Brighton & Hove Muslim Women

2012-01-19T23:21:00.004+01:00

Virtue of RiDaa
Cure for a troubled heart and a community in crisis.

In a serene courtyard of a madressah in Northern New Mexico, Abdal Hakim Murad sits down for an informal address on the topic of having peace and contentment with the decree of Allah. He reflects upon his experiences of the ummah over the years and describes how it became apparent that Muslims in modern times are neglecting this traditional virtue of riDaa. He further explains how the absence of contentment in one's life can lead to serious defects such as self-righteousness, anger and suspicion of others. The more widespread effects of such a void are lack of direction and unity at the collective level and a dented credibility on the world stage. This shrewd observation serves as a great starting point for individual revival and, on the collective level, prescribes the perspective necessary for prevailing over the tribulations facing the ummah and humanity as a whole today. Other topics discussed: Islamic theology vs. the problem of evil, contentment in the prophets' lives, the virtue of mercy, scholars as guides, strength in numbers, optimism, and the need for having a sound heart. (Duration: 1 hour, 4 min)

2012-01-19T23:19:00.002+01:00

Islamic Values and the Nurturing programme

"I want to thank Family Links for producing an Islamic Values booklet highlighting the nurturing qualities of good parenting and good social interaction found in Islam. I feel this is a real step towards going back to some of the true messages of Islam which have been misinterpreted and taken out of context over time by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The BHMW can put you in touch with our trained Nurturing Programme coachers and Parent Group leaders who deliver both the standard 10-session programme and the 10-session programme with Islamic values.
For more information email us at the address accessible by the link in our blogsite header here above.

2011-10-29T21:58:00.004+01:00

Favours taken for granted

Fabi-ayyi aala-i rabbikuma tukadh-dhibaan
(So, Oh jinn and mankind) Which of the Favours of your Lord will you then deny?
(Qur'aan Surah Rahman 55:13 )

High and exalted is AIIah (subhan AIIah), our heart beats around 100,00 times a day! Our blood is on a 60,000-mile journey.
Our eyes can distinguish up to one million colour surfaces and take in more information than the largest telescope known to man.

Our lungs inhale over two million litres of air every day, without even thinking. They are large enough to cover a tennis court.
Our hearing is so sensitive it can distinguish between hundreds of thousands of different sounds. Our sense of touch is more refined than any device ever created.
Our brain is more complex than the most powerful computer and has over 100 billion nerve cells. We give birth to 100 billion red cells every day.
When we touch something, we send a message to our brain at 124 mph.
We have over 600 muscles. We exercise at least 30 muscles when we smile.
We are about 70 percent water. We make one liter of saliva a day.
Our nose is our personal air-conditioning system: It warms cold air, cools hot air and filters impurities.
In one square inch of our hand we have nine feet of blood vessels, 600 pain sensors, 9000 nerve endings, 36 heat sensors and 75 pressure sensors.
We harbor and use copper, zinc, cobalt, calcium, manganese, phosphates, nickel and silicon in our bodies. Praise be to AIIah (Alhamdulillah)

DID YOU THANK YOUR CREATOR TODAY?

2011-10-23T14:52:00.006+01:00

Brighton Green MEP visit to Egypt & Gaza

In his own words, Keith Taylor ex-Green Party councilor for Brighton tells us in 2 parts about his visit to Egypt and to Gaza last July. This part is about his vist to Egypt on 23/07 and his crossing into Gaza at the famous (infamous?) Rafah crossing.

"This is an account of my trip to Egypt and Gaza from 23-27 July which was organized by the Council for European Palestinian Relations. The trip’s purpose was to promote understanding of the Israel/Palestine conflict in general, and the situation in the Gaza Strip in particular. Thirteen parliamentarians representing the Commons, Lords and the Scottish and European Parliaments attended. (more ...)"
(photo: Keith and Ismail Haniyeh elected Prime Minister of Gaza)

"I have never seen people treated quite as badly as the Palestinians were, and felt quite helpless that I couldn’t intervene."

Click here for the rest of this 1st part account and for more photos.

2011-09-12T23:48:00.004+01:00

UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM

British Muslims tell the terrorists they 'failed', on the tenth anniversary of 9/11

Friday 9th September 2011

UK Muslim community groups issue joint statement for first time on poignant anniversary. More than 50 Muslim community groups the length and breadth of Britain have united on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 to express their solidarity with victims of terrorism and to tell the terrorists that a decade on ‘they failed’ in seeking to divide society on religious grounds.

The message will be reflected today in Mosques throughout the UK, where Friday Sermons will be held to remember the victims and their families, as well as others affected by terrorism.

In the strongly worded statement issued by a diverse coalition of British Muslim organisations, the signatories claim that the terrorists’ violence has been counterproductive to their aims. “Those who seek to divide society have failed. Indeed their destructive actions have only brought communities closer together,” it states.

“Ten years on from the 9/11 attacks, our communities are growing stronger and more resilient. Communities have come together to find common ground and resolve differences,” it continues.

In a further rejection of terrorist means, the statement points out that the recent Arab Spring demonstrated the power of ordinary citizens standing in peaceful protest to secure greater political participation and freedom. It also draws attention to the recent riots in the UK and the social solidarity it engendered, stating: “We will continue to stand together in troubled times, not just against terrorism but against all forms of criminality that pervade our society.” It adds: “Only together can we defeat such problems.”

This is the first time such a large number of Muslim organisations have sought strength in numbers, coming together to use the opportunity of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 to express their sympathy for the victims and to look forward to the future with greater optimism. Among the organisations spearheading the initiative are the Islamic Society of Britain, Radical Middle Way and Inspire.

Dilwar Hussain, President of the Islamic Society of Britain said:
"Terrorism is an evil that no Muslim should feel the need to defend, or make excuses for. Terrorists are not 'on our side' - they are in fact our opponents. They are an obstacle to our cause, which is to be a force for good, to spread peace amongst our people - all the people of this country."

Kalsoom Bashir of Inspire said:
"Today we resolve with greater commitment to demand a world that does not rely on violence as a solution to its ills. We need to acknowledge our common bonds and to work with civil society and governments to make the next ten years those that are based on respect for our common humanity. It is only through actively working towards peace that we can rightly honour those that have died.”

Fuad Nahdi, Executive Director of Radical Middle Way said:
“The tenth anniversary of 9/11 should be marked as a time of celebrating the triumph of our humanity over the politics of hatred and violence. A decade later we should all be the wiser and work towards creating a world that is not dominated by the politics of despair and extremism, but strive for a future which has a stake for all – a future full of hope, compassion, love and mercy.”

Communications Department, Islamic Society of Britain, PO Box 42598, London E1 1WN

Telephone: +44 (0) 207 247 8088
Media enquiries: +44 (0) 709 201 3614
comms@isb.org.uk | isb.org.uk

2011-06-17T20:22:00.009+01:00

The Lord of the Worlds

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds (Alhamdulilleh rabbil `aalameen).

Praise be to He who created in perfect shape and subtle balance all the worlds, the Seen and Unseen, the Small and the Inmense, Human, the Vegetal and the Animal, the Liquid and the Solid.

The natural world is a testament to Allah's infinite science, mercy and wonder.
Yet, some human activities and particularly that of big profit making companies are playing with the balance (el mizaan) Allah has put in place in our bodies and in our environment.
For example oil spills have made the headlines over the past months and years. Although we no longer hear about the disastrous effects they have on wildlife and human livelihoods. These victims in addition to the vegetation and other animal forms don't recover fast if at all.
The NGO Greenpeace is currently advocating and raising the alarm about oil Drilling in the Arctic. Our dependency on fossil fuel and the decline of oil resources means that Oil companies are ready to put at risk pristine environments to pump up oil, regardless of the ecological consequences, whilst we are asked to pay higher energy bills.
In Greenland, the remote location, extreme weather and freezing temperatures would make it very difficult to clean up a spill.
Greenpeace issued this plea to Cairn Energy, a British company which has already set up an oil rig off Greenland coastline. "Given the unique dangers faced by your Arctic drilling programme, surely you understand that your company’s plans for dealing with any potential disaster should be made public. Please publish your oil spill response now."

Please supplicate to Allah (God) to protect this beautiful part of the our world and support this worthy campaign by signing a petition here

2011-05-08T00:48:00.005+01:00

SUMMER 2011 Events
Inshallah....

SISTERS' PICNIC
Tuesday 14th June 2011
Start 10H30
PRESTON PARK Brighton
Meet in Children's playground

Buses 5 & 5A

Soft drinks provided
Please bring food to share

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SISTERS' RAMADAN IFTAAR

Saturday 13th August
assemble 1/2 hour before sunset prayer

Top floor Al Medina Masjid
Brighton

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Family EID UL FITR PARTY
Saturday 10th September
Vale Park Scouts Hall - Portslade
More information to follow

2011-03-11T17:41:00.006+01:00

OXFAM asked me....

In a bid to inspire others to discover their charitable side, Oxfam, one a the few charities I support, recently asked me to share my story by answering this simple question.

" What has inspired you to support Oxfam? Share your story!"

Here is what I had to say. Enjoy reading and unleash your deeply Good self!

Dear fellow Human Kind people !

As a child I traveled to accompany my parents who moved to work in Muslim developing countries. Working in education, my parents made the point of choosing to live outside expatriate camps and instead favoured living among the ordinary local indigenous people. Looking back, I feel I was very fortunate to witness and experience how very different people, could live side by side, be they poor or relatively richer, and how they naturally gave food, clothes and/or toiletries & essential basic medication to people in need. One memory that stuck in my mind was that our neighbours would regularly give food or part of their meal to passing by beggars who would knock on their doors at meal times on Fridays, or during the month of fasting (Ramadan). Keen to imitate such noble actions, which at first intrigued but later fascinated me, I too would soon urge my mother to help me prepare my own very special food pack ready to give to our weekly humble, yet dignified visitors. It is important to note that at the time, thanks to the kind and respectful attitude of our neighbours towards those special guests, it had never occurred to me they were people of lower status, nor indeed, that they were strangers to be feared. If anything, people appeared as though blessed to be in a position to share some of their best cooking with their special visitors.
Another vivid memory is that of an African dancer and tambourine whom, every spring, would come to perform extraordinary dance moves and sounds, all in exchange of food. I particularly remember the local children's excitement each time he visited. His fantastic outfit was made of knee-length goat's skin stripes attached around his waist and similar skin anklets, wrist bands and a head band from which hanged small seashell bells. Performing in a strange language, and after a few decades, his voice still clearly resonates in my mind. At the time seen through my child's eyes, this extraordinary character seemed to be of the same kind as our weekly visitors, only he was younger, more mysterious and all singing.

Later on as I grew up to become an adult and had moved back to the UK I realised I could help more needy people thanks to the many charities like Oxfam operating in more than one country . What's more there are so many good causes and so many locations were people need help, I decided to constitute a very personal portfolio of charities, which I would be supporting in turn and each in a different way.

Oxfam was the first charity I supported in the UK. I use it especially to donate or buy clothes, to buy Xmas gifts certificates, and to support various campaigns & projects. I also support Muslim charities (Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid etc..) especially during Ramadan, at times of emergency assistance in areas they have more access or expertise and for sponsoring orphans.
Today, a British Woodland Trust and a Protection of Animals Charity also feature in my ever growing projects/charity portfolio. Not that I have become a philanthropist millionaire , but as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, " The action most dear to Allah is a good deed done persistently, however small it may be."

So thank you Oxfam, but also Muslim Aid, Helping Hands, The Woodland Trust, Amnesty International, Greenpeace and all the other 'human kind' charities, for delivering on my investment in 'Good'.

Anonymous Sadaqa (Charity) Investor

2011-02-15T17:46:00.002+01:00

23rd February
Official World Chechnya Remembrance Day

23rd February is World Chechnya Day. It commemorates the dignity and resiliance of a people who, against all odds, refused to be erased from existence.

On 23 February 1944, Stalin ordered the deportation of the entire Chechen and Ingush population to Central Asia. More than half of the 500,000 people who were forcibly transported died in transit or in massacres committed by Soviet troops. Those who survived the journey were left to face starvation and disease in the harsh winters of Siberia and Central Asia.

Overnight, Chechnya and Ingushetia were emptied of their native inhabitants, and within days an entire people had been erased from their ancestral land. Every reference to Chechnya was removed from official maps, records and encyclopaedias.

Sixty years after the event, in 2004, the European Parliament passed a motion to recognise this catastrophe as Genocide.

"It is a day that few are aware of and yet none should forget."

Many around the world have marked this day by holding a commemoration in their communities.

Please find us on Facebook: 'World Chechnya Day' to get further information and to share your event.

www.worldchechnyaday.org

2011-01-31T13:58:00.007+01:00

The Shipwreck

How many times have you, out of anger and despair , thought to yourself or cried from the bottom of your soul

" WHY ME ?!!!" ?

The answer is that we have all experienced this feeling of powerlessness and frustration more than once in our lives .

The short story below illustrates this very well.

Enjoy reading!

The Shipwreck *

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. He nevertheless remained hopeful of Allah’s help and continued his sincere praying every day punctually.

He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements[wind,rain etc] and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after searching for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

The “worst” had happened; everything was lost he pondered. He was stunned with grief. "Allah, how could this happen to me!" he cried. Early the next day, just before Fajr Salaah (early morning prayer) he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “Alhamdulillah” [All praise is to Allah], he exclaimed with intense joy. "How did you know I was here?" the man asked the sailors on the ship. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because Allah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Allah, God Almighty, says in the Quran:

"And in Allah (Alone) let the believers, put their trust.'' (14:11)

"And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him". (65:3)

I now invite you to look back in retrospect at a few of your past crises or calamities. You never know, you might see someting different?...

*Article quoted from eislaminfo

2010-12-27T20:40:00.005+01:00

When the Muslims slew the vampire
Radu the Handsome, Sultan Mehmet II
& the end of Dracula

Born in the Ottoman Principality of Wallachia, Romania in 1435 AD, he was known as Radu al III-lea cel Frumos to his Romanian countrymen, Yakışıklı Radu Bey to the Turks, Radu al-Wasim to the Arabs, and Radu the Handsome in English. This ally and childhood friend of Sultan Mehmet II was instrumental in the conquest of Constantinople for Islam. Radu’s participation in that conquest ensured that Mehmet II would go down in history as “Fatih,” or “Conqueror.” Radu was the Ottomans’ secret weapon against the Safavids to the East and the Serbs, Romanians and Hungarians to the West. The Muslim world owes much to this hero of Islam, yet they recorded little other than cursory references to him, perhaps for fear of taking away from Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s limelight. The Byzantines recorded Radu as a reviled despot due to their hatred for his conversion to Islam and instrumental role in ending the Byzantine Empire.

Yet, this Ottoman general had a greater war, a war against darkness. He hunted the very progenitor of the vampire legend who impaled his enemies and drank their blood – Vlad al III-lea Ţepeş, also known as Vlad Drăculea, who would go down in infamy as, simply, Dracula. The character of Professor Abraham Van Helsing was no more than a figment of Bram Stoker’s terrifying imagination, but Sultan Mehmet II and Radu cel Frumos were perhaps the first and only true vampire hunters in history.

The Blood Brothers

Looking back, Radu’s devotion to Islam and to Sultan Mehmet II could be traced to the political alliance of their respective fathers before them. Vlad II from the House of Drăculeşti (“House of the Dragon”) was an ally and vassal of Sultan Mehmet’s father, Sultan Murad II. Vlad II had 4 sons: Mircea II, Vlad IV Călugărul (“The Monk”), Vlad III who would come to be known as Dracula, and Radu III cel Frumos (“The Handsome”). As a gesture of unity with the Sultan, Vlad II offered his sons, Dracula and Radu, to serve the Ottoman Sultan. Under the Janissaries they studied the Qur’an, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Islamic Theology and Jurisprudence, and, coveted above all, Turkish military strategy and tactics of war.

The Ottoman special forces who held a higher status both militarily as well as socially than the rank and file were the Janissaries and the Sipahis. The Janissaries were the elite infantry of the Ottoman military as well as the personal bodyguards of the Sultan and his family. The Sipahis were the elite cavalry who surrounded the Sultan in battle and would be sent to deal with the most stubborn of adversaries. They were the commandos and special forces of their day. Though the Sipahis were almost exclusively Turkic in origin as demanded by Sultan Mehmet II himself in his treatise of law entitled Kanun Nameh-e-Sipahi (“Law Book of the Sipahis”), the Janissaries, within whose ranks Dracula and Radu found themselves, were conversely converts to Islam.

The young Dracula continually abused and rebelled against his hosts earning himself imprisonment and castigation. Due to the heavy handedness of the Turks in response to his insolence, he developed a compounded and complex series of grudges. He hated his father for allying with the Turks, which he saw as a betrayal of the Order of the Dragon to which his father had sworn an oath. The Order of the Dragon was a Christian fraternity whose sole aim was to wipe out Islam from the Balkans forever. Dracula hated Radu for his successes and the favor the Turks bestowed upon him. He was filled with jealousy for the then young Mehmet II who, like him, was a prince, but, very unlike him, lived in splendor. He was also jealous of his brothers Mircea and Vlad the Monk due to what he perceived as his father’s preference for them. His sentiments for Mircea however, would teeter between jealousy and awe. It is from him that the young Dracula learned the terror tactic of impaling thousands to create forests of the dead.

Radu remained faithful to Islam and the Sultan and spent his entire life in battle on the frontiers of the Ottoman Empire, vanquishing the most difficult adversaries of the Empire. His natural knack for battle was unparalleled even amongst the Janissaries and elite Sipahis of the Ottoman military, and he would be called upon frequently to subdue any foe that seemed insurmountable. It is reported that he turned the very course of Near Eastern history when he stopped the mighty Ak Koyunlu from overrunning the Ottomans, an event that, if not stopped, would have definitely changed the faces of both the Middle East and Europe today. For this very reason, he was called upon to face the threat from his homeland of Wallachia that neither the elite Janissaries nor the Sipahis could route.

The Conquest of Constantinople

“On the third day after the fall of our city, the Sultan celebrated his victory with a great, joyful triumph. He issued a proclamation: the citizens of all ages who had managed to escape detection were to leave their hiding places throughout the city and come out into the open, as they were to remain free and no question would be asked. He further declared the restoration of houses and property to those who had abandoned our city before the siege, if they returned home, they would be treated according to their rank and religion, as if nothing had changed.” (George Sphrantzes, 1401-1478, Byzantine Christian chronicler and witness of the fall of Constantinople)

It was a time of relief and rejoicing. It was a relief for the inhabitants of Constantinople who expected a prompt culling following the fall of their city. It was a time of celebration for the entire Muslim world for this historical conquest of a city that has remained, to this very day, the capital of the Turks. Yet as Sultan Mehmet II rode into the city victorious, a glance over to his childhood friend and chief of the Janissaries, Radu cel Frumos, son of Vlad II Duke of Wallachia, may have served as a sobering reminder that to the North, beyond the spoils of Byzantium, their fiercest enemies lay in wait. Among those enemies was the most feared of them all, Dracula, who just so happened to be Radu’s own brother.

