VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH
Volume 202, September 25, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT AND THE MOST MERCIFUL

(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)

EDITORIAL:

In this E-Zine we have highlighted positive news, Islam in the United States, discrimination against Muslims, extremism raising its ugly head again and interfaith issues. The Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other Muslim extremists through their deviated perspective of Islam have brought nothing but DISGRACE and SHAME to the beautiful, peace loving and tolerant religion of our lovely ISLAM. We encourage Muslims to do your best to be practicing Muslims while at the same time continue to climb up the ladder of your education, career and be peace loving citizens.

PART A-1

POSITIVE NEWS:

(ED NOTE:

Sister Haia Radwan is an exemplary role model for the Muslim sisters in America in terms of her maintaining her Islamic identity while at the same time continues to excel in her career. We would love to see more Muslim sisters emulate her as a role model whatever educational or careers they may want to pursue).

Chicago Muslim Journalist Attends White House Correspondents Dinner

May 19, 2011 By Haia Radwan, CIOGC

www.muslimmedianetwork.com

Photo: Brendan Smialowski from www.whca.net
via
www.chicagocrescent.com

Deborah Orin Scholarship winner, I was recently invited to the Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This experience was possible because of the grace of Allah and my work as a graduate student at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. It was truly a humbling experience, Alhamdulillah.

I was able to enter a VIP room before the event where I met Sean Penn, Jon Hamm and Seth Meyers – Hamm even complimented me on my hijab.

I was able to take pictures with President Obama and the First Lady. I talked to the President about the horrendous traffic in Chicago every time he visited, and it made him laugh.

After dinner, the program began with the award ceremony. As my name was called, I walked confidently across that stage.

I did not feel nervous; rather I was proud to wear hijab on national television and represent Muslim women. It was great to show the world that Muslim women are smart and educated, and not oppressed. Islam has always given women the rights to vote, be educated, work, and be an integral part of society. It is so beautiful how the Quran has a whole chapter called Surat An-Nisaa (Chapter of Women) dedicated to women.

Meeting the President and receiving an award in journalism was wonderful, but the highlight of my night was to show what Muslim women can do. Being the only one wearing a hijab made me very recognizable and that was a good thing. Many people including journalists, congressmen and women and even some celebrities congratulated me.

I believe my hijab is empowering, and a blessing.

When employers look at my work, they can judge me based on my talents and not the way I look. The important thing is to be proud of the hijab, and proud that the United States gives us the freedom to be who we are.

Now it is our job to give back as active citizens. We need to vote and be involved in the community on every level. I left the event with many business cards and contacts.

However, what was even better was leaving knowing that I represented Islam for what it really is. Alhamdulilah, I never once felt uncomfortable about who I was as a Muslim. I hope that Allah gives me the strength to excel as a journalist and I hope I can inspire other young Muslim girls to be proud of their identity and to know that anything is possible.

PART A-2

(ED Note:

New Jersey Supreme Court Judge Br. Mohammed Sohail is yet another excellent role model for the Muslims in America. We are proud to have brothers like him who are literally like a jewel in the crown of the American Ummah).

NJ GOV. CHRISTIE BLASTS CRITICS OF NEW MUSLIM JUDGE
Lisa Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal,
July 27, 2011

ONLINE.WSJ.COM
(Condensed version)

Sohail Mohammed

(PHOTO) Governor's Office/Tim Larsen

PATERSON--A lawyer who defended Muslims detained after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was sworn in as a New Jersey Superior Court judge on Tuesday, as Gov. Chris Christie called those who criticized his nomination ignorant. The appointment of Sohail Mohammed, 47 years old, angered some conservatives, who said they were concerned about the influence of Sharia law, an Islamic code of law.

Mr. Christie defended Mr. Mohammed, who is Muslim, calling him an extraordinary American and an outstanding lawyer who helped strengthen ties between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muslim community after the 2001 attacks. Mr. Christie said the people Mr. Mohammed represented were inappropriately detained by the FBI after what he called a very difficult time for law enforcement.

"It's just crazy, and I'm tired of dealing with the crazies," he said. "It's just unnecessary to be accusing this guy of things just because of his religious background." Mr. Christie added: "I'm happy that he's willing to serve after all this baloney."

Sitting behind the bench in a packed courtroom in the Passaic County Courthouse, Mr. Mohammed told of how his journey to that spot in many ways centered around that very room.

It was in that courthouse where he took his oath of citizenship and where he served jury duty, which is what led him to abandon an engineering career and become a lawyer. He spoke of how he is an example of the American dream, how he came to the country in 1980, and how his mother worked two jobs to support the family.

He thanked Mr. Christie for being a friend. "It's all part of the process," Mr. Mohammed said when asked about the criticism of his nomination.

PART A-3

SETTLEMENT REACHED IN ARIZONA MUSLIM FAIR HOUSING LAWSUIT

Sean Crowley, KPHO 5,
July 26, 2011

PHOENIX - Attorney General Tom Horne announced today the largest settlement of a fair housing lawsuit in the Civil Rights Division's history. Soha Abdelrahman and her husband Hany Ibrahim have received $197,000 in compensation from Hall apartment entities.

According to the lawsuit, Hall agents discriminated against Abdelrahman and Ibrahim because of their race (Arab), national origin (Egyptian) and religion (Muslim) by complicating the application process to discourage them from renting and by inspecting their apartment without permission while they were moving into Villatree Apartments in Tempe.

PART A-4

100,000 Copies Of Quran For Cambodian Muslims In Next 5 Years
KI MEDIA NEWS
July 28, 2011

PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Bernama) -- The World Quran Endowment Programme organised by the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) with the cooperation of Restu Foundation will print 100,000 copies of the Quran with translation in the Khmer language for distribution to Muslims in Cambodia in the next five years.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the effort was to fulfil the need of the Muslim community in Cambodia and to ensure that each Muslim family would have at least one copy of the Quran.

