case in Lahore High Court. In fact Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan advised his old class fellow, Mr. Arif Noor, to ensure my active participation in preparing this case. Since Mr. Zafar was to proceed to USA, he therefore planned a panel consisting of Mr. Fakhar-ud-Din G. Ibrahim, Mr. Ali Zafar and my self to prepare the case. On arrival in Pakistan Mr. Khar was arrested and brought to Faisalabad Jail. Mr. Arif Noor asked me to prepare a writ petition on behalf of Mrs. Tehmina Khar. The case was presented in the Lahore High Court, DB headed by Justice Ijaz Nisar. After an hour long presentation Ali Ahmed Fazeel, AG was given a notice for representation. At this point of time while appreciating my case presentation Mr. Pervez Akhtar, Senior Advocate said “Take it from me, you are the next DAG”! And this really proved to be a turning point in my professional career. In one of the Full Court proceedings when Mr. S.M. Zafar finished his presentation, Justice Afzal Lone said “Mr. Zafar, you are lucky to have Ch. Ijaz behind you. He has prepared the case so thoroughly from all angles”. That was a tribute to my hard work and professional competence. During the hearing of the same case in the apex court Justice Dr. Nasim Hasan Shah remarked, “Mr. Zafar, Don’t worry, Ch. Ijaz is behind you. He will bring another point for you.” Mr. Ali Ahmed Fazeel after having convinced the President and PM, advised the Law Secretary to prepare summary for my appointment as DAG.
This summary was in process when the assemblies were dissolved. Later when he appeared in the famous Haji Sail Ullah case, he asked for my CV and said that he had only one regret that he could not do anything for me. He added that whatever the result of the election on 16 October I would be ready to even beg for you. Then during General Fazal Haq’s case Mr. Asif Jan (the then Special Prosecutor) got my summary for DAG assignment and what a coincidence this summary was still in process that the assemblies were dissolved once again. In another important case Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan filed a petition in Lahore High Court regarding identity card which was accepted. In the appeal in Supreme Court Aziz Munshi, the then AG engaged me as his associate in the case. My father, 130 years old, woke up at 2 am and loudly said, “I have given good education to my son but neither Bhutto’s daughter nor Nawaz Sharif has done anything for him. In these last days I wanted to see a flag on his car.” Next morning I repeated his words to Justice Aslam Mian (late), who said that these two would soon be on road (out of power) and you would be on a responsible position. And Lo and behold! Just 15 days after at 11 pm on 6th August, 1990 I declined Mr. Aziz Munshi’s offer. Next morning Justice (R) Aslam Mian congratulated me but slapped me when I narrated the last nights dialogue. It was then that I decided that if the offer to take on as DAG is repeated, I would accept it. I was notified as DAG on 26 August, 1990. Later after change of government on enquiry from my father I told him about my plan to resign. He advised me not to resign. I retained this assignment for 5½ months after the death of my great father.
2. When I was elevated to the bench I was neither holding any Bar office nor I was a law officer of any sort. I had no special or intimate acquaintance with the then Lahore High Court, CJ, Mr. Justice Ijaz Nisar. When he asked for my bio-data I told him that I have gone through this exercise a number of times and have no more interest in elevation. However on his instructions I left my CV with his Secretary. On inquiry later from Dr A R Khalid and Dr. Sohail Akhtar (late) CJ said that no one ever recommended Ch. Ijaz for elevation and it was in response to his inner voice. – To be continued

ABDUL WAHID OSMAN BELAL

#20436

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:10 am
Subject: Major Sins

adammohomedsait@...

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Practically all of us are aware that there are sins that are classified as major and sins that are classified as minor. Minor sins, by and large, are washed away by our adherence to prayers, and that is a great blessing for us. Forgiveness for major sins, on the other hand, require us to acknowledge our errors, repent of our actions, and take active steps to ensure we do not commit them again. But what actions fall under the category of major sins? Many of us are not entirely sure, and would have a few categories in our mind. But we would be surprised to know that they encompass many acts we may never have imagined fall under this category. Like arrogance and pride. Theft. Gambling. Wrong oaths. Bribery. Showing off. Listening to others' private conversations. Cursing. Loudly lamenting for the dead. Arguing and quarreling. The list is long, and the attached book on Major Sins could help us become more aware of the pitfalls we need to keep away from if we wish to enjoy the Mercy of Allah.

Please save this book and read it at leisure. Please also share this with all your people so they too may benefit from the wisdom contained in it.

The following are the books/booklets sent you previously. If you have not received all, let me know, and I will re-send you what you want:

The Fundamentals of Tawheed

Are we Forced or do we have Free Will

Eeman and its Components

Exposing Shaytan

Faith in the Angels

Four Foundations of Shirk

How do we Believe in the LAST DAY

Islamic Principles for the Muslim's Attitude during Fitan

The Day of Resurrection in light of soorah an-naba

The Modernists and the Hadeeth Rejectors

The Ruling Concerning Mawlid

What you must believe about your Creator

Worldly Difficulties- Reality, Causes and Benefits

Q & A on Islamic Matters- Vol. 1, 2, 3 & 4

Ibn Kathir's Stories of the Prophets

Salvation through Repentance

Death and Resurrection

A Code for Everyday Living by Imam Bukhari

Warning against Usury Transactions by Shaikh Ibn Baz

The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status

Forbidden Business Transactions in Islam

Dealing with Worries and Stress

The Bible The Quran and Science

The Ideal Muslim

The Ideal Muslimah

Common Questions about Islam

Islam is your Birthright

The Sealed Nectar

ADAM MOHOMED SAIT

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major_sins.pdf

#20437

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:37 pm
Subject: In Tests and Trials, there are Lessons + The Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment

adammohomedsait@...

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Today's mail once again touches on two matters that are connected to each other: the deceptive nature of life in this world which we are inclined to raise on a pedestal as something of permanence, and the tests and trials we are subjected to in the course of our lives that should teach us otherwise.

Wassalam. Adam.

Lessons of the Tests and Trials we go through

It makes you examine the reality that man is a weak creation without any power or strength, except in your Lord. Thereupon arrogance, false pride and negligence will be removed and you will come to know that you are really poor and in need of your Creator, the Almighty, the Most Perfect, and so you resort to Him.