The Rise of Dracula

Opportunistic betrayal was the way of Wallachia’s rulers and in one such brief betrayal, Vlad II silently allowed his older sons, Mircea and Vlad IV, to launch an insurrection after which Mircea impaled all his prisoners upon stakes. The young Dracula loved the sight of this and later joined Mircea in further insurrections against the Ottomans as well as the rival Dăneşti clan supported by the Hungarian warlord, John Hunyadi. Ultimately, Hunyadi overran Dracula’s father, slew him in the marshes of Bălteni and blinded and buried Mircea alive at Târgovişte. Hunyadi installed a Dăneşti prince, Vladislav II, over Wallachia. In his ambition and lust for power, Dracula put aside any vengeful sentiments for his slaughtered father and brother and allied with Hunyadi and served him as an adviser. As John Hunyadi went to face the Turks at Belgrade in modern day Serbia, Dracula attacked and slew Vladislav and took the throne for himself. As fortune would have it, a plague broke out amongst Hunyadi’s camp, infecting him which lead to his death. Sultan Mehmet was severely wounded in the battle. These events left Dracula to rule Wallachia uninterrupted for 6 years. It was the only time he ruled his home for so long.

The Impaler

“I have killed men and women, old and young… We killed 23,884 Turks and Bulgarians without counting those whom we burned in their homes or whose heads were not cut by our soldiers.” (Dracula, in a letter to Matthias Corvinus bragging of his tyranny)

As Sultan Mehmet approached what appeared to be a fetid balding forest of rotting trees in the distance he soon realized the horror of what he approached. They were so close to their destination – the Wallachian capital of Târgoviște -that he was in no mood for this puzzling sight. But the figures became more clear as the steeds in the cavalry grew unruly and the infantry felt ill. Before him stood 20,000 impaled bodies of innocent men, women and children, all victims of Dracula in that winter of 1462.

Dracula’s Muslim upbringing, albeit abandoned in deference to opportunity, and fluency in Turkish enabled him to move about the Ottomans’ most secured camps freely as a Turk without being noticed. This had deadly consequences for the Muslims. Dracula had entered Serbia with his men all dressed as Turkish Sipahis and slaughtered all the Muslim villagers, and those non-Muslims friendly to them that they could find. The intent was to leave a horrifying memento for Sultan Mehmet whom they knew to be soon taking their capital city. They erected this unholy monument in a bid to alarm the Sultan and terrorize his troops in hopes that they might turn around and retreat home.

What is remarkable is that there are no records of mass desertion of Ottoman troops after witnessing this. They pressed on unflinchingly. However, some historians have suggested that Sultan Mehmet II lost his taste for hunting down the ‘vampire’ following this invasion of Wallachia and left the task up to the only one who was capable of hunting down Dracula and killing him. After taking the Wallachian capital of Târgoviște, Mehmet returned home, leaving the hunt to Radu. After all, it would take someone who knew the mind of Dracula to defeat him, and none fit this bill better than his own brother.

This event earned Dracula the name of Vlad Ţepeş, the Romanian word “Ţepeş” meaning “Impaler”. Legend has it that if you look closely at the word you can see Dracula’s fangs dangling beneath as a hidden warning to the vampire’s terrible lust for blood.

Radu vs. Dracula: Brothers in Blood

As Târgoviște was taken, Dracula fled towards Transylvania in hopes of finding refuge with John Hunyadi’s son Matthias Corvinus. As was typical of Dracula’s opportunism and lack of reverence for religion, he offered to become Catholic in order to win Corvinus’ favor. He scorched the earth and slaughtered all the living in his path leaving a wake of desolation and writhing impaled bodies. He would not give up his homeland to the Muslims that easily. He began a beleaguering campaign of guerilla warfare that the elite Ottoman Sipahis could not endure. It is said he slaughtered 15,000 of the Ottoman soldiers in one single night. Still, as the mightiest of the Ottomans fled, Radu was undeterred seemingly driven by what can only be interpreted as an austere piety, to end the bloody reign of his haplessly misguided brother. None remained to fight Dracula save Radu and his fellow Romanian Muslim Janissaries.

The brothers fought lingering battles for the throne of Wallachia and Radu’s control of the region increased staggeringly with Dracula receiving less and less support from Matthias Corvinus in Hungary. In a strange twist of fate, Corvinus, the one to whom Dracula retreated, had him imprisoned for 12 years on charges of high treason. The people of Wallachia and their Christian nobles had enough of Dracula’s terror and put their support behind Radu who was pronounced Voivod, Prince and Ruler of Wallachia in 1462. Radu ruled the land prosperously for 11 years until his death while Dracula wasted away in a Budapest prison patiently waiting to rise again from the darkness.

Dracula’s Release and Final Battle

After Radu’s death in 1473, Dracula was released from prison. He immediately assembled an army and invaded Bosnia, slaughtering its Muslim population and impaling 8,000 on stakes in a forest of human bodies. Once again, Dracula had arisen from the darkness with the objective of eliminating Islam from the Balkans forever. He finally acquired the throne of Wallachia after his departed brother, but only for a month. Sultan Mehmet invaded Wallachia to remove this profanity from the throne his dear friend Radu had vacated in death. In 1476 the forces of Sultan Mehmet faced the forces of Dracula in Bucharest, Romania. Dracula’s army was overrun in a blitz and all were killed, including Dracula himself. The vampire had been slain. News of this did not suffice. His head was cut off and preserved in a jar of honey and sent to Constantinople. There, in a fitting end, Dracula’s head was impaled upon a stake in the center of Constantinople for all to see. There was to be no doubt or mystery.

The Muslims had finally, at last, killed Dracula.

References

Dracula: Essays on the Life and Times of Vlad Ţepeş, Kurt W. Treptow
Vlad III Dracula: The Life and Times of the Historical Dracula, Kurt W. Treptow
The Complete Dracula, Radu Florescu, Raymond T. McNally
Vlad Ţepeş, Prince of Walachia, Nicolae Stoicescu
Tarikh al-Dawlah al-`Uthmaniyyah fi-l `Usur al-Wusta (Arabic), Dr. Mahmud al-Huwayri
Al-`Uthmaniyin fi-l Tarikh wal-Hadharah (Arabic), Dr. Muhammad Harb
Tarikh al-Dawlah al-`Uthmaniyyah (Arabic), Dr. Ali Hassoun
Al-Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih (Arabic), Dr. Sayyid Ridwan `Ali

2010-11-25T22:10:00.008+01:00

MARCH 2011 SISTERS' COFFEE MORNING

Monday 14th MARCH

10h30 - 12h30

Time to welcome Spring together!
Join the warm company of other sisters
around a nice cup of tea or coffee
&
Please bring a small savoury or sweet dish to share during this 1st of Spring Coffee Mornings

BMECP Centre
10 Fleet street
BN1 4ZE

Near Brighton Station
in the New England Road quarter
Behind the new Sainsbury's store

Click here to view location

2010-09-24T00:03:00.006+01:00

20 fundamental inventions & innovations
(Part 1)

From coffee to cheques through to the three-course meal formula, the Muslim world has given us many innovations that in the West we take for granted. Here are 20 of their most influential innovations & inventions.

(1) The story goes that an Arab named Khalid was tending his goats in the Kaffa region of southern Ethiopia, when he noticed his animals became livelier after eating a certain berry.

He boiled the berries to make the first coffee. Certainly the first record of the drink is of beans exported from Ethiopia to Yemen where Sufis drank it to stay awake all night to pray on special occasions. By the late 15th century it had arrived in Makkah and Turkey from where it made its way to Venice in 1645.

It was brought to England in 1650 by a Turk named Pasqua Rosee who opened the first coffee house in Lombard Street in the City of London. The Arabic "qahwa" became the Turkish "kahve" then the Italian "caffé" and then English "coffee".

(2) The ancient Greeks thought our eyes emitted rays, like a laser, which enabled us to see. The first person to realise that light enters the eye, rather than leaving it, was the 10th-century Muslim mathematician, astronomer and physicist Ibn al-Haitham.

He invented the first pin-hole camera after noticing the way light came through a hole in window shutters. The smaller the hole, the better the picture, he worked out, and set up the first Camera Obscura (from the Arab word "qamara" for a dark or private room).

He is also credited with being the first man to shift physics from a philosophical activity to an experimental one.

(3) A form of chess was played in ancient India but the game was developed into the form we know it today in Persia. From there it spread westward to Europe - where it was introduced by the Moors in Spain in the 10th century - and eastward as far as Japan. The word "rook" comes from the Persian "rukh", which means chariot.

(4) A thousand years before the Wright brothers, a Muslim poet, astronomer, musician and engineer named Abbas ibn Firnas made several attempts to construct a flying machine. In 852 he jumped from the minaret of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba using a loose cloak stiffened with wooden struts.

He hoped to glide like a bird. He didn't. But the cloak slowed his fall, creating what is thought to be the first parachute, and leaving him with only minor injuries.

In 875, aged 70, having perfected a machine of silk and eagles' feathers he tried again, jumping from a mountain. He flew to a significant height and stayed aloft for ten minutes but crashed on landing - concluding, correctly, that it was because he had not given his device a tail so it would stall on landing. Baghdad international airport and a crater on the Moon are named after him.

(5) Washing and bathing are religious requirements for Muslims, which is perhaps why they perfected the recipe for soap which we still use today. The ancient Egyptians had soap of a kind, as did the Romans who used it more as a pomade.

But it was the Arabs who combined vegetable oils with sodium hydroxide and aromatics such as thyme oil. One of the Crusaders' most striking characteristics, to Arab nostrils, was that they did not wash.

Shampoo was introduced to England by a Muslim who opened Mahomed's Indian Vapour Baths on Brighton seafront in 1759 and was appointed Shampooing Surgeon to Kings George IV and William IV.

(6) Distillation, the means of separating liquids through differences in their boiling points, was invented around the year 800 by Islam's foremost scientist, Jabir ibn Hayyan, who transformed alchemy into chemistry, inventing many of the basic processes and apparatus still in use today - liquefaction, crystallisation, distillation, purification, oxidisation, evaporation and filtration.

As well as discovering sulphuric and nitric acid, he invented the alembic still, giving the world intense rosewater and other perfumes and alcoholic spirits (although drinking them forbidden, in Islam). Ibn Hayyan emphasised systematic experimentation and was the founder of modern chemistry.

(7) The crank-shaft is a device which translates rotary into linear motion and is central to much of the machinery in the modern world, not least the internal combustion engine. One of the most important mechanical inventions in the history of humankind, it was created by an ingenious Muslim engineer called al-Jazari to raise water for irrigation.

His Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices (1206) shows he also invented or refined the use of valves and pistons, devised some of the first mechanical clocks driven by water and weights, and was the father of robotics. Among his 50 other inventions was the combination lock.

(8) Quilting is a method of sewing or tying two layers of cloth with a layer of insulating material in between. It is not clear whether it was invented in the Muslim world or whether it was imported there from India or China.

However, it certainly came to the West via the Crusaders. They saw it used by Saracen warriors, who wore straw-filled quilted canvas shirts instead of armour. As well as a form of protection, it proved an effective guard against the chafing of the Crusaders' metal armour and was an effective form of insulation - so much so that it became a cottage industry back home in colder climates such as Britain and Holland.

2010-09-23T23:23:00.011+01:00

20 fundamental inventions & innovations
Part 2

(9) The pointed arch so characteristic of Europe's Gothic cathedrals was an invention borrowed from Islamic architecture. It was much stronger than the rounded arch used by the Romans and Normans, thus allowing the building of bigger, higher, more complex and grander buildings.

Other borrowings from Muslim genius included ribbed vaulting, rose windows and dome-building techniques. Europe's castles were also adapted to copy the Islamic world's - with arrow slits, battlements, a barbican and parapets. Square towers and keeps gave way to more easily defended round ones. The architect of Henry V's castle was a Muslim.

(10) Many modern surgical instruments are of exactly the same design as those devised in the 10th century by a Muslim surgeon called al-Zahrawi. His scalpels, bone saws, forceps, fine scissors for eye surgery and many of the 200 instruments he devised are recognisable to a modern surgeon.

It was he who discovered that catgut used for internal stitches dissolves away naturally (a discovery he made when his monkey ate his lute strings) and that it can be also used to make medicine capsules.

In the 13th century, another Muslim medic named Ibn Nafis described the circulation of the blood, 300 years before William Harvey discovered it. Muslim doctors also invented anaesthetics of opium and alcohol mixes and developed hollow needles to suck cataracts from eyes in a technique still used today.

(11) The windmill was invented in 634 for a Persian caliph and was used to grind corn and draw up water for irrigation. In the vast deserts of Arabia, when the seasonal streams ran dry, the only source of power was the wind which blew steadily from one direction for months. Mills had six or 12 sails covered in fabric or palm leaves. It was 500 years before the first windmill was seen in Europe.

(12) The technique of inoculation was not invented by Jenner and Pasteur but was devised in the Muslim world and brought to Europe from Turkey by the wife of the English ambassador to Istanbul in 1724. Children in Turkey were vaccinated with cowpox to fight the deadly smallpox at least 50 years before the West discovered it.

(13) The fountain pen was invented for the Sultan of Egypt in 953 after he demanded a pen which would not stain his hands or clothes. It held ink in a reservoir and, as with modern pens, fed ink to the nib by a combination of gravity and capillary action.

(14) The system of numbering in use all round the world is probably Indian in origin but the style of the numerals is Arabic and first appears in print in the work of the Muslim mathematicians al-Khwarizmi and al-Kindi around 825.

Algebra was named after al-Khwarizmi's book, Al-Jabr wa-al-Muqabilah, much of whose contents are still in use. The work of Muslim maths scholars was imported into Europe 300 years later by the Italian mathematician Fibonacci.

Algorithms and much of the theory of trigonometry came from the Muslim world. And Al-Kindi's discovery of frequency analysis rendered all the codes of the ancient world soluble and created the basis of modern cryptology.

(15) Ali ibn Nafi, known by his nickname of Ziryab (Blackbird) came from Iraq to Cordoba in the 9th century and brought with him the concept of the three-course meal - soup, followed by fish or meat, then fruit and nuts. He also introduced crystal glasses (which had been invented after experiments with rock crystal by Abbas ibn Firnas).

(16) Carpets were regarded as part of paradise by mediaeval Muslims, thanks to their advanced weaving techniques, new tinctures from Islamic chemistry and highly developed sense of pattern and arabesque which were the basis of Islam's non-representational art.

In contrast, Europe's floors were distinctly earthly, not to say earthy, until Arabian and Persian carpets were introduced. In England, as Erasmus recorded, floors were "covered in rushes, occasionally renewed, but so imperfectly that the bottom layer is left undisturbed, sometimes for 20 years, harbouring expectoration, vomiting, the leakage of dogs and men, ale droppings, scraps of fish, and other abominations not fit to be mentioned". Carpets, unsurprisingly, caught on quickly.

(17) The modern cheque comes from the Arabic "saqq", a written vow to pay for goods when they were delivered, to avoid money having to be transported across dangerous terrain. In the 9th century, a Muslim businessman could cash a cheque in China drawn on his bank in Baghdad.

(18) By the 9th century, many Muslim scholars took it for granted that the Earth was a sphere. The proof, said astronomer Ibn Hazm, "is that the Sun is always vertical to a particular spot on Earth". It was 500 years before that realisation dawned on Galileo.

The calculations of Muslim astronomers were so accurate that in the 9th century they reckoned the Earth's circumference to be 40, 253.4km - less than 200km out. Al-Idrisi took a globe depicting the world to the court of King Roger of Sicily in 1139.

(19) Though the Chinese invented saltpetre gunpowder, and used it in their fireworks, it was the Arabs who worked out that it could be purified using potassium nitrate for military use. Muslim incendiary devices terrified the Crusaders.

By the 15th century they had invented both a rocket, which they called a "self-moving and combusting egg", and a torpedo - a self-propelled pear-shaped bomb with a spear at the front which impaled itself in enemy ships and then blew up.

(20) Mediaeval Europe had kitchen and herb gardens, but it was the Arabs who developed the idea of the garden as a place of beauty and meditation. The first royal pleasure gardens in Europe were opened in 11th-century Muslim Spain. Flowers which originated in Muslim gardens include the carnation and the tulip.
(Courtesy: The Independent)

2010-08-09T17:47:00.014+01:00

RamaDaan Body & Soul Detox plan
with extracts from www.eislam.co.za

Congratulations! Mabrook! You have reached the best time of year for a deep detoxifying 29/30 day course for our Heart, Body and Mind.

Few things are more demanding than eliminating bad habits, since they are part of our daily routines and personality. It takes days of patience and practice to break old habits.

However, the good news is, Ramadan offers a perfect and natural environment for moral training. Interestingly, researches from "positive psychology" (scientific study of successful people) have repeatedly shown it takes between 30 to 40 days to kick a bad habit and develop a new one.

In addition to the physical discipline during the month of Ramadan, the increased spiritual exercise and connection with Allah, can transform your habits for life.

Try out these proven techniques with determination and sincerity and see the positive change in your habits during Ramadan and beyond!

1. Acknowledge and Identify your bad habits: First step is to admit you need to change. If you are in a state of denial, you won't recognize that you have a bad habit to change.

2. Pick a habit for this month: Prioritize your bad habits and focus on one for this month. If you are committed to changing at least one habit, you will see remarkable results, Allah-willing.

3. Realize that it's in us to change: Don't believe the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." You can break a bad habit if you really want to. No one else can change your habits, if you don't want to.

4. Remember, Allah loves those who commit mistakes and repent: Prophet Muhammad[peace be upon him] said:

"By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them." [Sahih Muslim]

5. Intention & Plan to change: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." A healthy process of change in character requires a gradual pace, which entails planning. Develop concrete milestones to measure your progress.

6. Replace a bad habit with a good one: Completely eliminating a habit is more challenging than replacing it with a more productive habit. Moreover, it's crucial to replace the lost natural needs, such as the need to socialize and to be entertained with something healthy.

