Hope Way

May your goodness always increase

2011-03-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

May your goodness always increase

And your smiling face never cease

In our head the thought of your love

Every day is on the increase

Every cedar and every spruce

From your height may you hear their pleas

The eye not intrigued by thee

Its tear drops a bloody disease

Your eye for mesmerizing hearts

Is a magician and master-tease

Wherever a heart is longing for thee

Impatiently shears its own fleece

The beauty of all the lovers

Beside your swan is ugly geese

The heart that is out of love’s lease

From the circle of union release

Hafiz’s soul, your ruby lips ease

Away from base lips, if you please

Hafez Shirazi

Life

2010-12-17T23:32:00.000-08:00

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the

small child, and the smiling faces.

Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest

potential, and fight for your

dreams.

Truth

2010-11-13T08:18:00.000-08:00

You'll find that life is a an uphill battle

for the person who's not on the level

TO BE

2010-09-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

The greatest miracle in the world is that

you are , that I am . TO BE is the greatest

miracle , and meditation opens the doors

of this miracle.

Philosophy of Time

2010-08-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Future means , the distance of our goals.

The present means challenge

to reach our goals

The past means distance of us

after reaching to our targets

Success & Failure

2010-07-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

The best way to accelerate your success is to double

your failure rate .

The law of failure is one of the most powerful of all

success laws .

And everything is beautiful

2010-07-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

There is a time to be in love & there is a time to move beyond it .

There is a time to be related & enjoy the relationship ,

and there is a time to be alone & to enjoy the beauty of being alone .

And everything is beautiful .

Separation

2010-06-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

And ever has it been that ;

Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation .

Oh Time !

2010-06-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Oh Time !

Touch me gently , Time !

Let me glide down thy stream

Gently as I sometimes glide

Through a quiet dream

Mourning for Zahra (pbuh)

2010-05-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

In the middle of the night, the cry of a hopeless sorrow flew out of this house. And then some more...

The women from the Ghorayche tribe, especially those from the Bani Hashem tribe, came out of their houses, and with hair flowing on their shoulders to show the depth of their sorrow, they began marching to Fatemeh's house, to make their condolences to Hazrat Ali and to Fatemeh's little children, now orphans¦

The men of Medina came by large groups to show their respect to Ali, and to mourn with him. Ali was sated in a corner, and Hassan and Hosseyn and Zeynab and Ommo kolssoum were crying unendingly...

The people, on seeing this sad scene began to cry. By what FÃ¢temeh had demanded from Ali, he announced to his friend Abuzar:" Tell these people that the funeral has been postponed"

Finally, nightfall came. Ali, with the help of Asma, washed the fragile and slim body of Fatemeh, and covered her with a shrine. When he wanted to close the shroud, he called out his children to come and see their beloved mother for the last time, and to bid farewell to her...

Some say that she was only eighteen, and some say that she was twenty eight years old when she died.

Hassan and Hosseyn, ran hopelessly and sorrowfully to touch once again the the dead body of their young mother... Gone so soon! They wanted to remain at her side and feel her presence near them. Minutes passed by, with only the sound of a tragic crying in the room. They talked lovingly and desperately to their mother, and verily, their sorrow was so deep that none can ever describe it. They said:" O Beloved Mother of Hassan! O Beloved Mother of Hosseyn! We shall feel your absence more deeply by each passing day, and also the absence of our beloved Grand father, Mohammad Mostafa [ Peace be upon Him! ]. When you reach the realm in which he lives now, please send our love to Him...! Tell him that we are left all alone in this whole world...! "

And then, Fatemeh's body was taken outside, and with the help of Hassan and Hosseyn, Ammar, Yasser, Meghdad, Aghil, Zobeyr, Abouzar, SalmÃ¢n, and some of the Bani Hashemi tribe, they left town to take FÃ¢temeh's body to the graveyard.

Ali, most painfully and desperately, laid down his beloved wife on the ground, and with indescribable sorrow, bid her farewell...

After finishing what was expected of him, he threw with utter desperation and love, some dust on his wife's grave, and then looked sadly at the Prophet's grave. He then approached his grave and began a long confidence with him, which lasted a long time ...

Dreams Could Give Learning a Boost

2010-04-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Humans have long tried to figure out why we dream. In recent years, controversial research has suggested that we process our memories by dreaming. Now, a new study suggests that dreams also play a role in learning by processing what we've just experienced.

Researchers found that people who dreamed about a maze video game they'd just played did better the next time they tackled it, compared to those who didn't dream about it.

"There are parts of their brain which are actually replaying the memory of walking through the maze, and that will improve that memory and lead to a better performance," said study co-author Robert Stickgold, director of Harvard Medical School's Center for Sleep and Cognition.

Dreams have fascinated people for ages. "We started out a few thousand years ago thinking they were messages from God," Stickgold said. "Then Freud came along and said they're messages from our pernicious, immoral subconscious."

Scientists later thought dreams were "random firings of nerves in the brain stem," Stickgold said. Now, he said, "we're starting to say that at one level, as we've all sort of known all along, it's doing something with our memories."

In the new study, published online April 22 in the journal Current Biology, researchers asked 99 subjects to play a video game in which they had to find their way through a maze with the help of a three-dimensional depiction of it.

Then the participants either stayed awake for two hours or took a nap. They played the maze game again five hours later.

Four participants reported dreaming about the maze while they napped. They were among those who improved the most when they played the maze game for the second time, improving 10 times as much as others who napped.

So did the dreamers learn as they dreamed? It's not entirely clear how the dreams are connected to the experience of playing the maze game, but Stickgold thinks "the dream process reflects a type of underlying brain activity" that determines "what the learning experience means, not learning how to do it better."

There's another mystery: Why did so few people dream about the maze? Fewer than 10 percent of those who took naps did. By contrast, Stickgold said, about 86 percent of those who played an Alpine racer skiing game dreamed about it, he said.

Maybe the game "is not rich enough, not compelling enough," he said. Future research, he said, will try to figure out why that is.

For now, though, at least one brain researcher who is familiar with the study is unimpressed with the findings.

"There is no convincing evidence that sleep has any effects on consolidating memory," said Irwin Feinberg, a professor in residence who studies sleep at the University of California at Davis. Sleep clearly isn't necessary for people to remember things, he said.

But Stickgold said that's a misunderstanding of his research. "No one in the field suggests that you need to sleep to learn things or retain memories," he said.

Happy Life & Satistaction at work

2010-04-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

If you're unhappy in life, you're unlikely to find satisfaction at work, say researchers who reviewed the findings of 223 studies conducted between 1967 and 2008.

All of the studies examined some combination of job satisfaction and life satisfaction, which is also known as subjective well-being.

"We used studies that assessed these factors at two time points so that we could better understand the causal links between job satisfaction and life satisfaction," Nathan Bowling, an assistant professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, said in a news release from the British Psychological Society. "If people are satisfied at work, does this mean they will be more satisfied and happier in life overall? Or is the causal effect the opposite way around?"

Bowling and colleagues found that the causal link between subjective well-being and subsequent levels of job satisfaction was stronger than the link between job satisfaction and subsequent levels of subjective well-being.

"These results suggest that if people are, or are predisposed to be, happy and satisfied in life generally, then they will be likely to be happy and satisfied in their work," Bowling said. "However, the flip side of this finding could be that those people who are dissatisfied generally, and who seek happiness through their work, may not find job satisfaction. Nor might they increase their levels of overall happiness by pursuing it."

Norooz (InBrief)

2010-03-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

In harmony with rebirth of nature, the Persian New Year Celebration, or Norooz, always begins on the first day of spring, March 20th of each year. Norooz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts - the End and Rebirth. About 3000 years ago Persian's major religion was Zoroastrianism, named in honor of its founder Zoroaster, and arguably the world's first monotheistic religion. Zoroastrians had a festival called "Farvardgan" which lasted ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that this was a festival of sorrow and mourning , signifying the end of life while the festival of Norooz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration. Norooz was officially acknowledged and named "Norooz" by mythical Persian emperor, Shah Jamshid, from Achaemenid Dynasty (500 BC). Ashaemenied created the first major empire in the region and built Persepolis complex (Takhte Jamshid) in the city of Shiraz. Norooz in Persian means "New Day" and brings hope, peace and prosperity to the world and has been celebrated among people regardless of ethnic background, political views or religion in many countries around the globe such as Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Georgia, Iraq, Tajikistan, Syria ,Armenia and India. Some of the activities during Norooz are Spring cleaning, buying new cloths, painting eggs, family reunion, giving presents, visiting neighbors and friends and celebrating by having a picnic on the 13th day of Spring.

NOROOZ " The Iranian New Year The Most Important Event In Iranian Culture"

2010-03-16T10:00:00.001-07:00

Iranian New Year's ideological roots

Nowruz (Noruz, Norooz, Nevruz, Newruz, Navruz), or new day, is the celebration of spring equinox. It is the most cherished of all the Iranian festivals and is celebrated by all. This occasion has been renowned in one form or another by all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. What we have today as Noruz with its' uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian belief system in the Sassanid period.

This was the religion of ancient Persia before the advent of Islam in 7th century A.D. The familiar concepts of Hell, Heaven, Resurrection, coming of the Messiah, individual and last judgment were for the first time incorporated into this belief system. They still exist in Judo-Christian and Islamic traditions. In order to understand Noruz we have to understand Zoroastrians' cosmology.

In their ancient text, Bundahishn (foundation of creation), we read that Ahura Mazda (Ahura Mazda) residing in eternal light was not God. He created all that was good and became God. The Hostile Spirit, Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), residing in eternal darkness created all that was evil and became the Hostile Spirit (The word anger in English comes from the same origin). Everything that produced, protected and enriched life was regarded as good. This included all forces of nature beneficial to humans. Earth, waters, sky, animals, plants, justice, honesty, peace, health, beauty, joy and happiness belonged to the good forces. All that threatened life and created disorder belonged to the hostile spirits.

The two worlds did not have a material form but the essence of everything was present. The two existed side by side for 3,000 years, but were completely separate from each other. At the end of the third millennium the Hostile Spirit attacked the good world. This was the beginning of all troubles we face today, according to Zoroastrian world view.

In order to protect his world, Ahura Mazda created the material world Gaeity, (geety in modern Persian). This material world was created in seven different stages. The first creation was the sky, a big chunk of stone high above. The second was the first ocean at the bottom. Earth a big flat dish sitting on the ocean was the third. The next three creations were the prototypes of all life forms. The first plant, the first animal a bull and the first human Gayo-maretan (Kiomarth, in common name for males in modern Persian), both male and female. The seventh creation was fire and sun together.

The struggle between Good and Evil continues for 12,000 years. There are four periods, each 3,000 years long. At the last phase several saviors appear, and the last one Saoshyant will save the world. When he comes there is Resurrection, walking over the Chinvat bridge (Sarat bridge in the Qoran) and Last Judgement. We recognize this figure as the Lord of Time (Imam Zaman) in Shi'ite Islam.

In order to protect his creations, Ahura Mazda also created six holy immortals (Amesha Spenta), one for each of his creations in the material world. Khashtra (Sharivar), the protector of the sky, Asha-Vahishta (Ordibehesht in modern Persian) protected fire. Vahu Manah (Bahman) for all animals, Haurvatat (Khordad) protected all waters, Spenta Armaiti (Esphand) a female deity became protector of mother earth and Ameratat (Amurdad or Mordad) supported all plant life. Ahura Mazda himself became the protector of all humans and the Holy Fire.

There was one problem with this material world: it did not have a life cycle. The sun did not move. There were no days or nights and no seasons. The three prototypes of life were sacrificed. From the plant came the seeds of all plants. The bull produced all animals and from the human came the first male and female. The rest of humanity was created from their union. The cycle of life started. The sun moved, there was day, night and the seasons. This was the first Noruz.

Ahura Mazda also created guardian angels (forouhars or farvahars) for all living beings. Every human had one as long as they stayed with the good forces, as we see in the myth of Azydahak in Avesta, the Zoroastrians' holy book. We know this figure in Ferdosi's Shahnameh as Zahak, a prince who chooses the Hostile Spirit as his protector, was made a king, ruled for 999 years and became immortal.

Zoroaster (Zardosht) the architect of this cosmology introduced many feasts, festivals and rituals to pay homage to the seven creations, the holy immortals and Ahura Mazda. The seven most important ones are known as Gahambars, the feasts of obligation. The last and the most elaborate was Noruz, celebrating Ahura Mazda and the Holy Fire at the spring equinox.

The oldest archaeological record for Noruz celebration comes from the Achaemenian (Hakhamaneshi) period over 2,500 years ago. Achaemenians had four major residences one for each season. Persepolis was their spring residence and the site for celebrating the New Year. Stone carvings show the king seated on his throne receiving his subjects, governors and ambassadors from various nations under his control. They are presenting him with gifts and paying homage to him. We do not know much about the details of the rituals. We do know that mornings were spent praying and performing other religious rituals. Later on during the day the guests would be entertained with feasts and celebrations.

We also know that the ritual of sacred marriage took place at this palace. An ancient and common ritual in Mesopotamia, the king would spend the first night of the New Year with a young virgin. Any offspring produced from this union would be sent back to the temples and they would normally end up as high-ranking religious officials. There is no evidence that this was practiced in later periods.

What we have today as Noruz goes back to the Sassanid period. They formed the last great Persian empire before the advent of Islam. Their celebrations would start ten days prior to the New Year. They believed the guardian angels (forouhars or farvahars) and spirits of the dead would come down to earth within these ten days to visit humans. A major spring-cleaning was carried out to welcome them with feasts and celebrations. Bon fires would be set on rooftops at night to indicate to the spirits and the angels that humans were ready to receive them. This festival was called Suri.

Modern Iranians still carry out the spring-cleaning and celebrate Chahar-Shanbeh Suri (Wednesday Suri). Bon fires are made and all people will jump over the fire in the evening of the last Tuesday of the year. This is a purification rite and Iranians believe by going over the fire they will get rid of all illnesses and misfortunes. This festival did not exist before Islam in this form and very likely is a combination of more than one ritual.

The ancient Zoroastrians would also celebrate the first five days of Noruz, but it was the sixth day that was the most important of all. This day was called the Great Noruz (Noruz-e bozorg) and is assumed to be the birthday of Zoroaster himself. Zoroastrians today still celebrate this day, but it has lost its significance for other Iranians. In the Sassanid period, the New Year would be celebrated for 21 days and on the 19th day there would be another major festival. At all times there were feasts, prayers, dance, plays and jokers. Haji Firouz might be what is left of the ancient festivities. Men color their face black, dress in colorful outfits and appear in public dancing and singing joyful and merry songs.

Modern Iranians celebrate the New Year for 13 days. It is customary for all to take a bath and cleanse themselves thoroughly before Noruz. This is a purification rite but has lost its meaning in modern times. New garments are worn to emphasize freshness. This is very important since Noruz is a feast of hope and renewal. Families stay home and wait for the start of the New Year which starts at the exact time of the spring equinox-- called Sal Tahvil -- between the 19th and 21st of March. The first few minutes are spent around an elaborately prepared spread known as the Haft Seen (originally called Haft Cheen) with several items and objects that beging with the letter "S". More religious people will read or recite verses from the Qoran, before the start of the New Year.

Once the New Year is announced (on the radio or TV) younger members of the family will pay respect to elders by wishing them a merry New Year and sometimes they kiss their hands (a sign of ultimate respect). Relatives kiss and hug and presents (traditionally cash or coins) are exchanged. Sweets are offered to all to symbolically sweeten their lives for the rest of the year. A small mirror is passed around, rose water is sprinkled into the air and Espand a popular incense is burnt, to keep the evil eye away. In more traditional families, the father and the first born son will walk around the house with a lit candle and a small mirror to ritually bless the physical space. Lit candles on the spread are left to burn.

The first few days are spent visiting older members of the family, relatives and friends. Children receive presents and sweets and special meals are consumed. Traditionally on the night before the New Year, most Iranians will have Sabzi Polo Mahi, a special dish of rice cooked with fresh herbs and served with smoked and freshly fried fish. Koukou Sabzi, a mixture of fresh herbs with eggs fried or baked, is also served. The next day rice and noodles (Reshteh Polo) is served. Regional variations exist and very colorful feasts are prepared.

