Singer attacks Catholic Church It is expected Lauren Hill's performance will be cut from the show Hip hop singer Lauryn Hill has caused controversy by severely criticising the Roman Catholic Church during a concert at the Vatican. She told the audience, which included senior church officials, that the church had been corrupted by its clergy. Ms Hill alluded to high profile cases of sex abuse of children by priests in the US. It is expected her speech and performance will be cut from the concert when it is aired on Italian TV on Christmas Eve. 'Exploitation and abuse' The comments came in a huge hall used by the Pope for his weekly addresses. "God has been a witness to the corruption of his leadership, of the exploitation and abuses ... by the clergy," she said. Standing just yards from five of the most senior cardinals in the Roman Catholic faith, Hill told the crowd to seek blessings "from God not men" and said she did "not believe in representatives of God on earth". She then went on to sing a song about social injustice which was not the one listed on the programme. Organisers of the concert have said it is likely her outburst and performance will not appear in the final cut.

Jubilation at Saddam's capture should not be mistaken as acceptance of occupation uploaded 14 Dec 2003 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ Jubilation at Saddam's capture should not be mistaken as acceptance of occupation "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him." Those were the words spoken by Paul Bremer following the capture of Saddam Hussein near Tikrit Saturday. It was met with jubilation by the assembled media and spontaneous outbursts of rapid gunfire in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. Journalists declared that this was a momentous occasion in recent history, to the extent that every leader wanted a piece of the limelight, even the opportunist President of France. Just like the ‘liberation’ of Iraq was heralded as a vindication of the West’s war, the capture of Saddam was viewed as a vital result at a time where ‘successes’ are thin on the ground. Bush is gearing up for his election campaign, as attacks on US troops continue, and as Blair is still being grilled about the convenient absence of WMD and other domestic concerns, it seems that Christmas has come early. Whilst all of this is happening, the colonialist nations are counting on the prevailing atmosphere to change the position of the Muslims regarding their occupation of Iraq. It is at this time that we have to be even clearer of our stance and the view of Islam. Firstly, the capture of Saddam is no great loss to the Muslims. Far from being the champion of Islam, he actively worked against those calling for Islam. His torture and murder did not confine itself to one section, rather all sections bore the brunt of his Western sponsored terror campaign. Secondly, the reported jubilation at the capture of Saddam does not mean approval of what replaced his demise. Rather it is satisfaction of his capture and nothing more. The claim that this will somehow dent the movement fighting the occupation army is laughable. An indicator of the scepticism must be understood in light of Blair’s speech announcing his capture. He called upon those Muslims who actively take part in resistance against the occupiers to cease their activities and to place their effort behind the coalition authority. This was followed by downplaying of an immediate cessation in fighting the occupation. The claim that these actions are being conducted by Ba’aath loyalists is one that has been dispelled on numerous occasions, it is in the interests of the colonialists to maintain this mendacious explanation. Thirdly, Muslims need to be clear that the US plans to leave Iraq next June are in fact an illustration of US deception. The US may cut back on its troop numbers, but the colonialist hold over Iraq in all sectors are envisaged to continue for generations to come. This includes changing of its constitution, appointment of people the US approves of for the interim authority, privatising companies which are then opened up to US companies to control as well as making Iraq dependent upon the US in every other sphere. Fourthly, Muslims the world over must realise that although it is correct that the Muslims of Iraq stand firm against the occupiers, this is different from resolving the occupation. The ending of occupation requires a state for the Muslims. This is for two reasons: (a) The reality illustrates that it is only a state that is based on Islam that will be able to present a defence against those who have sights on our lands. It is this state that will have the power to organise a unified stance against occupation, which will be able to muster an army to prevent occupation, can use the apparatus of a state to challenge the picture of events the West paints and can effectively present the Islamic view globally. (b) Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) has commanded ahkam (laws) for people to apply. Islam sets the measure for how the reality should be and commands the Muslims to ensure it is translated to reality. This is best illustrated by the focus of the Messenger (SalAllahu alaihi wasallam) who mobilised the Muslims towards the establishment of Islam. He showed through his actions that he was working to change the situation. It was not a fluke that after 13 years of struggle that Islam was represented by a state in Medina. It was as a result of a series of steps that Allah commanded. It is this Islamic state that the Muslims must aim to establish, and this must follow the steps that Rasool Allah (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) enacted with vigour and despite the easier options he could have undertaken to avoid the persecution. It is this method which aims at solidifying a particular mindset based upon Islam amongst the people, which challenges the prevalent corrupted thoughts and thinking and which reminds those with the power of their covenant with Allah, and their duty to transfer the reigns of power and their allegiances from the system of Kufr to the system of Islam. It is this Khilafah, achieved through following the method of Rasool Allah (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) that is the salvation for this Ummah. The Muslims are obliged to work towards it through intellectual and political work, without due consideration to those who wish to thwart it and bypassing those who are the willing agents diverting the attentions of the Muslims away from this solution which Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) commanded. هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it prevail over all other ways of life even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it). [TMQ Al-Taubah: 32-33] Khilafah.com Journal 20 Shawwal 1424 Hijri 14 December 2003