For instance, it's easier to replace or balance your addiction to TV with a physical workout or reading, than to suddenly remove the TV from your life. Interestingly, Prophet Muhammad[peace be upon him], the greatest 'psychologist' of humanity, illustrated this principle in these words:

"Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people." [At-Tirmidhi]

7. Change your Environment: Resist the negative peer pressure by finding a better company of friends. Collective action to change is very powerful. Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] explained this peer pressure effect with this analogy:

"A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might singe your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of the furnace." [Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim]

8. Exercise: Spiritual exercise is important for lasting change. You may not realize that by exerting your yourself in spiritual exercises like the reading of Quran and Hadith, fasting, giving charity, Zikr[remembering Allah] etc helps in eliminating a number of bad habits. Through the spiritual light of doing noble deeds evil ones will gradually be eradicated from your life. Allah says : “Indeed, Salah restrains from Shameful and unjust deeds” [Quran:29:45]. A person complained to the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] about someone who read salaah and also committed theft .The Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] said “His salaat will very soon wean him off that sin.' This shows that the evil habits can be got rid of by adhering to good practises. The doing of good deeds such as remembering Allah cleanses the heart. A clean heart encourages a person to do good deeds and refrains one from evil habits!

Moreover, exercising your will power (struggle to fight temptations) for this month helps you kick all kinds of bad habits and form new good ones. Willpower is like a muscle; the more you exercise it, the more you strengthen it.

9. Think of yourself as a changed, different, new person. This simple psychological shift in your thinking about your own image can do wonders. Tell yourself, "I can stop this ill-behaviour. I am better than that. Allah has given me the potential, I am stronger. I am wiser."

10. Reward success: The most fundamental law in all of psychology is the "law of effect." It simply states that actions followed by rewards are strengthened and likely to recur. Unfortunately, studies show that people rarely use this technique when trying to change personal habits.

Setting up formal or informal rewards for success greatly increases your chances of transforming bad habits into good ones, and is far more effective than punishing yourself for bad habits or setbacks. As Muslims we should also remember that the ultimate reward is Allah's Pleasure and Paradise in the Hereafter.

11. Get help: Tell someone about your effort to change if it helps. He or she may keep you on track and may offer some good advice. Read books that will encourage you to do virtues actions. Join programs in your local Mosque. Ladies should endeavour to join their local Taalimi Halaqas. There are good and sincere people who are ready to assist. We are not an island- We are an Ummah!

12. Boost your spiritual immune system: By fasting,doing good actions, spending time in the Mosque or going in the path of Allah will boost your Imaan[faith] which will provide you with internal strength to overcome temptations to reverting to old bad habits.

13. Remind yourself of Death and Hereafter often: "Remember often the terminator (or destroyer) of all the pleasures [i.e. death]," the Prophet [peace be upon him]once stated. [At-Tirmidhi.]

14. Resolve to continue on and follow up: Giving up bad habits or learning good habits requires regular maintenance and determination. It is a long, ongoing process, also known as "Tazkiyyah" in Islamic terminology. It's more difficult than the first few steps of change. ("How many times have I dieted, for example, only to gain the weight back?"). So ensure that you follow up. Link yourself to a good Allah-fearing Islamic Scholar and make a habit of spending time in Allah path.

15. Develop a relapse strategy: How do you ensure not to return to your bad habit you are trying to change? Some people donate money to a good cause every time they return to sinning or a bad habit. This reminds them of the 'cost' of going back to old bad habits. Others try physically demanding acts to deter them from reverting to old ways. For example that if you do___ act than you will keep three fast or pay so much sadaqah[charity] etc

16. Ask Allah for Help: MOST IMPORTANT!-Make Asking for Allah's Help an integral part of the overall change process. Ask for Allah's Help before, during and after every attempt at kicking a bad habit. Do so sincerely, even begging and crying, like a child does when he or she really wants something. Allah is Ever-Willing to Help and to Respond to our needs, but it is us who must take the first step towards Him. Allah will NEVER disappoint us!

"And whosoever is conscious of Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He (Allah) will make a way for him to get out (from) every (difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he could never imagine." [Quran 65:2-3]

2010-07-21T21:28:00.007+01:00

The Gossip !

A person repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor.
Within a few days the whole community knew the story.
The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended.
Later the person responsible for spreading the rumor
learned that it was completely untrue!!!

The person was very sorry...
And went to a wise old man to get some advice and
find out what could be done to repair the damage!
"Go to the marketplace, " said the wise man, "and purchase chicken feathers. Then on your way home drop them one by one along the road."
Although surprised by this piece of advice, the person did whathe was told.
The next day the wise man said, "Now go and collect all the
feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me."
The person followed the same road, but unfortunately, the wind had blown the feathers away. After searching for hours; returned with only one feather!
"You see,"said the old man,"it's easy to drop them, but it's impossible to get them back.

So it is with gossip!
It doesn't take much to spread a rumor,
But once you do, you can never
completely undo the wrong."

Prophet Muhammad said :"Do you know what backbiting is?" They said, "God and His Messenger know best." He then said, "It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike." Someone asked him, "But what if what I say is true?" The Messenger of God said, "If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him." (Muslim)

O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.
Quran 49:12

And always remember....
Who Backbites With You Today....
Will Backbite about You Tomorrow....

STOP BACKBITING!!!

Many of us backbite and gossip without thinking. We think it is a minor matter, however Allah reminds us to BE CAREFUL and even though we think it is samll, it is in fact VERY BIG in His sight!

Click here for more reflection

2010-06-29T21:41:00.001+01:00

See It! Say It! Stop It! – Film Screening and celebration

Thursday 15th July

See It! Say It! Stop It! was commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council’s Healthy Schools department and Community Safety Partnership as an educational resource to encourage young people to challenge and report racially and religiously motivated bullying.

A group of over 20 young people drawn from BandBazi’s Youth Circus Theatre and Varndean School came together for the project which was devised in Saturday workshops and then filmed around February half-term 2010.

We hope you can join us for the first public showing of this important film!
from 4.30-6pm at The Friends Meeting House,
Ship Street , Brighton , BN1 1AF .
Contact Ian on 01273 245584 mail@bandbazi.co.uk for more info.

2010-06-29T11:12:00.010+01:00

Israeli mother Addresses European Parliament

Dr. Nurit Peled-Elhanan is a dignified and courageous mother whose 13 years old Smadar Elhanan was killed in September 1997 in a suicide attack in Jerusalem. Below is Nurit's speech made on International Women's Day in Strasbourg in March 2010.

WOMEN
by Nurit Peled-Elhanan

Thank you for inviting me to this today. It is always an honour and a pleasure to be here, among you (at the European Parliament). However, I must admit I believe you should have invited a Palestinian woman at my stead, because the women who suffer most from violence in my county are the Palestinian women. And I would like to dedicate my speech to Miriam R`aban and her husband Kamal, from Bet Lahiya in the Gaza strip, whose five small children were killed by Israeli soldiers while picking strawberries at the family strawberry field. No one will ever stand trial for this murder.
When I asked the people who invited me here why didn't they invite a Palestinian woman, the answer was that it would make the discussion too localized. I don't know what is non-localized violence.

Racism and discrimination may be theoretical concepts and universal phenomena but their impact is always local, and real. Pain is local, humiliation, sexual abuse, torture and death, are all very local, and so are the scars.

It is true, unfortunately, that the local violence inflicted on Palestinian women by the government of Israel and the Israeli army, has expanded around the globe, In fact, state violence and army violence, individual and collective violence, are the lot of Muslim women today, not only in Palestine but wherever the enlightened western world is setting its big imperialistic foot. It is violence which is hardly ever addressed and which is half heartedly condoned by most people in the world. This is because the so-called free world is afraid of the Muslim womb.

"la liberte égalite et la fraternite" is scared of little girls with head scarves. Great Jewish Israel is afraid of the Muslim womb which its ministers call a demographic threat. Almighty America and Great Britain are infecting their respective citizens with blind fear of the Muslims, who are depicted as vile, primitive and blood-thirsty, apart from their being non-democratic, chauvinistic and mass producers of future terrorists. This in spite of the fact that the people who are destroying the world today are not Muslim. One of them is a devout Christian, one is Anglican and one is a non-devout Jew.

I have never experienced the suffering Palestinian women undergo every day, every hour, I don't know the kind of violence that turns a woman's life into constant hell. This daily physical and mental torture of women who are deprived of their basic human rights and needs of privacy and dignity, women whose homes are broken into at any moment of day and night, who are ordered at a gun-point to strip naked in front of strangers and their own children, whose houses are demolished , who are deprived of their livelihood and of any normal family life. This is not part of my personal ordeal. But I am a victim of violence against women insofar as violence against children is actually violence against mothers. Palestinian, Iraqi, Afghan women are my sisters because we are all at the grip of the same unscrupulous criminals who call themselves leaders of the free enlightened world and in the name of this freedom and
enlightenment rob us of our children. Furthermore, Israeli, American, Italian and British mothers have been for the most part violently blinded and brainwashed to such a degree that they cannot realize their only sisters, their only allies in the world are the Muslim Palestinian, Iraqi or Afghani mothers, whose children are killed by our children or who blow themselves to pieces with our sons and daughters. They are all mind-infected by the same viruses engendered by politicians. And the viruses, though they may have various illustrious names--such as Democracy, Patriotism, God, Homeland--are all the same. They are all part of false and fake ideologies that are meant to enrich the rich and to empower the powerful.

We are all the victims of mental, psychological and cultural violence that turn us to one homogenic group of bereaved or potentially bereaved mothers. Western mothers who are taught to believe their uterus is a national asset just like they are taught to believe that the Muslim uterus is an international threat. They are educated not to cry out: `I gave him birth, I breast fed him, he is mine, and I will not let him be the one whose life is cheaper than oil, whose future is less worth than a piece of land.`

All of us are terrorized by mind-infecting education to believe all we can do is either pray for our sons to come back home or be proud of their dead bodies. And all of us were brought up to bear all this silently, to contain our fear and frustration, to take Prozac for anxiety, but never hail Mama Courage in public. Never be real Jewish or Italian or Irish mothers.
I am a victim of state violence. My natural and civil rights as a mother have been violated and are violated because I have to fear the day my son would reach his 18th birthday and be taken away from me to be the game tool of criminals such as Sharon, Bush, Blair and their clan of blood-thirsty, oil-thirsty, land thirsty generals.
Living in the world I live in, in the state I live in, in the regime I live in, I don't dare to offer Muslim women any ideas how to change their lives. I don't want them to take off their scarves, or educate their children differently, and I will not urge them to constitute Democracies in the image of Western democracies that despise them and their kind. I just want to ask them humbly to be my sisters, to
express my admiration for their perseverance and for their courage to carry on, to have children and to maintain a dignified family life in spite of the impossible conditions my world in putting them in. I want
to tell them we are all bonded by the same pain, we all the victims of the same sort of violence even though they suffer much more, for they are the ones who are mistreated by my government and its army,
sponsored by my taxes.
Islam in itself, like Judaism in itself and Christianity in itself, is not a threat to me or to anyone. American imperialism is, European indifference and co-operation is and Israeli racism and its cruel regime of occupation is. It is racism, educational propaganda and inculcated xenophobia that convince Israeli soldiers to order Palestinian women at gun-point, to strip in front of their children for security reasons, it is the deepest disrespect for the other that allow American soldiers to rape Iraqi women, that give license to Israeli jailers to keep young women in inhuman conditions, without necessary hygienic aids, without electricity in the winter, without clean water or clean mattresses and to separate them from their breast-fed babies and toddlers. To bar their way to hospitals, to block their way to education, to confiscate their lands, to uproot their trees and prevent them from cultivating their fields.
I cannot completely understand Palestinian women or their suffering. I don't know how I would have survived such humiliation, such disrespect from the whole world. All I know is that the voice of mothers has been suffocated for too long in this war-stricken planet. Mothers` cry is not heard because mothers are not invited to international forums such as this one. This I know and it is very little. But it is enough for me to remember these women are my sisters, and that they deserve that I should cry for them, and fight for them. And when they lose their children in strawberry fields or on filthy roads by the checkpoints, when their children are shot on their way to school by Israeli children who were educated to believe that love and compassion are race and religion dependent, the only thing I can do is stand by them and their betrayed babies, and ask what Anna Akhmatova--another mother who lived in a regime of violence against women and children--asked:
Why does that streak of blood, rip the petal of your cheek?

2010-06-16T22:02:00.006+01:00

1001 inventions and
the Library of secrets

This is a great short British film featuring actor Ben Kingsley. It was originally made to accompany an Exhiition at the London Science Museum earlier this Spring. But shuuuush!....I won't say no more and I'll let you explore...

2010-04-03T16:01:00.007+01:00

EATING FRUITS
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting them up and popping them into our mouths. That's a good start, I mean choosing to eat fruit in the first place! So in order to get the most out of them, it is equally important to know the best way to eat fruit.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO EAT FRUIT AT THE RIGHT TIME.
Eating fruit on an empty stomack or well after meals, will play a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for your everyday life activities, including for specific weight loss physical exercise.

You may have heard people complaining -" every time I eat watermelon I burp, and when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet". Actually all this will not happen if fruit is eaten on an empty stomach. Otherewise the fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas hence the bloating effect!

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon, are acidic, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who conducted a research on this matter.This is because all fruits become alkaline in our body.

So it likes like than more than eating fruits, mastering the correct and simple way of eating them will duplicate their positive effect on our health and general wellbeing.

Notes on fruit juice

If you are a fruit juice drinker, it is best to drink it slowly so that it mixes with ythe saliva before swallowing it. When drinking canned or juice in carton, check out the amount of (added) sugar in it. As a rule of thumb, it is best to dilute it to reduce the amount of added sugar per glass. This applies to all of us and particularly to chidren.

Notes on some fruits

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your

2010-03-23T18:05:00.007+01:00

Wrong time, wrong place?
Think again...

You might remember, the head of a company who survived
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was
His turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her
Alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
Because of an auto accident.

One of them
Missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
Time to change.

One's
Car wouldn't start.

One couldn't
Get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man
Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
Took the various means to get to work
But before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today..

Now when I am
Stuck in traffic ,
Miss an elevator,
Turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...

All the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
This is exactly where
Allah wants me to be
At this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be
Going wrong ,
You can't seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don't get mad or frustrated;
It may be just that
Allah with His infinite wisdom is watching over you in a very special way.

May Allah continue to bless you
With or without all those annoying little things
And may you remember, at the right time, and right place,
their possible purpose.

AMEEN

2010-03-23T17:43:00.007+01:00

BHMW Mothers & Toddlers
2010-2011

at Al Medinah Mosque, Brighton

The dates below are Every Alternate Saturdays, from 10am - 12noon

Autumn

October: 16^th, 30^th

November: 13, 27^th

December: 11^th , 25^th

Winter

January 2011: 8^th , 22^nd

February: 5^th , 19^th

March: 5^th, 19^th

Spring

April: 2^nd, 16^th 30^th

May: 14^th 28^th

June: 11^th, 25^th

Summer

July: 9^th, 23^rd

August: 6^th, 20^th

**These dates are subject to change

2010-02-09T23:08:00.005+01:00

Anglican Priest condemns Islamophobic Speech

Revd Frank Julian Gelli from cosmopolitan & peaceful City of London wrote the following letter to Dutch MP Geert Wilders after the latter gave a stereotypical & islamophobic speech in New York.

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS
Rant Number 369 29 October 2009

Open Letter to Islamophobe Dutch MP Geert Wilders

Dear Mr Wilders,

They say you can only take a horse to the water, you can’t make it drink. But human beings are not horses. Unlike animals, they can be reasoned with. I offer these few remarks in the faint hope you are amenable to reason.
It is about your recent speech to the Alliance of Patriots in New York. In which you paint an apocalyptic picture of ‘the Islamization of Europe’. You describe some European cities with Muslim neighbourhoods in lurid terms. It is a world ‘where women walk around in figureless tents...Their husbands, or slave holders, if you prefer, walk three steps ahead’. Mr Wilders, I live bang near one of those areas in West London. I often visit Whitechapel and Edgware Road – parts of our colourful Londonistan - I have never seen a Muslim woman walking behind her husband. Rather, the mothers stroll about in a proud, dignified manner, alongside the men. Nothing in their behaviour suggests a subordinate role, let alone slavery. And there are tons of lively, even feisty Muslim girls wearing all sorts of gear. True, they may not, as a rule, behave like permissive, liberated females, baring the flesh, hugging and kissing partners in public, no. I would even guess most of them don’t sleep with boys before marriage. But since when are chastity, modesty and self-restraint so bad? The traditional, Christian mores of the Western civilisation which you claim to uphold used to prize such things, no?

’25 per cent of the population of Europe will be Muslim just 12 years from now’. Lies, damned lies and statistics, someone said.. But if you want native Europeans to stay numerically supreme, how about encouraging them to have more children? To urge them not to use contraceptives, the pills? To give up abortion? To bolster family values? Stop bashing Islam. Embrace the Christian religion in its conservative, sound traditions and all will be kosher.
‘Thousands of mosques across Europe. With larger congregations than churches’, you notice. Well, whose fault is that? Do perhaps Muslims stand at church doors, stopping the eager faithful from worshipping the Lord? Methinks you should rather address yourself to Christians. ‘Look at Muslims’ you should say. ‘Look at how many regularly pray. How keen they are on the observances of their religion. You should do the same.’ Exactly. The flourishing of mosques across Europe should serve as a stimulus to Christians. A window of opportunity. As an urgent reminder to get back to their vital, life-giving roots – the worship of the One True God. Why blame pious Muslims for the faults of lukewarm or nominal Christians, eh?

In Amsterdam ‘gays are beaten up almost exclusively by Muslims’. Awful, if true. Funnily enough, I recall the words of Pym Fortuyn, the gay right-wing politician murdered by a fanatic. ‘I have nothing against Moroccans – I have slept with so many of them.’ From Andre Gide to William Burroughs, the Arab world has been one of artistic gays’ favourite fun destinations. Tangiers’ nickname was ‘Sodom on Sea’. Homophobia can’t be all that endemic amongst Arabs, I should imagine.

‘The history of the Holocaust can no longer be taught because of Muslim sensitivity.’ How bizarre. First, a godson of mine has been to Auschwitz, on a school trip. Part of a programme to learn about wartime horrors. School curricula in Britain do in fact include projects about WWII and persecutions of Jews and other people. London’s Imperial War Museum has a holocaust section, which I viewed just the other day. What’s more, TV channels force-feed viewers with a daily, obsessive dose of films and programmes about the war and Germany’s crimes. If anybody should complain about this state of affairs, it should be Germans. It fuels Germanophobia, the lurking, masochistic English vice. Do today’s Germans deserve such constant pilloring? After all, isn’t Germany amongst the strongest supporters of your beloved state of Israel?

