VOICE OF THE GLOBAL UMMAH
Volume 113, January 12, 2010
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Editors: Haji Mohamed & Hajira Rashida Ziauddin
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
CONTENTS: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Editors: Haji Mohamed & Hajira Rashida Ziauddin
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
(1) ZamZam Water: Scientific Research Findings
(2) Global Ummah congratulates Dubai's movers and shakers for its global symbolic icon - 'Burj Khalifa' - World's tallest building
(3) Muslim Leaders of the Western World: Who's Who: Sadiq Khan named as one of top influential politicians
(4) Attack on Canada, U.S. is attack on Muslims: Imams
(2) Global Ummah congratulates Dubai's movers and shakers for its global symbolic icon - 'Burj Khalifa' - World's tallest building
(3) Muslim Leaders of the Western World: Who's Who: Sadiq Khan named as one of top influential politicians
(4) Attack on Canada, U.S. is attack on Muslims: Imams
MUSLIMA'S CORNER:
(I) NORTH AMERICA:
UNITED STATES:
(a) Women's Role of Islam Found in Quran
(b) Muslim Women Embrace Sorority: AJC
(II) EUROPE:
(a) UNITED KINGDOM:
(1) Young Muslim women mobilise Islington to Kick Islamophobia
(2) Alex Scott launches Muslim Women's Sport Project
(b) BELGIUM:
Belgium: Muslim Woman Fined for Wearing Burka in Public
(I) NORTH AMERICA:
UNITED STATES:
(a) Women's Role of Islam Found in Quran
(b) Muslim Women Embrace Sorority: AJC
(II) EUROPE:
(a) UNITED KINGDOM:
(1) Young Muslim women mobilise Islington to Kick Islamophobia
(2) Alex Scott launches Muslim Women's Sport Project
(b) BELGIUM:
Belgium: Muslim Woman Fined for Wearing Burka in Public
(III) ASIA:
(a) SHOULD THE UMMAH ENDORSE OR OPPOSE THE MORALITY POLICE: Unmarried Muslims face jail for hotel liaisons
(b) SHOULD THE UMMAH BE GLAD THAT: Miss Palestine Pageant was canceled.
(IV) AFRICA:
(a) UGANDA: Female Genital Mutilation Banned
(b) EGYPT: 17 nation Conference on Sexual Harassment.
(V) DIVERSITY OF THE MUSLIMA'S PROFESSION (in photos)
(VI) THE UGLY FACE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
(a) SHOULD THE UMMAH ENDORSE OR OPPOSE THE MORALITY POLICE: Unmarried Muslims face jail for hotel liaisons
(b) SHOULD THE UMMAH BE GLAD THAT: Miss Palestine Pageant was canceled.
(IV) AFRICA:
(a) UGANDA: Female Genital Mutilation Banned
(b) EGYPT: 17 nation Conference on Sexual Harassment.
(V) DIVERSITY OF THE MUSLIMA'S PROFESSION (in photos)
(VI) THE UGLY FACE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ZAM-ZAM WATER: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FINDINGS
Special thanks to Brother Sameer Qureishi from Los Angeles, California for forwarding below excellent article: Research by Tariq Hussain, Riyadh, By MOINUDDIN AHMED
Come the Hajj season, and I am reminded of the wonders of Zamzam water. Let me go back to how it all started. In 1971, an Egyptian doctor wrote to the European press, a letter saying that Zamzam water was not fit for drinking purposes. I immediately thought that this was just a form of prejudice against the Muslims and that since his statement was based on the assumption that since the Ka'aba was a shallow place (below sea level) and located in the center of the city of Makkah, the wastewater of the city collecting through the drains fell into the well holding the water.
Fortunately, the news came to King Faisal's ears who got extremely angry and decided to disprove the Egyptian doctor's provocative statement. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate and send samples of Zamzam water to European laboratories for testing the portability of the water. The ministry then instructed the Jeddah Power and Desalination Plants to carry out this task.
It was here that I was employed as a desalting engineer (chemical engineer to produce drinking water from sea water). I was chosen to carry out this assignment. At this stage, I remember that I had no idea what the well holding the water looked like. I went to Makkah and reported to the authorities at the Ka'aba explaining my purpose of visit. They deputed a man to give me whatever help was required. When we reached the well, it was hard for me to believe that a pool of water, more like a small pond, about 18 by 14 feet, was the well that supplied millions of gallons of water every year to hajis ever since it came into existence at the time of Hazrat Ibrahim (alayhi salam) many, many centuries ago. I started my investigations and took the dimensions of the well.
I asked the man to show me the depth of the well. First he took a shower and descended into the water. Then he straightened his body. I saw that the water level came up to just above his shoulders. His height was around five feet, eight inches. He then started moving from one corner to the other in the well (standing all the while since he was not allowed to dip his head into the water) in search of any inlet or pipeline inside the well to see from where the water came in. However, the man reported that he could not find any inlet or pipeline inside the well. I thought of another idea.
The water could be withdrawn rapidly with the help of a big transfer pump which was installed at the well for the Zamzam water storage tanks. In this way, the water level would drop enabling us to locate the point of entry of the water. Surprisingly, nothing was observed during the pumping period, but I knew that this was the only method by which you could find the entrance of the water to the well. So I decided to repeat the process. But this time I instructed the man to stand still at one place and carefully observe any unusual thing happening inside the well.
After a while, he suddenly raised his hands and shouted, "Alhamdullillah! I have found it. The sand is dancing beneath my feet as the water oozes out of the bed of the well." Then he moved around the well during the pumping period and noticed the same phenomenon everywhere in the well. Actually the flow of water into the well through the bed was equal at every point, thus keeping the level of the water steady. After I finished my observations I took the samples of the water for European laboratories to test. Before I left the Ka'aba Sharief, I asked the authorities about the other wells around Makkah. I was told that these wells were mostly dry.
When I reached my office in Jeddah. I reported my findings to my boss who listened with great interest but made a very irrational comment that the Zamzam well could be internally connected to the Red Sea. How was it possible when Makkah is about 75 kilometres away from the sea and the wells located before the city usually remains dry? The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories and the one We analyzed in our own laboratory were found to be almost identical. CALCUIM & MAGNESUIM IN ZAM ZAM WATER: The difference between Zamzam water and other water (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these was slightly higher in Zamzam water.
This may be why this water refreshes tired hajis. FLOURIDE IN ZAMZAM WATER: But more significantly, the water contains fluorides that have an effective germicidal action. Moreover, the remarks of the European laboratories showed that the water was fit for drinking. Hence the statement made by the Egyptian doctor was proved false. When this was reported to King Faisal he was extremely pleased and ordered the contradiction of the report in the European Press. In a way, it was a blessing that this study was undertaken to show the chemical composition of the water. In fact, the more you explore, the more wonders surface and you find yourself believing implicitly in the miracles of this water that Allah Ta'ala bestowed as a gift on the faithful coming from far and wide to the desert land for pilgrimage.
Let me sum up some of the features of Zamzam water: · Never Dried Up: This well has never dried up. On the contrary it has always fulfilled the demand for water. · Same Salt composition: It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence. · Portability: Its portability has always been universally recognized as pilgrims from all over the world visit Ka'aba every year for Hajj and umrah, but have never complained about it. Instead, they have always enjoyed the water that refreshes them. · Universal taste: Water tastes different at different places.
Zamzam water's appeal has always been universal. · No Biological Growth: This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities.Biological growth and vegetation usually takes place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odour problems. But in the case of the Zamzam water well, there wasn't any sign of biological growth.
Centuries ago, Bibi Hajra (alayhi salam) searched desperately for water in the hills of Saffa and Marwa to give to her newly born son Hazrat Ismail (alayhi salam) As she ran from one place to another in search of water, her child rubbed his feet against the sand. A pool of water surfaced, and by the grace of Allah Ta'ala, shaped itself into a well which came to be called Zamzam water. {May we appreciate and utilize this great Ni'mah of Allah Ta'ala} Research by Tariq Hussain, Riyadh, By MOINUDDIN AHMED
Fortunately, the news came to King Faisal's ears who got extremely angry and decided to disprove the Egyptian doctor's provocative statement. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate and send samples of Zamzam water to European laboratories for testing the portability of the water. The ministry then instructed the Jeddah Power and Desalination Plants to carry out this task.
