Question: Ever since I learned that the Jinn can possess people, I have been scared. I cannot sleep at night. They say that if you pray, you will not be scared. I pray, but I am very scared. What can I do?
Answered by Sheikh Khâlid Husayn
I have read your letter with deep concern and have felt the fears that you are suffering from.
You should know that the Jinn are a creation of Allah, but they are of a lesser grade than human beings. Sheikh Abû Bakr al-Jazâ’irî said: “Even the Muslim Jinn are lower in dignity and honor than human beings. Allah says: “We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of Our Creation.” [Sûrah al-Isrâ’: 70]
Such honor was never mentioned for the Jinn in Qur’an or Sunnah. Hence, humans are more honorable than the Jinn. The Jinn know this fact and feel inferior in front of people. That is why when people seek refuge with them, it makes them they feel so proud and arrogant.
You should know that the Jinn fear humans, particularly people with strong faith in Allah. It was related that the Jinn were frightened of `Umar and Abû Hurayrah.
Ibn Abî al-Dunyâ related that Mujâhid said: “While I was praying one night, somebody from among the Jinn, resembling a boy, stood in front of me and when I tried to grab him he jumped over the wall and I heard the noise of his fall. Then he never approached me again.” Then he said: “They (the Jinn) fear you as you fear them. But they fear you more than you fear them. If someone is approached by one of the Jinn, he should not fear him. Otherwise, they will pounce on him. But, if he confronts them, they will flee.” [Wiqâyah al-Insân min al-Jinn wa al-Shaytân page 33]
You should not fear the Jinn. Allah says: “It is only the Satan that suggested to you the fear of his votaries: be ye not afraid of them, but fear me if ye have faith” [Sûrah Âl-`Imrân: 175]
In order to get rid of your fear of the Jinn, I advise you to employ the following procedures:
1. Seek help from Allah and frequently seek refuge with him from Satan and his helpers from among the Jinn.
2. Be steadfast in praying on time.
3. Always read the prescribed remembrances of the morning and the evening, the remembrance before sleeping, and the other well-known remembrances.
4. Read or at lest listen to Sûrah al-Baqarah in full at least once every three days.
5. Read Âyah al-Kursî daily and particularly before going to bed. This is sure protection from the Jinn.
6. You have to abide strictly by Islamic teachings by doing what is permitted and avoiding what is sinful.
7. Offer sincere supplications to Allah to remove from you such unfounded fears and to protect you from evil and provide you with all manner of good.
And Allah knows best.
http://islamtoday.com/show_detail_se...main_cat_id=18
More - Jinn & Magic:
http://islamtoday.com/show_quest_sec...&sub_cat_id=96
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A to Z of Male Circumcision
Circumcision involves the removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. Specifically, the foreskin refers to the retractable double-layered fold of skin that covers the penis.
Many of those who are circumcised are done so while they are still infants, although there are a small percentage of those who are circumcised as adults. When an infant is circumcised, a small clamp called a Gompo Clamp is generally used, thereby ensuring that the glans penis is protected and that the bleeding is stopped quickly. After the foreskin has been securely clamped, a scalpel is then used to remove the part of the foreskin that is in the flat, or upper, part of the clamp. The procedure can take as little as a few minutes, and in order to protect the child from any unwanted injury or discomfort, a small dose of anesthesia is applied to the area.
Although historians generally disagree as to when the first circumcision took place, many believe that it originated in the Heliolithic culture some 15,000 years ago. Whether it branched off to different cultures or, conversely, arose in various cultures independently is also up for scholarly debate, but the Egyptians were the first to document the act. In the Jewish religion, the act of circumcision is performed in a ceremony known as a bris, where a figure known as a mohel performs the actual cutting of the foreskin. It usually takes place on the eighth day of the infant’s life unless.
In Islam, circumcision is an integral part of the religion. The preion of circumcision for Muslims is reported in several hadiths:
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The (characteristics of) the fitrah are five: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the fingernails and plucking the armpit hairs" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Fitrah is defined as the natural state of man.
The following words have been recorded in another hadith "get rid of the hair of disbelief
and perform circumcision" (Musnad Ahmad).
Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever accepts Islam should have his circumcision perfomed." (Talkhis al-Habir)
It has been reported in hadith that the recommended time for circumcision to be performed for a newborn baby is the seventh day. "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) performed the Aqiqah of al-Hassan and al-Hussain and circumcised them on the 7th day." (Reported by al-Baihaqee & Tabaraanee). It is important however to remember that the timing is only a recommendation and it is still permissible to perform circumcision after the seventh day if for example the day has been missed.
There are several scientific benefits of circumcision. For one thing, because the foreskin adds a larger surface area to the penis, the rate of infection can increase drastically, causing serious complications for people of all ages. Having it removed, however, drastically decreases the rate of infection. Moreover, during sexual intercourse, the foreskin and prepuce, which is the retractable piece of skin that covers the genitals, are prone to trauma, making it easier for harmful bacteria – such as the HIV virus, for instance – to enter the blood stream. Of course, as we all know, the HIV disease generally leads to AIDS which, at this point, is virtually incurable. Other proven medical benefits of circumcision include protection of the female partner against cancer of the cervix, protection against cancer of the penis and prevention of urinary tract infections.
More @ http://www.muslim-names.co.uk/articlecircumcision.php
Many of those who are circumcised are done so while they are still infants, although there are a small percentage of those who are circumcised as adults. When an infant is circumcised, a small clamp called a Gompo Clamp is generally used, thereby ensuring that the glans penis is protected and that the bleeding is stopped quickly. After the foreskin has been securely clamped, a scalpel is then used to remove the part of the foreskin that is in the flat, or upper, part of the clamp. The procedure can take as little as a few minutes, and in order to protect the child from any unwanted injury or discomfort, a small dose of anesthesia is applied to the area.
Although historians generally disagree as to when the first circumcision took place, many believe that it originated in the Heliolithic culture some 15,000 years ago. Whether it branched off to different cultures or, conversely, arose in various cultures independently is also up for scholarly debate, but the Egyptians were the first to document the act. In the Jewish religion, the act of circumcision is performed in a ceremony known as a bris, where a figure known as a mohel performs the actual cutting of the foreskin. It usually takes place on the eighth day of the infant’s life unless.
In Islam, circumcision is an integral part of the religion. The preion of circumcision for Muslims is reported in several hadiths:
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The (characteristics of) the fitrah are five: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the fingernails and plucking the armpit hairs" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Fitrah is defined as the natural state of man.
The following words have been recorded in another hadith "get rid of the hair of disbelief
and perform circumcision" (Musnad Ahmad).
Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever accepts Islam should have his circumcision perfomed." (Talkhis al-Habir)
It has been reported in hadith that the recommended time for circumcision to be performed for a newborn baby is the seventh day. "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) performed the Aqiqah of al-Hassan and al-Hussain and circumcised them on the 7th day." (Reported by al-Baihaqee & Tabaraanee). It is important however to remember that the timing is only a recommendation and it is still permissible to perform circumcision after the seventh day if for example the day has been missed.
There are several scientific benefits of circumcision. For one thing, because the foreskin adds a larger surface area to the penis, the rate of infection can increase drastically, causing serious complications for people of all ages. Having it removed, however, drastically decreases the rate of infection. Moreover, during sexual intercourse, the foreskin and prepuce, which is the retractable piece of skin that covers the genitals, are prone to trauma, making it easier for harmful bacteria – such as the HIV virus, for instance – to enter the blood stream. Of course, as we all know, the HIV disease generally leads to AIDS which, at this point, is virtually incurable. Other proven medical benefits of circumcision include protection of the female partner against cancer of the cervix, protection against cancer of the penis and prevention of urinary tract infections.
More @ http://www.muslim-names.co.uk/articlecircumcision.php
Friday, November 9, 2007
did you know...
… that non-Jewish Israelis can’t buy or lease land in Israel.
… that Palestinian license plates in Israel are color coded to distinguish Jews from non-Jews.
… that Jerusalem, both East and West, is considered by the entire world community, including the United States, to be occupied territory and NOT part of Israel.
… that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for Jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the "territories"? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is given to about 400 settlers, while 15% must be divided among Hebron’s 120,000 Palestinians.
… the United States awards Israel $5 billion in aid each year. Update: Here is a short clip from the documentary "Occupation 101," exposing US Aid to Israel:
… that yearly US aid to Israel exceeds the aid the US grants to the whole African continent.
… that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons.
… that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites.
… that Israel currently occupies territories of two sovereign nati in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
… that Israel has for decades routinely sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies.
… that high-ranking military officers in the Israeli Occupation Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed by the IOF.
… that Israel refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war.
… that Israel routinely confiscates bank accounts, businesses and land, and refuses to pay compensation to those who suffer the confiscation.
… that Israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors.
… that the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders, is the Israeli AIPAC.
… that Israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
… that today’s Israel sits on the former sites of more than 400 now-vanished Palestinian villages, and that the Israeli’s re-named almost every physical site in the country to cover up the traces.
… that it was not until 1988 that Israelis were barred from running "Jews Only" job ads.
… that four prime ministers of Israel Begin, Shamir, Rabin, and Sharon, have taken part in either bomb attacks on civilians, massacres of civilians, or forced expulsions of civilians from their villages.
… that the Israeli Foreign Ministry pays two American public relations firms to promote Israel to Americans.
…that Israel’s government includes a party which advocates expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories.
… that Israel’s settlement-building increased rapidly since Oslo.
… that settlement building under Barak doubled compared to settlement building under Netanyahu.
… that Israel once dedicated a postage stamp to a man who attacked a civilian bus and killed several people.
… that recently-declassified documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion in at least some instances approved of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948.
We often hear of Ehud Barak’s generosity about an alleged return of 95% of the Palestinian Occupied Territories. When Palestinians refused, they were blamed for "missing an opportunity." The Palestinians have already accepted Israel’s existence on 78% of what was Palestine. For those who use the argument of the Bible: God said to Abraham, "Unto thy seed, I will give thy land." Abraham had two sons. Ismael - the Arab son, and Isaac - the Jewish son. So even if one wants to go to the Bible, the land would belong to both.
… that Palestinian Christians are considered the "living stones" of Christianity because they are the direct descendants of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
… that despite a ban on torture by Israel’s High Court of Justice, torture has continued by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners.
… that Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion of the refugee population in the world.
WELL, NOW YOU DO!
WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT!?
THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS LET OTHERS KNOW
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m37611&hd=&size=1&l=e
… that Palestinian license plates in Israel are color coded to distinguish Jews from non-Jews.
… that Jerusalem, both East and West, is considered by the entire world community, including the United States, to be occupied territory and NOT part of Israel.
… that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for Jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the "territories"? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is given to about 400 settlers, while 15% must be divided among Hebron’s 120,000 Palestinians.
… the United States awards Israel $5 billion in aid each year. Update: Here is a short clip from the documentary "Occupation 101," exposing US Aid to Israel:
… that yearly US aid to Israel exceeds the aid the US grants to the whole African continent.
… that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons.
… that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites.
… that Israel currently occupies territories of two sovereign nati in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
… that Israel has for decades routinely sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies.
… that high-ranking military officers in the Israeli Occupation Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed by the IOF.
… that Israel refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war.
… that Israel routinely confiscates bank accounts, businesses and land, and refuses to pay compensation to those who suffer the confiscation.
… that Israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors.
… that the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders, is the Israeli AIPAC.
… that Israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
… that today’s Israel sits on the former sites of more than 400 now-vanished Palestinian villages, and that the Israeli’s re-named almost every physical site in the country to cover up the traces.
… that it was not until 1988 that Israelis were barred from running "Jews Only" job ads.
… that four prime ministers of Israel Begin, Shamir, Rabin, and Sharon, have taken part in either bomb attacks on civilians, massacres of civilians, or forced expulsions of civilians from their villages.
… that the Israeli Foreign Ministry pays two American public relations firms to promote Israel to Americans.
…that Israel’s government includes a party which advocates expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories.
… that Israel’s settlement-building increased rapidly since Oslo.
… that settlement building under Barak doubled compared to settlement building under Netanyahu.
… that Israel once dedicated a postage stamp to a man who attacked a civilian bus and killed several people.
… that recently-declassified documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion in at least some instances approved of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948.
We often hear of Ehud Barak’s generosity about an alleged return of 95% of the Palestinian Occupied Territories. When Palestinians refused, they were blamed for "missing an opportunity." The Palestinians have already accepted Israel’s existence on 78% of what was Palestine. For those who use the argument of the Bible: God said to Abraham, "Unto thy seed, I will give thy land." Abraham had two sons. Ismael - the Arab son, and Isaac - the Jewish son. So even if one wants to go to the Bible, the land would belong to both.
… that Palestinian Christians are considered the "living stones" of Christianity because they are the direct descendants of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
… that despite a ban on torture by Israel’s High Court of Justice, torture has continued by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners.
… that Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion of the refugee population in the world.
WELL, NOW YOU DO!
WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT!?
THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS LET OTHERS KNOW
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m37611&hd=&size=1&l=e
New Bill on "who is a terroris"
Getting mad at a "Coca Cola" machine(for stealing your money of course) is soon to be a radical act of violence and you'll be drug down to Guantanamo deemed a terrorist for attacking corporate property.... you did know that attacking "property" (particularly corporate owned) is an act of violence didn't you? Yet that police brutality among other things is justice.
Premise Four: Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy. Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to those lower is nearly always invisible, that is, unnoticed. When it is noticed, it is fully rationalized. Violence done by those lower on the hierarchy to those higher is unthinkable, and when it does occur is regarded with shock, horror, and the fetishization of the victims.
-Derrick Jensen
The intellectually immature neologism = "Terrorist" (which has become one of the most misused & worthless words in the English language) ... keeps expanding in its applicability.
At this rate it will soon become a compliment (if it already isn't) and include almost everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_snF1EDQlg
Not to mention that according to their own standard ... then the U.S. Government are "Terrorists" ... but most people who haven’t undergone a lobotomy, already knew that.
Premise Four: Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy. Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to those lower is nearly always invisible, that is, unnoticed. When it is noticed, it is fully rationalized. Violence done by those lower on the hierarchy to those higher is unthinkable, and when it does occur is regarded with shock, horror, and the fetishization of the victims.
-Derrick Jensen
The intellectually immature neologism = "Terrorist" (which has become one of the most misused & worthless words in the English language) ... keeps expanding in its applicability.
At this rate it will soon become a compliment (if it already isn't) and include almost everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_snF1EDQlg
Not to mention that according to their own standard ... then the U.S. Government are "Terrorists" ... but most people who haven’t undergone a lobotomy, already knew that.
From Sheriff's Department
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l_Vot0-Zrc
From Sheriff's Department
This is exactly why we need to lock our doors when pumping gas. This video is well worth your time to watch.
This is a 3 minute video produced by the Broward County, FL Sheriff's Office. Identity thieves are at it again, this time targeting people at gas stations. This sort of crime never occurred to me, especially since many of us never leave the side of our car when pumping gas anymore.
That has apparently not improved our safety, especially for women who carry purses. The footage of the actual crime being committed is shocking in how easy and quickly it is to pull off. Please take heed and pass it along to friends, families and coworkers. Click on the link below...
http://video.sheriff.org/psa_cartheft.shtml
From Sheriff's Department
This is exactly why we need to lock our doors when pumping gas. This video is well worth your time to watch.
This is a 3 minute video produced by the Broward County, FL Sheriff's Office. Identity thieves are at it again, this time targeting people at gas stations. This sort of crime never occurred to me, especially since many of us never leave the side of our car when pumping gas anymore.
That has apparently not improved our safety, especially for women who carry purses. The footage of the actual crime being committed is shocking in how easy and quickly it is to pull off. Please take heed and pass it along to friends, families and coworkers. Click on the link below...
http://video.sheriff.org/psa_cartheft.shtml
This was almost Unheard of in Iraq before Bush Invaded
This was almost Unheard of in Iraq before Bush Invaded
The Rape of 7 female detainees in the New Iraqi Democracy
Aliraq.news
November 6, 2007
On Monday, a responsible from the Office of Human Rights in Diwaniyah stated that 7 female detainees were raped in the prisons and detention centers of Diwaniyah whilst under torture.
The responsible who spoke on condition of anonymity affirmed that huge human rights violations are taking place the Diwaniyah prisons and in particular in the Anti Crime Bureau., the Directorate of Prisons, and the Deportation Bureau.
He said that arrested women are systematically raped and that one of them died under torture. He added that these women are raped and tortured in the most hideous of ways by the Police force.
There are confirmed reports that at least 7 of these women awaiting interrogation/investigations have been raped and one woman has died from torture.
That same source also added that the Office of Human Rights has toured some of the Diwaniyah prison and detention centers and visited both female and male detainees and has recorded their cases. Diwaniyah is situated 180 km south of the capital Baghdad.
US SOLDIER ADMITS TO RAPE IN IRAQ!!
Rape of Iraq by George W Bush
The Rape of 7 female detainees in the New Iraqi Democracy
Aliraq.news
November 6, 2007
On Monday, a responsible from the Office of Human Rights in Diwaniyah stated that 7 female detainees were raped in the prisons and detention centers of Diwaniyah whilst under torture.
The responsible who spoke on condition of anonymity affirmed that huge human rights violations are taking place the Diwaniyah prisons and in particular in the Anti Crime Bureau., the Directorate of Prisons, and the Deportation Bureau.
He said that arrested women are systematically raped and that one of them died under torture. He added that these women are raped and tortured in the most hideous of ways by the Police force.
There are confirmed reports that at least 7 of these women awaiting interrogation/investigations have been raped and one woman has died from torture.
That same source also added that the Office of Human Rights has toured some of the Diwaniyah prison and detention centers and visited both female and male detainees and has recorded their cases. Diwaniyah is situated 180 km south of the capital Baghdad.
US SOLDIER ADMITS TO RAPE IN IRAQ!!
Rape of Iraq by George W Bush
Monday, November 5, 2007
A WIFE'S TRUST....!!!
A WIFE'S TRUST....!!!
"One of our Jamats went to Edinburgh. The Imam who was leading the prayer [in a public place] after completing it was met by a few girls. One of the girls asked, "Do you know English?" The young man [who was leading the prayer] said, "I do". She said, "What is this that you have done?" The young man replied, "We have performed worship". The girl said, "But today isn't Sunday". The young man said, "We do this five times a day". The young lady expressed, "That's a lot".
The young man explained that if the blessings of Allah are kept in view, this is very little. And this is that action which brings about the spring of tranquility. This isn't hardship, this is felicity. Then the girl extended her hand to bid farewell and the young man said, "Forgive me for my hand cannot touch you". She asked why? He said, "This is my wife's trust". The girl collapsed to the ground.
A scream, and she began to cry, saying, "How blessed is that wife who has such a husband, O that the men in Europe would be like this"
from UK
Aliyah - 76696189
"One of our Jamats went to Edinburgh. The Imam who was leading the prayer [in a public place] after completing it was met by a few girls. One of the girls asked, "Do you know English?" The young man [who was leading the prayer] said, "I do". She said, "What is this that you have done?" The young man replied, "We have performed worship". The girl said, "But today isn't Sunday". The young man said, "We do this five times a day". The young lady expressed, "That's a lot".
The young man explained that if the blessings of Allah are kept in view, this is very little. And this is that action which brings about the spring of tranquility. This isn't hardship, this is felicity. Then the girl extended her hand to bid farewell and the young man said, "Forgive me for my hand cannot touch you". She asked why? He said, "This is my wife's trust". The girl collapsed to the ground.
