There are over 32,000 widows and 97,000 orphaned children in violence-battered Jammu and Kashmir, a new study has found, suggesting that the unending conflict in the border state has only made things worse for the vulnerable sections of society.
"There were 32,400 widows and 97,200 orphans in 2008 in Kashmir and the number is growing. With the continuity and intensification of armed conflict, their life conditions have deteriorated to miserable sub-human levels," says the study conducted by valley-based known sociologist Bashir Ahmed Dabla.
The study says that widows and orphans in the state, which has been battling a separatist war since 1989, have not received adequate help from the government or NGOs.
"Neither the state nor NGOs have been able to help them in an organised and systematic manner. The tragic aspect of the situation is that the state has not adopted any specific social policy and programme in this regard. Their problems accumulate and intensify day by day," it says.
"Individuals, society, community and the state must share responsibilities in terms of coordination, organisation and effective implementation of relevant programmes," the study asserts. (IANS)
reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Muslims should avoid Namaz on road
By Andalib Akhter
New Delhi:
A section of Muslims under a banner of Zakat Foundation of India have appealed the community not to offer Namaz on roads. They said that offering Namaz at places where it could cause disturbance to the members of the society is against the basic principles of Islam.
The appeal came following a row over a mosque of Aravali Apartment in Alaknanda in south Delhi where residents objected to people offering namaz beyond Mosque premises claiming it blocked traffic in the area.
Lately the residents had filed a contempt petition against Delhi Police after the Delhi High Court passed an order in January last year asking the cops to ensure that the prayers were offered within the walls of the mosque. However, the HC dismissed the contempt petition after getting an assurance from the police that the area beyond the mosque boundary will be kept free of the namazis.
A senior police officer told this correspondent that the problem of namazis going beyond their premises is found in all part of the country. The mosques do not have the capacity to accommodate so many people due to which they are forced to offer prayers on the road. Police have to take extra care when people offer namaz on the road and big manpower is used to prevent any untoward incident.
In a statement after meeting with scholars, the president of Zakat Foundation of India, Dr. Zafar Mahmood said the community should outline a mechanism that devout could offer prayers without disturbing the traffic and the society. He asked Muslims to be sensitive to the needs and difficulties of the other members of the society. 'The namaz on roads or footpaths disturbs not only non-Muslim but Muslims too. The children, elders and the sick are more affected if traffic is blocked on roads. He appealed to the Muslims, particularly the Imam and Mutawallis of mosques to send a list of mosques where people offer nemaz beyond the premises of the mosques, in order that alternative arrangements could be thought of.
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
New Delhi:
A section of Muslims under a banner of Zakat Foundation of India have appealed the community not to offer Namaz on roads. They said that offering Namaz at places where it could cause disturbance to the members of the society is against the basic principles of Islam.
The appeal came following a row over a mosque of Aravali Apartment in Alaknanda in south Delhi where residents objected to people offering namaz beyond Mosque premises claiming it blocked traffic in the area.
Lately the residents had filed a contempt petition against Delhi Police after the Delhi High Court passed an order in January last year asking the cops to ensure that the prayers were offered within the walls of the mosque. However, the HC dismissed the contempt petition after getting an assurance from the police that the area beyond the mosque boundary will be kept free of the namazis.
A senior police officer told this correspondent that the problem of namazis going beyond their premises is found in all part of the country. The mosques do not have the capacity to accommodate so many people due to which they are forced to offer prayers on the road. Police have to take extra care when people offer namaz on the road and big manpower is used to prevent any untoward incident.
In a statement after meeting with scholars, the president of Zakat Foundation of India, Dr. Zafar Mahmood said the community should outline a mechanism that devout could offer prayers without disturbing the traffic and the society. He asked Muslims to be sensitive to the needs and difficulties of the other members of the society. 'The namaz on roads or footpaths disturbs not only non-Muslim but Muslims too. The children, elders and the sick are more affected if traffic is blocked on roads. He appealed to the Muslims, particularly the Imam and Mutawallis of mosques to send a list of mosques where people offer nemaz beyond the premises of the mosques, in order that alternative arrangements could be thought of.
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
Workshop on Rights of Women in Quran
By Nigar Ataulla
Mumbai:
The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) and Institute of Islamic Studies, Mumbai organized a three-day workshop on “Rights of Women in Quran- Theory and Practice” at the Bio-Medical Ethics Centre, St Pius College in Mumbai. Representatives from the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan from across India formed the majority of participants. But NGOs working in the field of women's rights too participated. The first session of the programme was taken by Dr Zeenath Shaukat Ali, professor of Islamic Studies at St Xaviers College, Mumbai who elaborated on the Quranic verses that explain the status accorded to women by Islam. She also spoke on “Concept of Evidence in Law.” Maulana Shoiab Koti handled the subject on “Concept of Women in Quran” and “Gender Parity in Islam”. Shazia of CSSS spoke on “ Fatwa: its origin, history and present reality.” Advocate Flavia Agnes spelt out the “Legal Rights of Muslim Women.” Nausheen, an advocate and working with the NGO Majlis presented case studies. Nilofer Akhter, also an advocate interacted with the participants stressing on the importance of knowledge of the laws for women. Dr. Malika Mistry referred to many case studies on “Responsible Parenthood.” Qutub Jahan Kidwai threw light on the need for Reforms in Muslim Law. Dr Asghar Ali Engineer, due to ill health could not be present for the sessions, however presented his remarks on the “Quranic Rights for Women”, over phone from the hospital.
Reference by: http://islamicvoice.com
Mumbai:
The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) and Institute of Islamic Studies, Mumbai organized a three-day workshop on “Rights of Women in Quran- Theory and Practice” at the Bio-Medical Ethics Centre, St Pius College in Mumbai. Representatives from the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan from across India formed the majority of participants. But NGOs working in the field of women's rights too participated. The first session of the programme was taken by Dr Zeenath Shaukat Ali, professor of Islamic Studies at St Xaviers College, Mumbai who elaborated on the Quranic verses that explain the status accorded to women by Islam. She also spoke on “Concept of Evidence in Law.” Maulana Shoiab Koti handled the subject on “Concept of Women in Quran” and “Gender Parity in Islam”. Shazia of CSSS spoke on “ Fatwa: its origin, history and present reality.” Advocate Flavia Agnes spelt out the “Legal Rights of Muslim Women.” Nausheen, an advocate and working with the NGO Majlis presented case studies. Nilofer Akhter, also an advocate interacted with the participants stressing on the importance of knowledge of the laws for women. Dr. Malika Mistry referred to many case studies on “Responsible Parenthood.” Qutub Jahan Kidwai threw light on the need for Reforms in Muslim Law. Dr Asghar Ali Engineer, due to ill health could not be present for the sessions, however presented his remarks on the “Quranic Rights for Women”, over phone from the hospital.