It was here that I was employed as a desalting engineer (chemical engineer to produce drinking water from sea water). I was chosen to carry out this assignment. At this stage, I remember that I had no idea what the well holding the water looked like. I went to Makkah and reported to the authorities at the Ka'aba explaining my purpose of visit. They deputed a man to give me whatever help was required. When we reached the well, it was hard for me to believe that a pool of water, more like a small pond, about 18 by 14 feet, was the well that supplied millions of gallons of water every year to hajis ever since it came into existence at the time of Hazrat Ibrahim (alayhi salam) many, many centuries ago. I started my investigations and took the dimensions of the well.
I asked the man to show me the depth of the well. First he took a shower and descended into the water. Then he straightened his body. I saw that the water level came up to just above his shoulders. His height was around five feet, eight inches. He then started moving from one corner to the other in the well (standing all the while since he was not allowed to dip his head into the water) in search of any inlet or pipeline inside the well to see from where the water came in. However, the man reported that he could not find any inlet or pipeline inside the well. I thought of another idea.
The water could be withdrawn rapidly with the help of a big transfer pump which was installed at the well for the Zamzam water storage tanks. In this way, the water level would drop enabling us to locate the point of entry of the water. Surprisingly, nothing was observed during the pumping period, but I knew that this was the only method by which you could find the entrance of the water to the well. So I decided to repeat the process. But this time I instructed the man to stand still at one place and carefully observe any unusual thing happening inside the well.
After a while, he suddenly raised his hands and shouted, "Alhamdullillah! I have found it. The sand is dancing beneath my feet as the water oozes out of the bed of the well." Then he moved around the well during the pumping period and noticed the same phenomenon everywhere in the well. Actually the flow of water into the well through the bed was equal at every point, thus keeping the level of the water steady. After I finished my observations I took the samples of the water for European laboratories to test. Before I left the Ka'aba Sharief, I asked the authorities about the other wells around Makkah. I was told that these wells were mostly dry.
When I reached my office in Jeddah. I reported my findings to my boss who listened with great interest but made a very irrational comment that the Zamzam well could be internally connected to the Red Sea. How was it possible when Makkah is about 75 kilometres away from the sea and the wells located before the city usually remains dry? The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories and the one We analyzed in our own laboratory were found to be almost identical. CALCUIM & MAGNESUIM IN ZAM ZAM WATER: The difference between Zamzam water and other water (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these was slightly higher in Zamzam water.
This may be why this water refreshes tired hajis. FLOURIDE IN ZAMZAM WATER: But more significantly, the water contains fluorides that have an effective germicidal action. Moreover, the remarks of the European laboratories showed that the water was fit for drinking. Hence the statement made by the Egyptian doctor was proved false. When this was reported to King Faisal he was extremely pleased and ordered the contradiction of the report in the European Press. In a way, it was a blessing that this study was undertaken to show the chemical composition of the water. In fact, the more you explore, the more wonders surface and you find yourself believing implicitly in the miracles of this water that Allah Ta'ala bestowed as a gift on the faithful coming from far and wide to the desert land for pilgrimage.
Let me sum up some of the features of Zamzam water: · Never Dried Up: This well has never dried up. On the contrary it has always fulfilled the demand for water. · Same Salt composition: It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence. · Portability: Its portability has always been universally recognized as pilgrims from all over the world visit Ka'aba every year for Hajj and umrah, but have never complained about it. Instead, they have always enjoyed the water that refreshes them. · Universal taste: Water tastes different at different places.
Zamzam water's appeal has always been universal. · No Biological Growth: This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities.Biological growth and vegetation usually takes place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odour problems. But in the case of the Zamzam water well, there wasn't any sign of biological growth.
Centuries ago, Bibi Hajra (alayhi salam) searched desperately for water in the hills of Saffa and Marwa to give to her newly born son Hazrat Ismail (alayhi salam) As she ran from one place to another in search of water, her child rubbed his feet against the sand. A pool of water surfaced, and by the grace of Allah Ta'ala, shaped itself into a well which came to be called Zamzam water. {May we appreciate and utilize this great Ni'mah of Allah Ta'ala} Research by Tariq Hussain, Riyadh, By MOINUDDIN AHMED
(2) GLOBAL UMMAH CONGRATULATES DUBAI'S MOVERS AND SHAKERS FOR ITS GLOBAL SYMBOLIC ICON -
'BURJ KHALIFA' - WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING
'Burj Khalifa'
'BURJ KHALIFA' - WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING
Special thanks to Jabeen Mobashshera from Los Angeles, California for forwarding below information with pictures:
'Burj Khalifa'
Dubai, UAE; January 4, 2010:
The world's tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled tonight to a crowd of thousands and the world in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays. The official height of the tower, unveiled as 'Burj Khalifa', was announced as 828 metres (2,716.5 ft). A closely guarded secret, the official height of Burj Khalifa was flashed onto a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000, as lasers and fireworks lit up the night sky. Fireworks cascaded from the tower's spire to the base and lasers blazed out from all levels leaving the crowds awestruck.
(Yahoo.news.photos.com)
The height was disclosed in arithmetic progression, with the numbers being flashed onto the screen, one after another. The tower's height breaks all existing world records for tall buildings. Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The CTBUH ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on ‘Height to Architectural Top,’ ‘Height to Highest Occupied Floor’ and ‘Height to Tip.’ At 828 metres (2,716.5ft), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101, which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) had held the record for the world’s tallest building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was announced.
Burj Khalifa achieved the distinction of being the world's tallest structure – surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in North Dakota, USA – 1,325 days after excavation work started in January 2004. The tower also beats the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres (1,815.5 ft) had been the world’s tallest free-standing structure on land since 1976. Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 metric tonnes of steel rebar and 142,000 square metres of glass; and it took 22 million man hours to build.
Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the world, at over 550 metres (1,800 ft); the highest outdoor observation deck in the world – At the Top on Level 124; and the tallest service elevator, which travels to a height of 504 metres (1,654 ft). Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that with the unveiling of the final height of Burj Khalifa, the world now had a new reference point for high-rise developments. “Burj Khalifa is an example of collaboration on a global scale, and the tremendous positive energy that can be generated when people from all over the world come together to work towards a common goal.
Thousands of professionals and skilled workers from around the world worked on this once-in-a-lifetime project.” “More than 60 of the world’s leading consultants including South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realised the design for Burj Khalifa of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM),” he said. Burj Khalifa employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods. All design considerations took into account the 12,000 people who will live and work in the tower.
The handover to residents of the various components of Burj Khalifa will begin in February. With a total built-up area of about 6 million sq ft, Burj Khalifa features nearly 2 million sq ft of residential space and over 300,000 sq ft of prime office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly awaited Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities, gourmet restaurants and the 124th floor observation deck, 'At the Top.' Burj Khalifa is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar Properties, described as the new heart of Dubai.
The world's tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled tonight to a crowd of thousands and the world in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays. The official height of the tower, unveiled as 'Burj Khalifa', was announced as 828 metres (2,716.5 ft). A closely guarded secret, the official height of Burj Khalifa was flashed onto a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000, as lasers and fireworks lit up the night sky. Fireworks cascaded from the tower's spire to the base and lasers blazed out from all levels leaving the crowds awestruck.
(Yahoo.news.photos.com)The height was disclosed in arithmetic progression, with the numbers being flashed onto the screen, one after another. The tower's height breaks all existing world records for tall buildings. Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The CTBUH ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on ‘Height to Architectural Top,’ ‘Height to Highest Occupied Floor’ and ‘Height to Tip.’ At 828 metres (2,716.5ft), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101, which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) had held the record for the world’s tallest building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was announced.
Burj Khalifa achieved the distinction of being the world's tallest structure – surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in North Dakota, USA – 1,325 days after excavation work started in January 2004. The tower also beats the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres (1,815.5 ft) had been the world’s tallest free-standing structure on land since 1976. Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 metric tonnes of steel rebar and 142,000 square metres of glass; and it took 22 million man hours to build.
Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the world, at over 550 metres (1,800 ft); the highest outdoor observation deck in the world – At the Top on Level 124; and the tallest service elevator, which travels to a height of 504 metres (1,654 ft). Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that with the unveiling of the final height of Burj Khalifa, the world now had a new reference point for high-rise developments. “Burj Khalifa is an example of collaboration on a global scale, and the tremendous positive energy that can be generated when people from all over the world come together to work towards a common goal.
Thousands of professionals and skilled workers from around the world worked on this once-in-a-lifetime project.” “More than 60 of the world’s leading consultants including South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realised the design for Burj Khalifa of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM),” he said. Burj Khalifa employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods. All design considerations took into account the 12,000 people who will live and work in the tower.
The handover to residents of the various components of Burj Khalifa will begin in February. With a total built-up area of about 6 million sq ft, Burj Khalifa features nearly 2 million sq ft of residential space and over 300,000 sq ft of prime office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly awaited Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities, gourmet restaurants and the 124th floor observation deck, 'At the Top.' Burj Khalifa is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar Properties, described as the new heart of Dubai.
(3) MUSLIM LEADERS OF WESTERN WORLD:
Who's Who
Who's Who
(a) Sadiq Khan named as one of top influential politicians in UK
Nov 27, 2009
Nov 27, 2009
By Aasiya I Versi
Sadiq Khan, MP, was named as one of the most influential politicians in London in a series of lists compiled by the Evening Standard. The description in the paper reads: "The first Muslim privy counsellor attends Cabinet regularly and is increasingly making an impact.?
Responding to his nomination, Khan told The Muslim News, that it was "an honour to be on this list. British Muslims are part and parcel of British life. The fact that we now rank as some of the most influential Londoners is a testament to the progress that has been made".
Khan is the son of bus driver grew up in a council flat and went on to studying Law at the University of North London. He trained as a Human rights solicitor and went on to set up the Christian Khan Law firm. His accomplishments as a lawyer include chairing Liberty and Vice Chair of Legal Action Group.
In 2005 he was voted in as an MP of Tooting. He was further promoted in 2009 becoming the first Muslim minister and to attend the cabinet. He was also the first MP in history to announce his selection as Minister of Transport on Twitter. Khan said, "If any doubt remained as to whether Islam and Britishness are compatible, this recognition of the integral role we play in shaping our country's future should banish it for good"? Sadiq Khan is not the only Muslim listed on the influential politicians list. Further down the list Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, is listed as the 29th most influential politician.
Sadiq Khan, MP, was named as one of the most influential politicians in London in a series of lists compiled by the Evening Standard. The description in the paper reads: "The first Muslim privy counsellor attends Cabinet regularly and is increasingly making an impact.?
Responding to his nomination, Khan told The Muslim News, that it was "an honour to be on this list. British Muslims are part and parcel of British life. The fact that we now rank as some of the most influential Londoners is a testament to the progress that has been made".
Khan is the son of bus driver grew up in a council flat and went on to studying Law at the University of North London. He trained as a Human rights solicitor and went on to set up the Christian Khan Law firm. His accomplishments as a lawyer include chairing Liberty and Vice Chair of Legal Action Group.
In 2005 he was voted in as an MP of Tooting. He was further promoted in 2009 becoming the first Muslim minister and to attend the cabinet. He was also the first MP in history to announce his selection as Minister of Transport on Twitter. Khan said, "If any doubt remained as to whether Islam and Britishness are compatible, this recognition of the integral role we play in shaping our country's future should banish it for good"? Sadiq Khan is not the only Muslim listed on the influential politicians list. Further down the list Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, is listed as the 29th most influential politician.
(4) Attack on Canada, U.S. is attack on Muslims: Imams
Saturday, January 9, 2010 CBC News
Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy said attacks on Canadian or American soil are essentially attacks on Muslims. (Larry MacDougal/Canadian Press)
A group of Canadian and U.S. Islamic leaders on Friday issued a fatwa, or religious edict, declaring that an attack by extremists on the two countries would constitute an attack on the 10 million Muslims living in North America. The 20 imams associated with the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada said this marked the first fatwa by the Muslim clergy declaring attacks on Canada and the U.S. to be attacks on Muslims.
"In our view, these attacks are evil, and Islam requires Muslims to stand up against this evil," the imams said in their fatwa. Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy, founder of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, said attacks on Canadian or U.S. soil are essentially attacks on Muslims. "We are part of this society," he said. "This is my home, and if anybody attacks on Canada, in fact, attacks on my home." The imams said it is a duty of every Muslim in Canada and the U.S. to safeguard the two countries.
"They must expose any person, Muslim or non-Muslim, who would cause harm to fellow Canadians or Americans," they said. "It is religious obligation upon Muslims, based upon the Qur'anic teachings, that we have to be loyal to the country where we live," said Soharwardy. "We have no problems in Canada; we can practise our religion freely." In Montreal, one of the signatories of the edict, Imam Nasir Qadri of the Anwar Musallah Mosque, said he spoke to his followers at his mosque about the issue Friday. Most of them call Canada home and feel personally threatened by the attempted attacks, he said. The 20 imams who signed the fatwa come from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Houston.
"In our view, these attacks are evil, and Islam requires Muslims to stand up against this evil," the imams said in their fatwa. Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy, founder of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, said attacks on Canadian or U.S. soil are essentially attacks on Muslims. "We are part of this society," he said. "This is my home, and if anybody attacks on Canada, in fact, attacks on my home." The imams said it is a duty of every Muslim in Canada and the U.S. to safeguard the two countries.
"They must expose any person, Muslim or non-Muslim, who would cause harm to fellow Canadians or Americans," they said. "It is religious obligation upon Muslims, based upon the Qur'anic teachings, that we have to be loyal to the country where we live," said Soharwardy. "We have no problems in Canada; we can practise our religion freely." In Montreal, one of the signatories of the edict, Imam Nasir Qadri of the Anwar Musallah Mosque, said he spoke to his followers at his mosque about the issue Friday. Most of them call Canada home and feel personally threatened by the attempted attacks, he said. The 20 imams who signed the fatwa come from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Houston.
MUSLIMA'S CORNER:
(yahoo.news.photos)
LONG LIVE THE MUSLIMA
(a)"Women are the twin halves of men"
(b) "THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN ARE SACRED".
(c) "Adopt a way of living and dealing with people that they may feel absolutely certain that even if the whole world might harm them, this man (whom one has put their trust) will never cause them loss".
(d) "The best among you is he from whom good is expected and no evil is apprehended from his side (that is, the people are convinced that this man will not cause any harm". (Tirmizi, Baihaqi)
Prophet Mohamed (SAW) stated:
(a)"Women are the twin halves of men"
(b) "THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN ARE SACRED".
(c) "Adopt a way of living and dealing with people that they may feel absolutely certain that even if the whole world might harm them, this man (whom one has put their trust) will never cause them loss".
(d) "The best among you is he from whom good is expected and no evil is apprehended from his side (that is, the people are convinced that this man will not cause any harm". (Tirmizi, Baihaqi)
(livescience.com)
(I) NORTH AMERICA:
UNITED STATES:
UNITED STATES:
(a) Women's Role of Islam found in Quran
BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
JAN 12, 2009
Women's role of Islam found in Quran
By Marwa Elkelani
Special to the NEWS (Condensed version)
...As I flip through CNN channels and watch different documentaries, I can’t help but cringe and become mortified by the sights of Muslim women in Afghanistan and other areas of the Middle East who are either sprawled on the floor begging for food and money, abused by their husbands, uneducated, illiterate, oppressed, and subjected to humiliation and degradation.
Islam, of course, is then blamed for all of this. The widespread misconception in the West is that women have no rights in Islam and are nothing but mere objects. Sadly, there is lack of awareness within some Muslim communities, as well. Many Muslims themselves, men and women, are still bound by the confines of traditions, rather than Islamic values.
This is evident in countries in which women aren’t allowed to receive an education, drive, work or voice their opinions. It is in these countries that traditional practices, instead of Islamic principles, continue to represent the model behavior. This is abhorrent and can impose a heavy burden on women.