A major part of New Year rituals is setting the Haft Seen with seven specific items. In ancient times each of the items corresponded to one of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. Today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. All the seven items start with the letter "S'; this was not the order in ancient times. Zoroastrians today do not have the seven "S"s but they have the ritual of growing seven seeds as a reminder that this is the seventh feast of creation, while their sprouting into new growth symbolized resurrection and eternal life to come.

Wheat or lentil representing new growth is grown in a flat dish a few days before the New Year and is called Sabzeh (green shoots). Decorated with colorful ribbons, it is kept until Sizdah beh dar, the 13th day of the New Year, and then disposed outdoors. A few live gold fish (the most easily obtainable animal) are placed in a fish bowl. In the old days they would be returned to the riverbanks, but today most people will keep them. Mirrors are placed on the spread with lit candles as a symbol of fire.

Zoroastrians today place the lit candle in front of the mirror to increase the reflection of light. Mirrors were significant items in Zoroastrian art and architecture, and still are an integral part of most Iranian celebrations including weddings. They are extensively referred to in Iranian mystical literature as well and represent self-reflection. All Iranian burial shrines are still extensively decorated with mirrors, a popular decorative style of ancient times. Light is regarded as sacred by the Zoroastrians and the use of mirrors multiplies the reflection of light.

Wine was always present on the Haft Seen spread. Since the Muslim conquest, it has been replaced by vinegar because alcohol is banned in Islam. Egg, a universal symbol of fertility corresponding to Sepanta Armaiti, or mother earth, is still present. The eggs are hard-boiled and are traditionally colored in red, green or yellow, colors favored by Zoroastrians. Recently following the Easter Egg tradition, any color is used and they are elaborately decorated. The eggs are offered to children as treats.

Fresh garlic is used to warn off bad omen. This is a modern introduction. There is no evidence that it was used in this context before. However the ancient Iranians would grow seven different herbs for the New Year and garlic might have been one of them. Samano a thick brownish paste is present today. It is a nutritious meal and could have been part of the feasts. It is also possible that it has replaced Haoma, a scared herbal mix known for its healing properties. It was a major cult on its own with many rituals and ceremonies. The cult is still performed by the Zoroastrians today, but is abandoned by other Iranians. Coins symbolizing wealth and prosperity, fruits and special sweets and baked goods are also in the Haft Seen.

For the ancient Iranians, Noruz was a celebration of life. They felt forces of nature, that were completely beyond their control, had a dominant effect on their lives. They formed a union with these forces to protect themselves. Through this union they created a balance and maintained cosmic order, or Asha. Without it there would be chaos, dominated by the Hostile Spirit (Ahriman). Zoroastrians were and are required to have the same mind, the same voice and act the same way as their god Ahura Mazda. They are expected to only think of good things, speak the good words and act the good deeds. This way they managed to keep their balance. Noruz was an occasion when life with all its glory was celebrated and cherished.

For modern Iranians, Noruz is a feast of renewal and freshness; a time to visit relatives, friends and pay respect to the older members of the family. A thorough house cleaning purifies the physical space, merrymaking creates comfort, and happiness becomes a celebration in itself. This is reminiscent of ancient traditions when all forces of Joy were regarded as holy. New Year festivities will go on uintil the 13th day, known as Sizdah beh dar, which literally means getting rid of the omen of the 13th day.

The 13th day is spent mostly outdoors. People will leave their homes to go to the parks or local plains for a festive picnic. It is a must to spend Sizdah beh dar in nature. This was not celebrated in this manner before Islam and might be several rituals in one. It is possible that this day was devoted to the deity Tishtrya (Tir) protector of rain. In Zoroastrian calendar each day is named after a deity and this particular day in the month of Farvardin is named after Tishtrya. In the past there were outdoor festivities to pray to this deity and ask for adequate rain that was essential for agriculture.

Iranians today regard 13th day as a bad omen and believe that by going into the fields and parks they avoid misfortunes. This notion is contrary to Zoroastrian doctrine where all days were regarded as sacred and were named after venerated deities. However, according to popular belief, the 13th day of the month as a day with unfortunate consequences, therefore Iranians could have adopted this concept in Sizdah beh-dar. By going outdoors into the fields, ancient festivities are observed while Islamic traditions are also incorporated into the occasion.

All kinds of food and delicacies are prepared with tea, drinks, fruits, bread, cheese and fresh herbs. Wealthy Iranians will spend the day in country homes. The occasion is a communal one and all close relatives and friends will participate. Wheat or barley shoots (Sabzeh) grown especially for the New Year are discarded in nature on this day. The picnic ends with the setting of the sun. The occasion has no religious significance and is celebrated by all. With the more modern Iranians there is music and dancing while most people will play games and sports. It is also believed that unwed girls can wish for a husband by going into the fields and tying a knot between green shoots, symbolizing a marital bond.

Marriage, Family and Life

2010-02-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

In the rich culture of Islam, marriage is considered as the best and greatest structure which is made of cordiality, devotion, and self-satisfaction whose architecture places these in the nature and fate of the workers (i.e. husband and wife) of this structure and insistently encourages Muslims to adopt these characteristics.

In the culture of Islam in comparison to many other old and new cultures, men cannot rule over women. And man’s supervision and guardianship doesn’t show his superiority and authority. A woman is a companion in times of his loneliness and she gives him comfort. A Muslim woman who is familiar with Islam and is of a pure nature tries to obey her husband who is of her own choice. She tries to satisfy her own mental-spiritual needs as well as her husband’s. In this way, they can create a pleasant family environment.
Thus, the contract of marriage is not only a legal way for satisfaction of the sexual instinct, but also is a contract that covers all aspects between the couples which gives beauty and harmony to their lives, and saves them from solitude.
Disintegration of families, increase in divorce rates, moral decadence, negligence of the needs of the young generation, lack of respect and good understanding can be rooted out only with improving relations. Today families are formed with the sole objective of gratifying the sexual desires of man and woman.
The Holy Qur’an says: “And of His sign is this: He created for you helpmates from yourselves that you might find rest in them and created between you love and mercy.” (21:30)
The above Qur’anic Verse refers to a reality that if explained from cultural and educational points of view and above all by parents and if its evils are dealt with, will be so strong that even poverty and ill-health will not be able to weaken it.
The above Verse gives orientation to the life of married couples that must always give comfort to each other and their relations should not be summed up only in sexual pleasure. But should bring an abiding love, sympathy so that they may live in marital bliss.
Because the family is the foundation for forming individual and social personalities and the very morality of parents is a very influential factor which begins way before marriage. The level of development and spirituality of a nation is directly related to its morality and culture, and the roots for the formation of culture and morality can be found in the family.

Acknowledgment

2009-12-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

A man dreamt that he went to Heaven and an angel was showing him around. They walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. His angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said,
"This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received."

The man looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then they moved on down a long corridor until they reached the second section. The angel then said to him, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them."

The man noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor they stopped at the door of a very small station.

To his great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," the angel friend quietly admitted to him. The angel seemed embarrassed.

"How is it that? There's no work going on here?" the man asked.

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments".

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" the man asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world." If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

Also .....

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day.

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation .. you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.

"If you can attend a prayer meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.

"If your parents are still alive and still married .. you are very rare.
If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair."

Fairy's Death

2009-11-27T01:44:00.001-08:00

Life's been on a smooth track till 15th of October but a single sad incident had changed the whole scenario. The ruthless jaws of death had engulfed my fairy that was very dear to me. An orphan girl of age 6 who was struggling for her survival.

How I met her? That's the story.

Her orphanage was nearby my Medical school. She was a special child not 'coz she was a dumb or a deaf, the only thing which really pinched me that she never ever used to play with other children of her age. Until one day her care-taker told me that she's a blue baby having a hole in her heart. She was going to have a heart transplant. I was really shocked when heard this horrible fact but at the same time I got interested in her case. I really wanted to study her case as I was a Medical student and eager to become a cardiologist.

She was a Jew but I had nothing to do with her religion as I'm not a hard core Muslim. She was just an innocent child who was un-aware of this term "Religion''. Her father was a Jew but her mum was a Christian. Her father died in a road accident & after father's death, her mum got married to a Negro & as his step father wasn't ready to accept her as his daughter, she was sent to an orphanage.

She always used to ask me that why she can't run? 15th October was her operation's date. My aunt didn't allow me to be with her 'coz of her religion and she thought that I had nothing to do with her death or life as many Palestinians are dying due to Israelis. I was mentally turned and my heart was filled with anger but I was un-able to do anything. After sleepless night the dawn of 16th October was even more cruel. I went to the Dallas heart Center along-with my cousin. Doctors were just hoping to not have a tissue rejection. Next 48 hours were very crucial for her and what happened after 24 hours was even too horrible. Tissue rejection occurred and on 18th of October she lost her life.

I just lost hope in everything. I was a very jolly person but after that sad incident I forgot to smile. I lost interest in my studies. I don't wanna stay in Texas as this cruel city is gonna remind me of her. I still do remember her and her innocent questions about her disease. One day she asked me about her disease and I told her that I’m just a Student of Medicine and I don't know much; she said to me : “ You're plum”. I still do love her and I didn't forget to visit her grave.

At her funeral her mum was there with his hubby crying crocodile tears. I immensely hate her but what can I do?!

I'm helpless and I think each and every one of us has to bow before the nature and the rules Almighty has set for us. God rest her soul

Story by Saba.N

Note
It's not important which religion do you believe in , being an obedient slave of the Creator is the main goal of creation .

Hijabed Like Me

2009-11-02T07:53:00.000-08:00

A Non Muslim Woman Experiments with Hijab

I walked down the street in my long white dress and inch-long, black hair one afternoon, and truck drivers whistled and shouted obscenities at me. I felt defeated. I had just stepped out of a hair salon. I had cut my hair short, telling the hairdresser to trim it as she would a guy's. I sat numbly as my hairdresser skillfully sheared into my shoulder-length hair with her scissors, asking me with every inch she cut off if I was freaking out yet. I wasn't freaking out, but I felt self-mutilated.

MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING “HIJABED”

One experience that was particularly educational was when I “dressed up” as a Muslim woman for a drive along Crenshaw Boulevard with three Muslim men as part of a newsmagazine project. I wore a white, long-sleeved cotton shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and a flowery silk scarf that covered my head, which I borrowed from a Muslim woman. Not only did I look the part, I believed I felt the part. Of course, I wouldn't really know what it feels like to be Hijabed-I coined this word for the lack of a better term-everyday, because I was not raised with Islamic teachings. However, people perceived me as a Muslim woman and did not treat me as a sexual being by making cruel remarks. I noticed that men's eyes did not glide over my body as has happened when I wasn't Hijabed. I was fully clothed, exposing only my face. I remembered walking into an Islamic center and an African-American gentleman inside addressed me as “sister”, and asked where I came from. I told him I was originally from China. That didn't seem to matter. There was a sense of closeness between us because he assumed I was Muslim. I didn't know how to break the news to him because I wasn't sure if I was or not. I walked into the store that sold African jewelry and furniture and another gentleman asked me as I was walking out if I was Muslim. I looked at him and smiled, not knowing how to respond. I chose not to answer.

BEING HIJABED CHANGED OTHERS' PERCEPTION OF ME

Outside the store, I asked one of the Muslim men I was with, “Am I Muslim?” He explained that everything that breathes and submits is. I have concluded that I may be and just don't know it. I haven't labeled myself as such yet. I don't know enough about Islam to assert that I am Muslim. Though I don't pray five times a day, go to a mosque, fast, nor cover my head with a scarf daily, this does not mean that I am not Muslim. These seem to be the natural manifestations of what is within. How I am inside does not directly change whether I am Hijabed or not. It is others' perception of me that was changed. Repeated experiences with others in turn creates a self-image.

HIJAB AS OPPRESSION:

A SUPERFICIAL AND MISGUIDED VIEW

I consciously chose to be Hijabed because I was searching for respect from men. Initially, as both a Women's Studies major and a thinking female, I bought into the Western view that the wearing of a scarf is oppressive. After this experience and much reflection, I have arrived at the conclusion that such a view is superficial and misguided: It is not if the act is motivated by conviction and understanding.

THE MOST LIBERATING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE

I covered up that day out of choice, and it was the most liberating experience of my life. I now see alternatives to being a woman. I discovered that the way I dress dictated others' reaction towards me. It saddens me that this is a reality. It is a reality that I have accepted, and chose to conquer rather than be conquered by it. It was my sexuality that I covered, not my femininity. The covering of the former allowed the liberation of the latter.

By Kathy Chin

The way I am dressed

2009-10-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

You look at me and call me oppressed,
Simply because of the way I'm dressed,
You know me not for what's inside,
You judge the clothing I wear with pride,

My body's not for your eyes to hold,
You must speak to my mind, not my feminine mold,

I'm an individual, I'm no mans slave,
It's Allah's pleasure that I only crave,
I have a voice so I will be heard,
For in my heart I carry His word,

"O ye women, wrap close your cloak,
So you won't be bothered by ignorant folk",
Man doesn't tell me to dress this way,
It's a Law from God that I obey,

Oppressed is something I'm truly NOT,
For liberation is what I've got,
It was given to me many years ago,
With the right to prosper, the right to grow,

I can climb mountains or cross the seas,
Expand my mind in all degrees,
For God Himself gave us LIB-ER-TY,
When He sent Islam,
To You and Me!

The Muslim family in Western society: Confronting the challenges

2009-09-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

In Islamic legislation, the family occupies the position of the first social cell that of the human incubator, and is distinguished by the warm emotional element that draws the person to his spouse, children, father, mother and brothers. This becomes a means to build a humanistic personality on a foundation of spiritual kindness, which nurtures the person, filling his mind heart with security, through the type of interaction that makes one spirit open to another. He should feel this emotional atmosphere overwhelming and surrounding him, in a humanistic way in which he experiences all its psychological, spiritual and intellectual details without any burden to his self or harm to his childhood, for it should make him breathe this (atmosphere) through his feeling as a matter of course, without it being imposed upon him.

Responsibility of care for the family:

In light of this, the Islamic responsibility of care for the family proceeds from a foundation of intellectual and psychological planning, which achieves for its members the opening up to Islamic concepts as a way of thinking and feeling and a way of life. Thus, the person will start his movement from an Islamic base, upon which stands his mental, emotional and dynamic building, this enables the Muslims who- from childhood -has to face an opposing reality with strength and firmness, to avoid becoming a feather in the wind or a piece of wood adrift in the current. This is what pushes an Islamic generation into the public arena, in which beliefs, steps and tendencies differ, to take its position on a basis of balance that protects it from all violent disturbances in an atmosphere of challenge?

The essential matter to address, as far as responsibility in the family is concerned, is the upbringing of the individual within it, and how to make him a person of God in his service to Him, his loyalty to Him and his relationship with Him through his belief, practice and feelings, through which he may experience the meaning of loving Allah and fearing Him. In this way, he will find his opportunity to acquire His satisfaction, to enter His Holy arena and to avoid the places of His wrath and Fire. This is what the gracious verse emphasizes:
"O Believers, guard your selves and your family against a Fire fuelled with men and stones, under the charge of fierce and mighty angels who never disobey Allah's command and how promptly do His bidding." 66:6.

We notice, in this verse, that Allah, the most Exalted, stirs the emotional side so as to proceed in planning, to achieve the internal and external preventive measures that prevent one from falling into the great Fire that is cruel in its nature and in those who are put in charge of it. It is exactly as if the father, husband or mother, in this life, is in a position where the other person -wife or child - is in danger of burning in fire: He stirs the depths of anxiety to make them do something to rescue them from an inescapable fate.

On the other hand, we find the other verse: "Gardens of Eden; they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their father, their spouses and their offspring, and angels shall enter unto them fro every gate. "Peace unto you foe all that you have steadfastly endured, now how excellent is the (your) final home." 13:23,24.

This shows that familial atmosphere in Paradise, where the pious among fathers, wives and offspring meet once again in the place of God's satisfaction, because of their piety -in this life- in belief and practice and the fact that they stayed on the right path in the line of Oneness of God and obedience to Him. The Quran present these two pictures to people to stir resolve within them, and so they abandon the first picture for the second, reaching the happy ending that any person wants for himself and his family. This makes the matter one that concerns fate, and not a temporary situation that comes into his life every now and then.