Reference by: http://islamicvoice.com
Monday, May 24, 2010
Historic Mosque restored in Zanzibar
Three historic mosques in Tanzania including the one near Kizimkazi on the island of Zanzibar has been restored by the support received from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. Kizimkazi mosque is considered one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the coast of east Africa. The 2008 grant allowed for repairs and restoration of the mosque's roof, ceiling, doors and windows as well as the mihrab, the ornate alcove that indicates the direction of Mecca.
The Kizimkazi mosque is old enough to show the roots of Islam in the region. Most of the mosque dates to a reconstruction in the 18th century — as proclaimed in an Arabic inscription from that time — but inscriptions near the mihrab that are in Kufic, an older form of Arabic script, put the date of construction in the 12th century, and some design elements of the mosque reflect the influence of Persia. Islam arrived in southeastern Africa with traders from Arabia and Persia, 3,500 miles (5,633 kilometers) to the north.
Zanzibar attracts a lot of tourists who also visit the town as the launching point for dolphin tours. The mosque bearing Persian and Swahili architecture had fallen into disrepair due to the harsh climate.
A U.S. official who visited Pemba to discuss plans for the project “heard many complaints about the hardships of life in these villages, including the problem of having no access to fresh water,” the proposal said. “But when asked which was a higher priority for the community — access to fresh water or restoration of their historic mosque — the village elders unanimously stated that restoring the mosques was more important,”
reported news portal afrik.com\
The Kizimkazi mosque is old enough to show the roots of Islam in the region. Most of the mosque dates to a reconstruction in the 18th century — as proclaimed in an Arabic inscription from that time — but inscriptions near the mihrab that are in Kufic, an older form of Arabic script, put the date of construction in the 12th century, and some design elements of the mosque reflect the influence of Persia. Islam arrived in southeastern Africa with traders from Arabia and Persia, 3,500 miles (5,633 kilometers) to the north.
Zanzibar attracts a lot of tourists who also visit the town as the launching point for dolphin tours. The mosque bearing Persian and Swahili architecture had fallen into disrepair due to the harsh climate.
A U.S. official who visited Pemba to discuss plans for the project “heard many complaints about the hardships of life in these villages, including the problem of having no access to fresh water,” the proposal said. “But when asked which was a higher priority for the community — access to fresh water or restoration of their historic mosque — the village elders unanimously stated that restoring the mosques was more important,”
reported news portal afrik.com\
US jettisons linking terrorism with Islam
The US President Barack Obama has ordered a revision of America's National Security Strategy with the aim to remove terms that link Islam to terrorism, administration officials said.
The officials said the change would remove terms like “Islamic radicalism” from the National Security Strategy, a document that was created by the previous administration to outline the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war.
The US National Security Strategy outlines major national security concerns and the methods to deal with them. Such documents are prepared periodically by the executive branch of the government for Congress. US media outlets often refer to this document for borrowing terms to use in a report.
The Bush-era document describes the war against terrorists as “the struggle against militant Islamic radicalism … the great ideological conflict of the early years of the 21st century.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the announcement on April 8, saying it was a step in the right direction.
“We welcome this change in language as another step towards respectful and effective outreach to Muslims at home and abroad,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. He recommended that media professionals and commentators adopt similarly neutral and objective language and avoid “loaded” terminology.
In 2008, the US National Counter-Terrorism Centre produced a document, called “Words that Work and Words that Don't: A Guide for Counter-Terrorism Communication,” which encouraged government agencies and officials to avoid characterizing Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups as “Islamic” or “Muslim,” as that could “unintentionally legitimise” their tactics.
US Counterterrorism officials said the move to rewrite the security strategy is part of an effort to assure the Muslims that the United States does not link them with terrorism. Since taking office, President Obama has attempted o seek reconciliation with the Muslim world. During his landmark speech at Cairo University in Egypt in June 2009, Mr. Obama said that the US did not have any enmity with the Muslim world.
The document that the Obama administration is consulting for drafting the new strategy — “A Guide for Counter-Terrorism Communication” — urges US officials to “avoid labelling everything 'Muslim.' It reinforces the 'US vs. Islam' framework that Al Qaeda promotes.” It reminds US officials that “a large percentage of the world's population subscribes to this religion” and “unintentionally alienating them is not a judicious move.”
Urging officials not to use the word Islam in conjunction with terrorism, the guide notes that, “Although the Al Qaeda network exploits religious sentiments and tries to use religion to justify its actions, we should treat it as an illegitimate political organisation, both terrorist and criminal.”
Instead of calling terror groups Muslim or Islamic, the guide suggests using words like totalitarian, terrorist or violent extremist — “widely understood terms that define our enemies appropriately and simultaneously deny them any level of legitimacy.”
By employing the language the extremists use about themselves, the guide warns, officials can inadvertently help legitimise them in the eyes of Muslims. “Never use the terms 'jihadist' or 'mujahideen' … to describe the terrorists,” instructs the guide. “A mujahid, a holy warrior, is a positive characterisation in the context of a just war. In Arabic, jihad means 'striving in the path of God' and is used in many contexts beyond warfare. Calling our enemies Jihadis and their movement a global Jihad unintentionally legitimises their actions.” The guide also bans the use of the word caliphate to describe Al Qaeda's goal. The term “has positive connotations for Muslims,” says the guide, adding, “The best description of what (Al Qaeda) really want to create is a 'global totalitarian state.'”
A longer document — “Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims” — says officials should use “terms such as 'death cult,' 'cult-like,' 'sectarian cult,' and 'violent cultists' to describe the ideology and methodology of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.” It recommends eschewing the terms Islamist or Islamism — the advocacy of a political system based on Islam – while referring to terrorist groups.
The document urges officials to consider describing Al Qaeda's ideology as “Takfirism” — the practice of declaring Muslims who disagree with extremism apostates who can be killed.
Reference by: http://islamicvoice.com
The officials said the change would remove terms like “Islamic radicalism” from the National Security Strategy, a document that was created by the previous administration to outline the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war.
The US National Security Strategy outlines major national security concerns and the methods to deal with them. Such documents are prepared periodically by the executive branch of the government for Congress. US media outlets often refer to this document for borrowing terms to use in a report.
The Bush-era document describes the war against terrorists as “the struggle against militant Islamic radicalism … the great ideological conflict of the early years of the 21st century.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the announcement on April 8, saying it was a step in the right direction.
“We welcome this change in language as another step towards respectful and effective outreach to Muslims at home and abroad,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. He recommended that media professionals and commentators adopt similarly neutral and objective language and avoid “loaded” terminology.
In 2008, the US National Counter-Terrorism Centre produced a document, called “Words that Work and Words that Don't: A Guide for Counter-Terrorism Communication,” which encouraged government agencies and officials to avoid characterizing Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups as “Islamic” or “Muslim,” as that could “unintentionally legitimise” their tactics.
US Counterterrorism officials said the move to rewrite the security strategy is part of an effort to assure the Muslims that the United States does not link them with terrorism. Since taking office, President Obama has attempted o seek reconciliation with the Muslim world. During his landmark speech at Cairo University in Egypt in June 2009, Mr. Obama said that the US did not have any enmity with the Muslim world.