A scream, and she began to cry, saying, "How blessed is that wife who has such a husband, O that the men in Europe would be like this"
from UK
Aliyah - 76696189
U.S. Media Ignores Estimate of 1 Million Iraqi Deaths
U.S. Media Ignores Estimate of 1 Million Iraqi Deaths
August 14, 2007
Yesterday a radio interviewer in South Africa asked me what had been the response of the "mainstream media in the United States" to Just Foreign Policy's ongoing estimate of the Iraqi death toll from the U.S. invasion and occupation, which on Thursday crossed the one million mark.
Sadly, I had to report that it has been ignored by mainstream media, even the wire services. But this is hardly surprising. A main motivation for constructing the web counter was to keep the "Lancet study" alive. The "Lancet study," you'll recall, was a study published last fall in the British medical journal The Lancet, which estimated that more than 600,000 Iraqis had had been killed as a result of the invasion as of July 2006. The media largely buried the Lancet study when it was published - and have largely ignored the question of the overall death toll from the U.S. invasion - so it's little surprise that they have ignored our attempt to shine a light on this question.
The Lancet study is the only existing study that uses the method accepted all over the world for estimating deaths due to large-scale violent conflict: a cluster survey. Its principal deficit for understanding the current situation is that the survey it was based on is now a year old, so that when people want to invoke the Lancet study to describe the death toll, they are likely to say, "a year ago the death toll was over 600,000" - leaving out what has happened since. Since the Lancet study is "old news," it's progressively easier to ignore it over time. It was this problem that gave us the idea of constructing an ongoing, rough update.
The tally of deaths reported in the Western media by Iraq Body Count, although it gives an inaccurate picture of the overall death toll, does have the advantage that it is regularly updated. So while the Iraq Body Count tally, by itself, doesn't help us understand the overall death toll, it does give us some information about the trend over time, because one can compare, for example, the Iraq Body Count tally today with the Iraq Body Count tally from July 2006.
Thus, we constructed our ongoing online estimate - for which we provide the code so you can include it on your own web page - by extrapolating from the Lancet estimate using the trend provided by Iraq Body Count.
Our extrapolation assumes that Iraq Body Count is capturing a fixed proportion of the true level of deaths over time. This is a conservative assumption, because it is likely that Iraq Body Count is capturing a smaller share of the true death toll over time, as reporting from Iraq becomes progressively more difficult. By assuming that Iraq Body Count captures a constant share, we will tend to underestimate the true death toll.
Note that the number we focus on is the Lancet estimate of excess deaths due to violence. Thus, we understate the death toll by ignoring, say, increased deaths due to cholera which could be attributed, at least in part, to the destruction resulting from the U.S. invasion and occupation.
Note further that a straight-line extrapolation from the Lancet study - ignoring any increase in the death rate in the last year from the average between March, 2003 and July, 2006 - an average that includes the first year of the occupation, when by all accounts the death rate was lower - would still result in more than 750,000 excess deaths due to violence.
Increasingly, the U.S. occupation is described as a passive onlooker to the violence. This is deeply misleading for two reasons. First, the civil war - or civil wars - that have been unleashed in Iraq was a predictable - and predicted - result of the U.S. invasion. Everything is predicted if one searches enough, but in this case, for example, James Baker gave the threat of unleashing a civil war as a key reason why the U.S. didn't go to Baghdad in 1991, so it's absurd to treat this as an unforeseeable consequence. Second, the picture is being obscured by underreporting in the U.S. of deaths from U.S. air strikes, raids, and shooting at checkpoints.
Why does this matter? Obviously, we have a responsibility to understand the world as best we can, and nowhere is this responsibility greater than in trying to understand the consequences of the actions of our government. But the question is particularly urgent, because there is a major effort underway to rehabilitate the war politically, by cherry-picking - and misinterpreting - current developments. The surge is working, we are told: it must be given more time. If the scale of the overall death toll from the U.S. invasion becomes part of the debate, this sleight-of-hand will be much harder to maintain.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/us-media-ignores-estima_b_60396.html
August 14, 2007
Yesterday a radio interviewer in South Africa asked me what had been the response of the "mainstream media in the United States" to Just Foreign Policy's ongoing estimate of the Iraqi death toll from the U.S. invasion and occupation, which on Thursday crossed the one million mark.
Sadly, I had to report that it has been ignored by mainstream media, even the wire services. But this is hardly surprising. A main motivation for constructing the web counter was to keep the "Lancet study" alive. The "Lancet study," you'll recall, was a study published last fall in the British medical journal The Lancet, which estimated that more than 600,000 Iraqis had had been killed as a result of the invasion as of July 2006. The media largely buried the Lancet study when it was published - and have largely ignored the question of the overall death toll from the U.S. invasion - so it's little surprise that they have ignored our attempt to shine a light on this question.
The Lancet study is the only existing study that uses the method accepted all over the world for estimating deaths due to large-scale violent conflict: a cluster survey. Its principal deficit for understanding the current situation is that the survey it was based on is now a year old, so that when people want to invoke the Lancet study to describe the death toll, they are likely to say, "a year ago the death toll was over 600,000" - leaving out what has happened since. Since the Lancet study is "old news," it's progressively easier to ignore it over time. It was this problem that gave us the idea of constructing an ongoing, rough update.
The tally of deaths reported in the Western media by Iraq Body Count, although it gives an inaccurate picture of the overall death toll, does have the advantage that it is regularly updated. So while the Iraq Body Count tally, by itself, doesn't help us understand the overall death toll, it does give us some information about the trend over time, because one can compare, for example, the Iraq Body Count tally today with the Iraq Body Count tally from July 2006.
Thus, we constructed our ongoing online estimate - for which we provide the code so you can include it on your own web page - by extrapolating from the Lancet estimate using the trend provided by Iraq Body Count.
Our extrapolation assumes that Iraq Body Count is capturing a fixed proportion of the true level of deaths over time. This is a conservative assumption, because it is likely that Iraq Body Count is capturing a smaller share of the true death toll over time, as reporting from Iraq becomes progressively more difficult. By assuming that Iraq Body Count captures a constant share, we will tend to underestimate the true death toll.
Note that the number we focus on is the Lancet estimate of excess deaths due to violence. Thus, we understate the death toll by ignoring, say, increased deaths due to cholera which could be attributed, at least in part, to the destruction resulting from the U.S. invasion and occupation.
Note further that a straight-line extrapolation from the Lancet study - ignoring any increase in the death rate in the last year from the average between March, 2003 and July, 2006 - an average that includes the first year of the occupation, when by all accounts the death rate was lower - would still result in more than 750,000 excess deaths due to violence.
Increasingly, the U.S. occupation is described as a passive onlooker to the violence. This is deeply misleading for two reasons. First, the civil war - or civil wars - that have been unleashed in Iraq was a predictable - and predicted - result of the U.S. invasion. Everything is predicted if one searches enough, but in this case, for example, James Baker gave the threat of unleashing a civil war as a key reason why the U.S. didn't go to Baghdad in 1991, so it's absurd to treat this as an unforeseeable consequence. Second, the picture is being obscured by underreporting in the U.S. of deaths from U.S. air strikes, raids, and shooting at checkpoints.
Why does this matter? Obviously, we have a responsibility to understand the world as best we can, and nowhere is this responsibility greater than in trying to understand the consequences of the actions of our government. But the question is particularly urgent, because there is a major effort underway to rehabilitate the war politically, by cherry-picking - and misinterpreting - current developments. The surge is working, we are told: it must be given more time. If the scale of the overall death toll from the U.S. invasion becomes part of the debate, this sleight-of-hand will be much harder to maintain.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/us-media-ignores-estima_b_60396.html
Sunday, November 4, 2007
TASWEER (PICTURES, STATUES)
TASWEER (PICTURES, STATUES)
PICTURES, MAGAZINES AND TV: PUTTING THEM IN A PLACE OF PRAYER
Photos fall under the category of unlawful pictures, photos and all other form of pictures, no matter what instrument is used to create them, share the same ruling: They are unlawful. Also it makes no difference what you mentioned about the photo requiring no effort. It makes no difference as all photos are unlawful regardless of the means to produce them. It is permissible to buy educational magazines, magazines filled with useful information, even if they have pictures of humans or animals in them. This is because we buy the magazine not for the pictures but for the news and information. And it is permissible to place such a magazine in a place of prayer, but by either covering the pictures or obliterating the head of the pictures. It is not permissible to put a television in a place of prayer because of the falsehood and frivolity that television signifies.
It is not allowed to take pictures of beings that have souls, a rule that encompasses cameras and other instruments, with the exception of pictures that are necessary such as: Passports or identity photos.
Allaah says: "But do not help one another in sin and transgression." (Ma'idah 5:2)
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.571 Narrated by Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet saw pictures in the Ka'ba, he did not enter it till he ordered them to be erased. When he saw (the pictures of Abraham and Ishmael carrying the arrows of divination, he said, "May Allah curse them (i.e. the Quraish)! By Allah, neither Abraham nor Ishmael practiced divination by arrows."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.570 Narrated by Ibn Abbas: The Prophet entered the Ka'ba and found in it the pictures of (Prophet) Abraham and Mary. On that he said' "What is the matter with them ( i.e. Quraish)? They have already heard that angels do not enter a house in which there are pictures; yet this is the picture of Abraham. And why is he depicted as practicing divination by arrows?"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.836 Narrated by Aisha: I never used to leave in the Prophet's house anything carrying images or crosses but he obliterated it.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.840 Narrated by Aisha: I purchased a cushion with pictures on it. The Prophet (came and) stood at the door but did not enter. I said (to him), "I repent to Allah for what (the guilt) I have done." He said, "What is this cushion?" I said, "It is for you to sit on and recline on." He said, "The makers of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created.' Moreover, the angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.'"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.841 Narrated by Abu Talha: Allah's Apostle said, "Angels (of mercy) do not enter a house where there are pictures." The sub-narrator Busr added: "Then Zaid fell ill and we paid him a visit. Behold! There was, hanging at his door, a curtain decorated with a picture. I said to 'Ubaidullah Al-Khaulani, the stepson of Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet, "Didn't Zaid tell us about the picture the day before yesterday?" 'Ubaidullah said, "Didn't you hear him saying: 'except a design in a garment'?"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.448 Narrated by Abu Talha: I heard Allah's Apostle saying; "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.843 Narrated by Salim’s father: Once Gabriel promised to visit the Prophet but he delayed and the Prophet got worried about that. At last he came out and found Gabriel and complained to him of his grief (for his delay). Gabriel said to him, "We do not enter a place in which there is a picture or a dog."
PICTURES, MAGAZINES AND TV: PUTTING THEM IN A PLACE OF PRAYER
Photos fall under the category of unlawful pictures, photos and all other form of pictures, no matter what instrument is used to create them, share the same ruling: They are unlawful. Also it makes no difference what you mentioned about the photo requiring no effort. It makes no difference as all photos are unlawful regardless of the means to produce them. It is permissible to buy educational magazines, magazines filled with useful information, even if they have pictures of humans or animals in them. This is because we buy the magazine not for the pictures but for the news and information. And it is permissible to place such a magazine in a place of prayer, but by either covering the pictures or obliterating the head of the pictures. It is not permissible to put a television in a place of prayer because of the falsehood and frivolity that television signifies.
It is not allowed to take pictures of beings that have souls, a rule that encompasses cameras and other instruments, with the exception of pictures that are necessary such as: Passports or identity photos.
Allaah says: "But do not help one another in sin and transgression." (Ma'idah 5:2)
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.571 Narrated by Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet saw pictures in the Ka'ba, he did not enter it till he ordered them to be erased. When he saw (the pictures of Abraham and Ishmael carrying the arrows of divination, he said, "May Allah curse them (i.e. the Quraish)! By Allah, neither Abraham nor Ishmael practiced divination by arrows."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.570 Narrated by Ibn Abbas: The Prophet entered the Ka'ba and found in it the pictures of (Prophet) Abraham and Mary. On that he said' "What is the matter with them ( i.e. Quraish)? They have already heard that angels do not enter a house in which there are pictures; yet this is the picture of Abraham. And why is he depicted as practicing divination by arrows?"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.836 Narrated by Aisha: I never used to leave in the Prophet's house anything carrying images or crosses but he obliterated it.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.840 Narrated by Aisha: I purchased a cushion with pictures on it. The Prophet (came and) stood at the door but did not enter. I said (to him), "I repent to Allah for what (the guilt) I have done." He said, "What is this cushion?" I said, "It is for you to sit on and recline on." He said, "The makers of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created.' Moreover, the angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.'"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.841 Narrated by Abu Talha: Allah's Apostle said, "Angels (of mercy) do not enter a house where there are pictures." The sub-narrator Busr added: "Then Zaid fell ill and we paid him a visit. Behold! There was, hanging at his door, a curtain decorated with a picture. I said to 'Ubaidullah Al-Khaulani, the stepson of Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet, "Didn't Zaid tell us about the picture the day before yesterday?" 'Ubaidullah said, "Didn't you hear him saying: 'except a design in a garment'?"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.448 Narrated by Abu Talha: I heard Allah's Apostle saying; "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.843 Narrated by Salim’s father: Once Gabriel promised to visit the Prophet but he delayed and the Prophet got worried about that. At last he came out and found Gabriel and complained to him of his grief (for his delay). Gabriel said to him, "We do not enter a place in which there is a picture or a dog."
My Beloved Beard
My Beloved Beard
Life has really changed.
Gone are the days
Where people used to say
'Aww your face is so sweet and smooth'.
Gone are the days
Where it took ages,
To shape my sideburns
And shave all the facial hair.
Gone are the days
Of beauty, charm and attraction
As the beard is now,
A symbol of terrorism and backwardness.
People see me now,
As something strange and weird.
My relatives often make fun of me,
By asking … who broke your heart?
My distant friends ask me,
Did you join any terrorist camp?
My close friends at times make fun of me
'Hey man, blades are very cheap nowadays'
Women often ask me,
Why don't you shave that ugly beard
And be like a charming superstar?
You look boring!
I feel sorry for my sisters
As their minds are now totally corrupted
Inside the web of clean-shaved star icons,
As they're the new age 'trend setters'.
But very few know
That I follow a superstar.
His name is Muhammed,
The forgotten hero.
And I have no regrets
As he has taught me,
'This world is prison for a believer
And paradise for a non-believer. '
So wake up, O muslim youth !
Remember our heroes – The Prophets and the Sahabahs
Remember, this world is a testing place
And don't let your senses to deceive you.
So be proud to imitate,
The Prophetic style
For he has commanded us,
'Grow your beards and trim your moustaches'.
And he who loves his Sunnah,
Has indeed loved him.
And he who loves him,
Will be with him in Paradise
Source: Unknown
Life has really changed.
Gone are the days
Where people used to say
'Aww your face is so sweet and smooth'.
Gone are the days
Where it took ages,
To shape my sideburns
And shave all the facial hair.
Gone are the days
Of beauty, charm and attraction
As the beard is now,
A symbol of terrorism and backwardness.
People see me now,
As something strange and weird.
My relatives often make fun of me,
By asking … who broke your heart?
My distant friends ask me,
Did you join any terrorist camp?
My close friends at times make fun of me
'Hey man, blades are very cheap nowadays'
Women often ask me,
Why don't you shave that ugly beard
And be like a charming superstar?
You look boring!
I feel sorry for my sisters
As their minds are now totally corrupted
Inside the web of clean-shaved star icons,
As they're the new age 'trend setters'.
But very few know
That I follow a superstar.
His name is Muhammed,
The forgotten hero.
And I have no regrets
As he has taught me,
'This world is prison for a believer
And paradise for a non-believer. '
So wake up, O muslim youth !
Remember our heroes – The Prophets and the Sahabahs
Remember, this world is a testing place
And don't let your senses to deceive you.
So be proud to imitate,
The Prophetic style
For he has commanded us,
'Grow your beards and trim your moustaches'.
And he who loves his Sunnah,
Has indeed loved him.
And he who loves him,
Will be with him in Paradise
Source: Unknown
Touching feet of Elders out of respect
Touching feet of Elders out of respect
Touching another’s feet out of reverence or respect is a pagan Hindu rite; thus this and all such pagan rites and rituals are absolutely forbidden in Islam.
Here for more information, please check the authentic Hadith below where Prophets Mohammed (SWT) said whoever copies any person, is one of them.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He who copies any people, is one of them.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780 Narrated by Nafi
Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do!”
So righteous way for a believer to respect and honor their parents is not by touching his feet, but rather by being devoutly obedient to all their legal wishes,
Regarding the Sajda n Shirk ,. Whether you make a verbal neeyath or within. The act of Sajdah is exclusively for Allah Alone.
‘Sajdah’ in light of the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws) is to bow down in prostration with your knees and forehead on the floor in obedience, humility and worship to none other than Allah Subhanah
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Fusselat verse 37:Do not do ‘sajdah’ to the sun and the moon, but do ‘sajdah’ to that Allah, Who Created them, if you really are indeed His worshippers.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 77:O you who believe, do ‘rukoo’ and ‘sajdah’ to Allah Alone, worship Allah Alone, and do righteous deeds. It may be that you attain true success.
Allah Himself states in the above aayahs of the Glorious Quran, that He Alone deserves our rites of ‘sajdah’ and no one else. In the “Shariah” of Mohamed (saws), ‘sajdah’ is an integral part of our prayers and worship and these are for Allah Alone. It is a confirmation that we submit our lives and our wills to the Will of the One we are doing ‘sajdah’ to.
SO,
To associate any beings or things whatsoever with, or compare any being or thing unto Allah is ‘shirk’!
To share any of the noble Attributes of Allah with anyone is ‘shirk’!
To invoke or worship anyone or anything with Allah is ‘shirk’!
The Glorious Quran is the Book which absolutely details each and every manifestation of shirk and makes the readers aware of what exactly is this most hated of crimes in the sight of Allah.
The Holy Quran has 15 places in it, where we are commanded to do ‘sajdah’ when reciting the Quran. All of these ‘sajdah’ aayahs are when Allah says He is our Lord and we are commanded to worship Him Alone and everything in Creation is doing ‘sajdah’ to Him, therefore we are commanded to do ‘sajdah’ along with them in humility and worship to our Lord and Creator. There are approximately 20 times where the story of Adam (a.s.) and Iblis is related in the Quran, but not once are we commanded to do ‘sajdah’ when we recite these aayahs of the Quran. Similarly there is one aayah where the brothers of Yusuf did sajdah to Yusuf (.a.s..), but we are not commanded by Allah to do ‘sajdah’ when we recite this aayah. This is not because Allah and His Messenger (saws) forgot to tell us to do ‘sajdah’, but it is because we are not allowed to do ‘sajdah’ to anybody or anything else other than Allah Alone in Islam, be it in love and respect, or worship and ‘ibaadah’.
The Prophet (saws) was the best of creation, and his companions loved and respected him (saws) more than their lives, Even then, there is not one instance where it is mentioned that they did prostration to the Prophet (saws)
I hope, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our many shortcomings, and saves you, me, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire.
Touching another’s feet out of reverence or respect is a pagan Hindu rite; thus this and all such pagan rites and rituals are absolutely forbidden in Islam.
Here for more information, please check the authentic Hadith below where Prophets Mohammed (SWT) said whoever copies any person, is one of them.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He who copies any people, is one of them.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780 Narrated by Nafi
Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do!”
So righteous way for a believer to respect and honor their parents is not by touching his feet, but rather by being devoutly obedient to all their legal wishes,
Regarding the Sajda n Shirk ,. Whether you make a verbal neeyath or within. The act of Sajdah is exclusively for Allah Alone.
‘Sajdah’ in light of the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws) is to bow down in prostration with your knees and forehead on the floor in obedience, humility and worship to none other than Allah Subhanah
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Fusselat verse 37:Do not do ‘sajdah’ to the sun and the moon, but do ‘sajdah’ to that Allah, Who Created them, if you really are indeed His worshippers.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 77:O you who believe, do ‘rukoo’ and ‘sajdah’ to Allah Alone, worship Allah Alone, and do righteous deeds. It may be that you attain true success.