"There are about 500,000 Muslims in Cambodia and there is only one Quran for every six families. So, we hope generous Malaysians can assist Cambodian Muslims through this programme so that each family will have at least one Quran," he told Malaysian journalists here Thursday.

Ahmad Zahid had earlier handed over 10,200 copies of donated Quran to the president of the Cambodian Islamic Community Development Foundation Othsman Hassan and Cambodia mufti Kamaruddion Yusof at Chrouk Romeat Mosque in Kampung Chhnang and Amar bin Yazid Mosque at KM9, to be distributed to Muslims here.

"Translation of the Quran into the Khmer language has been completed and we are only waiting for sufficient funds to print the copies of Quran," he said.

Earlier, speaking before 1,500 Cambodian Muslims at Chrouk Romeat Mosque, Ahmad Zahid said the 10,200 copies of Quran given away today showed the concern of the Malaysian government and people towards Muslims in Cambodia. Kamaruddin said he was touched and thankful for the gift of the Quran, adding that the Cambodian Muslim community depended on outside help for copies of the Holy Book.

"We hope there will be enough Quran for us in future," he added. At the two presentation ceremonies, Ahmad Zahid also handed over 500 Muqaddam booklets and 1,000 prayer rugs for use by the Cambodian Muslims.

PART B-1

ISLAM IN THE UNITED STATES:

ILLINOIS STATE SENATOR SHOWS DISREGARD FOR MUSLIM CONSTITUENTS
Zahed A. Haseeb
Rockford Register Star

July 29, 2011

Via CAIR

I applaud the Register Star editorial staff for the piece criticizing Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, for making a joke on his Facebook page in which he suggested he would cut off ties with his daughter if she were to bring home a Muslim ("Mohammed from Iran") boyfriend. ... Politicians say dumb things that offend people all the time, but they almost always backtrack and produce apologies that can be characterized as anything from empty to genuinely contrite.

We can often abandon our cynicism and let the offending remark pass as just another gaffe. But what does it mean when a politician refuses to apologize for offending and even alienating a section of his constituents?

By not showing any remorse for his comment, he displays an utter disregard for his Muslim constituents. If Sen. Syverson's punch line featured "Tyrone from the West Side," he'd have apologized and retracted his comment as soon as someone saw it and criticized it -- because,in his mind, he would have offended constituents who matter.

PART B-2

Council of American-Islamic Relations- Michigan
CRITICS DENOUNCE 'FOREIGN LAWS' BILL
United Press International
August 17, 2011

Via CAIR

DETROIT, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Opponents criticized as discriminatory a measure that would forbid Michigan courts to consider "foreign laws," including Shariah, or Muslim law.

"This plan goes against our country's core values of accepting people from all races and walks of life," State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, a Muslim, said as she joined other opponents in Detroit on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Michigan chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations said it would sue if the measure becomes law.

State Rep. Rashida Tlaib,
Democrat-Detroit, Michigan

PART C

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIMS:

SEATTLE MUSLIM SAYS HE LOST JOB OVER BEARD (CAIR)
Allen Schauffler
King 5 News
August 4, 2011

via CAIR

A Seattle-area Muslim is suing his former employer, claiming he was fired as a security guard for refusing to shave his beard, which he wears for religious reasons. Abdulkadir Omar filed his federal lawsuit July 15 in Seattle. He spoke publicly about it Thursday along with representatives from the Seattle chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Omar, however, did not want his face shown in entirety.

Omar says that in November 2009, a supervisor at American Patriot Security told him he had to shave his beard. Omar responded that his beard is part of his religious beliefs and refused. He was suspended the following spring.

Omar filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which found that Omar was wrongfully terminated. The Yemeni-born man, now an American citizen, says he grew up believing in certain civil rights and he feels those rights have been violated. He's asking for changes at the company and for punitive damages for Omar.

PART D-1

UGLY HEAD OF EXTREMISM RESURFACES AGAIN:

HARVARD INSTRUCTOR RECOMMENDS DEMOLISHING MOSQUES

Leanna Erhlich, The Harvard Crimson, 7/27/2011

via CAIR

A group of Harvard students have started a petition calling on the University to sever ties with Subramanian Swamy, a Harvard Summer School economics instructor who wrote an op-ed against Islamic terrorism that many have called offensive and inflammatory. In an article published July 16 in the Indian newspaper Daily News and Analysis, Swamy recommended demolishing hundreds of mosques, disenfranchising non-Hindus who do not acknowledge their alleged Hindu ancestry, and banning conversion from Hinduism.

PART D-2:

Indonesian court lets anti-Ahmadi mob perpetrators off 'lightly'
By AFP
July 28, 2011

(PHOTO:An Indonesian Muslim accused of assault on a Ahmadiyah follower sits waiting during his verdict at the court room in Serang, Indonesia's Banten province July 28, 2011. A group who brutally attacked and killed three followers from a religious sect were jailed on Thursday for periods between three to six months in prison. REUTERS)

SERANG, INDONESIA: In what seems to have been a light sentence, an Indonesian court on Thursday sentenced religious fanatics who killed three members of the minority Ahmadiyah Muslim sect in a frenzied mob attack to between three and six months in jail. Dani bin Misra, a 17-year-old who smashed a victim’s skull with a stone, received three months for manslaughter. While Idris bin Mahdani, who led the mob of more than 1,000 Muslims in the February attack, was convicted of illegal possession of a machete and received five months and 15 days in jail.

Twelve people stood for trial, but none faced murder charges in what human rights activists termed was a travesty of justice in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

The unprovoked violence against the Ahmadiyah sect members in Cikeusik, western Java, was one of the most horrific in a long line of attacks on the minority group in Indonesia in recent years. Ahmadiyah, unlike mainstream Muslims, do not believe Mohammed was the last prophet and are regarded as heretics and blasphemers by conservatives in places like Indonesia and Pakistan.

