Volume 86, July 5, 2009

Toronto, Canada
Editors: HM Yusuf and Azra HMY

GLOBAL UMMAH IN PICTURES:
Where a picture speaks a thousand words

PHILIPPINES:

A photo released by newspaper Manila Times last year, shows a group Philippine police and soldiers looking at bodies of slain Muslim rebels belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. More than a thousand Muslim rebels have been killed in the southern Philippines over the past year, despite the recovery of only 278 bodies, according to a military spokesman. (AFP/HO/File)

(ED NOTE: Yet another picture of our Muslim brothers murdered for a cause of establishing a Islamic homeland. The Global Ummah should be honest to admit that the UMMAH we talk about primarily is confined to the SPIRITUAL AND RITUALISTIC ASPECTS and does not transcend beyond above spiritual box. The price the UMMAH pays for this is very high.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Imagine if there was a GLOBAL ISLAMIC ARMY OF PEACE ACTIVISTS AND CONFLICT MEDIATORS. Would they have made even a small difference to the sufferings our Ummah is facing today ?)

GAZA CITY, ISRAEL

Palestinian schoolboys inspect a burnt classroom at a school run by UNRWA in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, January 2009. Israel has offered compensation for damage to United Nations facilities hit by its offensive in the Gaza Strip, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency said. (AFP/File/Mohammed Abed)

(ED NOTE: Thanks to Israel to offer compensation for above school. This compensation is really a drop in the bucket. The Global Ummah demands compensation from Israel in billions for the entire Palestinian population for forcibly occupying the Palestinian homeland and for all their brutality and subjugation of the Palestinians. What a shame to the civilized world for allowing an entire generation of Palestinians to be raised in refugee camps. While we know above demanded compensation may never happen, it does not hurt for the GLOBAL UMMAH to have a firm stand and position).

IRAQ

An Iraqi man carrying a child walks past Iraqi soldiers patrolling in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on April 12. Saddam Hussein stayed in Baghdad until just hours before it was clear the city was about to fall after the US-led 2003 invasion, according to newly released FBI interviews with the deposed Iraqi dictator. (AFP/File/Essam al-Sudani)

IRAN

Iranians chant anti-US and Israeli slogans during weekly prayers at Tehran University. A powerful Iranian cleric says local British embassy staff -- who were arrested for allegedly stoking post-election unrest -- will be put on trial, a move set to plunge already strained ties to a new low. (AFP/Behrouz Mehri)

INDIA

Indian gay activists in Kolkata celebrate the court ruling on July 2. The Indian media hailed Friday a court ruling to decriminalise gay sex and urged the government to respond by striking a colonial-era ban on homosexuality from the statute books. (AFP/Deshakalyan Chowdhury)

(ED NOTE: Thanks to the Delhi High Court ruling, which gives yet another blow to the already crumbling and unstable smallest social unit - the family. The WEST is already a LEADER in the breakdown and crumbling of the FAMILY in terms of divorce, family conflict and breakups, incest et.c now above ruling is just one more step for the great country of INDIA to move towards following the WESTERN values in this particular aspect.

Further above ruling is just the beginning, the next issues for the gays and lesbians would be to demand the right to be married, the right to adopt and raise a child, the right to be eligible for insurance and other government and job related benefits that heterosexual couples already receive et.c, et.c. While the above picture reflects colorful and cheerful faces of the Unnatural sex lovers, be assured that tears from millions of family members resulting from increased emotional pain would stream down the faces due to legalization and approval of above Court ruling. ONE MAN'S FRUIT IS ANOTHER MAN'S POISON)

WAKE UP CALL TO THE FAMILY WHO HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF HAVING THEIR MEMBERS BE GAY OR LESBIANS. They may request to get their "partner" at your next family gathering or other social get together. How prepared are you to honor such a request? Such requests are already common in the WEST)

COMORAN

Muslims attend Friday prayers at a mosque near Galawa beach in the Comoran capital Moroni, from where search parties continued to look for debris of the Yemenia Airbus that crashed at sea on June 30. Comorans began 30 days of national mourning on Friday for the victims of the crash as France threatened to blacklist the airline and appointed an ambassador for victims' families.
(AFP/Tony Karumba)

SOMALIA

A boy carrying ammunition for Islamic fighters shields his ears as a Islamic fighter shoot towards Somali government forces during clashes, Friday, in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

(ED NOTE: Above is yet another example of Media manipulating ISLAM. Dear Muslim Brothers, Sisters and Respected Islamic Scholars, please look at the picture above and tell me what is ISLAMIC about above fighters. Specially with Somalia where almost the entire population are Muslims, the Somali Govt forces are Muslims and the above fighters are Muslims, why is the word ISLAMIC being misused in this context. Basically it is Muslims fighting the Muslims and not ISLAMIC FIGHTERS FIGHTING THE NON-ISLAMIC FIGHTERS). It is high time that all concerned including the media and the various groups don't misuse the term ISLAMIC)

THAILAND:

Soldiers prepare to storm the house of suspected Muslim militants after an encounter in southern Thailand's Yala province, about 1,084 km (674 miles) south of Bangkok June 27, 2009. REUTERS/Surapan Boonthanom/Files

SWAT VALLEY- PAKISTAN

Displaced Pakistani girls attend their class in a makeshift school set up by UNICEF at Yar Hussain refugee camp in Swabi, Pakistan, Monday, June 29, 2009. More than 2 million people were uprooted by the fighting in Swat, an exodus international aid agencies say is threatening to become a humanitarian crisis. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Mohammad Sajjad)

RAWALPINDI - PAKISTAN

(DEVIATED SUICIDE BOMBERS STRIKES AGAIN:
Sad chapter for Ummah - Muslims killing Muslims)

Pakistani police investigate a vehicle after a deadly bombings in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Police say a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle has slammed into a bus carrying defense department employees, killing at least six people. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Vincent Thian)

KASHMIR, INDIA

Kashmir protesters throw stones at Indian police in Srinagar on July 3. Police used batons and tear gas to break up fresh anti-India protests in Kashmir on Friday, with more than two dozen people injured in the clashes. (AFP/Rouf Bhat)

AFGHANISTAN

(ED NOTE: Hello, below is NOT a Shura Council Meeting)

U.S. Marines sit with Afghani residents of the village of Noghara in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/David Guttenfelder)

Volume 85, June 28, 2009 Toronto, Canada

Editors: Haja Mohideen and Azra HM Yusuf

MUSLIM COMMUNITY WELCOMES `GOOD NEWS'

Maple Leafs get role model

TheStar.com, CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/REUTERS

MONTREAL–The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted more than just a hockey player in Nazem Kadri with the seventh overall pick last night.