In light of this, the matter requires collective effort, in addition to individual effort, so as to prepare the right atmospheres and conditions - which represent the environment in which the family can grow and archive for its individuals the guarantee of self-defense against deviation and succumbing. This can be achieved through preparation of different means, such as schools, 'incubators' and various programs that fill the soul with its needs in education, innocent leisure and spiritual development, all of which provide the individual with the necessary conditions for a normal life. Responsibility for solidarity The responsibility, perhaps, falls not only on families in their familial or local communities, but also on all those active in the Islamic field, the Islamic Grand Authorities, active movements and intellectual groups -thinkers, callers and conveyors, who move dynamically towards the integration of their endeavors, who move dynamically towards the integration of their endeavors to find the wise plan needed for an Islamic generation that is open to Islam and our era, making it an effective force in contemporary Islam's lift off towards the world.

The issue is not one of those issues that relate to the individual side, that of fathers and mothers with their children - everyone in his own family - but, rather, it relates to the new Islamic generation, in its general aspirations, and its open arena, and in dynamic struggle with the Islamic and intellectual challenges that it faces. And if the responsibility is big and embraces the social reality inside the Islamic countries, it is even stronger in infidel countries, when Muslims are forced to emigrate and reside in them. Here they may encounter a reality that does not represent a land, in which they can put down roots, and environment, which they cannot open up to, and a world in which they feel foreign - through its concepts, habits and traditions that are different to the ideas, habits and traditions, which they have inherited. The problem of the young generation If adults have started (their life in places of emigration) with deep roots of Islamic affiliations, in theory and practice, the younger generation will not necessarily have inherited these elements, since what it possesses may represent nothing beyond some passing words and foggy concepts which do not touch their true depth - even if they have touched some of their behavior.

The danger may lie in the Western school in which Muslim children are educated, where they breathe in the atmosphere of the West in all its emotions, conditions and aspirations, as if they were something natural to move around in, exactly like the natural aspects of their fellow pupils in play -grounds and classes. They may find it strange to hear the negative remarks of their fathers and mothers, as if these are outside the norm. They may confront the matter with increasing and unspoken rejection, which looks like a complex from the stance of the family. They will start to embody the bitter adolescent query: why do they prohibit us from dancing with out friends, or from swimming in mixed swimming pools, or from enjoying free and warm relationships etc? The difficult problem, in this situation, is that the new young generation does not have a sufficiently deep or clear conception of its personality to protect itself from the influences that move in the atmosphere into which is was thrown and the arena in which it was placed. What is its understanding of God, and His relationship with man, and man's position before Him? What is its understanding of personal freedom? What about morals in all of this? Some teaching may get through with recognition, but some things may create contradictions within it, leaving it in a state of deep puzzlement between its past that it has learnt from the family and the new that it has learnt from the school or the surrounding environment. It may not be able to confront the situation in a balanced way that permits answers to its puzzling questions, with the result that it becomes shattered psychologically, if not consciously. A suggestion for a remedial plan With children who have been implanted in a land that is not their own, their growth will be separated from the natural elements that provide them with the natural process of growing. This makes it essential that the remedy comes within the framework of a thoughtful, realistic plan, along the following lines:

1- Proceeding from the narrated word of Imam Ali (as): "Do not (try to) give your children your morals, for they have been created for a time other than yours", we may extrapolate from this by changing the idea of a change in place to a change in time.

This is justified, because the concept is not based on time in its absolute sense, but rather it means -in its intellectual implications -that dynamic morals are subject to different circumstances, for they may change according to their dynamic peculiarities, as we notice in the differences in morals regarding behavior in social etiquette, in food and drink, dress, different ways of expression, social dynamics, patterns of leisure etc; place may have a role in the differences between societies, habits and traditions, time may have a role as well. Therefore, we must study the reality in which children in the West live in order to make a comparison between the unchangeable morals which stretch across time and place -on the basis that they are man's morals as defined by his humanity, which represents truth that goes beyond time and place - and the changeable morals that are not related to the value but to circumstances, reality and the conditions surrounding a person. This enables us to observe the former and to plan to organize and guide their movement in the latter, for the problem is that fathers and mothers strive to make their children into an image (carbon copy) of themselves, without studying the circumstances that molded their image in its intellectual and practical dimensions, not with regard in its intellectual and practical dimensions, nor with regard to the new circumstances that may impose another image through new dimensions.

In a lot of situations people, including religious Muslims, may confuse what is tradition with what is religious adherence, and the result is confusion regarding moral concepts, deriving from a lack of religious Islamic awareness of the original Islamic morals on intellectual basis, which opens up to the behavioral dynamics. We are not calling for a moral and intellectual coup d'etat, but for re-looking at moral lines, including Islamic lines regarding rulings (fatwas) that prohibit Muslims from every leisure even if it is innocent, such as a ruling that prohibits clapping in a certain way, or any kind of leisure except what is proved to have been allowed. This has created the basis for the prohibition of leisure, with some as exceptions.

This may make a person think that there is a mentality which regards joy, in its deep movement within the self, as not recommended Islamically, and that (according to this mentality) a person must embody the sad feelings that link him with death, whilst he is in the heart of life! When pointing to such a jurisprudence mentality in regarding man's behavior, we do not want to talk in a negative way that rejects such an approach outright, for the matter must be subjected, in rejecting or accepting, to specialist research where the Islamic jurists have differed in their results. Rather, we want to point out that some jurisprudence opinions, in allowing and forbidding, may be subject to environmental influences which this or that Islamic jurist experienced, and these may be reflected in their understanding of the (sacred) text or the Islamic pillars in the minds of religious people, or not.
As we said, we do not want to abandon the jurisprudence way simply because there is a new reality to which we must open up, or that there is an intellectual development which we must face, but we want to study the reality according to its Islamic legal categories, through an objective formulation of rulings (ijtihad) that is open to the general Quranic lines regarding details in specific rulings, in both public and private lives.
2- It is essential to open modern scientific schools in which the new generation - in its initial stages of education -breathe Islam's spiritual, moral and social atmospheres. This will contribute greatly in protecting young Muslims from elements of spiritual and moral deviation and intense psychological complexities. We might perhaps emphasize that the school project in the West is more important than the mosque or Husainiyyah, not the Opposite. And perhaps executing this project is what can make it allowable for Muslims to stay in these countries, since negative results reflected in the new generation from the Islamic point of view may lead to making emigration out of these countries obligatory, for it is not allowed to stay in countries where a person's, or his family's, religion may weaken.

3- Opening sports, social and youth clubs for the young Muslim generation (is important), so that they find a natural release from the psychological suffocation and daily tiredness that come from schools or practical obligations. Also, starting dialogue forums for the Muslim youth (is useful), in a style through which we can discover their ideas, learn their views about the vital elements in belief and behavior, and to see the new concepts and feelings that they have acquired -all this to try to open up to this generation from within, to correct what has become corrupt and straighten out what has become deviant, in a way in which they do not feel the psychological pressure that may can create opposite reaction, especially if accompanied by physical pressure.

4- (It is also important to) prepare worship atmospheres that are open to the dynamic elements in religious and spiritual matters, and to abandon boring routines in the practice of worship, in order to encourage the desire in the young to go to theses places and partake in the spirituality of prayer and the dynamics of supplication.

5- (It is also important to) prepare religious social atmospheres by stirring Islamic memories, and trying to refresh their styles and methods with what fits in with the different mentalities of youth. This is to make them (the youth) open up to these memories on a level in which they feel strong and in close relationship with the historic personalities involved and the events in question, and through planning, to provide a bright picture which makes them store, within their consciousness, its spiritual features, moral elements and secrets about humanistic greatness. We are(currently) raising some general ideas with regard to initiating some experiments that are appropriate to the new reality, so that more ideas may be forthcoming and a lot more experiments are engaged in, and so that a comparative study may, in the end, achieve the integration needed to deal with this difficult problem.

We believe that the responsibility of staying in the West imposes on us the responsibility of preparing all means to preserve our Islamic identity, original moral values and Islamic adherence, so that we do not lose ourselves under the influence of deviant atmosphere, and do not lose our children through an -un-Islamic upbringing. Perhaps we cannot reach perfection in what is required; we have to accept this and use it to encourage experiments in the process of cooperation and integration, until we arrive at the better reality. The Muslim family in the West, as in any infidel country, is living with one of the most difficult problems, and our greatest responsibility is to work towards finding suitable solutions, especially since our great ambition is to proceed with the Islamic Message to guide the world to Islam. Therefore, we must not lose ourselves and our families whilst trying to bring benefit to others!

By Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah

Beauty tips

2009-09-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

For attractive lips , speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,

reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows.

And the beauty of a woman, with passing years, only grows!

Love in Islam (Al-Hubb Al-Islam)

2009-09-04T03:31:00.001-07:00

Every heart that is not aflame is no heart;
A frozen heart is nothing but a handful of clay.
O God! Give me a breast that sets ablaze,
And in that breast a heart and that heart consumed with fire.

In Islam, the concept of love is one of the most important concepts. This fact manifests itself in Islamic philosophy, theology, mysticism and ethics; indeed, in some aspects, it plays the crucial role. For example, in defining the Islamic point of view on the relation between God and Universe in general, and between God and Mankind in particular, love has the most significant and profound place. Love is so central in Islam that it is seep as "the firmest handhold of faith" and "faith (Iman) is nothing but love for the sake of God and hate for the sake of God".

Ibn Abbas reported that Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The strongest faith is to be sincere for the sake of Allah, to hate for the sake of Allah (Tabarra), to love for the sake of Allah (Tawalla), and to discard for the sake of Allah."

There is a tendency among some people to think that there should be no hate at all. These people assume that excellence and nobility of character and "being sociable" consist of having all men one's friends. Certainly Islam recommends Muslims to love people and optimize compassionate and sincere relationship with them, even if they do not believe in Islam or in God. However, it is not feasible for a person who has principles in his life and has devoted his life to realize sacred values to be indifferent to evil and oppressive deeds of wrongdoers and make friendship with everybody. Such a person certainly will have some enemies, whether he likes it or not. There are always good people in the society and bad people. Good and bad are two opposite poles. Attraction towards the good is not possible without repulsion from the bad.

When two human beings attract each other and their hearts wish for them to be friends and companions with one another, we should look for a reason for that. The reason is nothing other than similarity and resemblance. Unless there is a similarity between these two persons, they cannot attract one another and move towards friendship with each other, as saying goes, Birds of same feather flock together.

Maulana Rumi in his Mathnavi mentions fine story that illustrate this fact.

The story relates to a wise man that saw a Raven who had formed affection for a Stork. They perched together and flew together! The wise man could not understand how two birds of two different species that had no similarity either in shape or in colour with each other could be friends. He went close and discovered that both of them had only one leg.

The same idea is emphasized by Imams of the Household (Ahlul Bayt) of Prophet Muhammad (saw). For example, Fudayl ibn Yasar, a disciple, asked Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) whether love and hatred derive from faith (Iman). Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) replied: "Is faith anything but love and hate?" It is also narrated that Imam al-Baqir (as), stated that: Religion (Deen) is love and love is religion. As these statements and traditions indicate, love plays an important and significant role. Hence it deserves our close attention in order that we may discover the real meaning of the concept of love in Islam.

First of all, some questions come to the mind. What is the kind of love that has been emphasized by Islam? Who is the object of this special kind of love? Why should the believers have this kind of love and what purpose does it serve?

In Islam Love can be broadly categorized into: Love for God, love for Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his Household (Ahlul Bayt), and love for the faithful. Love for Allah (SWT), Love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief .

The Noble Qur'an says: "The believers are stronger in their love for Allah." (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:165)

According to Islamic teaching, the minimum expectation from believers is that God should have the first place in their heart, in the sense that no other love may override one's love for God; God should be the highest and foremost object of love. The Noble Qur'an says: Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not guide the transgressing people. (Surah Al-Tawba, 9:24)

This verse clearly indicates that one's love for God has to be superior to one's love for everything else that one may come to love in one's life. This superiority shows itself when the love for God and for His religion comes in conflict with one's love for one's personal belongings. In this case, a believer should be able to sacrifice his personal favourite things for the sake of God. For example, if God asks us to give our lives to protect innocent lives or our territorial integrity or the like, we should not let our love for this world or any other distraction i.e. family, wealth, power, etc. prevent us from striving in His way. And nothing should come into conflict with our love for God. The Noble Qur'an says: Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body. (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:4)

Imam Ali (as) would always spend time with his children. Once he was sitting in his house with his young children. Sayyida Zainab (sa) then asked, "Dear, father, do you love me?" Imam Ali (as) said, "Yes, of course, my children are like a part of my heart". On hearing this, she said, "You also love Allah (SWT). How can two loves be in one heart of a true believer, the love of Allah (SWT) and that of children?" Imam Ali (as) smiled and replied, "Love Allah (SWT) and for the sake of His love, you love His creatures; children and fellow beings too. I love you for the sake of Allah (SWT)." Hence love for God is the foundation of Islamic belief, the foundation on which man is to establish the principles of his faith (Iman). Hence with one heart one cannot choose two beloveds. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said once, "The heart is the sanctuary of God, therefore do not settle therein anything but God." Hadith Qudsi says, "Neither [the vastness of] My earth, nor [that of] My heaven can contain Me. Indeed it is the heart of the man of faith which can contain Me."

Urdu Couplet says: Kaba Kitna Khush Kismat Hai, Ke Yeh Allah (SWT) Ka Ghar Hai, Lekin Is Mein Allah Nahi Rehta, Momin Kaba Se Bhi Ziada Khush Kismat Hai, Jis Ke Dil Mein Allah (SWT) Rehta Hai.

The history of Islam is full of memories of those who embodied a sincere and overwhelming love for God and His religion. One of those who full-heatedly devoted himself to Islam was Bilal al-Habashi, a black slave. The pagans of Quraysh in Makkah subjected him to torture asking him to mention names of their idols express his belief in them and disbelieve in Islam. They tormented him under the burning Sun by laying him on scorching sand and putting heavy rocks on his chest. Abu Bakr, a rich companion (Sahabi) of Prophet Muhammad (saw), was passing by when he heard the cry of Bilal. He went close and advised him to hide his belief, but Bilal was not prepared to do so; since "love was ever rebellious becomes deadly." Another example is Imam Hussayn ibn Ali (sa), who said: "Oh God, I have left the world in Your love. Am ready to make my children orphans in Your love. My heart could not divert towards anybody but You. Even if You cut my body into pieces in Your love." Love the Sole Purpose of our Creation .

There is a famous divine saying (Hadith Qudsi) which can probably be found in all books written about the goal of creation in Islam. According to this Hadith Qudsi, Allah (SWT) says: "I was a hidden treasure; I loved to be known. Hence I created the world so that I would be known." Allah (SWT) has created the world out of love. Thus, a question arises: why did Allah (SWT) love to be known? Certainly, Allah (SWT) has no desire for fame. The purpose behind His love to be known is understandable by considering the fact that Allah (SWT) who is the Wise, the Compassionate and the Merciful creates the universe and particularly human beings to give them the maximum grace and perfection that they have the capacity for receiving. Of course, the perfection of any kind of being is decided by the degree of its similarity or closeness to Allah (SWT), and the most important factors in this are love of Allah (SWT), and prior to that knowledge of Allah (SWT), since there can be no love without knowing the beloved.

It is narrated in another Hadith Qudsi that when God loves someone, He becomes his ears, his eyes, his tongue, and his hands: "When I love him, then I shall be his ears with which he listens, his eyes with which he sees, his tongue with which he speaks, and his hands with which he holds; if he calls Me, I shall answer him, and if he asks Me, I shall give him."