Allah Himself states in the above aayahs of the Glorious Quran, that He Alone deserves our rites of ‘sajdah’ and no one else. In the “Shariah” of Mohamed (saws), ‘sajdah’ is an integral part of our prayers and worship and these are for Allah Alone. It is a confirmation that we submit our lives and our wills to the Will of the One we are doing ‘sajdah’ to.
SO,
To associate any beings or things whatsoever with, or compare any being or thing unto Allah is ‘shirk’!
To share any of the noble Attributes of Allah with anyone is ‘shirk’!
To invoke or worship anyone or anything with Allah is ‘shirk’!
The Glorious Quran is the Book which absolutely details each and every manifestation of shirk and makes the readers aware of what exactly is this most hated of crimes in the sight of Allah.
The Holy Quran has 15 places in it, where we are commanded to do ‘sajdah’ when reciting the Quran. All of these ‘sajdah’ aayahs are when Allah says He is our Lord and we are commanded to worship Him Alone and everything in Creation is doing ‘sajdah’ to Him, therefore we are commanded to do ‘sajdah’ along with them in humility and worship to our Lord and Creator. There are approximately 20 times where the story of Adam (a.s.) and Iblis is related in the Quran, but not once are we commanded to do ‘sajdah’ when we recite these aayahs of the Quran. Similarly there is one aayah where the brothers of Yusuf did sajdah to Yusuf (.a.s..), but we are not commanded by Allah to do ‘sajdah’ when we recite this aayah. This is not because Allah and His Messenger (saws) forgot to tell us to do ‘sajdah’, but it is because we are not allowed to do ‘sajdah’ to anybody or anything else other than Allah Alone in Islam, be it in love and respect, or worship and ‘ibaadah’.
The Prophet (saws) was the best of creation, and his companions loved and respected him (saws) more than their lives, Even then, there is not one instance where it is mentioned that they did prostration to the Prophet (saws)
I hope, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our many shortcomings, and saves you, me, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire.
"This is Really How They Feel"
"This is Really How They Feel"
They Met the Resistance in Iraq
By MIKE FERNER
On one of those beautiful, fall Sunday mornings that can make you feel all is right with the world, filmmakers Molly Bingham and Steve Connors discussed their new documentary about Iraqis fighting the U.S. occupation, Meeting Resistance, 84 minutes of unflinching wallop destined to unhinge the way millions of Americans see their country's role in the world.
In May 2003, the same month that George W. Bush stood on an aircraft carrier off California declaring "Mission Accomplished," and a month after Iraqis began organizing a grassroots armed resistance, Bingham, was on assignment in Baghdad's Adhamiya district, hot on the trail of the last sighting of Saddam Hussein.
While there, the 39 year-old photojournalist got a tour of the largest Sunni mosque in Baghdad, named after the seventh century imam, Abu Hanifa. Bingham recalled that, as she drove away from the mosque, her translator mentioned that one of the men they'd just met said he was with the resistance. She filed this away in the back of her mind.
Before returning to the U.S. the next month, Bingham watched news reports, trying unsuccessfully to find out who was beginning to violently oppose the U.S. occupation and why. She talked with a photographer-colleague, Steve Connors, a former British Army MP, who had observed the same lack of coverage.
Between them they had 33 years experience covering conflict zones and decided to collaborate on reporting what till now has been the most visibly under-reported story of the Iraq war. By August they were back in Iraq for another 10 months, Connors to film and Bingham to write.
"This film is seen as somehow really radical," the 48 year-old Connors said. "I've covered 10 conflicts and this is the first time I've heard it's radical to cover the other side. As a German friend of mine asked, 'Americans consider this news?'"
Bingham added, "It's just a really important story. If your work is covering conflict, it's just what you do. You cover both sides, or in some cases three or four sides."
"Imagine if all the reporting from Chechnya was done through Russia's point of view," Connors interjected, "Or if all the news about Palestine came through Israel? In broader terms it's a ridiculous notion."
http://counterpunch.com/ferner11012007.html
They Met the Resistance in Iraq
By MIKE FERNER
On one of those beautiful, fall Sunday mornings that can make you feel all is right with the world, filmmakers Molly Bingham and Steve Connors discussed their new documentary about Iraqis fighting the U.S. occupation, Meeting Resistance, 84 minutes of unflinching wallop destined to unhinge the way millions of Americans see their country's role in the world.
In May 2003, the same month that George W. Bush stood on an aircraft carrier off California declaring "Mission Accomplished," and a month after Iraqis began organizing a grassroots armed resistance, Bingham, was on assignment in Baghdad's Adhamiya district, hot on the trail of the last sighting of Saddam Hussein.
While there, the 39 year-old photojournalist got a tour of the largest Sunni mosque in Baghdad, named after the seventh century imam, Abu Hanifa. Bingham recalled that, as she drove away from the mosque, her translator mentioned that one of the men they'd just met said he was with the resistance. She filed this away in the back of her mind.
Before returning to the U.S. the next month, Bingham watched news reports, trying unsuccessfully to find out who was beginning to violently oppose the U.S. occupation and why. She talked with a photographer-colleague, Steve Connors, a former British Army MP, who had observed the same lack of coverage.
Between them they had 33 years experience covering conflict zones and decided to collaborate on reporting what till now has been the most visibly under-reported story of the Iraq war. By August they were back in Iraq for another 10 months, Connors to film and Bingham to write.
"This film is seen as somehow really radical," the 48 year-old Connors said. "I've covered 10 conflicts and this is the first time I've heard it's radical to cover the other side. As a German friend of mine asked, 'Americans consider this news?'"
Bingham added, "It's just a really important story. If your work is covering conflict, it's just what you do. You cover both sides, or in some cases three or four sides."
"Imagine if all the reporting from Chechnya was done through Russia's point of view," Connors interjected, "Or if all the news about Palestine came through Israel? In broader terms it's a ridiculous notion."
http://counterpunch.com/ferner11012007.html
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Don't Forget to Purify Your Wealth!
Wealth is a Trial...
From the weaknesses of human beings pointed out by Allah in the Qur'aan, is the love for wealth. He said: "And you love wealth with excessive love." [Soorah al-Fajr (89): 20] And: "Verily he (man) is violent in the love of wealth." [Soorah al-Aadiyat (100): 8] He also warned, saying: "Your wealth and your children may be but a trial." [Soorah Taghabun (64): 15]
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Every Ummah (nation) has a test to undergo, my Ummah (nation) will be tried through wealth." [at-Tirmidhee no: 481]
The Qur'aan narrates a parable of a virtuous man, whom Allah had granted abundance in wealth. He owned a valuable garden; after deducing the household and agricultural expenses from his income, he would spend the remaining money in charity. When he died, his sons considered their father to be a simpleton for giving away such large amount of money in charity and thus decided to hold back the entire profit. When the garden was ready to be harvested, they planned to secretly carry all the produce to their homes without anybody knowing. The next day, as they approached the garden, they were astonished to see the fresh and blooming garden completely laid waste and it was only their garden which was in ruins!! "They said: 'Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!" [Soorah al-Qalam (68): 31] and Allah declares: "Such is the punishment (in this life); but greater is the punishment in the Hereafter!" [Soorah al-Qalam (68): 33]
Similarly, many people ruin their faith and fidelity merely due to the greed of wealth. This love of wealth creates in man evil instincts, miserliness, selfishness and arrogance, which in turn involve him in sins, falsehood, deceit, cruelty and robbery. This causes disorder and destruction in the world and the Hereafter is lost too!!
The concept of Zakaah is to decrease the love of wealth and inculcate justice, generosity, brotherhood, affection and sacrifice among the Muslims and thus Allah says: "By no means shall you attain righteousness (and reward) unless you spend of that which you love." [Soorah al-Imraan (3): 92]
Zakaat is…
More @
http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=91
From the weaknesses of human beings pointed out by Allah in the Qur'aan, is the love for wealth. He said: "And you love wealth with excessive love." [Soorah al-Fajr (89): 20] And: "Verily he (man) is violent in the love of wealth." [Soorah al-Aadiyat (100): 8] He also warned, saying: "Your wealth and your children may be but a trial." [Soorah Taghabun (64): 15]
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Every Ummah (nation) has a test to undergo, my Ummah (nation) will be tried through wealth." [at-Tirmidhee no: 481]
The Qur'aan narrates a parable of a virtuous man, whom Allah had granted abundance in wealth. He owned a valuable garden; after deducing the household and agricultural expenses from his income, he would spend the remaining money in charity. When he died, his sons considered their father to be a simpleton for giving away such large amount of money in charity and thus decided to hold back the entire profit. When the garden was ready to be harvested, they planned to secretly carry all the produce to their homes without anybody knowing. The next day, as they approached the garden, they were astonished to see the fresh and blooming garden completely laid waste and it was only their garden which was in ruins!! "They said: 'Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!" [Soorah al-Qalam (68): 31] and Allah declares: "Such is the punishment (in this life); but greater is the punishment in the Hereafter!" [Soorah al-Qalam (68): 33]
Similarly, many people ruin their faith and fidelity merely due to the greed of wealth. This love of wealth creates in man evil instincts, miserliness, selfishness and arrogance, which in turn involve him in sins, falsehood, deceit, cruelty and robbery. This causes disorder and destruction in the world and the Hereafter is lost too!!
The concept of Zakaah is to decrease the love of wealth and inculcate justice, generosity, brotherhood, affection and sacrifice among the Muslims and thus Allah says: "By no means shall you attain righteousness (and reward) unless you spend of that which you love." [Soorah al-Imraan (3): 92]
Zakaat is…
More @
http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=91
Az-Zakah - The Obligatory Charity
Az-Zakah - The Obligatory Charity
by Shaykh Abû Bakr Jâbir al-Jaza'iry
Legal Ruling
Allah has obligated Zakah upon every Muslim who possesses a minimum amount of wealth, according to some conditions. Allah made Zakah obligatory in His Book by His statement;
Take from their wealth Sadaqah in order to purify them and sanctify them with it. [9:103]
And His statement: O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you. (2:267)
And His statement: And establish the prayer (Salah) and pay the obligatory charity (Zakah). (73:20)
Zakah was also made obligatory by the statement of the Messenger saws: lslam was built upon five (pillars): The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped hut Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of the prayer (Salah), paying the obligatory charity (Zakah), pilgrimage to the House (Hajj to the Ka’bah in Makkah) and fasting (the month of) Ramadhan.) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
And his statement: I was commanded to fight the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the obligatory charity (Zakah) If they do that, then they have protected their blood and wealth from me, except according to the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah . (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
And his statement in advising Mu’adh when he sent him to Yemen: Verily you are going to a people who are People of the ure, so invite them to the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and I (Muhammad saws ) am the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in that, inform them that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has obligated them to (pray) five prayers every day and night. If they obey you, then inform them that He has obligated them to give charity from their wealth that is to be taken from their wealthy and given to their poor. If they obey you in that, then stay away from (taking) the best of their wealth. And beware of the supplication of the oppressed person, for verily there is no veil between it and Allah. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
It’s Wisdom
The following are some of the points derived from the wisdom of legislating Zakah:
Purification of the human soul from the vices of stinginess, greed, covetousness and lustfulness.
Comforting the poor and fulfilling the needs of the needy, distraught and deprived people.
Establishing comprehensive benefits that the life of the Muslim community (Ummah) and its happiness depend upon.
Limiting the inflation of wealth among the wealthy, and at the hands of the businessmen and merchants.
This is so that the wealth will not be restricted solely to one limited group of people, nor controlled by only the wealthy.
The Ruling of One Who Refuses to Pay Zakah
Whoever refuses to pay y Zakah, while denying its obligation, has disbelieved. Whoever refuses to pay Zakah due to stinginess, while affirming its obligation, has committed a sin. In this case Zakah is taken from such a person by force and he is also given some disciplinary punishment. If he fights in refusing to give it, he is fought until he submits to the command of Allah and pays Zakah. This is due to Allah the Almighty’s statement: So if they repent, establish the prayer and give Zakah then they are your brethren in religion.
This is also due to the Prophet’s statement: I was commanded to fight the people until they teshfy that none has right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay Zakah. If they do this, then they have protected their blood and wealth from me, except by the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Likewise, concerning fighting those who refused to pay Zakah, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said: “By Allah, if they refuse to give me (of Zakah) a young she-goat that they used to give to Allah’s Messenger …. I will fight them for it.” (Al-Bukhari)
In this situation the Companions agreed with him (Abu Bakr) about this, so there was a consensus among them.
Taken from the book Minhaj Al-Muslim vol.2, published by Dar-us-Salam Publications
http://www.muslimhands.org/Site/Pages/Home
by Shaykh Abû Bakr Jâbir al-Jaza'iry
Legal Ruling
Allah has obligated Zakah upon every Muslim who possesses a minimum amount of wealth, according to some conditions. Allah made Zakah obligatory in His Book by His statement;
Take from their wealth Sadaqah in order to purify them and sanctify them with it. [9:103]
And His statement: O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you. (2:267)
And His statement: And establish the prayer (Salah) and pay the obligatory charity (Zakah). (73:20)
Zakah was also made obligatory by the statement of the Messenger saws: lslam was built upon five (pillars): The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped hut Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of the prayer (Salah), paying the obligatory charity (Zakah), pilgrimage to the House (Hajj to the Ka’bah in Makkah) and fasting (the month of) Ramadhan.) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
And his statement: I was commanded to fight the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the obligatory charity (Zakah) If they do that, then they have protected their blood and wealth from me, except according to the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah . (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
And his statement in advising Mu’adh when he sent him to Yemen: Verily you are going to a people who are People of the ure, so invite them to the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and I (Muhammad saws ) am the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in that, inform them that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has obligated them to (pray) five prayers every day and night. If they obey you, then inform them that He has obligated them to give charity from their wealth that is to be taken from their wealthy and given to their poor. If they obey you in that, then stay away from (taking) the best of their wealth. And beware of the supplication of the oppressed person, for verily there is no veil between it and Allah. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
It’s Wisdom
The following are some of the points derived from the wisdom of legislating Zakah:
Purification of the human soul from the vices of stinginess, greed, covetousness and lustfulness.
Comforting the poor and fulfilling the needs of the needy, distraught and deprived people.
Establishing comprehensive benefits that the life of the Muslim community (Ummah) and its happiness depend upon.
Limiting the inflation of wealth among the wealthy, and at the hands of the businessmen and merchants.
This is so that the wealth will not be restricted solely to one limited group of people, nor controlled by only the wealthy.
The Ruling of One Who Refuses to Pay Zakah
Whoever refuses to pay y Zakah, while denying its obligation, has disbelieved. Whoever refuses to pay Zakah due to stinginess, while affirming its obligation, has committed a sin. In this case Zakah is taken from such a person by force and he is also given some disciplinary punishment. If he fights in refusing to give it, he is fought until he submits to the command of Allah and pays Zakah. This is due to Allah the Almighty’s statement: So if they repent, establish the prayer and give Zakah then they are your brethren in religion.
This is also due to the Prophet’s statement: I was commanded to fight the people until they teshfy that none has right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay Zakah. If they do this, then they have protected their blood and wealth from me, except by the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Likewise, concerning fighting those who refused to pay Zakah, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said: “By Allah, if they refuse to give me (of Zakah) a young she-goat that they used to give to Allah’s Messenger …. I will fight them for it.” (Al-Bukhari)
In this situation the Companions agreed with him (Abu Bakr) about this, so there was a consensus among them.
Taken from the book Minhaj Al-Muslim vol.2, published by Dar-us-Salam Publications
http://www.muslimhands.org/Site/Pages/Home
salat - poem
SALAAT
Salaat is a basic pillar of islam
It is mentioned again and again in the Quran
The importance of prayer is in seven hundred places
But in the mosque,do you see many young faces?
Praying in the mosque gives 27 times the reward
Pray with the intention that you're pleasing your Lord
When you walk to the mosque,just remember within
You gain a reward and you're losing a sin
For every step towards your destination
This is a blessing from Allah swt to his creation
The Quran has foretold, that before you are dead
'say your prayers before your prayers are said'
Our prophet (saws) said about those who miss prayer
fifteen punishments they'll have to bear
six in this life,three on passing away
three in the grave and three on judgement day
For missing Fajr at the start of the day
the glow of the face is taken away
the punishment for missing the salaat of Zohar
there will be no blessing from your income no more
For missing Asr, the middle prayer of the day
the strength of the body is taken away
by missing maghrib, remember one thing
you will not be benefited by your offspring
For missing Ishaa at the end of the day
the peace of your sleep will be taken away
while seeing elders pray at the mosque door
remember as a young person, your reward is 70 times more
Read salaat punctually, read it with care
on judgement day, we will be asked about prayer
that's the first question, so take this advice
salaat is the key to paradise
Spread this word to muslim sisters and brothers
salaat will separate muslims from others
salaat is a blessing which Allah swt gave
it will intercede and protect us in the grave
When it comes eventually, to the day of rising
the believers body washed by wudu will be shining
for the believers who are regular in offering salaat
it becomes a light of guidance on the pul-siraat
Don't miss the prayer asr at any cost
it will be like your family and wealth is lost
the ayat-ul-kursi after fard, should be read
it will lead you to paradise (insha Allah) after you're dead
Not reading salaat will lead you to hell
surrounded by serpants in a deep well
read your salaat whilst still in your prime
and read the durood shareef in your spare time
You'll get ten rewards, the Lord (insha Allah) will accept your pleas
and you'll be closer to Allah swt by ten more degrees
so embrace islam with all your heart
and remember the key is reading salaat
Salaat is a basic pillar of islam
It is mentioned again and again in the Quran
The importance of prayer is in seven hundred places
But in the mosque,do you see many young faces?
Praying in the mosque gives 27 times the reward
Pray with the intention that you're pleasing your Lord
When you walk to the mosque,just remember within
You gain a reward and you're losing a sin
For every step towards your destination
This is a blessing from Allah swt to his creation
The Quran has foretold, that before you are dead
'say your prayers before your prayers are said'
Our prophet (saws) said about those who miss prayer
fifteen punishments they'll have to bear
six in this life,three on passing away
three in the grave and three on judgement day
For missing Fajr at the start of the day
the glow of the face is taken away
the punishment for missing the salaat of Zohar
there will be no blessing from your income no more
For missing Asr, the middle prayer of the day
the strength of the body is taken away
by missing maghrib, remember one thing
you will not be benefited by your offspring
For missing Ishaa at the end of the day
the peace of your sleep will be taken away
while seeing elders pray at the mosque door
remember as a young person, your reward is 70 times more
Read salaat punctually, read it with care
on judgement day, we will be asked about prayer
that's the first question, so take this advice
salaat is the key to paradise
Spread this word to muslim sisters and brothers
salaat will separate muslims from others
salaat is a blessing which Allah swt gave
it will intercede and protect us in the grave
When it comes eventually, to the day of rising
the believers body washed by wudu will be shining
for the believers who are regular in offering salaat
it becomes a light of guidance on the pul-siraat
Don't miss the prayer asr at any cost
it will be like your family and wealth is lost
the ayat-ul-kursi after fard, should be read
it will lead you to paradise (insha Allah) after you're dead
Not reading salaat will lead you to hell
surrounded by serpants in a deep well
read your salaat whilst still in your prime
and read the durood shareef in your spare time
You'll get ten rewards, the Lord (insha Allah) will accept your pleas
and you'll be closer to Allah swt by ten more degrees
so embrace islam with all your heart
and remember the key is reading salaat
Friday, September 21, 2007
FREE Juz Amma Multimedia Softw
Listen, Recite, Understand & Memorize Al-Qur'an, starting from Juz Amma
Assalamu'alaikum,
Alhamdulillah, after many years working on this project, the Juz Amma Multimedia Software is ready for global distribution. There are multiple well known reciters, complete with "guided" surahs for different listening needs of end users and for them to follow. In the "Continuous Recitation" mode, users can listen/recite to groups of 10 Surahs, or all Surahs in Juz Amma in ascending or descending order of choice. There are also 7 translation languages which is side-by-side synchronized with the Qur'anic for immediate reference of meaning in your native language. The 7 languages include English, French, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Hindi and Urdu.