They drafted a symbol of change. Kadri, a solid two-way centre with the London Knights, is of Lebanese heritage, and the first Muslim drafted by the Maple Leafs. That he grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan only adds to the mix for multi-cultural Toronto.

"Being a role model is an important thing for me," said Kadri, who hopes Muslim kids are inspired to take up hockey because of him. "Hopefully these kids can look at me and use me as a role model."

Kadri is likely to remain with the London Knights for another season. In Scarborough, the youth from a heavy immigrant population aspire to play cricket and soccer, leaving youth hockey rosters barren and teams forced to fold or merge.

"A lot of Muslim kids are going to start playing hockey because they see someone like them be successful in that area," said Kadri. There are about 250,000 Muslims living in Toronto, and the drafting of Kadri was welcomed.

"That's good news," Wahida Valiante, chair and national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress told the Star's Kenneth Kidd. "I hope he plays well, because we'll be cheering." But while Kadri's faith is important, he's also "just Canadian," she said. "It speaks very loudly that we live in a healthy society."

"If this has a ripple effect on the young players in the Muslim community to take up hockey, then that's a wonderful side effect. If that increases our player pool in a part of society we're not touching right now, that's great." Until now, Ramzi Abid has been known as the greatest Muslim hockey player. The Montreal-born left winger played 68 games in the NHL over four seasons with four teams.

"It's nice for my community to be recognized as a pro hockey player," said Kadri. "There's a lot of stereotypes about Lebanese, like they don't set foot on ice, but here I am."

Peter DeBoer, now coach of the Florida Panthers, coached Kadri with the Kitchener Rangers two seasons ago, Kadri's first in the OHL. "I love him," said DeBoer. "He's a fierce competitor. He's got fantastic skill. "He's got passion for the game.

Once again, France's politicians are

in a stir about Muslim couture.

In 2004, rattled by young women wearing the hijab, they outlawed Islamic scarves in state offices and schools, along with other "ostentatious" religious gear including the Jewish kippa and large Christian crosses. Now, President Nicolas Sarkozy has cast a dirigiste eye over the burqa, the full body covering worn by some Muslim women.

In a speech this week, Sarkozy called it an affront to the freedom and dignity of women, "a sign of subservience, of debasement" that leaves women "cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity." So French lawmakers are now considering banning or restricting it.

Mohammed Moussaoui of France's Muslim council replied that the burqa is "an extremely marginal phenomenon" and expressed concern that the debate would stigmatize France's 5 million Muslims. Britain's Muslim council went further and accused Sarkozy of fanning Islamophobia with his "patronizing and offensive" remarks.

Happily, Canada has largely avoided these culture dramas. Quebec had its bout of psyche-searching over "cultural accommodation," fed in part by France's anxieties. But for the most part, Canadians are unthreatened by cultural differences and are content to let Muslim women make their own choices, for religious or cultural reasons.

The vast majority of women in Canada's million-plus Muslim community don't wear the burqa. Many no doubt share the view that it is demeaning. Others are indifferent. Only a small minority embraces it. It is not the business of the state to intervene in this area.

Is the face veil for women obligatory

(Islamic Research Foundation International)

"Muslim scholars differ amongst themselves on the issue of the obligatory duty (or otherwise) of veiling of the face by Muslim women. In Islam, rules and regulations and the do's and don'ts are derived from the word of Allah, i.e. the Glorious Qur'an and the teachings of the Messenger of Allah, i.e. the authentic Ahadith (Saying of the Prophet)". Haroon Abdullah, New Delhi

The Qur'an says: "O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger if you do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best and most suitable for final determination." (Qur'an 4:59)

As mentioned in the verse quoted above, when people in authority, the rulers, leaders, imams and scholars differ amongst themselves, our Creator instructs us to look into the Qur'an and the authentic Ahadith for guidance. The legitimacy, relevance and accuracy of the reasons and evidence provided by these people should be evaluated in the light of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. However, it should be borne in mind that infallibility belongs to Allah alone and a scholar, being a human, can make an error of judgment.

There is no clear-cut authentic hadith to the effect of making the face veil obligatory. Those scholars, who insist that covering the face is obligatory for Muslim women, interpret 'al-idnaa' in the verse of the jilbaab (Al-Qur'an: 33:59) to mean, "covering the face". This interpretation is erroneous because the basic meaning of the word in Arabic is "to come close", as the well-known scholar, ar-Raaghib al-Asbahaanee mentions in his authoritative dictionary 'al-Mufradaat'. Some people claim that jilbaab is "a garment which covers the face". This too is a misinterpretation as it is contrary to the interpretation of the leading scholars of past and present as well, who define jilbaab as a garment which women drape over their head scarves (khimaar).

Some people claim that the khimaar (headscarf) in Qur'an 24:31 covers the head and the face, whereas linguistically the word only means a head covering. The Prophet is reported to have said "Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a khimaar". (Sunan Abu Dawood, vol. 1, hadith No. 641)

However, no scholar insists on covering the face in Salaah for women based on the hadith quoted above, which further substantiates that khimaar does not mean covering the face. Shaykh Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee, one of the foremost scholars of recent times has clarified in detail, the errors made by these scholars who insist on the obligatory nature of the face veil in his books ar-Radd al-Mufhim & Jilbaab al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah (3rd edition, 1996, al-Maktabah al-Islaamiyyah). Likewise, other scholars like Ibn Muflih al-Hambalee, an-Nawawee, al-Qaadee 'Iyaad are too of the opinion that covering the face is not obligatory.