It also, unfortunately, only perpetuates the inaccurate stereotypes and misconceptions. Thus, it is urgent to differentiate between traditional cultural practices and the religion of Islam. What many people, even some Muslims, are unaware of is the considerable number of rights Islam has awarded women. It also may astonish people to learn that 14 centuries ago, Islam granted women all the rights that the West has only recently acknowledged.
In order to thoroughly understand these teachings of Islam regarding women, one must turn to the words of God and the Muslim holy book, the Quran, which highly stresses the principle of equality between men and women. God emphasizes that the only criterion for judging people is not their gender, race or color, but rather, only piety.
He states: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has piety” (49:13). There are numerous other Quranic verses proving that Islam treats males and females on the basis of equality regarding their religious duties, responsibilities and reward, such as: “If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them” (4:124). In regards to specific rights for women mentioned in the Quran, I cannot even come close to covering them all in one article.
However, there are some grave misconceptions that have always disturbed me, so I feel the immediate urge to cover those particular ones. One common misconception is that Muslim women have no rights when it comes to marriage. In Islam, a Muslim woman has the full right to choose her husband. There is no such thing as an “arranged marriage” — her approval of the marriage and of the groom is a must. Her free, unforced consent, as a matter of fact, is an essential condition for the validity of the marriage contract.
Moreover, marriage in Islam is not the sale of a bride to her husband. On the contrary, in Islam, the bride is dignified and it is the groom who must present her with a dowry, as a sign of respect toward her. The payment of the dowry by the husband is an admission of his wife’s independence, for she becomes the owner of it immediately upon her marriage and retains this marriage gift even if she later becomes divorced.
Furthermore, contrary to common misconceptions, women in Islam are accorded full rights to knowledge and education just as men are. It is actually incumbent upon all Muslims, male and female, to seek knowledge. One of the aims of acquiring this knowledge is to be more God-conscious and to increase the welfare of the community. Islam honors women and thus, they are encouraged to become educated in order to help them develop their character. Education is also significant because it helps women become more capable and efficient mothers who will accordingly be able to play their roles in raising strong, well-educated generations to come.
Islam additionally encourages women to pursue their own careers, if they so choose, as long as the woman’s integrity is safeguarded and she fulfills her primary obligations toward her husband and children (if married). Islam further dignifies a woman by arranging for her to be maintained always and financially supported by her closest male guardian (father, brother, husband, etc). So, going out to work is a choice and not an obligation, as the man is the financial head of the household. This specifically means the man is responsible before God for the welfare and protection of his family.
Therefore, even if the woman does work, her right to her own money, real estate or other properties is fully acknowledged. As women, we have total economic independence and have the right to own, buy or sell property, and invest or donate our money without our husband’s approval or permission. Lastly, Islam gives women many more rights, which are covered in the Quran. I truly feel honored, proud, and fortunate to be a Muslim woman and have the blessing of Islam in my life.
I implore Muslims and non-Muslims alike to turn to the primary sources of Islam to learn the truth about the roles, duties and rights of women in Islam. Only then, will the ill-founded misconceptions, stereotypes and practices dissipate. Marwa Elkelani, who has her Master’s Degree in TESL/Linguistics from Oklahoma State University and teaches at the Intensive English Institute at the University of Maine, resides in Brewer with her husband and three young child
BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
JAN 12, 2009
Women's role of Islam found in Quran
By Marwa Elkelani
Special to the NEWS (Condensed version)
...As I flip through CNN channels and watch different documentaries, I can’t help but cringe and become mortified by the sights of Muslim women in Afghanistan and other areas of the Middle East who are either sprawled on the floor begging for food and money, abused by their husbands, uneducated, illiterate, oppressed, and subjected to humiliation and degradation.
Islam, of course, is then blamed for all of this. The widespread misconception in the West is that women have no rights in Islam and are nothing but mere objects. Sadly, there is lack of awareness within some Muslim communities, as well. Many Muslims themselves, men and women, are still bound by the confines of traditions, rather than Islamic values.
This is evident in countries in which women aren’t allowed to receive an education, drive, work or voice their opinions. It is in these countries that traditional practices, instead of Islamic principles, continue to represent the model behavior. This is abhorrent and can impose a heavy burden on women.
It also, unfortunately, only perpetuates the inaccurate stereotypes and misconceptions. Thus, it is urgent to differentiate between traditional cultural practices and the religion of Islam. What many people, even some Muslims, are unaware of is the considerable number of rights Islam has awarded women. It also may astonish people to learn that 14 centuries ago, Islam granted women all the rights that the West has only recently acknowledged.
In order to thoroughly understand these teachings of Islam regarding women, one must turn to the words of God and the Muslim holy book, the Quran, which highly stresses the principle of equality between men and women. God emphasizes that the only criterion for judging people is not their gender, race or color, but rather, only piety.
He states: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has piety” (49:13). There are numerous other Quranic verses proving that Islam treats males and females on the basis of equality regarding their religious duties, responsibilities and reward, such as: “If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them” (4:124). In regards to specific rights for women mentioned in the Quran, I cannot even come close to covering them all in one article.
However, there are some grave misconceptions that have always disturbed me, so I feel the immediate urge to cover those particular ones. One common misconception is that Muslim women have no rights when it comes to marriage. In Islam, a Muslim woman has the full right to choose her husband. There is no such thing as an “arranged marriage” — her approval of the marriage and of the groom is a must. Her free, unforced consent, as a matter of fact, is an essential condition for the validity of the marriage contract.
Moreover, marriage in Islam is not the sale of a bride to her husband. On the contrary, in Islam, the bride is dignified and it is the groom who must present her with a dowry, as a sign of respect toward her. The payment of the dowry by the husband is an admission of his wife’s independence, for she becomes the owner of it immediately upon her marriage and retains this marriage gift even if she later becomes divorced.
Furthermore, contrary to common misconceptions, women in Islam are accorded full rights to knowledge and education just as men are. It is actually incumbent upon all Muslims, male and female, to seek knowledge. One of the aims of acquiring this knowledge is to be more God-conscious and to increase the welfare of the community. Islam honors women and thus, they are encouraged to become educated in order to help them develop their character. Education is also significant because it helps women become more capable and efficient mothers who will accordingly be able to play their roles in raising strong, well-educated generations to come.
Islam additionally encourages women to pursue their own careers, if they so choose, as long as the woman’s integrity is safeguarded and she fulfills her primary obligations toward her husband and children (if married). Islam further dignifies a woman by arranging for her to be maintained always and financially supported by her closest male guardian (father, brother, husband, etc). So, going out to work is a choice and not an obligation, as the man is the financial head of the household. This specifically means the man is responsible before God for the welfare and protection of his family.
Therefore, even if the woman does work, her right to her own money, real estate or other properties is fully acknowledged. As women, we have total economic independence and have the right to own, buy or sell property, and invest or donate our money without our husband’s approval or permission. Lastly, Islam gives women many more rights, which are covered in the Quran. I truly feel honored, proud, and fortunate to be a Muslim woman and have the blessing of Islam in my life.
I implore Muslims and non-Muslims alike to turn to the primary sources of Islam to learn the truth about the roles, duties and rights of women in Islam. Only then, will the ill-founded misconceptions, stereotypes and practices dissipate. Marwa Elkelani, who has her Master’s Degree in TESL/Linguistics from Oklahoma State University and teaches at the Intensive English Institute at the University of Maine, resides in Brewer with her husband and three young child
(b) Muslim Women Embrace Sorority: AJC
MUSLIM WOMEN EMBRACE SORORITY:
AJC Lifestyle .
January 11, 2010
Gamma Gamma Chi is first in country for followers of Islam. Members bond, hold fast to their beliefs.
By Laura Diamond
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The women who belong to Atlanta’s Gamma Gamma Chi sorority volunteer and participate in fund-raising activities across the metro area. They hang out and go to restaurants, movies, museums and cultural exhibits in town. But the sisters won’t participate in some stereotypical components of Greek life — no drinking, partying or hooking up with men.