Tests unravel the reality of this life. Even with this amusement and play there is also toil and fatigue. This is the reality of this life - one day life is smiling at you, and the other day it is turning its back on you. This is the nature of life, but man forgets that. The perfect life is the one which follows, wherein there is no toil, worry, fatigue or disease. And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter - that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew. [Noble Quran 29:64]

The tests and trials remind the person of the favors bestowed upon him by Allah. We are reminded to avoid being in a state of joy such that we feel arrogance and likewise to avoid a state of sadness and grief such that one feels despair. No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfouz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not every prideful boaster. [Noble Quran 57:22-23]

Trials and tests remind the person of his shortcomings and diseases (of the heart and actions) so that he can take preventive measures against them.And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. [Noble Quran 42:30]. There is a chance for repentance before the greater torment occurs. And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam). [Noble Quran 32:21]

Tests and trials serve as great teaching processes through which one learns patience. We cannot be firm upon truth and obedience except with patience. But none is granted it except those who are patient - and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter, i.e., Paradise, and of a high moral character) in this world. [Noble Quran 41:35]

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment

ALLAH THE MOST HIGH SAYS:

"Know that the life of this world is only play & amusement, pomp & mutual boasting among you, & rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) like a rain (Ghayth), thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up & you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is) forgiveness from Allah & (His) pleasure. And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment." [Quran; Surah al Hadeed ; (57:20)]

Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it (and describes the traits of those who prefer this fading life over the everlasting life). Allah the Exalted also sets a parable for this life, declaring that its joys are fading and its delights are perishable. The disbelievers admire this life; they are the most eager to acquire the traits of life, and life is most dear to them.

This is also the parable of mankind in this life; they are young and strong in the beginning. Slowly, they begin growing older, their mannerism changes and their strength weakens. They then grow old and feeble; moving becomes difficult for them, while doing easy things becomes beyond their ability.

Allah the Exalted said,

"Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and gray hair. He creates what He wills. And He is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful." (30:54)

This parable indicates the near demise of this life and the imminent end of it, while in contrast, the Hereafter is surely coming.

Surely, the Hereafter that will certainly come contains two things either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure.

This life is only a form of enjoyment that deceives those who incline to it.

Surely, those who recline to this life will admire it and feel that it is dear to them, so much so, that they might think that this is the only life, no life or dwelling after it.

Yet, in reality, this life is insignificant as compared to the Hereafter.

[Excerpts from Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

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#20438

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:16 am
Subject: Book Review Education for Peace

jhang45

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ws140312book.asp

�

Book Review

Pathways to Justice and Peace

�

(Book under review: Education for Peace: Guideline for Frontline workers, by Ranu Jain and Taha Abdul Rauf, Published by Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Mumbai (ipscri1@...) January 2012, Pages� 133, Price Rs 150)

�

The need for peace in the society has been the major concern most of the times, more so during last few decades. There are many causes of conflict, violence, which are deeper and are related to social; political and economic injustices. In many a cases of violence the prevalent perceptions, myths biases of the society play a major role in precipitation of violence and in giving it a silent social sanction. This is what creates the base on which such a violence is possible. That�s where the role of Peace education comes in. Peace education should groom the generations in overcoming these perceptions which are far from truth but are deeply ingrained in the psyche of the large sections of society.

�

Scholar-Activist Noam Chomsky formulated the thesis of �Manufacturing consent�, where the state by various mechanisms creates an approval of society for its acts of violence. Similarly one can say that the prevalence of �social common sense� plays major role in the area of ethnic; communal violence. Social groups have been struggling against such perceptions. The challenge for them has been as to how to lay the foundation of critical thinking about �other� communities, how to give the missing narratives which result in misconceptions, how to create respect for diversity and pluralism to ensure that proper understanding of the �other� becomes possible? These are the steps which can act as cementing bond between the communities and will result in an atmosphere where the triggers planted by the vested interests do not lead to tension or violence.

�

The book by Jain and Rauf is an important attempt to give us the background and the prevalent models of peace studies, the UN resolutions about it, the attempts by educationists and social groups to develop their models to be effectively brought about in the understanding which can lead to peace and amity in the society. The book gives a comprehensive account of the pedagogy of peace and compares and contrasts various patterns of peace studies. The book squarely blames the pro-elite approach of the state ignoring the needs of the people, to be at the center of various factors which result in the vulnerability of the people seeking community support, resulting in community identity becoming more important. While the authors do address the problem in general, their focus is more on the communal violence which has reared its ugly head in the country during last three decades. They see the role of education in drawing attention towards the conflicting forces and the need to build knowledge of the structures and processes enforcing conflict.

�

As per Jain and Rauf education can attempt towards attitudinal changes amongst individuals making them understand the negative implications of conflict and violence, as well as the benefits of the democratic processes that build dialogue and negotiation. While violence has a lot to do with the structural inequalities, the book limits itself to give guidelines on recounting and addressing differences at individual and community level. The core of Education for peace is �deconstructing the other� and recognizing members of different communities, especially those who are oppressed. It suggests the ways to understand and resolve the existing conflicts in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner.�

As such peace has been the major concern of human race, trying to strive for it through religious values to begin with, and later through legal endeavors. The culmination of these processes is reflected in the mandate of United Nations, which targets not only at prevention of conflict but to promote social amity and progress. The �Culture of Peace� is a respectable objective which aims at promoting mix of identities, attitudes, values, beliefs and institutional patterns due to which people live in mutually beneficial manner with one another. Hereby comes the concept of positive and negative peace. While negative peace aims at absence of direct violence, positive peace aims at addressing those societal issues which disturb peace or have the potential of generating situation conducive to peace.

�

Away from lecture mode, the recommendation is on multifaceted participatory activities. Overall it is not an easy subject to handle as it does require a holistic view of society and multilayered nature of the issues involved. The compliment of peace education is conflict resolution which requires the ability to build relations of amity. In this part of the social endeavor, mere demystification of misconceptions is not adequate; as it needs to be further built up by an empathetic understanding of the �other�. Currently the peace education requires the challenging task of critically analyzing the structures and process of violence from micro to macro level. In Indian context the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) has made commendable effort in this direction by bringing out Education for Peace (for Students) and Ways to peace (For Teachers).

�

The NCERT approach focuses on values to be conveyed and the mechanism most suitable for that are stories and activities aimed at the outcome for culture of peace. The pedagogy of peace aims to ensure that the content of books overcomes biases and stereotypes in the books. The authors are appreciative of the attempt of NCERT, but here the question remains, do state educational boards follow the NCERT in a serious way. This problem has to be directed to the social workers and the political leadership to ensure that the foundations of the students are based on objective understanding of the �other� communities and history in particular is presented above the biased presentation as it is today. �

�

The book operates at various levels, from giving the interventions needed for school children to social workers, but the major focus rightly remains on the frontline workers. The idea is to demystify the images of the other community to ease the tensions and there by defuse the violence.� It also outlines various models for intervention for peace developed by social groups and elaborates some ongoing methods as samples of the possible activities, which necessarily are diverse depending on situations and participants to whom they are addressed. The book could nave been enriched by giving possible horizontal and vertical integrations of different modules for different social groups.