As stated earlier, that there is not a single authentic hadith that makes covering the face obligatory. On the other hand, we find several ahadith which prove that covering the face is not compulsory in Islam. For instance, once while the prophet was admonishing and preaching to a group of women after having admonished the men on the Id day, "...a woman having a dark spot on her cheek stood up..." seeking clarification on the subject the prophet was discussing. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, Hadith No. 1926)

It is understood from the above-mentioned hadith that the woman having interaction with the prophet was not covering her face nor did the prophet command her to do so. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to enjoin right and forbid wrong, as Allah instructed us in the Glorious Qur'an. Thus we cannot expect the prophet, on whom the Qur'an was revealed, to let the woman keep her face uncovered after having known the obligation of covering the face.

Narrated Ata bin Abi Rabah (R.A.) Ibn 'Abbas said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet and said..." (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7, Hadith No. 555 - Dar Al Arabia- Beirut- Lebanon & Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 6571-Darusslam- Arabic)

The hadith quoted above proves that the 'woman of the people of the paradise' was not covering her face when she had visited the prophet nor was she covering it when Ibn 'Abbas was discussing about her later. Some may argue by saying she could be recognized owing to the dark complexion of her hand and not due to the exposure of her face. However, this argument would carry no weight since she was not the only black woman at the time of the prophet. Moreover, to identify a person, the aspect of exposure of the face is of immense significance.

The Prophet is reported to have said, "...The Muhrima (a woman in the state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves." (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadith No. 1838) '

With regards to the hadith quoted above, some people say that the commandment of the prophet not to cover the face is specifically for the women in the state of Ihram, thus it cannot be used as an evidence because in Ihram certain rules and regulations change. However, the point to be noted here is that the things that are Mustahab (recommended) can be made Haraam (forbidden), like the cutting of nails, even the things that are Mubah (permissible) or Mustahab (recommended) can be made Fard (obligatory), e.g. wearing two pieces of white unsewn cloth is made Fard for a man, while normally it is Mubah (permissible). But anything that is Haraam in the normal course of life can never be made Fard. Hence, if exposing the face is Haraam for women, then how can it be made Fard in Ihraam?

During the day of Nahr (10th Dhul-Hijja), when Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas was riding behind the prophet on his she -camel, "...a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of Allah's Apostle. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her..." (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadith No. 6228)

In the above-mentioned hadith we find Al-Fadl looking at the lady because her beauty attracted him. Here too, it is understood that the face of the lady was exposed as the hadith says that the woman was beautiful. Obviously, it is the face that plays the most significant role in making a person being perceived as ugly or beautiful. In spite of this, the prophet didn't instruct the lady to cover her face but instead turned the face of Al-Fadl in order to prevent him from staring at her, further substantiating the verse of the Qur'an from Surah An-Noor, 24:30, which says: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."

The Qur'an further says in the next verse: And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof... (Al-Qur'an 24:31)

When Ibne Abbaas (RA), the leading commentator of the Qur'an was asked about the verse mentioned above as to what it meant, he replied, "it refers to the face and hands". (Collected by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf, Vol. 3, p. 540 & 541, hadith no. 16997 & 17012 and al-Bayhaqi in Sunan al- Kubraa. Al-Albaanee ruled in Jilbaab al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah, pp 59-60, that the isnaad of this statement is saheeh.)

Some scholars argue that all the ahadith, which speak of women's faces being seen, are of the time earlier than the revelation of the verses of Al-Qur'an 33:59 & 24:31, which make covering the face compulsory. Firstly, as discussed earlier, these Qur'anic verses do not make covering the face compulsory for women. Secondly, to prove that these verses make the covering of women's face compulsory, they have to quote an authentic hadith for it, which they don't. Thirdly most of the ahadith quoted above, are of the time after these Qur'anic verses were revealed.

Thus, it can be concluded that covering the face is not obligatory for women. However, covering the face was obligatory for the Ummul Mu'mineen, the wives of the Prophet as was Tahajjud obligatory for the Prophet . Although Muslims are exempted from its obligation, it is a recommended Sunnah for the Muslims. Thus it is not compulsory for Muslim Women to cover their faces but those women who cover their faces may continue to do so if they wish. And Allah knows the best.

Prophecy Comics teaching

faith and values

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

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

A crucial requirement upon many of us is to first and foremost, recognise the lack of concern we have on the importance of teaching morality and ethics and good conduct to our youth, be they Muslim or non-Muslim. The importance of Good character is a necessity that crosses borders and boundaries of religious diversity. What good is the fast to an individual if, in his daily life, he is cruel to his parents or oppressive to his children or unkind to his neighbours or unhelpful to his colleagues, a person who is a detriment unto others? Hence the concern for fellow human beings and the environment is a fundamental requirement we must begin to teach our youth at an extremely early age so that their foundation, their building blocks, are an embodiment of righteousness. This is a vital requirement for sustainability in a global world where technological advances and abundant industrialisation necessitate a more responsible and compassionate humanity due to the potentially destructive nature brought about by such technologies.

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

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

The first series is a compilation of four books that deal with the creation of the universe, the angels, humanity and others. It takes us through the accounts that precipitate the fall of humanity and Satan, both physically and spiritually. The series also delves into the tragic fall of humanity when murder is introduced into their midst and the consequences that arise as a result of such a destructive act. Following this series which is entitled, "The Dawn of Mankind" is a narration of many other prophets and the circumstances that surrounded them in their time. The narrations will deal primarily with their struggle to improve the lives of humanity, their struggle against oppressors and their warning of the temptations put forth by Satan and his demon minions. The speech of God, the Angels and Satan are common throughout all books and appear in almost all the issues in the Prophecy Comics series.

Alas, it is with great regret that the author/producer of Prophecy Comics experienced only a lack of support for such a unique project but when analysing the state of affairs in the world today and the importance placed on profit over social well-being, it is something that did not, nor does it, come as a surprise. This project was initiated almost 5 years ago and due to the lack of support, legal issues and an attempt to ensure traditions are not offended, it has been an ongoing struggle for a single individual to accomplish.