That’s because Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority Inc. is the country’s first Islamic-based sorority. The sorority allows Muslim women to participate in a widespread college tradition without abandoning their faith and values. Many Muslim women do belong to sororities on college campuses across Georgia and the country, but leaders with Gamma Gamma Chi said it provides another option. “As Muslims, certain things that go on in sororities and fraternities are not allowed,” said Wakilat Kasumu, president of the Atlanta chapter and a Spelman graduate. “We still do volunteer work and socialize with one another. Yes, we are Muslim, but we still have fun.”
The sorority started in 2005 and has five chapters in the areas surrounding Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, and the national headquarters in Alexandria, Va. Each chapter is regional rather than school-based and pulls from multiple colleges. Atlanta’s members have attended Spelman, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Perimeter College and other institutions. The Atlanta chapter has seven members — two are students at Clark Atlanta; the others are graduate students and professional adults. College students have long found different ways to have a piece of Greek life.
Fraternities and sororities have been formed around different groups, including students who are Hispanic, African-American or Jewish. Like most others, Gamma Gamma Chi is open to all women, including non-Muslims. The sorority originated with a mother-daughter team after the daughter struggled to find a sorority where the practices didn’t go against her faith. They merged a sorority’s traditional values of volunteering, leadership and friendship with a way to promote and improve the image of Islam and Muslim women. They also wanted Muslim women to have the opportunity to build the lifelong bonds that develop among sorority sisters.
Chapters observe Islam’s holy days and other practices. The emphasis on volunteering and leadership makes Muslim women visible in the community, said Rasheeda Salaam, Vice President of the Atlanta chapter and a Board Member for the National Association. “We want people to know who we are and that we are an active part of the Atlanta community,” Salaam said. Photos from chapters show women wearing jeans and sweat shirts bearing the sorority’s Greek letters. Some women wear their hair loose; others wrap scarves around their heads. The group’s motto explains that members will honor Allah through “sisterhood, scholarship, leadership and community service.”
The sorority’s colors are lavender (meaning peace), green (Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) favorite color) and gold (representing true treasure), Kasumu said. Their flower is the lily because of its ability to grow and bloom no matter how challenging its surroundings, she said. The sorority is working to increase public awareness and add chapters across the country. Salaam said people often stop her when they see her wearing a sweat shirt with the group’s Greek letters, wanting to get more information. Kasumu, who is from Nigeria, said her family didn’t understand at first why she joined a sorority. “I explained that I’m hanging out with people who allow me to be myself,” she said. She remembered one night when they all went roller skating — something she had never tried before. “I fell down, but they were there to pick me back up,” Kasumu said. “That’s what is so special. We support one another and have fun.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The women who belong to Atlanta’s Gamma Gamma Chi sorority volunteer and participate in fund-raising activities across the metro area. They hang out and go to restaurants, movies, museums and cultural exhibits in town. But the sisters won’t participate in some stereotypical components of Greek life — no drinking, partying or hooking up with men.
That’s because Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority Inc. is the country’s first Islamic-based sorority. The sorority allows Muslim women to participate in a widespread college tradition without abandoning their faith and values. Many Muslim women do belong to sororities on college campuses across Georgia and the country, but leaders with Gamma Gamma Chi said it provides another option. “As Muslims, certain things that go on in sororities and fraternities are not allowed,” said Wakilat Kasumu, president of the Atlanta chapter and a Spelman graduate. “We still do volunteer work and socialize with one another. Yes, we are Muslim, but we still have fun.”
The sorority started in 2005 and has five chapters in the areas surrounding Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, and the national headquarters in Alexandria, Va. Each chapter is regional rather than school-based and pulls from multiple colleges. Atlanta’s members have attended Spelman, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Perimeter College and other institutions. The Atlanta chapter has seven members — two are students at Clark Atlanta; the others are graduate students and professional adults. College students have long found different ways to have a piece of Greek life.
Fraternities and sororities have been formed around different groups, including students who are Hispanic, African-American or Jewish. Like most others, Gamma Gamma Chi is open to all women, including non-Muslims. The sorority originated with a mother-daughter team after the daughter struggled to find a sorority where the practices didn’t go against her faith. They merged a sorority’s traditional values of volunteering, leadership and friendship with a way to promote and improve the image of Islam and Muslim women. They also wanted Muslim women to have the opportunity to build the lifelong bonds that develop among sorority sisters.
Chapters observe Islam’s holy days and other practices. The emphasis on volunteering and leadership makes Muslim women visible in the community, said Rasheeda Salaam, Vice President of the Atlanta chapter and a Board Member for the National Association. “We want people to know who we are and that we are an active part of the Atlanta community,” Salaam said. Photos from chapters show women wearing jeans and sweat shirts bearing the sorority’s Greek letters. Some women wear their hair loose; others wrap scarves around their heads. The group’s motto explains that members will honor Allah through “sisterhood, scholarship, leadership and community service.”
The sorority’s colors are lavender (meaning peace), green (Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) favorite color) and gold (representing true treasure), Kasumu said. Their flower is the lily because of its ability to grow and bloom no matter how challenging its surroundings, she said. The sorority is working to increase public awareness and add chapters across the country. Salaam said people often stop her when they see her wearing a sweat shirt with the group’s Greek letters, wanting to get more information. Kasumu, who is from Nigeria, said her family didn’t understand at first why she joined a sorority. “I explained that I’m hanging out with people who allow me to be myself,” she said. She remembered one night when they all went roller skating — something she had never tried before. “I fell down, but they were there to pick me back up,” Kasumu said. “That’s what is so special. We support one another and have fun.”
(II) EUROPE:
(a) UNITED KINGDOM:
(1) Young Muslim Women Mobilise Islington to Kick Islamophobia out.
MUSLIM NEWS Issue 247, Friday 27 November 2009
(condensed version)
By Najira Yasmin
MUSLIM NEWS Issue 247, Friday 27 November 2009
(condensed version)
By Najira Yasmin
Islington? Market Road Pitches became the venue for Europe's largest anti-racism football festival on October 28, titled Kick Islamophobia. Now in its second year the festival brought together communities from a broad spectrum of ethnicities and faiths to stand united against and raise awareness of the continued prejudice that still affects Muslims today.
Organised by ten local young Muslim women from "Listen Ups", part of the Young Muslim Voices (YMV) project, Kick Islamophobia 2009 built upon the success of last year's award-winning pilot event almost doubling turnout, garnering close to a thousand attendees from both the local community and neighbouring boroughs.
The Guardian's commentator on Muslim issues in France, Naima Bouteldja, shared her views of the community there, while Ruhana Ali of London Citizens spoke about the importance of civic participation. Local resident and volunteer Sandra Khan, 27, commented "The core message was the need for local youth to set high aspirations for themselves and InshaAllah (God Willing) to develop the ability become driving forces for positive local change".
One of the festival's main aims was to provide a forum in which to discuss the challenges faced by young British Muslims. A key issue brought up by participants repeatedly was their frustration with negative stereotypes perpetuated in the mainstream media and how this reinforced inaccurate perceptions of Muslims and Islam.
The hijab was cited as a clear example of where there remains a continuous focus on Muslim women, who despite choosing to wear it, are often still deemed oppressed and trapped by religious dogma. The festival aimed to counter this by scheduling a football tournament fielded with all-female teams, many donning the headscarf, proving that young Muslim women are free to practise aspects of their faith without compromising on their right to enjoyment! One of the participants Hasiba Khatun, 23, beamed, "I am so glad that efforts are finally being made to dispel the myths that cloud society's understanding of our faith".
Another key message from the discussion forums held was the need to challenge the often superficial link made between young Muslims and suspected terrorist activities, extremist views and issues around police use of stop and search methods. Many felt that such stories were given undue prominence and where suspects were later absolved found themselves without adequate recourse to undo damage to their reputations and indeed that of their communities.
YMV's lead project coordinator, Noori Bibi, 30, said of the festival, "The success of this year's event illustrates that these youth are capable of greatness if given the opportunity. Council, community and faith leaders need to support and listen to these often marginalised voices. Youth-led initiatives are vital in empowering young people and is the most effective way of supporting them to become future leaders.
Organised by ten local young Muslim women from "Listen Ups", part of the Young Muslim Voices (YMV) project, Kick Islamophobia 2009 built upon the success of last year's award-winning pilot event almost doubling turnout, garnering close to a thousand attendees from both the local community and neighbouring boroughs.