Overall it is a valuable aid for all those engaged in the process of peace and conflict resolution. It leaves the reader much more equipped to undertake the exercises of peace building in the community.

(A briefer version of this article appeared on Tehelkaweb)

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#20439

From: Anne Doucette <anne.doucette@...>
Date: Wed Mar 7, 2012 9:58 pm
Subject: Letter 3 - Just Saying Hi

littleonebef...

1 Thess 5:26 "Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss."

Jesus,

I don't think I need to write these letters anymore because I no longer have anything to prove. We can share our relationship and keep it private without this. I promised I'd keep doing this for Lent, so maybe this can be an 'it's okay just to say hi' letter. Maybe I'll make the rest of these like that.

Anyway, here's an interesting theological discussion for this week. Is putting FFXIII Part 2� http://www.finalfantasy13-2game.com/ out during Lent a moral evil?

My life. So fraught with deep and profound questions. It's hard to be me. In all seriousness, I think the world would be a much better and nicer place if we weren't trying so hard all the time to do whatever it is that we think we are accomplishing simply by trying hard to do something.

I'm sending this out early in order to do something to combat the I think I'm so holy vibes.� Also to make up for posting the last one late and not really putting it out there on the grounds that it was about a controversial and much misunderstood subject (the communion of saints) that on reflection I think is going to happen whether or not anyone cares to believe in or acknowledge it. :) A lot of our conversations seem to be like that, just checking in.

Love you, a lot,

Anne

#20440

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Wed Mar 7, 2012 10:22 am
Subject: Fw: (dead body of firaun) how could this body possibly be safer than any other mummy

adammohomedsait@...

This is the closest picture taken of Pharaoh

Ramesses II

Here's the story of France with Pharaoh Ramesses When Francisco Mitra became the president of France in 1981 France requested from the Egyptian government to host the mummy of Pharaoh

For the purpose of running laboratory and archeological examinations on the mummy of the most notorious dictator ever lived on earth Upon arrival, a very royal attendants were there including the French president himself and all ministers who bowed in honor for the mummy When the ceremony ended, the mummy was carried to a specially-designed section at the Archeology Centre
of France Were it started to be tested by the greatest French archeological and anatomical scientists in order to discover more about such a great mummy The scientists were headed by Professor Maurice Bucaille Scientists were trying to restore the mummy while Professor Maurice was mainly concerned with how did this mummy die! The final report of the scientists was released late at night which states that the remaining salt in the mummy is an overt evidence that it was drawn in the sea, and the body was rescued very shortly where it was immediately embalmed to be saved An amazing thing was still confusing Professor Maurice is that how could this body possibly be safer than any other mummy despite being taken out of the sea up until this time Professor Maurice was writing his final report on what he thought would be a new discovery about saving Pharaoh's body immediately after his death and embalming it And there, someone whispered to him that Muslims claim to know something about the drowning of this mummy Yet the Professor firmly denied such thing saying that it's impossible to discover this without the development of science and without using his high-tech and complicated laboratories and computers.

To his surprise, he was told that Muslims believe in a book called "Quran" and this Quran narrates the story of Pharaoh's drowning and ensures the safety of his body after his death as to be a Sign to mankind. The Professor couldn't believe his own ears and started to wonder:

How can a book existed 1400 years ago speak about the mummy that was only found 200 years ago, in 1898??!!

How can that be possible while the ancient Egyptian heritage was discovered only a few decades ago and no one knew about it before??!!

The Professor sat down pondering on what he was told about the book of Muslims while his Holy Book narrates only the drowning of Pharaoh without saying anything about his body

"Is it possible that this mummy in front of me is the one who was chasing Moses??!!"

"Is it possible that Muhammad knew this 1400 years ago??!!"

The Professor couldn't sleep that night till they brought him the Old Testament where he read: "the sea drowned Pharaoh and his army, no one else was left alive" He was surprised that the Holy Book didn't mention about the destiny of the body and that it will be saved When the scientists were done with the mummy, France retuned it to Egypt, but Professor Maurice couldn't rest for a moment since he was told that Muslims know about the safety of the body. So, he decided to travel and meet anatomy Muslim scientists and there he spoke about his discovery of the safety of the mummy after its
death in the sea and so on.

One of the Muslim scientists stood up and simply opened the Quran and pointed to the Professor at one verse:

"This day shall be save you in your body, that you may be a Sign to those who come after you! But verily, many among mankind are neglectful of Our Signs" (Quran 10:92)

The Professor was struck when he read that and immediately stood in front of the crowd and said loudly: "I believe in Islam, I believe in Quran"

Then he went back to France with a different face he traveled with.

In France, he dedicated 10 years investigating the scientific discoveries and comparing them with the Quran and trying to come up with one scientific contradiction with the Quran. Finally he quoted one verse from the Quran to be his conclusion:

"No falsehood can approach it (this book) from before or behind it: it is sent down by One Full of Wisdom, Worthy of all praise" (Quran 41:42)

As a result of all years of his research, Professor Maurice wrote a book that shook all Europe, especially the scientists there "Quran, Torah, Bible and Science: A Study of the Holy Books in the Light of Modern Science"

All copies were sold out at a very short time

I personally visited the Cairo Museum where the mummy is preserved and there you get astonished at the scenery of thousands of people from all over the world visiting the place everyday , unfortunately, many of the tourists there would think: "Woow, look at that! Amazing!!

So nice to see people of all times!! Without realizing the intended lesson that Allah has kept this body a Sign to all mankind of anyone who denies Allah and His messengers.

*********************************************************************************************************************

Maurice Bucaille reversion to Islam after Pharoah discovery

By the Editors

Rupee News, 5 November 2010

Was Abraham a myth? Is Ishmael, and Hagar and Zam Zam and Kaaba and the Final Messenger also a myth?

The Exodus is proven to be correct. Moses passed the sea of Aqaba to Arabia to Mount Jabl Al Lawz (Mt. Sinai) where he received the Torah. Pharaoh’s body was found in this sea.

Maurice Bucaille was born to a French parent and, like his family, he grew up a Christian. When he ended his secondary education, he joined Faculty of Medicine, France University. He excelled at medicine until he obtained a BSc degree and worked hard until he rose to fame, becoming the most renowned and cleverest surgeon ever in modern France, but a story happened to change his
life completely.