The Prophet Muhammad. Had he been ‘a man of peace...like Ghandi and Mother Teresa wrapped in one, there would be no problem. But Mohammed was...’ I won’t quote the rest, as it would be distasteful. Muhammad certainly did not found a religion like the Quakers, no. And he is definitely different from figures like Buddha and Jesus. However, why you did not compare him to a prophet and lawgiver like Moses? Muhammad had the Jewish tribes of Banu Qurayza slaughtered, you write. Well, Exodus 32:25 has Moses ordering the Levites to slay those who had worshipped the Golden Calf, about 3000 men. ‘Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord’ Moses told the slayers. Hardly like Gandhi, would you agree?

You are silent about Moses, I suspect, because in your speech you wrapped yourself in the mantle of defender of Israel. Mr Wilders, this Anglican priest is opposed to the destruction of the state of Israel. Because I am a Christian, Jews are rather important to me. I support both a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. A modest-sized Jewish Vatican in the Holy Land is the realistic solution. Bernard Wasserstein’s thoughtful book, ‘Israel & Palestine’, points the way. Wasserstein shows how your fantasy of Israel as a heroic outpost of the West against the incoming Jihad is nonsense. Indeed, Israeli society today needs immigrants as much as Europe does. And they won’t be Jewish immigrants. Despite your astonishing garbage about rising anti-Semitism in France (headed by a Jewish President!), Jews worldwide are happy where they are - they not migrating to Israel – or should I say ‘Isra-hell’, as my Israeli friend Ronen once wrote?

Ok, you don’t like Muslims. Yet they are not going to go away. Your case is analogous to that of the man whose garden was infested by ladybirds. They were everywhere. He didn’t like them. He tried several methods to get rid of them. Sprays, insecticides, this and that. Nothing worked. The ladybirds kept being around. Indeed, they multiplied. The guy was getting obsessed with them, growing paranoid, bitter, haunted. Eventually, he sent an e-mail to a wise old friend, an experienced gardener: ‘What should I do about the damned ladybirds?’
The reply came: ‘I suggest you learn to love them’.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

2010-01-19T23:51:00.004+01:00

It's about Time
Extract from Nasiha Ahmed Article in Islamweb.net 2/04/2009

Performing responsibilities with regularity

This is the most common area of procrastination in that this is where most of us are guilty of it. Sometimes, some of us develop over the years an “I’ll do it later” attitude and we begin to procrastinate in our duties, from the small to the large ones. We begin to put off the laundry until it accumulates and spills over the basket; we allow the dishes to pile in the sink and then get that sinking feeling in our stomachs as we are elbow deep days later in greasy dishwater. We are up late the night before a big test because we delay studying until the last minute; we can actually put off any thing and everything – all errands, all chores, all duties and responsibilities. But should we?

No, rather we should try to perform our duties as soon as possible. This is best for us in many ways.

1. We can get accomplished what needs to be done and get on with our other obligation.

2. We can do a better job by giving ourselves ample time.

3. We can set a good example for our families by showing them that we take our responsibilities seriously. If they see that we procrastinate, they may take that to mean neglect.

4. Promptness leads to consistency.

As the woman of the household, there are many responsibilities that rest on our shoulders, if we can avoid procrastination, we prevent that overwhelming burden of feeling as if we are always ‘falling behind’- in our housework, in our schoolwork, in our errands, in everything that gets to be too much for us.

Punctuality in worship

As Muslim women we cannot, however, let domestic responsibilities and duties as wife, mother, and even student or professional prevent us from worshipping Allaah punctually, at the right time and with the right intentions. This specifically refers to, but is by no means limited to, prayer. Performing our prayers at their appointed times and with conviction is essential to living life in the best possible way and setting the best example for our families.

One of the first things that we do in the morning and unquestionably the most important activity of the day is prayer, which not only benefits from punctuality but requires it. The Prophet was asked “What deed is most beloved by Allaah and he answered, ‘To offer each Salaah as soon as it is due.”

Reliability in relationships

Timing is key for relationships as well as worship. However, for some odd reason, people have the tendency to take relationships for granted. We make them and then assume that they will last; that they do not require any or much upkeep. As women though, we should know that this is not true and to maintain healthy and happy relationships with all who are close to us, we have to work at it regularly and consistently. This means that we have to be one step ahead of crises. Women know that emotions rage strong and can come between two people. Therefore, it is imperative that we remain steadfast in our efforts to maintain our relationships to the extent that we desire. In other words, our relationships with our spouse, our parents, our children, our friends, and anyone who means anything to us require effort. In order for us to ensure that these relationships remain healthy, we have to be punctual in handling issues as they arise. Think about your most recent, significant disagreement you might have had with your spouse or parent or child. If you might have dealt with it immediately, could you have eliminated the problem or significantly decreased the problem? Maybe you and a friend had a little disagreement. You feel a bit annoyed and decide that it is better to not bring it up again, but of course, you still feel upset about the situation. You hesitate handling the situation immediately because you feel that it might just ‘wash over’ and that it will be forgiven and forgotten soon enough. However, we all know that most women do not function that way. Many people have too strong of a memory to forget anything until it is been worked through and talked through and true forgiveness has been reached.

Sometimes, women have a tendency of ignoring sticky situations that are emotionally charged; we are hesitant to deal with issues that negatively affect our relationships. However, this is dangerous in that it could prolong the inevitable and make a small problem worse. As is the case with most situations, procrastination is not such a great idea. On the contrary, punctuality is probably the best way to abate any long-term crises. This is one of the reasons the Prophet gave so much advice against breaking off ties. For example, he said, “There should be no breaking off of ties, no turning away from one another, no hating one another, and no envying one another. Be brothers (and sisters), as Allaah has commanded you.” (Muslim) Because anger may strike women (and of course men) in times of emotional weakness, Islam allows three days as a reasonable length of time during which anger may subside.

In everything we do, from the moment we rise, we should practice punctuality. Our priorities should incorporate timeliness and reliability in all aspects of our daily activities. Actually, there is probably little or nothing that doesn’t require or could not benefit from our promptness. As difficult as it may seem, whether we are dealing with our chores, our personal worship, or with our relationships, it is best for us to deal with the situation as soon as possible and ‘nip it in the bud.’

2009-12-13T19:27:00.006+01:00

Beautiful

Women have strengths that amaze men...
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in...
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend..
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

2009-11-21T20:24:00.017+01:00

Hajj Poem
As the Muslim pilgrimage season is in full swing we have chosen to bring to your attention this wonderful poem by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah from the original in Arabic. This poem is structured around the different stages of Hajj (pilgrimage) which takes place in the first 10 days of the last month in the Islamic Calendar 'Dhul hijja', literally meaning 'the month of pilgrimage'. It is good to note that the pilgrimage to Makka existed well before Allah Almighty sent His final Testament to prophet Muhammed may he be blessed (pbuh). The practice of hajj as it happens today has indeed been inherited from the practice of Prophet Abraham (pbuh), who had built the Kaaba on its pre-existing foundations with his son Ishmael (pbuh). So although many today consider hajj as a rite exclusively for and by Muslims, Muslims on hajj are in fact about retracing the spiritual and physical footsteps of Abraham (pbuh) the forfather of all Jewish, Christian and Muslim monotheistic faiths.

By Him whose House the loving pilgrims visit,
Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,
Uncovering their heads in total humility
Before One to Whom faces bow in servility.
They exclaim in the valleys, "We have responded to You -
All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!"
He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;
When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.
You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and dishevelled,
Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;
Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,
Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.
Through plains and valleys, from near and far,
Walking and riding, in submission to Allah.

At the Ka'bah

When they see His House - that magnificent sight
For which the hearts of all creatures are set alight -
It seems they've never felt tired before,
For their discomfort and hardship is no more.
Now the eye of the Lover drowns in its streams,
It sees through its tears the goal of its dreams;
Now for Allah, how many tears are issued,
Each one being followed by a multitude?
When the eye perceives the House, its darkness clears,
And from the sorrowful heart, pain disappears;
Vision cannot encompass this beautiful sight:
Each glance returns with greater delight!
No wonder at this, for when the Merciful preferred
The House for Himself, it became most honored.
He clothed it in Majesty, a magnificent garment;
Embroidered it with Beauty, a wonderful ornament!
The hearts all love the House therefore,
Awed and humbled, in respect and honor.

2009-11-04T20:48:00.003+01:00

Troubled Waters:
Palestinians denied fair access to water

Send an appeal letter to the Israeli Army NOW!
Amnesty International Article
27 October 2009

Amnesty International has accused Israel of denying Palestinians the right to access adequate water by maintaining total control over the shared water resources and pursuing discriminatory policies.

These unreasonably restrict the availability of water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and prevent the Palestinians developing an effective water infrastructure there.

“Israel allows the Palestinians access to only a fraction of the shared water resources, which lie mostly in the occupied West Bank, while the unlawful Israeli settlements there receive virtually unlimited supplies. In Gaza the Israeli blockade has made an already dire situation worse,” said Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s researcher on Israel and the OPT.

In a new extensive report, Amnesty International revealed the extent to which Israel’s discriminatory water policies and practices are denying Palestinians their right to access to water.

Israel uses more than 80 per cent of the water from the Mountain Aquifer, the main source of underground water in Israel and the OPT, while restricting Palestinian access to a mere 20 per cent.

The Mountain Aquifer is the only source for water for Palestinians in the West Bank, but only one of several for Israel, which also takes for itself all the water available from the Jordan River.

While Palestinian daily water consumption barely reaches 70 litres a day per person, Israeli daily consumption is more than 300 litres per day, four times as much.

In some rural communities Palestinians survive on barely 20 litres per day, the minimum amount recommended for domestic use in emergency situations.

Some 180,000-200, 000 Palestinians living in rural communities have no access to running water and the Israeli army often prevents them from even collecting rainwater.

In contrast, Israeli settlers, who live in the West Bank in violation of international law, have intensive-irrigatio n farms, lush gardens and swimming pools.

Numbering about 450,000, the settlers use as much or more water than the Palestinian population of some 2.3 million.

In the Gaza Strip, 90 to 95 per cent of the water from its only water resource, the Coastal Aquifer, is contaminated and unfit for human consumption. Yet, Israel does not allow the transfer of water from the Mountain Aquifer in the West Bank to Gaza.

Stringent restrictions imposed in recent years by Israel on the entry into Gaza of material and equipment necessary for the development and repair of infrastructure have caused further deterioration of the water and sanitation situation in Gaza, which has reached crisis point.

To cope with water shortages and lack of network supplies many Palestinians have to purchase water, of often dubious quality, from mobile water tankers at a much higher price.

Others resort to water-saving measures which are detrimental to their and their families’ health and which hinder socio-economic development.

“Over more than 40 years of occupation, restrictions imposed by Israel on the Palestinians’ access to water have prevented the development of water infrastructure and facilities in the OPT, consequently denying hundreds of thousand of Palestinians the right to live a normal life, to have adequate food, housing, or health, and to economic development,” said Donatella Rovera.

Israel has appropriated large areas of the water-rich Palestinian land it occupies and barred Palestinians from accessing them.

It has also imposed a complex system of permits which the Palestinians must obtain from the Israeli army and other authorities in order to carry out water-related projects in the OPT. Applications for such permits are often rejected or subject to long delays.

Restrictions imposed by Israel on the movement of people and goods in the OPT further compound the difficulties Palestinians face when trying to carry out water and sanitation projects, or even just to distribute small quantities of water.

Water tankers are forced to take long detours to avoid Israeli military checkpoints and roads which are out of bounds to Palestinians, resulting in steep increases in the price of water.

In rural areas, Palestinian villagers are continuously struggling to find enough water for their basic needs, as the Israeli army often destroys their rainwater harvesting cisterns and confiscates their water tankers.

In comparison, irrigation sprinklers water the fields in the midday sun in nearby Israeli settlements, where much water is wasted as it evaporates before even reaching the ground.

In some Palestinian villages, because their access to water has been so severely restricted, farmers are unable to cultivate the land, or even to grow small amounts of food for their personal consumption or for animal fodder, and have thus been forced to reduce the size of their herds.

“Water is a basic need and a right, but for many Palestinians obtaining even poor-quality subsistence- level quantities of water has become a luxury that they can barely afford,” said Donatella Rovera.

“Israel must end its discriminatory policies, immediately lift all the restrictions it imposes on Palestinians’ access to water, and take responsibility for addressing the problems it created by allowing Palestinians a fair share of the shared water resources.”

2009-08-14T16:22:00.003+01:00

Ramadan Joy Denied Gaza Entry

By Shaimaa Mustafa

“We are denied even the light,” laments one Gazan mother.

“We are denied even the light,” laments one Gazan mother.
GAZA CITY — Ihab Al-Ashqar, a 14-year-old Gazan, smiles bitterly while explaining why he does not feel the joy that always accompanies the arrival of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

“All the crosses are sealed. They [Israel] are killing us very slowly,” he told IslamOnline.net.

Like most of the 1.6 million people of Gaza, Ashqar is missing the joy that Ramadan brings to Muslims every year.

This year, the dawn-to-dusk fasting month comes to a Gaza battered by a barbaric Israeli war and reeling under a stifling Israeli siege.

“Our hearts and our homes are full of grief and sorrow,” says Huda Al–Astal dolefully.

“Our life stands idle. We can barely breathe.”

Israel has been isolating the costal enclave and its civilian population from the world since Hamas was voted to power in 2006, shutting down all crossings.

Israel blocks humanitarian aid including harmless goods such as cheeses, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and toilet papers.

Om-Basel fears that even the joy of breaking the fast with her family will be swallowed by darkness as Israel continues to block the delivery of fuel.

“We are denied even the light,” fumes the Gazan mother.

“Our life has become unbearable.”

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy fasting month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

Austerity

Across impoverished Gaza, people are readying themselves for the most austere Ramadan in years.

“In the run-up to Ramadan people used to swamp the markets to shop for the holy month,” Mohammed Farag, a merchant, told IOL.

“But this year, we have very few goods to sell, and people have no money to buy.”

Abu Mohamed Al-Shawwa walks down the market hunting for anything he can afford to buy for his family with the little money he has.

“The prices are sky-rocketing,” says the desperate father.

“Even the few stuff I managed to bring for my family last year will not be available on our Ramadan table this year.”

Unemployment stands at more than 60 percent in Gaza and the World Bank estimates that two-thirds of the population lives under the poverty line.

More than a million people in Gaza survive on UN food handouts.

Nihad Al-Helw, a mother of eight whose husband remains without a job, says they will be lucky to have any food for iftar.

“I only hope to get my children one type of food to eat.”

Her child We`am knows that meat, fish and fruits are off the menu.

But what is more painful to her is that she would not get the colorful Ramadan lantern her father used to buy her.

“Not even the lantern,” she says in a sobbing voice.

“This will be the saddest Ramadan ever.”

Let us remember the difficulties our brothers and sisters in Gaza will be experiencing this Ramadaan and pray that Allah bestows His mercy and special favours upon them. Ameen.

2009-07-11T21:23:00.003+01:00

Srebrenica, 11 July, we remember...

In July 1995 more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica were slaughtered mercilessly. Srebrenica was a UN-protected "safe area" but that meant nothing to the perpetrators of the massacre, neither did the 400 armed Dutch 'peacekeepers' present at the time. The Srebrenica massacre is the largest mass murder in Europe since Word war II.

The European Union has proclaimed 11th July as a day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide. To ensure Muslims and indeed entire humanity, never forget such barbarity the Raisu-l-‘Ulama Dr Mustafa Cerić - Grand Mufti of Bosnia has prepared a European Khutba (talk by Imam to worshippers during the Friday congrational prayer) we publish here below.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Europe belongs to all.
The arrival of Islam in Europe is as natural as the arrival of both Judaism and Christianity. None of the messengers of God are of the European origin.
Hence, no one has the right to claim the priority of his/her faith of the land of Europe. All three Abrahamic traditions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam belong to Europe and thus Europe has the right, nay, an obligation to treat them as its own.
The arrival of Islam into Europe has come via two main gates: the gate of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century and the Balkan Peninsula in the 14th century.
Eight centuries of the Islamic presence in Andalusia, Spain, have produced a unique tradition of religious and cultural tolerance as well as academic freedom which has greatly helped Europe on its way to humanism and renaissance.
Unfortunately, the idea of the Andalusian tolerance did not survive the European history.

Srebrenica Genocide of Muslims.
By the grace of Allah, Islam did survive in the Balkan Peninsula despite the hardship which the Muslims have witnessed over the last century. The most difficult one being genocide on July 1995 in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, which was at that time a Protected Zone by a United Nations Security Council Resolution.
During several days of carnage more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys, who had sought safety in this area under the protection of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), were summarily executed by Serb forces commanded by General Mladić and by paramilitary units, including Serbian irregular police units which had entered Bosnian territory from Serbia.
Nearly 25,000 women, children and elderly people were forcibly deported, making this event the biggest war crime to take place in Europe since the end of the Second World War.
Institutionalization of 11th July Srebrenica remembrance day by European Parliament
Therefore, the European Parliament thought it appropriate that the institutionalisation of the 11th of July as a day of remembrance is the best means of paying tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
Thus, with the majority vote of its 565 members the European Parliament has adopted the resolution of 15 January 2009 on Srebrenica whereby it commemorates and honors all the victims of the atrocities; expresses its condolences to and solidarity with the families of the victims, many of whom are living without final confirmation of the fate of their relatives; recognizes that this continuing pain is aggravated by the failure to bring to justice those responsible for these acts.
Also, the European Parliament calls on the Council and the Commission to commemorate appropriately the anniversary of the Srebrenica-Potočari act of genocide by supporting Parliament's recognition of 11 July as the day of commemoration of the Srebrenic a genocide all over the EU, and to call on all the countries of the western Balkans to do the same.
The victims of Srebrenica genocide are aware that the past cannot be changed, but they appreciate the recognition of their pain by EU as a good sign that genocide will not be repeated in the future to anyone.
Not only Muslims in Europe, but all people of good faith are also appreciative of the fact that the lives of innocent Bosnians were not in vain. It is exactly what the Holy Qur’an teaches us to say:
O our Sustainer, grant us that which Thou hast promised us through Thy apostles, and disgrace us not on Resurrection Day! Verily, Thou never failest to fulfill Thy promise! And thus does their Sustainer answer their prayer: - I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours [in My way], be it man or woman: each of you is an issue of the other. Hence, as for those who forsake the domain of evil, and are driven from their homelands, and suffer hurt in My cause, and fight [for it], and are slain - I shall most certainly efface their bad deeds, and shall most certainly bring them into gardens through which running waters flow, as a reward from God: for with God is the most beauteous of rewards (Asad, 3:194-195)
Message to Mosques and Islamic Centres
And this is exactly what we would like to ask all the mosques in Europe today as well as all the people of good faith to join us in our prayer on the 11th of July in the noontime in Potočari where only parts of hundreds of innocent Muslim men and boys will be buried. This prayer is our hope that our future shall be better than our past and that our children shall not have fear of genocide.
O Man, whoever you are and wherever you might be, remember God who created us all in the same way and the same sway so that we all might say our honest prayer,
Oh God
Do not let success deceive us
Nor failure takes us to despair!
Always remind us that failure is a temptation
That precedes success!
Oh God
Teach us that tolerance
Is the highest degree of power
And the desire for revenge
The first sign of weakness!