The Guardian's commentator on Muslim issues in France, Naima Bouteldja, shared her views of the community there, while Ruhana Ali of London Citizens spoke about the importance of civic participation. Local resident and volunteer Sandra Khan, 27, commented "The core message was the need for local youth to set high aspirations for themselves and InshaAllah (God Willing) to develop the ability become driving forces for positive local change".
One of the festival's main aims was to provide a forum in which to discuss the challenges faced by young British Muslims. A key issue brought up by participants repeatedly was their frustration with negative stereotypes perpetuated in the mainstream media and how this reinforced inaccurate perceptions of Muslims and Islam.
The hijab was cited as a clear example of where there remains a continuous focus on Muslim women, who despite choosing to wear it, are often still deemed oppressed and trapped by religious dogma. The festival aimed to counter this by scheduling a football tournament fielded with all-female teams, many donning the headscarf, proving that young Muslim women are free to practise aspects of their faith without compromising on their right to enjoyment! One of the participants Hasiba Khatun, 23, beamed, "I am so glad that efforts are finally being made to dispel the myths that cloud society's understanding of our faith".
Another key message from the discussion forums held was the need to challenge the often superficial link made between young Muslims and suspected terrorist activities, extremist views and issues around police use of stop and search methods. Many felt that such stories were given undue prominence and where suspects were later absolved found themselves without adequate recourse to undo damage to their reputations and indeed that of their communities.
YMV's lead project coordinator, Noori Bibi, 30, said of the festival, "The success of this year's event illustrates that these youth are capable of greatness if given the opportunity. Council, community and faith leaders need to support and listen to these often marginalised voices. Youth-led initiatives are vital in empowering young people and is the most effective way of supporting them to become future leaders.
(2) Alex Scott Launches Muslim Women's Sports Foundation
(condensed version)
MUSLIM NEWS: Issue 247, Friday 27 November 2009
(condensed version)
MUSLIM NEWS: Issue 247, Friday 27 November 2009
Late last month, saw the launch of the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation (MWSF) latest project to increase female participation in sport. The Born To Succeed (B2S) launch was held through a futsal festival to highlight the importance of the three year sporting project, which will be based in Acton, London Borough of Ealing.
Through providing the facilities and support that take into consideration the religious and cultural sensitivities of black, minority and ethnic women, the main benefits of the project will be: Increased player pathways to higher level competition; the promotion of healthy living through increased activity levels; tackling obesity and enhancing mental health; a sound foundation and lasting role models for future generations of black, minority and ethnic women; the promotion of cohesion between Muslim and non-Muslim communities thereby tackling inequalities.
Muslim Women' Sport Foundation Chairperson, Rimla Akhtar said, "A number of organisations often talk about supporting women from this community however action was never taken to prove their words. As an organisation, the MWSF has proven what can be achieved. The fact is that there are many Muslim women in this country who love to play sport and compete, this enthusiasm has been made clear in the work we have carried out so far. We thank the Football Foundation for leading the way in supporting the sporting development of this unique group of women and girls".
MWSF, which was established in 2001, provides an all female environment in which Muslim women can participate in sport. The sports sessions cater to the needs of Muslim women without compromising their Islamic beliefs whilst providing a structured training programme with qualified female coaches. MWSF also provides its members the opportunity to become qualified coaches and referees themselves, to empower and encourage them to work further with their community. MWSF is the official UK body to the International Women's Islamic Games and gives players the opportunity to represent Great Britain in their chosen sport.
Through providing the facilities and support that take into consideration the religious and cultural sensitivities of black, minority and ethnic women, the main benefits of the project will be: Increased player pathways to higher level competition; the promotion of healthy living through increased activity levels; tackling obesity and enhancing mental health; a sound foundation and lasting role models for future generations of black, minority and ethnic women; the promotion of cohesion between Muslim and non-Muslim communities thereby tackling inequalities.
Muslim Women' Sport Foundation Chairperson, Rimla Akhtar said, "A number of organisations often talk about supporting women from this community however action was never taken to prove their words. As an organisation, the MWSF has proven what can be achieved. The fact is that there are many Muslim women in this country who love to play sport and compete, this enthusiasm has been made clear in the work we have carried out so far. We thank the Football Foundation for leading the way in supporting the sporting development of this unique group of women and girls".
MWSF, which was established in 2001, provides an all female environment in which Muslim women can participate in sport. The sports sessions cater to the needs of Muslim women without compromising their Islamic beliefs whilst providing a structured training programme with qualified female coaches. MWSF also provides its members the opportunity to become qualified coaches and referees themselves, to empower and encourage them to work further with their community. MWSF is the official UK body to the International Women's Islamic Games and gives players the opportunity to represent Great Britain in their chosen sport.
(b) BELGIUM:
Belgium: Muslim Woman Fined for Wearing Burka in Public
12/31/2009
A Belgian Muslim woman was ordered to pay 200 euros ($300) for wearing a burka, a Islamic outfit that covers everything but the eyes, in a public place, the La Capital paper reported on Thursday.
The woman was detained while taking her children to an Islamic school in the Etterbeek municipality of the Belgian capital, Brussels. She was initially ordered to pay a 35-euro fine for violating a local ban on covering faces in public places.
When the woman was caught wearing the outfit the second time, she was fined 200 euros, but refused to pay and went to court. "The rule is the rule, and we must obey it," local mayor Vincent De Wolf said. The Belgium Muslim community ranges from 400,000 to 600,000 people. (RIA Novosti)
The woman was detained while taking her children to an Islamic school in the Etterbeek municipality of the Belgian capital, Brussels. She was initially ordered to pay a 35-euro fine for violating a local ban on covering faces in public places.
When the woman was caught wearing the outfit the second time, she was fined 200 euros, but refused to pay and went to court. "The rule is the rule, and we must obey it," local mayor Vincent De Wolf said. The Belgium Muslim community ranges from 400,000 to 600,000 people. (RIA Novosti)
(ED NOTE: WHY WE LOVE THE UNITED STATES):
In the United States, non-state interference and freedom of worship are included and guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution.
President Barack Obama pointed out clearly:
"In the U.S., our attitude is NOT to tell people what they can wear (...). The most effective way is to integrate ALL people, ALL faiths, NOT prevent them from wearing traditional clothing or other".
President Barack Obama pointed out clearly:
"In the U.S., our attitude is NOT to tell people what they can wear (...). The most effective way is to integrate ALL people, ALL faiths, NOT prevent them from wearing traditional clothing or other".
(III) ASIA:
(a) MALAYSIA:
SHOULD THE UMMAH ENDORSE OR OPPOSE THE MORALITY POLICE ?
Unmarried Muslims Face Jail for Hotel Liaisons
Kuala Lumpur:
GULF NEWS: AP:15 January 4, 2010
Unmarried Muslims Face Jail for Hotel Liaisons
Kuala Lumpur:
GULF NEWS: AP:15 January 4, 2010
Scores of officers fanned out across budget hotels in central Selangor state before dawn on Jan. 1, knocking on doors and detaining unmarried Muslim couples
Fifty-two unmarried Muslim couples face charges of sexual misconduct and possible jail terms after being caught alone in hotel rooms by Malaysia's Islamic morality police during a New Year's Day crackdown, an official said Monday.
Scores of officers fanned out across budget hotels in central Selangor State before dawn on Jan. 1, 2010 knocking on doors and detaining unmarried Muslim couples who were sharing rooms, said Hidayat Abdul Rani, a spokesman for the Selangor Islamic Department.
The detained, mostly students and young factory workers, are expected to be charged with "khalwat," or "close proximity," which under Malaysia's Islamic Shariah law is described as couples not married to each other being alone together in a private place. "We chose to have this large-scale operation on New Year's Day because many people are known to commit this offense while celebrating such a major holiday," Hidayat said.
In Selangor, "khalwat" carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine. The Shariah laws apply only to Malaysia's Muslims, who make up nearly two-thirds of the population, and not to the Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities.
Scores of officers fanned out across budget hotels in central Selangor State before dawn on Jan. 1, 2010 knocking on doors and detaining unmarried Muslim couples who were sharing rooms, said Hidayat Abdul Rani, a spokesman for the Selangor Islamic Department.