“When the Cikeusik video went viral, people around the world were shocked and appalled by the savagery of the mob kicking and slashing three men to death,” Human Rights Watch Deputy Director for Asia Phil Robertson said.

“But instead of charging the defendants with murder and other serious crimes, prosecutors came up with an almost laughable list of ‘slap-on-the wrist’ charges.

“The Cikeusik trial sends the chilling message that attacks on minorities like the Ahmadiyah will be treated lightly by the legal system. This is a sad day for justice in Indonesia.”

PART D-3

Video: Tenn. Muslim Mom Says Road Rage Incident 'a Hate Crime'
(CAIR)

Uploaded by CAIRtv on Jul 28, 2011

CAIR Seeks FBI Probe of Tenn. Anti-Muslim Road Rage Incident

Knife-wielding driver shouts 'I'll kill you,' spews religious slurs at Muslim

www.youtube.com

PART D-4

Clinton Mosque Leaders Calling Vandalism Hate Crime
August 15, 2011

www.kwqc.com

A local mosque is vandalized and now the people who run it are calling it a hate crime. Leaders at the Islamic Society of Clinton County said rocks were thrown through windows, causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage.

Investigators are looking into an act of vandalism. They said more than a dozen rocks were thrown through the front door windows.

PART D-5

Two Churches Torched in Indonesia
August 03, 2011
www.thejakartaglobe.com

Two homes used as churches were burned to the ground in Riau on Tuesday night, a report said. The incidents are the latest in a series of attacks on minority religious groups in Indonesia that have prompted international condemnation, including from the United States and European Union. The homes were being used as unlicensed houses of worship in Kuansing regency, VIVA news reported.

PART D-6

Toronto Synagogue Vandalized

Swastika, 'Islam will rule' spray-painted on exterior walls of Beth Tikvah Synagogue
in Ontario's capital
Ynet
August 5, 2011

The Beth Tikvah Synagogue in Toronto, Ontario, was vandalized late Thursday night. Staff members of Beth Tikvah Synagogue found a swastika and the words "Islam will rule" spray-painted on one of the exterior walls of the temple, Canada's CTV reported on Friday.

PART D-7

Pakistan: Honour killings - Man guns down six daughters

The International Herald Tribune
July 27, 2011

On Tuesday morning, Arif Mubashir called his teenage daughters to his room and shot them while the rest of the family, including their mother, watchedFAISALABAD: A man gunned down six of his daughters on suspicion that two of them were in relationships with boys in the neighbourhood.

On Tuesday morning, Arif Mubashir called his teenage daughters to his room and shot them while the rest of the family, including their mother, watched. His wife Musarrat called the police after the incident.

Mubashir shot the girls after their brother said two of them were in a relationship. He told police officials that he had killed his daughters because they were both “without honour”. The man said his daughters Sameena, 14, and Razia, 16, were in a relationship with college boys from the neighbourhood and the sisters had helped each other. “I should have been told immediately but the girls sided with each other. They were both corrupt,” Mubashir told Tandlianwala Police Inspector Javed Sial.

Police officials have taken Mubashir into custody and filed a case against him. “He does not regret what he did. He boasted that he would do it all over again if he had to,” Sial told reporters. Pakistan has repeatedly been termed as one of the least women-friendly countries. In June, the Thompson Reuters Foundation ranked Pakistan as the world’s third most dangerous country for women.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2011.

(PhotoPPI) British minister Sayeeda Warsi

According to the Guardian, the British minister says Pakistan fails to give women rights that were granted in Islam.

According to British minister Sayeeda Warsi, Pakistan is failing to live up to one of the tenets of Islam which guarantees rights to all women, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

Warsi is a Conservative party co-chairman and minister without portfolio, who is the first Muslim to sit as a full member of the cabinet.

Lady Warsi said Pakistan is denying rights granted 1,400 years ago in the Quran.

Warsi, 40, whose father arrived in Britain from Pakistan in 1960, said in a Guardian interview that, in a “nutshell”, Pakistan is not living up to the ideals of its founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Warsi said she had also raised concerns about the treatment of minorities in Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s only Christian minister, was shot dead in March after he called for the reform of blasphemy laws that impose the death sentence for insulting Islam. Warsi said: “I said to them … let me talk to you about the rights of minorities, the protection of women and the concept of meritocracy. I gave real examples of how Islam embodies all of those values, and the question I put was: my country wasn’t formed in the name of Islam, but yours was; so why does my country embody the values of the faith that your country was formed on the basis of?”

Warsi said her heritage enabled her to speak out. “This was not the west arriving with an ideological perspective of women’s rights about to impose them on a nation. I understand this culture, I deeply understand the faith and the culture that is part of this nation … But what I don’t see is you in many ways having the very values upon which the nation was formed, the vision of the founder of Pakistan.”

Last week, a Thomson Reuters Foundation expert poll showed Pakistan as the third most dangerous country in the world for women.

PART E

INTERFAITH ISSUES:

RELIGIOUS LEADERS MARCH AGAINST VANDALISM AT CALIFORNIA MOSQUE

Venusse Navid,

Whittier Daily News

July 28, 2011

LA MIRADA - Members of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths gathered in unison Sunday for a peace rally in light of recent vandalism targeting a Muslim mosque on Imperial Highway. The peace rally was organized by Rezaur Rahman, president of Muslim Community Services, Inc., in light of vandalism that took place July 18 at the mosque. A brick or large rock was thrown through the mosque's rear glass doors.

"We feel great that different groups of faith wanted to support us during this successful peace rally," Rahman said Thursday. About 100 people began a one-hour walk from the mosque, and proceeded through the streets of La Mirada in honor of religious peace in the community.

"While many of us were braced for any possible negative responses from passers-by, we received nothing but positive and encouraging words and gestures of support," said Interfaith Witnesses founder Vicki Tamoush.