THE END

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH
Volume 84, June 21, 2009 Toronto, Canada

Editors: Haja Mohideen and Azra HM Yusuf

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

Avoid Fault-finding

By: Sadullah Khan - Islamic City

As people of Faith, we have the duty of commanding good and forbidding evil. We thus engage ourselves, as social beings, in improving ourselves and working towards being instruments in improving the world we live in. Our Faith behooves us not to search for faults in others and we would do well to heed the advice of our Beloved Prophet : "Part of being a good person is minding your own business." While the purpose of commanding good and forbidding evil is to correct and restore; fault-finding inevitably leads to undermining the character of people and sometimes to destroying relationships. Prophet Muhammad said: "The worst of people are those engaged in slandering others, those who ruin relationships between dear ones who try to find fault with innocent people." The Prophet also admonished us that "when you pursue the faults of others, you corrupt them" and warned that "those who unduly pursue the shortcomings of others will have their own faults exposed."

Fault-finding is the habit of the miserable

Confucius said: "the great person calls to attention the good points in others while the miserable person calls to attention the defects in others." (Analects 12:16). That is perhaps why losers can easily say, "something is wrong" and winners usually say, "how can I correct it". Why losers say, "why don't you do this?" and winners usually say, "here is something I can do." Fault-finders normally tell others about someone's faults and rarely have the guts to face people; fitting the description of dhul-wajhayn (two-faced) which the Prophet Muhammad assigned to troublemakers and hypocrites. Fault-finders also tend to be miserable themselves, lacking self-esteem; and since they focus so much on blaming others, they become resentful; and rather than cherish people, tend to develop a desire to undermine and discredit people.

Negativity consumes a person

The negative feelings that a fault-finder harbors regarding others eventually consumes the person and this negativity eventually becomes part of the fault-finder's character. Prophet Muhammad therefore advised us "Refrain from holding bad opinions of people."

Deflecting one's own shortcomings

One of the common ways through which people deflect their own shortcomings and do not face up to their own faults is to blame others. The faults we see may well not be in what we are looking at, but rather in our looking. Prophet 'Isa/Jesus is reported to have said; "why do you look at the little speck in your brother's eye and forget the plank in your own eye". Hadrat 'Ali said: "The worst of people is the person who searches for faults in others while being blind to his own faults". Martin Luther King rightly said: "the highest form of maturity is self inquiry".

Watch your Heart, your Emotions and your Tongue

Speech is projection of thoughts and emotions; the content of speech reflects the culture of the heart, so consider carefully how you feel about others, why you feel the way you feel and what you say about people. Prophet Muhammad said: "None of your faith is correct unless your heart is upright and your heart will not be rectified until your tongue is in order". That is why Allah states in the Quran "speak what is correct, your actions will be rectified and your sins will be forgiven". Since virtually all fault-finding is conveyed verbally, we must be careful of the power of the tongue since wise people caution the fact that affliction caused by the tongue is more severe than the harm caused by the sword. The Prophet also provided a basic rule of good character when he responded to a question regarding salvation. He replied: "It is necessary for you to control your tongue and weep for your own faults". The prayer of the Prophet is the most appropriate expression for one who introspects and genuinely wishes to be a catalyst for a better world: "O Allah, forgive that which I did secretly and what I did publicly; What I did inadvertently and what I did deliberately; What I did knowingly and what I did out of ignorance". Always reflect on this advice of the Prophet : "glad tidings to the person more concerned about his own faults than bothering about the faults of others".

Islamic Counseling & Psychotherapy

Trends in Theory Development

Social Family Interfaith

Somayya Abdullah, crescentlife.com

"If counseling is to be equated with giving advice and guidance then it dates back to the beginning of time, having an array of practitioners including shamans and sangomas, friends and family, prophets, priests and soothsayers. "

Islamic counseling and psychotherapy is a discipline that is vaguely defined. Information that is available on this topic is often limited in quantity and perspective to form the theoretical basis necessary to constitute a model of intervention for Islamic Counseling. Indeed in discussions with social service practitioners this lack of a coherent Islamic counseling methodology is frequently expressed. It is not unusual to find that counseling professionals find themselves at a loss to intervene effectively with clients who adhere to an Islamic value system especially when it is at variance with their own. For the client this situation is commonly experienced as an inability on the side of the practitioner to fully understand him/her. Given that Islamic counseling is not yet in a form where its actual implementation can be monitored, it first requires guidelines that can be integrated into a theoretical framework, a purpose to which this article is directed.

Islamic counseling is not a new concept. When studying its historical location, a distinction may be made between cultural and professional modes of Islamic counseling. In the former, counseling is not an explicit exercise, but alluded to in the religio-cultural rituals of Muslim communities. In the case of the latter, we set Islamic counseling as a formal discourse, comparable with mainstream, predominantly western counseling paradigms.

Islamic Counseling

If counseling is to be equated with giving advice and guidance then it dates back to the beginning of time, having an array of practitioners including shamans and sangomas, friends and family, prophets, priests and soothsayers. Islamic counseling in a cultural mode is not an explicit process. It manifests as part of ritual healing practices. While these practices do not constitute formal counseling, it has been shown to hold the same therapeutic value as mainstream counseling approaches. This has been attested to by case studies drawn from the Negev, India and Morocco all in the psychotherapeutic validity and healing capacity of such practices.

Islamic counseling and psychotherapy from a professional perspective is of recent origin. Few scholars have addressed this area of study in a significant way, beyond assertions that Islamic counseling needs to be developed into a well structured discourse that captures the breath and spirit of Islam in helping people. These contributions are usually directed at the presence of mainstream western counseling paradigms as a dominant force in counseling and social intervention.

Professional counseling and psychotherapy are two separate but closely linked disciplines that are for most part treated equivalently. They are generally understood as disciplines that involve help and healing, and by which counselors interact with clients to assist them to learn about themselves, deal with their environments, and understand the roles and responsibilities inherent in these relations. The role of emotions in causing psychological and emotional disturbances is central to understanding and helping clients. Individuals are thus aided to recognize their potential, learn how to utilize this potential, and work towards removing obstacles that block full realization of their capabilities.