His story with the Pharaoh Mummy:-

France is known for its unique interest in archeology and heritage. When French Socialist President François Mitterrand assumed power in 1981, France asked Egypt, late in the eighties, for the mummy of Egypt’s pharaoh so that it would conduct a string of monumental and processing experiments. Actually the body of Egypt’s most notorious tyrant was transferred to France, and,
strangely, the French president and his ministers as well as senior officials in the country lined up near the plane carrying the pharaoh’s body and bowed down to him as if he were still alive! After the ceremonies of the royal –like reception to Egypt’s pharaoh were over, the tyrant’s mummy was carried nearly in the same red carpet reception way he received. Then the mummy was transferred to a special wing at the French Monuments Center, and renowned archaeologists, surgeons and anatomists started to conduct a study on this mummy in an attempt to delve into its mysteries.

The senior surgeon and the scientist in charge of the study on this mummy of the pharaoh was Professor Maurice Bucaille. While the professors were busy making restoration to the mummy, their head (Maurice Bucaille) was thinking otherwise. He was trying to discover how this pharaoh died when, late at night, he concluded his final analysis. The remains of the salt stuck in his body was a shining evidence that he had drowned and that his body was retrieved from the sea swiftly after he drowned; it was also obvious that they rushed to mummify his body so that his body would remain intact!! But
he (i.e. Maurice Bucaille) puzzled over a question: How did this body- to the exclusion of other mummified bodies of other ancient Egyptians- remain that intact although it was recovered from the sea?” He asked himself.

Maurice Bucaille was busy conducting a final report while thinking as to whether the pharaoh’s body was recovered from the sea and mummified immediately after he drowned. But one of his company whispered in his ear, saying” There is no need to rush about this issue, since the Muslims say that this pharaoh did drown”. At first, he vehemently rejected this say and did not believe it, citing that such a discovery would be reached only through sophisticated, modern and accurate computers. Another one accompanying him surprised him more when he told him that the Muslims’ Qu’ran in which they believe narrates the story that says he drowned and that his body remained intact even after he drowned. He got more surprised and kept on asking” Where did the Muslims’ Qu’ran quote these data from while the mummy was not discovered until 1898 AD, i.e. about 200 years only, given that the Qu’ran has been recited by Muslims for over 1400 years, and given also that until a few decades ago the entire mankind including Muslims did not know that the ancient Egyptians had mummified their pharaohs.

Maurice Bucaille stayed up all this night gazing at Pharaoh’s body, thinking deeply of what his fellow researcher told him about the Muslims’ Qu’ran explicitly establishing that this body was recovered after drowning, while the Christians’ Gospel (Matthew and Luka) narrated only the story of pharaoh when he was chasing Messenger Moses( pbuh) without mentioning the fate of his body at all. “Is it believable that Mohamed (pbuh) knew about this over one thousand years ago while I have only just known it ?!” he said to himself.

Maurice spent a sleepless night, and asked for a version of the Torah. He devoted part of his time to reading the Exodus in the Torah which read, “And the water turned to drown the military tools and horses of Pharaoh’s army, chasing all of them until it left nobody”. But this text only furthered Bucaille’s astonishment; since even Torah did not narrate that the body was recovered and remained intact due to the processing and restoration which it did undergo.

France sent back the mummy to Egypt in a splendid glass coffin. But , since he knew about the story circulated by Muslims on the intactness of this body, he decided to pack his baggage and travel to Saudi Arabia where a medical conference happened to be held with a galaxy of Muslim anatomists attending. There, told them about his discovery, i.e. that Pharaoh’s body was kept intact even after he drowned. One of the conferees opened the Quran and read out the verse in which Allah, SWT, said, ”So today We will (safely) deliver you with your body that you may be a sign to the ones succeeding
you; and surely many among mankind are indeed heedless of Our signs.” (Yunus, ayah 92).

In his excitement, he stood before the attendants and loudly said, “I have converted to Islam and believed in this Qu’ran”

Bucaille’s Achievements

Back to France, Maurice Bucaille completely changed and spent ten years only busy conducting a study as to how far the recently scientific facts match that mentioned in the Holy Qu’ran, trying to reassure himself that the Qu’ran has never contradicted with any single scientific fact, so that he eventually came up with the conclusion that Allah, SWT, said of the Qu’ran, “Untruth does not come up to it before (Literally: between its two hands) it nor from behind it; a successive sending down from (One) Ever-Wise, Ever-Praiseworthy.

These years which French Maurice spent conducting this study did bear fruit, after which he came up with a earth shaking book on the Holy Qu’ran which jolted the entire Western states, with the title of the book reading,” The Bible, The Qu’ran and Science, The Holy Scriptures Examined In The Light Of Modern Knowledge”.

All of a sudden, the book sold out , and even hundreds of thousands of it were translated from French to Arabic, English, Indonesian, Persian, Turkish and German, extending to include nearly all East and West bookstores; one has come to see it with any Egyptian, Moroccan or Gulf person in the US.

Mad Reactions

Some of the Jewish and Christian Clergy, out of malicious hatred, have come to counter the facts which the book established. However, what they wrote was nothing but a futile debate and desperate attempts through devilish suggestions. One of them, by name of Dr. William Campbell, authored a book titled, “Qu’ran and Holy Scripture, in the Light of History and Science” . In this book of his, he wandered and wandered but in the end he failed to achieve anything. More surprisingly, a Western scholar kept on reading the book authored by Bucaille in an attempt to counter it, and by the time he
ended it, he had converted to Islam and openly uttered the two parts of the Shahadah!

In the preface of his book, Maurice Bucaille said,” These scientific areas which Qu’ran established to the exclusion of other Scriptures filled me with deep surprise early on, since it never struck my mind to see such a large amount of scientific issues in such a variable and accurate way that they are a mirror image of what has recently been discovered in a book which has existed for more than 13 centuries!!

He also said, ”First, I studied the Holy Qu’ran in a subjective and unbiased way, in an attempt to find by myself that the Qu’ran texts and the givens of the modern science match and do not conflict. Before this study, I earlier knew, through the translated versions of the Qu’ran, that the Qu’ran stated so many natural phenomena. Thanks to the in -depth study of the Arabic text , I managed to gather a list of scientific signs in the Qu’ran, after which I realized that the Qu’ran contains no refutable ayahs, nor did I see scientific ayahs in the Qu’ran which contradict with the recently discovered facts. In the same subjective and unbiased way of research, I scrutinized the Old Testament and Holy Scriptures. Concerning the Old Testament, I needed not go further after I read the Exodus and found no harmony between its texts and the decided scientific givens in our age. Concerning the Holy Scriptures, one can easily read a text in Matthew Gospel which is in stark contrast with that in Luca, and that the latter presents us with matters which does not absolutely go with the modern science as to Man’s life on earth.”