PART F

To All Who Hate Muslims Must Watch

Uploaded by slvlart on Sep 20, 2010

END

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 201, September 18, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)

EDITORIAL:

In this E-Zine, our focus is on Islamic Sexual Health and we brainstorm on the topic of HALAL and HARAM orgasm. We then share an informative article on "Turning Sex into Sadaqa" by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood.

PART I:

ISLAMIC SEXUAL HEALTH:
HALAL AND HARAM ORGASM

At times we would like to believe that we do not know anything on a particular topic and are like new students pursuing higher knowledge. We found Islam to be a beautiful religion in terms of having the right check and balances governing human behavior. There is strong emphasis in Islam to pursue the path of MODERATION in various ways. There are different types of needs including basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. Sex is also an important need.

In terms of food, Muslims are allowed to eat a variety of foods but are prohibited from eating pork. In terms of drinks, Muslims are allowed to have a wide variety of drinks including soft drinks, fruit juices et.c but are prohibited from drinking alcohol. In terms of sex, Muslims are encouraged to have sex and it is in fact considered a Sadaqa provided it is between a husband and wife (details in below follow up article by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood).

As there are restrictions in food and drinks, so are there restrictions in sex. Although the sex act may or may not remain the same in each act between two human beings, it is strongly encouraged between a husband and wife but is prohibited outside a marital relationship.

In terms of Islamic Sexual Health, in as much as there is concept of halal and haram in food and drinks, how clear is the above concept in matters of sex and orgasm ?

What is an Orgasm ?
www.en.wikipedia.org

"Orgasm (from Greek orgasmos, from organ to mature, swell, also sexual climax) is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure. Experienced by males and females, orgasm is controlled by the involuntary, or autonomic, limbic system, and is accompanied by quick cycles of muscle contraction in the lower pelvic muscles, which surround the primary sexual organs and the anus. Orgasms are often associated with other involuntary actions, including muscular spasms in multiple areas of the body, a general euphoric sensation and, frequently, body movements and vocalizations are expressed".

IS THERE AN HALAL ORGASM AND HARAM ORGASM ?

If an orgasm that occurs during a sexual union between husband and wife is halal orgasm could it be argued that an orgasm resulting from a sexual union in a extra-marital or adulterous or incestuous relationship is an haram orgasm.

IMPORTANCE OF THE ORIGIN AND SOURCE IN DETERMINING HALAL AND HARM ORGASMS?

For example it would be considered an halal orgasm if a man who has sexual dysfunction uses Viagra to have an enhanced sexual experience resulting in an orgasm. However it would be a haram orgasm if the same man with sexual dysfunction uses "man (aphrodisiac) pills" as mentioned in the previous E-Zine because the ORIGINAL SOURCE of pills came from China through grinding of dead fetus/newborn babies.

PART II:

(ED NOTE: We wanted to share below excellent article on the same topic of ISLAMIC SEXUAL HEALTH)

TURNING SEX INTO SADAQA

(an act of voluntary kindness pleasing to God)

An excerpt from 'The Muslim Marriage Guide',
By Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood.
(www.islamfortoday.com)
(CONDENSED VERSION)

"Women shall have rights similar to the rights upon them; according to what is equitable and just; and men have a degree of advantage over them." (Quran, 2:216)

They do indeed! This passage of the Holy Quran was revealed in connection with the rights of women following a divorce, but it also has a general sense. One basic right of every person taking on a contract never to have sex other than with their own legitimate partner is that each spouse should therefore provide sexual fulfillment (imta') to the other, as part of the bargain.

Now, every man knows what sexual things please him--but some men, particularly those who have not been married before and are therefore lacking experience, don't seem to know much about how to give the same pleasure to the woman; even worse, some men do know but they can't be bothered to make the effort. Yet this is vital if a marriage is to succeed and not just be a disappointing burden for the woman, and it is a vital part of one's Islamic duty.

It is not acceptable for a Muslim man just to satisfy himself while ignoring his wife's needs. Experts agree that the basic psychological need of a man is respect, while that of a woman is love. Neither respect nor love are things that can be forced--they have to be worked for, and earned.

The Prophet (s) stated that in one's sexual intimacy with one's life partner there is sadaqa (worship through giving):

God's Messenger(s) said: "In the sexual act of each of you there is a sadaqa." The Companions replied: "0 Messenger of God! When one of us fulfils his sexual desire, will he be given a reward for that?" And he said, "Do you not think that were he to act upon it unlawfully, he would be sinning? Likewise, if he acts upon it lawfully he will be rewarded." (Muslim)

This hadith only makes sense if the sexual act is raised above the mere animal level.

What is the magic ingredient that turns sex into sadaqa, that makes it a matter of reward or punishment from Allah? It is by making one's sex life more than simple physical gratification; it is by thought for pleasing Allah by unselfish care for one's partner. A husband that cannot understand this will never be fully respected by his wife.

Neither spouse should ever act in a manner that would be injurious or harmful to their conjugal life. Nikah is the sacred tie between husband and wife, that sincere and devoted love without which they cannot attain happiness and peace of mind.

"Of His signs is this: that He created for you spouses that you might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy." (Quran, 30:21)

Now, every Muslim knows that a man has a right on his wife. However, because Nikah is a contract never to seek sexual satisfaction outside the marriage bond, Islam commands not only the women but the men in this respect, and makes it clear that if a husband is not aware of the urges and needs of his wife, he will be committing a sin by depriving her of her rights.

According to all four orthodox jurists, it is incumbent upon the husband to keep his wife happy and pleased in this respect. Likewise, it is essential for the wife to satisfy the desire of the husband. Neither should reject the other, unless there is some lawful excuse.