As salaamu'alaykum My Dear Sister... Know that you are man's sister and half of humanity. You are a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grand daughter or grand mother. My dear sister, you are called upon today to truly become an active member of the Muslim nation, strive to establish victory for Allah's Word, implement the Quran and help build the generation of Iman. What Do Your Enemies Want From You? There are those who want to distract you from doing your duty. They want to distract you from meeting your noble obligation, that is, to defend the religion of Allah and raise His Word high. Those enemies use many methods: First: They distract you from what Allah created you to perform of worship, belief and Da'wah (propagating Islam). They use this worldly life as their bate: Jewelry stores, fashions that originate in non-Muslim countries, new models all the time, desires raised, hunger that can never be satisfied, pleasures and competition for them and endless ways for joy. Allah did not create us for this. Indulging in these matters is usually accompanied by wasting time and money and igniting enmity and competition between the rich and the poor. Second: They ignite enmity between you and man. To those sinners, you are a daughter that is put down, a humiliated mother, an abused wife and an oppressed sister! Men are always unjust, hypocrites, dictators, freedom- preventers and suppressers, according to them. There is a fabricated war that those evil ones are starting for no reason other than to direct you to rebel against your father, be arrogant with your brother and disobedient to your husband. They do not call for justice, mercy and unity. They call for hatred, arrogance and destruction. Third: They do not stop at their call for rebellion against parents, brothers and husbands, rather, they plot against Islam. They call upon you to rebel against the obligations of Islam and the decrees of the All-Knowing King. Islam, to them, is unjust and Islamic laws are imperfect and restrictive. They call upon you, day and night, to rebel and insist on the disobedience of this religion. They try to rid you of your religion. They try to rid you of comfort and safety under generous parenthood, happy marriage and good brotherly relations. Those devils portray piety and honor as chains on freedom. To them, Hijab does not cover the head, but also covers the mind; prayer, fasting and Zakat are a waste of time and effort; and obedience to husbands is slavery and a retum to the stone age. They distorted all facts and changed all truths, all to serve their evil goals. Dear Sister, The goals that your enemies and the enemies of your religion are seeking to achieve are well known. They want you to be available for them to fulfill their evil desires whenever they wish. They want you to be a mistress that has no honor. They want you to be found everywhere, on roads and in places of sin, without honor, religion or manners. They seek for you only what they want you to do. The Western world has gone through this all. Women of the West are the part of society that is facing injustice and dishonor. the cities they live in are in collapse; They strive to please men who keep changing partners and seek pleasures but with no responsibility and no consideration of the evil consequences of their sinful actions. O Muslim sister, read and know about those women who discarded shyness and honor and followed their desires, what was the result of their deeds? Was their end honorable and desirable, or was it a shameful and hated end? Advice For My Sister In Islam Be proud of your religion and the religion of your ancestors. Be a good example for your sons and daughters and sincere in your belonging to this mighty nation. Know that honor is an honor to all wise people, and that adultery is dishonorable to all nations, even if some called it freedom. Know that adultery is also done with the eyes by seeing, with the ears by listening, and with the mouth by kissing, as was mentioned in a Hadith related by Imam Muslim. Your happiness is in being an obedient and believing daughter, a loyal and generous wife and a pious and merciful mother. Know that prayer is the cornerstone of Islam. Fasting one day, for the sake of Allah, takes your face seventy years away from Hellfire, as the Hadith, related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, states. Charity is a major cause for gaining forgiveness and for repentance to be accepted. Those women who are showing parts of their bodies to men, will not enter Paradise or smell its fragrance and are cursed, as in the Hadith related by Imam Muslim. Hijab is an honor and protection for you. Hijab must be modest in colour and not exotic, wide and thick and not revealing, different from the dress of non-Muslim women and men. My Dear Sister, These are words from the heart. These are words of good and sincere advice. Beware of the loyalists of Shaytan who want to lead you astray. Be a slave of Allah, righteous and decendent of righteous women and know your role in building this great nation. Perform your duty and do not be a cause for destruction. Be a maker of righteous generation that will lead mankind, again, to what is right and proper, to the great religion of Islam. 'The pleasures of this life will end with this life. Whereas your good deeds will bring YOU eternal happiness.'