Dr. Maurice Bucaille also said, “Anyone who reads the Qu’ran for the first time sees a book which abounds with accurate and easy –to- understand scientific subjects. While one fails to find any contradiction or errors in the Qu’ran, the current Torah abounds with fatal scientist errors. This prompts us to say that if the author of this Qu’ran was a human, then how did he write about facts which never belonged to his age?!”

His book, The Bible, The Qu’ran and Science, The Holy Scriptures Examined In The Light Of Modern Knowledge, was such a marvelous piece of writing that, in the year 1988, the French Academy awarded him its prize in history.

http://rupeenews.com/2010/11/05/maurice-bucaille-reversion-to-islam-after-pharoah-discovery/

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#20441

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Thu Mar 8, 2012 9:06 am
Subject: The Ideal Muslim

adammohomedsait@...

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Each one of us, in good faith, sincerely believe we are good Muslims. Some of us may also believe that we are very good Muslims, based on our understanding (that may be limited or faulty) of how a Muslim should be, in his interactions with his parents, his wife, his children, his friends (Muslims as well as non-Muslims), in short, with society. What a Muslim should project to the rest of mankind may be another matter. Some parts of the ideal Muslim may be there in each of us, in varying degrees, and it is necessary to learn what is expected by Allah from us. The essence of Islam should permeate our thoughts (and actions), and we should be perceived by the rest of mankind as indeed the best of Allah's creation.

The attached book, The Ideal Muslim, gives us the information we require on how we should conduct our lives, and you will find it very useful. I will, Insha Allah, send you all next week The Ideal Muslimah, a similar work for the Muslim woman, which will deal with specific matters relating to her, and together, these two books will help us in better understanding what Islam expects of us.

Please save this book and read it at leisure. Please also share this with all your people so they too may benefit from the wisdom contained in it.

The following are the books/booklets sent you previously. If you have not received all, let me know, and I will re-send you what you want:

Dealing with Worries and Stress

The Bible The Quran and Science

ADAM MOHOMED SAIT

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The Ideal Muslim.pdf

#20442

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Thu Mar 8, 2012 1:42 pm
Subject: Judging Somebody ? Too Soon or Not?

adammohomedsait@...

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu all my friends

Today's mail has two articles. The first describes something most of us are guilty of in our day to day lives, and is something we need to introspect seriously on, for continuing it will do us no good; on the contrary it could land us in hot water (and blazing fire too) on the Day of Reckoning. The second needs to be widely publicized as non-Muslims need to be aware of the viewpoint of conscientious Muslim women (some at least) on the hijab they adopt. Their constant refrain is that the Muslim women are subjugated by their men, and they have no say in what they are being forced to do. Occasionally a voice is raised by the accused, and this voice not only needs to be heard, but shouted from the rooftops, not as a matter of blind propaganda, but to educate the West that they may not be always right, as they sanctimoniously assume they are.

Please do your part in sharing this matter with non-Muslims as well as your Muslim brothers/sisters.

Wassalam. Adam.

Judging Somebody ? Too Soon or Not?

By Farheen Naaz

The moment we lay our eyes on someone we end up judging them, in both, a good way and a bad way. Each person�s perception is different, but in general an individual judges or has wayward opinions about another with regards to his/her overall appearance, way of talking, clothing, walk, way of expressing, job, qualification, place of stay and other such things. Often we end up forming opinions without even knowing the person personally, for example, the other day I went to a jewellery shop with some friends and while we were waiting to be attended to, we overheard another customer asking the sales person in a heavily accented tone for latest and happening designs. Now in most parts of my city such a tone is regarded with someone trying to show-off, don�t ask me why! And well, sometimes looks really odd among all desis (but no reason to deem the person as air-headed). So, back on track, someone from the group started commenting on her accent which led to a pretty ugly (not literally) conversation, ranging from how she talked to the way she dressed! (May Allah forgive!)

What I�m trying to put across here is how we fall into the trap of satan ignoring our own faults and concentrating on forming opinions about others mercilessly. We don�t flinch or wince even once before doing so. But when you imagine someone who doesn�t even know you commenting or opinionating about you, your blood boils!

When you don�t/wouldn�t want someone to do that to you, why do you end up doing the same for someone else?

Leave alone our feelings and whims for a few minutes and let us look at what Islam has to offer us on this issue of judging others mercilessly.

One of the ninety-nine names of Allah is �Al-Haleem� which translates to �The Clement� meaning, Allah subhaana wa ta'aala is not quick in judgment. Allah gives all his servants time. He is patient and waits to see His servants return to Him even if it is after leading a sinful life.

There is a beautiful hadith which elaborates this attribute of Allah subhaana wa ta'aala showing us mortals how merciful He is when it comes to recording our bad deeds. Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, �The angel of the left raises (and holds) his pen for six hours from the Muslim servant of Allah who has wronged or committed a mistake. So if he regrets and seeks Allah�s forgiveness from it, he (the angel) returns it back, and if that�s not the case then it is written as one� [ Mu�kam al Kabeer, Hasan according to Albani]

The mercy and greatness of Allah is beyond words once you know this Hadith. How often do we admonish a person as soon as s/he does something wrong? 99.99999% of the time it is always done! Not a second is spared after something wrong has been done! We need to take heed from this Hadith. How can we judge someone and form ill opinions about them (whether we know or don�t know them) when Allah Himself isn�t doing so before giving grace repentance time for a believer and repentance time for everybody which lasts until before you die! Are we so perfect to know the status of the heart of any individual and categorize them as good or bad?

One more hadith which I�d like to mention is:

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: "One who helped someone in a trouble in this world, Allah will help him in his trouble in the Hereafter and one who keeps the faults of a Muslim secret in this world, Allah will keep his faults in the Hereafter and Allah remains in the help of the (Muslim) man until he is in the help of his brother."

The next time we do something or even think of doing something like forming opinions or commenting on someone without knowing the truth of their life, I pray to Allah that we are reminded of the beautiful haidth mentioned and the mercy, greatness, forgiveness of Allahsubhaana wa ta'aala. Ameen.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

In light of the recent bans being pushed by France, Syria etc, I felt a strong need, as a one of the women being targeted, to speak up,

Below is an article that I have compiled, and I pray to Allah Ta'ala that He use it anywhere, and anyhow to englighten whomever He wills.

A VOICE BEHIND A VEIL

By Khadijah Natalie Arbee

I am a muslim women. I wear the niqaab (face veil).

I�m one of those to whom the new law in France would apply. I�m one of the ones being discussed by politicians, human rights groups and the media.

I�m one of those whom many feel the need to liberate.

I�m one of those you may think is oppressed.

I�m one of those many of you detest the sight of...