In professional terms, Islamic counseling would be a confluence of counseling and psychotherapy with the central tenets of Islam. This is acceptable in as far as it provides a broad purpose for Islamic counseling by linking it with an overarching intent of helping clients attain positive change in their lives. However, as counseling theories take on various philosophical positions such an analysis can become quite problematic. This is especially so given the nature and scope of Islam as a religious worldview, and debates on Islamic counseling that call for the rejection of western counseling theories. Application of Islamic principles to theories outside the realm of Islam or using concepts from mainstream counseling to inform an Islamic approach is therefore discouraged.

In such arguments it is often asserted that Western psychology is devoid of religion and foster distorted concepts of humankind that are rooted in materialism. Counseling that is based on Islam is then forwarded as a feasible alternative. Writers of such positions do simultaneously concede that western psychotherapy and psychiatry has its merits in dealing with psychological suffering and behavior modification. What is proposed then is that Muslims use the positive aspects of western counseling, integrate it with the spiritual, and develop Islamic psycho-spiritual counseling methodologies that would facilitate positive change in Muslim clients.

Exploring the Qur'an, the Sirah of the Prophet and his traditions, as well as the biographies of the Prophet's companions, will provide detailed instructions for implementing successful therapy. In the main, though, it is Sufism (tasawwuf), the mystical tradition of Islam, which is credited with providing the basis for Islamic psychology. It is forwarded as the main frame of reference from which to develop a professional Islamic counseling approach.

Middle East - Obama and Bush

Nadia Hijab, International Herald Tribune

In the days since Barack Obama's speech in Cairo last week there has been a desperate search for substance in between the lines of a great performance. Where are the policies that can change the lives of people in the Middle East hit by the wars and occupations initiated or supported by the United States?Many have read much into Obama's speech - that was part of its genius - but it contained no policy announcements. That does not mean there are no policies. The Obama administration works differently from its predecessors in at least three ways.First, it doesn't do business on the basis of public pronouncements. There will, for example, be no reprise of Bush senior's public appeal to the American people that he was "one little lonely guy" facing up to a thousand lobbyists from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.At that time, the Bush administration wanted Israel to attend the Madrid peace conference in the wake of the 1990-91 Gulf war. The White House also announced its intention to tie loan guarantees to Israel to ending settlement activity. In contrast, The Obama administration looks unlikely to make any public threats.Second, the Obama administration speaks with one voice. The same tough line - settlements must stop, peace must start - is delivered by Mr. Obama; Vice President Joe Biden, who used to call himself a Zionist; Hillary Clinton, the former stridently pro-Israel junior senator from New York; Rahm Emanuel, who twice volunteered for the Israeli Army; the national security adviser, General James Jones; and the special envoy, George Mitchell.This seamless act makes it hard for right-wing pro-Israel forces to drive in a policy wedge. This is a far cry from Bush junior's administration, when Vice President Dick Cheney and the deputy national security advisor Elliot Abrams actively undermined Condoleezza Rice's efforts.Third, this is an administration that does its homework. It has studied the rise and fall of previous peace efforts, including Bill Clinton's hasty and ill-prepared convening of the Camp David summit in 2000. By contrast, weeks before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington in May, the Obama team reportedly briefed key Democrats in Congress about possible disagreements with Israel.

When Mr. Netanyahu visited Capitol Hill, expecting to be shielded from the administration, Haaretz reported that he was "stunned" by a coordinated attack against his stand on settlements. Several leading lawmakers, including Jewish ones, said they thought Mr. Netanyahu should be "very, very aware of the concerns of the administration and Congress."True, Aipac secured 329 Congressional signatures on a letter urging Mr. Obama to pursue peace as "a devoted friend to Israel." But the warnings of senior lawmakers still carry weight.Meanwhile, it is worth noting some of the policy shifts, however small. For instance, Israelis maintain that they had an understanding with the Bush administration supporting "natural growth" in the settlements. Hillary Clinton shot this down in no uncertain terms. The Obama administration, she pointed out, had been given the official records by the outgoing Bush administration, and there "is no memorialization of any informal and oral agreements. If they did occur, which, of course, people say they did, they did not become part of the official position of the United States Government."As for the 2004 Bush exchange of letters with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that promised Israel it could have the major settlement blocs plus Jerusalem and minus the Palestinian refugees, the State Department spokesman steadfastly side-stepped a journalist's questions as to whether or not the letters were binding.So, yes, nothing has changed on the ground yet. But because of the way it works, the Obama administration has a much better chance of bringing peace to the Middle East than its predecessors. Still, before breaking out the champagne, remember that Mr. Obama works within the boundaries of the American establishment.Within those narrow confines and given the present Israeli-Palestinian power imbalance, the Palestinians are likely to secure a bare minimum of rights while Israel walks off with the rest. Unless, that is, the Palestinians can rapidly tilt the balance in their favor - or unless Israel's intransigence does it for them.

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VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 83, June 14, 2009
Toronto, Canada

Editors: Haja Mohideen and Azra HM Yusuf

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

CONTENTS:


(1) EDITORIAL:

(2) POSITIVE RELATED NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN UMMAH:

(3) NEW SEARCH ENGINE ON THE INTERNET FOR MUSLIMS ONLY (www.muslumangoogle.com)

(4) 80% FRENCH MUSLIMS FAITHFUL TO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

(5)HOLLAND: (FIRST EVER) MUSLIM RETIREMENT ONLY REST HOME ON ITS WAY

(6) TURKISH (MUSLIMA) BUSINESSWOMAN ON (FORTUNE MAGAZINE'S) LIST OF 50 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

(7) FRANCE: GRADUATES MUSLIM CHAPLAINS LOOKING FOR WORK

(8) QUALIFIED WOMEN CAN ISSUE FATWA, ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC EXPERTS

(9) FRANCE: HAIRDRESSERS IN PARIS FOR VEILED WOMEN

(10) ITALY: (ECONOMIC) CRISIS: FOOD IS ADAPTING, HALAL SALAMI FOR MUSLIMS

(11) AFRICA: EGYPT: DOLL WITH VEIL FOR MUSLIM GIRLS (B) AFRICA: MOROCCO: HEALTH MINISTER, 67% MEDICINE GRADUATES ARE WOMEN

(12) CALL TO THE GLOBAM UMMAH: 3 OUT OF 4 MUSLIMS (LIVING IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES ARE) DISCRIMINATED, NOT REPORTED BY 79%.