Similarly the way man has physical needs in life which he strives and struggles to fulfill, the soul too has needs that must be satisfied. These spiritual needs and urges have been placed by the hands of the creator in the depths of the creation's soul. Man has a natural inclination to find love and love in any form towards any object has no valid reality except when it is for the sake of Allah (SWT). All love directly or indirectly in some way, shape, or form is a man's hope to be in reach of the ultimate perfection, which can be nobody but Allah (SWT) - the Almighty. God's love for the world in general and human beings in particular is unanimously believed and emphasized by all Muslims. Indeed, one of the God's names is al-Wadud, He who loves. Some non Muslims allege that God in Islam is very strict and cruel God who demands to be obeyed fully. He is not loving and kind. Nothing can be farther from truth than this allegation. It is enough to know that, with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the Noble Qur'an begins with the verse: "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate."

In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) we are told that, "God is more loving and kinder than a mother to her dear child." Do You Want Allah (SWT) to Love You? Then develop the following qualities!
Allah loves Muhsineen (Good Doers) [2:195, 3:134, 3:148, 5:13, 5:93]
Allah loves Tawwabeen (Those who turn to rightfulness) [2:222]
Allah loves Mutahhareen (Those who keep their bodies free from filth) [2:222, 9:108]
Allah loves Muttaqeen (Those who guard themselves against evil) [3:76, 9:4, 9:7]
Allah loves Sabireen (Being Patient) [3:146]
Allah loves Mutawakkileen (Those who put their trust in Allah) [3:159]
Allah loves Muqsiteen (Those who act equitably and justly) [5:42, 49:9, 60:8]

It is noteworthy that although one of the things attributed to Allah (SWT) in Islam is the wrath (Ghadab), its application is much more limited compared to His mercifulness and love for His creatures. Indeed, His wrath is only for those who deliberately disbelieve or commit evil actions. Remember Allah (SWT) is also just. Hence evildoers and sinners must have their share of punishment and the virtuous, His bounties and favors. Wrath or anger is also out of His love and mercy. If His love or mercy did not exist He would not care at all. It is like a father who becomes angry with his son when he does something wrong, because he has care and concern for his son and his entire family, because he wants his son to correct his behaviour and set a lesson for other children not to copy that wrong act.

A rational and intelligent love is the one that involves the good and interest of whole mankind and not a limited number of people. One can do many things to bring good to individuals or groups which bring evil to society or mankind as a whole. For example, if a Judge releases a guilty criminal he might have done something good to that person, but a great harm has been inflicted upon the society and the ideal of justice. One should not let his affections hide the truth. If our beloved child needs injection or operation we should not let our love and passions for him to prevent us from doing so. This is exactly how wrath (Ghadab) of Allah (SWT) acts out of care and concern. Why should one love Allah (SWT)? According to Islam, one (1) reason for loving God, as said before lies in the fact that God is the most precious, absolute perfection and eternal beauty, that a man can ever conceive and therefore, man out of his nature that aspires to values, beauty and perfection loves God. The second (2) reason for loving God, men by nature love whoever does good to them, and they appreciate such favour and benevolence, as Imam Ali (as), said: "Generosity and magnanimity enslave men." Now, as God is the source of all being, of all generosity and benevolence, man, by virtue of his nature, loves God. Prophet Muhammad (saw), said: "Love Allah (SWT) because He has done good to you and He has bestowed favours upon you." A believer who has started his spiritual journey towards God first comes to recognize God's blessings upon him in providing him with lots of supports and helps that enabled him to act. Having continued his journey and been equipped with a mystical view of the world, he will realize that every good thing, indeed, comes from God himself. We read in the Noble Qur'an: "Whatever benefit comes to you (O man!), it is from God, and whatever misfortune befalls you, it is from yourself" (Surah An-Nisa, 4:79)

Aside from the fact that one who loves God is loved by Him (5:54), a real love for God prompts one to perform the best of deeds. Reason and nature dictate that if someone really loves God, he would act in a manner that is pleasing to God. In this regard, the Noble Qur'an says: Say: "If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins," and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah Al-E-Imran, 3:31) This ayah indicates the interrelation between love, as an inner state, and emulating Prophet Muhammad (saw), which is an outward action. Moreover, it implies that no one may neglect his religious obligations under the pretext of love for God. Love for Prophet Muhammad (saw)

Ramadan recalls good memories of family reunion in I.R.Iran

2009-09-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

The month of the Quran, a month of benevolence, a month of prayers and worship, a month of blessings, the holy month of Ramadan has arrived. And with it, all the warm childhood memories return; the memory of everyone getting together in the evenings at the grandparents’ home all around the Iftar spread, waiting anxiously to sample all the different delicious foods that grandmother had prepared.

The special ceremonies of giving Iftari to relatives, praying at nights and staying up late until sahari and recalling the wonderful memories all return once again with the arrival of this holy month.

Ramadan is celebrated in different regions across the country with ceremonies unique to each region. It is fascinating to get to know the ceremonies and the celebrations in each region and province.

Iranian Turkmen are very rich in culture and variety of ceremonies and traditions. They have special ceremonies for almost every individual event.

In the month of Ramadan, the elderly, the youth and even the children participate in all the special ceremonies that take place this month.

Turkmen usually begin preparations a week before the arrival of Ramadan. The women are busy cleaning their homes while the men purchase most of the necessary food to be used during this month.

One of the many traditions is that the females of each region usually get together and clean the neighborhood mosque on the last Friday prior to the arrival of Ramadan.

Observing the new moon of Ramadan in the sky is always accompanied with a great excitement. They believe anybody who sees the crescent will attain an extra heavenly award.

Another worthwhile custom before Ramadan’s arrival is to reconcile those who are not on speaking terms with each other. Usually, a respected elder from each district invites those who are not speaking to each other to his house for tea and tries to conciliate them.

In Ardebil, Ramadan brings lots of joy and excitement into their families and includes preparation of special food for Ramadan. Ashe-dough is very popular on these evenings and is usually served at the time of Iftar. It is a dish prepared with yoghurt, rice, chick peas, little meat balls and a very delicious regional vegetable which makes the food taste a little bit sour. It is white and is served like soup before the main course. Some eat bread with this food.

People in Shiraz have their special ceremony of kholukhandazun (feasting the month of Ramadan).

In the evening of last Friday in the month of Shaban (the month before Ramadan,) all the people of different ages pick up a dirt clod and stand facing the Qiblah and say, “God, we are breaking the bad habits and all our sins and preparing ourselves for the holy month of Ramadan and fasting” and then forcibly throw the clod to the ground to break it.

Sahari (the meal eaten before dawn) in Shiraz is also replete with colorful varieties of food, cooked rice and regional types of cookies.

People in the city of Khomein and the villages of Markazi Province, have the tradition to awaken their neighbors to eat sahari. Every night one young adult picks a basin, turns it upside down and then raps on it with a piece of wood at each door until they awake and turn on a light. An elderly man also accompanies the boy and shouts, “Wake up, it is Sahar (dawn)”. They continue to do this in front of every door.

Like other people across the country, people in Markazi Province also stay awake to pray on the nights of the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of Ramadan, which are known as the ‘grand nights’, on one of which the entire Quran was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (S). It is believed that Allah is extremely merciful to his servants on these nights.

The tradition of kisehduzi is also popular among the women in Hamedan. On the 27th day of Ramadan women take a piece of cloth to the mosque and sew one or more small purses. Next, they put some money inside the purses, read some prayers, and then blow on them. Finally, they place the purse in an old chest at home. The purse is called the ‘purse of blessing’ and people believe that they will never experience poverty in the future (due to the purse.)

Muslim Women Power List

2009-08-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

The inaugural Muslim Women Power List 2009 is a celebration of the 100,000 Muslim women currently working in Britain. It pays tribute to those who are on the way to - or have already reached - the top of their chosen field, be that business, civil service, arts, media or the public sector.

About the List

The Commission, in association with The Times and Emel magazine, has published the List this week, and it will be launched at a gala dinner in Manchester on 24 March.

What we hope to achieve

The aim of the List is to challenge some of the stereotypes about Muslim women, and to highlight the fact that they share the ambitions and challenges of all working women: to succeed at a good job and often to combine marriage and motherhood with a fulfilling career. We hope that the List will act as a professional social network for working Muslim women, allowing them to benefit from each other’s experiences in the workplace.

‘There aren’t many groups I can think of who are more stereotyped, yet less understood by the wider community, than working Muslim women,’ says Trevor Phillips, EHRC chairman. ‘I hope this list will make the rest of Britain sit up and take note – many members of the Muslim community are making a valuable economic and social contribution to our future.’

How the List was compiled

In January 2009 we issued a call to companies and organisations to nominate their employees. We received over 250 high quality nominations, from which our panel of judges - Baroness Sarah Hogg, Chairman of 3i; Trevor Phillips, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; Sarah Joseph, editor of Emel Magazine; Michael Binyon, diplomatic editor and leader writer for The Times and Sara Friend, Legal Director, British Olympic Association – selected the 50 remarkable women who make up the Power List 2009.

Quotes from women on the list

Mishal Husain, 36, presenter, BBC One and BBC World News

‘My faith is one aspect of my identity. I’m a wife, a mother, a journalist, a British citizen, someone who loves books… I’ve thought harder about my faith since 9/11 and since becoming a mother. I’m more conscious of passing on traditions to my children, because knowing who you are is a solid base for a child.’

Baroness Warsi, 37, Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action

‘I’d prefer to work in a world where we didn’t have to single out Muslim women for their achievements in order to make a point. Having said that, I’m honoured to be on this list, because the man in the street simply doesn’t think of Muslim women as high achievers.’

Zahida Manzoor CBE, 50, legal services complaints commissioner and legal services ombudsman for England and Wales

‘I would like to think the stereotype of subservient women is changing. For women generally we talk about the glass ceiling, but for ethnic minority women, particularly Muslim women, we’re talking about breaking the concrete skirting board. It is that difficult.’

Marriage is one the goals of nature

2009-08-14T01:42:00.001-07:00

The basic reality of sexual relation between man and woman is most clearly established by human—nay, even animal—nature; Islam being the religion of nature, confirms it without any doubt. Procreation—the goal nature wants to achieve with this union— is the basic factor and the only reason, which has transformed cohabitation into marriage, and raised it from mere carnal relation to a durable union. That is why we see that the species of animals in which both parents jointly bring up their offspring - like the birds in their guarding the eggs and feeding and bringing up the chicks, and those animals who need a den or lair for giving birth to and bringing up their offspring and for preparation and protection of which the female needs cooperation of the male - have opted for a constant attachment and exclusive relationship between the male and the female. In this manner they come together, and share the tasks of guarding and hatching the eggs, and this cooperation continues till the chicks grow up and go their own way; then the parents separate (if they separate at all), then a new cycle begins. It shows that the real cause of marriage and the rationale for matrimony is the instinct of procreation and bringing up the children. As for the satisfaction of sexual urge or joining hands in struggle of life, like earning and saving money preparation of food and drink, obtaining household effects and, in short, managing the domestic life—these things are not a part of the goal of nature; they are mere preliminaries of, or benefits accruing from, marriage. It is clear from the above that: Freedom and licentiousness shown by the couples—husband or wife cohabiting with other than his or her spouse without any restraint whenever and wherever he/she desires, like animals world where male mounts female wherever he gets the chance - as is the norm of the day in " civilized" countries, likewise fornication and particularly adultery; Treating the marriage as a permanent union, and prohibition of divorce and separation, not allowing either party to dissolve the marriage and marrying another spouse - as long as the couple is alive; Elimination of procreation and refusal to rear children; laying the foundation of marriage - tie on sharing the domestic life, as is prevalent in "advanced" countries; and consequently sending the newborn children to public nurseries established for their nursing and bringing up; All this goes against the laws of nature. The nature has equipped human being with instincts and organs, which totally oppose these "modern" habits, as we have mentioned above. Of course, there are animals in whose birth and rearing male's continued presence is not needed. Once the female becomes pregnant, she takes on herself all the duties of pregnancy, and of nursing and rearing the offspring. In such cases there is no natural need of durable union between male and female. Such animals are free to cohabit as and when they feel the urge, to the extent that does not disturb the nature's aim of preserving the species. It would be a folly to think that it won't harm man to disturb the system ordained by creation, to go against the dictates of nature, provided one compensated for the resulting defects with thought and deliberation; and that in this way he would freely enjoy the life and its blessings. But such thought is nothing short of madness. These natural structures — including the human personality - are composites made of innumerable parts. When each part is kept in its proper place, following the laid down conditions, it creates an overall effect agreeable to the goal of nature, the aim of creation. This effect leads the species to its perfection. It is not unlike the medical mixtures and compounds, which require particular ingredients with especial qualities and prescribed measure and weights, and are dispensed with laid down process; and if changes are made even slightly in its weight or quality it will lose its effects. Man is a being, naturally created of various parts compounded in a particular way; this especial process results in some inner qualities and psychological characteristics, which in their turn produce various actions and activities. If some of these actions are changed from their natural position, it will badly disturb the alignment of those qualities and characteristics, which in its turn will dislocate all the intrinsic characteristics and qualities from their natural position, will deviate the whole being from the path of nature; this would severe man's link with his natural perfection, and turn him from the destination the nature was urging him to reach. If we look at the general calamities mankind is submerged in nowadays, which render people's endeavors to achieve comfortable and happy life null and void, and which are threatening the humanity with downfall and ruination, we shall find that it has been caused, in the main part, by the total absence of piety, and by the mastery that stupidity and cruelty, violence and greed, have got over human psyche; and the biggest factor in this mastery is this licentiousness and permissiveness, this discarding of natural laws concerning marital responsibilities and rearing of children. The system adopted nowadays for domestic life and for bringing up the children, kills the instincts of mercy and kindness and erases the traits of chastity, modesty and humility from man's psyche, from the first moment of his awareness to his last breath. Can't we compensate for these deficiencies through our reason and contemplation? Forget it. Reason and understanding, like other faculties of life, is a tool acquired by nature as a means to bring the deviating factors back to the natural path. It is not meant to negate the endeavors of creation and dictates of nature; otherwise it would be tantamount to killing the nature by the very sword it had given in man's hand to defend himself. Moreover, if the reason (a tool of nature) is used to support the depravity and decay of other natural faculties, this tool also would be damaged and misaligned like those others. We are witnessing today that whenever man tries to remove, through his thinking, one of the catastrophes threatening the society, he opens the gate of a greater and more disastrous calamity; and sufferings and travails extend their tentacles some more. Someone among these people might say: The psychological traits like chastity, generosity, modesty, kindness and truthful - ness, which are called spiritual virtues, are relics of the era of superstition and barbarity; they are not good for the modern advanced man. Chastity puts fetters on man's many desires. Generosity negates man's endeavors for gathering money, and disregards all the troubles he had undergone in earning it; more- over, it encourages the poor to remain idle and degrade himself by begging here and there. Modesty is a bridle that prevents man from freely expressing his ideas or demanding his rights. Kindness weakens the heart; and truth does not agree with demands of today's life.