We don't succeed by our efforts alone but by the mercy of Allah. I learned this while studying for finals.

salaam, ...do u feel like some one is tryin to slap ur ear but keeps missing LooooooL! How do you know they're trying to slap you if they keep missing? But seriously, you're right jins are everywhere. A few years ago I read a book called "The exorsist tradition in Islam" by Bilaal Phillips and it scared me senseless. Pick it up the next time you're around the dawaca center.

I'm guessing Syria, they wouldn't dare touch Iran and no need to attack saudi and jordan fahad and Abdiblees are already bowing to the US.

May Allah humiliate the rest of the arab leaders in the same manner!

I don't feel sorry for them at all!

FS, congrats sister! May Allah bless ur marriage and grant you rightous children.

My list: Education Marriage Kids Career Age: 21-24

LOL Originally posted by Opinionated: heheheheh khayr is looking for a wife! unbelieveable! Opinionated I would LOVE to see you and Khayr end up together! Ohh that'll be the day lol

asalaamu alaykum, I hope this lifts your spirits as much as it did mine.InshaAllah soon it'll be more than just a dream. ------------------- D.R.E.A.M. Nadhir 'The Warner' Wa alaikum as salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, how you be? Good, I had a dream that was interesting, should I tell you bout it? No doubt, it was wild! When I awoke after Fajr I was all smiles Now listen, I mean really pay attention Cuz this may put an end to our current divisions I was in Afghanistan, doin da'wa to the Taliban When I saw this man with a dark tan & an AK in his hand Callin the adhan and after salat, began to sketch plans To erase the borders that keep us divided, I was delighted Scratch that, man, I was excited The Qur'an ignited the spark to take us outta the dark So I warn you what's next may be heavy on you heart Gimme a ear so I can tell you how it start A decree from the top came orderin the arrest of oppressors dead or alive To bring them & they cohorts, but leave their family & wives In Saudia Arabia down the road cam the coward King Fahad & his entourage Surrounded, Trapped, he thought it was a mirage Warned if he resisted he'd fell a barrage of led & be left for dead Bought him to the top with his head on the gillotine Oppressor number 1 off with the head, know what I mean? Strip the "Saudia" off Arabia & call it the Hijaz Liberate Makkah & Medinah from them thughs, Islamic rule is back Saudi family no longer hold the oil wealth & their women hostage They can marry Muslims, not just Saudis, like the Qur'an says Truthful scholars & Muslims in torture camps are freed This dream ain't over, we spreadin bringin Iraq, Eqypt, Syria, & Turkey to its knees Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Ahkhee, I'm feeling that real good. Hopefully, Insha Allah, It'll be real soon. Come on, come on. I know you got some more. Don't leave a brother hangin'. Mujahideen from from Dagestan & Uzbekistan traveled to Eqypt late at night With the mission to forbid what's wrong & command what's right They scoped the premises from dawn till dusk Swooped on Mubarrak & his cabinet like, "You comin with us!" Enough of killin the innocent & allowin the haram We take deen serious not just parrotin the Qur'an Back in Filistine, aka Palestine- was getting moved on to Where there's about a Thousand Muslims to every One Jew Arafat was Duct taped beggin for forgiveness for his wrongs He was shipped to the United Snakes to sing that song In not too long, the cowardly king Abdullah, aka abdul Iblees The Jordanian army turned on him & he was prayin please please! He went to Britian when he set for trail. All I remembered is his blood flowed like the Nile Sot he soldiers of Sudan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, & even Iran Told the so called Israeilis to evacuate cuz after 24 hours & 1 second we begin to exterminate Gadhaffi left his position followed by the Algerian president All of North Africa was yellin Allahu Akbar in unison I remember it was September, an army of 2 million was sent to give the Russians some advice of unpleasant feelings Word from the top came to end the blood spill of Muslims in Kashmere By the time the rumors spread the Hindus broke from fear Muslims in Ethiopia & Somalia train in Islamic Longfist Preparin the army for their first hit & they light was lit No more being little helpless victim for the West to rescue And you Fasiqoon better put on a vest too You hypocrite, don't you know this Islam ain't nothing to be playin with Ha Ha Ha, Man, I'm straight lovin' this dream! I'm straight lovin' this dream! Insha Allah we'll be closer to it. Flow some more, flow some more, son. Now Allah knows best if it was a dream or a vision And it's our decision if we live Islam like a Deen or Religion Need I mention the return of Khilafah on the steps of Prophethood As an authentic hadith promises & whatever our Messenger sws says is good To work for this Islamic State is an obligation like fastin Like Jihad to The Day of Judgement we'll be blastin Maskin the truth is what many agents make their career In the form of Scholars for Dollars, Allah they don't fear How can I say that you ask? Come into the arena You see the banks dealin in interest in Makkah & Medinah Where our nabee sws was born & buried, a life of perfection Now Kuffar forces are there under the banner of protection In Turkey, proper hijab is banned, where's the uproars Where are the righteous, especially the numerous scholars Check the Qur'an reflect on reality We bein oppressed globally, awake from yo fantasy So Till Death Do Us Part until we rip Kuffar forces apart We continue this da'wa tryin to penetrate you heart Damn, Ahkhee! I'm feeling that dream, for surety. Insha Allah, we both can put forth our efforts to make it a reality. Man, we can't even forget, before Islaam many dreamed of freedom from tyranny and oppression. Now, here we are again 2000 terrorized. May Allah guide us to the road of paradise and may we fail to stop short until this trail is over. Victory or death is our rally call oppression of kuffar our target. Dream on, my brother, dream on because dreams of victories are dreams of coming realities