The detained, mostly students and young factory workers, are expected to be charged with "khalwat," or "close proximity," which under Malaysia's Islamic Shariah law is described as couples not married to each other being alone together in a private place. "We chose to have this large-scale operation on New Year's Day because many people are known to commit this offense while celebrating such a major holiday," Hidayat said.
In Selangor, "khalwat" carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine. The Shariah laws apply only to Malaysia's Muslims, who make up nearly two-thirds of the population, and not to the Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities.
(b) WEST BANK
SHOULD THE UMMAH BE GLAD THAT:
MISS PALESTINE PAGEANT WAS CANCELED ?
"Mideast: West Bank; Miss Palestine Pageant Cancelled,"
December 21 (ANSAmed)
Ramallah, DECEMBER 21, 2010
The 2009 Miss Palestine pageant, scheduled to take place on December 26 under the aegis of the local administration of Ramallah, on the West Bank, has been postponed indefinitely, the MAAN press agency reports today.
Muslim groups had called the competition an "offence to traditional values" and to women's decency. The decision was announced by the governor of the city upon orders of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which opted for an indefinite delay - in practice a cancellation - to avoid disputes and protests.
The Ramallah governorate, in a statement quoted by MAAN, announced that "according to the requirements of the public interest, we decided to freeze and delay indefinitely the coronation of Miss Palestine 2009 that was scheduled to be held on December 26 in Ramallah".
The statement said the decision was made out of respect for the anniversary of the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza - Operation 'Cast Lead' - which will be marked on Sunday, December 27. The operation ended on January 18 with a death toll of around 1,400 Palestinians. This anniversary was apparently no problem when scheduling the event, and it is probably not the real cause for its cancellation.
MAAN underlined the heavy criticism that has rained down on the PNA - and its officials of the ministry of culture who were to help judge the contest - from the side of the Muslim clergy and Muslim politicians. (ANSAmed). Posted by Robert on December 21, 2009
(IV) AFRICA:
(a) UGANDA:
UGANDA BANS FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION:
12/21/2009
Ugandan MPs have voted to outlaw female genital mutilation - also known as female circumcision.
Anyone convicted of the practice, which involves cutting off a girl's clitoris, will face 10 years in jail, or a life sentence if a victim dies.
The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Uganda says it is not officially condoned but is still practised in several rural areas.
Rights groups welcomed the move, but urged awareness campaigns to ensure the centuries-old practice stops.
Genital mutilation is seen in some countries as a way to ensure virginity and to make a woman suitable for marriage.
Our reporter says it is still practised by the Sabiny, some Karamojong sub-groups and the Pokot in eastern Uganda and the Nubi people of West Nile.
MP Alice Alaso said the move was "a very significant achievement".
"It's a very bad practice. It's cruel, it traumatises people, it's led children to drop out of school, it's a health hazard," she told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"This is a warning signal - whoever dares practice female genital mutilation will be subject to the law."
Another MP, Lulume Bayiga, said the law would liberate both men and women - who often face being ostracised for shunning the custom.
"Women will start for the first time to enjoy sex and it's going to do away with various diseases," he told the BBC.
According to the UN, about three million girls each year in Africa are at risk of genital mutilation, with more than 91 million girls and women living with the consequences of the procedure.
These include bleeding, shock, infections and a higher rate of death for new-born babies.
(b) EGYPT:
Arab Women - Widespread Sexual Harassment - Conference - 17 Countries
(condensed version)
By Sarah El Deeb (AP)
December 16, 2009
CAIRO — The sexual harassment of women in the streets, schools and work places of the Arab world is driving them to cover up and confine themselves to their homes, said activists at the first-ever regional conference addressing the once taboo topic.
Activists from 17 countries across the region met in Cairo for a two-day conference ending Monday and concluded that harassment was unchecked across the region because laws don't punish it, women don't report it and the authorities ignore it.
The harassment, including groping and verbal abuse, is a daily experience women in the region face and makes them wary of going into public spaces, whether it's the streets or jobs, the participants said. It happens regardless of what women are wearing.
Amal Madbouli, who wears the conservative face veil or niqab, told The Associated Press that despite her dress, she is harassed and described how a man came after her in the streets of her neighborhood.
"He hissed at me and kept asking me if I wanted to go with him to a quieter area, and to give him my phone number," said Madbouli, a mother of two. "This is a national security issue. I am a mother, and I want to be reassured when my daughters go out on the streets."
Statistics on harassment in the region have until recently been nonexistent, but a series of studies presented at the conference hinted at the widespread nature of the problem.
As many as 90 percent of Yemeni women say they have been harassed, while in Egypt, out of a sample of 1,000, 83 percent reported being verbally or physically abused.
A study in Lebanon reported that more than 30 percent of women said they had been harassed there.
"We are facing a phenomena that is limiting women's right to move ... and is threatening women's participation in all walks of life," said Nehad Abul Komsan, an Egyptian activist who organized the event with funding from the U.N. and the Swedish development agency.
Harassment has long been a problem in Mideast nations. But it was little discussed until three years ago, when blogs gave posted amateur videos showing a crowd of men assaulting women in downtown Cairo during a major Muslim holiday in one of the most shocking harassment incidents in the region.
The public outcry sparked an unprecedented public acknowledgment of the problem in Egypt and elsewhere in the region, and drove the Egyptian government to consider two draft bills addressing sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment, including verbal and physical assault, has been specifically criminalized in only half a dozen Arab countries over the past five years. Most of the 22 Arab states outlaw overtly violent acts like rape or lewd acts in public areas, according to a study by Abul Komsan.
Participants at the conference said men are threatened by an increasingly active female labor force, with conservatives laying the blame for harassment on women's dress and behavior.
Abul Komsan described how one of the victims of harassment she interviewed told her she had taken on the full-face veil to stave off the hassle.
"She told me 'I have put on the niqab.What more can I do so they leave me alone,'" she said, quoting the woman. Some even said they were reconsidering going to work or school because of the constant harassment in the streets and on public transpiration.
In Yemen, where nearly all women are covered from head to toe, activist Amal Basha said 90 percent of women in a published study reported harassment, specifically pinching.
In Saudi Arabia, another country where women cover themselves completely and are nearly totally segregated from men in public life, women report harassment as well, according to Saudi activist Majid al-Eissa.
His organization, the National Family Safety Program, has been helping draft a law criminalizing violence against women in the conservative kingdom, where flirting can often cross the line into outright assault. Discussion of the law begins Tuesday.
"It will take time especially in this part of the world to absorb the gender mixture and the role each gender can play in society," he said. "We are coping with changes (of modern life), except in our minds."
(V) DIVERSITY OF THE MUSLIMA'S PROFESSION
(in photos) :
(Below photos of profession from yahoo.news.photos)
Shiite women walk past a policewoman standing guard at the entrance to the women's section of a mosque in Islamabad during Ashura. A suicide attack at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistani-administered Kashmir killed five people and wounded dozens more, marking a bloody start to Ashura commemorations. (AFP/Behrouz Mehri)
(in photos) :
(Below photos of profession from yahoo.news.photos)
Shiite women walk past a policewoman standing guard at the entrance to the women's section of a mosque in Islamabad during Ashura. A suicide attack at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistani-administered Kashmir killed five people and wounded dozens more, marking a bloody start to Ashura commemorations. (AFP/Behrouz Mehri)
(Female police - Pakistan)
(Female police - Pakistan)
Women Pakistani Rangers on patrol during a religious procession on the ninth day of the holy Islamic month of Muharram in Karachi on December 27. A bomb attack targeting a procession of Shiite Muslim worshippers in the Pakistani city of Karachi on Monday killed 15 people and wounded around 20, officials said.(AFP/Asif Hassan)
Yemeni female police in training (yahoo.news.photos)
A female Somali soldier stands guard near Afgoye in the south of
Mogadishu Somalia, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009. (AP Photo)
(Iraqi policewomen train on weapons at the police academy in Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)
(VI) THE UGLY FACE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Saudi Arabia:
BEFORE:
Rania Al Baz, was an attractive Saudi Arabian TV host of a popular family program / TV Channel One Anchor. ARAB NEWS April 2004
AFTER:
(THE VICIOUS ANTI-ISLAMIC ATTACK AND CHILLING FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT
Prophet Mohamed (SAW) stated:
"He is cursed who causes harm to a believer or deceives him" (Tirmizi)
(Below: Rania al-Baz suffered 13 facial fractures and a broken nose after her husband punched her, smashed her head against the floor and walls and choked her. She received twelve facial surgeries ARAB NEWS, April 2004)
(ED NOTE: There is not a single city in the face of the earth that has been free of domestic violence and it is indeed universal. Every effort must be made to prevent domestic violence. We feel sorry for those who out of lack of proper Islamic knowledge blame Islam for violence against women and we pray that Allah enlightens their knowledge and gets them out of ignorance & darkness in above aspect. We cannot blame a country's constitution for the acts of criminals who are locked up in their jails.