EDITORIAL:

It has been an honor and pleasure for us as a editorial couple to step up to the plate and accept the invitation to be the new Editors of such a unique weekly newsletter addressed to the Global Ummah. While we will make every effort to maintain if not surpass the historical quality of this E-Zine which currently is in its 83rd issue, we would in advance request you to forgive us for any shortcomings. May Allah help us in our endeavour to reach out to the global Ummah. Almighty Allah has presented us with many challenges. While it is wrong to perceive the sufferings of our Ummah as "gloom and doom", we should also be aware that there are hundreds of new positive developments taking place that benefits Muslims. In our first issue, we wanted to put our spotlight on MUSLIMS IN EUROPE BESIDES TOUCHING ON ASIA, AFRICA and continue the interesting series of UMMAH IN PICTURES.

POSITIVE RELATED NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN UMMAH:

NEW SEARCH ENGINE ON THE INTERNET FOR MUSLIMS ONLY (www.muslumangoogle.com)

(ANSAmed) - ANKARA, JANUARY 14 , 2009
A new search engine on the Internet was launched recently, but this time it is for Muslims only, Hurriyet Daily reported. According to the www.muslumangoogle.com website, it uses the database of the search engine Google and is powered by it, but filters search terms in accordance with Islam. It is stated on the Web sités 'About Us' section that the engine was built on the substructure of Google and anyone could build a similar site. Some terms are not available to search at all, while in the results for search able terms, answers about Islam come first. "The best search for Islam", the website states on its main page, on which the color green, known as Islam's color is used. For example, a search for "alcohol" first lists results about alcohol in Islam. Meanwhile, words like "porn" or its Turkish version "porno" and the word "sex" cannot be searched while "seks", the Turkish word for "sex", can be searched. The Web site states that all advertising income will be donated to charitable foundations that send aid to Palestine. (ANSAmed). 2009-01-14

80% FRENCH MUSLIMS FAITHFUL TO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, MAY 8
Some 80% of Muslims in France believe they remain faithful to their countries of origin, according to a survey by the American Gallup research institute that questioned a sample of Muslims in 27 countries. In all 8% said they were not faithful to their original countries and 12% did not reply. The research also showed that in Britain Muslims "loyal" to their original countries amount to 82% and in Germany the figure is 71%. The survey published yesterday but carried out in 2008 adds that only 44% of French of other religions believe that are faithful to their country against 35% who believe the contrary and 21% who didn't reply. The French emerged as the most tolerant on religious matters and, together with the Dutch, the most willing in Europe to welcome a neighbour of another religion. At the other end of the spectrum are the Israelis who say openly that they do not respect other religions, according to the survey. The poll, carried out with the support of the Coexist Foundation, a British charity that promotes inter-religious relations, covered a sample of 500 Muslims per country. The samples of people from other religions varied from 100 to 1000 people in size.(ANSAmed). 2009-05-08

HOLLAND: (FIRST EVER) MUSLIM RETIREMENT ONLY REST HOME ON ITS WAY

(ANSAmed) - AMSTERDAM, MAY 25 - Retirement homes with separate common rooms - women on one side, men on the other - and an area for prayer. A wing for elderly Moroccan residents is to be opened at the Rosendael Retirement home in Utrecht. The Aveant Nursing Home and insurance company Agis are behind the initiative, according to Dutch press. The elderly people who cannot manage to integrate even at an advanced age come from Turkey, Morocco and Suriname. They do not speak Dutch well, and they feel lost in traditional retirement homes, where residents play cards and eat typical Dutch dishes. "Elderly Muslims often shut themselves in their room and spend their time alone", said Fatima Benaya from the De Kastanjehof retirement home in Amsterdam, where there is a multicultural common room. According to Agis 500 places will shortly be available, although they do not specify when. Each elderly resident will have a room to themselves with a bathroom, and communal areas with other guests. "We are trying to recreate a safe environment where elderly Moroccans can live their own faith and culture", explained head of the project for Aveant, Rosan van der Aa. Meanwhile, in Utrecht, the initiative is a success: people of Moroccan origin have already begun to ask for places, while more than two hundred people have already replied to the advertisement for staff. (ANSAmed). 2009-05-25

TURKISH (MUSLIMA) BUSINESSWOMAN ON (FORTUNE MAGAZINE'S) LIST OF 50 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

(ANSAmed) - ANKARA, OCTOBER 8
Turkish businesswoman has been ranked in the Fortune Magazinés annual international list of '50 Most Powerful Women In Business'. Guler Sabanci, President of the Executive Board of the Sabanci Holding, is the only Turkish businesswoman on the list. The magazine introduced Sabanci as a 53-year-old businesswoman in her fifth year at the helm of her family's industrial, financial, and retail empire. Sabanci Holding's revenue grew 23% in 2007 to USD 14.8 billion, and the firm continues to profit from Turkish economic growth. Sabanci also is expanding the conglomeratés supermarket chain, and entering into a new energy joint venture, Enjerjisa, that aims to beef up the undersized Turkish power system. (ANSAmed). 2008-10-08

FRANCE: GRADUATES MUSLIM CHAPLAINS LOOKING FOR WORK

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, DECEMBER 9
The Head of the Al Ghazali Institute of the Great Mosque of Paris, Djelloul Seddiki, launched an appeal to the Justice Minster, Rachida Dati, to become involved with the problem of Muslim "chaplains" in prisons and to hire those who received diplomas after having attended courses at the Al Ghazali Institute and the Institut Catholique in Paris. No job proposals have been formulated for the new graduates, and "if our students see that that are no outlets, they will be discouraged", said Seddiki underlining that the training of an imam (4 years of study) costs 12,000 euro. According to him, there are currently 352 jobs to award as Muslim chaplains in French prisons, where 60% of the inmates are Muslims. On November 22, 40 imams and chaplains, among which were 9 women, received a diploma. The imams can work as chaplains, but those who were trained as chaplains cannot be imams. "They can find work as imams in prayers halls and mosques, but chaplain jobs depend on the administration that can hire them in prisons, hospitals, and education", specified Seddiki. (ANSAmed)2008-12-09

QUALIFIED WOMEN CAN ISSUE FATWA, ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC EXPERTS

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 27
Islamic scholars have softened their position with regard to the topic of whether competent women scholars are qualified to issue religious edicts (Fatwas) or not. "Issuing Fatwa is not restricted to men alone. Well-qualified women scholars can also do it," was the message given by the recently concluded Makkah International Conference on Fatwa and Its Regulations, Gulf News reports today.