The document that the Obama administration is consulting for drafting the new strategy — “A Guide for Counter-Terrorism Communication” — urges US officials to “avoid labelling everything 'Muslim.' It reinforces the 'US vs. Islam' framework that Al Qaeda promotes.” It reminds US officials that “a large percentage of the world's population subscribes to this religion” and “unintentionally alienating them is not a judicious move.”
Urging officials not to use the word Islam in conjunction with terrorism, the guide notes that, “Although the Al Qaeda network exploits religious sentiments and tries to use religion to justify its actions, we should treat it as an illegitimate political organisation, both terrorist and criminal.”
Instead of calling terror groups Muslim or Islamic, the guide suggests using words like totalitarian, terrorist or violent extremist — “widely understood terms that define our enemies appropriately and simultaneously deny them any level of legitimacy.”
By employing the language the extremists use about themselves, the guide warns, officials can inadvertently help legitimise them in the eyes of Muslims. “Never use the terms 'jihadist' or 'mujahideen' … to describe the terrorists,” instructs the guide. “A mujahid, a holy warrior, is a positive characterisation in the context of a just war. In Arabic, jihad means 'striving in the path of God' and is used in many contexts beyond warfare. Calling our enemies Jihadis and their movement a global Jihad unintentionally legitimises their actions.” The guide also bans the use of the word caliphate to describe Al Qaeda's goal. The term “has positive connotations for Muslims,” says the guide, adding, “The best description of what (Al Qaeda) really want to create is a 'global totalitarian state.'”
A longer document — “Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims” — says officials should use “terms such as 'death cult,' 'cult-like,' 'sectarian cult,' and 'violent cultists' to describe the ideology and methodology of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.” It recommends eschewing the terms Islamist or Islamism — the advocacy of a political system based on Islam – while referring to terrorist groups.
The document urges officials to consider describing Al Qaeda's ideology as “Takfirism” — the practice of declaring Muslims who disagree with extremism apostates who can be killed.
Reference by: http://islamicvoice.com
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Muslim Heritage Film wins International Movie Award
London:
A short film about the scientific heritage of Muslim civilisation has won a series of international awards. 1001 Inventions and The Library of Secrets, starring Oscar-winning screen legend Sir Ben Kingsley, won four awards at the International Visual Communications Association (IVCA) ceremony held in London on 26th March.
Judges commended the short film saying it was “in a league of its own” awarding it four prestigious awards:Gold Award for Best Education Film, Gold Award for Best Photography, Silver Award for Best Drama, Silver Award for Best Original Music.
The movie was produced by the Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation (FSTC) and The Edge Picture Company as an introductory film for the 1001 Inventions exhibition that was launched at London's Science Museum in January 2010.
In the movie a group of young school children take a field trip to a dusty old library after their teacher challenges them to research the era known as the “Dark Ages” civilisation, a chore they resent until they meet a mysterious librarian (Kinglsey) who takes them on a journey to the past to uncover the thousand years of scientific and cultural excellence that took place outside Western Europe between the 7th and 17th century.
The film 1001 Inventions and The Library of Secrets can be seen as part of the 1001 Inventions exhibition at London's Science Museum, and can be viewed online at www.1001inventions.com. The exhibition is free to the public, seven days a week, and runs from the 21st January to 30th June 2010.
For further press information please contact: Junaid Bhatti on junaid@1001inventions.com
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
A short film about the scientific heritage of Muslim civilisation has won a series of international awards. 1001 Inventions and The Library of Secrets, starring Oscar-winning screen legend Sir Ben Kingsley, won four awards at the International Visual Communications Association (IVCA) ceremony held in London on 26th March.
Judges commended the short film saying it was “in a league of its own” awarding it four prestigious awards:Gold Award for Best Education Film, Gold Award for Best Photography, Silver Award for Best Drama, Silver Award for Best Original Music.
The movie was produced by the Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation (FSTC) and The Edge Picture Company as an introductory film for the 1001 Inventions exhibition that was launched at London's Science Museum in January 2010.
In the movie a group of young school children take a field trip to a dusty old library after their teacher challenges them to research the era known as the “Dark Ages” civilisation, a chore they resent until they meet a mysterious librarian (Kinglsey) who takes them on a journey to the past to uncover the thousand years of scientific and cultural excellence that took place outside Western Europe between the 7th and 17th century.
The film 1001 Inventions and The Library of Secrets can be seen as part of the 1001 Inventions exhibition at London's Science Museum, and can be viewed online at www.1001inventions.com. The exhibition is free to the public, seven days a week, and runs from the 21st January to 30th June 2010.
For further press information please contact: Junaid Bhatti on junaid@1001inventions.com
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
Saturday, May 8, 2010
WOMEN IN ISLAM
Obituary: Aminah Assilmi - She led a caravan on the route of faith
Aminah Assilmi, renowned female scholar of Islam died on March 5 in a car accident in Newport, Tennessee while returning from a speaking engagement. She was President of International Union of Muslim Women, the organization that was responsible for persuading the US Postal Service to issue the first postage stamp with an Islamic theme 'Eid Mubarak'. She was 65. Aminah lost touch with several of her relatives and friends when she embraced Islam on May 21, 1977. However, she worked her way to the hearts of all those who had deserted her, eventually all of them converting to Islam.
She was a Southern Baptist girl, a radical feminist, and a broadcast journalist. She was a girl with an unusual calibre, who excelled in school, received scholarships, ran her own business, and was competing with professionals and getting awards - all these while she was going to college. A group of Islamic missionaries who knocked at her door one day introduced her to Islam with a copy of the Holy Quran and a book on Islam. She hated Islam in the beginning and used to find mistakes in the holy scripture in order 'to convince the Muslims of the fake nature of Islam and Prophet Muhammadsaw. But slowly Islam made inroads into her heart till she declared the Shahadah. This resulted in a divorce with her husband and under State laws of Colorado denied her the custody of two little kids. Judge gave her 20 minutes to decide whether she would give up Islam or the kids.
She loved her children very dearly. It is perhaps the worst nightmare that a mother can have: asked to willfully leave her child - not for one day, month, or year, but forever. On the other hand, how could she keep the Truth away from her children and live as a hypocrite? "It was the most painful 20 minutes in my life", she said in an interview. Those of us who are mothers and fathers, especially of young children, little imagination is needed to feel the pain and torment that she must have passed every second in those 20 minutes. What added further to her pain was that according to doctors, she could never bear another child because of certain complications. "I prayed like I had never done before ... I knew that there was no safer place for my children to be than in the hands of Allah. If I denied Him, there would be no way in the future to show my children the wonders of being with Allah."
She decided to retain Islam. Her two dear children - one little boy and one little girl - were taken away from her and given to her ex-husband.
Aminah Assilimi later fought back and took her case to the media. Although she did not get custody of her children again, a change was made in the Colorado law that one cannot be denied child custody on the basis of his or her religion.