Oh God

If you deprive us of our property,
Give us hope!
If you grant us with success,
Give us also the will to overcome defeat!
If you take from us the blessing of health,
Provide us with the blessing of faith!

Oh God

If we sin against people,
Give us the strength of apology!
And if people sin against us,
Give us the strength of forgiveness!

Oh God

If we forget Thee,
Do not forget us!
Oh God
May grief become hope!
May revenge become justice!
May mother's tears become prayers!
That Srebrenica never happen again, to no one, nowhere!

Ameen

أللهم اليك اشكو ضعف قوتي، و قلّة حيلتي، و هواني علي الناس، يا ارحم

الرحمين.
انت رب المستضعفين، و انت ربي.
الي من تكلني؟ الي بعيد يتجهمني؟ ام الي عدو ملكته امري؟
إن لم يكن بك علي غضب فلا ابالي، بلا عافيتك هي اوسع لي.
أعوذ بنوروجهك الذي اشرقت له الظلمات،
صلح عليه امر الدنيا و الآخرة من ان تنزل بي غضبك، او يحلّ علي سخطك.
لك العتبي حتي ترضي, و لا حول و لا قوّة الا بك.

2009-07-05T19:20:00.009+01:00

BHMW IMPORTANT DATES --- SUMMER 2009

PEACE FESTIVAL

Click on photo for more info.

THINKING ABOUT CHILDMINDING?
Contact us for more details (click on picture to enlarge)

2009-06-15T16:13:00.004+01:00

Priest Joel Osteen talks about Pork

Be it in the Torah, in the Gospel , or in the last edition of Monotheistic revelations, the Quran, as respectively & progressively revealed to Moises, Jesus and Muhammad, peace & blessings be upon all 3 messengers. Our Creator and Shaper warned us against eating the flesh of swine, i.e. pork/pig.
Today, it is mainly the followers of the Torah and those of the Quran, namely the practicing Jews and Muslims who hold tight to a pork free diet by contrast with the majority of Christian traditions (not all of them!) who for more than a milenium & a half, have disregarded this dietary requirement
What's more, at a time when swine flu has been officially declared a pandemic threatening millions accross the globe, and when in France the Pork Industry, in fear of a backlash on its profits, has forced the French Media to use the scientific acronym - 'H1N1' - rather than its ordinary name - "Grippe porcine"-, to refer to this deadly virus infection, it is all the more interesting to see how a modern day priest talks about pork.

Special thanks to Imaam M.I. of Al Medinah Mosque, Brighton, UK, for bringing this video to our attention and that of our readers.

2009-05-19T13:04:00.006+01:00

WATER ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

We received an interesting email about the benefits of drinking water 1st thing in the morning and hot water after meals. We thought we would share this information with you and would welcome your thoughts and comments about it.

It is popular in Japan today to drink clean clear water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, it has been reported that scientific tests are backing the benefits of such simple routine. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been
found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the
following diseases:

Headache, bodyache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy,
excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine
diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles,
diabetes, constipation, all
eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat
diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml
glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink
anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at
the beginning may start by taking little water and gradually increase the amount to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment has been reported to help cure/control/prevent the development of some widespread diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days
2. Gastric - 10 days
3. Diabetes - 30 days
4. Constipation - 10 days
5. Cancer - 180 days
6. TB - 90 days

7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in
the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily. This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It may be nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just ingested and thus will slow down digestion.
Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than solid food and will stick to the lining of the intestine. This process increases the risk of developing cancer. It would therfore be better to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

2009-02-28T21:45:00.003+01:00

Some Maths in the Quran

Dr. Tariq Al Swaidan discovered mathemetical equality between the number of occurrences of one word and another throughout the entire noble Quran. Below are astonishing results and thought provoking correlations.

Dunia (wordly life) 115.

Aakhirah (life in the hereafter) 115

Malaikah (Angels) 88

Shayateen (demons) 88

Life 145 . Death 145

Benefit 50 . Corrupt 50

People 50 . Messengers 50

Eblees (king of devils) 11

Seek refuge from Eblees 11

Moseebah (calamity) 75 .

Thanks giving 75

Spending in charity (Sadaqah) 73

Satisfaction 73

Mislead people 17

Dead people 17

People who submit to the will of Allah 41

Struggle 41

Gold 8 . Easy life 8

Magic 60 .

Fitnah (dissuasion, corruption) 60

Zakat (Tax collected for the Poor)32

Barakah (Increase, blessings in wealth) 32

Mind 49 . Noor (light) 49

Tongue 25 . Sermon 25

Desite 8 . Fear 8

Hardship 114 .... Patience 114

Muhammad 4 .

The way to please Allah (Sharee'ah)4

Man 24 . Woman 24

Yet more amazing, look at the words below, their number of occurances and their mathematical indication.

Salat (Muslim prayer) 5 , Month 12 , Day 365 ,

Sea 32 , Land 13

Sea + land = 32 + 13= 45

Sea = 32/45*100

= 71.11111111%

Land = 13/45*100

= 28.88888889%

100.00%

Modern science has only recently proved that water covers

71.111% of the earth, while the land covers 28.889%.

2009-01-18T00:42:00.003+01:00

About religious innovations....

2008-12-29T16:26:00.002+01:00

Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee

In the footsteps of our last post on 'tawakkul' this one will take a minute or two to read, please make the time as it will make you think. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

We hope this thought of the day will have made you of those who reflect upon seeing the signs of Allah High and Exalted is He.

2008-11-24T17:28:00.006+01:00

"PLASTIC?...NOT SO FANTASTIC..."

Look around you and see how many objects surround you.
How many entirely or partly made of plastic can you count?
How many in your workplace, kitchen, garage, bedroom, car?
How many do you eat or drink from and with?
How many do you carry, wear, touch, hold, use for storage?
How many do you re-use? or buy for your children?

"Many", would be everyone's most likely answer.

So what if i asked you now, "how much do you know about the components and behaviour of Plastic?". Wouldn't you be inclined to think, just like i did, "not a great deal"?

Finally, what would you say if asked about how safe you feel around plastic?

If your answer is "pretty safe" then I recommend you explore the reason why you haven't said "very safe".
But if like me, your answer is "don't know, never gave it much thought", then I invite you to the journey I've recently been on.

My Plastic-fantastic journey where i have learnt to recognize the different types of plastic and how to, or not to, handle them.

On the first leg of this journey, visit the 7 kinds of plastic, then proceed with seeing for yourself which ones are safe before I suggest you read this very good post on good reasons not to reuse plastic water bottles .

I hope this will have prompted you to be more aware of the not so fantastic effects of plastic in our lives and so I hope this will help you make informed & safer decisions.

Take care of yourselves and be plastic-wise.

Special thanks to sister Ghada who inspired one of our friends to write this post.

2008-11-05T22:13:00.002+01:00

TAWAKKUL
8 LEVELS OF RELIANCE

by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen

1ST LEVEL: Trust in Allaah by knowing Him - His Names and
Attributes and trust the fact that everything in the heavens and
earth is His possession. He (swt) is the Exalted Creator of all that
exists.

2ND LEVEL: Believe with all your heart that what you ask Him for,
you will receive; Allaah Has full power to grant it.

3RD LEVEL: Know that you should make full efforts of your own to
obtain what you want and then rely fully upon Him; make du'aa and
effort, i.e. your body makes effort, and your spiritual side makes
du'aa, always with reliance upon Him (swt) to seek what you desire.

4TH LEVEL: Your heart should make efforts to obtain what you
want. How? Make your heart connected to Allaah. DO NOT allow your
heart to be connected to the things your're doing to be successful.
Be connected to Allaah. So why are you afraid?Again, I will ask you,
why are you afraid? In this scenario, there is absolutely no room
for fear. You do what you have to do and you should feel that Allaah
will take care of the thing that you want taken care of.

5TH LEVEL: Things that are not in your hands or ability, put those
affairs with Allaah. Surrender to Him (swt) with love and devotion,
and feel your burdens ease.

6TH LEVEL: The person should have a good opinion of Allaah.
Have 'yaqeen' concerning this - that Allaah will make you successful
in what is best for you. The Prophet, sall Allaahu 'alayhi wasallam,
said:
'Allaah said: 'I am as My servant thinks of Me.'
meaning if you have a honored opinion of Allaah, then Allaah will
make you successful. But if you have a negative opinion of Allaah,
then it is possible He may give you something you won't like as a
test to sharpen your faith!

7TH LEVEL:
That the person leaves his affairs totally to Allaah
and that he is content with what Allaah decrees and with what Allaah
decides, before the results come down.

8TH LEVEL: When the result occurs, that the person is content
with that, with whatever Allaah Has decreed.
These are the eight levels of Tawakkul.

So if you feel sad, or your mind is beset with problems, distressed,
anxious, full of uncertainty, fearing the future, then try your very
best to exercise these eight levels of tawakkul and Allaah will take
away all your pain, inshaa'Allaah.
And He will open doors for you that you never knew existed...

2008-10-05T00:44:00.005+01:00

BHMW IMPORTANT DATES --- SUMMER 2009
SUMMER PICNIC

PEACE FESTIVAL

www.peacemessenger.wordpress.com
for more information on the programme

THINKING ABOUT CHILDMINDING?
Contact us for more details (click on picture to enlarge)

2008-09-09T21:16:00.010+01:00

Ramadan 2008 Post

Assalaamualeikum dearest Sisters & Brothers who have reached Ramadan, Blessed are you!

We pray to Allah, Akram Al akrameen (the Most Generous of the Generous), to make you of those who reap His rewards of Rahma (mercy, first 10 days), Rifraan (forgiveness, next 10 days) and 'itq min annaar (salvation from the Fire, final 10 days) in this blessed month of Ramadan. May you be given the strength to fast with your heart, in addition to with your tongue, ears, eyes and feet, and may you taste the sweetness of Imaan (faith) in this wonderful month. Ameen.
Remember to keep your tongue moist with these 7 blessed phrases of remembrance (Dhikr), whether you are able to pray or not; whether you are lying down, standing, waiting somewhere, shopping, cycling or even driving!

Subhaanallah, (Glory be to Allaah, far purer & beyond his Creation is He. It is He who says 'Be' & it Is)
Alhamdulillaah, (All Praises are for Allah, Highest expression of Thanking & Thanks Giving)
laa ilaaha illallaah, (There is no one nor nothing worthy of worship but 'Allah')
Allaahuakbar, (Allah is therefore Greater than any thing or any being. It is he who says 'Be' & it It is, no joy or grief should overcome us more than the tought of Allah)
laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billeh, ( nor there is any Might or Power-of change- over anything except by Allah's permission)
wa ssallaatu wa ssalaamu 'alaa Muhammad. (and peace & blessings be upon Muhammad, the last messenger of Allah sent to the World to confirm all the above)
Astaghfirullaah wa atoobu ileyh. (I therefore ask Allah for His forgiveness over me , His poor Servant always in Need of Him, Allah, who has no Need (Al Ghaniyy) and to Him I seek to return ( I repent) by making my utmost to keep away from sins and follow His guidance.

We wish you a blessed Ramadan full of earthly & above all heavenly rewards .
Ramadan Mubaarak

2008-06-26T17:32:00.009+01:00

'SABRUN JAMEEL' or 'The 10/90 Principle' info update & activities

"O Allah, grant us beautiful patience and perseverence! Aameen"

Make this duaa, read the following and it will change your life (at least the way you react to situations) inshaallaah.

What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? ……….By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light. but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example. You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 80 klm an hour in a 60 klm speed limit.
After a 15-minute delay and throwing R200 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying
goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home. When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.
Why? …. Because of how you reacted in the morning.
Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the traffic officer cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is "D".
You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.
Here is what could have and should have happened.
Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and
waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.
Notice the difference?
Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.
Why?
Because of how you r e a c t e d.
You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!
React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.
How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off. Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them?
WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?
Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.
You are told you lost your job.
Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.
The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on.
Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger/s. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.
Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.
You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.
The result?
Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It CAN change your life!!!
Try implementing the above and then ........ Enjoy this day, the years to come and earn the pleasure of Allah sub7aanu wa ta3aala in this life and the next inshaallah.

'InnaLLaah yu7ibbu ssaabireen'

Verily Allah loves the Patient & Perseverent.

2008-04-01T17:17:00.003+01:00

Why we love him.

The Love of the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him

By Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, founder of Zaytuna Institute

(transcript of a piece he did for the BBC World Service's In Praise of God programme in 2006)

26 years ago I became a Muslim largely because I fell in love with a beautiful human being. 'I was only sent to perfect noble character,' said the man declared as a 'mercy to all the worlds.'

As time passed, this love grew as my knowledge of him increased. I painfully watched his religion hijacked by some for their own ends distorting his message and forgetting that he was indeed a mercy to all the worlds. I am troubled by the media's portrayal of him sometimes in the worst of lights. How could the man I came to know and love be so vilified and maligned by those who claim to represent him and also by those who aim to be unbiased interpreters?

Muhammad, peace be upon him, was a shy, reticent man who lived among his people with such high moral character they called him al-Amîn—the Trustworthy.

The Prophet of Islam was born in the city of Mecca, Arabia, into a poor but noble branch of an aristocratic clan known as Quraysh, a people who despised treachery, lies and stupidity, while honouring bravery in battle, generosity in partying, and cleverness in poetry.

Some families, were so ashamed of their baby girls, that they would bury them alive instead of suffering the possible indignity of future dishonour. The religion of the Arabs at the time was a hodge-podge of superstition, divination and idolatry. To them, man's life ended with his death and his afterlife was based on his military exploits might be immortalized by a poets tongue.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born into this world on April 9th, 570, Christian era in the lunar month of Rabi'a al-Awwal. His father, Abdallah died during his mother's pregnancy. And for the first four years he was raised in the relative purity of the desert by a Bedouin woman named Halimah. After which he returned to his mother, Aminah. But in his seventh year, his mother died leaving him in the care of his grandfather.

At the age of twenty-five, he was employed as a commercial agent by Lady Khadijah, a successful widow from his own clan. She soon recognized his honesty and good nature and proposed marriage. Although fifteen years younger than she was, he accepted her proposal, and fathered six of his seven children with her.

At the age of forty, it had become his custom to escape the idolatry of Meccan society by seeking solitude in a cave on the mountain known as 'the Mountain of Light.' In the solitary confines of his small cave a voice pierced his consciousness declaring: 'Recite!'

Alarmed and shivering he fled to his wife, begging her to wrap him in a cloak. He feared for his sanity, concerned that a desert spirit or poetic muse might be pursuing him. More revelations soon followed and Muhammad came to the understanding that he was not only a prophet in a long line of prophets, but that he was the last of them who was sent with a universal message.

As the days passed his revelations increased and they were powerfully rhythmic punctuated with intoxicating messages that challenged listeners to reflect on everyday miracles such as the alternation of the night and day

These revelations revealed to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, came to be known as the Qur'an, the Muslim holy book. For thirteen years he invited his clan to worship one God, sit with slaves in spiritual solidarity, respect women as soul-full equals and the source of human mercy, care for the widow, the orphan, the weak and the oppressed.

At first people ridiculed his message and accused him of attempting 'to make the gods one.' His message threatened his people's financial control of the markets of Mecca where pilgrims from all over Arabia came to spend their wealth.

When his clan failed to stop his preaching they plotted to kill him in his sleep. But he was warned by the Angel Gabriel and told to flee in the cover of darkness to Madina with his beloved friend and lifelong companion Abu Bakr.

Setting out, the two sought refuge in a cave to escape the skilled trackers of Mecca hot on their trail. The bounty hunters quickly came upon the cave, but a spider's web had already covered the entrance and a dove with her young rested in a nest above it.

When the posse left and the two felt safe again, they continued their journey to the city of Yathrib. And as they entered it the young girls and children of Bani Najjar came out chanting lines of poetry which is still sung all over the world in remembrance of this auspicious occasion.

The name Yathrib was changed to Medina, city of hope. It became a city founded on the brotherhood of virtue. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, enacted a treaty uniting the once warring groups. He secured the rights of the Jewish minority by granting them full citizenship and freedom to practice their religion without constraint.

Days after his arrival in Medina he began the construction of a mosque, a sanctuary of prayer and meditation, in the centre of the city. And he had his companions; the Muslims create their own marketplace in order to ensure economic strength.

The Meccans, sensing that a rising power was now emerging in the peninsula, plotted ways of subverting the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his growing community of believers. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who had practiced a strict pacifism in Mecca for thirteen years and disliked the use of coercive force, was now given permission by God to defend against any attacks by his enemies. The Qur'an declared, 'Fighting has been prescribed for you and you detest it, but perhaps you detest something and in it is much good. And perhaps you love something and in it is much harm, and God knows and you do not know.' [Qur'an 2:216].

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'Never desire to meet your enemies, rather ask God for peace and well-being; but should you be forced to meet them, then act courageously.' [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Muslims are not ashamed of their Prophet's teaching about war. On the contrary, for us it is a great source of pride. He was courageous as a great lion against the strong and oppressive yet gentle as a shepherd with the weak and the oppressed.

The true object of war fought for God should always be peace. What the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught is that Muslims fight for a just cause only. In this world, there are only two choices: two sides, truth and justice or falsehood and oppression. You don't have to be a Muslim to understand that.

After years of conflict between members of his clan and his followers, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had a revelation that he should visit the sacred mosque. In the eighth year after his migration to Medina the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, set out for Mecca but his adversaries refused to allow him in. They sent out an arbitrator to strike an agreement that would bring the stand-off to an end. And on every point of this treaty the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, compromised his own position in pursuit of peace.

On the journey back to Medina some of the companions were deeply troubled by what had just taken place and disappointed that they were thwarted from visiting the sanctuary. When asked to explain, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, 'Did I say it was going to be this year?'