Now, it is fairly easy for a woman to satisfy a man and make herself available to him, even if she is not really in the mood. It is far harder for a man to satisfy a woman if he is not in the mood, and this is where an important aspect of male responsibility needs to be brought to every Muslim man's attention, and stressed strongly.

The jurists believed that a woman's private parts needed "protecting" (tahsin). What they meant was that it was important for a Muslim husband to satisfy his wife's sexual needs so that she would not be tempted to commit zina out of despair or frustration.

A Muslim wife is not merely a lump of flesh without emotions or feelings, just there to satisfy a man's natural urges. On the contrary, her body contains a soul no less important in God's sight than her husband's. Her heart is very tender and delicate, and crude or rough manners would hurt her feelings and drive away love. The husband would be both foolish and immoral to act in any way unpalatable to her natural temperament, and a man selfishly seeking his own satisfaction without considering that of his wife is a selfish boor.

In fact, according to a hadith:

"Three things are counted inadequacies in a man. Firstly, meeting someone he would like to get to know, and taking leave of him before learning his name and his family. Secondly, rebuffing the generosity that another shows to him. And thirdly, going to his wife and having intercourse with her before talking to her and gaining her intimacy, satisfying his need from her before she has satisfied her need from him." (Daylami)

This is another of the things implied by the saying that one's wife is "a tilth unto you." (Quran, 2:223) The imagery is that of a farmer taking care of his fields.

According to Mawlana Abul-Ala Mawdudi:

"The farmer sows the seed in order to reap the harvest, but he does not sow it out of season or cultivate it in a manner which will injure or exhaust the soil. He is wise and considerate, and does not run riot." (Afzalur Rahman, Quranic Sciences, London 1981, p.285)

Likewise, in the case of husband and wife, the husband should not just:

“Take hold of his wife and rub the seed and finish the business of procreation. The damage in this case could sometimes be irreparable, because a woman, unlike a farm, is very sensitive and has emotions, feelings, and strong passions which need full satisfaction and attention in a proper and appropriate manner.” (Afzalur Rahman, Quranic Sciences, London 1981, p. 286)

"Allah created male and female from a single soul in order that man might live with her in serenity" (Quran, 7:189), and not in unhappiness, frustration and strife.

If your marriage is frankly awful, then you must ask yourself how such a desperate and tragic scenario could be regarded by anyone as "half the Faith." According to a hadith:

"Not one of you should fall upon his wife like an animal; but let there first be a messenger between you." "And what is that messenger?" they asked, and he replied: "Kisses and words." (Daylami)

These "kisses and words" do not just include foreplay once intimacy has commenced. To set the right mood, little signals should begin well in advance, so that the wife has a clue as to what is coming, and is pleasantly expectant, and also has adequate time to make herself clean, attractive and ready. As regards intimacy itself, all men know that they cannot achieve sexual fulfillment if they are not aroused. They should also realize that it is actually harmful and painful for the female organs to be used for sex without proper preparation.

In simple biological terms, the woman's private parts need a kind of natural lubrication before the sexual act takes place. For this, Allah has created special glands, known to modern doctors as the Bartholin glands, which provide the necessary "oils."

It is still possible to read old-fashioned advice to husbands that a desirable wife should be "dry"--which is remarkable ignorance and makes one really grieve for the poor wives of such inconsiderate men. Just as no one would dream of trying to run an engine without the correct lubricating fluids, it is the same, through the creative will of Allah, with the parts of the female body designed for sexual intimacy. A husband should know how to stimulate the production of these "oils" in his wife, or at the very least allow her to use some artificial "oils." This lack of knowledge or consideration is where so many marital problems frequently arise.

As Imam al-Ghazali says: "Sex should begin with gentle words and kissing," and Imam al-Zabidi adds: "This should include not only the cheeks and lips; and then he should caress the breasts and nipples, and every part of her body." (Zabidi, Ithaf al-Sada al Muttaqin, V 372)

Most men will not need telling this; but it should be remembered that failure to observe this Islamic practice is to neglect or deny the way Allah has created women.

SEX IS CLEAN:

A modest upbringing is part of good character.

The Prophet (s) himself said: "Modesty brings nothing but good." (Bukhari and Muslim)

But another, also important, part of Islamic teaching says that all of Allah's creation is beautiful and pure, particularly when it is part of the body of human beings, who are designed as His deputies upon the earth. In some religions, people traditionally believed that the woman's private parts are in some way unclean, or dirty, or even evil.



The Muslim Marriage Guide - Quilliam Press Ltd.
(ISBN: 1 872038 11 5. 141pp £5.95).
Advice for those contemplating marriage, or for those whose marriages are stale or struggling. Includes some frank advice. A less explicit version has been published by Goodword Books, New Delhi, available from IPCI, 481,Coventry Rd, Birmingham, B10 OJS.

English convert to Islam, Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood, is the author of over thirty books on Islam and other subjects.

Email: Ruqaiyyah@aol.com
Website: http://members.aol.com


THE END

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 200, September 11, 2011

St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)

EDITORIAL:

Below discussion centers on one of the most abhorrent and sick practices of the current 21st century modern era relating to the "polished hi-tech cannibalism".

While within the Muslim world, certain Muslims are caught up on who wears a hijab and who does not, who sports a beard and who does not, who is a Shia and who is a Sunni, while in Israel and the occupied territories, the ultra-orthodox Jews have the same intense blind hate towards Hamas as Hamas has against them, while the invisible and longest subtle gender war between the sexes continues, while we all human beings are quick to distant ourselves from the primitive and barbaric past that existed centuries and millenniums ago and claim to be CIVILIZED, what many of us may be UNAWARE is the evil of humanity's past that may still be lurking out in the dark social web of contemporary world and attempting a come back ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME.