Aminah kept touch with everyone in the family even though they hated her or detested her decision to embrace Islam. She would keep sending them cards on various occasions with a few quotes from the Quran. First to accept Islam among them was her grandmother, at 100, who died soon after conversion to Islam. Next to join her faith was her father who had loaded his double barreled shotgun to kill her when he first heard the news of her entering Islam. Her mother too entered the fold of Islam a few years later. Curiously, both her father and mother were Muslims for at least two years, without each one knowing of other also being a Muslim. Her son, upon becoming adult, accepted Islam. When he turned 21, he called her and said that he wanted to become a Muslim.
Sixteen years after the divorce, her ex-husband also accepted Islam. He said that he had been watching her for 16 years and wanted his daughter to have the same religion that she had. He came to her and apologized for what he had done. He was a very nice gentlemen and Assilimi had forgiven him long ago.
Perhaps the greatest reward for her was yet to come. Assilmi later married another person, and despite the doctors' verdict that she could never conceive another child, Allah blessed her with a beautiful boy. If Allahswt makes a gift to someone, who can prevent Him? It was truly a wonderful blessing from Allahswt, and so she named him "Barakah"
She lost her job because of wearing hijab. She was later appointed the President of the International Union of Muslim Women. She used to deliver lectures nationwide and was on high demand.
She is survived by her daughter Amber, and sons, Whitney and Mohammad, as well as by several grandchildren.
(abridged from www.iumw.org)
Aminah Assilmi, renowned female scholar of Islam died on March 5 in a car accident in Newport, Tennessee while returning from a speaking engagement. She was President of International Union of Muslim Women, the organization that was responsible for persuading the US Postal Service to issue the first postage stamp with an Islamic theme 'Eid Mubarak'. She was 65. Aminah lost touch with several of her relatives and friends when she embraced Islam on May 21, 1977. However, she worked her way to the hearts of all those who had deserted her, eventually all of them converting to Islam.
She was a Southern Baptist girl, a radical feminist, and a broadcast journalist. She was a girl with an unusual calibre, who excelled in school, received scholarships, ran her own business, and was competing with professionals and getting awards - all these while she was going to college. A group of Islamic missionaries who knocked at her door one day introduced her to Islam with a copy of the Holy Quran and a book on Islam. She hated Islam in the beginning and used to find mistakes in the holy scripture in order 'to convince the Muslims of the fake nature of Islam and Prophet Muhammadsaw. But slowly Islam made inroads into her heart till she declared the Shahadah. This resulted in a divorce with her husband and under State laws of Colorado denied her the custody of two little kids. Judge gave her 20 minutes to decide whether she would give up Islam or the kids.
She loved her children very dearly. It is perhaps the worst nightmare that a mother can have: asked to willfully leave her child - not for one day, month, or year, but forever. On the other hand, how could she keep the Truth away from her children and live as a hypocrite? "It was the most painful 20 minutes in my life", she said in an interview. Those of us who are mothers and fathers, especially of young children, little imagination is needed to feel the pain and torment that she must have passed every second in those 20 minutes. What added further to her pain was that according to doctors, she could never bear another child because of certain complications. "I prayed like I had never done before ... I knew that there was no safer place for my children to be than in the hands of Allah. If I denied Him, there would be no way in the future to show my children the wonders of being with Allah."
She decided to retain Islam. Her two dear children - one little boy and one little girl - were taken away from her and given to her ex-husband.
Aminah Assilimi later fought back and took her case to the media. Although she did not get custody of her children again, a change was made in the Colorado law that one cannot be denied child custody on the basis of his or her religion.
Aminah kept touch with everyone in the family even though they hated her or detested her decision to embrace Islam. She would keep sending them cards on various occasions with a few quotes from the Quran. First to accept Islam among them was her grandmother, at 100, who died soon after conversion to Islam. Next to join her faith was her father who had loaded his double barreled shotgun to kill her when he first heard the news of her entering Islam. Her mother too entered the fold of Islam a few years later. Curiously, both her father and mother were Muslims for at least two years, without each one knowing of other also being a Muslim. Her son, upon becoming adult, accepted Islam. When he turned 21, he called her and said that he wanted to become a Muslim.
Sixteen years after the divorce, her ex-husband also accepted Islam. He said that he had been watching her for 16 years and wanted his daughter to have the same religion that she had. He came to her and apologized for what he had done. He was a very nice gentlemen and Assilimi had forgiven him long ago.
Perhaps the greatest reward for her was yet to come. Assilmi later married another person, and despite the doctors' verdict that she could never conceive another child, Allah blessed her with a beautiful boy. If Allahswt makes a gift to someone, who can prevent Him? It was truly a wonderful blessing from Allahswt, and so she named him "Barakah"
She lost her job because of wearing hijab. She was later appointed the President of the International Union of Muslim Women. She used to deliver lectures nationwide and was on high demand.
She is survived by her daughter Amber, and sons, Whitney and Mohammad, as well as by several grandchildren.
(abridged from www.iumw.org)
Muslim Law Board for better deal for women
Even as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board did not take a stand on much publicized women reservation bill at its annual conclave here, yet the deliberation at meet widely reflect concern for the women.
The Board not only increased the representation of the women in the body, its president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi asked for a better deal for women In his presidential address, Nadvi emphasized the need to accord greater importance to women in all spheres, particularly in matters of marriage, inheritance and reforms within the Muslim society.
“The true spirit of Islam is in giving honour and respect to women who often do not get their due,” said Nadvi, who was re-elected the Board chief for the third consecutive term. He was first elected as chairman in the Hyderabad session of board.
Nadvi appealed to the Muslims to stay away from social evils like female foeticide, dowry and lavish weddings. These, incidentally, formed the core of the islah-e-ma'ashra (reform of society) programme of the Law Board. He laid emphasis on the protection of women's rights.
Interestingly the board's reluctance to oppose the bill is seen as a setback to many, from Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad to Mamata Banerjee, who have described the legislation as detrimental to Muslim women.
Sources in Board said that an informal discussion before the formal session where some office-bearers had highlighted the need for a “quota within the quota”. But Nadvi dropped it on the ground that the Board should restrict itself with protection and preservation of the Islamic shariah instead of taking a political position on key issues of the day.
Board secretary Abdul Raheem Qureshi too explained that it was not the proper platform to discuss a “sensitive and potentially political issue” like the women's reservation bill.
The total number of women members in the executive panel of the body has been enhanced to five. The four new female members are Rukhsana Lari, Safia Naseem (both from Lucknow), Noorjehan Shakeel (Kolkata) and Asma Zehra (Hyderabad). Naseem Iqtidar Ali Khan was till now the sole woman member in the executive committee. She continues to be on the panel.
Another significant feature of the Board's elections was its attempt to expand its representation in the north-eastern States and Ladakh. The representatives from these regions were elected as term members. While, Maulana Bilal was elected from Meghalaya and Syed Ahmed from Tripura, the Independent MP from Ladakh ( Jammu and Kashmir), Ghulam Hussain and Maulana Ata-ur- Rehman, AUDF (Assam United Democratic Front) MLA from Badarpur in Assam were elected term members from Ladakh and Assam.