I�m one of those whom you may believe is uneducated; one of the ones you may think has no voice.

But I do. So let me speak.

I am not Arab, Asian or even African. I am Australian. No, not �first generation�, �second generation�, or an immigrant. On my mother�s side, I�m of French-Canadian descent, and on my father�s side; British. I grew up as a Christian, and attended church occasionally. I was in the school swim team, and district netball team. I holidayed with my family in the summer on the Gold Coast, and I�m educated. I have a university degree.

When I was 18 years of age I was introduced to Islam. I studied it, and accepted it a year and a half later. By the time I reached 20, I was wearing the headscarf, and after I married I donned the niqaab.

Because of my husband? No.

My husband did not want me to wear it, although his mother and sister do, and out of respect for his wishes I didn�t do so for two years. But I wanted to, and eventually did, and knowing it to be in line with our religion, my husband knew he had no authority to prevent me, and he now greatly admires my strength.

Then, I wore it because of my father? No. He�s a catholic.

Because of my brother? Nope, haven�t got one.

My uncle? He�s an atheist.

Then because of my son? My eldest is only 8 years old. Then why??

Because I want to, that�s why.

And seeing as though my niqaab does not hurt anyone, that should be sufficient reason for all of you liberals of a liberal society; I should be able to finish my discussion right here. But although it may be so for any other style of dress, it isn�t enough when it comes to niqaab for some reason. You want more. So I will continue.

What makes me want to then? Two things: Faith and experience.

Faith? Yeah, faith. Faith in my Creator , faith in His decisions, faith in Islam. A deep faith. Many wander at the faith of Muslims, at their conviction and their commitment. It�s a faith, that if you are not Muslim, is hard to explain or describe. The scripture of Islam, the Qur�an has scientific miracles in it, such that have captivated scientists globally, leading many to accept Islam. Moreover, the Qur�an has not been changed in over a thousand years, since it was revealed; not one letter moved from its place. I dare say there isn�t a religious scripture like it, and this lends a clue as to the root of such faith.

In the Qur�an, Allah Ta'ala tells us to cover ourselves, �so as to be known, but not molested�. So our covering is a protection; a liberation.

Protection? you ask. Liberation? From what?

This is where I move on to my second reason for veiling. Like I said, I grew up in a Western secular society, in true Western secular style. I dressed secular, lived secular, and enjoyed all the �liberties� of such a society. Did I feel liberated, free? Suffice to say, we were taught we were, so I never thought to think otherwise. It wasn�t until I became Muslim, and started covering , that I really felt liberated, and realised , before that I wasn�t.

Yet, time and time again we hear it said that we Muslim women are forced to veil, are oppressed; treated by our men folk as nothing more than �objects.� And that niqaab, burqa, hijab; whatever term you use, is a form of �imprisonment�.

But what about the imprisonment of anxiety and depression?

What about the imprisonment of anorexia and bulimia?

What about the imprisonment of frequent rigorous exercise routines?

What about the imprisonment of always feeling the need to look like the super-model on the cover of Cosmo, or the pop-singer in the music video?

What about the slavery to fashion?

What about the entrapment of jealousy??

How many women waste their hard-earned money, destroy their physical and mental health, expose their bodies to vulnerability, abuse and extortion in order to...... in order to what??

In order to gain approval and praise. Who�s approval and praise? Men�s.

And yes, it seems even other women too. So it seems non-Muslim women are not only slaves to men, but slaves to society as a whole.

Before you scream your disagreement, which many of you may do as a knee-jerk reaction to being told you�re also oppressed , stop and think. Look around you, contemplate society today, and its values, its aspirations, its goals, its direction, its past-times, its hobbies....

What good has it done for women to doff more and more clothing?

What good has it done for images of uncovered made-up women to be plastered on every billboard and magazine, on the TV, in the movies, and on the net?

Has it really brought any good for women?

The women in the images may aptly feel good about themselves for a while, but what does it mean for every other women?

Women who look upon these images usually become anxious, jealous, unsure and critical of themselves, or all of these things. Many men who view them will become aroused, or even unhappy, less satisfied with the partners they already have. What can, and does this lead to?

Cheating, dumping, chastisement, and even harassment of other women, and even children by, men who cannot find a legitimate outlet for their constant arousal. And yes, I can hear some of you; �then the men must control themselves!� Frankly speaking that argument is well spent, not to mention futile, as most men are, inherently, only able to react to that, the same way a hungry lion would react if thrown a juicy piece of steak, and told not to eat it....

Do the uncovered women captured in these images and industries, or parading around, realise or even care how many young girls are starving, purging and stressing themselves trying to mirror their image? No.

It seems they even take perverse pleasure in it. One barely-dressed singer even boldly and crudely sung recently, �Don�t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?�

What?!

What is this women and her ilk saying??

What are they implying??

What are they doing to their sisters in humanity??!

So many poor girls, eroding themselves physically and mentally as they watch with jealousy and anxiety their partners ogle singers like this. Have the same thing occur to these women, these �idols�; have their partners swoon over another similarly attired, and witness their reaction! And when their daughters are molested by men they themselves, or women like them, have aroused, will they reflect?

Will they act?

Will society act?

Yeah, we see it reacting: ban the burqa!

It just amazes me how many women especially, despise my choice of dress. Yet, would they rather their husband�s secretary to be dressed like me or otherwise?

Would they rather the waitress serving the table at their anniversary dinner, be dressed like me or otherwise?

Is it me and my sisters who are turning their husband�s head, or attracting their boyfriends??

Is it me and my sisters who have led their daughters to anorexia, or their sons to pornography?

Is it me and my sisters whose bodies and faces solicit their husband�s/boyfriend�s attention on every corner? Is it me and my sisters who have aroused that man to rape or harass their sisters?

Whose mode of �dress� is truly oppressive and harmful to women??

So now I�ve spoken, and although I am one, I speak on behalf of hundreds. I�ve explained to you that the majority of us have chosen this mode of dress, especially in the West. I have told you that we love it, we want it, and I�ve exemplified for you the inherent good in it. I�ve discussed here the issue of niqaab based on the suggestion that it is oppressive, or harmful to society, as this is the main reason stated by the French for the ban. When it comes to other issues of security and communication, then please see

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/veiled-threats/

for an excellent refutation of these arguments.

So to those of you who really are so concerned about �liberating� me, then you will listen to what I have said, and let me and my sisters be.

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#20443

From: "Adam Mohomed Sait" <adammohomedsait@...>
Date: Thu Mar 8, 2012 4:05 pm
Subject: The Criterion between the Friends of Allah and the Friends of Shaytan

adammohomedsait@...