Given the note below along with articles contained there in, it is clear that such a sick practice is not a single isolated incident done by a lone wacko. Our suspicion is that it is more common than we know it and our humble appeal to all human beings is to push back our differences be it within Islam itself or within different religions, nationalities, cultures and communities and form a united front to work towards totally eliminating such sick practice through various means including grass-root, local, national and international level. Last but not the least, WE ARE HUMANS FIRST, and all our differences are secondary. If there are self-centered people out there wanting to eat the initial form of us humans (fetus) for enhancing their beauty or to improve their sexual performance, we should never sit quiet with an attitude: "It's not my problem".

For those of you who are weak hearted, please exit from this E-Zine immediately. For those of you who are willing to accept facing the realities of this MODERN 21st Century world, however gross, sick and disgusting it may be with the goal of doing something to fight against it, please continue reading below.

"POLISHED, HI-TECH CANNIBALISM"

Occasionally we have heard some people say that religion is becoming increasingly obsolete. They have a long list of reasons to prove their point including the dwindling attendance in Churches compared to the past and increasing frequency of abortion, increasing number of couples out of wedlock staying together and having children and in general declining moral values that are contrary to religion. Is the above true of Christianity ? Is the above true of all major religions including Islam ?

Should we as Muslims just “go with the flow” of the current global values or hold steadfast to the rope of Islam no matter what ?

While we vehemently oppose FORCE on imposing Islamic values on any adult, we strongly recommend to hold steadfast to the rope of Islam through seeking the guidance from the Holy Quran and Sunnah as practiced by our beloved Prophet Mohamed (SAW).

We should be PROUD to be Muslims. For us this life is literally a long train journey towards our permanent abode in the hereafter. As long as we live as Muslims, we need to be ambassadors of Islam and bring out the best in us in terms of our love, care and concern towards others around us.

If one views history it is clear that millions of innocents have died under the GODLESS COMMUNISM. To what extent has the ideology of Communism influenced the personal lives of people living in communist countries ? To what extent has Communism polluted the values of Buddhism in the personal lives of people who practice Buddhism and living in Communist countries ?

In general, when there is no higher power to be accountable for, there are greater chances and possibilities for one’s behavior to shift its focus towards being SELF-CENTERED almost to the point of obsession. With lack of accountability to any higher power and subsequent lack of scriptural guidance in terms of right and wrong, morality, value of human life coupled with a constant need to feed to one’s own extremely selfish egoistic desires all boundaries are crossed including but not limited to “polished hi-tech cannibalism” of the most innocent of all – the FETUS.

The growing fetus of a mother’s womb is the initial biological material with which we all went through the gestational period to be born and now live. Ingesting the same biological material is in our opinion tantamount to ingesting human flesh which is cannibalism. Of course unlike the primitive era, we now have machines (hi-tech) to grind the fetus and neatly pack it into pills. That does not absolve the consumer of such pills of practicing cannibalism. We add the word “polished” to emphasize that unlike the primitive era, one is not really killing a human being and cutting off the flesh and eating it like cannibals did in the primitive era, instead in this 21st century modern era, it goes through a sanitized process (in a polished way) ending up in the form of a pill.

With China’s record of MISSING FIFTY MILLION PEOPLE with an average of THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND ABORTIONS performed each and every single day, including today, there is of course no short supply of discarded fetuses.

Thanks to hi-technology, TERRORISM occurs in the WOMB brutally killing hundreds of helpless fetuses every second across the globe, but when was the last time you heard or saw this as a concern ?

To those who favor above sick practice, please don’t offend us further by justifying it in the name of RECYCLING. Such people BLUR the lines between what is BACKWARD/PRIMITIVE and what is MODERN/PROGRESSIVE. Let’s analyze above contradiction below:

SAMPLES OF DISGUSTING PRACTICES FROM THE HISTORICAL/PRIMITIVE ERA:

(1) CANNIBALISM IN AUSTRALIA

www.heretical.com

"In hard summers, the new-born children were all eaten by the Kaura tribe in the neighbourhood of Adelaide, according to Dr McKinley. In 1933 I was able to talk to old men who had eaten human flesh. The chief of Yam Island described to me how he had eaten finely-chopped man-meat mixed with crocodile-meat, at his initiation.

In the Wotjobaluk tribe, a couple who already had a child might kill their new-born and feed its muscle-flesh to the other one to make it strong. The baby was killed ritually, by striking its head against the shoulder of its elder brother or sister".

Colin Simpson, Adam in Ochre, Angus & Robertson, 1938

(2) SIBERIA:

The Tschuktschi of Siberia offer their women to travelers, who must then prove themselves worthy. After spending the night with her, the traveler must rinse his mouth with her urine. If he’s man enough to do it, he’s regarded as a sincere friend; otherwise, he’s treated as an enemy. (www.socyberty.com)

(3) GERMANY:

Medieval rules for sexual conduct, compiled in 1012 by a German bishop named Burchard of Worms include the following notice:

“Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do? They take their menstrual blood and mix it into food or drink and give it to their husbands to eat or drink so that they might be more attentive to them. If you have done this, you shall do penance for five years on legitimate holy days.” (www.socyberty.com)

EMERGING SICK CANNIBAL PRACTICES OF THE MODERN AGE – 21^ST CENTURY

PART I

China Probes Complaints of Aphrodisiac Pills Made From Dead Babies

www.lifesitenews.com

by Kathleen Gilbert

Aug 10, 2011

BEIJING:

Chinese health officials are investigating a report that an unnamed hospital there is selling pills containing the ground-up corpses of babies as an aphrodisiac.

An investigation by South Korea’s SBS TV claimed that a hospital in China sells dead infants and their placenta to a factory that grinds up the corpses, places the material in pill capsules, and sells them to South Korea. The pills are described in South Korean media as “man pills,” or aphrodisiacs.

The SBS TV crew said they purchased the pills and sent one to South Korea’s National Forensic Service, where it was found to contain material that matched human DNA 99.7 percent.

Experts reportedly found bits of hair in the capsules, and could even determine the child’s gender.