And so the following year, in accordance with the treaty, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his followers performed a pilgrimage completely unmolested. But soon his clan the Quraysh broke their end of the deal, massacring another clan with alliance to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, attacking them even in the sacred precinct. Abu Sufyan, the head of the Prophet's enemies, attempted to restore the truce but it was too late. News of the massacre enraged the believers and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, summoned all of the Muslims capable of bearing arms to march on Mecca. When the nearly ten thousand Muslims arrived on the outskirts of the city, the Quraysh realized they did not stand a chance and people either fled or stayed in their homes.

And so it was, after years of persecution, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, marched triumphant into the city of his birth at the head of the largest army ever assembled in Arabian history. With his head bowed in humility he declared a general amnesty and granted war criminals refuge.

His overwhelming magnanimity of character led to a mass conversion among the citizens of Mecca. Even Abu Sufyan, his archenemy, embraced the religion of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. In the months that followed, almost all of Arabia dispatched representatives to swear allegiance to this Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and to enter in the faith of Islam. In a period of twenty-three years Muhammad, peace be upon him, had succeeded in uniting a feuding people trapped in cycles of violence into one people with a sense of destiny and a mission that would transform the world.

He elevated the low, and he lowered the elevated that they might meet in that middle place known as brotherhood. He infused in them a love of learning unleashing a creative power that would lead to some of the most extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in human history.

He died on the same day he was born, in the same house he had lived in for ten years in Medina, on a small bed made of leather stuffed with palm fibres, in the arms of his beloved wife Aishah. His dying words were, 'Treat your women well, and do not oppress your servants, the prayer, the prayer, don't be neglectful of the prayer. O God, my highest companion, O highest companion.'

But the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was more than just a great historical person, he was a father and friend, a husband, a companion and above all he was a human being. The Prophet's unique physical appearance, his high character and willingness to sacrifice for others, are often at the essence of any description of him. He was once described by a contemporary in the following words:

'The Messenger of God was imposing and majestic. His face was luminous like a full moon. He was taller than medium but not excessive in height. He had wavy hair, which he parted and it never went beyond his shoulders. He was light-skinned with a high brow. He had full eyebrows and a small space between them. He had a fine, aquiline nose. His beard was full, his eyes black. His physique was supple and lithe, with a full chest and broad shoulders. When he walked, he was determined and his pace was as if he was walking down hill.

When he spoke he was always brief and reflective. He spoke when he saw benefit and spent long periods in silent contemplation. His speech was comprehensive being neither wordy nor laconic. He had a mild temperament and was never harsh nor cruel, coarse nor rude. He expressed gratitude for everything given to him no matter how insignificant. When he spoke, his companions lowered their heads as if birds were perched upon them. When he was silent, they felt free to speak. He never criticized food or praised it excessively. He never swore, nor did he find fault in people. He did not flatter people but praised them when appropriate.

People entered his gatherings as seekers and left enlightened. He would ask about his companions when they were absent often making inquiries about people's needs. He never stood nor sat without mentioning the name of God. He never reserved a special place for himself in a gathering and sat where space provided. He gave each of those who sat with him such full attention that everyone felt that he was the most important person in that gathering. Voices were never raised in his presence. The aged were respected for their age and the young were shown compassion for their youth.'

The Qur'an reminds Muslims that when they are slandered by those who reject them they should bear it patiently and be forgiving. I yearn for a deeper understanding of this man, his gentleness towards children, his love of animals, his concern for the weak and oppressed, his sense of justice tempered always with mercy.

I personally love his humour and his sense of tomfoolery. He said once, 'I joke but always tell the truth.' His wife Aishah said, 'he was always making us laugh in the house.' One of his names is ad-dahhak—the smiling one. His humour and cheerfulness even in the face of the most difficult of times is so needed today in our troubled world. I imagine him telling those of us who don't laugh enough to lighten up, to show more gratitude even in what appears to be difficulties. And as for those who laugh too much and do so inappropriately, I imagine that he would ask that they reflect deeper on the condition of humanity and nurture compassion in their hearts.

'Those who sin while laughing enter hell crying,' he once said.

Once an old woman asked him if she would enter paradise and he replied, 'Old people don't go to heaven!' The woman was crestfallen with the answer he had provided, to which he added with a smile, 'You shall enter paradise in the prime of your youth.'

The Arabs believed dates made eye infections worse. His companion Suhayb was eating dates one day while his left eye was infected. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'Suhayb do you eat dates and your eye is infected?' To which Suhayb said, 'I am eating with my right eye only O Messenger of God.' To which the Prophet, peace be and blessings
be upon him, laughed heartily.

And once a gruff desert Bedouin came into the mosque and prayed out loud saying, 'O God forgive me and Muhammad and don't forgive anyone else.' Hearing this the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, laughed and said to him, 'You are limiting the vast mercy of God.'

I feel so incredibly grateful and blessed to have come to know him and to learn from him. A day of my life has not gone by that I haven't felt indebted to him for the wisdom he has given me in making sense of my life and my world.

Every day my love for Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, increases. Like the vast majority of my fellow believers across the world and through times he is, indeed, the Beloved—the Praised One.

To the solace of his name, simply saying Muhammad, has an incredibly soothing effect on me.

2008-03-09T22:34:00.004+01:00

BHMW
RAMADAN & EID EVENTS

click on picture to enlarge
Eid Party at Funplex Bevendean

View Larger Map

2008-01-16T23:20:00.001+01:00

Short Business guide to Arabic Language

Click here to hear Audio Podcast

2008-01-15T21:11:00.007+01:00

Joy of a hijaabi swimmer!...

As a child I grew up by the Mediterranean sea and from an early age swimming became second nature alhamdulillah! My best memories are those of the summer holidays when the entire extended family with all the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents would meet in our family holiday home by the sea. What a great time that was playing together on the sand and swimming in the sea, mashallah! Later on I took up competition swimming at Uni. which brought both health and balance to my busy student life. Things changed however when I started to wear Hijaab, alhamdulillah, this has been one of my best decisions taken so far but it also made me realise that there wasn't anything for us hijaabi swimmers!... I was refusing to become a sinking hijaabi splasher, you know what I mean...and if you don't, try swimming with a long-sleeved 'abaaya. You are guaranteed to make more splashes than strokes and sink faster than the Titanic!
So I became determined to put together an outfit which would cover my 'awra (female private parts according to Islamic etiquette) whilst enabling me to swim properly. Since I am no seamstress, the best I could achieve was to wear on top of an ordinary swimsuit a full length surfing body suit and 2 knee-length polyester panels with sliding side splits wrapped around my waist. I was so happy two summers ago when for the 1st time in a Muslim country I was able to swim freely off the beach front without fear of being pulled down by underwater currents or exposing my 'awra.
However since then, I have been discouraged from going to my local pool realising that changing in and out of my multi-piece swimsuit was taking a ridiculous amount of time off the 1 h/week I had hoped to swim for.
Sadly I was beginning to get used to the bleak prospect of swimming only a few times a year during the summer in the sea; when last 25th November at a Muslim event in London I came across a stall selling the swimsuit of my dreams!...The 'Burquini' by Australian Muslimah Designer Ahida. The stall holders, brother Ismail and wife Kalsum answered all my questions and even had models wearing the flexible 2-piece (only!) suit. They looked so comfortable in it, I decided to buy one my size. It came at a reasonable price given its top quality and exclusive design. What's more, you can see for yourself the various models and sizes by clicking here.

Happy swimming!

2007-09-17T16:58:00.000+01:00

Blessed Ramadan is back!

A few days ago I received this intriguing text on my cell phone:
" Hi, my name is Shabaan, my neighbour Ramadan with his wife Sawm and 3 children, Rahma, Rufraan and 'Itq, will be visiting you shortly. They will be with you for 29 or 30 days before flying back on Eid Airways. Enjoy their company they are great!"

Puzzled at first, wondering who's this Shabaan?!...I decided to call the number who'd sent me this text. A person with a familiar voice answered:
" Salaamualeykum Fay!"
"Wa aleykum assalaam Yasmeen!...is that you?..." I shouted surprised.
"Who's Shabaan?...and what's up with his neighbour?...
She replied all excited: "Ramadan kareem!"
Only then everything fell into place, "Of course!" I replied, laughing at myself, " Blessed Ramadan to you too!..."

What a lovely & refreshing way she had found to remind me and wish me a 'Kareem' Ramadan. We were indeed in the last or penultimate night of the lunar month preceding the month of Ramadan, namely, Sha'baan! Ramadan's wife, Sawm is no less but the Arabic word for Fasting, and their 3 children are the great favours Allah bestows gradually on his bondsmen & women throughout this month and they a are:

'Rahma', Blessed Compassion
'Rufran', Blessed Forgiveness
'Itq, Blessed salvation from the torment of the Hereafter

As for Eid, it's the celebration we have at the end of Ramadan! Hard to believe sometimes, but there it is, another year has passed since last year's Ramadan, time does really fly by...Many events too have come to pass this year and here we are again blessed to be witnessing and living through the beautiful days and nights of Ramadan more...

So Ramadan Kareem (blessed) to everyone making the most of it countless blessings.
May Allah bless as he wishes all of his creation in this wonderful month. Aameen

This year again, some American Christians are sharing with us the spiritual experience of fasting during the day, God bless them and make their and our call for peace & brotherhood be answered, Aameen.

All praise and thanks be to the one God whom we all worship, who has called you to worship Him after the manner of al-Islam, and us to worship Him according to the gospel of Jesus, whom both faith traditions hail as the Messiah: it is our deep wish that God strengthen you in your devotion to God, your love of God, and your trust in God during this month of Ramadan, and that everything that you do for His sake may be pleasing to Him.

We have joined you in keeping the fast of Ramadan this year, as a freewill offering to God accompanying our prayer for peace, justice, and a spirit of love to grow among the peoples of the Abrahamic religions. It is our desire that all over the world, if God so wills, Muslim, Jew and Christian can learn to stand together in brotherhood in the sight of their Creator, and encourage one another in faithfulness and good deeds. But we are mourning many of the deeds of our government and our people, as they continue to involve themselves in the affairs of Islamic peoples, and the lives of Muslim detainees held at United States facilities, without sufficiently caring or understanding what they are doing to the people whose lives they affect. To our sorrow, we see many American Christians trusting, supporting, and following policy-makers whose guiding principle seems to be "let us do evil, that good may come of it", as if they did not know that our own scripture explicitly condemns it (Romans 3:8). In repenting our own complicity in this, we hope to lead our brother and sister Christians into repentance.

Our power to make the world's leaders humble themselves, question their own behavior, and let their hearts be turned, seems very small. And yet we draw hope from our certainty that we are listened to by the true Ruler of this world, the Turner of Hearts, who sees everything and holds all power. This month we curb our natural appetites during daylight hours to be more mindful of the One to whom we must return, the Highest, our Helper. We perceive, sadly, that many American Christians lack understanding of what it means to be a Muslim. How better to change that than for some of us to join the Muslim world in its Ramadan fast? We also hope that such self-restraint as we gain from the fast might help restore a spirit of self-restraint to the worldly culture of the industrialized nations, in however small a way, for on our learning self-restraint now seems to depend the saving of the world from ruin.

Advised by Jesus himself to fast privately and without open display (Matthew 6:16-18), we make ourselves available for responses to this communication but without identifying ourselves individually by name. May God comfort you, sustain you in hope, and bestow on you every blessing.
Ramadan Fasters of Christ
christsfasters@aol.com

2007-09-11T14:10:00.000+01:00

Prayer priority

A non-Muslim friend once asked me: -"In the early days of Islam, Muslims did not have many things to do. It was fine for them to pray five times a day. But our modern life leaves us with little spare time; so is it difficult for you to find the time to pray?"
My reply was, "it's all about priority..."

Prayer, in its prescribed form,i.e. as taught to us by God through his final messenger, Muhammad peace & blessings be upon him, is the second of the 5 fundamental pillars of Islam. Allah tells us (in the 3rd verse of the second chapter of the Quran), that in addition to the declaration of faith I bear witness there is no one/thing worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger, Prayer is to be "established". Prayer is a real institution in Islam, not just an informal act. It is the major medium Allah has offered us to coummnicate with him, and that it 5 times throughout each and every day. Beyond its both spiritual and physical worldly benefits, prayer is a paramount regular meeting between The Creator, The Sustainer, The Most Kind & Loving and his human creation. Not to be missed really!...

Furthermore prayers are performed invariably during health or sickness and so if one is not able to stand, but can sit or only lye down, their prayer is still valid. In fact If one is so sick and cannot move at all except their eyes, then that is sufficient for them to signal the different movements of the prayer. Moreover if one misses or forgets any one time to pray, the opportunity to catch up ASAP is there whenever one is able to or remembers. Nothing should stand in the way of the prayer, not even our "Modern" hectic life. In fact if it was necessary to pray fourteen hundred years ago when the pace of life was slower, then it is even more important to pray in today's materialistic "super sonic" world in which we have become so engrossed that many have a poor connection, if any at all with Allah. Yet nothing more than prayer reminds us of the reality of our human existence and it is the first thing we will be questioned about on the Day of reckoning.

During each prayer, we recite Surat Al Fatiha (the first chapter in the Quran), which is actually a conversation between the worshiper and Allah. Performed, with sincerity of intention and concentration, it will strengthen the person's Faith and provide comfort, hope and perseverance in times of trouble. Prayer not only stimulates a person to do good deeds, cleanses him/her from his/her minor sins, but is also a comprehensive soothing & uplifting process, at both the physical and spiritual levels, which ultimately leads to a state of inner peace. So, is it difficult to find time to pray?... Yes, it can be sometimes... but more so difficult and a real shame would be not to make the time for this extraordinary meeting.

2007-07-02T17:39:00.000+01:00

Short Business guide to Arabic Language

Click here to hear Audio Podcast

2007-06-08T18:01:00.001+01:00

WHY have you become Muslim?!...

The other day, a work colleague who had only recently realised I was Muslim asked me this question. "Why have you become Muslim?!.." In an attempt to answer I felt the need to check I had correctly heard the question. I asked her " did you say How? or Why? ".

I guess I was hoping she might have said How? in which case the answer would have been nice and short. After all, it doesn't take a great deal of expertise nor some kind of complicated ceremonial ritual to become Muslim... If anything it starts with a hygienic routine most of us practice several times a week...I mean a SHOWER or bath, followed by the following declaration of faith, which doesn't necessarily have to be done in public. " Ashhadu a-llaa ilaaha illaLLaah, Muhammad rasooluLLah" meaning " I bear witness there is no one/thing worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger. Pretty straightforward and simple answer to give, don't you think?...

However, having finally understood my colleague was interested in the reasons rather than the ways I had become a Muslim, I initially thought it virtually impossible to phrase in a few words and in a minute or so all the reasons, chain of events and personal realisations on the meaning of LIFE which in an amazing and unexpected way led me to freely taking the best decision of my life.
It's important to insist it has been a free choice because people's perception of a women being or becoming a Muslim is unfortunately twisted and limited by mainstream media coverage, which when it deals with Islam tends to do so with a bias. I mean by this that unfortunately rarely do Muslims who are helpful & peaceful, compassionate & fair make the headlines, instead editors choose those ill-informed, bad mannered and misogynist extreme Muslims, whose practice of Islam is flawed, to splash across our TV screens and Newspaper pages. Not only that, but since many countries with a majority Muslim population are today either very poor, invaded and/or occupied or led by dictatorial leaders and regimes, it's hardly surprising that all we hear about them is the state of war, social & political unrest they or any other country in the same circumstances would experience.

The truth is anyone repeatedly exposed to negative images & tales of a particular concept and group of people whilst simultaneously & constantly told that the way they live is the only good one will de facto very likely hold a prejudice against anything or anyone challenging their view of things. And that is what is happening in the minds of those who fear and or dislike Islam and hate or fight Muslims.

I was beginning to understand why my colleague whom I 've been meeting at 11 a.m. every morning for a 10 minute friendly coffee break in the office kitchen, had this disapproving and surprised look on her face as she asked me again "Why have you chosen Islam?"
So as I went over to the draining board to pick up 2 cups and put on the kettle, I made a silent supplication to the only one worthy of worship to gather my thoughts and make them come out clear and concise.

I replied: "I suppose there was a time, many years ago where I too, like many today, didn't view Islam favourably but as I was the kind of person who questioned ideas and the world around me, by my late teens I began to have serious existentialist questions which were no longer answered by the Atheist/Christian moral status quo characterising our modern societies ... Next, 9/11 happened so I started to look closer at what / who had caused such a terrible act of violence and wondered why? As Afghanistan was being attacked in reprisal for the tragedy I grew more and more uneasy with the legitimacy of such invasion as the number of deaths quickly surpassed that of the twin towers.
Something was set in motion, here again I started to look for answers and it wasn't long before I picked up a Quran and started to read about Islam in order to understand the deeds of those "extremists".

To my big surprise, what I found whilst reading the Quran & about Islam baffled me. Not only did I not encounter coherent reasons and justification for the acts of indiscriminate violence, abuse, machism of those individuals identfying or identified as Muslims who are regularly portrayed to us as the epytomy of Islam; but I also found Islam gave me answers to those deep questions that everyone of us has at least once in their lifetime.": Why am I here? Where am I going to? What about death?....

Louise H.

DISCLAIMER: This video link provided by Google video services is solely intended for the convenience of [The Brighton & Hove Muslim Women] Web site readers & users and the video featured above is the one chosen for this purpose. However [The Brighton & Hove Muslim Women] are not responsible for the information found through this link nor are they seeking to promote any information which may be seen as subversive.

2007-05-13T16:14:00.000+01:00

About Finding your other half...

Our last beloved prophet, may peace & blessings be upon him and all those that follow in his path, taught us that marriage is half our faith (deen). In a nutshell this is because a good life partnership which is found in a sound marriage brings stability and moderation to one's life. Not only does it provide ultimate companionship but it also protects us from the harm confined in both extremes of celibacy and multiple hedonistic relationships.
By submitting to the laws of our creator and his guidance in looking and choosing our life partner, one should find true love and mercy in the bond of marriage.
After all our creator, Allah, is the designer of life and all that it involves for each and everyone of us.
Today in the UK and to some extent throughout the world; many Muslims are struggling to find a suitable partner. Be it because of cultural influences or economical and social pressures or both, one thing is sure: Marriage has been made difficult or is seen as such by many single people.
At the same time many modern ways have been brought forward to try and make people find their life partner. One of which is online marriage facilitators. However from the outset it must be stressed that being only a few clicks away from possibly finding your future spouse doesn't mean you should abuse this tool, nor does it make it less serious. Indeed, making the intention of marriage is a matter of faith and social transaction (deenul mu'aamalaat), we will be made accountable for the way we have dealt with it.