The Criterion Between The Friends of Allah & The Friends of Shaytan.pdf

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Last week I had sent you a good booklet by Ibn Taymiyyah, Enjoining Right and Forbidding Wrong. This week too you get another booklet by Ibn Taymiyyah (also translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan) on the friends of Allah and the friends of Shaytan.

The title says it all, and you will find the matter contained in the book of interest.

Please save this booklet and read it at leisure. Please also share this with all your people so they too may benefit from the wisdom contained in it.

The following are the books/booklets sent you previously. If you have not received all, let me know, and I will re-send you what you want:

Dealing with Worries and Stress

The Bible The Quran and Science

The Ideal Muslim

The Ideal Muslimah

Common Questions about Islam

Islam is your Birthright

The Sealed Nectar

Major Sins

In Pursuit of Allah's Pleasure

Guarding the Tongue

The End of Times and the Mahdi

Developing Khushoo in prayer

40 Recommendations for the Muslim Home

Fortress of the Muslim

Life and Death

Imam Nawawi's 40 Hadith

Nullifiers of Islam

Ibn Kathir's Stories of the Quran

On Knowledge by Shaikh Ibn Baz

Seventy ways to earn reward from Allah

In the Early Hours

The Evils of the Tongue

Why do we pray

Prophet Muhammad- His Life, Manners and Characteristics

Islam and Women + Quran in Excel

30 Examples from the Life of the Prophet

The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam

The Prophet's Methods for correcting peoples' mistakes

Adhering to the Sunnah

Celebrating the Birthday of the Prophet

How to become Muslim

How to taste the true beauty of Salah

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam

Common Questions asked by non-Muslims

Is Allah One or Three?

Is the Trinity Doctrine Divinely Inspired?

Advice to participants of the Tableeghi Jamaat

Things to do when a person is dying

Ways to show off that we need to avoid

On Signs of the Last Day and on Gog and Magog

Knowing Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Belief in the Angels and its effect on the life of the Ummah

Patience and gratitude

The Authentic Creed by Shaikh Ibn Baz

Duas for the Morning, Evening, and After Prayers

Enjoining Right and Forbidding Wrong

ADAM MOHOMED SAIT

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#20444

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:33 am
Subject: Terror Acts Investigation and RSS ISP II March 2012

jhang45

Terror Acts� Investigations and RSS

�

Ram Puniyani

�

Supreme Court slammed the RSS Sarsanghchalak, Dr. Mohan Bhagwat for stating that Karakre had told him that he was under tremendous pressure to nail the RSS in unsolved cases of terror acts like, Malegaon, Ajmer, Samjhauta Express blast (Feb 28, 2012). As per the Chief of RSS, he knew Karkare well and Karkare had solicited his cooperation for solving these cases, and in the context of that had told him about the pressures being put on him.

�

One knows that Karkare was under pressure during that time. One also knows that the investigations in the acts of terror were leading nowhere and after every blast number of young Muslim boys were arrested, the blame was put on some affiliate of Lashkar, Al Qaeda etc. After Karkare took over as the chief of Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad, the things started moving. The turning point was the meticulous investigation by Karkare�s team which led to the unearthing of the motor cycle used in the Malegaon blast, the motor cycle belonged to Sadhvi Pragya Sing Thakur, the ex ABVP (RSS affiliate) activist, and the leads took the ATS to the whole set of terror group, which were called later as Saffron terrorism by the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

�

These investigations led Karkare to Swami Dayanand Pandey, Lt Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Swami Aseemanand, Indresh Kumar, Sunil Joshi, Kasangra and the number of those close to the RSS or close to RSS affiliates. The implication of this was very clear.

�

Once this Hindutva network got exposed the acts of terror which were occurring at regular intervals in front of mosques and other places, where Muslims congregate for prayers came to a halt. As such it was ironical that the blasts were focussed to kill the Muslims and after every act again Muslims were arrested. With the Rajasthan ATS joining the process of investigation the evidence against these Hindutva elements became further clear.

�

The confession of Swami Aseemanand in presence of the magistrate gave the full details of the modus operandi of these acts of terror. The people involved in these acts believed that they are doing these dastardly acts to avenge the Muslim terrorists and that these acts aimed to pave the way for Hindu Rashtra. Swami Aseemanand, the VHP leader working in Gujarat, who was the architect of Shabri Kumbh Mela was the key figure in these blasts in many ways. In the statement given by him in presence of the magistrate he confessed that their group was involved in these activities.

�

Since then more and more beans have been spilling from the Sangh stable, the latest one being that of involvement of Kamal Chauhan in Samjhauta blast. Chauhan has been labelled as the disgruntled element by his parent organization, RSS. This again is the standard ploy by RSS. Most of those who are caught doing these acts of murders or blasts are claimed to have left the organization some time ago or if possible their association with RSS combine is put under the wraps.

�

One recalls that there was a time when nobody believed that RSS associates can be part of these acts of terror. RSS claims they do not believe in violence. Their claims have come to be exposed one after the other. Now their claim is that they are being implicated by the ruling party to appease the minorities; or that those being charged for acts of terror are clean people and are deliberately being implicated in terrorist acts. Going by the expose after expose, the RSS at one level is trying to disassociate from these terror accused, on the other is propagating that they are accused but not guilty and on yet another level claiming that the investigation authorities have been pressurized to nail the RSS cohorts.

�

This defence is very weak. The statement of RSS Chief is coming at a time when Karkare has already become a martyr for the cause of defending the country. There is no way he can confirm or deny what the patriarch of Sangh Combine is saying. But yes there are some clues which can tell as to what is the truth.

�

Lets recall that Sadhvi Pragya Thakur was caught for her alleged role in Malegaon blast, none other than Lal Krishna Advani went to the Prime Minister to complain about the torture of Pragya Singh Thakur and demanded investigation into Thakur's torture. At the same time another Hindutva leader Bal Thakre condemned Karkare, calling him anti National and wrote in his mouth piece Saamna that �we spit on his face�! Another Hindutva warrior Narendra Modi called Karkare as Deshdrohi (anti National). Incidentally both these, Thackeray and Modi, are hailed as �Emperors of Hindu hearts�. Later Modi called Karkare as a great patriot after his death. Modi went to the extent of offering one crore Rupees to Karate�s widow, which she gracefully refused.

�

On the contrary Congress leader Digvijay Singh claimed that Karkare had called him on the night of 26/11, the day Mumbai was attacked by Kasab and gang, and said that there is a tremendous pressure on him from the Right wing. Digvijay Singh also showed the press clipping to that effect and pointed out that BSNL, Bhopal cannot give the records of the conversation between him and Karkare as the matter was more than a year old at that time, and BSNL does not keep record beyond a year.