Great USA

salaam... This is a forward I received a while ago... This a parody written as a Muslim woman encountering the West (in this case, Australia) for the first time. Written in a "Not Without My Daughter" style. Mimics the condescending and ignorant manner some non-Muslims use in writing about their experiences in the "exotic" Muslim world. --------------------------------- Not Without Her Make-Up by Tazin Abdullah Media Student Macquarie University, Australia I do not clearly remember the first time I was here. My earliest memories of Australia start when I was around six or seven, probably my first trip after I was born in the city of Sydney. My parents were not particularly happy with the idea of me growing up there. So, they took me out to Iran at the first opportunity. As I grew up, my impressions of Sydney were formed from stories I heard from my parents, shows I watched on television and of course, what I saw on my trips. From my first trip at the age of seven, I vaguely remember the people I met and the places I visited. I remember more from my second trip, though, which was at the age of fourteen. I recall my parents warning me over and over again about how women were treated in a society so fundamentally Western. While I was there, I learnt that individuality was something Australians only dreamt about. I soon discovered I had to conform to the dress code everyone else followed. I had to have my hair highlighted and defrizzed. I had to spend between fifteen and twenty minutes every morning brushing it and putting on clips and hair ties. I had to make it into a ponytail one day, a braid the next and a bun when I went to dinner parties. I was coerced to wear short skirts and tight tops, with a push-up bra to give me cleavage. My legs had to show, smooth and unscarred, and everyone had to be able to make out my waist. They told me I had to 'fit in'. Part of the ritual of fitting in meant that I had to paint my face with what they called make-up everyday. I discovered that Australian females liked to attract as much attention as they could to themselves, by hiding behind their make-up. They made their kohl in liquids and pencils, instead of pots like we do, and sold them in stores under a range of different names and prices. They all seemed the same to me, though. Anyhow, I bought what they told me to buy and used what they told me to use, from lipsticks to abdominizers, changing my body from head to toe to please their male gods. Such things ensured that everyone wanted to 'hang out' with me (a term denoting something to the effect of spending time and/or social acceptance). In the five years between then and now, I had convinced myself that Australia would have joined other countries on the road to progress. But my return to Sydney both shocks and saddens me. While many parts of the world have seen development, Australia has dragged behind, especially with regards to the status of women. It seems as if it has only succeeded in digging itself deeper into a bottomless pit of regression. At this rate, I fear that Australia is a second America in the making. Upon arrival, I have come across some typical Sydney women. I can see that they are dictated by the strict dress code imposed on them by the social system. They are not allowed to wear loose clothing, headscarves until they are old or ailing, and it is preferred that they show as much of their bodies as possible. Women who break this rule face harsh penalties. Sarah, a victim of such injustices, told me the specifics. As punishment for wearing non-revealing clothing, she is deemed unattractive and given unequal treatment by her employers. She says she is not considered 'normal'. A day in the life of a normal woman here requires her appearance to be the focal point. Her sexuality must be available for everyone to consume. She cannot choose to whom she will disclose her intimate parts or exercise her sexuality. She does not have much choice in what she wants to do with her body. Since the fundamentalist regime insists that it must be available for display in a certain manner, she must follow these rules. The rules are based on the Australian Holy Scriptures, two of which are Dolly and Cosmopolitan. Also known as magazines, these contain the teachings of hard-liner editors and reporters/writers who design the way in which society must view women and the way women must dress and act. Since the advent of these magazines, there have been mass conversions in the country to the faith they preach. Authority and control have been transferred onto them and they play a vital role in the life of women. They have institutionalised radical guidelines such as the 36:24:36 measurement of a woman's body. Furthermore, they propagate intolerance and hate to be internalised in all women - hate for their own bodies, natural intelligence, privacy and inherent dignity. These women are brainwashed into believing that their Creator is to blame for their deficiencies in not automatically meeting these standards. In accordance with these oppressive impositions, the country's commerce has developed. Industry is devoted to the development of products to assist women in looking as artificial as possible. The market is filled with products for the face and every different part of it plus the hair, the hands, the legs, the nails...the list goes on. I suppose one must concede to the fact that Australia's