Meanwhile the Board has decided to oppose the proposed amendments to the Communal Violence Bill which seek to give more powers to men in uniform. The Board would bring all Muslim MPs to mobilise opinion on the issue.
“The police force throughout the country is biased against Muslims… any arbitrary powers given to them would be extremely harmful for the community,” the Qureshi said. “We oppose amendments to the Communal Violence Bill which would give extraordinary powers to the police in riot situations,” he said. (andalib2001@yahoo.com)
By Andalib Akhter
The Board not only increased the representation of the women in the body, its president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi asked for a better deal for women In his presidential address, Nadvi emphasized the need to accord greater importance to women in all spheres, particularly in matters of marriage, inheritance and reforms within the Muslim society.
“The true spirit of Islam is in giving honour and respect to women who often do not get their due,” said Nadvi, who was re-elected the Board chief for the third consecutive term. He was first elected as chairman in the Hyderabad session of board.
Nadvi appealed to the Muslims to stay away from social evils like female foeticide, dowry and lavish weddings. These, incidentally, formed the core of the islah-e-ma'ashra (reform of society) programme of the Law Board. He laid emphasis on the protection of women's rights.
Interestingly the board's reluctance to oppose the bill is seen as a setback to many, from Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad to Mamata Banerjee, who have described the legislation as detrimental to Muslim women.
Sources in Board said that an informal discussion before the formal session where some office-bearers had highlighted the need for a “quota within the quota”. But Nadvi dropped it on the ground that the Board should restrict itself with protection and preservation of the Islamic shariah instead of taking a political position on key issues of the day.
Board secretary Abdul Raheem Qureshi too explained that it was not the proper platform to discuss a “sensitive and potentially political issue” like the women's reservation bill.
The total number of women members in the executive panel of the body has been enhanced to five. The four new female members are Rukhsana Lari, Safia Naseem (both from Lucknow), Noorjehan Shakeel (Kolkata) and Asma Zehra (Hyderabad). Naseem Iqtidar Ali Khan was till now the sole woman member in the executive committee. She continues to be on the panel.
Another significant feature of the Board's elections was its attempt to expand its representation in the north-eastern States and Ladakh. The representatives from these regions were elected as term members. While, Maulana Bilal was elected from Meghalaya and Syed Ahmed from Tripura, the Independent MP from Ladakh ( Jammu and Kashmir), Ghulam Hussain and Maulana Ata-ur- Rehman, AUDF (Assam United Democratic Front) MLA from Badarpur in Assam were elected term members from Ladakh and Assam.
Meanwhile the Board has decided to oppose the proposed amendments to the Communal Violence Bill which seek to give more powers to men in uniform. The Board would bring all Muslim MPs to mobilise opinion on the issue.
“The police force throughout the country is biased against Muslims… any arbitrary powers given to them would be extremely harmful for the community,” the Qureshi said. “We oppose amendments to the Communal Violence Bill which would give extraordinary powers to the police in riot situations,” he said. (andalib2001@yahoo.com)
By Andalib Akhter
Islamic scholars condemn genocide of Christians tribals
Top Nigerian Islamic scholars have condemned as un-Islamic and barbaric the massacre of hundreds of people, mostly women and children, in attacks on three Christian villages south of Jos metropolis, urging authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"The massacre is no doubt a condemnable and abominable act which is totally rejected by the Muslim community," Dr Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), told IslamOnline.net on March 9.
Some 500 people, mostly Christian women and children, are believed to have been killed in attacks by machete-wielding gangs on three villages on the fringes of Jos, capital of Plateau state.
Abdullahi Shuaib, coordinator of the Conference of Islamic Organizations (CIO), branded the killings as unacceptable and called for holistic probe into the progrom that has left the hitherto beautiful state into a shadow of its old self.
Professor Lakin Akintola, prominent Islamic televangelist and lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), said the Muslim community condemns these wanton killings.
Ethnic, Not Religious
Prof. Akintola said the conflict was ethnic and not religious in nature but both divergent faiths of the two tribes get a bad name.
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
"The massacre is no doubt a condemnable and abominable act which is totally rejected by the Muslim community," Dr Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), told IslamOnline.net on March 9.
Some 500 people, mostly Christian women and children, are believed to have been killed in attacks by machete-wielding gangs on three villages on the fringes of Jos, capital of Plateau state.
Abdullahi Shuaib, coordinator of the Conference of Islamic Organizations (CIO), branded the killings as unacceptable and called for holistic probe into the progrom that has left the hitherto beautiful state into a shadow of its old self.
Professor Lakin Akintola, prominent Islamic televangelist and lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), said the Muslim community condemns these wanton killings.
Ethnic, Not Religious
Prof. Akintola said the conflict was ethnic and not religious in nature but both divergent faiths of the two tribes get a bad name.
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tantawi Passes Away
Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the highest seat of religious learning in the Sunni world, passed away on March 10, of a heart attack. Sheikh Tantawi breathed his last during a visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the annual King Faisal awards ceremony, reported Egypt's state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA).
The Egyptian TV said Sheikh Tantawi, 81, suffered severe pain while boarding a plane and fell on the stairs. He was rushed to the Amir Sultan hospital in Riyadh where doctors proclaimed him dead of a sudden heart attack.
However, the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV channel quoted Amr, Sheikh Tantawi's eldest son, as saying that family wanted him to be buried in Saudi Arabia.
In 1996, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appointed Tantawi, then the Grand Mufti, as Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the school established in 359 Hijri corresponding to 971 AD. Al-Azhar first admitted women students in 1961, albeit in separate classes. Also in 1961, subjects in engineering and medicine were added to classes on Shari`ah, the Qur'an and the intricacies of Arabic language.
Reference By: http://islamicvoice.com
The Egyptian TV said Sheikh Tantawi, 81, suffered severe pain while boarding a plane and fell on the stairs. He was rushed to the Amir Sultan hospital in Riyadh where doctors proclaimed him dead of a sudden heart attack.
However, the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV channel quoted Amr, Sheikh Tantawi's eldest son, as saying that family wanted him to be buried in Saudi Arabia.
In 1996, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appointed Tantawi, then the Grand Mufti, as Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the school established in 359 Hijri corresponding to 971 AD. Al-Azhar first admitted women students in 1961, albeit in separate classes. Also in 1961, subjects in engineering and medicine were added to classes on Shari`ah, the Qur'an and the intricacies of Arabic language.
Reference By: http://islamicvoice.com
US Group decries textbooks on Islam as inflammatory
A series of children's textbooks on Islam contains misleading and inflammatory rhetoric about the religion, inaccurately portraying its followers as inherently violent and deserving of suspicion, according to a Muslim civil liberties group.
The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations began what it calls a public awareness campaign Wednesday against the "World of Islam" books by Mason Crest Publishing.