In the same way, we cannot blame the Holy Quran or Islam for the negative acts of Muslims. Their negative actions reflect a poor individual choice, poor judgment, false interpretation based on cultural values masquerading as pseudo-Islamic values et.c No doubt both the Holy Quran and Prophet's teaching overemphasized on seeking KNOWLEDGE.
We have no short supply of negative and tragic events both at micro and global levels emanating from not sincerely following above advice of seeking the TRUE KNOWLEDGE AND LIGHT OF ISLAM. It is our belief that Domestic Violence is an anti-Islamic act).
In the same way, we cannot blame the Holy Quran or Islam for the negative acts of Muslims. Their negative actions reflect a poor individual choice, poor judgment, false interpretation based on cultural values masquerading as pseudo-Islamic values et.c No doubt both the Holy Quran and Prophet's teaching overemphasized on seeking KNOWLEDGE.
We have no short supply of negative and tragic events both at micro and global levels emanating from not sincerely following above advice of seeking the TRUE KNOWLEDGE AND LIGHT OF ISLAM. It is our belief that Domestic Violence is an anti-Islamic act).
EVEN PASSAGE OF TIME HAS NOT ERASED THE MEMORY OF SUCH BRUTALITY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Saudi Arabia:
BEFORE:
Rania Al Baz, was an attractive Saudi Arabian TV host of a popular family program / TV Channel One Anchor. ARAB NEWS April 2004
AFTER:
(THE VICIOUS ANTI-ISLAMIC ATTACK AND CHILLING FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT
Prophet Mohamed (SAW) stated:
"He is cursed who causes harm to a believer or deceives him" (Tirmizi)
(Below: Rania al-Baz suffered 13 facial fractures and a broken nose after her husband punched her, smashed her head against the floor and walls and choked her. She received twelve facial surgeries ARAB NEWS, April 2004)
Prophet Mohamed (SAW) had never even in a single instance involved in domestic violence with any of his family members. What an exemplery ROLE MODEL for the Muslim men. Prophet Mohamed (SAW) was described as a very kind-hearted, soft-spoken humble and forbearing man.
Speaking of Role Modeling our beloved Prophet, how many Muslim men from the global ummah are really following the above domestic-violence FREE lifestyle in their personal lives ? How many of you have heard above issue addressed in the speeches prior to Friday prayers ?
Prophet Mohamed (SAW) stated:
(1) THE MOST PERFECT IN FAITH AMONGST BELIEVERS IS HE WHO IS BEST IN MANNER AND KINDEST TO HIS WIFE
(2) "Powerful is NOT the who throws down his rival. The powerful is he who exercises self-control when in a state of anger." (Bukhari and Muslim)
(3) "Without doubt anger comes from Satan...".(Mishkaat ul Masabih)
(4) A man said to the Prophet Mohamed (SAW) Counsel me. Prophet replied: "Do not become angry". The man repeated his request several times, and Prophet repeated the same advice: "Do not become angry" (Al Bukhari)
(5) "Whosoever restrains his anger, Allah will stop HIS calamity from approaching him on the Judgement Day"
(6) "Learn about your family relations so that having learnt about them, you may TREAT THEM WITH KINDNESS. KIND TREATMENT FOSTERS MUTUAL LOVE IN THE FAMILY, ENLARGES WEALTH AND PROLONGS LIFE". (Mishkaat ul Masabih. p 420, Tirmizi)
(7) "When members of a family treat each other with kindness, Allah Almighty sends forth provisions for them and these people remain under the protection of the most Kind".
BEFORE:
(Naziran Bibi being viciously acid attacked)
(Naziran Bibi being viciously acid attacked)
This picture taken on December 17, 2009, shows an undated photograph of Pakistani acid attack victim Naziran Bibi (R) with her daughter and her first husband.(AFP/File/AFP)
AFTER:
(ACID ATTACK RESULTING IN A CHILLING FACIAL TRANSFORMATION)
(ACID ATTACK RESULTING IN A CHILLING FACIAL TRANSFORMATION)
(Bibi is 23 years old now, but with no upper lip, a barely reconstructed nose, scar tissue where her right eye should be and a raw red socket where her left eye once was, her youth is impossible to discern)
Prophet Mohamed (SAW) stated:
(1) "God has no mercy on the one who has no mercy on others" (Is Almighty Allah conveying a message that only Hellfire awaits a person who has no mercy on others ? )
(2) Muslim is he from whose hand and tongue the other Muslims are safe (that is they should receive no pain or distress from him) and a believer is he from whom the people apprehend no harm to their life or property, that is, he will cause them no physical or material loss". (Tirmizi, Nisai)
(3) Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from his one of the griefs of the day of judgment. Whosoever alleviates the lot of a needy person, Allah will alleviate (his lot) in this world and the next.
(4) On the authority of Abu Said sa d ibn Malik ibn sinan al khudi (May Allah be pleased with him) the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "THERE SHOULD BE NEITHER HARMING NOR RECIPROCATING HARM"
(5) "Whosoever treats his relatives (including wife) with UNKINDNESS, he shall not enter Paradise". (Bukhari)
(6 ) "The believer is always affectionate. He is no good who is not affectionate and to whom affection is not shown" (Mishkaat ul Masabih)
(7) "Verily, Allah Almighty is kind and loves a kind person and He awards such blessings on adopting the virtue of kindness"
This picture taken on December 10, 2009, shows Pakistani acid attack victim Naziran Bibi (L) trying on a hat she hand-knitted for her daughters at the Acid Survivors Foundation in Islamabad. Bibi is locked in a complicated legal tussle over the attack and is fighting for custody of her children, while learning how to live without sight and struggling with surgeries to rebuild her ruined face. (AFP/Nicolas Asfouri)
Pakistani acid attack survivors Naziran Bibi (C) and Naila Farhat (R) having lunch with Bibi's daughters Haseena Abid, 5, (2L) and Alishba Abid, 3, (L) at the Acid Survivors Foundation in Islamabad. (AFP/Nicolas Asfouri)
Pakistani acid attack survivor Naziran Bibi (R) gets a kiss from her daughter Haseena Abid, 5, (C) next to her daughter Alishba Abid, 3, (L) at the Acid Survivors Foundation in Islamabad. Bibi is locked in a complicated legal tussle over the attack and is fighting for custody of her young children, while learning how to live without sight and struggling with surgeries to rebuild her ruined face. (AFP/Nicolas Asfouri)
ED NOTE:
How many of you are willing to join us in helping a Muslim Social Service Agency sponsor the complete living expenses of our dear sister Naziran Bibi and education of her two children through their college. When the world is obsessed on youth and beauty, sister Naziran may have lost points on her visible appearance. More important, her window to the world (EYES) have been lost in the barbaric acid attack. To us, sister Naziran Bibi is still the same Muslim sister and from the deepest depths of our hearts flows out our sympathy to her current situation. If you have become sick and tired of being a helpless spectator looking at the devastation of Muslims across the globe, here is a golden opportunity to make a difference in the life of a sister and her two children by financially contributing your help.
When is the next time you plan to go to your favorite Chinese restaurant or see the movie AVATAR or any other movie or have straight fun in other ways ? Is it possible to postpone such fun or CHANGE and donate the same amount if not more for sister Naziran Bibi and her two children. If interested please contact us at amyusuf786@yahoo.com. MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP.
When was the last time, you had a quality time with your loved one ?
THE END
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