You are welcome to install the software to as many PCs as you wish, copy them and distribute them freely to your family members, friends or distribute them as amal jariah. You are however not allowed to make a profit from the distribution.
These multimedia graphic rich features are made available for free. If anyone is interested to get a FREE copy of Juz Amma software program, pls visit www.dn-multimedia.com
There are 3 versions available to meet the needs of the end users.
1. Juz Amma Multi Reciter (Free Download version)
2. Juz Amma Multi Reciter (Free full CD version)
3. Juz Amma Learning Edition - highly interactive software (Shareware and affordably priced)
This is a standalone software - no internet connection required. Once installed, the set-up program or CD is not required. So, if you have the CD, pass it around!
Enjoy .. and may Allah S.W.T. shower HIS Blessings to all of us for listening to the Al-Qur'an Al Kareem.
Shukran,
DN Multimedia
Singapore
www.dn-multimedia.com
Assalamu'alaikum,
Alhamdulillah, after many years working on this project, the Juz Amma Multimedia Software is ready for global distribution. There are multiple well known reciters, complete with "guided" surahs for different listening needs of end users and for them to follow. In the "Continuous Recitation" mode, users can listen/recite to groups of 10 Surahs, or all Surahs in Juz Amma in ascending or descending order of choice. There are also 7 translation languages which is side-by-side synchronized with the Qur'anic for immediate reference of meaning in your native language. The 7 languages include English, French, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Hindi and Urdu.
You are welcome to install the software to as many PCs as you wish, copy them and distribute them freely to your family members, friends or distribute them as amal jariah. You are however not allowed to make a profit from the distribution.
These multimedia graphic rich features are made available for free. If anyone is interested to get a FREE copy of Juz Amma software program, pls visit www.dn-multimedia.com
There are 3 versions available to meet the needs of the end users.
1. Juz Amma Multi Reciter (Free Download version)
2. Juz Amma Multi Reciter (Free full CD version)
3. Juz Amma Learning Edition - highly interactive software (Shareware and affordably priced)
This is a standalone software - no internet connection required. Once installed, the set-up program or CD is not required. So, if you have the CD, pass it around!
Enjoy .. and may Allah S.W.T. shower HIS Blessings to all of us for listening to the Al-Qur'an Al Kareem.
Shukran,
DN Multimedia
Singapore
www.dn-multimedia.com
An Unacceptable Attack
An Unacceptable Attack
By Ismail Patel, Chair Friends of Al-Aqsa
The anniversary of 9/11 each year brings with it sorrow for the many who lost loved ones and a time of reflection for many others. For journalists, it seems to have become almost a ritual in some quarters to use it as an opportunity to run alarmist headlines regarding the so called 'Islamist threat'.
The Times, which has done its fair share of Muslim bashing over the years, headlined its Friday September 7 paper with an alarming, blatantly misleading and absolutely perplexing story which must give rise to concern from all British Muslims.
The supposed expose on how Deobandi scholars and in particular one man, Shaykh Riadh ul Haq, has managed to gain control of 600 of the 1,350 mosques in Britain , is absolutely baseless.
The game being played out here is clear. This ritual has been followed through before, and media 'policing' in this way has led to mistrust and suspicion of many other Islamic groups, thoughts and ideologies, including the Hizb ut-Tahrir, Jamaat al-Islamia, Tablighis, Salafis to name but a few. In 2004, The Times even managed to headline of "Islamic colleges in Britain linked to terrorists". And now the Deobandis are in the spotlight.
The Deobandis represent a significant part of the Muslim population in Britain . They form a mainstream ideology, and they do not preach hatred or isolationism. Yet with a few unsubstantiated quotes, placed in a different context, we have the picture of a hate infested religious doctrine, and this is outrageous and unacceptable. Surely the work of those wishing to create separation and division where there is none, and put up barriers carved out of myths and perverse distortions.
The fact is, many quotes attributed to Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq were made by him with direct reference to the Qur'an or the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. One would not be hard pressed to find similar, if not more severe verses from the Bible talking of death to infidels, and isolation from non-believers amongst others. Yet similar scrutiny is not heaped on preachers of other religions who refer to these to their congregations.
Moving away from the baseless propaganda against the Deobandis, Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq has been propped up as the head of '600 mosques', while in reality he does not even hold the post of Imam of a single mosque in the country. This is a far cry from becoming a "spiritual leader" of the Deobandis in Britain , and the assertion that there is or has ever been a spiritual leader of this sort is in itself ludicrous.
Islam does not have the equivalence of a Pope and the only real leadership level that exists in mosques is the position of Imam. It is also ironic that Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq, the so called champion of the separatist movement, resides in Leicester , and has done so for most of his life. With his alleged great influence over the masses of Muslims, one would imagine that Leicester would as a result be far from Britain 's most ethnically harmonious city, yet that is exactly what it has been to now.
One can speculate on the agenda for this attack against the Deobandis and Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq in particular, but the lack of credibility of this headline story is clear to Britain 's Muslims. It is time for such irresponsible and hate filled journalism to stop and be replaced with stories that are based on at least some truths. Such journalism relies on fear and unawareness of the masses in order to be taken seriously. It is time for Muslims to put forward the facts and not hide indoors while such hate-mongering against them is allowed to freely exist.
__________________
By Ismail Patel, Chair Friends of Al-Aqsa
The anniversary of 9/11 each year brings with it sorrow for the many who lost loved ones and a time of reflection for many others. For journalists, it seems to have become almost a ritual in some quarters to use it as an opportunity to run alarmist headlines regarding the so called 'Islamist threat'.
The Times, which has done its fair share of Muslim bashing over the years, headlined its Friday September 7 paper with an alarming, blatantly misleading and absolutely perplexing story which must give rise to concern from all British Muslims.
The supposed expose on how Deobandi scholars and in particular one man, Shaykh Riadh ul Haq, has managed to gain control of 600 of the 1,350 mosques in Britain , is absolutely baseless.
The game being played out here is clear. This ritual has been followed through before, and media 'policing' in this way has led to mistrust and suspicion of many other Islamic groups, thoughts and ideologies, including the Hizb ut-Tahrir, Jamaat al-Islamia, Tablighis, Salafis to name but a few. In 2004, The Times even managed to headline of "Islamic colleges in Britain linked to terrorists". And now the Deobandis are in the spotlight.
The Deobandis represent a significant part of the Muslim population in Britain . They form a mainstream ideology, and they do not preach hatred or isolationism. Yet with a few unsubstantiated quotes, placed in a different context, we have the picture of a hate infested religious doctrine, and this is outrageous and unacceptable. Surely the work of those wishing to create separation and division where there is none, and put up barriers carved out of myths and perverse distortions.
The fact is, many quotes attributed to Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq were made by him with direct reference to the Qur'an or the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. One would not be hard pressed to find similar, if not more severe verses from the Bible talking of death to infidels, and isolation from non-believers amongst others. Yet similar scrutiny is not heaped on preachers of other religions who refer to these to their congregations.
Moving away from the baseless propaganda against the Deobandis, Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq has been propped up as the head of '600 mosques', while in reality he does not even hold the post of Imam of a single mosque in the country. This is a far cry from becoming a "spiritual leader" of the Deobandis in Britain , and the assertion that there is or has ever been a spiritual leader of this sort is in itself ludicrous.
Islam does not have the equivalence of a Pope and the only real leadership level that exists in mosques is the position of Imam. It is also ironic that Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq, the so called champion of the separatist movement, resides in Leicester , and has done so for most of his life. With his alleged great influence over the masses of Muslims, one would imagine that Leicester would as a result be far from Britain 's most ethnically harmonious city, yet that is exactly what it has been to now.
One can speculate on the agenda for this attack against the Deobandis and Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq in particular, but the lack of credibility of this headline story is clear to Britain 's Muslims. It is time for such irresponsible and hate filled journalism to stop and be replaced with stories that are based on at least some truths. Such journalism relies on fear and unawareness of the masses in order to be taken seriously. It is time for Muslims to put forward the facts and not hide indoors while such hate-mongering against them is allowed to freely exist.
__________________
Turkish PM urges end to scarf ban
Turkish PM urges end to scarf ban
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the lifting of a ban on women wearing headscarves at state universities.
Mr Erdogan told the UK's Financial Times the ban was depriving some women of the right to higher education.
The PM's Islamist-rooted AK Party began drafting a new constitution after its landslide election victory in July.
The separation of religion and state enshrined in the current constitution is one of the key issues in the debate.
Separately, US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns is due to arrive in Turkey for key talks.
Symbol
Mr Erdogan told the Financial Times that resolving the headscarf issue was a priority.
"The right to higher education cannot be restricted because of what a girl wears," he said.
The wife of President Abdullah Gul wears a headscarf
"There is no such problem in Western societies, but there is a problem in Turkey and I believe it is the first duty of those in politics to solve this problem."
Mr Erdogan has been supported by President Abdullah Gul, a member of the AK Party until his election as head of state last month.
Mr Gul told the Milliyet newspaper: "It is much better for [women who are covered] to go to university than to stay home and be isolated from social life."
The wives and daughters of both men wear the headscarf.
Turkey's secularist forces, including military and judicial leaders, oppose any moves they see as eroding the nation's secular system.
The headscarf has become a symbol of the threat to the continued separation of state governance and religion.
The university ban on headscarves was upheld in 2005 in the European Court of Human Rights, which said it might be needed to safeguard the secular order.
Mr Erdogan has always said his government will respect the separation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7002324.stm
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the lifting of a ban on women wearing headscarves at state universities.
Mr Erdogan told the UK's Financial Times the ban was depriving some women of the right to higher education.
The PM's Islamist-rooted AK Party began drafting a new constitution after its landslide election victory in July.
The separation of religion and state enshrined in the current constitution is one of the key issues in the debate.
Separately, US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns is due to arrive in Turkey for key talks.
Symbol
Mr Erdogan told the Financial Times that resolving the headscarf issue was a priority.
"The right to higher education cannot be restricted because of what a girl wears," he said.
The wife of President Abdullah Gul wears a headscarf
"There is no such problem in Western societies, but there is a problem in Turkey and I believe it is the first duty of those in politics to solve this problem."
Mr Erdogan has been supported by President Abdullah Gul, a member of the AK Party until his election as head of state last month.
Mr Gul told the Milliyet newspaper: "It is much better for [women who are covered] to go to university than to stay home and be isolated from social life."
The wives and daughters of both men wear the headscarf.
Turkey's secularist forces, including military and judicial leaders, oppose any moves they see as eroding the nation's secular system.
The headscarf has become a symbol of the threat to the continued separation of state governance and religion.
The university ban on headscarves was upheld in 2005 in the European Court of Human Rights, which said it might be needed to safeguard the secular order.
Mr Erdogan has always said his government will respect the separation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7002324.stm
Permissible Excuses for Breaking the Fast
Permissible Excuses for Breaking the Fast
Question:
What are the permissible excuses for breaking the fast?
Answer:
The permissible excuses for breaking the fast are: illness and travel, as mentioned in the Qur’aan. Among other excuses is that a women is pregnant and she fears for herself or her child. Another excuse is that a woman is breast-feeding and she fears for herself or her breast-fed child if she fasts. Another excuse is that a person needs to break his fast in order to save the life of someone. For example, he finds a drowning person in the sea, or someone who is surrounded on all sides by fire, and he needs to break his fast in order to save him – in that case, he may break his fast and save him. Another such case would be if a person needed to break his fast in order to strengthen himself for jihad in Allaah’s Cause, that would also be a permissible cause for him to break his fast, because the Prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them:
إنََكم مصبحو عدِّوكم، والفطر اقوى لكم فأَفطروا
“You will meet the enemy tomorrow morning, so breaking the fast will be stronger for you, so break your fast.” [1]
So, if there is a permissible excuse for breaking the fast, and a person breaks his fast due to it, it is not necessary for him to fast for the remainder of that day. Therefore, if it transpired that a person had broken his fast in order to save a person’s life, he should continue to eat and drink, even after saving him. This is because he broke his fast due to a reason that permits him to break his fast, so it is not necessary for him to fast in that case, because the prohibition of breaking fast on that day has been removed due to the permissible cause for breaking the fast.
For this reason, we support the most authoritative opinion in this matter, which is that if a sick person became well during the day and he was not fasting, it is not necessary for him to fast, and if a traveller arrived during the day at his hometown and he was not fasting, it is not necessary for him to fast and if a menstruating women became clean during the day, it is not necessary for her to fast. This is because all of these people broke their fasts for legitimate reasons, and so on that day, there was no obligation upon them to fast, due to the lawful permissible for breaking it at that time, so it is not necessary for them to fast.
This is as oppose to the case where it is confirmed that the month of Ramadan has begun during the day in that case, it is necessary to fast. The difference between the two cases is clear, because if the evidence appears (that Ramadan has begun) during the day, it has been confirmed that fasting on that day is obligatory for them, but they are excused for the time before the evidence became clear to them due to their ignorance of it. This is why, if they knew that this day was a day of Ramadan, it is obligatory for them to fast. But as for those other people whom we have described, it is permissible for them to break their fast, even though they are aware (that it is Ramadan) and the difference between them is clear.
__________________________________________
[1] Reported by Muslim in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: The Reward of One Who Breaks His Fast on a Journey if He Undertakes a Task (1120).
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Islamic Verdicts on The Pillars of Islaam, vol.2, page.632
Question:
What are the permissible excuses for breaking the fast?
Answer:
The permissible excuses for breaking the fast are: illness and travel, as mentioned in the Qur’aan. Among other excuses is that a women is pregnant and she fears for herself or her child. Another excuse is that a woman is breast-feeding and she fears for herself or her breast-fed child if she fasts. Another excuse is that a person needs to break his fast in order to save the life of someone. For example, he finds a drowning person in the sea, or someone who is surrounded on all sides by fire, and he needs to break his fast in order to save him – in that case, he may break his fast and save him. Another such case would be if a person needed to break his fast in order to strengthen himself for jihad in Allaah’s Cause, that would also be a permissible cause for him to break his fast, because the Prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them:
إنََكم مصبحو عدِّوكم، والفطر اقوى لكم فأَفطروا
“You will meet the enemy tomorrow morning, so breaking the fast will be stronger for you, so break your fast.” [1]
So, if there is a permissible excuse for breaking the fast, and a person breaks his fast due to it, it is not necessary for him to fast for the remainder of that day. Therefore, if it transpired that a person had broken his fast in order to save a person’s life, he should continue to eat and drink, even after saving him. This is because he broke his fast due to a reason that permits him to break his fast, so it is not necessary for him to fast in that case, because the prohibition of breaking fast on that day has been removed due to the permissible cause for breaking the fast.
For this reason, we support the most authoritative opinion in this matter, which is that if a sick person became well during the day and he was not fasting, it is not necessary for him to fast, and if a traveller arrived during the day at his hometown and he was not fasting, it is not necessary for him to fast and if a menstruating women became clean during the day, it is not necessary for her to fast. This is because all of these people broke their fasts for legitimate reasons, and so on that day, there was no obligation upon them to fast, due to the lawful permissible for breaking it at that time, so it is not necessary for them to fast.
This is as oppose to the case where it is confirmed that the month of Ramadan has begun during the day in that case, it is necessary to fast. The difference between the two cases is clear, because if the evidence appears (that Ramadan has begun) during the day, it has been confirmed that fasting on that day is obligatory for them, but they are excused for the time before the evidence became clear to them due to their ignorance of it. This is why, if they knew that this day was a day of Ramadan, it is obligatory for them to fast. But as for those other people whom we have described, it is permissible for them to break their fast, even though they are aware (that it is Ramadan) and the difference between them is clear.
__________________________________________
[1] Reported by Muslim in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: The Reward of One Who Breaks His Fast on a Journey if He Undertakes a Task (1120).
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Islamic Verdicts on The Pillars of Islaam, vol.2, page.632
Ramadan Fever
In the Name of Allah, most Compassionate, most Merciful
Ramadan Fever
Author: Unknown
The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim community. Once a year Icky baby and the Sams becomes Iqbal and Sameera. Off come the baggy jeans, the Nike 180's and the Raiders cap. On come the yellow Shalwar Kameez (clothes most Pakistanis wear), the brylcreamed hairstyle which glues on that terribly uncool Towpee(cap) and in comes the miswak in the top pocket, making you look like something like "Karachi cops".
It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference section) and begin to act it out. Icky baby becomes temporarily religious.
It's a sort of spooky feeling. The Mosques are full and you feel good. Good cos' you've done your bit for the year. One by one you scratch the days from your Ramadan timetable that your dad brought back from the Mosque-and then-thank crunchie it's Eid.
Eid Mubarak!
The Mosques again becomes museums for the old and for those deprived "ACHA BACHA"- a good baby. The crease-free shalwar kameez comes off and comes the baggy jeans, whilst the libraries reopen for "business as usual". Just 11 more months of "freedom" to go before the smelly breath season come back with vengeance.
Year after year it goes on, almost as a ritual. You know it's rough. Yet Allah(swt) is Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem as we are told by our parents (who probably also have gone through this). And anyway religion is for the old men in the mosques- with smelly breaths, and beards that sweep the floor everytime they walk from one end of the mosque to the other.
Religion is for those "fundies"(fundamentalists) at school/college, the "weirdoes" who only talk to the opposite sex about the benefits of the Khilafah ruling system or the fallacies of Western ideology such as Capitalism and Marxist Philosophy.(i.e.try saying that in one breath!).
The game
So you go around playing this game. It's like an endless spiral. You think you're a rebel or tough-yet you're just one of the pack- a zombie, conforming to master-plan, when you turn 40s you grow your beard and take your seat in front row of the mosque, invest in a miswak, pack your bags for Hajj, and then everything is gonna be safe!- well no! It doesn't quite work like that. The million dollar question is will you ever turn 40? Game Over.
Suppose you die. Just suppose you snuff it before you turn 40? What then? It could severely damage that master-plan of yours. Alright, the chances may look slim yet the stakes are high. Nobody knows when he or she is going to die. Just suppose you're locked up in a room and there's no way out. Just suppose there's a time bomb- ticket away in this room. Now if this bomb has "6 days" on it you would probably turn "fundy" and spend all six days reading namaz(salah).
Just suppose the bomb had a "?" on it? What then? That's exactly how life is!!! A ticking- bomb with a "?" on it, you never know when it's gonna blow-up. Whereever you are, death will find you. Even if you are in tower built up strong and high!" (Translation of the meaning of the Qu'ran)
30 days or a lifetime? And anyway, even if you do go along with this "dodgy" game, don't you think your Creator will know your intention? Many people have sussed out Islam as a blind faith or and emotional/spiritual/spooky belief which leaves you a contemplating rationally about the meanings of life. Where did you come from? Why are we here? Or the question that puts a dampner on all raves, " what's going to happen to us when we die?"
Islam asks us to answer these vital questions and come to a conclusion, the correct one. Islam doesn't rely on the dodgy culture we are brought up with either from our parents or from the Molvi-Saab(imam). Islam is far from being a "religion" as it is often coined in the media.
Islam is a complete system of life- with solutions to all our problems be it for Muslims or non-Muslims. Check out Islam for yourself and free yourself from this shallow zombie-like culture. Before your credits run out!
Word out!
Remember there is no Life or Dignity without Islam.