"This is not about Muslims being offended," Moein Khawaja, the chapter's civil rights director, said at a news conference. "Filled with incorrect information and deception, these books are contrary to the education mission of schools and libraries."
It was not immediately clear where the series is being used, but Khawaja said complaints from council chapters across the country lead him to believe it is on bookshelves in about two dozen states.
Mason Crest partnered with the Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, which describes itself as an independent nonprofit, to produce the 10-book series. The series is designed for ages 10 and older. Institute vice president Alan Luxenberg, who wrote a book called Radical Islam for the series, defended the texts.
"They're taking things out of context to paint a picture that misconstrues the meaning of the books," Luxenberg said Wednesday.
Reference by: http://islamicvoice.com
The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations began what it calls a public awareness campaign Wednesday against the "World of Islam" books by Mason Crest Publishing.
"This is not about Muslims being offended," Moein Khawaja, the chapter's civil rights director, said at a news conference. "Filled with incorrect information and deception, these books are contrary to the education mission of schools and libraries."
It was not immediately clear where the series is being used, but Khawaja said complaints from council chapters across the country lead him to believe it is on bookshelves in about two dozen states.
Mason Crest partnered with the Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, which describes itself as an independent nonprofit, to produce the 10-book series. The series is designed for ages 10 and older. Institute vice president Alan Luxenberg, who wrote a book called Radical Islam for the series, defended the texts.
"They're taking things out of context to paint a picture that misconstrues the meaning of the books," Luxenberg said Wednesday.
Reference by: http://islamicvoice.com
Faisal Award Presented - Turkish PM Erdogan leads the honour list this year
Saudi King Abdullah presented awards to this year's winners of the King Faisal International Prize. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was presented the King Faisal International prize for Service to Islam for the year 2010. In his citation, Abdullah Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the King Faisal International Prize, said Erdogan was nominated for the prize by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth. Erdogan, he said, has been given this prestigious award for his role in advancing a series of economic, social and cultural reforms in Turkey besides being a leading Muslim exponent, who "builds rapport between civilizations."
The Prize for Islamic Studies was withheld this year as none of the entries qualified for the award. Each winner of the award received Saudi Riyal 750,000 ($200,000) in cash, a certificate outlining the laureate's work and a commemorative 22-carat gold medallion.
In his acceptance speech, Erdogan said that it was “a distinct pleasure for me to receive the King Faisal Award on behalf of my country and my people." He called for the restoration of peace and security in the Middle East, saying that it disturbs his conscience that "the Middle East is known as a geography of blood and cries."
King Abdullah presented the prize for Arabic language and literature to professor Abdulrahman El-Houari Hadj-Saleh of Algeria and professor Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki of Lebanon. "Professor Hadj-Saleh is recognized for his insightful analysis of Al-Khalil's linguistic theory and its relation to contemporary grammatical thought," said Othaimeen, while reading out the citation. He said that professor Baalbaki's publications in Arabic and English have enhanced Arabic grammar education both in Arab and Western universities and familiarized Western scholars with the fundamental manuscript of Si-Bawaihi, an ancient scholar and founder of Arabic grammar.
The prize for medicine was shared by Prof. Reinhold Ganz of Germany, Prof. Jean-Pierre Pelletier of Canada and Prof. Johanne Martel-Pelletier of Canada. They were honoured for their pioneering works on non-arthroplasty management of degenerative joint disease.
In the science category, Prof. Enrico Bombieri of the United States and Terence Chi-Shen Tao of Australia shared the prize for their distinguished contributions in their respective fields. Bombieri work addresses fundamental and difficult problems in mathematics, said Othaimeen, while Tao is known for his "technical brilliance in the use of the necessary mathematical machinery."
The topics for 2011 King Faisal International Prize were also announced on this occasion. In Islamic studies category, the topic is "socioeconomic aspects in the Islamic world through 16th to 19the century", while in Arabic language category the topic is "renovation trends in Arabic poetry up to the end of the 7th Century Hijri".
In the science category, the Faisal award will be given for outstanding achievements in chemistry, while stem cell therapy is the topic under medicine category. The deadline for nomination is May 1, 2010.
As usual, the ceremony held in Prince Sultan hall in the Al-Faisaliah complex was attended by several Saudi ministers, diplomats and dignitaries.
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
The Prize for Islamic Studies was withheld this year as none of the entries qualified for the award. Each winner of the award received Saudi Riyal 750,000 ($200,000) in cash, a certificate outlining the laureate's work and a commemorative 22-carat gold medallion.
In his acceptance speech, Erdogan said that it was “a distinct pleasure for me to receive the King Faisal Award on behalf of my country and my people." He called for the restoration of peace and security in the Middle East, saying that it disturbs his conscience that "the Middle East is known as a geography of blood and cries."
King Abdullah presented the prize for Arabic language and literature to professor Abdulrahman El-Houari Hadj-Saleh of Algeria and professor Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki of Lebanon. "Professor Hadj-Saleh is recognized for his insightful analysis of Al-Khalil's linguistic theory and its relation to contemporary grammatical thought," said Othaimeen, while reading out the citation. He said that professor Baalbaki's publications in Arabic and English have enhanced Arabic grammar education both in Arab and Western universities and familiarized Western scholars with the fundamental manuscript of Si-Bawaihi, an ancient scholar and founder of Arabic grammar.
The prize for medicine was shared by Prof. Reinhold Ganz of Germany, Prof. Jean-Pierre Pelletier of Canada and Prof. Johanne Martel-Pelletier of Canada. They were honoured for their pioneering works on non-arthroplasty management of degenerative joint disease.
In the science category, Prof. Enrico Bombieri of the United States and Terence Chi-Shen Tao of Australia shared the prize for their distinguished contributions in their respective fields. Bombieri work addresses fundamental and difficult problems in mathematics, said Othaimeen, while Tao is known for his "technical brilliance in the use of the necessary mathematical machinery."
The topics for 2011 King Faisal International Prize were also announced on this occasion. In Islamic studies category, the topic is "socioeconomic aspects in the Islamic world through 16th to 19the century", while in Arabic language category the topic is "renovation trends in Arabic poetry up to the end of the 7th Century Hijri".
In the science category, the Faisal award will be given for outstanding achievements in chemistry, while stem cell therapy is the topic under medicine category. The deadline for nomination is May 1, 2010.
As usual, the ceremony held in Prince Sultan hall in the Al-Faisaliah complex was attended by several Saudi ministers, diplomats and dignitaries.
Reference by:http://islamicvoice.com
Monday, May 3, 2010
An Islamic perspective on Interfaith dialogue
These fears, however, are largely unfounded. All religions, including Islam, emphasise common values such as interfaith harmony and cooperation. For example, the Prophet Muhammad advocated reconciliation with other religions, as evidenced by his peace treaty with Jewish tribes in Medina. He also believed in mutual trust between different faith communities, evidenced by the fact that in 615 CE he sent Muslims fleeing persecution from the Meccans to find refuge with the Christian king of Abyssinia, current-day Ethiopia.