COMMENT: This talk in itself is an example of the deviated thinking, which we have mentioned above. This man is oblivious of the fact that these virtues are essential for a human society; if they are removed, the society cannot remain alive as society even for an hour. What will happen if these characteristics were removed from the society? Everyone will exceed his limits to snatch others' rights, properties and honor; nobody will offer any help to meet dire needs of society; nobody will feel any shame in breaking the laws of the land; no one will show any mercy to weaker groups — who cannot be held responsible for their weakness—like children and others; everyone will lie to everyone else, giving him wrong information and false promises. The society will disintegrate at once. This man should understand that these virtues have not gone, nor will they ever go, away from this world. Human nature adheres to them and it will keep them alive as long as it is calling the mankind to live in society. The most important thing is to arrange and moderate these traits, so that they conform with the goal of nature, which invites man to a happy life. If the attitudes reigning nowadays over the advanced societies were really virtuous or truly well balanced, they would not have pushed the society to such depravity and disaster; instead they would have led mankind to safety and peace, comfort and happiness. To come back to our original topic: Islam has put the institution of matrimony in its natural place—as we have mentioned earlier. It has allowed marriage and forbidden fornication and illicit sexual relations. It has established the marriage tie, putting up with possibility of its dissolution, that is, divorce; and made this bond exclusive to a certain extent, as we shall explain below. The foundation of this bond was laid on procreation and bringing up the children; there is a well-known saying of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.): "Marry, procreate, increase your number. . ." DOMINATION OF MALES OVER FEMALES Observation of animals' sexual behavior shows that the males have a sort of domination and authority over the females in this matter. It is as though the male considers himself to be the master of the female, possessing the right to mount her. That is why we see the males fighting each other for the females, but not vice versa; the fema1e does not stand up to fight another female if the male goes to the latter. Likewise, love-rites, the equivalent of proposals in our society, are initiated in animal kingdom by the males, not the females. It only means that the female is by nature aware that in this respect the male is the active and dominant agent, while she is only a passive receiver. Do not be mislead by occasional ingratiating behavior of the male with the female when he fawns on her by doing whatever would please her; it is but a part of love-play, which he does to heighten the desire and increase the pleasure. But as far as the domination and mastery is concerned, it springs from his virility and its natural function. The idea that strength and power are inseparable concomitants of the males, and softness and submissiveness, the characteristics of the females, is found more or less in all nations, and has filtered into various linguistic idioms and expressions. They call a tough unbendable thing as "male", and a tender pliable item as "female"; e.g., [in Arabic] they say: Male iron, male sword, male grass, male place, and so on. This idea is generally common to the whole human species, prevalent in different societies and various nations —although there might be some difference in degrees. Islam has kept this reality in view in its legislation. Allah says: Men are the maintainers of women, because of that with which Allah has made some of them to excel the other. . . (4:34). Islam has made it obligatory for a wife to submit to her husband if he wants to cohabit with her—whenever possible. POLYGAMY As far as we have observed, the question of "monogamy or polygamy" in the animal world is not definitely settled. In cases where the male and the female have to live together (because the male remains busy whole time in helping his mate in "domestic" affairs, raising the children and looking after them) "monogamy " is the rule, i.e.; the female remains exclusively attached to the male. Yet sometimes the system may be changed through skill, planning and guarantee of security, i.e., by domestication and training, as is seen between cock and hens and even pigeons, etc. Coming to our own species, polygamy was a custom prevalent in most of the ancient nations like Egypt, India, China and Persia; and even Rome and Greece, who supplemented the wife with concubines who lived with her in the same house. Some nations, like the Jews and the Arabs, observed no limit; some married ten, twenty or even more wives; reportedly the king Solomon had married hundred of women. Mostly, polygamy was prevalent in tribal and other similar communities, like villagers and highlanders. A head of family in such societies always felt a pressing need for a large coterie of followers Polygamy was his way of achieving this goal; increased births gave him a large number of sons, who in some years became a force for defending his interests—a necessary part of life in those communities — and raising him to the leadership of the community. Also, the increased number of marriages increased the circle of relatives through affinity. Some scholars have said that the main factor leading tribesmen or villagers to polygamy was their preoccupation with a lot of back-breaking jobs, like carrying and transporting loads; shepherding and cattle grazing; farming and irrigation; hunting, cooking and weaving; and things like that. This theory is correct to a certain extent; but contemplation of their psychological traits proves that these factors had a secondary importance in their eyes. What we have mentioned earlier was the primary and basic concern or a nomad. Also it was this factor which led them to gather adopted sons around themselves. There was one more basic reason which increased the number of wives in those societies, and that was the presence of women in much greater number than men. In those tribal societies battle and war was a never-ending phenomenon, as was assassination and murder. Such killings continued to decrease the male population, and women's number increased to a level where the only way to fulfill their natural needs was through polygamy. Think over it. Islam has ordained marriage with one wife, and allowed marrying up to four, provided the man is able to treat them equitably; it has at the same time taken steps to remove the difficulties and shortcomings found in polygamy, as we shall mention later. Allah says: and they (women) have rights similar to those upon them in a just manner (2:228). OBJECTIONS AGAINST POLYGAMY: First Objection: It creates evil effects in society. It hurts the feelings of women, frustrates their hopes and stops the fountainhead of love in their hearts. The love is transformed into a desire for revenge. They neglect the household, do not look after children's welfare, and pay their men in their own coin. Thus they indulge in adultery, embezzle their property, and tarnish their honor. The society immediately sinks to the lowest level possible. Second Objection: Polygamy goes against the system, which the nature has obviously established. Census figures, obtained from various communities generation after generation, show that the male and female populations are almost equal. It means that nature provides only one woman for one man. To disturb this balance goes against the nature's programmed. Third Objection: Allowing polygamy encourages men to lust and avidity, and gives boost to such tendencies in society. Fourth Objection: Polygamy degrades women in society, as it counts four women as equal to one man; and it is an unjust assessment, even from Islamic point of view which treats two women as equal to one man, e.g., in inheritance and evidence, etc. On that basis too, marriage with only two women should have been allowed—not with four. Marriage with four is deviation from justice, however we look at it. These objections have been written by Christians or by those sociologists who advocate equal rights for both sexes in society. Reply to the First Objection: We have repeatedly explained that Islam has laid the foundation of human society on rational, not emotional, life. In sociological field, it follows what is good for the society in reason, not what is desired by emotions or feelings. It does not mean that Islam kills the emotions and feelings, or negates the divine gift of natural instincts. It is accepted in the Psychology that difference in education and training creates difference quantitatively and qualitatively in psychological traits and inner feelings and emotions. For example, many rites and customs that are highly appreciated by the Orientals are looked down upon by the Occidentals, and vice versa. Every community differs from the others in one way or the other. Religious education and training in Islam raises the woman to a level where her feelings are not injured with such things. Of course, the Western woman has become accustomed since many centuries to being the only wife, and has been taught this idea generation after generation. This has created in her a psychological aversion against polygamy. Proof of this may be found in the shocking licentiousness and promiscuity of men and women prevalent in the "advanced" nations nowadays. Do not their men satisfy their lust with anyone they like and who responds favorably to their advances —no matter whether she is within prohibited degree or outside, is virgin or deflowered, is married or unmarried. It has reached a stage where one cannot find among them a single man or woman in a thousand who has not indulged in illicit sexual relations. Not only that; now they have plunged into sodomy to the extent that no one seems clean of it. The debauchery has become a norm of the day, so much so that just last year it was proposed in the British parliament to legalize the sodomy - after it had spread among them "illegally". As for the women, and especially virgins and spinsters, their affairs are even more amazing and more shocking. Would that I knew why the women in those countries are not sorry for this state of affairs? Why are they not embarrassed by it? Why are their hearts not broken by it? Why are their feelings not injured when they see all this debauchery from their men? Also, why is the man not annoyed when he marries a girl and finds her deflowered and comes to know that she had already been bedded not only by one or two men? Why does he start boasting in the morning that her bride had been so popular with men that tens, rather hundreds, had vied with each other to win her favors? Why this insensitivity? Is there any reason except that this wantonness and immorality has been going on for so long, and this licentiousness and lasciviousness has so captured their minds, that now it has become a second nature to them; now it neither hurts their feelings nor looks strange or objectionable to them. It is as we had mentioned earlier that the prevalent customs mould the feelings and emotions in their own mould, and do not let them take any other shape. As for the claim that polygamy makes the women neglect their house, ignore the children's education and incline towards illicit sexual relations and embezzlement, experience shows hollowness of such talks. This law was ordained and enforced in the early days of Islam, and no scholar of history can claim that it had caused any disturbance in the social order. The reality was poles apart from such claims. Moreover, the women who marry a man as his second, third or fourth wife—in Islamic or other polygamous societies—enter into marriage contract willingly, with their open eyes. They belong to the same society, they are not captured from other countries, nor have they been brought here for this purpose from outer space. Yet they willingly agree to such marriage for one or the other sociological reason. It follows that woman by nature is not against polygamous marriage; nor are her feelings injured by it. If there is any resentment it should be shown by the first wife; when a woman has remained alone with her husband, she would not like intrusion of another woman in her house, lest her husband show more attachment to the new wife, or the new wife acquire more authority, or differences raise their heads between the two wives' children, or things like that. It shows that unhappiness and resentment, if there be any, springs not from natural disposition, but from an incidental situation, that is, remaining for sometime alone with the husband. Reply to the Second Objection: The argument by the equality that nature supposedly maintains between numbers of males and females are untenable for many reasons: 1. Marriage does not depend on equa1 rates of birth alone; there are many other factors and conditions that control it. First of all, maturity of mind and capability of marriage appears sooner in girls than in boys. Girls, and especially in hot climates, are ready for marriage as soon as they reach the age of nine; while boys do not attain puberty before the age of sixteen (and this is what Islam has kept in view for deciding the age of marriage). Its evidence may be found in the behavior prevalent among the girls in the "civilized" countries: Rarely does a girl remain virgin up to the age of the "legal adulthood"; and the only reason is that nature makes her ready for marriage long before bestowing that ability on boys. Now, let us look at a group of boys and girls born during the last sixteen years—and supposedly both sexes are equal in number. How many marriageable boys will be there in the group? Only those who are sixteen years old, that is, those born in the first year of the period under study. But how many girls of marriageable age will be there in the group? All those who were born from the first to the seventh year of this period [i.e., the marriageable girls will be seven times more than the marriageable boys]. Increase the period under study to twenty-five years (the age when men usually reach their full maturity and strength). How many men and women of marriageable age you get in this group? The men who were born during the first ten years, and the women who were born during the first fifteen years. It gives us an average of two women for each man, by natural law. 2. Census reportedly shows that expectancy of life is greater in woman than in man. In other words, men die earlier, leaving some women who would remain alone, with no man to marry them if monogamy is to be the rule.* 3. The ability to procreate continues longer in men than in women. Usually women reach menopause at the age of fifty, while men's virility continues for years and years after that. Sometimes his ability to procreate continues to the end of his natural age, i.e., a hundred years. Accordingly a man's reproductive period, about 80 years, would be double of that of a woman (which is about 40 years). This premises in conjunction with the preceding one proves that the creative nature allows the man to marry more than one wife. How can nature bestows the ability to reproduce and then prohibit the use of receptacles suitable for that reproduction? Such contrariness is not the way natural causality works. 4. The carnages like battles and wars liquidate mainly the male population, compared to which women remain almost unaffected. As mentioned above, it was a strong factor in the spread of polygamy in the tribal societies. If those widows and spinsters are not cared for through polygamous marriages, then what are the alternative available to them? Either fornication or negation and nullification of their natural faculties! This problem had raised its head in West Germany a few months before writing these lines. There the spinster women spoke about the hardships and difficulties they were facing because they could not find any man free to marry them; they demanded from the government to allow them to contract polygamous marriage—in Islamic manner. The idea was to permit the men to marry more than one wife in order that those spinsters should not be deprived of their natural rights. But the government rejected the demand, and the Church refused to agree—although tacitly they agreed to the spreading of adultery and fornication and to the ruining of would-be generation. 5. Even if we close our eyes from all the above factors, the argument of equality of the numbers of both sexes would stand only if we suppose that every man in the society marries polygamous - up to four wives. But nature has not prepared every man for it; only a few, and not all, can marry more than one wife. Islam has not made it compulsory for every man to enter into many marriages; it has only made it lawful—for him who is able to treat all wives equitably. This permission does not create any difficulty or disturbance; and its clearest proof may be found in the Muslim and other polygamous societies where it has not created any shortage of women and no man fails to find a wife for him. In contrast with that, we find in the monogamous societies thousands of women who are left in the lurch, as they cannot find anyone to marry them and provide them a chance to settle in life; their only outlet is fornication. 6. Apart from that, this objection could only be advanced if Islam had not had provided this rule with checks and balances for keeping it safe from those imaginary defects. Islam has made it compulsory for a man who wants to marry more than one wife to behave with them with justice and equity, to live with them in fairness, and divide the nights between them; it has obliged him to maintain them and their children equitably. Obviously, not every man can easily spend on, let us say, four wives and their offspring, keeping within the circle of justice and fairness in his dealings with them; it may be done only by some of the well-to-do people. Moreover, there are some lawful Islamic ways which may be used by a woman to encourage and oblige her man not to marry another wife after her. Reply to the Third Objection: This objection springs from not looking attentively at the Islamic way of education and training or at the goals of this shari'ah. The education given to women in an Islamic society—as approved by religion—trains them to keep themselves covered, makes chastity and modesty their second nature, and protects them from breach of decency. Consequently, a Muslim woman grows up with far less sexual desire than is found in a man. This is in spite of common belief that sexual desire in a woman is stronger and greater. Why has this idea spread? Just because by nature a woman seems more concerned with her adornment and beauty. But the fact is otherwise; and no Muslim man (who has married women grown up in Islamic atmosphere) can have an iota of doubt about it. In reality, an average man's sexual desire far exceeds that of a single woman —even of two or three of them. Let us look at it from another angle. Islam is very concerned that none should be deprived of necessary natural desires or essential biological demands. From religious point of view, it is not good for a man to dam up his sexual desire and remain frustrated, as it would lead him to indecency and immorality. But a woman remains justifiably incapable of sexual relations for about a third of her married life, e.g., during monthly periods, advanced stages of pregnancy, delivery, breast-feeding and for similar other reasons. But it is necessary to provide for prompt satisfaction of the husband's desire. It is the necessary conclusion of the repeatedly mentioned principle that Islam has laid the society's foundation on rational, not emotional, basis. It is therefore a great danger from Islam's point of view to leave the man unmarried or in his above-mentioned sexual frustration, as it would lead him to lustful thoughts and immoral activities. Apart from that, the Law-giver of Islam considers it very important that the Muslims should have lots of offspring, in order that the Earth should flourish with goodly prosperity at the hands of a Muslim society, erasing polytheism and mischief from the World. It is these and similar other considerations which have led the Islam to legalize the institution of polygamy; it was not for spreading lustful ways or encouraging lecherous behavior. Had our detractors followed the dictates of justice, their own social customs—popular among them who have built their society on the foundation of material enjoyment — more deserving to be accused of spreading immorality and encouraging licentiousness, than the Islam which has based its social order on the foundation of religious bliss and felicity. Furthermore, just the fact, that man has the permission to marry other wives, pacifies and calms down the avidity, which a sense of deprivation could have agitated. Every deprived one is greedy; when one is forbidden a thing, his mind remains continually busy in devising plans to get that thing. Every Muslim — even if he has only one wife —is satisfied and contended that he is not prevented from satisfying his sexual desires if a need; arose in future to do so. This in a way calms down his such desires, and protects him from inclining towards indecency and tarnishing other's honors. A Western scholar has rightly said that the strongest factor that has contributed in spreading adultery and immorality in the Christian nations is the Church's prohibition of polygamy.** Reply to the Fourth Objection: This allegation is totally unacceptable. We have described in a previous discourse, when writing on the rights of women in Islam***, that no social system whatsoever —be it religious or secular, ancient or modern—has ever honored the women as much, and cared for their rights so comprehensively and perfectly, as the Islam has done; and we shall further explain it somewhere else. As for allowing a man to marry more than one woman, it is not intended to be a negation of women's social prestige, nullification of their rights or degradation of their status in life; it is founded on several underlying benefits, some of which have been mentioned above. A lot of the Western scholars—both men and women—have admitted the goodness and perfectness of this Islamic law, and the social disorder and dangers inherent in prohibition of polygamy. Interested readers should look for their comments in their books. The strongest argument used by the Western detractors of polygamy, which they offer before their audience with much embellishment, is the condition found in those Muslim families where there are two or more wives. Such houses are devoid of happy life and good living. No sooner do the two rival wives enter the house than they start envying each other. (People call envy, the disease of rival wives.) Thereafter all the kind of feelings and noble characteristics which are ingrained in woman's nature— love and tender-heartedness, kindness and gentleness, compassion and affection, good advice and looking after husband's honor in his absence, faithfulness and devotion, mercy and sincerity for husband and his children from other women, and care for the house and household — are changed to their opposites. The home — the place intended for man's comfort, where he expects to rest and relax after his daily toils and troubles, when he is dead tired in body and mind after the drudgery of earning his livelihood—is transformed into a battlefield where life and honor, wealth and prestige are freely attacked and violated; nothing is safe from any side; horizon of life becomes cloudy, pleasant existence, a thing of the past. In place of bliss and happiness, appear hitting and slapping, abuse, invective and curse, backbiting and tale bearing, spying, intrigue and trickery. Children quarrel and dispute with one another. Things sometimes reach a stage where the wife plans to kill the husband, and some children kill the others or even their father. Kinship is metamorphosed into a never-ending feud that for generations causes bloodshed, genocide and downfall of the house. Add to it the effects it brings to the society: unhappiness, moral corruption, cruelty, injustice, transgression, indecency and lack of security and trust. (There is also another dimension to this problem) when you add legality of divorce to the permission of polygamy. These two factors, combined together, create in the society connoisseurs, who live luxurious lives and whose interest is centered on satisfaction of their lust and avidity; their passion revolves around getting this woman and discarding that one, raising one's status and lowering the other's. It is nothing less than thwarting and frustrating a half of the mankind, i.e., the females, and submerging them into sorrow and grief. Their degradation results in depravity of the other half (and the whole society is demoralized). COMMENT: This was the gist of what they have said, and the objection is true—but its targets are the Muslims, not the Islam or its teachings. When have the Muslims truly followed the Islamic teachings, that Islam could be held responsible for the consequences of their misdeeds? Centuries have passed that there is no good government, which could train them with noble teachings of the shari'ah. On the contrary, the first people to rip apart the curtain put up by the religion, to break the laws of the shari'ah and to violate its limits were the very Muslim rulers and people in power—and people follow the customs of their rulers. It is not possible to narrate here even a small portion of the life style in the "Muslims " Kings' palaces, or the scandals indulged into by the sultans and governors, since the days the religious government fumed into monarchy and sultanate; otherwise we will have to write a complete book on this subject. In short, the objection, if valid, can be laid against the Muslims: that they adopted a way of life, which could not bring any happiness in their homes, and followed a policy, which they could not prevent from deviating from the straight path. The whole blame lies on the men, not on their women or children—although every soul is responsible for what it has earned of sin. Why? Because it was these men's behavior—they thought nothing of sacrificing their own happiness, and that of their families and children together with the clean environment of the society, on the altar of their greed, lust and ignorance — that was the root cause of all these disasters and fountain-head of all these destructive troubles. As for the Islam, it has not legislated polygamy as a compulsory and obligatory duty of every man. It looked at the people's nature and at the difficulties some of them faced now and again, and so it concluded that polygamy contained definite goodness [for solving those problems], as was described above in detail. Then it looked minutely at the negative effects of polygamy and its dangers. Consequently, it allowed polygamy for the underlying benefit of humanity, but at the same time imposed such a restriction on it as to remove the chances of all those disgraceful depravities—that the man should be confident that he would live with them in equity and treat them justly and fairly. Islam allows plurality of wives only to him who is sure of himself in this respect. As for those who do not care for their own or their families' and children's happiness and felicity, whose only mark of honor is satisfaction of their stomachs and genitals, and in whose eyes woman is only a means to satisfy man's lust and to give pleasure to him, Islam is not concerned with them, nor does it allow them to marry more than one—if we say that they are allowed to marry even the one, with that mentality of theirs! Moreover, there is a mix-up in this objection between two completely separate aspects of religion, i.e., the legislation and the governmental authority. It may be explained as follows: According to modern scholars the criterion to judge about a laid down law or prevalent tradition whether it is a good law and tradition or bad, is to look at the acceptable or unacceptable effects and results obtained from enforcement of that law in the societies, and whether or not the societies in the prevalent condition accept the law faithfully. I do not think they are oblivious of the fact that society sometimes is fettered by some customs, traditions or accidents that do not agree with the law under study; in such a condition, the society should be reformed in a manner as not to hamper or negate the said law or tradition, in order that it may be seen how the law works; and what effect it brings in its wake—whether it is good or bad, beneficial or harmful. The only difference is that their criterion for a laid down law is the currently prevailing desire and demand of the society—whatever that demand may be. Thus what agrees with their current wishes and demands is considered a good law, and what goes against it, is bad. That is why when those Westerners saw the Muslims wandering in the valley of error, steeped in immorality in this life and wickedness in the next, they attributed to the Islamic shari'ah (which the Muslims supposedly followed) all the evils found among the Muslims, e.g., falsehood and embezzlement, indecency and usurpation of rights, prevalent transgression and ruined homes, and in short the whole spectrum of corrupted social order. They thought that the Islamic tradition and system is like other social systems in its implementation and effects. The other systems conform with their members' desires and demands. So, those scholars thought that Islam too has the same quality, and that all these social disorders have been generated by Islam; that it is this religion that gives rise to depravity and corruption (and among them are found the most depraved and the most immoral persons; as they say, there are all kinds of game in the belly of the wild ass). Had it been a real religion and its laid down laws really good and containing people's welfare and felicity, it would have produced good and beautiful effects in the society, instead of becoming a curse for it. But these people have confused the nature of a good and beneficial law with the nature of a corrupt and harmful people. Islam is a composite unit of spiritual knowledge, moral teachings and practical laws—all of which are interrelated. If one part is damaged or tampered with, the whole is damaged, and its effects are changed. It is not unlike the medical compounds and mixtures, which require, for their health-restoring effects, their proper ingredients and a proper place to prepare them. If some ingredients are spoiled or adulterated, or if the directions for its use are not properly followed, it will not bring the desired effect; rather it may produce opposite result (and harm the patient). At this juncture let us admit for the sake of argument, that the Islamic system could not reform the people, and could not erase common social vices and depravities—because its legislative base was unsound. But why is it that the democratic system has not succeeded in our eastern countries as it has in Europe? Why is it that the more we try to go ahead on this path the farther back we fall? No one has any doubt that the vices and depravities have taken deeper roots in our society today (when we have become civilized and enlightened) than it was fifty years ago (when we were uncivilized barbarians!). Today our society is devoid of social justice; we trample on human rights; we do not give higher education to our masses; and we lack all the social benefits and blessings — for us these are merely names without substance, words without meaning. Ask them the reason, and they will say: This good system has not worked among you because you have not really put it into practice, have not tried to implement it properly. Well, why this excuse is acceptable in case of democracy, but not in case of Islam? Let us suppose that Islam, because of the weakness of its foundation (God forbid!), could not capture the people's hearts and could not take deep roots in the society; and consequently its rule could not continue, it lost its vitality in the Muslims' social order and was discarded at the first opportunity. But why did the democratic system—the universally appreciated system— go away, after the World War I, from Russia? Why were its trace lost there? Why was it replaced by the communist system? Again, why did it give way, after the World War II, to the communist system in China, Lithuania, Estonia, Albania, Rumania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, etc.? Why does it pose a danger to other countries, after having established considerable influence in them? Now let us look at the communist system. It flourished for about forty years; and spread to, and ruled over, nearly half of the mankind. Its rulers and champions are never tired of boasting of its excellence and superiority. According to them it is the only clean stream that is unpolluted by dictatorial tendencies and democracy's exploitation; the countries where it has taken roots have turned into Utopia. If this claim is correct, then why did the same rulers and champions, some two years back, stand up to condemn the rule of its matchless leader, Stalin, who had led and governed Russia for thirty years? Why did they announce that his rule was despotic and dictatorial, and that it was nothing but enslavement in the guise of communism? Everyone agrees that Stalin had great influence in legislation of the laid down laws and their enforcement and all that follows. In other words, all this was produced by the will of an enslaving dictator; it was a one man's rule, which revived thousands and killed thousands; made some people happy and kept others oppressed, deprived and unhappy. Only Allah knows who will come after these (present rulers) to condemn them as they had done with their predecessors. **** Look into history books and you will find mention of a lot of systems, civilizations and cultures that governed the societies for sometime; some were good, others bad; then they passed away because of various factors—the strongest being the treachery of the leaders and feeble will of the masses. Would that I knew what is the difference between Islam (as a social system) and those other transformed and changed systems, that the excuse (of leaders' treachery and followers' weak-willedness) is accepted in their case and rejected in the case of Islam? Yes, today the word of truth has fallen between a formidable western might and an imitative eastern ignorance; neither any sky shelters over it nor any earth raises it up. However, it should be clear from what we have mentioned above that whether a system is effective or not, and whether its hold on the people remains strong or it loosened, depends not so much on its correctness or incorrectness—so that this aspect could be used to prove its truth or falsity. It is rather affected by so many other causes and reasons. There was not a single system in the long human history but it produced results for sometimes and then became barren; it ruled over the society for a stretch of time and then passed away—all this for some factors acting for or against it; and We bring these days to men by turns, and that Allah may know those who believe and takes witnesses from among you (3: 140). In short, the Islamic shari'ah and its laws differ in their fundamental philosophy from all other social orders prevalent in various human societies. These [man-made] social systems go on changing with change of times and policies, but not so the Islamic laws. The Islamic laws — consisting of obligatory, prohibited, like, disliked and permissible—never change. Of course, those actions which a person has the choice to do or not to do, and every disposition which he has right to enact or leave, the Islamic ruler has got authority to order the people to do it or forbid them doing it; he can dispose such matters as if the society were a single body and the ruler its thinking mind and soul. Had there been an Islamic ruler there, he could have prevented the people from the inequities and injustices they commit in the name of polygamy or for other pretexts, without affecting any change in the divinely given permission. It would have been a general executive order based on an underlying benefit, just as a man might decide for his personal reasons not to marry more than one wife—not because the rule had changed but because it was only a permission which he had full right not to avail himself of.