One should be clear and determined about their commitment and the person they want to share their lives with. Simply browsing such websites is simply not good enough. You are not out shopping, it's people's dignity which is at stake.
Similarly try to be to the point when you think you have come across a possible suitor don't waste your time exchanging shallow emails with people who you know deep down aren't for you.
Also be realistic! There is no point widening your search worldwide if you know you are limited to your geographical area or can't manage a long distance situation. [more...]

Below is an example search table provided for free by 1st Place Muslim Matrimonials

Finally, if you are sincere with Allah about your intention, have prepared yourself seriously to a possible change in your life and are following the moral and halaal way of looking for your other half then place your trust in Him (Al Wakeel) every step of the way...
May Allah be with you and surround you with his guidance and blessings

1st Place Muslim Matrimonials

2007-03-18T19:20:00.000+01:00

International Women's Day 2007
Wish you were there.....

Sister N. tells us about her experience at the IWD on 3rd March at Hove Town Hall.

" What a day! I was on my way that sunny morning to help set up our BHMWG stall and as usual I was fashionably late... so by the time I arrived on the first floor I found our stall already set up by other volunteer sisters and Mashallah, it looked wonderful! After helping out with the last bits and bobs I decided to walk around with my 16 month old daughter in the buggy to see what else was there. The other stalls looked very interesting and some had a lot of interesting and helpful information - Palestinian olive oil and hand made soap and other hand made things, Sussex Interpreters, Women's Refuge, Massage therapy stall etc...There were also 2 discussion workshops around women in Sudan and women in Palestine! A free creche for 2-5 year olds was available and by next year, inshallah (God willing) , I will be able to take my daughter there.
Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God) our stall offered a variety of donated items like yummy cookies, exotic cakes and handbags, fancy cushion cases and henna painting.
In all, it was a very nice day out for women where men are not allowed!...
Its so important so many women gather and celebrate something for themselves, Mashallah (wow! Praised is God for his creation), I saw so many interesting things and fantastic entertainment from all over the world on stage. I really look forward to the 2008 edition!"

2007-02-03T14:38:00.000+01:00

Don't suffer in Silence!..

If you have been a witness or a victim of islamophobic and/or racist abuse in the Brighton & Hove area, don't keep quiet about it. Report it as soon as possible to us. Racist & islamophobic abuse (hatred & violence against someone because they are or look Muslim) is considered a crime punishable by law in the UK. Over the last few months we have heard many comments by politicians and the Media that we Muslims have a victim mentality & that there is no problem of islamophobia. The reason they are able to claim that is because there is not enough evidence of islamophobic crime being reported to the authorities. Make it a habit to record the time, day and place of the incident ready to be reported.

It is our duty as Muslims to stand against injustice with our hands and if it's not possible then with our tongue and if that is not possible then with our hearts which is the weakest form of Imaan. It is very important to report any form of abuse, be it verbal, emotional or physical so that the local authorities take the problem of islamophobia more seriously and put in place policies to tackle it inshallah. Any information that you give will be treated as CONFIDENTIAL and would be passed on to the Police only if you wish.

The BHMW will be working with the Racial Harassment Forum in Brighton which will be offering a half day training on how to report racist & islamophobic incidents.
If you are interested in this opportunity and live in Brighton & Hove or if you have an incident to report then please e-mail us NOW at bhmwg@yahoo.co.uk

If you are a UK resident and want to report a racist and/or islamophobic incident call straight away 999 or visit your local police station.

2007-01-27T21:59:00.000+01:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

While some cultures celebrate the beginning of a new year at a fixed time every year, it is the 1st of MUHARRAM, equivalent this year to 20th JANUARY that marks the beginning of a new year on the Muslim calendar, the Hijri calendar.

As worshipers attended prayer services this Friday, most imams would use the day to reflect on the Hijrah, an event in Muslim history that the Islamic calendar is based upon and which happened 1428 Muslim years ago.

In a nutshell, the Hijrah was the flight of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him from one city to another in what is now Saudi Arabia. Non-Muslims in Mecca had been persecuting him and his followers for years, so when the persecution became fiercer and a final plan had been agreed to assassinate the Prophet; him and most of his followers managed to flee and traveled to Medina, where the city's residents had invited Muhammad (pbuh) to become their leader.

The event marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar, which is based entirely on the cycles of the moon. Unlike the Jewish calendar, which also is lunar-based, there is no "leap month" to correct the calendar. As a result, the Islamic calendar shifts 11 days each year.

So while the first day of Muharram is 22nd January this year, it will be 11 days earlier next year, and so on.

In general, the celebration of Muharram is mostly quiet and lacks the fanfare of the Chinese New Year, or the fireworks on the first minutes of each Gregorian year on the night of 31st December. The lack of celebration is especially true in Saudi Arabia.

But other Muslim cultures celebrate aspects of Muharram. The Shiite Muslims for example celebrate in particular the 10th day of Muharram in rememberance of the martyrdom of two of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons, peace be upon them.

However, the 10th of Muharram is mainly reflected upon with a fast of 1, 2 or 3 days in remembrance of the day Allah Almighty saved the people of Prophet Moises (pbuh) from the tyranny of Pharoe and had split the Red sea open for their escape and then merged it again to drown Pharoe and his troops.

Today we, The Brighton and Hove Muslim Women, like many other Muslims in the world reflect on this month with humility and hope, remembering the story of Moises and Muhammad, peace be upon them, and praying for salvation to come the way of the Opressed, sustenance to reach the Needy and Mercy & Peace to wrap the entire world.

Would you like to try for yourself and convert Gregorian dates into Hijri dates and vice versa?....
Don't wait and click here!

2006-12-24T15:56:00.015+01:00

WINTER - SPRING 2009
Come & Join us!
Dear sisters and women interested, please find below our list of current regular activities.
As a female community voluntary group, our aims are to help develop women's knowledge & confidence and encourage networking between them; contribute to social activities for both the local Muslims and secondly for the community at large; and raise awareness about Islam and/or Muslims.
The activities below are all free to join but we would most appreciate your donations to our group to help towards our costs. Given the nature of these activities your donations can count as sadaqa and/or Zakat. We do hope you find them interesting.
Photo: Sunday picnic circle on the beach-May 2008

Drop in Halaqa -Quran & Hadith discussion circle
Fridays from 12h00
Women's Section at Medina Mosque
Bedford place, Brighton
Contact: Sister Asmat on B'ton 554501

Tajweed -Quran reading lessons
Fridays, 11h30
Women's Section at Medina Mosque
Bedford place, Brighton
Contact:bhmwg@yahoo.co.uk writing 'FAO the secretary' in subject bar'

Mothers & Toddlers group -Children play & learn, Islamic stories and rhymes
Tuesdays, 11h30 (from Tuesday 3rd March 2009)
Women's Section at Medina Mosque
Bedford place, Brighton
Contact: Sister Noshiena at noshiena@gmail.com

2006-11-30T23:56:00.000+01:00

HAVE WE BEEN TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT 9/11????

I have come across a real eye opener, a must see mesmerising video showing in slow motion and frame by frame what happened on 9/11. This video asks everyone of us serious questions, and serious answers one must give...

(English original video) followed by
Same video with French subtitles

(sous-tirage en français)

2006-11-28T19:50:00.000+01:00

UNITED AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA & WAR

The Stop the War conference on Islamophobia held last Saturday 18th November in London adopted a statement opposing Islamophobia, racism and the so-called 'war on terror', which we hope can be taken up across the board in trade unions, student unions, community and peace activist groups and so on.

People's Assembly Declaration

This People’s Assembly declares its solidarity with all the Muslim peoples in Britain facing a hurricane of official and unofficial legal, political and physical attacks in a climate of Islamophobic hysteria.

The Assembly recognises these attacks as essentially racist and anti-democratic.They are driven by the same political agenda that has inspired the criminal and disastrous ‘war on terror’ which has laid waste Iraq and Afghanistan and presently threatens Iran and elsewhere.

In particular we condemn the statements made by government ministers designed to isolate, demonise and even criminalise Islamic religious practices, choice of dress and cultural expression. We affirm that such diversity in fact makes an important contribution to the overall development of our society.

We condemn terrorist atrocities such as the London bombings last year, which are in all circumstances indefensible. However, the Assembly believes, in common with the majority of the British people, that the key to tackling the threat of such atrocities is a change in the foreign policy of the government. It has subordinated this country to the aggressive foreign policy of the Bush government, in its invasion of Iraq, its threats to Iran and its support for Israel_s aggression against Lebanon.

We call on the people of Britain to:

• Oppose all racist violence and rhetoric directed against Muslims, and
support mass self-defence wherever necessary
• Reject legislation directed against free cultural and religious expression and any legislation seeking to abridge the civil liberties of all citizens.
• Support the right of Muslims, like any other people, to dress, follow their culture and worship as they please, within the limits of the present law.
• Demand that the government break completely with the foreign policy of the US administration and withdraw its occupying troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Support the open letter against Islamophobia and in defence of the Muslim community, published recently in the Guardian.
• Adopt this statement and win support for it in your appropriate organisation

2006-11-03T22:11:00.000+01:00

Muhammad's Sword
Quotes from Uri Avnery's column
23-09-2006
http://zope.gush-shalom.org

In an effort to raise awareness about the true and original nature of Islam, we have included in this post quotes from an article by athiest Jewish columnist, Uri Avnery, who wrote in September this year about Pope Benedict XVI reference to Islam and the sword.

"Since the days when Roman Emperors threw Christians to the lions, the relations between the emperors and the heads of the church have undergone many changes.

The struggle between the Emperors and the Popes played a central role in European history and divided the peoples. It knew ups and downs. Some Emperors dismissed or expelled a Pope, some Popes dismissed or excommunicated an Emperor. One of the Emperors, Henry IV, "walked to Canossa ", standing for three days barefoot in the snow in front of the Pope's castle, until the Pope deigned to annul his excommunication.(...)

But there were times when Emperors and Popes lived in peace with each other. We are witnessing such a period today. Between the present Pope, Benedict XVI, and the present Emperor, George Bush II, there exists a wonderful harmony. Last week's speech by the Pope, which aroused a world-wide storm, went well with Bush's crusade against "Islamofascism", in the context of the "Clash of Civilizations".

IN HIS lecture at a German university, the 265th Pope described what he sees as a huge difference between Christianity and Islam: while Christianity is based on reason, Islam denies it. While Christians see the logic of God's actions, Muslims deny that there is any such logic in the actions of Allah.

As a Jewish atheist, I do not intend to enter the fray of this debate. It is much beyond my humble abilities to understand the logic of the Pope. But I cannot overlook one passage, which concerns me too, as an Israeli living near the fault-line of this "war of civilizations".

To support his case, the Pope quoted - of all people - a Byzantine Emperor, who belonged, of course, to the competing Eastern Church. At the end of the 14th century, the Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus told of a debate he had - or so he said (its occurrence is in doubt) - with an unnamed Persian Muslim scholar. In the heat of the argument, the Emperor (according to himself) flung the following words at his adversary:

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

These words give rise to three questions: (a) Why did the Emperor say them? (b) Are they true? (c) Why did the present Pope quote them?

WHEN MANUEL II wrote his treatise, he was the head of a dying empire. He assumed power in 1391, when only a few provinces of the once illustrious empire remained. These, too, were already under Turkish threat.

At that point in time, the Ottoman Turks had reached the banks of the Danube . They had conquered Bulgaria and the north of Greece , and had twice defeated relieving armies sent by Europe to save the Eastern Empire . On May 29, 1453, only a few years after Manuel's death, his capital, Constantinople (the present Istanbul ) fell to the Turks, putting an end to the Empire that had lasted for more than a thousand years.

During his reign, Manuel made the rounds of the capitals of Europe in an attempt to drum up support. He promised to reunite the church. There is no doubt that he wrote his religious treatise in order to incite the Christian countries against the Turks and convince them to start a new crusade. The aim was practical, theology was serving politics.

In this sense, the quote serves exactly the requirements of the present Emperor, George Bush II. He, too, wants to unite the Christian world against the mainly Muslim "Axis of Evil". Moreover, the Turks are again knocking on the doors of Europe , this time peacefully. It is well known that the Pope supports the forces that object to the entry of Turkey into the European Union.

IS THERE any truth in Manuel's argument?

The pope himself threw in a word of caution. As a serious and renowned theologian, he could not afford to falsify written texts. Therefore, he admitted that the Qur'an specifically forbade the spreading of the faith by force. He quoted the second Sura, verse 256 (strangely fallible, for a pope, he meant verse 257) which says: "There must be no coercion in matters of faith".

How can one ignore such an unequivocal statement? The Pope simply argues that this commandment was laid down by the prophet when he was at the beginning of his career, still weak and powerless, but that later on he ordered the use of the sword in the service of the faith. Such an order does not exist in the Qur'an. True, Muhammad used the sword, not for the spreading of the faith, but in defence against opposing tribes in Arabia as he was building his state; it was a political act, not a religious one.

Jesus said: "You will recognize them by their fruits." The treatment of other religions by Islam must be judged by a simple test: How did the Muslim rulers behave for more than a thousand years, when they had the power to "spread the faith by the sword"?

Well, they just did not.

For many centuries, the Muslims ruled Greece . Did the Greeks become Muslims? Did anyone even try to Islamize them? On the contrary, Christian Greeks held the highest positions in the Ottoman administration. The Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians, Hungarians and other European nations lived at one time or another under Ottoman rule and clung to their Christian faith. Nobody compelled them to become Muslims and all of them remained devoutly Christian.

True, the Albanians did convert to Islam, and so did the Bosniaks. But nobody argues that they did this under duress. They adopted Islam in order to become favorites of the government and enjoy the fruits.

In 1099, the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem and massacred its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants indiscriminately, in the name of the gentle Jesus. At that time, 400 years into the occupation of Palestine by the Muslims, Christians were still the majority in the country. Throughout this long period, no effort was made to impose Islam on them.

THERE IS no evidence whatsoever of any attempt to impose Islam on the Jews. As is well known, under Muslim rule the Jews of Spain enjoyed a bloom the like of which the Jews did not enjoy anywhere else until almost our time. Poets like Yehuda Halevy wrote in Arabic, as did the great Maimonides. In Muslim Spain, Jews were ministers, poets, scientists. In Muslim Toledo, Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars worked together and translated the ancient Greek philosophical and scientific texts. That was, indeed, the Golden Age. How would this have been possible, had the Prophet decreed the "spreading of the faith by the sword"?

What happened afterwards is even more telling. When the Catholics re-conquered Spain from the Muslims, they instituted a reign of religious terror. The Jews and the Muslims were presented with a cruel choice: to become Christians, to be massacred or to leave. And where did the hundreds of thousand of Jews, who refused to abandon their faith, escape? Almost all of them were received with open arms in the Muslim countries. The Sephardi ("Spanish") Jews settled all over the Muslim world, from Morocco in the west to Iraq in the east, from Bulgaria (then part of the Ottoman Empire) in the north to Sudan in the south. Nowhere were they persecuted. They knew nothing like the tortures of the Inquisition, the flames of the auto-da-fe, the pogroms, the terrible mass-expulsions that took place in almost all Christian countries, up to the Holocaust.

WHY? Because Islam expressly prohibited any persecution of the "peoples of the book". In Islamic society, a special place was reserved for Jews and Christians. They did not enjoy completely equal rights, but almost. They had to pay a special poll-tax, but were exempted from military service and payment of Zakat - a trade-off that was quite welcome to many Jews.

Every honest Jew who knows the history of his people cannot but feel a deep sense of gratitude to Islam, which has protected the Jews for fifty generations, while the Christian world persecuted the Jews and tried many times "by the sword" to get them to abandon their faith.

THE STORY about "spreading the faith by the sword" is an evil legend, one of the myths that grew up in Europe during the great wars against the Muslims - the reconquista of Spain by the Christians, the Crusades and the repulsion of the Turks, who almost conquered Vienna . I suspect that the German Pope, too, honestly believes in these fables. That means that the leader of the Catholic world, who is a Christian theologian in his own right, did not make the effort to study the history of other religions.

Why did he utter these words in public? And why now?

There is no escape from viewing them against the background of the new Crusade of Bush and his evangelist supporters, with his slogans of "Islamofascism" and the "Global War on Terrorism" - when "terrorism" has become a synonym for Muslims. For Bush's handlers, this is a cynical attempt to justify the domination of the world's oil resources. Not for the first time in history, a religious robe is spread to cover the nakedness of economic interests; not for the first time, a robbers' expedition becomes a Crusade.

The speech of the Pope blends into this effort. Who can foretell the dire consequences?"

2006-09-26T15:07:00.000+01:00

American Christians Keeping the Fast of Ramadan

We wish every brother and sister currently fasting for the sake of our Creator and Sustainer, الرحمان الرحيم Allah, the bounties and countless benefits and rewards during this blessed month of Ramadan.
This wonderful month is full of blessings of all sorts, one of which is that "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained".[Reported by Bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123 from the divine, sayings and revelations sent to Prophet Muhammad peace& blessings be upon him]. This is a clear indication that it is the best time of year to cleanse ourselves spiritually from al the negative elements in our souls without the interference of any external negative influence. Consequently, there has never been a better time to initiate a positive change and become a better person in manners and deeds for both ourselves and the world around us as our prophet Muhammad peace & blessings be upon him said “Allah will bestow this reward on one who gives food to a fasting man even if it is a sip of milk or a date or a sip of water. And whosoever gives satisfaction to a man, Allah will give him a drink from my fountain that will not make him thirsty till he will enter Paradise. And it is a month of which the beginning is mercy, the middle is forgiveness and the end is freedom from the fire. And whosoever makes light the (burden of) his servants therein, Allah will forgive him, and He will make him free from the fire.” [Mishkat ul Masabih].
The rewards for acts of worship, humanity and brotherhood are especially important during Ramadan. This is because Allah in his infinite mercy wants to both encourage us and reward us greatly for even the smallest good action. Allah in his infinite wisdom is teaching us in this month for the rest of the year the way to be to succeed in this life and the hereafter. We musn't underestimate the goodness he has placed in our hearts, however small we may think it is, to Allah the Oft Thankful it is worth a mighty reward in this world and the next.
“All the good deeds of the son of Adam multiply his reward from ten to seven hundred times. Allah said: ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I reward for it.’”
Finally we would like to thank our Christian brothers and sisters who wrote to us to let us know they too have decided to keep fast this month. Here is an extract of what they wrote.