Dialogue is not about trying to defeat others, but about understanding and learning about them. The Qur’an insists that the world’s beauty lies in its racial and religious pluralism, otherwise God would not have created it so (10:99 and 5:48). The Qur’an states: “O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another” (49:13).
The process of dialogue forces people to examine and reconfirm their own religious identity and to strengthen their own beliefs while respecting those of others with patience and dignity.
In this sense, interfaith dialogue can provide a platform to understand and cooperate with each other. For this dialogue to move forward successfully, representatives of different faiths engaged in active dialogue should agree on the following three principles: forced conversions are not condoned; followers of all religions are free to lead lives in accordance with their own beliefs; and the values inherent in all religions — especially patience and tolerance – that allow their followers to coexist with one another peacefully are respected.
In Islam, these principles are clearly laid out. First, the often quoted Qur’anic verse: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256) rejects forced conversions to Islam and provides a fundamental parameter for Muslims to meet peacefully with people of other religions, accepting who and what they are.
Second, the Qur’an acknowledges freedom of religion and religious worship: “Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion” (109:6). This verse clearly forbids Muslims to interfere in other peoples religious affairs and affirms the freedom to live according to one’s faith.
Third, when it comes to exercising patience and tolerance, the Qur’an advises Muslims to interact with non-Muslims for the sake of the common good: "God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them" (8:9).
These teachings of no compulsion, freedom of belief, and worship and forgiveness have unfortunately been disregarded or overlooked by people keen on creating division.
Those perpetrating violence in the name of religion for their own vested interests will not succeed in creating divisions if others come forward as connectors rather than dividers. Every religion has developed a message around human values of peace, love, tolerance and mutual respect. Interfaith dialogue can build on these commonalities to strengthen the world community of believers and can save religion from being maligned by those bent on destroying it.
Refference By:http://islamonline.com
Dialogue is not about trying to defeat others, but about understanding and learning about them. The Qur’an insists that the world’s beauty lies in its racial and religious pluralism, otherwise God would not have created it so (10:99 and 5:48). The Qur’an states: “O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another” (49:13).
The process of dialogue forces people to examine and reconfirm their own religious identity and to strengthen their own beliefs while respecting those of others with patience and dignity.
In this sense, interfaith dialogue can provide a platform to understand and cooperate with each other. For this dialogue to move forward successfully, representatives of different faiths engaged in active dialogue should agree on the following three principles: forced conversions are not condoned; followers of all religions are free to lead lives in accordance with their own beliefs; and the values inherent in all religions — especially patience and tolerance – that allow their followers to coexist with one another peacefully are respected.
In Islam, these principles are clearly laid out. First, the often quoted Qur’anic verse: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256) rejects forced conversions to Islam and provides a fundamental parameter for Muslims to meet peacefully with people of other religions, accepting who and what they are.
Second, the Qur’an acknowledges freedom of religion and religious worship: “Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion” (109:6). This verse clearly forbids Muslims to interfere in other peoples religious affairs and affirms the freedom to live according to one’s faith.
Third, when it comes to exercising patience and tolerance, the Qur’an advises Muslims to interact with non-Muslims for the sake of the common good: "God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them" (8:9).
These teachings of no compulsion, freedom of belief, and worship and forgiveness have unfortunately been disregarded or overlooked by people keen on creating division.
Those perpetrating violence in the name of religion for their own vested interests will not succeed in creating divisions if others come forward as connectors rather than dividers. Every religion has developed a message around human values of peace, love, tolerance and mutual respect. Interfaith dialogue can build on these commonalities to strengthen the world community of believers and can save religion from being maligned by those bent on destroying it.
Refference By:http://islamonline.com
India: 26/11: Kasab guilty; Ansari, Sabauddin Shaikh acquitted.Ajmal Kasab
MUMBAI, (Times of India): Pakistani terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kasab, charged with the deaths of 166 Indians and foreigners, has been pronounced guilty of all charges by a special court in Mumbai. The two Indians, who were named as co-accused in the case-- Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Shaikh, have been acquitted.
The argument on quantum of sentence to Kasab will be held tomorrow.
Kasab has been convicted on all 86 charges against him. He was found guilty or murder and waging war against the nation, the court said while delivering the judgment.
"You have been found guilty of waging war against India, and killing people at CST (train station), killing government officials and abetting the other nine terrorists," Judge M.L. Tahaliyani said as he announced his verdict. They were the most serious charges laid against Kasab, a 22-year-old Pakistani who was arrested after the Mumbai siege.
The conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan, the judge said.
The two Indian co-accused were set free because the evidence against them was weak, the court ruled. Kasab had said that the duo supplied maps of Mumbai to LeT bosses. Thus, they gave logistical support to carry out the attack. But the judge, punching a hole in the prosecution’s argument, said better maps were available on Google than the crude drawings Kasab claimed had been supplied by Ansari and Sabauddin.
This verdict is the biggest terror trial the city has witnessed in recent times. Ten Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai on 26th November 2008 and unleashed 60 hours of mayhem that left 166 people dead and 244 injured. The terrorists had targeted several sites such as the World Heritage Building of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Hotel Oberoi-Trident, Cama Hospital and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer centre and Leopold Cafe, a favourite among foreigners.
The witnesses included many survivors of the terror attacks, eyewitnesses, family members of the victims, police officials, several foreign nationals, Indian security officials and officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
There was extremely tight security around the court premises as the verdict was being delivered. Some reporters were allowed inside court, however, use of mobile phones or any other devices was strictly prohibited.
The prosecution had gathered a heap of evidence against Kasab and presented strong arguments that are capable of sending him to the gallows. Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam charged Kasab with not just the criminal acts of killing and injuring scores of innocent people, but termed him guilty of the entire conspiracy that went into planning and executing the dastardly attack.
Nikam argued that Kasab is a highly trained and motivated member of the Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who underwent months of training in weapons and intelligence so he could execute the well-planned attack on Mumbai. Nikam also relied on scores of witness testimonies in a bid to establish Kasab's role in the killing of innocents at CST and Cama Hospital, the gunning down of senior policemen in Badruddin Tyabji Lane and the final gunbattle at Marine Drive.
The prosecution's main argument had been that Kasab is a cold-blooded killer whose guilt has been established both through human accounts of the night of November 26, 2008, as well as forensic evidence in the form of DNA reports.
The case against Ansari and Shaikh revolved around Kasab's confession to magistrate R V Sawant Waghule in February 2009. Kasab had said that the duo supplied maps of Mumbai to LeT bosses. Thus, they gave logistical support to carry out the attack.
In his defence, Kasab had maintained that he was an innocent Pakistani who was picked up several days prior to the attack. He has insisted that the terrorist caught on CCTV is not him but a lookalike. He also rubbished all witness testimonies as tutored and given at the behest of police officials.
Both Ansari and Shaikh had denied all wrongdoing. Their main argument is why would the LeT rely upon crude maps allegedly supplied by them when far more sophisticated versions were easily available on the internet. After the arrest of American David Coleman Headley, they also argued that recce work for the attack was done by him and they had been framed needlessly in the case.