"O you who believe answer the call of Allah(swt) and His Messenger to that which gives you Life." (8:24)
Ramadan Fever
Author: Unknown
The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim community. Once a year Icky baby and the Sams becomes Iqbal and Sameera. Off come the baggy jeans, the Nike 180's and the Raiders cap. On come the yellow Shalwar Kameez (clothes most Pakistanis wear), the brylcreamed hairstyle which glues on that terribly uncool Towpee(cap) and in comes the miswak in the top pocket, making you look like something like "Karachi cops".
It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference section) and begin to act it out. Icky baby becomes temporarily religious.
It's a sort of spooky feeling. The Mosques are full and you feel good. Good cos' you've done your bit for the year. One by one you scratch the days from your Ramadan timetable that your dad brought back from the Mosque-and then-thank crunchie it's Eid.
Eid Mubarak!
The Mosques again becomes museums for the old and for those deprived "ACHA BACHA"- a good baby. The crease-free shalwar kameez comes off and comes the baggy jeans, whilst the libraries reopen for "business as usual". Just 11 more months of "freedom" to go before the smelly breath season come back with vengeance.
Year after year it goes on, almost as a ritual. You know it's rough. Yet Allah(swt) is Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem as we are told by our parents (who probably also have gone through this). And anyway religion is for the old men in the mosques- with smelly breaths, and beards that sweep the floor everytime they walk from one end of the mosque to the other.
Religion is for those "fundies"(fundamentalists) at school/college, the "weirdoes" who only talk to the opposite sex about the benefits of the Khilafah ruling system or the fallacies of Western ideology such as Capitalism and Marxist Philosophy.(i.e.try saying that in one breath!).
The game
So you go around playing this game. It's like an endless spiral. You think you're a rebel or tough-yet you're just one of the pack- a zombie, conforming to master-plan, when you turn 40s you grow your beard and take your seat in front row of the mosque, invest in a miswak, pack your bags for Hajj, and then everything is gonna be safe!- well no! It doesn't quite work like that. The million dollar question is will you ever turn 40? Game Over.
Suppose you die. Just suppose you snuff it before you turn 40? What then? It could severely damage that master-plan of yours. Alright, the chances may look slim yet the stakes are high. Nobody knows when he or she is going to die. Just suppose you're locked up in a room and there's no way out. Just suppose there's a time bomb- ticket away in this room. Now if this bomb has "6 days" on it you would probably turn "fundy" and spend all six days reading namaz(salah).
Just suppose the bomb had a "?" on it? What then? That's exactly how life is!!! A ticking- bomb with a "?" on it, you never know when it's gonna blow-up. Whereever you are, death will find you. Even if you are in tower built up strong and high!" (Translation of the meaning of the Qu'ran)
30 days or a lifetime? And anyway, even if you do go along with this "dodgy" game, don't you think your Creator will know your intention? Many people have sussed out Islam as a blind faith or and emotional/spiritual/spooky belief which leaves you a contemplating rationally about the meanings of life. Where did you come from? Why are we here? Or the question that puts a dampner on all raves, " what's going to happen to us when we die?"
Islam asks us to answer these vital questions and come to a conclusion, the correct one. Islam doesn't rely on the dodgy culture we are brought up with either from our parents or from the Molvi-Saab(imam). Islam is far from being a "religion" as it is often coined in the media.
Islam is a complete system of life- with solutions to all our problems be it for Muslims or non-Muslims. Check out Islam for yourself and free yourself from this shallow zombie-like culture. Before your credits run out!
Word out!
Remember there is no Life or Dignity without Islam.
"O you who believe answer the call of Allah(swt) and His Messenger to that which gives you Life." (8:24)
woman to cover feet or not in
Question:
What is the proof that women have to cover their feet during prayer for prayer to be accepted?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The free woman who has attained the age of majority is obliged to cover her entire body during prayer, apart from her face and hands, because all of her is ‘awrah. If she prays and any part of her ‘awrah becomes uncovered, such as a shin or foot or all or part of her head, then her prayer is invalid, because the Prophet said:
"Allaah will not accept the prayer of a woman who has started to menstruate, except with a khimaar (covering)" (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah and al-Tirmidhi, with a saheeh isnaad)
Abu Dawud reported from Umm Salamah that she asked the Prophet about a woman who prayed wearing a dir’ (chemise or upper garment) and a khimaar (head cover), but no izaar (lower garment). He said: "The woman is ‘awrah."
As for the face, the Sunnah is to uncover it during prayer, so long as no non-mahram men are present. According to the majority of scholars, the feet must be covered; some scholars allow uncovering the feet but the majority say the opposite. Abu Dawud reported from Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that she was asked about a woman who prayed in a khimaar and qamees (dress or gown). She said, "There is nothing wrong with it if the dir’ (chemise) covers her feet." In any case, it is better to cover the feet, to be on the safe side. As far as the hands are concerned, there is more leeway: there is nothing wrong with either covering them or uncovering them, although some scholars think that it is better to cover them. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, by Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, p. 57
What is the proof that women have to cover their feet during prayer for prayer to be accepted?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The free woman who has attained the age of majority is obliged to cover her entire body during prayer, apart from her face and hands, because all of her is ‘awrah. If she prays and any part of her ‘awrah becomes uncovered, such as a shin or foot or all or part of her head, then her prayer is invalid, because the Prophet said:
"Allaah will not accept the prayer of a woman who has started to menstruate, except with a khimaar (covering)" (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah and al-Tirmidhi, with a saheeh isnaad)
Abu Dawud reported from Umm Salamah that she asked the Prophet about a woman who prayed wearing a dir’ (chemise or upper garment) and a khimaar (head cover), but no izaar (lower garment). He said: "The woman is ‘awrah."
As for the face, the Sunnah is to uncover it during prayer, so long as no non-mahram men are present. According to the majority of scholars, the feet must be covered; some scholars allow uncovering the feet but the majority say the opposite. Abu Dawud reported from Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that she was asked about a woman who prayed in a khimaar and qamees (dress or gown). She said, "There is nothing wrong with it if the dir’ (chemise) covers her feet." In any case, it is better to cover the feet, to be on the safe side. As far as the hands are concerned, there is more leeway: there is nothing wrong with either covering them or uncovering them, although some scholars think that it is better to cover them. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, by Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, p. 57
Things That Break The Fast
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dawaah/message/1696
Things That Break The Fast
Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
Article ID: 987 | 3233 Reads
Apart from hayd (menstruation) and nifaas (post-natal bleeding), other things that can break the fast are only considered to do so if the following three conditions apply: if a person knows that it breaks the fast and is not ignorant; if he is aware of what he is doing and has not forgotten that he is fasting; if he does it of his own free will and is not forced to do it.
Among the things that break the fast are actions that involves the expulsion of bodily fluids, such as intercourse, vomiting, menstruation and cupping, and actions that involve ingesting matter, such as eating and drinking. (Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 25/148)
Among the things that break the fast are things that are classified as being like eating or drinking, such as taking medicines and pills by mouth, or injections of nourishing substances, or blood transfusions.
Injections that are not given to replace food and drink but are used to administer medications such as penicillin and insulin, or tonics, or vaccinations, do not break the fast, regardless of whether they are intra-muscular or intravenous. (Fataawa Ibn Ibraaheem, 4/189). But to be on the safe side, all these injections should be given during the night.
Kidney dialysis, whereby the blood is taken out, cleaned, and put back with some chemicals or nourishing substances such as sugars and salts added, is considered to break the fast. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/190).
According to the most correct view, suppositories, eye-drops, ear-drops, having a tooth extracted and treating wounds do not break the fast. (Majmoo' Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 25/233, 25/245).
Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast, because this is just compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times, in Ramadaan and at other times.
Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast and is permissible because it is something that is needed. (Fataawa al-Da'wah: Ibn Baaz, no. 979).
Medicines used by gargling do not break the fast so long as they are not swallowed. If a person has a tooth filled and feels the taste of it in his throat, this does not break his fast. (From the fataawa of Shaykh `Abd al-`Azeez ibn Baaz, issued verbally).
The following things do NOT break the fast:
* Having the ears syringed; nose drops and nasal sprays – so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Tablets that are placed under the tongue to treat angina and other conditions - so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Anything inserted into the vagina, such as pessaries, douches, scopes or fingers for the purpose of a medical examination.
* Insertion of a scope or intra-uterine device (IUD or "coil") and the like into the uterus.
* Insertion into the urethra – for males or females – of a catheter, opaque dye for diagnostic imaging, medication or solutions for cleansing the bladder.
* Dental fillings, tooth extractions, cleaning of the teeth, use of siwaak or toothbrush - so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Rinsing, gargling or applying topical mouth sprays - so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections – except for those used to provide nourishment.
* Oxygen.
* Anaesthetic gases – so long as the patient is not given nourishing solutions.
* Medications absorbed through the skin, such as creams and patches used to administer medicine and chemicals.
* Insertion of a catheter into veins for diagnostic imaging or treatment of blood vessels in the heart or other organs.
* Use of a laparoscope (instrument inserted through a small incision in the abdomen) to examine the abdominal cavity or to perform operations.
* Taking biopsies or samples from the liver or other organs – so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of solutions.
* Gastroscopy – so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of solutions or other substances.
* Introduction of any instrument or medication to the brain or spinal column.
Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadaan with no valid excuse has committed a grave major sin (kabeerah), and has to repent and make up for that fast later on. If he broke the fast with something haraam, such as drinking alcohol, this makes his sin even worse. Whatever the case, he has to repent sincerely and do more naafil deeds, fasting and other acts of worship, so as to avoid having any shortfall in his record of obligatory deeds, and so that Allaah might accept his repentance.
"If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allaah has fed him and given him to drink." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 1933). According to another report, "He does not have to make the fast up later or offer expiation (kafaarah)."
If a person sees someone else who is eating because he has forgotten that he is fasting, he should remind him, because of the general meaning of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): "… Help one another in righteousness and piety…" [al-Maa'idah 5:2], and the hadeeth, "if I forget, remind me"; and because of the principle that this is an evil action (munkar) that must be changed. (Majlis Shahr Ramadaan, Ibn `Uthaymeen, p.70)
Those who need to break their fast in order to save someone whose life is in danger, may break their fast and should make it up later on. This applies in cases where someone is drowning, or when fires need to be put out.
If a person is obliged to fast, but he deliberately has intercourse during the day in Ramadaan, of his own free will, where the two "circumcised parts" (genitals) come together and the tip of the penis penetrates either the front or back passage, his fast is broken, whether or not he ejaculates, and he has to repent. He should still fast for the rest of the day, but he has to make up the fast later on, and offer expiation (kafaarah), because of the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): "Whilst we were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), a man came to him and said: `O Messenger of Allaah, am doomed!' He said, `What is the matter with you?' He said, `I had intercourse with my wife whilst I was fasting.' The Messenger of Allaah said, `Do you have a slave whom you could set free?' He said, `No.' He said, `Can you fast for two consecutive months?' He said, `No.' He said, `Do you have the wherewithal to feed sixty poor people?' He said, `No'…" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 4, no. 1936). The same ruling also applies in cases of zinaa (adultery or fornication), homosexuality and bestiality.
If a person has intercourse during the day on more than one day during Ramadaan, he must offer expiation for each day, as well as repeating the fast for each day. Not knowing that kafaarah is obligatory is no excuse. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/321).
If a man wants to have intercourse with his wife but he breaks his fast by eating first, his sin is more serious, because he has violated the sanctity of the month on two counts, by eating and by having intercourse. It is even more certain in this case that expiation is obligatory, and if he tries to get out of it, that only makes matters worse. He must repent sincerely. (See Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 25/262).
Kissing, hugging, embracing, touching and repeatedly looking at one's wife or concubine, if a man is able to control himself, is permissible, because it is reported in al-Saheehayn from `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting, but he was the most in control of his desire. With regard to the hadeeth qudsi, "he keeps away from his wife for My sake", this is referring to intercourse. But if a person get aroused quickly and is unable to control himself, then it is not permissible for him to kiss or embrace his wife, because that will lead to him breaking his fast, as he cannot be sure that he will be able to avoid ejaculating or having intercourse. Allaah says in a hadeeth qudsi: "and he leaves his desire for My sake." The Islamic guideline is that anything that leads to haraam is also haraam.
If a person is engaged in the act of intercourse and dawn comes, he is obliged to withdraw, and his fast will be valid even if he ejaculates after withdrawal, but if he continues having intercourse until after dawn, he has broken his fast, and he must repent, make the fast up later, and offer expiation.
If morning comes and a person is in a state of janaabah (impurity following sexual intercourse), this does not affect his fasting. He or she is permitted to delay doing ghusl, whether it is for janaabah or following menstruation or post-natal bleeding, until after the sun has come up, but it is better to hasten to do ghusl so that one can pray.
If a person who is fasting sleeps and experiences a wet dream, this does not break his fast, according to scholarly consensus (ijmaa'), so he should complete his fast. Delaying doing ghusl does not break the fast, but he should hasten to do ghusl so that he can pray and so that the anegls will draw close to him.
If a person ejaculates during the day in Ramadaan because of something that he could have refrained from, such as touching or repeatedly looking at a woman, he must repent to Allaah and fast for the rest of the day, but he also has to make up that fast later on. If a person starts to masturbate but then stops, and does not ejaculate, then he has to repent but he does not have to make the fast up later on, because he did not ejaculate. The person who is fasting must keep away from everything that may provoke his desire, and he must repel any bad thoughts that come to him. However, according to the most correct opinion, if he emits prostatic fluid (madhiy), this does not break his fast.
The emission of wadiy, a thick sticky substance that comes out after urination, with no sense of physical pleasure, does not break the fast, and a person does not have to do ghusl, but he does have to do istinjaa' (clean his private parts) and do wudoo'. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/279)
"Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast." (Saheeh hadeeth narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3/89). A person who vomits deliberately, by sticking his finger down his throat or applying pressure to his stomach, or deliberately smelling a repulsive odour, or looking at something that could make him vomit, is obliged to make up the fast later on. If he feels that he is about to vomit, but then it subsides by itself, this does not break his fast, because it is not something that he can control, but if the vomit comes into his mouth and he swallows it back down, this does break the fast. If a person feels sick in his stomach, he does not have to suppress the urge to vomit, because this could cause him harm. (Majaalis Sharh Ramadaan, Ibn `Uthaymeen, 67).
If a person unintentionally swallows something that is stuck between his teeth, or if it is so small that he could not tell it was there or spit it out, this is counted as being part of his saliva and it does not break his fast. But if it is big enough to spit out, he should spit it out. If he spits it out, this is OK, but if he swallows it, this breaks his fast. If it can be diluted in the mouth, in whole or in part, and it has an added taste or sweetness, it is haraam for him to chew it. If any of this substance reaches the throat, this breaks the fast. If a person spits out water after rinsing his mouth, his fast is not affected by any moisture or wetness that is left behind, because he cannot help it.
If a person suffers from a nosebleed, his fast is still valid, because this is something that is beyond his control. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/264).
If he has gum ulcers or his gums bleed after using the siwaak (tooth stick), it is not permissible for him to swallow the blood; he has to spit it out. However, if some blood enters his throat by accident, and he did not mean for that to happen, there is no need to worry. Similarly, if vomit rises in his throat then goes back down to his stomach without him intending for this to happen, his fast is still valid. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/254).
With regard to mucus coming from the head (nose and sinuses) and phlegm coming from the chest by coughing and clearing the throat, if it is swallowed before it reaches the mouth, this does not break a person's fast, because it is a problem which all people have; but if it is swallowed after it reaches the mouth, this does break the fast. However, if it is swallowed unintentionally, it does not break the fast.
Inhaling water vapours, as may happen to people working in desalination plants, does not break the fast. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/276).
It is disliked (makrooh) to taste food unnecessarily, because this carries the risk that the fast may be broken. Examples of cases where it is necessary to taste food include a mother chewing food for an infant when she has no other way to feed him, tasting food to make sure that it is OK, and tasting something when making a purchase. It was reported that Ibn `Abbaas said: "There is nothing wrong with tasting vinegar or anything that one wishes to buy." (Classed as hasan in Irwa' al-Ghaleel, 4/86; See al-Fath, commentary on Baab Ightisaal al-Saa'im, Kitaab al-Siyaam).
Using siwaak is Sunnah for the one who is fasting at all times of the day, even if it is wet. If a person who is fasting uses a siwaak and detects some heat or other taste from it and swallows it, or if he takes the siwaak out of his mouth and sees saliva on it then puts it back in his mouth and swallows the saliva, this does not break his fast. (al-Fataawa al-Sa'diyyah, 245).
He should avoid any substance that can be diluted, such as the green siwaak, or siwaak that has any extra flavour added to it, like lemon or mint. He should spit out any small pieces that come off the siwaak in his mouth; he should not swallow them deliberately, but if he swallows them accidentally, there is no harm done.
If a fasting person is injured or suffers a nosebleed, or gets water or petrol in his mouth by accident, this does not break his fast. If he gets dust, smoke or flies in his mouth by accident, this does not break his fast either. Things that one cannot avoid swallowing, like one's own saliva, or dust from grinding flour, do not break the fast. If a person gathers a lot of saliva in his mouth then swallows it on purpose, this does not break the fast, according to the most correct opinion. (al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, 3/106).
If tears reach one's throat, or if a person applies oil to his hair or moustache, or uses henna, and then detects the taste of it in his throat, this does not break his fast. Using henna, kohl or oil does not break the fast. (See Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 25/233, 25/245).
This also applies to creams used to moisturize and soften the skin.
There is nothing wrong with smelling pleasant fragrances, using perfume or applying scented creams and the like. There is nothing wrong with a fasting person using bukhoor (incense), so long as he does not use it as snuff. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/314).
It is better not to use toothpaste during the day, and to leave it till night-time, because it is too strong. (Al-Majaalis, Ibn `Uthaymeen, p. 72).
To be on the safe side, it is better for the fasting person not to be treated with cupping (hijaamah). There is a strong difference of opinion on this matter. Ibn Taymiyah suggested that the one who has cupping done breaks his fast, but the one who does it does not break his fast.
Smoking breaks the fast, and it cannot be used as an excuse not to fast. How can a sin be taken as an excuse?!
Immersing oneself in water or wrapping oneself in wet clothes in order to cool down does not break the fast. There is nothing wrong with pouring water over one's head to obtain relief from heat and thirst. Swimming is disliked, because it might make one break the fast (by swallowing water). If a person's work involves diving and he can be sure that he will not get water in his mouth, there is nothing wrong with this.
If a person eats, drinks or has intercourse, thinking that it is still night, then he realizes that dawn has already broken, there is no harm done, because the aayah clearly states that it is permissible to do these things until one is sure that dawn has come. `Abd al-Razzaaq reported with a saheeh isnaad going back to Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said: "Allaah has permitted you to eat and drink so long as there is any doubt in your mind." (Fath al-Baari, 4/135; this is also the opinion of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 29/263).
If a person breaks his fast, thinking that the sun has already set when it has not, he must make up the fast later on (according to the majority of scholars), because the principle is that it is still day, and a fact that is certain cannot be rejected in favour of something doubtful. (Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah thought that it was not necessary for a person in this situation to make up the fast).
If dawn breaks and a person has food or drink in his mouth, the fuqaha' are agreed that he should spit it out, and his fast is valid. This is like the ruling on one who eats or drinks because he forgets, then remembers he is fasting – if he hastens to spit out the food or drink in his mouth, his fast is still valid.
islamqa.com
Things That Break The Fast
Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
Article ID: 987 | 3233 Reads
Apart from hayd (menstruation) and nifaas (post-natal bleeding), other things that can break the fast are only considered to do so if the following three conditions apply: if a person knows that it breaks the fast and is not ignorant; if he is aware of what he is doing and has not forgotten that he is fasting; if he does it of his own free will and is not forced to do it.
Among the things that break the fast are actions that involves the expulsion of bodily fluids, such as intercourse, vomiting, menstruation and cupping, and actions that involve ingesting matter, such as eating and drinking. (Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 25/148)
Among the things that break the fast are things that are classified as being like eating or drinking, such as taking medicines and pills by mouth, or injections of nourishing substances, or blood transfusions.