�

There is another source which tells us the direction from which Karkare was being pressurized. Julio Ribeiro, one amongst the police of officer of highest integrity in the country, in his obituary to Karkare (Times of India, Mumbai Edition 28^th�Nov 2010) pointed out that there was a direct insinuation into the work of Karkare, who was intimidated by Advani and other Hindutva gang. Karkare sought solace and advice from his senior Ribeiro, Ribeiro confirmed that Karkare was being harassed and intimidated by the associates of Advani-Modi and company. Ribeiro advised his junior colleague to carry on with his work irrespective of the pressures. "He came to me because he was looking for someone to hold his hand," Ribeiro told IANS on phone from Mumbai while stressing that Karkare was not a man to be politically influenced.

�

While this is what the truth is, one can see the motive behind Bhagwat�s statement in the face of so many of his cabal either charged or in jail. In an earlier event Bhagwat�s predecessor K. Sudarshan had also played a similar game. During the investigation of Babri demolition, when the role of RSS combine was coming more and more to surface, Sudarshan said that he heard Gandhian �Nirmala Didi saying that there was a blast inside the mosque which demolished the mosque. Fortunately Didi was alive that time to deny something being said in her name.

�

So there is some pattern in the statements of RSS chiefs!

�

#20445

From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani@...>
Date: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:04 pm
Subject: Fwd: Anna Hazare Upsurge

jhang45

Anna Hazare Upsurge : A Critical Appraisal

Editors : Asghar Ali Engineer l Ram Puniyani

ISBN 978-81-8235-108-0

Price : Rs. 160.00 (Paper Back)
Rs. 320.00 (Hard Bound)

List of Contributors

Zoya Hasan * Neena Vyas & Vidya Subrahmaniam * Yoginder Sikand * A. Faizur Rahman * Uday Mehta * Rohini Hensman * Anand Teltumbde * Mukul Sharma * Shekhar Gupta * Asghar Ali Engineer * Praful Bidwai * J. Sri Raman * K. N. Panikkar * Sagarika Ghose * Akhtarul Wasey * Sadiq Naqvi * Prabhat Patnaik * Harsh Mander * Sukhadeo Thorat * Kanti Bajpai * Govind Talwalkar * Soumitro Das * Ram Puniyani * Amita Baviskar * Kancha Ilaiah * John Dayal * Happymon Jacob * Nilottpal Basu * Arvind Rajagopal * Sashi Kumar * Jyotirmaya Sharma * Bhanwar Megwanshi * Akash Bisht * Hartosh Singh Bal * Arvind Kejriwal * Medha Patkar * Prashant Bhushan * Anna Hazare * Aruna Roy

Contents

Part � I : The Janlokpal Bill

�� 1.�� Parliament is for People� Zoya Hasan
�� 2.�� Anna Hazare Stir: What It Has Achieved and What it Has Not�Neena Vyas & Vidya Subrahmaniam
�� 3.�� Bahujan� Lokpal Bill Makes New Demands � Yoginder Sikand
�� 4.�� Jan Lokpal Bill: A Critique � A. Faizur Rahman

Part � II : Anna: Theme Essays

�� 5.�� Anna Phenomenon: Paradox of Indian Reality� � Uday Mehta
�� 6.�� What is the Real Goal of the Anna Movement� � Rohini Hensman
�� 7.�� The Neoliberal Revolution�� Anand Teltumbde

Part � III : Anna and the Team: Background

�� 8.�� The Making of an Authority: Anna Hazare in Ralegan�Siddhi� � Mukul Sharma
�� 9.�� The Unholy Cow�� Shekhar Gupta

Part � IV : Second Gandhi: Second Freedom Movement?

�� 10.�� Is Anna Hazare the New Gandhi?�� Asghar Ali Engineer
�� 11.�� Gandhian Fa�ade �� Praful Bidwai
�� 12.�� Anna Hazare: Tragedy to Farce� � J. Sri Raman

Part � V : Interviews

�� 13.�� Jan Lokpal: An Alternative View �� K. N. Panikkar
�� 14.�� Jan Lokpal Bill is Very Regressive: Arundhati Roy�� Sagarika Ghose
�� 15.�� Communalism is Bigger Issue for Muslims: Akhtarul Wasey �� Sadiq Naqvi

Part � VI : Nature of Movement

�� 16.�� Fuzzy Movement � � Prabhat Patnaik
�� 17.�� Why I didn�t Go to Jantar Mantar�� Harsh Mander
�� 18.�� Ambedkar�s Way & Anna Hazare�s Methods�� Sukhadeo Thorat
�� 19.�� Born Again Patriot � An Anti-Corruption Movement and The Rise of Illiberalism �� Kanti Bajpai
�� 20.�� The Ayatollah in Waiting �� Govind Talwalkar
�� 21.�� Hardly a Revolution �� Soumitro Das
�� 22.�� Anna Upsurge and The Social Movements�� Ram Puniyani
�� 23.�� A Tale of Two Movements �� Amita Baviskar
�� 24.�� Anna�s Social Fascism�� Kancha Ilaiah
�� 25.�� Enough!�Mr. Hazare �� John Dayal
�� 26.�� Please Don�t Call It A Revolution �� Happymon Jacob

Part � VII : Role of Media

�� 27.�� Media�s Misplaced Triumphalism�� Nilottpal Basu
�� 28.�� Visibility as a Trap in the Anna Hazare Campaign�� Arvind Rajagopal
�� 29.�� A Feral Media Orchestrates Anti-Corruption Campaign �� Sashi Kumar

Part � IX : Communal Undertones

�� 30.�� India: Anna is the Icon of Banal Hindutva�� Jyotirmaya Sharma
�� 31.�� The Communal Character of Anna Hazare�s Movement � � Bhanwar Megwanshi
�� 32.�� Anna Hazare�s RSS �� Akash Bisht
�� 33.�� Why the Sangh Loves Anna �� Hartosh Singh Bal

Annexures : Team Anna�s Version

�We stand where we had Started on the Lokpal Bill�: Interview �� Arvind Kejriwal

What Matters is the Cause: Interview�� Medha Patkar

Anna Personality Cult should be Avoided�� Prashant Bhushan

Appendices : Summary of Draft Bills

Government Draft Bill

Jan LokPal Bill � Summary and Guide to India�s Civil Society Anti-Corruption Bill
Deserves Our Support� � Anna Hazare

Lokpal Bill: Aruna Roy and NCPRI�s Suggestions�� Aruna Roy

Published by

Sahitya Upkram
E mail : sahitya_upkram@...
Phone : 09654732174, 09350809192

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