delayed development causes it to prioritise looks over the fact that millions of people in the world go hungry. It is interesting to look at some of the advertisements for the beauty products. I will warn you, though, that coming from an emancipated society, these will be very disturbing. For instance, an advertisement for hair colour uses the motto "L'Oreal - because I'm worth it". A model in an ad for a shampoo claims that using the shampoo gives her more confidence. These poor women must shampoo, condition and colour their hair in order to legitimise themselves. They need the perfect curl, the right bounce and the shiniest colour. Their value to society is directly linked to their hair. Other significant practices are the prevalent marriage customs. A woman is required to perform the ceremonial 'going out', which can span any period of time from a day to ten years. This starts as early as primary school and as she grows up, she goes out with various men. Until she finds the one she wishes to marry, she does not commit to any one man. It seems all the men she goes out with are allowed to touch her and/or sleep with her. All this time, her status and acceptance in society is determined by how many of these men she has accommodated in her life. The greater the quota of men, the more sufficient she is considered. Particularly in highschool, young girls have little to contribute to their own identities. Their identities derive from who they go out with and how many boys they go out with. Though this kind of mental torture is less obvious in later years of their life, my conversations with many women in university and work indicate that they still suffer. Some feel they must get married in order to make a place for themselves. Marriage, though, is subject to a bizarre rule. A woman cannot legally marry until she is eighteen years old without parental consent. It is socially expected, however, for girls under eighteen to lose their virginity. When I was listening to one of the popular radio stations, 2DayFM, I was informed that the average age that Australians lost their virginity at is between thirteen and fifteen. As a consequence of this, many girls under eighteen become pregnant. Society accepts these girls as mothers before eighteen but does not allow them to have husbands, who could also take responsibility as fathers to the children born. While women must bear the responsibility of parenthood, men can get away with it. This is one of the many contradictions that exist in Australia today. Inequalities also exist for women who do get married. Marriage requires the woman to play multiple roles. She must be wife, mother and often a breadwinner of the family. She shoulders the responsibility of taking care of her husband and children at home while also earning money not only for herself, but also for the family. Whatever she earns is not solely her property. Unlike Islamic societies, her husband and her family have a claim to her income and she even pays for groceries! Often, she is not given the choice of whether she wants to stay at home or work. The society she lives in enshrines materiality and money, money and more money. It is vital to their lifestyles. As a result, she must go out and work and make her family richer. On top of that, her position in society is judged on her ability to work outside the home. She must suffer the greatest burden in society. She really does not have the right to choose. Can you imagine a life where your identity is judged by everything you have and not everything you are? Even more surprising is the widespread cultural practice of women changing their surnames to that of their husbands' once they are married. Amanda, a law student, who opposes this practice, tells me that, in previous times, this act symbolised the transfer of all of a woman's rights and property to her husband from her father. Though the custom of a woman becoming her husband's property has ceased to exist, women still change their names to that of their husbands'. Seeing all this, I am aware that Australian women are denied the rights that are basic to many Muslim women. What concerns me, though, is whether or not they are aware of that fact. I remember from my second trip to Australia that I felt I had a Western noose tied around my neck. I felt I had no space to breathe or to let myself free. The air around me cloaked my beauty, my spirit and my soul. But I was lucky. I could leave. Most of the Australian women I spoke to do not have that alternative. They do not even know of their plight. They are pushed into a corner where they cannot see outside the boundaries of such a fundamentally Western society. Women immune to Western correctness - mostly the educated Muslims - have begun programmes to educate others around them. They are asserting themselves by breaking out of the confinement, wearing loose clothing and denying just anyone access to their sexuality. I see their efforts as a glimmer of hope. It is crucial that before women can improve their lot, they are taught the rights they have that society has taken away from them. Nevertheless, there is still hope. I call upon all the Muslim women in the world to come to the rescue of Australian women. I urge that all of us stand up against Western oppression in different parts of the world. It is our responsibility to bring progress into these societies and it is up to us to save them.