The Fatwa Charter, which will serve as a guideline on the issuing of Fatwas, adopted by some 170 prominent Islamic scholars from around the world, does not contain any provisions that prohibit women from issuing Fatwas. It clearly explains that the scholars, who are pronouncing Fatwas must have the following conditions: "Islam, Justice, maturity, intelligence, and deep knowledge in Islamic rules." None of the 41 articles of the Charter prevents women from issuing Fatwas.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdullah Al Manie, member of the Saudi Senior Scholars Commission, said that it is permissible to incorporate women as members of the Commission and allow them to take part in bodies that pronounce Fatwas as they are like men in performing their religious obligations and responsibilities. Speaking to reporters, he said that membership in the commission is not at all a monopoly of men. "Really, I see no objection for a woman becoming a scholar or mufti or involving in any consultative bodies, provided that she should be keen in protecting her dignity and no mixing with men," he said.

Naif Al Shahri, a noted Saudi preacher, told Gulf News that it is essential that no Fatwa shall be issued by any individual scholar on a public topic effecting the interests of Muslim Ummah and its future. "In such cases, the Fatwa shall be announced by a group of scholars." The Makkah Conference highlighted the significance of Fatwa in Islam and its regulations and set the muftìs conditions and duties. The scholars also stressed moderation in Fatwa and detailed the problems facing Fatwa and its negative effects. The conference called on institutions that teach Islamic law to incorporate the basic principles and guidelines for Fatwas in their curricula, as well as to organize frequent panel discussions and meetings to familiarize scholars with the principles of the right method of issuing Fatwas and to warn against the dangers of issuing ill-prepared rulings. (ANSAmed).
2009-01-27

FRANCE: HAIRDRESSERS IN PARIS FOR VEILED WOMEN

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, FEBRUARY 19 A thick, coloured blind is cancelling out the debate in France over integration and secularism. It is hanging up in a unisex hairdresser in Suresnes on the outskirts of Paris 'to protect the modesty of Muslim women'', in other words from the indiscreet stares of men having their hair and beards trimmed on the other side of the salon. 'Room reserved for veiled women'' reads the leaflet advertising the salon in Marrakesh, which is on the ground floor of a council block, and 'for the veiled woman who does not want men to look at her, there is a corner just for her''. Four sofas have been placed in the area which takes up half the salon, where Muslim women can remove their veils and place themselves in the expert hands of the hairdressers and colourists who are also of course women.....
(ANSAmed). 2009-02-19

ITALY: (ECONOMIC) CRISIS: FOOD IS ADAPTING, HALAL SALAMI FOR MUSLIMS

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JUNE 11 From Halal salami to attract customers amongst the 1.4 million Muslims now living in Italy, to 'cow pooling' (buying beef in bulk to save money) and garden products delivered by boat through the Venetian canals. These are only a few of the young entrepreneurs' ideas to fight the economical crisis that were mentioned during the 'Oscar Green', the agricultural innovation awards sponsored by the younger members of the Italian Farmer Federation (Coldiretti), with the patronage of the President of the Republic. Winners received their awards during a ceremony in Palazzo Rospigliosi. With the number of immigrants having doubled over the last 10 years, Halal food is a market on the rise, with a 67 billion USD turnover in Europe. That is why Antonio Fernando Salis (Exporting for the Territory award) from the La Genuina di Ploaghe farm (Sassari) decided to prepare cured meats according to Halal rules (for Muslims) and Kosher rules (for Jewish), with lamb and goat meat. All products are checked and approved by an Imam and a rabbi. (ANSAmed). 2009-06-11

AFRICA

EGYPT: DOLL WITH VEIL FOR MUSLIM GIRLS

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
It has wide eyes, highlighted by brushstrokes which look like long eyebrows and long eyelashes, but the rest of the face is covered: the mouth to above the nose, from the neck of the flowered dress, and the hair is hidden under a beige scarf which crosses at the forehead and holds it under the light-coloured veil. It is a doll, made in China, to an Egyptian design and in the toy shops of Cairo at a price of 36 and 42 Egyptian pounds (around 5 euro) it is what Egyptian newspaper Al Badil (The Alternative) is talking about in its item "Islamic doll corners the market". It is sold in three versions: one with a veil and normal clothes, one with the niqab, the veil which shows only the eyes, and one in a bridal gown with a veil. But it doesn't have a name. "The sale of this doll is to get little girls used to wearing the veil, because usually girls copy the dolls they play with" said toy shopkeeper Ayman Salem. Another shopkeeper says he is proud of the Egyptian design: "the Chinese do not know our traditions so we sent them the design for our market". More than a hundred a month are imported and around half have been sold in the last six months. (ANSAmed). 2008-11-27

MOROCCO: HEALTH MINISTER, 67% MEDICINE GRADUATES ARE WOMEN

(ANSAmed) - ROMA, NOVEMBER 28. 2008
Yasmina Baddou, Moroccòs Health Minister, was proud to announce that 67% of its medicine graduates in 2007 were women. The daily 'L'Opinion' writes this, telling the story of the parliamentary questions in the Chamber of Advisors of Morocco (House of Lords). For some branches of medicine, for example nephrology, almost all graduates are women, the minister added, many of them married with children. This would obstruct the decision to accept to work in remote areas in the country, where there is a great need for medical staff however. Minster Baddou explained the problem, underlining that some medics refuse to work far from what she called the "axis Rabat-Casablanca". The minister proposes a system of shifts, so that more patients in Morocco can consult a doctor. Attempts are made to guarantee the most stubborn graduates, by contract, that they will be transferred to less peripheral regions within 12 or 24 months. (ANSAmed).2008-11-28

CALL TO THE GLOBAL UMMAH:

(ED NOTE: IS THE UMMAH THAT HELPLESS THAT IT CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO REDUCE BELOW SIGNIFICANT DISCRIMINATION ? FIVE OR TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WHETHER BELOW STATISTICS WILL INCREASE, DECREASE OR REMAIN THE SAME PARTLY DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE PREFER TO REMAIN INDIFFERENT OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ?)