UK: Non-Muslim turn to Shariah courts

2009-08-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Increasing numbers of non-Muslims are turning to Sharia courts to resolve commercial disputes and other civil matters, The Times has learnt. The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT) said that 5 per cent of its cases involved non-Muslims who were using the courts because they were less cumbersome and more informal than the English legal system.

Freed Chedie, a spokesman for Sheikh Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siqqiqi, a barrister who set up the tribunal, said: "We put weight on oral agreements, whereas the British courts do not." In a case last month a non-Muslim Briton took his Muslim business partner to the tribunal to sort out a dispute over the profits in their car fleet company. "The non-Muslim claimed that there had been an oral agreement between the pair," said Mr Chedie. "The tribunal found that because of certain things the Muslim man did, that agreement had existed. The non-Muslim was awarded £48,000."
He said that the tribunal had adjudicated on at least 20 cases involving non-Muslims so far this year. The rulings of the tribunal are legally binding, provided that both parties agree to that condition at the beginning of any hearing. Anti-Sharia campaigners, who claim that the Islamic system is radical and biased against women, expressed alarm at the news. Denis MacEoin, who wrote a recent report for the think-tank Civitas examining the spread of Sharia in Britain, said that MAT's claims about non-Muslim clients "raises all sorts of questions".
He added: "You really need to ask why. What advantages could that possibly have for them going to an Islamic court? Any [Sharia] court is going to be implementing aspects of a law that runs contrary to British law, because of the way it treats women for example." Inayat Bunglawala, a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, said that organizations should be free to conduct arbitration under Sharia, provided that it did not infringe British law and was a voluntary process.

World Day for Germany's 'hijab martyr'

2009-07-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

The gruesome murder of a hijab-clad Egyptian woman by a German racist last week is continuing to send shockwaves among Muslims, while inspiring many to make a stand. A proposal put forward by one of IslamOnline.net's readers for a World Hijab Day to mark the death of Marwa Al-Sherbini drew immediate support from around the world."We are throwing our weight behind this proposal," says Abeer Pharaon, the chair of the Assembly for the Protection of Hijab."Sherbini is not only a hijab martyr but also a victim of Islamophobia, from which European Muslims are suffering," she stressed. "Her death deserves to be commemorated and marked as a World Hijab Day."Sherbini, 32, was stabbed to death by a 28-year German of Russian origin in a courtroom in the eastern city of Dresden on Wednesday, July 1.He stabbed her 18 times before the pregnant woman was to testify against him for insulting her for wearing hijab.Sherbini's husband, who was preparing to discuss his Masters next month, was also injured when he tried to intervene to protect her.The despicable crime sparked calls by IOL readers for action in defense of Hijab, an obligatory code of dress that every Muslim woman must wear.One reader suggested marking the tragic death of the young woman with a special day on which Muslim women across the world would take to the streets to defend their dress code."We are supporting the proposal," Rawa Al-Abed, an official in the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe, told IOL."We are also calling for organizing more events to raise awareness about the rights of Muslim women in Europe, including wearing hijab."Many Muslims marks the International Hijab Solidarity Day in the first week of September.The day was launched by the London-based Assembly for the Protection of Hijab (Protect Hijab) in 2004 to protest a French law banning hijab in state schools.IslamophobiaMuslim leaders say Sherbini's murder is a reminder of the prevailing Islamophobia in the West. "What happened to her is very dangerous," Sami Dabbah, spokesman for the Coalition Against Islamophobia, told IOL.He said the Paris-based Coalition has repeatedly wounded the alarm over growing anti-hijab sentiments in the West."We had warned that one day we will see a Muslim woman being killed because of her hijab."Amina Nusser, professor of theology and philosophy at Al-Azhar University, supports the World Hijab Day proposal."It will be a practical response to unjustified enmity to hijab," she told IOL."It will be an opportunity to remind the West of their injustice to Muslim women and will also be a chance to show the West that Islam calls for pluralism."Nusser insisted that the requirement for Muslim women to wear modestly is no different from other faiths."Christian Orthodox women still wear a veil and modest clothes before entering churches."Mohamed Al-Bazzawi, the chairman of the Muslim Association of Denmark, agrees."A Hijab Day will remind Westerners that it is Muslim woman's right to wear what she likes just as non-Muslim women wear what they like," he told IOL."Those who only talk about women's rights in the West should realize that they should not deny Muslim women the right to wear hijab."

Sacrilege’ and the Nightmare of ‘Freedom’”

2009-07-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

Most of us have esteemed religions and creeds; believing in a certain faith, prophet(s) and a holy book, praying to a unique God and struggling to behave in a way that please Him, or so we believe.
To followers of monotheistic religions including Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Islam, there is just one God supposed to be the owner and creator of the whole universe and its components. While believers might assign various names to this creator and possessor of everything, which is natural due to the cultural and linguistic differences, it does not make any difference in the nature, unity and almighty nature of the lord.
The thing is that we believe a single and unparalleled God has created us, assisted us and guided us through a firm path in his unity. Such a God who is able to design the construction of man’s mind with its endless capabilities, design the arrayed rotation of four seasons without any disorder and design millions of flower species with special smell for each of them would undoubtedly have no collaborator and needs no help to incarnate his privileges and powers; otherwise he would not be called as the “creator”.
We don’t attribute each of the natural resources and powers to a special god and don’t believe in a group of gods who co-work with each other to manage and maintain the incidents of the world. Such a belief is potentially unacceptable and rejected since all of us know well that the creation is not a nigh-patrol job to be shifted by reserve guardians.
Creation means making something appeared from “nothing”; endowing existence to something that was not existing before. By the exact means of the word, creation should be interpreted as an exclusive business which does not come from humankind.
Have you ever thought about the industrial or scientific inventions? What the innovators do? Do they create something new? Of course not! They just use previously existing materials, fix and mix them together, handle them in a different way and conclude a new production. I’ve to confess that their process of working is complicated too much; needing creativity and originality which most of ordinary people lack, but their work is not to produce things by using their own-made “materials” and “tools”.
Such a clear and realistic way of thinking is owed to the progressive doctrine of monotheistic religions that lead the mankind toward advanced scopes of thought. So you see, supposing numerous gods for the world and stating that rains, snows, days, nights, love, hate, childhood and adolescence are dominated by each of them indicates the shortsightedness and illiteracy of some of our ancestors in ancient civilizations.
But all of the illiteracy is not limited to those who believe in several gods. On the other hand, we have the irreligious who don’t assume any creator for the enormous cosmos which they are living in. They think that the world came into existence accidentally without any former plans or schedules and its inhabitants also “tumbled” on the earth suddenly rather than being “created”.
However, I am not going to criticize the viewpoints of non-believers, since, believing in nothing is somehow a type of belief itself.
In this brief debate, I have also nothing to bring to the table about with agonists, atheists, seculars or the others who believe that religion does not play any role in the daily life. Of course, they have not any concerns about “the other world”, not afraid of punishment as a consequence of their sins and unlawful acts, never minding about a superior observer who witnesses all of their deeds, rarely preventing themselves from “wining and dining”.
Sometimes, you may begrudge to them who live and commit liberally, having no restrictions, feeling responsible to nobody but to their desires and wishes, not bothering themselves to take part in prayers and rituals, apparently enjoying life.
This does not mean that a religious believer is deprived of material joys, but he tries to live a in a way pleasing to his God, meaning with little regard for superficial entertainment. He is confident that his exercises and mortifications would be granted luxuriously someday and somewhere.
All of the 6 billions living on the Earth have their particular religious, political and personal beliefs and nobody is allowed to convict and interrogate them because of “having” them. Honestly, the beliefs are mixed with the private territory of individuals and privacy is respectable, something that not to be threatened.
But the question is that, how these personal ideologies and beliefs sometimes violate the privacy of others. Others who have certain kinds of freedoms and rights like us.
It is an accepted fact everywhere in the world that “freedom of religion” must be respected. All of us are free to choose our beloved religions and act upon them without being offended by others.
The interesting matter is that some of the Western countries believe in this “freedom of religion” in a slightly distorted way; it has become “the freedom of no religion,” or even “the freedom of not being bothered by any religion.” They declare that people are free to having no religion and those who are irreligious are under absolute support and security.
If the purpose was the protection of all believers and non-believers in an equal way without discrimination, that would be OK, but evidently, the main goal of western states is not to advocate the freedom of religion, but to propagate atheism and irreligiousness, while it was rarely observed any efforts done by them to protect the believers of Abrahamic faiths. The European and Northern American countries are the only parts of the world in which mosques are destroyed and replaced by railroads.
Denmark is the only country of the world in which newspapers are allowed to publish insulting cartoons for a divine prophet under the pretext of media freedom. The United States is the only country of the world in which being Muslim could potentially be a serious threat and make everyone suspicious of you after any crime is committed.
American soldiers are the only soldiers of the world who could allow themselves to point their guns toward the Holy Quran and shoot it, because they come from the “beacon of freedom” and the other countries are “the axis of evil.”
France is the only country of the world in which the hijab-wearing female students could be banned from universities because of obeying the Islamic clothing and not dressing up in the strange western styles.
Britain is the only country of the world in which the writer of “Satanic verses” could be honored to receive the Knight title because of introducing some innovative ways of insulting Muslims and Islam.
The Netherlands is the only country of the world in which a parliament member could be called the “symbol of freedom” because of producing an affronting movie which insults all those who adhere to Islam, and practice it in their daily lives.
I don’t know exactly that what disasters would happen under the flag of “freedom” and “democracy” in the future, but it would be better to evacuate the entire world from that type of democracy which just deals with “insult”, “aspersion” and “outrage”.
I am wondering that whether this “Made in the West” democracy has other functions rather than spreading disagreement among people and exacerbating the atrocities.
As a non-aligned, independent and freelance journalist, I prefer to be “stupid”, “uninformed” or “unlettered” if blasphemy and insulting the values of billions of people is a sign of “intellectuality” and “freedom of speech.”