In September 2006, after 13 years of arguments, the Tada court had begun giving its verdicts in the 1993 serial blasts case. It was the last major trial in recent times.
Reffered by:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/26/11-Kasab-guilty-Ansari-Sabauddin-Shaikh-acquitted/articleshow/5885540.cms
The argument on quantum of sentence to Kasab will be held tomorrow.
Kasab has been convicted on all 86 charges against him. He was found guilty or murder and waging war against the nation, the court said while delivering the judgment.
"You have been found guilty of waging war against India, and killing people at CST (train station), killing government officials and abetting the other nine terrorists," Judge M.L. Tahaliyani said as he announced his verdict. They were the most serious charges laid against Kasab, a 22-year-old Pakistani who was arrested after the Mumbai siege.
The conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan, the judge said.
The two Indian co-accused were set free because the evidence against them was weak, the court ruled. Kasab had said that the duo supplied maps of Mumbai to LeT bosses. Thus, they gave logistical support to carry out the attack. But the judge, punching a hole in the prosecution’s argument, said better maps were available on Google than the crude drawings Kasab claimed had been supplied by Ansari and Sabauddin.
This verdict is the biggest terror trial the city has witnessed in recent times. Ten Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai on 26th November 2008 and unleashed 60 hours of mayhem that left 166 people dead and 244 injured. The terrorists had targeted several sites such as the World Heritage Building of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Hotel Oberoi-Trident, Cama Hospital and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer centre and Leopold Cafe, a favourite among foreigners.
The witnesses included many survivors of the terror attacks, eyewitnesses, family members of the victims, police officials, several foreign nationals, Indian security officials and officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
There was extremely tight security around the court premises as the verdict was being delivered. Some reporters were allowed inside court, however, use of mobile phones or any other devices was strictly prohibited.
The prosecution had gathered a heap of evidence against Kasab and presented strong arguments that are capable of sending him to the gallows. Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam charged Kasab with not just the criminal acts of killing and injuring scores of innocent people, but termed him guilty of the entire conspiracy that went into planning and executing the dastardly attack.
Nikam argued that Kasab is a highly trained and motivated member of the Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who underwent months of training in weapons and intelligence so he could execute the well-planned attack on Mumbai. Nikam also relied on scores of witness testimonies in a bid to establish Kasab's role in the killing of innocents at CST and Cama Hospital, the gunning down of senior policemen in Badruddin Tyabji Lane and the final gunbattle at Marine Drive.
The prosecution's main argument had been that Kasab is a cold-blooded killer whose guilt has been established both through human accounts of the night of November 26, 2008, as well as forensic evidence in the form of DNA reports.
The case against Ansari and Shaikh revolved around Kasab's confession to magistrate R V Sawant Waghule in February 2009. Kasab had said that the duo supplied maps of Mumbai to LeT bosses. Thus, they gave logistical support to carry out the attack.
In his defence, Kasab had maintained that he was an innocent Pakistani who was picked up several days prior to the attack. He has insisted that the terrorist caught on CCTV is not him but a lookalike. He also rubbished all witness testimonies as tutored and given at the behest of police officials.
Both Ansari and Shaikh had denied all wrongdoing. Their main argument is why would the LeT rely upon crude maps allegedly supplied by them when far more sophisticated versions were easily available on the internet. After the arrest of American David Coleman Headley, they also argued that recce work for the attack was done by him and they had been framed needlessly in the case.
In September 2006, after 13 years of arguments, the Tada court had begun giving its verdicts in the 1993 serial blasts case. It was the last major trial in recent times.
Reffered by:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/26/11-Kasab-guilty-Ansari-Sabauddin-Shaikh-acquitted/articleshow/5885540.cms
Comprehensive analysis of chances and challenges facing aspiring Muslim MPs
By Elham Asaad Buaras
The prospects of having more Muslim candidates elected at the General Election are much brighter than in 2005. Although there are around the same number standing (80 compared to 79 in 2005), more will be elected than in 2005, including several women, from various parties. As has become customary, The Muslim News presents the most comprehensive analysis of the various chances and challenges faced by the aspiring MPs.
Reffered by: http://www.muslimnews.co.uk
The prospects of having more Muslim candidates elected at the General Election are much brighter than in 2005. Although there are around the same number standing (80 compared to 79 in 2005), more will be elected than in 2005, including several women, from various parties. As has become customary, The Muslim News presents the most comprehensive analysis of the various chances and challenges faced by the aspiring MPs.
Reffered by: http://www.muslimnews.co.uk
Islamic Terms Revisited
owadays, there is a pressing need for a clear and comprehensive perception of certain Islamic concepts and terms. The misunderstanding of concepts and terms such as dar al-Islam, dar al-harb, ahl adh-dhimah, and jihad is responsible for serious mistakes on the part of both Muslims and non-Muslims. The lack of a correct perception of these terms, their historical contexts, their proper application, and their developing and changing nature has given rise to a set of ideas and acts that are totally alien to Islam.
At the same time, the lack of a proper understanding of these concepts and terms has produced a lot of prejudices against Islam and unfair judgments of its rulings. Some of these concepts emerged in certain historical contexts that should be taken into account. Otherwise, if they are taken out of their contexts, a misleading picture of Islam will inevitably be formed.
A good example is the categorization of the world into two abodes, the abode of Islam (dar al-Islam) and the abode of war (dar al-harb). Such categorization is not mentioned in the Qur'an, nor is it a fixed and unchangeable principle. Rather, it came in response to certain temporary circumstances within which this categorization was understandable and justified, but at the same time, it may not be suitable to our time.
Some Muslims want to put this categorization into effect nowadays; other people, such as the Western media, take it out of its context and judge Islam on its basis. Both attitudes are harmful and unfair.
This folder approaches these problematic questions, presenting moderate views on such issues as the abode of Islam and the abode of war, dhimmah and citizenship, security and force.
reffered by:http://www.islamonline.net
At the same time, the lack of a proper understanding of these concepts and terms has produced a lot of prejudices against Islam and unfair judgments of its rulings. Some of these concepts emerged in certain historical contexts that should be taken into account. Otherwise, if they are taken out of their contexts, a misleading picture of Islam will inevitably be formed.
A good example is the categorization of the world into two abodes, the abode of Islam (dar al-Islam) and the abode of war (dar al-harb). Such categorization is not mentioned in the Qur'an, nor is it a fixed and unchangeable principle. Rather, it came in response to certain temporary circumstances within which this categorization was understandable and justified, but at the same time, it may not be suitable to our time.
Some Muslims want to put this categorization into effect nowadays; other people, such as the Western media, take it out of its context and judge Islam on its basis. Both attitudes are harmful and unfair.
This folder approaches these problematic questions, presenting moderate views on such issues as the abode of Islam and the abode of war, dhimmah and citizenship, security and force.
reffered by:http://www.islamonline.net
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