3 OUT OF 4 MUSLIMS (LIVING IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES ARE) DISCRIMINATED, NOT REPORTED BY 79%

(by Paola Del Vecchio) (ANSAmed) - MADRID, MAY 28 , 2009
Three out of four Muslims living in EU countries have been the victim of racial discrimination in the past 12 months, especially at work. And that is only the tip of the iceberg, since 79%, especially young people, don't report discrimination because 63% believe it "would do no good". This data is contained in the 'Report Focus 2: Muslims', the first EU survey - 23,500 interviewed - on the experiences of immigrants and ethnic minorities regarding discrimination and racism, carried out by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and presented today by FRA director Morten Kjaerum, at the Arab House in Madrid. The interviews were carried out by Gallup Europe among groups of immigrants and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims, including North Africans, Sub-Saharans, Turks, Iraqis and Muslims from former Yugoslavia, a sample of the 13-20 million Muslims living in Europe.

"The Muslims interviewed don't think that religion or the habit to wear headscarves or Muslim clothes is the main reason for discrimination", said Iannis Dimitrakopoulos, head of the FRA Equal Opportunities and Rights Department, underlining that the data doesn't reflect the perception, rather concrete examples of discrimination.

This discrimination focuses on nine areas: when looking for a job (18%) or at work (13%); when trying to rent or buy a house (14%), in restaurants or in shops (14%) and when turning to health services or opening a bank account. Of all those interviewed, 37% have been discriminated against, and 12% have been the victim of racism.

Regarding the fact that these incidents are often not reported, Dimitrakopoulos said that it is "often caused by a sense of general resignation, as if these things are part of life. The authorities of each country are obliged to fight the problem, informing their citizens on how to report these cases, on their rights, on the laws which protect them". Eighty percent of the Muslims interviewed were in fact not aware of the existence of organisations which they can turn to for support or advice. In Spain 65% of those interviewed didn't know about anti-discriminatory legislation, against a European average of 37%. (ANSAmed). 2009-05-28

UMMAH IN PICTURES:

ELECTIONS IN IRAN:

(President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the elections in the Iranian Elections)

The four main candidates contesting the presidential election on June 12, 2009. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was defiant Wednesday in the face of mounting criticism of his vitriolic attacks on his political rivals, unleashing a new tirade in his last campaign appearance. (AFP Graphic/Sophie Ramis)

Iranian women stand in line to cast their votes at Masoumeh shrine in Qum, about 120 kms south of Tehran, Friday, June 12, 2009. Iranians voted Friday on whether to keep hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for four more years or replace him with a reformist more open to loosening the country's Islamic restrictions and improving ties with the United States. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Iranian women stand in line to cast their votes at Masoumeh shrine in Qum, about 120 kms south of Tehran, Friday, June 12, 2009. Iranians voted Friday on whether to keep hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for four more years or replace him with a reformist more open to loosening the country's Islamic restrictions and improving ties with the United States. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

An Iranian groom and his bride arrive at a polling station to vote for the presidential elections in downtown Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 12, 2009. Iranians packed polling stations from boutique-lined streets in north Tehran to conservative bastions in the countryside Friday with a choice that's left the nation divided and on edge: keeping hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power or electing a reformist who favors greater freedoms and improved ties with the United States. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A supporter with a picture of former Parliament speaker and Iran's upcoming presidential election candidate Mehdi Karroubi, attends an election campaign at a stadium in Tehran, May 29, 2009. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/Files

Iranian women hold prayer beads and registration cards as they line-up to vote in Qom. Voters began queuing from dawn for Iran's crucial presidential election, eager to have their say in bringing about change or ensuring more of the same in the Islamic republic. (AFP/Amir Hesami)

An Iranian girl holds a passport as she waits with women wearing black chadors to cast their ballots at the shrine of Hazrat-e Massoumeh, granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad in the city of Qom 120 km (75 miles) south of Tehran June 12, 2009. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Iranian women wait in line to cast their votes for the presidential election, inside the Ershad mosque in northeastern Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 12, 2009. Iranians packed polling stations from boutique-lined streets in north Tehran to conservative bastions in the countryside Friday, with a choice that's left the nation divided and on edge: keeping hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power or electing a reformist who favors greater freedoms and improved ties with the United States. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

An Iranian woman talks on her mobile phone as another adjusts her hijab, as they wait in line with others to cast their votes for the presidential election, inside the Ershad mosque in northeastern Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

KASHMIR, INDIA
(All photoes from yahoo.news/photos)

Masked Kashmiri protestors shout pro-freedom slogans in Srinagar on June 6. Indian police Sunday arrested a hardline Kashmiri separatist for encouraging week-long protests over the alleged rape and murder of two Muslim women. (AFP/Rouf Bhat)

Activists of Muslim Khawateen Markaz scuffle with policewomen as they shout anti-Indian and anti-government slogans during a protest in Srinagar on June 8. Indian police stepped up security in Kashmir Monday and detained more separatists to try and prevent fresh protests over the alleged rape and murder of two Muslim women by security forces. (AFP/Tauseef Mustafa)

Kashmiri government employees shout slogans during a protest in Srinagar. India's home minister on Thursday demanded security personnel in Indian Kashmir respect human rights, officials said, amid accusations they raped and murdered two Muslim women. (AFP/Tauseef Mustafa)

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