Iran takes up case of hijab martyr

2009-07-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

The cruel murder of an Egyptian Muslim woman in Germany has come as a shock to the world, and especially the Islamic world, and Iran has denounced the killing which was inspired by prejudice against Muslims.

Marwa al-Sherbini, a 32-year-old Egyptian who was about four months pregnant and wore the hijab, had pressed charges against her neighbor for calling her a terrorist and was set to testify against him when he stabbed her 18 times inside a courtroom in front of her 3-year-old son on July 1 in Dresden. Al-Sherbini’s husband came to her aid and was also stabbed by the assailant and shot in the leg by a security guard who mistook him for the attacker, German prosecutors said. He is now in critical condition in a German hospital, according to al-Sherbini's brother. Iranians have been greatly saddened by the murder. Tehran citizens held a symbolic funeral for the woman. Students also plan to hold a protest rally in front of the German Embassy in Tehran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the German and Italian ambassadors to Tehran on Friday to protest about the Group of Eight leaders’ inaction over the murder of the young woman. In his meeting with German Ambassador Herbert Honsowitz, the director of the Western Europe Department of the Foreign Ministry criticized the German government for its slow response to the shocking crime and stated that Germany is responsible for ensuring the security of minorities living in the country, including Muslim residents. The crime was another example of Islamophobia in the West and the fact that Western media outlets downplayed the story once again showed the West’s selective approach toward human rights, he noted. The Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian ambassador because his country hosted the Group of Eight summit in L’Aquila. The handling of the case was “a clear example of the West’s double standards toward human rights issues,” the Foreign Ministry official told Italian Ambassador Alberto Bradanini. It is said that the assailant originally began to verbally insult the victim because she wore the Islamic headscarf, the hijab. Al-Sherbini filed charges against the man for the verbal insults. In the Islamic world, she is called the hijab martyr.

Iran urges OIC to respond to murder

Iran has asked the Organization of the Islamic Conference to establish a committee to investigate such “inhumane acts” and to take measures to prevent such acts from recurring. The murder of the woman before the eyes of police in the courtroom shed light on the “degree of insecurity and the increasing wave of hatred directed at refugees and religious minorities in Germany,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday. The “intentional double-standard” approach toward human rights has provided the ground for the “spread of racism and disrespect” for refugees and Muslim minorities in Western countries, the statement added. Many in Egypt were outraged by the attack and saw the low-key response in Germany as an example of racism and anti-Muslim sentiment. The 32-year-old pharmacist moved to Germany four years ago to be with her husband, who was granted a fellowship to study genetic engineering at the Max Planck Institute. Thousands attended al-Sherbini’s funeral in her hometown of Alexandria just a few hours after her body arrived in Egypt on Monday morning, the Los Angeles Times said in a report on its website. Mourners carried banners condemning racism and criticized both German and Egyptian authorities’ response to the crime. Although the Egyptian Foreign Ministry denounced the act and asked the German Foreign Ministry for an official response, Egyptians were upset at the way their government dealt with the matter. “The passive policy adopted by the Foreign Ministry will lead to similar incidents against other Egyptians and Muslims abroad,” said al-Sherbini’s brother Tarek. “Now we as Muslims and Arabs have a chance to show the whole world that real terrorism takes place in the West,” he added. “In the West, they don’t recognize us. There is racism there.” The funeral, which was attended by a large number of Egyptian politicians and parliament members, was overwhelmed with chants such as “We need revenge”; “Where is our Foreign Ministry?”; “Down with Germany”; and “No to racism”. The Coordination Council of Muslims in Germany condemned the murder of the Egyptian woman and said the way Germany treats Muslims is unacceptable. The organization also called for serious efforts to ensure that such acts never occur again in Germany and to stamp out prejudice against Muslims in the European country.

First veiled in the Belgian Parliament

2009-06-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

Mahinur Ozdemir

First veiled MP swears in in Brussels amidst controversy
The first veiled woman to take her seat in the Brussels parliament was sworn in amidst a growing controversy over the wearing of the Islamic dress. But she says the debate diverts attention from the real issues.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 23, 2009) REUTERS -
Brussels swore in its first veiled Member of Parliament on Tuesday (June 23), the same day the French next door were setting up a parliamentary mission in the Parliamentary Assembly, to decide whether or not to outlaw the full veil, burqa or niqab.
The 26-year-old Mahinur Ozdemir, a Christian Democrat (CdH) of Turkish origin, is the first veiled woman to take a seat in the regional parliament of Belgian capital Brussels.

Ozdemir says the debate that raged in the Belgian media and parliament over her veil overshadowed the main political issue: her political programme for Brussels.

Several members from the right and the liberal parties want all "religious or philosophically distinctive signs" to be banned from the realm's Assemblies.

Some schools in Flanders have already banned the veil but the decision remains in the hands of directors as it is not enshrined in the law.

The swearing in comes a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the burqa was "not welcome" in France.

The National Assembly in Paris has six months to write a report which could lead to the banning of the full veil.

Sarkozy also said he believed it was a symbol of subservience, not faith.

The debate has cut France through the middle. One French deputy, Corinne Lepage, describes the full veil as a "mobile prison'. Human Rights Watch in Paris says a burqa ban would violate human rights because it is a religious choice.

In Brussels, socialist deputy Caroline Desir says Ozdemir is far from being submissive. Her wearing of the head scarf was a personal choice she made when she was 14.

"It is a personal choice and so, can we talk of submission or something that is imposed on women or an aggression for us, in this context here it is very hard to think of such a thing," Desir said.

After the swearing in, Ozdemir said she was sad of the attention the media gave to the veil and invited the press to meet her in six months time to look at her achievements instead.

"Unfortunately I was reduced to nothing more than this veil and frankly it is hard to remove yourself from it and in the end it has got to be very heavy because underneath this veil there is a personality, there is someone who is engaged, who wants things to change, who wants to move forward, who wants to carry out loads of projects for the people of Brussels and who was rather keen to talk about those projects. Now it is not the case and I hope that after this I will be judged on my work. And I give you rendez vous in six months, not even one year," Ozdemir said.

Her mother, Malak Guler, also said the veil pressure had been hard to bear sometimes.

"It is impossible to explain this moment" (Q: And is the pressure beginning to lift?) (she giggles) "yes now it's ok." (Q: Hamdulillah?) "Hamdulillah. We are breathing a little, we are breathing, because it has been two months that we are in front of the media, and the pressure about her scarf, that I won't forget it, but now, we are going to forget this case and now we need to talk about her projects and nothing else." (Q: Are you going to breathe now?) "I am going to breathe. Inshallah," Guler says.

But with the French having brought the issue to the heart of politics and government the debate is unlikely to abate and Ozdemir is most likely to be back at the front line of the Western nations' veil-and-burqa debate for at least the next six months.

More than a mother

2009-05-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

By Kari Keshmiry

When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.

He sat back and saw all that was good,
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?

He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reflection on her child’s face.
A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.

She’ll work her fingers to the bone
to make a house into a home.
A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.

She’ll be there through your pain and strife,
she’ll stay constant in your life.
A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.

She’ll pick you up when you are down,
when you need a friend she’ll stick around.
A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.

A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.

A mother is one who can be strong
when you need someone to lean on.
You’re more than a mother to me;
a reflection of Him in your face I see,

a love that knows no boundaries.
I’m glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,

you’re more than my mother,
you are my friend.

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary

2009-05-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

Mother’s Day is celebrated to honor all mothers and express gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing up a child. Most countries including Australia, Canada, the U.S. and India celebrate Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May. Mothers Day came into being due to the efforts made by Ms Julia Ward Howe and Ms Anna Jarvis. The Resolution for having a dedicated Mother’s Day was signed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson on May 8, 1914. Since then people across the world have been celebrating Mothers Day with joy and devotion. Celebrating motherhood is a historical tradition dating back almost as far as mothers themselves. A number of ancient cultures paid tribute to mothers as goddesses, including the ancient Greeks, who celebrated Rhea, the mother of all gods. The ancient Romans also honored their mother goddess, Cybele, in a notoriously rowdy springtime celebration and the Celtic Pagans marked the coming of spring with a fertility celebration linking their goddess Brigid together with the first milk of the
ewes. During the 17th century, those living on the British Isles initiated a religious celebration of motherhood, called Mothering Sunday, which was held on the forth Sunday during the Lenten season. This holiday featured the reunification of mothers and their children, separated when working class families had to send off their young children to be employed as house servants. On Mothering Sunday, the child servants were allowed to return home for the day to visit with their parents. The holiday’s popularity faded in the 19th century, only to be reincarnated during World War II when U.S. servicemen reintroduced the sentimental (and commercial) aspects of the celebration American counterpart. In the United States, Mother’s Day experienced a series of false starts before eventually transitioning into the “Hallmark” holiday that we celebrate today. In 1858, Anna Reeves Jarvis was the first woman to hold an official celebration of mothers, when in her home state of West Virginia, she instituted Mothers’ Work Day to raise awareness about local sanitation issues.
During the Civil War, she expanded the scope of Mothers’ Work Day to include sanitary conditions on both sides of the battlefield. Meanwhile Julia Ward Howe, author of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” attempted to institute a national celebration of mothers that honored women’s inclinations toward peace (rather than cleanliness). In 1872, she initiated and promoted a Mother’s Day for Peace, to be held on June 2, which was celebrated the following year by women in 18 cities across America. The holiday continued to be honored by Bostonian women for
another decade, but eventually phased out after Howe stopped underwriting the cost of the celebrations.
Then in 1905, Anna Reeves Jarvis passed away and her daughter, Anna Jarvis, took up her mother’s torch. Anna swore on her mother’s gravesite that she would realize her lifelong dream of creating a national day to honor mothers. In 1907, Anna launched her campaign by handing out white carnations to congregants at her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, her mother’s church acquiesced to Anna’s request to hold a special Sunday service in honor of mothers - a tradition that spread the very next year to churches in 46 states. In 1909, Anna left her job and dedicated herself to a full-time letter-writing campaign, imploring politicians, clergymen and civic leaders to institute a national day for mothers.
In 1912, Jarvis’ efforts met with success: Her home state of West Virginia adopted an official Mother’s Day; two years later, the U.S. Congress passed a Joint Resolution,
signed by President Wilson, establishing a national Mother’s Day emphasizing the role of women in their families - and not, like Julia Ward Howe’s campaign, in the public arena. Ever since, Mother’s Day has been celebrated by Americans and many other countries on the second Sunday in May. Perhaps the country’s greatest proponent of motherhood, Anna Jarvis ironically never had children of her own. Yet that didn’t stop her from making the celebration of Mother’s Day her lifelong mission. In fact, as the holiday took on a life of its own, Jarvis expressed frequent dismay over its growing commercialization. “I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit,” she is quoted as saying.

What are friends for? A longer life

2009-05-08T00:12:00.000-07:00

In the quest for better health, many people turn to doctors, self-help books or herbal supplements. But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.

Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends.

A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age.

“In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’t terribly well appreciated,” said Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. “There is just scads of stuff on families and marriage, but very little on friendship. It baffles me. Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well-being than family relationships.”

In a new book, “The Girls From Ames: A Story of Women and a 40-Year Friendship” (Gotham), Jeffrey Zaslow tells the story of 11 childhood friends who scattered from Iowa to eight different states. Despite the distance, their friendships endured through college and marriage, divorce and other crises, including the death of one of the women in her 20s.

Using scrapbooks, photo albums and the women’s own memories, Mr. Zaslow chronicles how their close friendships have shaped their lives and continue to sustain them. The role of friendship in their health and well-being is evident in almost every chapter.

Two of the friends have recently learned they have breast cancer. Kelly Zwagerman, now a high school teacher who lives in Northfield, Minn., said that when she got her diagnosis in September 2007, her doctor told her to surround herself with loved ones. Instead, she reached out to her childhood friends, even though they lived far away.

“The first people I told were the women from Ames,” she said in an interview. “I e-mailed them. I immediately had e-mails and phone calls and messages of support. It was instant that the love poured in from all of them.”

When she complained that her treatment led to painful sores in her throat, an Ames girl sent a smoothie maker and recipes. Another, who had lost a daughter to leukemia, sent Ms. Zwagerman a hand-knitted hat, knowing her head would be cold without hair; still another sent pajamas made of special fabric to help cope with night sweats.

Ms. Zwagerman said she was often more comfortable discussing her illness with her girlfriends than with her doctor. “We go so far back that these women will talk about anything,” she said.

Ms. Zwagerman says her friends from Ames have been an essential factor in her treatment and recovery, and research bears her out. In 2006, a study of nearly 3,000 nurses with breast cancer found that women without close friends were four times as likely to die from the disease as women with 10 or more friends. And notably, proximity and the amount of contact with a friend wasn’t associated with survival. Just having friends was protective.

Bella DePaulo, a visiting psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose work focuses on single people and friendships, notes that in many studies, friendship has an even greater effect on health than a spouse or family member. In the study of nurses with breast cancer, having a spouse wasn’t associated with survival.

While many friendship studies focus on the intense relationships of women, some research shows that men can benefit, too. In a six-year study of 736 middle-age Swedish men, attachment to a single person didn’t appear to affect the risk of heart attack and fatal coronary heart disease, but having friendships did. Only smoking was as important a risk factor as lack of social support.

Exactly why friendship has such a big effect isn’t entirely clear. While friends can run errands and pick up medicine for a sick person, the benefits go well beyond physical assistance; indeed, proximity does not seem to be a factor.