Injections that are not given to replace food and drink but are used to administer medications such as penicillin and insulin, or tonics, or vaccinations, do not break the fast, regardless of whether they are intra-muscular or intravenous. (Fataawa Ibn Ibraaheem, 4/189). But to be on the safe side, all these injections should be given during the night.
Kidney dialysis, whereby the blood is taken out, cleaned, and put back with some chemicals or nourishing substances such as sugars and salts added, is considered to break the fast. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/190).
According to the most correct view, suppositories, eye-drops, ear-drops, having a tooth extracted and treating wounds do not break the fast. (Majmoo' Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 25/233, 25/245).
Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast, because this is just compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times, in Ramadaan and at other times.
Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast and is permissible because it is something that is needed. (Fataawa al-Da'wah: Ibn Baaz, no. 979).
Medicines used by gargling do not break the fast so long as they are not swallowed. If a person has a tooth filled and feels the taste of it in his throat, this does not break his fast. (From the fataawa of Shaykh `Abd al-`Azeez ibn Baaz, issued verbally).
The following things do NOT break the fast:
* Having the ears syringed; nose drops and nasal sprays – so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Tablets that are placed under the tongue to treat angina and other conditions - so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Anything inserted into the vagina, such as pessaries, douches, scopes or fingers for the purpose of a medical examination.
* Insertion of a scope or intra-uterine device (IUD or "coil") and the like into the uterus.
* Insertion into the urethra – for males or females – of a catheter, opaque dye for diagnostic imaging, medication or solutions for cleansing the bladder.
* Dental fillings, tooth extractions, cleaning of the teeth, use of siwaak or toothbrush - so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Rinsing, gargling or applying topical mouth sprays - so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
* Subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections – except for those used to provide nourishment.
* Oxygen.
* Anaesthetic gases – so long as the patient is not given nourishing solutions.
* Medications absorbed through the skin, such as creams and patches used to administer medicine and chemicals.
* Insertion of a catheter into veins for diagnostic imaging or treatment of blood vessels in the heart or other organs.
* Use of a laparoscope (instrument inserted through a small incision in the abdomen) to examine the abdominal cavity or to perform operations.
* Taking biopsies or samples from the liver or other organs – so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of solutions.
* Gastroscopy – so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of solutions or other substances.
* Introduction of any instrument or medication to the brain or spinal column.
Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadaan with no valid excuse has committed a grave major sin (kabeerah), and has to repent and make up for that fast later on. If he broke the fast with something haraam, such as drinking alcohol, this makes his sin even worse. Whatever the case, he has to repent sincerely and do more naafil deeds, fasting and other acts of worship, so as to avoid having any shortfall in his record of obligatory deeds, and so that Allaah might accept his repentance.
"If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allaah has fed him and given him to drink." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 1933). According to another report, "He does not have to make the fast up later or offer expiation (kafaarah)."
If a person sees someone else who is eating because he has forgotten that he is fasting, he should remind him, because of the general meaning of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): "… Help one another in righteousness and piety…" [al-Maa'idah 5:2], and the hadeeth, "if I forget, remind me"; and because of the principle that this is an evil action (munkar) that must be changed. (Majlis Shahr Ramadaan, Ibn `Uthaymeen, p.70)
Those who need to break their fast in order to save someone whose life is in danger, may break their fast and should make it up later on. This applies in cases where someone is drowning, or when fires need to be put out.
If a person is obliged to fast, but he deliberately has intercourse during the day in Ramadaan, of his own free will, where the two "circumcised parts" (genitals) come together and the tip of the penis penetrates either the front or back passage, his fast is broken, whether or not he ejaculates, and he has to repent. He should still fast for the rest of the day, but he has to make up the fast later on, and offer expiation (kafaarah), because of the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): "Whilst we were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), a man came to him and said: `O Messenger of Allaah, am doomed!' He said, `What is the matter with you?' He said, `I had intercourse with my wife whilst I was fasting.' The Messenger of Allaah said, `Do you have a slave whom you could set free?' He said, `No.' He said, `Can you fast for two consecutive months?' He said, `No.' He said, `Do you have the wherewithal to feed sixty poor people?' He said, `No'…" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 4, no. 1936). The same ruling also applies in cases of zinaa (adultery or fornication), homosexuality and bestiality.
If a person has intercourse during the day on more than one day during Ramadaan, he must offer expiation for each day, as well as repeating the fast for each day. Not knowing that kafaarah is obligatory is no excuse. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/321).
If a man wants to have intercourse with his wife but he breaks his fast by eating first, his sin is more serious, because he has violated the sanctity of the month on two counts, by eating and by having intercourse. It is even more certain in this case that expiation is obligatory, and if he tries to get out of it, that only makes matters worse. He must repent sincerely. (See Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 25/262).
Kissing, hugging, embracing, touching and repeatedly looking at one's wife or concubine, if a man is able to control himself, is permissible, because it is reported in al-Saheehayn from `Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting, but he was the most in control of his desire. With regard to the hadeeth qudsi, "he keeps away from his wife for My sake", this is referring to intercourse. But if a person get aroused quickly and is unable to control himself, then it is not permissible for him to kiss or embrace his wife, because that will lead to him breaking his fast, as he cannot be sure that he will be able to avoid ejaculating or having intercourse. Allaah says in a hadeeth qudsi: "and he leaves his desire for My sake." The Islamic guideline is that anything that leads to haraam is also haraam.
If a person is engaged in the act of intercourse and dawn comes, he is obliged to withdraw, and his fast will be valid even if he ejaculates after withdrawal, but if he continues having intercourse until after dawn, he has broken his fast, and he must repent, make the fast up later, and offer expiation.
If morning comes and a person is in a state of janaabah (impurity following sexual intercourse), this does not affect his fasting. He or she is permitted to delay doing ghusl, whether it is for janaabah or following menstruation or post-natal bleeding, until after the sun has come up, but it is better to hasten to do ghusl so that one can pray.
If a person who is fasting sleeps and experiences a wet dream, this does not break his fast, according to scholarly consensus (ijmaa'), so he should complete his fast. Delaying doing ghusl does not break the fast, but he should hasten to do ghusl so that he can pray and so that the anegls will draw close to him.
If a person ejaculates during the day in Ramadaan because of something that he could have refrained from, such as touching or repeatedly looking at a woman, he must repent to Allaah and fast for the rest of the day, but he also has to make up that fast later on. If a person starts to masturbate but then stops, and does not ejaculate, then he has to repent but he does not have to make the fast up later on, because he did not ejaculate. The person who is fasting must keep away from everything that may provoke his desire, and he must repel any bad thoughts that come to him. However, according to the most correct opinion, if he emits prostatic fluid (madhiy), this does not break his fast.
The emission of wadiy, a thick sticky substance that comes out after urination, with no sense of physical pleasure, does not break the fast, and a person does not have to do ghusl, but he does have to do istinjaa' (clean his private parts) and do wudoo'. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/279)
"Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast." (Saheeh hadeeth narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3/89). A person who vomits deliberately, by sticking his finger down his throat or applying pressure to his stomach, or deliberately smelling a repulsive odour, or looking at something that could make him vomit, is obliged to make up the fast later on. If he feels that he is about to vomit, but then it subsides by itself, this does not break his fast, because it is not something that he can control, but if the vomit comes into his mouth and he swallows it back down, this does break the fast. If a person feels sick in his stomach, he does not have to suppress the urge to vomit, because this could cause him harm. (Majaalis Sharh Ramadaan, Ibn `Uthaymeen, 67).
If a person unintentionally swallows something that is stuck between his teeth, or if it is so small that he could not tell it was there or spit it out, this is counted as being part of his saliva and it does not break his fast. But if it is big enough to spit out, he should spit it out. If he spits it out, this is OK, but if he swallows it, this breaks his fast. If it can be diluted in the mouth, in whole or in part, and it has an added taste or sweetness, it is haraam for him to chew it. If any of this substance reaches the throat, this breaks the fast. If a person spits out water after rinsing his mouth, his fast is not affected by any moisture or wetness that is left behind, because he cannot help it.
If a person suffers from a nosebleed, his fast is still valid, because this is something that is beyond his control. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/264).
If he has gum ulcers or his gums bleed after using the siwaak (tooth stick), it is not permissible for him to swallow the blood; he has to spit it out. However, if some blood enters his throat by accident, and he did not mean for that to happen, there is no need to worry. Similarly, if vomit rises in his throat then goes back down to his stomach without him intending for this to happen, his fast is still valid. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/254).
With regard to mucus coming from the head (nose and sinuses) and phlegm coming from the chest by coughing and clearing the throat, if it is swallowed before it reaches the mouth, this does not break a person's fast, because it is a problem which all people have; but if it is swallowed after it reaches the mouth, this does break the fast. However, if it is swallowed unintentionally, it does not break the fast.
Inhaling water vapours, as may happen to people working in desalination plants, does not break the fast. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/276).
It is disliked (makrooh) to taste food unnecessarily, because this carries the risk that the fast may be broken. Examples of cases where it is necessary to taste food include a mother chewing food for an infant when she has no other way to feed him, tasting food to make sure that it is OK, and tasting something when making a purchase. It was reported that Ibn `Abbaas said: "There is nothing wrong with tasting vinegar or anything that one wishes to buy." (Classed as hasan in Irwa' al-Ghaleel, 4/86; See al-Fath, commentary on Baab Ightisaal al-Saa'im, Kitaab al-Siyaam).
Using siwaak is Sunnah for the one who is fasting at all times of the day, even if it is wet. If a person who is fasting uses a siwaak and detects some heat or other taste from it and swallows it, or if he takes the siwaak out of his mouth and sees saliva on it then puts it back in his mouth and swallows the saliva, this does not break his fast. (al-Fataawa al-Sa'diyyah, 245).
He should avoid any substance that can be diluted, such as the green siwaak, or siwaak that has any extra flavour added to it, like lemon or mint. He should spit out any small pieces that come off the siwaak in his mouth; he should not swallow them deliberately, but if he swallows them accidentally, there is no harm done.
If a fasting person is injured or suffers a nosebleed, or gets water or petrol in his mouth by accident, this does not break his fast. If he gets dust, smoke or flies in his mouth by accident, this does not break his fast either. Things that one cannot avoid swallowing, like one's own saliva, or dust from grinding flour, do not break the fast. If a person gathers a lot of saliva in his mouth then swallows it on purpose, this does not break the fast, according to the most correct opinion. (al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, 3/106).
If tears reach one's throat, or if a person applies oil to his hair or moustache, or uses henna, and then detects the taste of it in his throat, this does not break his fast. Using henna, kohl or oil does not break the fast. (See Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 25/233, 25/245).
This also applies to creams used to moisturize and soften the skin.
There is nothing wrong with smelling pleasant fragrances, using perfume or applying scented creams and the like. There is nothing wrong with a fasting person using bukhoor (incense), so long as he does not use it as snuff. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/314).
It is better not to use toothpaste during the day, and to leave it till night-time, because it is too strong. (Al-Majaalis, Ibn `Uthaymeen, p. 72).
To be on the safe side, it is better for the fasting person not to be treated with cupping (hijaamah). There is a strong difference of opinion on this matter. Ibn Taymiyah suggested that the one who has cupping done breaks his fast, but the one who does it does not break his fast.
Smoking breaks the fast, and it cannot be used as an excuse not to fast. How can a sin be taken as an excuse?!
Immersing oneself in water or wrapping oneself in wet clothes in order to cool down does not break the fast. There is nothing wrong with pouring water over one's head to obtain relief from heat and thirst. Swimming is disliked, because it might make one break the fast (by swallowing water). If a person's work involves diving and he can be sure that he will not get water in his mouth, there is nothing wrong with this.
If a person eats, drinks or has intercourse, thinking that it is still night, then he realizes that dawn has already broken, there is no harm done, because the aayah clearly states that it is permissible to do these things until one is sure that dawn has come. `Abd al-Razzaaq reported with a saheeh isnaad going back to Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said: "Allaah has permitted you to eat and drink so long as there is any doubt in your mind." (Fath al-Baari, 4/135; this is also the opinion of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 29/263).
If a person breaks his fast, thinking that the sun has already set when it has not, he must make up the fast later on (according to the majority of scholars), because the principle is that it is still day, and a fact that is certain cannot be rejected in favour of something doubtful. (Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah thought that it was not necessary for a person in this situation to make up the fast).
If dawn breaks and a person has food or drink in his mouth, the fuqaha' are agreed that he should spit it out, and his fast is valid. This is like the ruling on one who eats or drinks because he forgets, then remembers he is fasting – if he hastens to spit out the food or drink in his mouth, his fast is still valid.
islamqa.com
Brushing One's Teeth During the Ramadan Fast| Sheikh Salman al-Oadah|
Brushing One's Teeth During the Ramadan Fast| Sheikh Salman al-Oadah|
Many people avoid brushing their teeth during the day in Ramadan. This is a mistake, since there is no contradiction between observing the fast and brushing one's teeth. Moreover, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Were it not for the hardship that I would be placing upon my people, I would have ordered them to engage in siwâk for every prayer.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (887) and Sahîh Muslim (252)]
We must understand that the word “siwâk” does not just refer to the tree branches that are used as tooth sticks, but to the act of brushing the teeth itself. It is derived from the verb sâk, meaning to rub, clean, buff, or polish. [Tarh al-Tathrîb (2/63)]
Regarding the question of what can be used for brushing the teeth, Ibn `Abd al-Barr writes: “The siwâk of the people had been from the arâk and bashâm trees. Anything that polishes the teeth without harming them and sweetens the taste of the mouth is permitted for the purpose of brushing the teeth.” [al-Istidhkâr (3/272)]
It is permitted to brush one's teeth at any time during the day while fasting in Ramadan. As for the hadîth that reads: “When you fast, brush your teeth in the mornings, but do not brush your teeth in the afternoon.” – it is an extremely weak hadîth. It is related in Sunan al-Bayhaqî, Sunan al-Daraqutnî, and other sources. Its chain of transmission is too weak to allow it to be used as evidence.
Therefore, the ruling regarding brushing the teeth in Ramadan remains general. It is encouraged at all times. This ruling is evident in the hadîth mentioned above as well as in the hadîth: “Were it not for the hardship that I would be placing upon my people, I would have ordered them to engage in siwâk every time they perform wudû'.” This means that it is recommended to brush one's teeth after every wudû' and for every prayer, regardless of whether one is fasting or not, and regardless of whether it is in the morning of Ramadan or the afternoon. The Zuhr and `Asr prayers are include in this general ruling just as the Fajr, Maghrib, an `Ishâ' prayers are included.
In fact, there are six occasions where brushing the teeth I recommended:
1. It is recommended before each prayer.
2. It is recommended for every wudû'.
3. It is recommended when reciting the Qur'ân. The following is related by `Alî . Abî Tâlib and others: "Indeed, your mouths are pathways fro the Qur'ân, so make those pathways agreeable with siwâk." [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (291) but with a weak
4. It is recommended upon entering the home. The father of al-Miqdâm b. Shurayh had asked `Âishah: "What was the first thing that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do when he entered the house?" She replied that he would brush his teeth. [Sahîh Muslim (253)]
5. It s recommended when a person has bad breath. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Siwâk cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord." [Sunan al-Nisâ'î, (5), Musnad Ahmad (6/47) and Sunan al-Dârimî (684)]
6. It is recommended upon waking from sleep. Hudhayfah relates that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) got up at night, he would brush his teeth with a toothstick." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
It is recommended for a Muslim to brush his or her teeth on these occasions whether or not he or she is fasting.
Some people assume that brushing the teeth while fasting is discouraged on the basis of the hadîth where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, the khalûf of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1893) and Sahîh Muslim (1151)]
The assumption that this hadîth discourages brushing one's teeth while fasting is incorrect for two reasons:
1. The khalûf is the smell that comes from the stomach when it is empty of food and is not a smell emanating from the mouth.
2. Many scholars explain that the pleasantness of this khalûf for Allah on the Day of Judgment, as indicated by the narration of the hadîth in Sahîh Muslim: “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, the khalûf of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the scent of musk.” It does not relate to the affairs of this world, so brushing the teeth will have no affect on it. If anything, brushing the teeth will provide an additional dimension of pleasantness, since it is in itself something pleasing to Allah. It is something Allah enjoined upon the Muslim's through the words of His Messenger (peace be upon him).
Full article @ http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=2&sub_cat_id=837
Many people avoid brushing their teeth during the day in Ramadan. This is a mistake, since there is no contradiction between observing the fast and brushing one's teeth. Moreover, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Were it not for the hardship that I would be placing upon my people, I would have ordered them to engage in siwâk for every prayer.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (887) and Sahîh Muslim (252)]
We must understand that the word “siwâk” does not just refer to the tree branches that are used as tooth sticks, but to the act of brushing the teeth itself. It is derived from the verb sâk, meaning to rub, clean, buff, or polish. [Tarh al-Tathrîb (2/63)]
Regarding the question of what can be used for brushing the teeth, Ibn `Abd al-Barr writes: “The siwâk of the people had been from the arâk and bashâm trees. Anything that polishes the teeth without harming them and sweetens the taste of the mouth is permitted for the purpose of brushing the teeth.” [al-Istidhkâr (3/272)]
It is permitted to brush one's teeth at any time during the day while fasting in Ramadan. As for the hadîth that reads: “When you fast, brush your teeth in the mornings, but do not brush your teeth in the afternoon.” – it is an extremely weak hadîth. It is related in Sunan al-Bayhaqî, Sunan al-Daraqutnî, and other sources. Its chain of transmission is too weak to allow it to be used as evidence.
Therefore, the ruling regarding brushing the teeth in Ramadan remains general. It is encouraged at all times. This ruling is evident in the hadîth mentioned above as well as in the hadîth: “Were it not for the hardship that I would be placing upon my people, I would have ordered them to engage in siwâk every time they perform wudû'.” This means that it is recommended to brush one's teeth after every wudû' and for every prayer, regardless of whether one is fasting or not, and regardless of whether it is in the morning of Ramadan or the afternoon. The Zuhr and `Asr prayers are include in this general ruling just as the Fajr, Maghrib, an `Ishâ' prayers are included.
In fact, there are six occasions where brushing the teeth I recommended:
1. It is recommended before each prayer.
2. It is recommended for every wudû'.
3. It is recommended when reciting the Qur'ân. The following is related by `Alî . Abî Tâlib and others: "Indeed, your mouths are pathways fro the Qur'ân, so make those pathways agreeable with siwâk." [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (291) but with a weak
4. It is recommended upon entering the home. The father of al-Miqdâm b. Shurayh had asked `Âishah: "What was the first thing that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do when he entered the house?" She replied that he would brush his teeth. [Sahîh Muslim (253)]
5. It s recommended when a person has bad breath. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Siwâk cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord." [Sunan al-Nisâ'î, (5), Musnad Ahmad (6/47) and Sunan al-Dârimî (684)]
6. It is recommended upon waking from sleep. Hudhayfah relates that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) got up at night, he would brush his teeth with a toothstick." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
It is recommended for a Muslim to brush his or her teeth on these occasions whether or not he or she is fasting.
Some people assume that brushing the teeth while fasting is discouraged on the basis of the hadîth where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, the khalûf of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1893) and Sahîh Muslim (1151)]
The assumption that this hadîth discourages brushing one's teeth while fasting is incorrect for two reasons:
1. The khalûf is the smell that comes from the stomach when it is empty of food and is not a smell emanating from the mouth.