salaam, Baashi good choice. This is probably one of the best introductory books on Islam ever written. I read it a few years ago at the request of one of my teachers who read it before reverting to Islam and I absolutely loved it. anyway, have fun reading it.

salaam... I love the pious although I do not count myself as one of them, so, my (love for them ) may earn me Shafaaca (their intecession in aakhira)" And I hate those who made sins their core business, although I trade in the same line of commodity" That's beautiful I especially love the last part. Jzk for sharing

salaam... This is so heartbreaking! As if inflicting terror, destroying our national unity and inciting hate was not enough now they're out to destroy the LAND it self?! :mad: I rember somebody once mentioning forming pressure groups to alert the countries we reside in as to the goings on of the Warlord, Polotisions and the Countries that aid an abet their Illegal Fradulent and Damaging activities Something we should definitely consider!

Avoiding Extremes The inner reality of veneration for the Divine Law is to follow it with neither excessive license nor obsessive strictness. The goal is the straight path that leads the one who travels it to God. But there is not one of God's commandments without two ways of approach to the Devil: one by deficiency, the other by excess. And it makes no difference which of the two errors overtakes the servant: they appear in his heart as equals. If he is already inclined towards ease and license, the Devil seizes him in this way. He slows him and sits him down, afflicts him with laziness, sloth and inactivity. Then he opens for him the door of interpretation, [vain] hope and other [illusions], until perhaps he abandons entirely all the commandments. If the Devil finds in him vigilance, activity and energy, he abandons his attempts to seize him from the one direction and instead spurs him on to ever greater efforts. The Devil urges this person to do so much that he passes up the straight path through excess; while he urges the first to do so little that he never reaches the straight path nor even approaches it. But his aim with both is [the same]: to keep them off the straight path, either by not drawing near to it or by passing it up. [surely], many are so afflicted and there is no deliverance [for them] save through deeper knowledge, faith and the strength to resist them and to keep to the middle way. And God is the Helper. Source: "The Invocation of God" - by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, pp. 15-16

Political Comment: The Georgian Coup is an example of how power and authority is taken in the Land. On the 23rd November 2003, the veteran Georgian leader President Eduard Shevardnadze was ousted from power (in a Coup) after weeks of protests against failed parliamentary elections (which were widely criticised for serious irregularities), which ended in the storming of the parliament buildings in the capital, Tblisi. Shevardnadze resigned after opposition leaders gave him an ultimatum to quit at talks mediated by the Russians. The forced resignation of Shevardnadze was a major political upheaval in Georgia’s post-Soviet history. For many Georgians, the Shevardnadze government was unable to deliver on rampant poverty and corruption, energy crises and resolution of conflicts such as that in the breakaway region of Abkhazia. The final straw it seems was when it failed to hold democratic free and fair parliamentary elections in early November, with international observers describing the elections as being marred by “spectacular irregularities”. If we look closely at such events as Shevardnadze’s downfall we can begin to understand what is necessary to bring about real change in any society. Mr Shevardnadze, former Soviet Union foreign minister, was accused of mass corruption and deception. Opposition groupings had organised a public show of discontent since early-June by organising political protests right across Georgia. The opposition called for measures designed to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections in a region renowned for its electoral irregularities. Intensive coverage by independent television channels helped maintain political pressure on the Shevardnadze government and informed public opinion. Although a public show of discontent played a part in his downfall it was not the only ingredient present. The fact that Georgia was in such a desperate economic state, when once it was one of the most prosperous regions of the former Soviet Union, and came to be known as its “fruit basket” was a decisive factor in getting the elite such as businessmen and professional people to support his overthrow. There was pressure from other quarters as well, not least the U.S., who made it known that they were “deeply disappointed” with the Georgian leadership, and had lost faith in Mr Shevardnadze, who came to be seen as a weak leader unable to bring stability and democracy to the country which was necessary for the U.S. funded Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project to be a success. The pipeline would take Caspian sea oil from Azerbaijan to Turkey, via Georgia. But the final straw came when it was reported that some military units had joined the opposition groups in their 50,000 strong November protests soon after the elections. The Georgian defence minister was quoted as saying: “that the president was no longer in control of this tiny Caucasus nation” and that, “for now, the military would not intervene”. Rustavi-2 independent television reported the commander for the National Guard pledging loyalty to an interim president named by the opposition, and withdrawing support from Shevardnadze. The Georgian example is proof that if people wish to replace their rulers, it is not an impossible task. Furthermore, we can see from these events, that the practical steps in changing a government is to build public opinion (Ra’i al-Aam), to gain influence of the elite (Ahl-ul Halli wa’L Aqd), and obtain physical support (Nussrah) from the military. Indeed these were the key elements in the Prophet (saws) work to create real change in his society, except that he (saws) not only worked to replace the rulers of his day, but he (saws) worked to replace the entire Kufr system with the system of Islam via the universal method (Sunan al-Hayat) which Muslims as well as non-Muslims can employ to bring change in society. It is clear from the Seerah of the prophet (saws), that He (saws) went out openly into the society and engaged in an intellectual and political struggle. He (saws) challenged the false creeds, thoughts of the society; he (saws) also challenged the systems and the rulers in order to build a public opinion for Islam. Furthermore, the Prophet (saws) sought out the people of power who could physically establish the Islamic state for him. He (saws) approached many tribes who held the power at his time asking them to support him and establish the Deen of Islam. Eventually, the Aws and Khazraj tribes accepted his (saws) offer, and pledged allegiance to him and aided him to establish the first ever Islamic state in Daar al-Madinah, which was to be a new dawn in the era of mankind. “Allah has promised, to those among you who have believed and worked righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the earth, inheritance of power, as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their Deen, the one He has chosen for them and that He will change their state of fear in which they lived to one of security and peace.” [TMQ An-Nur: 55] 1st Shawaal 1424 Hijri 25th November 2003 CE