Later, as reported by the Times of India, reports emerged in South Korean media that the same China-made pills had been seized by customs officials in Seoul.

The news service also reports that the Chinese Health Ministry has expressed “great concern” and said health officials in Jilin Province would begin an immediate investigation.

They quoted a traditional Chinese medicine expert who said that the gruesome prescription was not founded in the ancient art, although traditional practitioners have been known to use placenta and umbilical cords as ingredients.

China’s human rights activists have said that over 35,000 abortions, many of them forced, take place daily in a country whose one-child policy frequently calls for coercive measures against “illegal pregnancies.” The abortion rate is about ten times that of the United States.

A bizarre attitude towards babies’ remains has emerged in Chinese art as well: artist Xiao Yu in 2003 displayed pictures of himself eating the dismembered parts of a dead child, and in 2005 defended his “artwork” displayed in Switzerland consisting of a fetus’ head attached to a bird’s body

PART II

FETUS USE FOR GOURMET, CHINA
(www.weirdasianews.com)

A weekly magazine from Hong Kong featured the gruesome fetuses are used for popular health and beauty supplement in China. It was reported that high demands of gourmet of body parts of fetuses are so high in Guangdong.



It was learned that a Taiwanese businessman hosted a big party, and one of the housemaid, Ms Liu from Liao Ning province, reveals the practice of eating fetus in Liao Ning province and the worry of health reasons. The Taiwanese women was horrified learning that they were eating body parts of fetus.



According to Ms Liu, “male fetuses” are considered the ‘prime’ human parts and the soup are from the cooked placentas. On March 22, 2003 Bingyan police of Guangxi, province seized smuggled female fetuses in a truck in Yulin heading for HouZhou in Anhui province.

PART III

SHOCKING NEWS: FETUS SOUP BEING SERVED IN CHINA

(www.womenoftheearth.blogspot.com)


Baby Eating in China

Very disturbing pictures are now spreading across the internet about a certain delicacy which could be found in China. A town in Canton is now on trend making baby herbal soup to increase health and sexual performance/stamina. The cost of the fetus soup in China currency is approximately $ 4000 (around RMB 2000).

A factory manager was interviewed and he testified that it is effective because he have tried it and is a frequent customer. It is a delicacy whereby expensive herbs are added to boil the baby with chicken meat for 8 hours boiling/steaming. He was interviewed with his second and very young wife, who is only 19 while he is now 62. He testifies the potency of the fetus soup and he was able to make love with his wife everyday.

"Spare rib soup" local code for fetus soup is being served to local restaurants in Canton. Couple who would like to abort their babies, could just go to these local restaurants and sell the aborted baby for 2,000RMB (China currency). These local restaurants also accepts placentas for several hundreds if couples do not want to sell their babies.

It is very disturbing to mention that most fetus served in these local restaurants are female babies. This is due to the fact that majority of Chinese prefers to have male babies and those poorer families usually end up selling their female babies.

PART IV

BABY EATING IN CHINA
(www.trosch.com)

The following is excerpted from an article in the January 1996 issue of Rutherford, the official journal of the Rutherford Institute (Charlottesville, VA). We have added subheads.

When reports of Chinese citizens eating human fetuses for health reasons surfaced in Hong Kong last year, many dismissed them as fiction . . , but when Eastweek and Eastern Express, two English-language publications based in Hong Kong, investigated, the reporters were in for a shock.

DISCOVERY IN CHINA

One investigator feigned illness and asked a Shenzhen hospital doctor for fetuses. Holding up a fist-sized glass bottle stuffed with ten thumb-sized unborns, the doctor said, “[They were] all aborted this morning. You can take them. We are a state-run hospital and don’t charge anything.” A private hospital spokes­man offered to sell the reporters full-term unborn, which he claimed “contain the best healing qualities.”

Zou Qin, a doctor who claimed to have aborted several hundred unborn and eaten 100 fetuses herself, said, “People normally prefer [fetuses from] young women, and even better, the first boy and a male.”

She justifies the practice: “They are wasted if we don’t eat them . . Zou Qin has fed fetuses to her sister’s children. “I wash them with clear water until they look transparent white and then stew them. Making soup is best.”

A photo depicts Zou Qin smiling, holding up a tiny fetus which hasn’t made it to her bowl yet.

PART V

CONCLUSION:

One wonders why both of such MODERN DAY practices originate in China and spread to other neighboring countries with similar ideologies ? It is important not to stereotype people of any nationality in a negative way. Most of the Chinese are hardworking people and have nothing to do with above practice.

We are really proud to be Muslims and we are confident that above practices are by default against the very core values of people of all major religions – Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. We appeal to all brothers and sisters of all faiths to work together through INTERFAITH RELATIONS with the goal of totally eliminating above sick practice that DO NOT BELONG IN THE 21^st CENTURY MODERN ERA.

It is high time that we (Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddists, Hindus, Jains etc) come out of our individual religious boxes and work towards the common good of humanity.

As for Muslims, Almighty Allah, has clearly stated in the Holy Quran: "MANKIND IS BUT ONE COMMUNITY"

THE END

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 199, September 4, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Editors: Haji Mohamed & Hajira Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)

EDITORIAL:

In this E-Zine, we have touched on unborn babies in facebook, building interfaith relations, health and scapegoating of immigrant women.

PART I

Unborn Babies in Face Book

(ED NOTE:

How should Muslims respond to below from an Islamic perspective ? In the US, there are many pro-life activists fighting through the political process, supporting laws against abortion by arguing that a growing fetus is a PERSON and several of them have highlighted the concept of "fetal-pain" with regard to abortion. Since Islam is pro-life, would it be right for Muslims in the US to support the above pro-life position. Further as indicated in below article, should Muslims join the pro-lifers as they hail the below change as a recognition of the unborn as a person already loved by his or her parents)

A Friend Request From the Womb? Unborn Babies Now on Facebook
by Jeremy Kryn
Aug 08, 2011
(condensed version from LifeSiteNews.com)

Although they might not know it just yet, the unborn children of Internet-savvy parents across the world are about to get a lot of friend requests.