2. Many scholars explain that the pleasantness of this khalûf for Allah on the Day of Judgment, as indicated by the narration of the hadîth in Sahîh Muslim: “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, the khalûf of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the scent of musk.” It does not relate to the affairs of this world, so brushing the teeth will have no affect on it. If anything, brushing the teeth will provide an additional dimension of pleasantness, since it is in itself something pleasing to Allah. It is something Allah enjoined upon the Muslim's through the words of His Messenger (peace be upon him).
Full article @ http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=2&sub_cat_id=837
Bleeding from the Mouth/Nose Whilst Fasting
Question:
Does bleeding from the gum of the fasting person break his fast?
Answer:
Bleeding from a person does not affect the fast, but he should try to avoid swallowing it as much as possible. Similarly, if his nose bleeds and he tries to avoid swallowing it, there is nothing incumbent upon him in this regard and he is not obliged to make up for it.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Fatawa Arkaanul-Islaam, DARUSSALAM, Vol.2, p.659
Does bleeding from the gum of the fasting person break his fast?
Answer:
Bleeding from a person does not affect the fast, but he should try to avoid swallowing it as much as possible. Similarly, if his nose bleeds and he tries to avoid swallowing it, there is nothing incumbent upon him in this regard and he is not obliged to make up for it.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Fatawa Arkaanul-Islaam, DARUSSALAM, Vol.2, p.659
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
How many Rakah Taraweeh?
How many Rakah Taraweeh?
With regard to praying more than 8 rak’ahs in Taraweeh, the Sunnah as reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth, and as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did regularly, is to pray eleven rak’ahs at night. He used to pray eight rak’ahs (saying Tasleem after each two rak’ahs in most cases), ending with two rak’ahs of shaf’ and one rak’ah of witr.
He sometimes prayed thirteen rak’ahs, as was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah and Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both). Doing more than this is permitted, but it is not Sunnah. What indicates that it is permissible is the saheeh hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Night prayer is two by two” – meaning two rak’ahs by two rak’ahs; he did not limit it to a set number.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
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How to do witr
Praise be to Allaah.
It was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed Witr in different ways. He prayed one rak’ah, and three, and five, and seven, and nine. And he prayed three rak’ahs in two different ways, either continuously with one tashahhud, or saying salaam after two rak’ahs and praying one rak’ah and saying salaam after it. He did not pray it like Maghrib, with two tashahhuds and one salaam. Rather he forbade doing that, and said: “Do not pray Witr with three rak’ahs like Maghrib.” Narrated by al-Haakim, 1/403; al-Bayhaqi, 3/31; al-Daaraqutni, p. 172. Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari (4/301): Its isnaad fulfils the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said:
It is permissible to pray Witr with three rak’ahs, or with five, or with seven, or with nine. If a person prays Witr with three, it may be done in one of two ways, both of which are prescribed in sharee’ah:
1 – Praying the three rak'ahs continually with one tashahhud.
2 – Saying salaam after two rak’ahs, then praying one rak’ah on its own.
Both of these are narrated in the Sunnah, so if a person does it one way sometimes and the other way sometimes, that is good.
…
It is permissible to say it with one salaam, but it should be with only one tashahhud and not two, because if he does it with two tashahhuds, it will be like Maghrib prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade making it like Maghrib prayer.
Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 4/14-16
For more information please see question no. 26844 and 3452, where there is a lengthy and detailed discussion about qiyaam (night prayers) and Witr.
Islam Q&A
With regard to praying more than 8 rak’ahs in Taraweeh, the Sunnah as reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth, and as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did regularly, is to pray eleven rak’ahs at night. He used to pray eight rak’ahs (saying Tasleem after each two rak’ahs in most cases), ending with two rak’ahs of shaf’ and one rak’ah of witr.
He sometimes prayed thirteen rak’ahs, as was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah and Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both). Doing more than this is permitted, but it is not Sunnah. What indicates that it is permissible is the saheeh hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Night prayer is two by two” – meaning two rak’ahs by two rak’ahs; he did not limit it to a set number.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
-------------------------------
How to do witr
Praise be to Allaah.
It was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed Witr in different ways. He prayed one rak’ah, and three, and five, and seven, and nine. And he prayed three rak’ahs in two different ways, either continuously with one tashahhud, or saying salaam after two rak’ahs and praying one rak’ah and saying salaam after it. He did not pray it like Maghrib, with two tashahhuds and one salaam. Rather he forbade doing that, and said: “Do not pray Witr with three rak’ahs like Maghrib.” Narrated by al-Haakim, 1/403; al-Bayhaqi, 3/31; al-Daaraqutni, p. 172. Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari (4/301): Its isnaad fulfils the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said:
It is permissible to pray Witr with three rak’ahs, or with five, or with seven, or with nine. If a person prays Witr with three, it may be done in one of two ways, both of which are prescribed in sharee’ah:
1 – Praying the three rak'ahs continually with one tashahhud.
2 – Saying salaam after two rak’ahs, then praying one rak’ah on its own.
Both of these are narrated in the Sunnah, so if a person does it one way sometimes and the other way sometimes, that is good.
…
It is permissible to say it with one salaam, but it should be with only one tashahhud and not two, because if he does it with two tashahhuds, it will be like Maghrib prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade making it like Maghrib prayer.
Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 4/14-16
For more information please see question no. 26844 and 3452, where there is a lengthy and detailed discussion about qiyaam (night prayers) and Witr.
Islam Q&A
Conversation on Alcohol
Conversation on Alcohol
A man came to Iyas Ibn Mu'awiyah, a Muslim judge famous for his wisdom, and the following conversation took place between them:
Man: What is the Islamic ruling regarding wine?
Judge: It is Haram (Forbidden).
Man: How about water?
Judge: It is Halal (Permissible).
Man: How about dates and grapes?
Judge: They are Halal.
Man: Why is it that all these ingredients are Halal, and yet when you combine them, they become Haram?
The Judge looked at the man and said: If I hit you with this handful of dirt, do you think it would hurt you?
Man: It would not.
Judge: How about if I hit you with this handful of straw?
Man: It would not hurt me.
Judge: How about a handful of water?
Man: It surely would not hurt me.
Judge: How about if I mix them, and let them dry to become a brick, and then hit you with it, would it hurt you?
Man: It would hurt me and might even kill me!
Judge: The same reasoning applies to what you asked me!
A man came to Iyas Ibn Mu'awiyah, a Muslim judge famous for his wisdom, and the following conversation took place between them:
Man: What is the Islamic ruling regarding wine?
Judge: It is Haram (Forbidden).
Man: How about water?
Judge: It is Halal (Permissible).
Man: How about dates and grapes?
Judge: They are Halal.
Man: Why is it that all these ingredients are Halal, and yet when you combine them, they become Haram?
The Judge looked at the man and said: If I hit you with this handful of dirt, do you think it would hurt you?
Man: It would not.
Judge: How about if I hit you with this handful of straw?
Man: It would not hurt me.
Judge: How about a handful of water?
Man: It surely would not hurt me.
Judge: How about if I mix them, and let them dry to become a brick, and then hit you with it, would it hurt you?
Man: It would hurt me and might even kill me!
Judge: The same reasoning applies to what you asked me!
Monday, September 17, 2007
MUSLIM BIZ GAL BEATEN
MUSLIM BIZ GAL BEATEN
September 16, 2007 -- The Muslim owner of a high-end nail and facial salon that caters to the likes of Jennifer Lopez was beaten and robbed yesterday in what Long Island cops called a bias attack.
The attack followed two weeks of phone calls in which Iranian-American Zohreh Assemi was called a "terrorist" and told to "get out of town," friends and family said.
She was opening her store in Locust Valley at around 6:30 a.m. when two men came out of a public bathroom and forced her inside the salon.
They smashed her hand with a hammer, sliced her with a boxcutter and kicked her before taking about $2,000 in cash and scrawling anti-Muslim slurs on her mirrors, sources said.
She was treated at North Shore University Hospital at Manhasset.
"I'm in pain. I can't talk," sobbed a shaken Assemi, 52, as she left her store late yesterday afternoon.
"They said, 'Your kind isn't welcomed here. You don't belong here,' " said Ginny Russo, a friend and customer. "You don't do that to people. That's so wrong."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09162007/news/regionalnews/muslim_biz_gal_beaten.htm
September 16, 2007 -- The Muslim owner of a high-end nail and facial salon that caters to the likes of Jennifer Lopez was beaten and robbed yesterday in what Long Island cops called a bias attack.
The attack followed two weeks of phone calls in which Iranian-American Zohreh Assemi was called a "terrorist" and told to "get out of town," friends and family said.
She was opening her store in Locust Valley at around 6:30 a.m. when two men came out of a public bathroom and forced her inside the salon.
They smashed her hand with a hammer, sliced her with a boxcutter and kicked her before taking about $2,000 in cash and scrawling anti-Muslim slurs on her mirrors, sources said.
She was treated at North Shore University Hospital at Manhasset.
"I'm in pain. I can't talk," sobbed a shaken Assemi, 52, as she left her store late yesterday afternoon.
"They said, 'Your kind isn't welcomed here. You don't belong here,' " said Ginny Russo, a friend and customer. "You don't do that to people. That's so wrong."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09162007/news/regionalnews/muslim_biz_gal_beaten.htm
Monday, August 20, 2007
EVER WONDER WHY?
EVER WONDER WHY?
Why a Jew can grow his beard in order to practice his faith
But when Muslim does the same, he is an extremist and terrorist!
Why a nun can be covered from head to toe in order to devote herself
to God.
But when Muslimah does the same she oppressed.
When a western women stays at home to look after her house and kids
she is respected because of sacrificing herself and doing good for the
household?
But when a Muslim woman does so by her will, they say, "she needs to
be liberated"!
Any girl can go to university wearing what she wills and have her
rights and freedom?
But when Muslimah wears a Hijab they prevent her from entering her
university!
When a child dedicates himself to a subject he has potential.
But when he dedicates himself to Islam he is hopeless!
When a Christian or a Jew kills someone religion is not mentioned, but
when Muslim is charged with a crime, it is Islam that goes to trial!
When someone sacrfices himself to keep others alive, he is noble and
all respect him.
But when a Palestinian does that to save his son from being killed,
his brother's arm being broken, his mother being raped, his home being
destroyed, and his mosque being violated -- He gets the title of a
terrorist! Why? Because he is a Muslim!
When there is a trouble we accept any solution? If the solution lies
in Islam, we refuse to take a look at it.
When someone drives a perfect car in a bad way no one blames the car.
But when any Muslim makes a mistake or treats people in a bad manner -
people say "Islam is the reason"! Without looking to the tradition of Islam, people believe what the newspapers say.
Despite all this, You ever wondered why people become Muslims when
they research about Islam and start knowing what Islam really is? Why is
Islam the most fast growing Religion.
Despite many people name it bad and are jealous from it?
Why a Jew can grow his beard in order to practice his faith
But when Muslim does the same, he is an extremist and terrorist!
Why a nun can be covered from head to toe in order to devote herself
to God.
But when Muslimah does the same she oppressed.
When a western women stays at home to look after her house and kids
she is respected because of sacrificing herself and doing good for the
household?
But when a Muslim woman does so by her will, they say, "she needs to
be liberated"!
Any girl can go to university wearing what she wills and have her
rights and freedom?
But when Muslimah wears a Hijab they prevent her from entering her
university!
When a child dedicates himself to a subject he has potential.
But when he dedicates himself to Islam he is hopeless!
When a Christian or a Jew kills someone religion is not mentioned, but
when Muslim is charged with a crime, it is Islam that goes to trial!
When someone sacrfices himself to keep others alive, he is noble and
all respect him.
But when a Palestinian does that to save his son from being killed,
his brother's arm being broken, his mother being raped, his home being
destroyed, and his mosque being violated -- He gets the title of a
terrorist! Why? Because he is a Muslim!
When there is a trouble we accept any solution? If the solution lies
in Islam, we refuse to take a look at it.
When someone drives a perfect car in a bad way no one blames the car.
But when any Muslim makes a mistake or treats people in a bad manner -
people say "Islam is the reason"! Without looking to the tradition of Islam, people believe what the newspapers say.
Despite all this, You ever wondered why people become Muslims when
they research about Islam and start knowing what Islam really is? Why is
Islam the most fast growing Religion.
Despite many people name it bad and are jealous from it?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
US terror interrogation went too far, experts say
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070813/ts_csm/apadillaone_1
US terror interrogation went too far, experts say
By Warren Richey
Mon Aug 13, 4:00 AM ET
Jose Padilla had no history of mental illness when President Bush ordered him detained in 2002 as a suspected Al Qaeda operative. But he does now.
The Muslim convert was subjected to prison conditions and interrogation techniques that took him past the breaking point, mental health experts say.
Two psychiatrists and a psychologist who conducted detailed personal examinations of Mr. Padilla on behalf of his defense lawyers say his extended detention and interrogation at the US Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, S.C., left him with severe mental disabilities. All three say he may never recover.
Padilla's psychological condition is important because his situation marks the first time an enemy combatant in the war on terror is in a position to present a verifiable claim of abuse at the hands of US interrogators. Padilla's mental health itself is a form of evidence, mental-health experts say, and it strongly suggests that – at least in Padilla's case – the government's harsh interrogation and confinement tactics went too far.
Padilla is currently on trial in Miami on terror conspiracy charges. Prosecutors say he was a willing Al Qaeda recruit who attended a training camp in Afghanistan. He denies the allegations. Closing arguments in the three-month trial are slated to begin Monday.
Beyond the outcome of his Miami trial, larger issues loom. Chief among them, legal scholars say, is whether Mr. Bush acted within his constitutional authority when he ordered Padilla, a United States citizen, held without charge as an enemy combatant at the brig for three years and seven months.
Padilla's treatment in the brig raises another issue, these scholars say: whether the Constitution ever permits the government to force a man to confess to involvement in terrorist plots and, in doing so, risk destruction of a portion of his mind.
Defense Department officials reject charges that Padilla was mistreated. "The government in the strongest terms denies Padilla's allegations of torture – allegations made without support and without citing a shred of record evidence," writes Navy Commander J.D. Gordon, a spokesman for the secretary of Defense, in an e-mail. "Any credible allegations of illegal conduct by US military personnel are taken seriously and looked into in painstaking detail."
He adds, "There has never been a substantiated case of detainee abuse at Charleston Navy brig."
The Padilla mental-health issue arises as the Bush administration faces increasing pressure to balance the requirements of the criminal justice system against the demands of its intelligence-collection system. Information about Padilla's detention and interrogation at the brig is classified. But his mental health status can't be kept secret.
Rare window into detentionHis psychological reports are on file in his Miami court case. The three reports total 34 pages and offer a rare window into the psychological effects of Padilla's experience in the brig. The mental-health experts were retained by Padilla's lawyers for testimony during pretrial motions. The reports reflect their professional judgments offered to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
In Padilla's case, these experts say, the pattern of signs and symptoms clearly suggest their origin is the brig . Unlike many allegations of harm from interrogation methods, Padilla's mental condition – and the probable cause of his mental disabilities – can be critically assessed and verified by an independent panel of mental-health professionals, provided Padilla cooperates, these and other psychology experts say.
The judge in Padilla's criminal case has already ruled that Padilla is suffering from a mental disability, but she refused to allow defense lawyers to explore the issue of whether the disability was caused by Padilla's treatment in the brig.
US intelligence officials had good reason to want to learn what Padilla knew. He was detained on suspicion that he was plotting with Al Qaeda to detonate a radiological "dirty bomb" in the US. He was arrested eight months after the 9/11 attacks as he stepped off a plane in Chicago from the Middle East. Officials were worried about the possibility of a second wave of terror attacks and the presence of sleeper cells in the US.
Padilla's interrogation was designed to overcome his will to keep silent, and then to wring from him every detail of what officials thought he might know of Al Qaeda's plans and operations.
Bush and other administration officials have repeatedly said that America does not use torture. They stress that all terror suspects are treated humanely.
"There have been 12 major reviews conducted of detention operations over the past several years, none of which found there was any policy that ever condoned abuse," says Commander Gordon, the Pentagon spokesman. "The reviews have resulted in numerous recommendations which have been implemented and have improved our detention operations."
The mental-health experts say their focus is on Padilla, not on policies.
"He is not the same man who was taken into custody in 2002," says Angela Hegarty, a forensic psychiatrist in New York who spent 22 hours examining Padilla. "Whatever happened to him in there has radically changed him."
Stuart Grassian, a Boston psychiatrist, says Padilla's experience in the brig has left members of his family stunned and frightened. "People who have known him and loved him before his military detention don't feel they can even bear to see him because he is so clearly mentally ill."
Tricky issue: US citizenshipThe administration has faced criticism for using harsh interrogation tactics on foreign enemy combatants at Guantánamo Bay and other locations overseas. But Padilla's situation is unique.
Padilla is a US citizen who was arrested and detained on US soil. Because of this status, his case was closely followed at the highest levels of the US government. The president himself signed the order authorizing Padilla's detention.
In 2002, the Justice Department produced a "torture" memo stating that victims would have to experience pain equivalent to organ failure to prove torture.
"The development of a mental disorder such as post-traumatic stress disorder, which can last months or even years, or even chronic depression, which can last a considerable period of time if untreated, might satisfy the prolonged harm requirement" to prove torture, the memo says.
Drs. Hegarty and Grassian say Padilla's psychological condition exceeds even the high standard for mental damage set by the 2002 torture memo. "This whole issue of torture turns on the question of what are the types of effects that one would expect from putting a person in this situation in the brig," says Grassian. "If you would expect a person to become so deranged as to become psychotically terrified, to me that constitutes torture."
The issue is not new. Lawyers representing Padilla in his criminal case in Miami filed motions last year charging that their client had been tortured while in military custody. They said the abuse rendered Padilla mentally incompetent to assist in his own defense at trial.
But in a February hearing, US District Judge Marcia Cooke sidestepped the torture accusations. She ruled that even though mental-health experts had identified mental disabilities, Padilla was competent enough to face prosecution.
"The mere fact that the defendant is suffering from a mental disease or defect does not render the defendant incompetent to stand trial," Judge Cooke declared.
Mental-health experts say that a legal determination of competence to stand trial doesn't undercut the severity of Padilla's existing mental disabilities.
Throughout his three-month trial in Miami, Padilla has sat quietly at the defense table. He looks more the part of a legal assistant in his charcoal gray suit with neatly cropped hair and eyeglasses than the radical jihadist he is alleged to have become. He turns and smiles to his mother when she attends the trial. But unlike his two codefendants he rarely interacts with his lawyers.
'I saw this individual happy ... joking'A Bureau of Prisons psychologist who examined Padilla prior to the court competency hearing, found that Padilla was suffering from mental disabilities. But Dr. Rodolfo Buigas disagreed with the other mental-health experts on the severity of Padilla's conditions, painting a somewhat rosy picture of the onetime military detainee. "I saw this individual happy. I saw this individual joking in the context of the evaluation. I saw the full, broad range of emotions," Dr. Buigas testified.
The psychologist also testified that Padilla declined to answer most of his questions, including his date of birth, and refused to participate in any psychological testing during the six hours the two men spent together.
Others with more significant interaction with Padilla say his brig experience has left him in a state of mental disorganization.
Some psychological tests place him on par with individuals who have suffered brain damage, according to the reports prepared by Hegarty, Grassian, and Patricia Zapf, a New York psychologist and psychology professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
Padilla's treatment in the brig is classified as a state secret.
Ironically, no one knows this better than Padilla himself. When Hegarty, the psychiatrist, asked him about his interrogation in the brig, Padilla responded: "I can't talk about what happened to me because it is classified."
Although Padilla has been meeting with his Miami lawyers for more than a year and a half, he refuses to discuss his treatment in the brig in any detail.
The torture allegations made last year in the Miami court case were raised as a result of repeated sessions asking Padilla "yes or no" whether he'd endured the kinds of harsh interrogation tactics reported in the press. He reluctantly answered yes to some, and no to others. But his lawyers could pry no details or narrative from him.