Ramadan 1427 / 2006
To our Muslim brothers and sisters everywhere:

All praise and thanks be to the one God whom we all worship, who has called you to worship Him after the manner of al-Islam, and us to worship Him according to the gospel of Jesus, whom both faith traditions hail as the Messiah: it is our deep wish that God strengthen you in your devotion to Him, your love of Him, and your trust in Him during this month of Ramadan, and that everything that you do for His sake may be pleasing to Him.

We have joined you in keeping the fast of Ramadan this year, as a freewill offering to God accompanying our prayer for peace, justice, and a spirit of love to grow among the peoples of the Abrahamic religions. It is our desire that all over the world, if God so wills, Muslim, Jew and Christian can learn to stand together in brotherhood in the sight of their Creator. But we are mourning many of the deeds of our government and our people, as they continue to involve themselves in the affairs of Islamic peoples, and the lives of Muslim detainees held at United States facilities, without sufficiently caring or understanding what they are doing to the people whose lives they affect. To our sorrow, we see many American Christians trusting, supporting, and following policy-makers whose guiding principle seems to be â€œlet us do evil, that good may come of it, as if they did not know that our own scripture explicitly condemns it (Romans 3:8).

"Our power to make the world's leaders humble themselves, question their own behavior, and repent, seems very small. And yet we draw hope from our certainty that we are listened to by the true Ruler of this world, who sees everything and holds all power. This month we curb our natural appetites during daylight hours to be more mindful of the One to whom we must return, the Highest, our Helper. We perceive, sadly, that many American Christians lack understanding of what it means to be a Muslim. How better to change that than for some of us to join the Muslim world in its Ramadan fast? We also hope that such self-restraint as we gain from the fast might help restore a spirit of self-restraint to American culture, in however small a way, for on our learning self-restraint now seems to depend the saving of the world from ruin."

2006-09-13T13:26:00.000+01:00

Dutch psychologist on the benefits of reciting the Qur'an

6/16/2004 2:22:00 PM GMT
courtesy of http://www.islamonline.com

In a new study, Vander Hoven, a psychologist from The Netherlands, discovered the effect of reading the Qur'an and repeating the word Allah both on patients and on normal persons.

The Dutch professor confirms his discovery with studies and research applied on many patients over a period of three years. Some of his patients were non-Muslims, others don't speak Arabic and were trained to pronounce the word "Allah" clearly; their result was great, specially on those who suffer from dejection and tension.

Al-Watan, a Saudi daily has reported that the psychologist was quoted to say that Muslims who can read Arabic and who read the Qur'an regularly are enjoying a great chance of protecting themselves from psychological diseases. The psychologist explained how each letter in the word "Allah" affects the healing of psychological diseases. He pointed out in his research that pronouncing the first letter in the word "Allah" which is the letter (A), released from the respiratory system, controls breathing. He added that pronouncing the velar consonant (L) in the Arabic way, with the tongue touching slightly the upper part of the jaw producing a short pause and then repeating the same pause constantly, relaxes the aspiration. Also, pronouncing the last letter which is the letter (H) makes a contact between the lungs and the heart and so this contact controls the heartbeat.

What is exciting about this study is that this psychologist is a non-Muslim, but interested in Islamic sciences and searching for the secrets of the Holy Qur'an.

Allah, The Great and Glorious, says in the Qur'an:

"We will show them Our signs in the universe and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (Qur'an) is the truth". Qur'an (42:53)

2006-08-04T20:37:00.000+01:00

BHMF visit Ground Zero in New York

The Brighton & Hove Muslim Forum has returned from a very successful visit to New York where we represented the people of Brighton and Hove.

1- At the UN HQ, the BHMF took part in discussions on International
Migration and Development. The BHMF helped to formulate a number of
papers that were discussed at the full session of UN on 12th July.

2- The BHMF met with the team of Kings County District Attorney,
Charles J. Hynes. Here we discussed matters that may benefit our
community of Brighton and Hove. We looked at their impressive record on
crime reduction and the role their own community has played in this.
The BHMF hopes to work closely with our own Crown Prosecution Service
in order to see what part it may be able to play in improving things
within Brighton and Hove?

3- The BHMF also held meetings with community officers from the NYPD
(New York Police Department) and discussed their part in reducing crime
in the state of New York. We were explained their role and the role
played by community leaders. We were explained a number of ways that
have directly led to better relation between the police and their own
community.

4- On behalf of our Mayor (councillor David Smith) and the people of
Brighton, the BHMF placed flowers at the TWIN TOWERS (Ground Zero)
memorial.
This was a great honour for the BHMF to represent our city of Brighton
and Hove.
Mayor Bloomberg's office greatly appreciated this gesture.

5- The BHMF is to write to the UN on ways the international community
can use expats as willing partners to rebuild their countries of
origin. This idea recommended by the BHMF was well received by the
World Bank and a number or other organisations.
This proposal should be with Mr Kofi Annan soon.

2006-04-17T16:22:00.000+01:00

Dalai Lama and Muslims meet to appeal for the common good.
As a practicing Muslim woman, I have always had a lot of respect and admiration for anyone promoting peace and justice and more so for those who actually are a living example of peace and justice. The Dalai Lama is one of such people that I hold in high esteem and although he is not Muslim, we have many fundamental values and beliefs in common. It is no surprise then, that I was extremely happy to come across the article below which precisely brings to light the point I am trying to convey to you.
Enjoy your reading.

Peace be with you all
H. on behalf of the BHMW

SAN FRANCISCO - The Dalai Lama urged religious leaders Saturday 15th April to reach out to Muslims, saying Islam is a compassionate faith that has been unfairly maligned because of a few extremists.

"Nowadays to some people the Muslim tradition appears more militant," the 70-year-old exiled monk said at a weekend conference, which aimed to bring Muslims and Buddhists together.
"I feel that's totally wrong. Muslims, like any other traditions — same message, same practice. That is a practice of compassion," he said.
Event organizers say the Dalai Lama interrupted his schedule to fly to San Francisco and meet Islamic scholars and leaders from other faiths to discuss reducing violence and extremism.
Security was tight at the invitation-only event, which drew about 500 religious leaders and scholars. The conference included speakers and presenters from numerous faiths and roughly 30 countries.
The Dalai Lama told the audience that many people see and hear news of suicide bombings in predominantly Muslim countries but don't hear about how Muslims often work with the poor.
He said all human beings are prone to violence if they lose control of their emotions and not to judge an entire faith based on a few people. "A few mischievous people are always there," he said.
The Dalai Lama, who was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, fled Tibet in 1959 following an aborted uprising against Chinese rule in the territory and now keeps an office in exile in the Himalayan town of Dharmsala, India.
The Dalai Lama also told conference attendees that religious traditions must work harder to live together in peace, citing religious violence in Northern Ireland, Pakistan and
Iraq'.
Hamza Yusuf, founder of the Zaytuna Institute, a Hayward-based center for Islamic study, said the conference could help build relationships between Buddhists and Muslims and promote a greater understanding of Islam. He noted that Muslims and Buddhists lived together peacefully for hundreds of years in Tibet.
Yusuf said the Dalai Lama's participation in the event could warm Americans to Islam, since many Americans have mixed feelings about the faith but are receptive to Buddhism.
"He wanted to meet us in solidarity as a community because he felt like people were attacking Islam," Yusuf said.
Seyed Ali Ghazvini of the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno said he hoped the conference would encourage Muslims to be more visible and active in the United States.
"This is a matter of necessity," said Ghazvini, who gave the Dalai Lama a set of Islamic prayer beads. "It's not an option to sit alone in our own community and our own mosques."

By JUSTIN M. NORTON, Associated Press Writer Sun Apr 16, 2006
AP photos

2006-01-08T17:10:00.000+01:00

DO WE REALLY KNOW
THIS HUMAN BEING...?

Muhammad
The Prophet
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA confirms: “.... A mass of detail in the early sources show that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were like-wise honest and upright men." (Vol. 12)

Gibbon in 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' 1823
The good sense of Muhammad despised the pomp of royalty. The Apostle of God submitted to the menial offices of the family; he kindled the fire; swept the floor; milked the ewes; and mended with his own hands his shoes and garments. Disdaining the penance and merit of a hermit, he observed without effort of vanity the abstemious diet of an Arab.
Reverend Bosworth Smith in 'Muhammad and Muhammadanism,' London, 1874.
"Head of the State as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without the Pope's pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a police force, without a fixed revenue. If ever a man ruled by a right divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life."

Alphonse de La Martine in 'Historie de la Turquie,' Paris, 1854.
"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad? (…)
"On the basis of a Book, every letter which has become law, he created a spiritual nationality which blend together peoples of every tongue and race. He has left the indelible characteristic of this Muslim nationality the hatred of false gods and the passion for the One and Immaterial God. This avenging patriotism against the profanation of Heaven formed the virtue of the followers of Muhammad; the conquest of one-third the earth to the dogma was his miracle; or rather it was not the miracle of man but that of reason.
"Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs.... The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?"

Mahatma Gandhi, statement published in 'Young India,'1924.
I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life.

Sir George Bernard Shaw in 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936.
“I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity."

Lawrence E. Browne in ‘The Prospects of Islam,’ 1944
Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went, forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword.

Michael Hart in 'The 100, A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons In History,' New York, 1978
My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level. ...It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. ...It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.

Washington Irving 'Mahomet and His Successors'
He was sober and abstemious in his diet and a rigorous observer of fasts. He indulged in no magnificence of apparel, the ostentation of a petty mind; neither was his simplicity in dress affected but a result of real disregard for distinction from so trivial a source.
In his private dealings he was just. He treated friends and strangers, the rich and poor, the powerful and weak, with equity, and was beloved by the common people for the affability with which he received them, and listened to their complaints.

Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, ‘Mohammed Prophet’ 1978 edition

An honest man, as the saying goes, is the noblest work of God. Mohammad was more than honest. He was human to the marrow of his bones. Human sympathy, human love was the music of his soul. To serve man, to elevate man, to purify man, to educate man, in a word to humanize man-this was the object of his mission, the be-all and end all of his life. In thought, in word, in action he had the good of humanity as his sole inspiration, his sole guiding principle. He was most unostentatious and selfless to the core.

2005-10-16T17:06:00.000+01:00

The women in Muhammad's Heart!...

The women Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was married to were given the respected title of "Mothers of the Believers" (may Allah be pleased with them)

· Khadija The prophet’s first wife, whom he loved more than any of his later wives. 15 years his senior, she was his only wife for more than 20 years and no other woman compares to her in the Prophet’s life. Her death affected him greatly. A proof of how the noble Prophet loved and cherished her memory is to be found in what he said about Khadija many years after she had passed away :
"… She believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah granted me children from her...” (reported by Aisha)
· Aisha One can write books about the love of the Prophet (pbuh), and his later wife Aisha, she became the prophet’s wife 3 years after the death of Khadija
'Amr bin Al-As , a companion of Muhammad (pbuh) reported:” I once asked the prophet (pbuh), "Who is the most beloved person to you?" He said, " 'Aisha." I asked, "Among the men?" He said, "Her father.", and then named other men”.
Aisha herself, may Allah be pleased with her, reported about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)affection to her. Amongst many reports, she tells us how he used to drink from the same cup as her and would apply his lips on the same spot as she did.
The Noble Prophet (pbuh), used to pamper her and call her names of endearment, e.g., my little red-haired one, my little Aesh (short for Aisha). He would even run races with her and take her to watch games whilst carrying her on his shoulders.
· Umm Salama Another mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her, Um Salama was also one of his strategic advisers. Muhammad, consulted his wives even in the most critical situations. The crisis of Hudaibeya is a good example.
Despite a treaty, they had signed with the belligerent Meccans at Hudaibeya, the Muslims were prevented from entering the city, which made them feel bitterly disappointed. The Prophet (pbuh) who felt a little helpless shared his concern with Umm Salama, who then gave him a wise piece of advice on how to diffuse the tension. Acting upon her suggestion, Muhammad (pbuh) prevented a major conflict.
· Safiya Safiya, may Allah be pleased with her, was the daughter of Huyai Ibn Akhtab, head of a Jewish tribe hostile to the Prophet (pbuh). The Noble Prophet used to help her mount her saddle. He was particularly proud of her and would refer to her as being both the daughter of a Prophet (Moses) and the wife of another i.e. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Above all, he encouraged Safiya to keep close to her family.

His Daughters
· Fatima Muhammad (pbuh), used to say about her, “Fatima is a part of me. Whoever causes her pain or suffering is indeed torturing me. He used to kiss her between her eyes whenever he saw her. Whenever he travelled, his daughter Fatima was the last one he would see before he left and the first one to see on his return.
· Ruqaya When the Prophet’s daughter Ruqaya, may Allah be pleased with her, was very ill, her husband Uthman was given leave to stay with her.The Prophet (pbuh) relieved him from the battle of Badr, where the Muslims were outnumbered 3 to 1.

Women are to be treated with kindness & understanding

The good sense of Muhammad despised the pomp of royalty. The Apostle of God submitted to the menial offices of the family; he kindled the fire; swept the floor; milked the ewes; and mended with his own hands his shoes and garments. Disdaining the penance and merit of a hermit, he observed without effort of vanity the abstemious diet of an Arab. Gibbon in 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' 1823

More than 1400 years ago when women would have their periods, they would be sent away to another part of the house, for they were considered wholly impure. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) changed this approach and showed no less than tender loving care.
· Narrated by Umm Salama: While I was laying with the Prophet under a single woolen sheet, my periods started. I slipped away changed into more appropriate clothing. He said, "Have you got "Nifas" (periods)?" I replied, "Yes." He then called me and let me lie with him under the same sheet.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while addressing the Muslims on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage (2 ½ months before his death) he warned them against neglecting the values he taught them, and referred to women as one of the most important subject in his speech:
“O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Fear God regarding women; remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right (over you) to be kindly provided with food and clothing. Do treat your women well and be kind and loving to them for they are your partners and committed helpers…”

2005-09-29T21:33:00.000+01:00

OUR FEELINGS ABOUT SOME OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES

As citizens of the United Kingdom, our group of Brighton & Hove Muslim Women alongside other peace and justice loving people of Britain, feel the need to communicate our view regarding some of the new anti-terrorism measures in the aftermath of the appalling London bombings of 7/7/2005. The British Muslim community as a whole has always been a law-abiding community. and all its endeavours to create a more just society have been entirely peaceful. We fear that recent events are being exploited by some sections in society to demonise legitimate Islamic and much fought for British values and beliefs, and subsequently lay the foundations of what could become an authoritarian police state.

If your history lessons have never captured your imagination we hope that the list below will refresh your memory. Those of you, reading this post and thinking that a drift towards authoritarianism is an exaggeration, we kindly ask you, to look again at today's measures and their similarity with methods used by well known, past and present totalitarian regimes.

· "Pointing the finger at minority groups";
· "Patrolling police with heavy machine guns";
· "Deporting people to well-known oppressive countries and making agreements with their leaders";
· "Punish and /or silence those exposing the truth about political & intelligence blunders";
· "A compulsory ID card with no data protection at the price of fundamental civil liberties and a cost of £300+/person of taxpayers' money".

In the light of the above many British people including ourselves, thought it proper to make the following observations:

1. The term “extremism”, frequently used in the public discourse about religion and terrorism, has no tangible legal meaning or definition and is thus unhelpful and emotive. To equate ‘extremism’ with the aspirations of Muslims for Shariah laws in the Muslim world or the desire to see unification towards a Caliphate in the Muslim lands, as seemed to be misrepresented by the Prime Minister, is inaccurate and disingenuous. It indicates ignorance of what the Shariah is and what a Caliphate is and will alienate and victimise the Muslim community unnecessarily.

2. The Muslim community in Britain has unequivocally denounced acts of terrorism. However, the right of people anywhere in the world to resist invasion and occupation is legitimate. Therefore the proposal to criminalise ‘justification’ or ‘validation’ of such self-defence appears to be intended to stifle discussion about, and support for, such resistance. Thus anyone even verbally opposing the illegal invasion of Iraq, for example, could in future be made out to be justifying and supporting ‘acts of terrorism’ and prosecuted. We are concerned that these proposed measures are intended to prevent the popular opposition witnessed in the run-up to the Iraq war should the United States wish to attack Iran, Syria or any other sovereign nation in the near future.

3. It is natural for Muslims to feel sympathy with fellow Muslims elsewhere in the world and to desire justice for those of them living under oppression. Many people compare the Israeli reality with South African apartheid and demand a similar solution. To denounce anybody who questions the legitimacy of Israel will be seen as an attempt to silence academic thought and legitimate political expression. If the government hopes to pander to Zionist pressure by condemning and excluding from this country people who are critical of Israeli apartheid, it is in fact supporting apartheid.

4. The proposal to ban the non-violent organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir is, in our view, unwarranted, unjust and unwise, and runs counter to all the principles which Western democracies are currently trying to promote abroad. Any disagreement with a political organisation must be expressed through debate not censorship. Whatever objections one may have to someone else’s point of view, we must uphold their right to hold and articulate those views. If it is suggested that any laws have been broken by any individuals or groups then this must be proven by due legal process. Criminalising the mere possession of certain opinions is the hallmark of dictatorships, not democracies. Who will be next?...

5. The same reasoning applies to the proposal to close mosques if they are arbitrarily defined as being ‘extremist’ or to try and politically influence what may or may not be said during a religious talk. This would amount to a collective punishment of the community and will be likely to create fear and prevent legitimate political discussion within mosques. This repression could lead to the very radical sub-culture which we all seek to prevent. Not only that, deciding that abhorrent statements by some are less abhorrent than others', when both could equally contribute to the justification of acts of terror - consider here violence-fueling statements by the BNP whose orators still enjoy freedom of speech as opposed to the singling & punishment reserved to certain Muslim orators only - is also a sign of discrimination.

6. The proposal to deport and/or extradite foreign nationals to countries known for gross human rights abuses is abhorrent to a civilized nation, irrelevant of whether or not a diplomatic assurance that deportees will not be mistreated is obtained. This recent move comes across as a cynical attempt to resolve the problem of dealing with those currently under “control orders” after the judiciary found their continued detention without trial to be unlawful. Given that the alleged bombers on 7 July in London were British nationals, such an exploitation of the events to move against foreign nationals as well as unwanted asylum seekers is indeed shameful.

This list of concerns is not conclusive, but we are putting these issues forward to help prevent a knee-jerk reaction to recent events, which would drive a rift between communities in the UK and set the course of British politics onto the slippery slope of intellectual censorship and totalitarianism.