The developers at Facebook have launched a feature that allows expectant parents to add their unborn child to the “Friends and Family” section of their profiles.

As of July 27, Users of the popular social networking site can now select “Expected: Child” from a drop-down menu of family members.

The new feature does not generate a proper Facebook profile, however, since the social networking site’s terms of service states that all users must be at least 13 years of age. Previously, Facebook users have been known to make a profile for their unborn baby by setting the child’s age to 13, or listing him or her under family members and omitting a birthdate.

Commenting on the new feature, University of Michigan Communication Studies Professor Scott Campbell....notes "some pro-lifers hailed the change as a recognition of the unborn as a person already loved by his or her parents".

“This wasn’t a political move by Facebook (though some will try to interpret it that way) — it was rather responding to something their users wants to see added as a feature,” noted Tom Peters of CatholicVote on the Live Action blog.

PART II

INTERFAITH RELATIONS:

Don Bosco School hosts Iftar party

August 15, 2011
(condensed version from CathNewsIndia)

Iftar Party at Don Bosco Park Circus

The alumni of Don Bosco School, Park Cricus, Kolkata hosted an Iftar party for the Salesian staff and past pupils on Sunday August 14, 2011. “This is the only school in Kolkata province where Iftar party is held regularly,” said Rector and Principal Father Siby Vadakel.

“The practice has been going on for the last five years now,” said Alumni World Council member Rajesh Gupta. Local alumni president T.V. Noman said that, “on this day when we break the fast, we celebrate our fellowship with the past pupils.”

The local unit conducts DB Night School with some 750 boys and girls, mostly Muslims from the neighborhood. The alumni also conduct Adult Literacy programme for some 200 Muslim girls from the Madrassa schools.

Source: Don Bosco

PART III:

HEALTH

(ED NOTE:

Never in the history of mankind has research and technology progressed as rapidly as in the present decade. There are hundreds of new research done on a daily basis. It is good to be updated on current research outcomes on issues impacting our health and the health of our family members, community and global ummah at large. We found below research linking a pregnant women's exposure of electromagnetic fields from microwave to increased risks of newborn asthma informative and wanted to share it with you).

www.muslimmums.co.za

DO PREGNANT WOMEN NEED TO AVOID MICROWAVES
(www.rhreality.com)

There's a long list of "don'ts" when you get pregnant: don't drink, don't eat lunch meat cold, don't have too much coffee or take many over the counter medicines. Now, it looks like we can add "don't use household appliances." A new study is linking them to an increased risk in newborn asthma.

Via Time:

Exposure to electromagnetic fields has been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer and immune system and reproductive abnormalities, and now the latest research adds another concern to the list: childhood asthma. In the first study of its kind, scientists strapped magnetic field monitors on pregnant women to determine their level of exposure, and studied whether it was associated with the risk of asthma in their children. They found that children born to women with the highest levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) — including from microwaves, hair dryers and power lines — had a more than three-fold higher rate of asthma compared to those whose moms had the lowest exposure.

PART IV:

(ED NOTE:

Immigrant women come to the US from different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, religions and cultures. Because of their gender of being female, as it is, they had to go through several challenges including possible language difficulties, lack of family support, economic difficulties et.c.

Just think carefully how much more challenges should a practicing Muslim female go through in terms of not only facing above mentioned challenges but also possibly facing additional discrimination by her wearing her Islamic dress and leading a Islamic lifestyle. We respect and honor each and every practicing Muslima to have the courage to continue her Islamic identity for after all, it is Almighty Allah that is way beyond all of us and is the BEST OF HELPERS.

We appreciate all help offered to immigrant women in general. However speaking of APPLICATION OF THE CONCEPT OF UMMAH, we honestly feel that there is still a lot of room for Muslims to help new immigrants. As we had indicated earlier, we strongly recommend every Masjid to, if feasible, open a Social Service Committee (consisting of professionals and volunteers) as one of their committee and have a contact phone number and a case worker to assist newly arrived immigrants. Having a list of local Islamic friendly social service agencies would be an added plus to assist the immigrants who may be in need or who may be in an impending crisis.

Occasionally giving chump-change during Friday prayers and meeting minimum Zakat requirements during the month of Ramadan would hardly meet even one percent of the potential that Muslims have in assisting our muhajareen that arrive to our great country called UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In the past St. Louis had MUSLIM SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY under the sponsorship of local Islamic Center and followed above model in early 1990's and had helped hundreds of immigrants especially the refugees who came from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia et.c).

What's the Real Problem Regarding the Scapegoating of Immigrant Women?

by Miriam Pérez
August 1, 2011
(condensed version)

"In keeping with this year’s Week of Action theme, Caminamos: Justice for Immigrant Women, we’re asking what’s the real problem behind the scapegoating of immigrant women?

Today’s political rhetoric, with the attacks on immigrant women’s livelihood, reproductive choices and mere existence in the US, would have you believe that immigrant women are to blame for our economic situation. Racist movements to alter our constitution specifically target immigrant women–they say we should not be able to have families, or allow our citizen children the rights all other citizens are afforded.

We recognize that immigrant women are simply being used as a scapegoat for these larger institutional problems. We know that in reality, immigrant women are the backbone of many of our communities–they fill crucial jobs, care for our communities and pay millions in taxes. The real problem is our broken immigration system that asks people to “get in line” despite the fact that the line stretches for decades and excludes many based on race, class, ability and national origin.

The real problem is the racism and nativism brewing in our country, which condones these attacks on immigrant women. The real problem is an economy that profits off of and relies on undocumented immigrant labor, but abuses and criminalizes those who provide that labor" .

THE END