They asked Hegarty for help.
He changed the subject and twitchedShe spent days attempting to establish a rapport, days trying to get him to open up. "The first two hours were utterly useless each day. I got no data at all," Hegarty says. Eventually he would relax and talk about relatively minor subjects. When Hegarty tried to steer him toward the brig or the evidence in his criminal case "he would just stop, change the subject, and twitch," she said.
During her week-long effort, Hegarty would arrive each morning to discover Padilla once again unwilling to talk. She says the experience was like the movie "Groundhog Day," in which the same events repeat over and over. "The 22 hours I spent with him, it was like it never happened," Hegarty says. "It was chilling."
Grassian relates in his report that Padilla's mother found it emotionally difficult to visit her son in Miami because it involved observing his diminished mental condition. Padilla tried to reassure her that he was fine, that the government was treating him very well. At one point, Grassian says, Padilla suggested that his mother write directly to Bush to help her speed through red tape to arrange her next visit. The president was sure to help her out, Padilla assured his mother.
"It was utterly irrational," Grassian writes in his report. "After all, it was President Bush who had ordered him detained as an enemy combatant."
Padilla's mother became increasingly anxious. Finally she confronted her son: "Did they torture you?" she asked.
"He turned towards her, his face grimacing, his eyes blinking, and in panic and rage he demanded: 'Don't you ever, ever, ask that question again,' " the Grassian report says.
What makes Padilla's case especially challenging from a psychological perspective is that he denies having any symptoms of psychological distress. Experts say it is an attempt by Padilla to avoid being viewed in any way as mentally disturbed.
"He was told not to talk about what happened in the brig and that if he ever spoke about what happened, people would think he was crazy," Hegarty says. "This admonition has power over him," she says. "He becomes visibly terrified as he is saying it."
Critical focus on the brigHegarty, Grassian, and Zapf all agree that Padilla exhibits symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and that he has become psychotically disorganized. They say that Padilla's ordeal in the brig was so psychologically unsettling that it has left him terrorized. Any reminder of the ordeal through questions by his lawyers or others, triggers a recurrence of the disorganizing terror Padilla experienced in the brig, they say.
"As soon as you try to approach a subject related to the brig he starts grimacing and you can just see he becomes mentally disorganized. Anyone who watched this with a reasonably unbiased eye would find it so creepy," Grassian says. "You can see the terror come out of him."
Padilla has been on trial in Miami since May on charges that he became a willing Al Qaeda recruit. The government never presented any part of the alleged "dirty-bomb" plot in the case, and some analysts say the government's cobbled-together case against Padilla is weak.
It is unclear what Padilla thinks about the possibility of an acquittal in Miami. But Hegarty says that if Padilla's lawyers win the case it could mark the worst possible outcome for him. That's because the president might try to move Padilla back to his old cell in the brig.
"There is no question in my mind that his first and most important priority is to not go back to the brig," Hegarty says. "This is what leaves me chilled, if one were to offer him a long prison term or return to the brig, he would take prison, in a heartbeat."
She adds, "He told me more than once that if he went back to the brig he knew what he had to do." Her notes reflect Padilla's hints of suicide.
Worst outcome: a return to the brigAlthough it is still unknown exactly what happened to Padilla during his three years and seven months in the Charleston brig, Hegarty says this much is certain – for Padilla returning to the brig would be a fate worse than death.
Legally, Padilla isn't at a dead end. Last year, three justices of the Supreme Court issued a highly unusual warning. If the government attempts to take Padilla back to the brig, they said, Padilla could, if necessary, appeal directly to the highest court in the land.
Some longtime court-watchers suggest Padilla already has the support of at least five of the nine justices, and maybe more.
When Padilla's case originally reached the high court in 2004, it was dismissed on technical grounds by a 5-to-4 vote. The vote allowed the continued harsh treatment of Padilla.
Justice John Paul Stevens, a US Navy intelligence officer during World War II, filed a dissent. He quoted a 1949 opinion by then Justice Felix Frankfurter.
It said: "There is torture of mind as well as body; the will is as much affected by fear as by force. And there comes a point where this court should not be ignorant as judges of what we know as men."
When did Padilla's mental problems begin?If Jose Padilla's mental disabilities are evidence that US coercive interrogation tactics are too harsh, a key issue is when the disabilities began.
It's possible they began before he was detained by the US military.
In a pretrial hearing in Mr. Padilla's terror conspiracy case in Miami, a prosecutor said that perhaps they stemmed from his time in Pakistan or his alleged time in Afghanistan. Padilla was in the region during US operations in Afghanistan in 2001 and early 2002, a time of massive US bombing raids and other military action. But the prosecutor offered no evidence.
Conversely, several pieces of evidence suggest that the problems began at the Navy brig in South Carolina.
In May 2002, a month before he entered the brig, Padilla was taken into custody, held in New York City, and given access to a court-appointed lawyer, Donna Newman. Two years later, when the Bush administration first allowed Padilla to see his lawyers again, Ms. Newman and another attorney visited.
"There is no question he had changed," Newman says. "Prior to his being held in South Carolina there was no reason to suspect that he had any kind of [mental] problem."
She adds, "After his being held in the brig ... his focus seemed less direct, his eye contact was similarly diminished, and he was more taciturn."
"Mr. Padilla had no evidence of any mental illness prior to his arrest and incarceration in 2002," writes Stuart Grassian, a Boston psychiatrist, in his report for Padilla's defense team. He examined medical documents and interviewed Padilla's family, including his mother, siblings, and ex-wife.
Patricia Zapf, a New York psychologist, also retained by the defense, quotes Padilla's mother in her report as saying that her son had "never suffered from any mental illness or received treatment for any psychological or psychiatric problems." His mother said she had visited him eight or nine times but that it was becoming too hard emotionally to "see Jose that way." She added that he did not have facial ticks prior to being incarcerated.
"Mr. Padilla shows extreme anxiety," Ms. Zapf said at a pretrial hearing. "He said he will go back there. He will die there. He is fearful of his time in the brig. Everything that he talks about is with respect to the time at the brig, no other time point."
AFP/FDMV-HO/File Photo: The defense rested its case on Tuesday in the US trial of former Chicago gang...
US terror interrogation went too far, experts say
By Warren Richey
Mon Aug 13, 4:00 AM ET
Jose Padilla had no history of mental illness when President Bush ordered him detained in 2002 as a suspected Al Qaeda operative. But he does now.
The Muslim convert was subjected to prison conditions and interrogation techniques that took him past the breaking point, mental health experts say.
Two psychiatrists and a psychologist who conducted detailed personal examinations of Mr. Padilla on behalf of his defense lawyers say his extended detention and interrogation at the US Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, S.C., left him with severe mental disabilities. All three say he may never recover.
Padilla's psychological condition is important because his situation marks the first time an enemy combatant in the war on terror is in a position to present a verifiable claim of abuse at the hands of US interrogators. Padilla's mental health itself is a form of evidence, mental-health experts say, and it strongly suggests that – at least in Padilla's case – the government's harsh interrogation and confinement tactics went too far.
Padilla is currently on trial in Miami on terror conspiracy charges. Prosecutors say he was a willing Al Qaeda recruit who attended a training camp in Afghanistan. He denies the allegations. Closing arguments in the three-month trial are slated to begin Monday.
Beyond the outcome of his Miami trial, larger issues loom. Chief among them, legal scholars say, is whether Mr. Bush acted within his constitutional authority when he ordered Padilla, a United States citizen, held without charge as an enemy combatant at the brig for three years and seven months.
Padilla's treatment in the brig raises another issue, these scholars say: whether the Constitution ever permits the government to force a man to confess to involvement in terrorist plots and, in doing so, risk destruction of a portion of his mind.
Defense Department officials reject charges that Padilla was mistreated. "The government in the strongest terms denies Padilla's allegations of torture – allegations made without support and without citing a shred of record evidence," writes Navy Commander J.D. Gordon, a spokesman for the secretary of Defense, in an e-mail. "Any credible allegations of illegal conduct by US military personnel are taken seriously and looked into in painstaking detail."
He adds, "There has never been a substantiated case of detainee abuse at Charleston Navy brig."
The Padilla mental-health issue arises as the Bush administration faces increasing pressure to balance the requirements of the criminal justice system against the demands of its intelligence-collection system. Information about Padilla's detention and interrogation at the brig is classified. But his mental health status can't be kept secret.
Rare window into detentionHis psychological reports are on file in his Miami court case. The three reports total 34 pages and offer a rare window into the psychological effects of Padilla's experience in the brig. The mental-health experts were retained by Padilla's lawyers for testimony during pretrial motions. The reports reflect their professional judgments offered to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
In Padilla's case, these experts say, the pattern of signs and symptoms clearly suggest their origin is the brig . Unlike many allegations of harm from interrogation methods, Padilla's mental condition – and the probable cause of his mental disabilities – can be critically assessed and verified by an independent panel of mental-health professionals, provided Padilla cooperates, these and other psychology experts say.
The judge in Padilla's criminal case has already ruled that Padilla is suffering from a mental disability, but she refused to allow defense lawyers to explore the issue of whether the disability was caused by Padilla's treatment in the brig.
US intelligence officials had good reason to want to learn what Padilla knew. He was detained on suspicion that he was plotting with Al Qaeda to detonate a radiological "dirty bomb" in the US. He was arrested eight months after the 9/11 attacks as he stepped off a plane in Chicago from the Middle East. Officials were worried about the possibility of a second wave of terror attacks and the presence of sleeper cells in the US.
Padilla's interrogation was designed to overcome his will to keep silent, and then to wring from him every detail of what officials thought he might know of Al Qaeda's plans and operations.
Bush and other administration officials have repeatedly said that America does not use torture. They stress that all terror suspects are treated humanely.
"There have been 12 major reviews conducted of detention operations over the past several years, none of which found there was any policy that ever condoned abuse," says Commander Gordon, the Pentagon spokesman. "The reviews have resulted in numerous recommendations which have been implemented and have improved our detention operations."
The mental-health experts say their focus is on Padilla, not on policies.
"He is not the same man who was taken into custody in 2002," says Angela Hegarty, a forensic psychiatrist in New York who spent 22 hours examining Padilla. "Whatever happened to him in there has radically changed him."
Stuart Grassian, a Boston psychiatrist, says Padilla's experience in the brig has left members of his family stunned and frightened. "People who have known him and loved him before his military detention don't feel they can even bear to see him because he is so clearly mentally ill."
Tricky issue: US citizenshipThe administration has faced criticism for using harsh interrogation tactics on foreign enemy combatants at Guantánamo Bay and other locations overseas. But Padilla's situation is unique.
Padilla is a US citizen who was arrested and detained on US soil. Because of this status, his case was closely followed at the highest levels of the US government. The president himself signed the order authorizing Padilla's detention.
In 2002, the Justice Department produced a "torture" memo stating that victims would have to experience pain equivalent to organ failure to prove torture.
"The development of a mental disorder such as post-traumatic stress disorder, which can last months or even years, or even chronic depression, which can last a considerable period of time if untreated, might satisfy the prolonged harm requirement" to prove torture, the memo says.
Drs. Hegarty and Grassian say Padilla's psychological condition exceeds even the high standard for mental damage set by the 2002 torture memo. "This whole issue of torture turns on the question of what are the types of effects that one would expect from putting a person in this situation in the brig," says Grassian. "If you would expect a person to become so deranged as to become psychotically terrified, to me that constitutes torture."
The issue is not new. Lawyers representing Padilla in his criminal case in Miami filed motions last year charging that their client had been tortured while in military custody. They said the abuse rendered Padilla mentally incompetent to assist in his own defense at trial.
But in a February hearing, US District Judge Marcia Cooke sidestepped the torture accusations. She ruled that even though mental-health experts had identified mental disabilities, Padilla was competent enough to face prosecution.
"The mere fact that the defendant is suffering from a mental disease or defect does not render the defendant incompetent to stand trial," Judge Cooke declared.
Mental-health experts say that a legal determination of competence to stand trial doesn't undercut the severity of Padilla's existing mental disabilities.
Throughout his three-month trial in Miami, Padilla has sat quietly at the defense table. He looks more the part of a legal assistant in his charcoal gray suit with neatly cropped hair and eyeglasses than the radical jihadist he is alleged to have become. He turns and smiles to his mother when she attends the trial. But unlike his two codefendants he rarely interacts with his lawyers.
'I saw this individual happy ... joking'A Bureau of Prisons psychologist who examined Padilla prior to the court competency hearing, found that Padilla was suffering from mental disabilities. But Dr. Rodolfo Buigas disagreed with the other mental-health experts on the severity of Padilla's conditions, painting a somewhat rosy picture of the onetime military detainee. "I saw this individual happy. I saw this individual joking in the context of the evaluation. I saw the full, broad range of emotions," Dr. Buigas testified.
The psychologist also testified that Padilla declined to answer most of his questions, including his date of birth, and refused to participate in any psychological testing during the six hours the two men spent together.
Others with more significant interaction with Padilla say his brig experience has left him in a state of mental disorganization.
Some psychological tests place him on par with individuals who have suffered brain damage, according to the reports prepared by Hegarty, Grassian, and Patricia Zapf, a New York psychologist and psychology professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
Padilla's treatment in the brig is classified as a state secret.
Ironically, no one knows this better than Padilla himself. When Hegarty, the psychiatrist, asked him about his interrogation in the brig, Padilla responded: "I can't talk about what happened to me because it is classified."
Although Padilla has been meeting with his Miami lawyers for more than a year and a half, he refuses to discuss his treatment in the brig in any detail.
The torture allegations made last year in the Miami court case were raised as a result of repeated sessions asking Padilla "yes or no" whether he'd endured the kinds of harsh interrogation tactics reported in the press. He reluctantly answered yes to some, and no to others. But his lawyers could pry no details or narrative from him.
They asked Hegarty for help.
He changed the subject and twitchedShe spent days attempting to establish a rapport, days trying to get him to open up. "The first two hours were utterly useless each day. I got no data at all," Hegarty says. Eventually he would relax and talk about relatively minor subjects. When Hegarty tried to steer him toward the brig or the evidence in his criminal case "he would just stop, change the subject, and twitch," she said.
During her week-long effort, Hegarty would arrive each morning to discover Padilla once again unwilling to talk. She says the experience was like the movie "Groundhog Day," in which the same events repeat over and over. "The 22 hours I spent with him, it was like it never happened," Hegarty says. "It was chilling."
Grassian relates in his report that Padilla's mother found it emotionally difficult to visit her son in Miami because it involved observing his diminished mental condition. Padilla tried to reassure her that he was fine, that the government was treating him very well. At one point, Grassian says, Padilla suggested that his mother write directly to Bush to help her speed through red tape to arrange her next visit. The president was sure to help her out, Padilla assured his mother.
"It was utterly irrational," Grassian writes in his report. "After all, it was President Bush who had ordered him detained as an enemy combatant."
Padilla's mother became increasingly anxious. Finally she confronted her son: "Did they torture you?" she asked.
"He turned towards her, his face grimacing, his eyes blinking, and in panic and rage he demanded: 'Don't you ever, ever, ask that question again,' " the Grassian report says.
What makes Padilla's case especially challenging from a psychological perspective is that he denies having any symptoms of psychological distress. Experts say it is an attempt by Padilla to avoid being viewed in any way as mentally disturbed.
"He was told not to talk about what happened in the brig and that if he ever spoke about what happened, people would think he was crazy," Hegarty says. "This admonition has power over him," she says. "He becomes visibly terrified as he is saying it."
Critical focus on the brigHegarty, Grassian, and Zapf all agree that Padilla exhibits symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and that he has become psychotically disorganized. They say that Padilla's ordeal in the brig was so psychologically unsettling that it has left him terrorized. Any reminder of the ordeal through questions by his lawyers or others, triggers a recurrence of the disorganizing terror Padilla experienced in the brig, they say.
"As soon as you try to approach a subject related to the brig he starts grimacing and you can just see he becomes mentally disorganized. Anyone who watched this with a reasonably unbiased eye would find it so creepy," Grassian says. "You can see the terror come out of him."
Padilla has been on trial in Miami since May on charges that he became a willing Al Qaeda recruit. The government never presented any part of the alleged "dirty-bomb" plot in the case, and some analysts say the government's cobbled-together case against Padilla is weak.
It is unclear what Padilla thinks about the possibility of an acquittal in Miami. But Hegarty says that if Padilla's lawyers win the case it could mark the worst possible outcome for him. That's because the president might try to move Padilla back to his old cell in the brig.
"There is no question in my mind that his first and most important priority is to not go back to the brig," Hegarty says. "This is what leaves me chilled, if one were to offer him a long prison term or return to the brig, he would take prison, in a heartbeat."
She adds, "He told me more than once that if he went back to the brig he knew what he had to do." Her notes reflect Padilla's hints of suicide.
Worst outcome: a return to the brigAlthough it is still unknown exactly what happened to Padilla during his three years and seven months in the Charleston brig, Hegarty says this much is certain – for Padilla returning to the brig would be a fate worse than death.
Legally, Padilla isn't at a dead end. Last year, three justices of the Supreme Court issued a highly unusual warning. If the government attempts to take Padilla back to the brig, they said, Padilla could, if necessary, appeal directly to the highest court in the land.
Some longtime court-watchers suggest Padilla already has the support of at least five of the nine justices, and maybe more.
When Padilla's case originally reached the high court in 2004, it was dismissed on technical grounds by a 5-to-4 vote. The vote allowed the continued harsh treatment of Padilla.
Justice John Paul Stevens, a US Navy intelligence officer during World War II, filed a dissent. He quoted a 1949 opinion by then Justice Felix Frankfurter.
It said: "There is torture of mind as well as body; the will is as much affected by fear as by force. And there comes a point where this court should not be ignorant as judges of what we know as men."
When did Padilla's mental problems begin?If Jose Padilla's mental disabilities are evidence that US coercive interrogation tactics are too harsh, a key issue is when the disabilities began.
It's possible they began before he was detained by the US military.
In a pretrial hearing in Mr. Padilla's terror conspiracy case in Miami, a prosecutor said that perhaps they stemmed from his time in Pakistan or his alleged time in Afghanistan. Padilla was in the region during US operations in Afghanistan in 2001 and early 2002, a time of massive US bombing raids and other military action. But the prosecutor offered no evidence.
Conversely, several pieces of evidence suggest that the problems began at the Navy brig in South Carolina.
In May 2002, a month before he entered the brig, Padilla was taken into custody, held in New York City, and given access to a court-appointed lawyer, Donna Newman. Two years later, when the Bush administration first allowed Padilla to see his lawyers again, Ms. Newman and another attorney visited.
"There is no question he had changed," Newman says. "Prior to his being held in South Carolina there was no reason to suspect that he had any kind of [mental] problem."
She adds, "After his being held in the brig ... his focus seemed less direct, his eye contact was similarly diminished, and he was more taciturn."
"Mr. Padilla had no evidence of any mental illness prior to his arrest and incarceration in 2002," writes Stuart Grassian, a Boston psychiatrist, in his report for Padilla's defense team. He examined medical documents and interviewed Padilla's family, including his mother, siblings, and ex-wife.
Patricia Zapf, a New York psychologist, also retained by the defense, quotes Padilla's mother in her report as saying that her son had "never suffered from any mental illness or received treatment for any psychological or psychiatric problems." His mother said she had visited him eight or nine times but that it was becoming too hard emotionally to "see Jose that way." She added that he did not have facial ticks prior to being incarcerated.
"Mr. Padilla shows extreme anxiety," Ms. Zapf said at a pretrial hearing. "He said he will go back there. He will die there. He is fearful of his time in the brig. Everything that he talks about is with respect to the time at the brig, no other time point."
AFP/FDMV-HO/File Photo: The defense rested its case on Tuesday in the US trial of former Chicago gang...
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