When a woman loves a man she makes constant duca for him without him knowning.

salaam JZK for posting this! Sheikh Kuftaro runs the Sheikh Ahmad Kuftaro Islamic Foundation, a Damascus-based group for religious education which caters to some 5,000 students, 20 percent of them foreigners. "As an Islamic thinker, I am for a moderate secular state working for the religious beliefs of all.... There is no room for political Islam on our agenda," he adds. No matter what institutes they establish to "educate" Muslims, they'll never succeed as they will never be able to stop the revival of Islam in the hearts of the people.

asalaamu alaykum, This is indeed interesting! Buti: “A young man, newly religious, without any Islamic education, reads the word of Allah Most High “To Allah belongs the place where the sun rises and where it sets: wherever you turn, there is the countenance of Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-encompassing, the All-knowing (Qur’an 2:115), and gathers from it that a Muslim may face any direction he wishes in his prescribed prayers, as the ostensive purport of the verse implies. But he has heard that the four Imams unanimously concur upon the necessity of his facing towards the Kaaba, and he knows they have evidences for it that he is unaware of. What should he do when he wants to pray? Should he follow his conviction from the evidence available to him, or follow the Imam who unanimously concur on the contrary of what he has understood?” Salafi: “He should follow his conviction.” Buti: “And pray towards the east for example. And his prayer would be legally valid?” Salafi: “Yes. He is morally responsible for following his personal conviction.” Conviction can not be more important than knowledge for if it was we'd be able to practice Islam based on our own personal understanding. Also how can one reach a valid conclusion if one does not review all of the evidence? Anyway, jzk for sharing thunder and nice avatar-may Allah grant him jannah. salaam

mercedes (the name of my cat ) milk or juice?

Pakistan women socialites embrace Islam Sahar Ali BBC correspondent in Karachi A Koran class at al-Huda. (Photos: Anis Hamdani) A new breed of scholar is inspiring Islamic study among Pakistan's last bastion of sceptics - the educated female elite. Women like Dr Farhat Hashmi are bringing a contemporary perspective to the teaching of the Koran. It appeals to followers like Naila Shahid, who always wanted to study Islam in greater depth but balked when hearing the mullahs talk of heaven and hell and the purdah (veil). "When I heard that, I just recoiled from wanting to go any deeper," says the 40-something mother of college-going children. Dr Hashmi, a product of a Western religious education, has founded a chain of institutes offering Islamic education to women. They have had their [share of] sleeveless blouses and coffee parties and are now ready for religion Razia Latif, housewife "It is a very practical, very precise version of Islam," she says. On a typical Saturday afternoon, elevator loads of women pour into the al-Huda Institute of Islamic Education for Women in Karachi. The silence, save for the exchange of greetings, may be unusual, but al-Huda's congregations are symbolic of a religious revolution in Pakistan - the desire to understand Islam. Seventeen-year-old Maryam Asif believes an in-depth knowledge of her faith has helped her differentiate between truth and rhetoric. "People say so many things and often you just can't accept them as Islam," she says. Rukhsana Yamin, a Karachi-based publisher, says her knowledge of religion had been rather limited because "every time you pick up a volume to educate yourself, it fails to hold your interest". Charisma To teach the aspiring students, the new breed of women scholars uses modern methods. One such teacher, Huma Hassan, addresses weekly informal gatherings at a private residence in Karachi. The expectations of Pakistanis have not been fulfilled in our 50-odd years of independence. There is a feeling of betrayal and despair Dr Farhat Hashmi The women who attend are mostly socialites. Ms Hassan translates and explains Koranic verses with the help of multimedia presentations projected on to a screen. But it isn't just the modern methods that appeal - the teachers do too. Bushra Kausar, a regular at al-Huda, says: "Dr Hashmi relates the Koran to everyday experiences." But Dr Hashmi is diffident about her charisma. "I have never asked women why they come to hear me," she says in a soft, measured voice. Her explanation of their quest for religious enlightenment is that people often turn to religion in despair. "The expectations of Pakistanis have not been fulfilled in our 50-odd years of independence," she says. "There is a feeling of betrayal and despair. Even political Islam has not been able to address people's grievances," says Dr Hashmi, referring to the Islamisation drive of former leader General Zia ul-Haq, who died in 1988. "There is a search for direction, for guidance," she says. Dr Hashmi believes Islam holds the cure. "I wanted to help others experience the peace I felt by reading the Koran," she says. "When people benefit from something, they will be drawn to it." Talebanisation fear But Dr Hashmi's analysis of why the country's female elite is suddenly seeking religious enlightenment is not accepted by everyone. Traditional dress is the new trend - here in the examinations hall Mother and social worker Razia Latif says women are just plain bored. "They have had their [share of] sleeveless blouses and coffee parties and are now ready for religion," she says. Ms Latif is disappointed that these women do not volunteer to work in hospitals or help other social causes instead. She says the only outcome of this religious revival has been to cloister women behind the veil. The proliferation of women in hijab (headscarves) and even the Afghan-style burqa on the streets of Karachi has women like Ms Latif worried that this may be a first step towards Talebanisation. Student Bushra Kausar disagrees. She says that although the hijab is the most noticeable change among the female elite, it is in fact "the easiest step" on the path to becoming a practising Muslim, which is the ultimate objective. About 1,200 women signed up for Dr Hashmi's year-long course on Koranic translation in Karachi last year. Such was the scholar's renown that the last session, open to the public, drew almost 10,000 women from all over the city. "It's very difficult to give a reason for this trend," says Farah Moazzam, a journalist who heads al-Huda's mass communication department. She says initially that curiosity and the academic approach draw the educated women, but then the magnetism of Allah's words take over "and then you're hooked!" Now at social gatherings, women wearing the hijab are increasingly seen alongside those in sleeveless dresses. With religion the new "in" thing, it is questionable who is now the modern woman.

The Quest For Allah's Mercy Prepared by Muhammad Alshareef It was narrated that in the days that Musa - alayhis salam - wandered with Bani Israaeel in the desert a grizzly drought befell them. Together, they all raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed rain. Then, to the astonishment of Musa - alayhis salam - and all those watching, the few clouds that scattered the sky vanished, the heat scorched down, and the drought intensified. It was revealed to Musa that there was a sinner amongst Bani Israaeel that had disobeyed Allah for more than 40 years of his life. “Let him separate himself from the congregation,” Allah told Musa. “Only then shall I shower you all with rain.” Musa - alayhis salam - called out to the throngs of humanity, “There is a person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah for 40 years. Let him separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be rescued from the drought.” That man, waited, looking left and right, hoping that someone else would step forward…but no one did. Sweat poured from his brow and he knew he was the one. If he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst; yet, if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity. He raised his hands with sincerity he had never known before, with humility he had never tasted, tears poured on both cheeks, “O Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive me!” As Musa - alayhis salam - and Bani Israaeel awaited for the sinner to step forward, the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa - alayhis salam - asked Allah ta'aala, “O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though that sinner did not come forward.” And Allah ta'aala replied, “O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I blessed all of Bani Israaeel with water.” Musa, wanting to know who was this blessed man, asked, “Show him to me O Allah!” Allah ta'aala replied, “O Musa, I hid his sins for 40 years. Do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?”