It may be that people with strong social ties also have better access to health services and care. Beyond that, however, friendship clearly has a profound psychological effect. People with strong friendships are less likely than others to get colds, perhaps because they have lower stress levels.

Last year, researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone.

The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared.

“People with stronger friendship networks feel like there is someone they can turn to,” said Karen A. Roberto, director of the center for gerontology at Virginia Tech. “Friendship is an undervalued resource. The consistent message of these studies is that friends make your life better.”

(Source: nytimes.com)

Muslim woman refused travel on bus due to headscarf

2009-04-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Bus company Arriva said that it was a case of confusion and not racism that led a bus driver to refuse travel to a woman wearing a headscarf

A Muslim family was shocked when a local bus driver refused to continue driving unless the mother, who was wearing a traditional headscarf, got off the bus.

Århus Stiftstidende newspaper reported that Houria Nouioua, together with her husband and three young children, was told by the young male bus driver that she couldn’t travel on the bus because she was wearing a niqab – a traditional Muslim veil that covers the face.

‘The driver said that the rules in Denmark meant he couldn’t carry passengers that were masked,’ said the woman’s husband, Mohamed Belgacem. ‘I was so shocked that she couldn’t travel on the bus. I’ve lived in Denmark for 12 years and have never experienced anything like this.’

The Arriva bus remained at the bus stop for 15 minutes while other passengers became involved in the incident, outraged at the behaviour of the bus driver.

‘It’s pure racism and discrimination,’ said a female passenger who rang the Arriva head office and spoke to an official who instructed the driver to accept the Muslim passenger.

Martin Wex, press manager with Arriva said the driver will not be fired as it was not a case of racism but one of confusion.

‘The driver said he had heard that masks were forbidden during demonstrations in Denmark and thought that it also applied to busses,’ said Wex, who confirmed that in the next issue of the employee magazine rules will be made clear to all personnel.

Bad marriages harder on women's health

2009-04-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

The cardiovascular damage wrought by an unhappy marriage may be greater for women than men, a new study shows. While both men and women in “strained” unions, those marked by arguing and being angry, were more likely to feel depressed than happier partners, the women in the contentious relationships were more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and other markers of what's known as “metabolic syndrome,” said study author Nancy Henry, a doctoral candidate in clinical healthy psychology at the University of Utah.

Metabolic syndrome is known to boost the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

While many studies have linked poor marriages with poor health, Henry said she believes her is the first to tie in depression as a possible route through which the strain boosts the risk of metabolic syndrome. “The negativity triggers the depression, which is associated with the metabolic syndrome,” said Henry. This was found true, she said, only for the women in her study.

For the study, she interviewed 276 couples, median age 54, by questionnaires, asking about positive aspects of marriage quality such as mutual support and sharing, and negative aspects such as arguing, feelings of hostility and disagreeing over important issues such as kids, money and in-laws. She asked about depressive symptoms.

Couples were married, on average, 27.5 years, most in their original marriage. “For the most part, you could say, these were happily married couples,” Henry said. About 20 percent of the men and 12 percent of the women in the study had metabolic syndrome (diagnosed when three of the five risk factors were present).

The men were as likely as the women to become depressed with marital strain, but the link between negativity, depression and metabolic syndrome only applied to women, she said. The depression in women accounted for the metabolic syndrome, she said.

Exactly why isn't known, but Henry speculated that women may take the negativity more to heart and ruminate about it more than men.

Henry can't say specifically how much risk of metabolic syndrome is attributed to the negativity. Earlier research has linked negativity in marriage with an increased risk of heart disease for both men and women. She was expected to present her findings Thursday at the American Psychosomatic Society annual meeting, in Chicago.

Another researcher in the field called the findings interesting, especially the new focus on depression as a possible mechanism through which the strain influences the metabolic syndrome.

“The study raises the importance of increasing our understanding of how depression influences biological processes that result in metabolic syndrome -- and why these processes might be stronger for women than men,” said Debra Umberson, a professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin.

The findings, Umberson said, fit in with her research finding a strong effect of marital strain on partners' overall health. But the gender difference finding differs from her research. “Basically, we find that marital strain undermines the health of men and women,” she said, adding that perhaps the men in Henry's study had their health influenced in a different way.

More research is needed, Henry said, to figure out how the pieces fit together. Meanwhile, Umberson said: “Choose your partner carefully. A strained marriage is bad for your health.” If it's already strained, she said, focus on reducing conflict.

(Source: HealthDay News)

Stay married and save the planet

2009-03-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

Staying married is better for the planet because divorce leads the newly single to live more wasteful lifestyles, an Australian lawmaker said.

Senator Steve Fielding told a Senate hearing in the Australian capital Canberra that divorce only made climate change worse.
When couples separated, they needed more rooms, more electricity and more water. This increased their carbon footprint, Australian Associated Press (AAP) quoted Fielding as telling the hearing on environmental issues.

“We understand that there is a social problem (with divorce), but now we're seeing there is also environmental impact as well on the footprint,” AAP quoted him as saying.

Such a “resource-inefficient lifestyle” meant it would be better for the planet if couples stayed married, he said.

During the hearing, the senator read out quotes from a U.S. report that advocated his stance.

Fielding, who leads the independent Family First party, grew up in a family of 16 children and has been married for 22 years, his website says.

How to be honest with others

2009-03-21T01:02:00.000-07:00

You might say, “Well I sure do not need this How To. I am very honest and direct with everyone in my life!” Oh are you? So you have never told a “fib,” “a little white lie,” or “stretched the truth” in your entire life? You must be very unique--or lying. What you need to do is to take a sincere look at how you interact with others to determine how honest you really are with these three dishonest interactions .

Instructions : Step1-- Watch your social interaction with others over the next week and pay close attention to the “honesty meter” in your brain. Look for the any dishonest interactions you have with the people with whom you engage. See if you used: White lies, stretching the truth and/or fibs. Look at tips below for definitions of these three dishonest interactions.

Step2-- Be honest with yourself in your self-assessment of how you interact with others. Do use white lies to avoid conflict? Do you stretch the truth so as not to get the other party upset? Do you fib so that you do not have to face something you did wrong which you do not want to admit to?

Step3-- Clarify for yourself why you are dishonest with others. Once you identify if you have performed any of the dishonest social interaction described in Steps 1 & 2. Figure out why you were dishonest and decide if it would be better for you to be honest in the future in similar social situations.

Step4-- Make a commitment to be more honest in the future. People around you have an inner sense and can tell when you are not being totally open, transparent and honest with them. Remember, your best job of “trying to keep a happy face” is not always accepted in the manner in which you hope it will be accepted.

Step5-- Learn how to become more assertive in your relationships with others. This will help you tell them where you are coming from and why you feel and act with them the way you do. Being assertive will help you achieve commitment to being honest and open with people.

Step6-- Grow in the ability to be open, honest and assertive with others. Your family members, friends, work colleagues and associates will appreciate an “honest straightforward you.” They will appreciate your ability to have candor, directness and sincere feedback rather than your efforts to hide the truth so that they can be happy, content or “in the dark.”

Tips & warnings Three dishonest interactions with others

White lies: You will tell people what they want to hear rather than what is really going on. The reason for the white lie is that you want to make them happy, relaxed and content with how their lives, work or life circumstances are going and you do not want to “rain on” their parade with the truth about how things are really going on.
For example: On the job you found out that your monthly target goals have not been met, but you do not want the boss to know today because you want the boss to let you out early so you can get over to that big sale at the mall. This self-serving dishonesty is still dishonesty, no matter how you try to polish it off.

Stretching the truth: You will tell some of the story but not the whole story so as not to upset, disturb or depress people with the whole “stinking truth!” For example: Your friend is on a diet and really not losing weight. Well you say: “Wow! You're looking great! It is amazing how smaller you look already!” Ok, so you want to encourage your friend to stay on the diet but you are not being honest. Aren’t friendships and relationships built on honesty?

Fibs: You will “kid around” or “make light” of situations or circumstances without telling the truth about what is really going on, so as not to bring down, dampen, or depress the mood of the social situation in which you are fibbing.
For example: Your friend just tells you that she broke up with a friend of four months and you say: “Oh honey you will do just fine! He was a rat and it was only a matter of time till he would show his true colors.” Hmm, your friend is feeling rejected, isolated and alone and you are trying to do a job of “cheering up” but in reality you are being dishonest about the situation which in the long run can assist your friend to have extended bereavement over this breakup than if you had been honest from the get-go. Just say: “How sad it must be for you since you were so sure this was the one!”

Source: ehow.com

Saudi Arabia appoints first female minister

2009-02-24T05:20:00.000-08:00

An expert on girls' education became Saudi Arabia's first woman minister as part of a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle by King Abdullah that swept aside several bastions of ultra-conservatism.

Nora bint Abdullah al-Fayez, a U.S.-educated former teacher, was made deputy education minister in charge of a new department for female students, a significant breakthrough in a country where women are not allowed to drive.

“This is an honor not only for me but for all Saudi women. In the presence of a comprehensive operational team, I believe I'll be able to face challenges and create positive change,” she told Arab News. Fayez said she would study the state of girls' education in Saudi Arabia before commenting on the task before her.

In his first reshuffle since assuming the throne in 2005, King Abdullah also replaced two powerful enemies of reform, the chief of the Saudi religious police, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ghaith, and the country's most senior judge, Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan.

Ghaith, who runs the commission for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice, known as the mutawa, which enforces bans on alcohol and drugs, has gained a reputation for brutality. Luhaydan ruled last year that it was permissible to kill owners of satellite television channels broadcasting “immoral” programs. Several other hardline judges were sacked as part of a challenge against the kingdom's hardline religious establishment.

The grand Ulema commission, an influential grouping of religious scholars, will be reconfigured and opened to moderate clerics, breaking the grip of the ultra-conservatives.

King Abdullah also appointed a new head of a 150-seat consultative body, the Shura council, and replaced his ministers of education, health, justice and information.

Abdul Aziz al-Khoja, the new information minister, said: “The most important thing is that the kingdom's voice should reach the entire world, convey the message of peace and stability and portray the kingdom's stance of moderation, tolerance and flexibility.”

He told the Saudi Gazette he was open to debate with the country's journalists and intellectuals, adding: “I welcome their opinions and suggestions because they constitute the pillar of the Saudi media and represent the shining face of the country within and outside the kingdom.”

The reshuffle was broadly welcomed in the Saudi press, with the Saudi Gazette calling it a “boost for reform” and al-Hayat describing the changes as “bold reform”.

Saudi schools have long been criticised as breeding grounds for extremism, and the monarchy's western allies are likely to claim the reshuffle as a sign that the kingdom has the capacity to reform itself.

“This is the true start of the promises of reform,” said Jamal Khashoggi, editor of al-Watan newspaper. “They bring not only new blood, but also new ideas.”

Darwinism is the root of terrorism, Islam is the antidote: Harun Yahya

2009-02-13T04:09:00.000-08:00

Adnan Oktar, born in Ankara in 1956, known by his pen name Harun Yahya, is a prominent advocate of Islamic creationism in the creation-evolution debate. He is considered to be the leading Muslim advocate of creationism.

Mr. Yahya is opposed to Zionism and Freemasonry and sees them as very interrelated movements. He denounces terrorism, which he says is a product of Darwinism, while he considers Islam its antidote. Islam, he believes, is a religion of peace and love. Following is an excerpt of Harun Yahya’s exclusive interview with Kourosh Ziabari:

Q: Mr. Yahya, it seems the world is paying a heavy price for ignoring moral values and religious ethics -- and many governments make irrational and irreligious decisions, which lead to starvation, massacres, corruption, poverty, and economic inequality. What’s your view on this?

A: Muslims are generally unaware where the troubles are coming from. People in the world as a whole are unaware of the essence of the matter. When I investigated it I saw that Darwinism lay at the root of all this suffering, trouble, violence and pain as there would be no materialism without Darwinism. Darwinism is essential for materialist philosophy and without materialism there can be no communism, fascism, imperialism, savage capitalism, nor immorality nor terror. These are all inter-related, but because people are ignorant of that, they fail to grasp the importance of the intellectual struggle against Darwinism.

“Why is it so important, why do you concentrate on it so much?” they say. Atheism is active right across the world, hurting and literally damning people. But they do not look for the root cause. Yet Darwinism is the foundation of godlessness, of all atheist ideologies, and thus of all these troubles. I have gone right to the root of the matter and struck at the root of atheism in my work.

It is this that lies at the heart of Darwinists’ own suffering and the savagery in the materialist universe. In other words, by Allah’s leave, I have severed the jugular, the main artery of atheism. As Darwinism has collapsed, materialists have of course less and less respect for their own beliefs. It is no longer possible for people to be materialists. That is why, if Muslims want to fight atheism, they must wage an intellectual struggle against the religion of atheism. They can make use of the www.harunyahya.com web site for that. They can download all the books, documentaries and articles on the site free of charge and make use of them. They must raise their own knowledge, understanding, culture and reveal the invalidity of Darwinism one by one with scientific evidence. You will then see that all these problems you listed will disappear. The truth will come and falsehood fades away, insha’Allah.

Q: The Western media often try to distort the image of Islam by depicting extremists, fanatics, and suicide bombers as Muslims. How can we respond to this and show the true face of Islam?

A: Darwinists attempt to equate the violence and terror they themselves nurture and grow with Muslims. But this is inconsistent, because I have exposed it as a ruse. Darwinism is the root of terrorism, whereas Islam is the antidote to it. Islam is a religion of peace and love. Allah says in the Quran that “it is better for you if you forgive,” even those who commit murder. There is obviously no room for the violence of terror in such a faith. The fact is that some people who have received a Darwinist and materialist education have subsequently said they are Muslims, but they have never abandoned the mindset stemming from that education. As you know, Palestine was a training camp for Marxists and communists in the 1980s. In the same way, the socialist Baathist mindset dominated Syria and Iraq for years. Afghanistan was subjected to communist occupation. Some of these people received a Darwinist education in the West and then returned to settle in their Muslim countries. It is always Darwinists today that espouse the killing of the innocent, terror, and anarchy in the supposed name of Islam. But it is impossible to provide any proof for what they do from the Quran, the Sunnah of our Prophet, or statements by great Islamic scholars.

Q: In your view, what caused the current world economic crisis?

A: This economic crisis is proof of how powerless Masons and atheist Zionists are in the face of the might and power of Allah. Allah has shown them how the system they established fails to lead to success. They are at a complete dead end with no way out. And with His name of “Jabbar” (Compeller), Allah has made that system impossible to implement and is obliging them to implement Islamic moral values. Interest rates across the world are heading toward zero. Interest rates are nearly zero in the USA and Britain. News reports say that rates are at the lowest level ever. What does an interest-free system mean? It means the system encouraged by Islam. Another aspect of this crisis that is directing people toward Islamic moral values is its instrumental role in reinforcing solidarity among people, increasing mutual aid, and passing laws for the protection of the poor. Indeed, that is the only way out of the crisis, in other words, to act in the light of Islamic moral values. Trust in Allah is essential; people cannot overcome the crisis if they fail to invest or spend their money out of a fear for the future. The reason for the crisis is the flow of goods coming to a stop, money coming to a halt and frozen production. In other words, people are holding onto their money out of a worldly concern for tomorrow, worldly greed. Manufacturers are halting production because they cannot sell anything, be paid or borrow money. They hide away what they have in warehouses, just in case the price goes up. Those who want to buy hold their hands in case the price goes down or up. The result is a collective death. But those who place their trust in Allah will use their money in the best way, knowing that all things belong to Allah and that He distributes or holds back blessings as He wishes. You know that accumulating possessions is contrary to the moral values of Islam. They will reinvigorate the markets, helping the poor and increasing their purchasing power. In addition, taxes must be brought down, the agriculture and livestock sectors must be supported, luxury consumer goods limited and greater demand established in the markets. However, it is also most important to remember that the appearance of such a great economic crisis is one of the portents of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (peace be upon him), as revealed by our Prophet. As with all events created in destiny by Allah, it will therefore all work out for the best for believers.

Q: How do monotheistic religions bestow inner peace, stability, and strength on their adherents?

A: The existence of Allah, the Hereafter and true faith in Allah bestow happiness and joy on humanity. This is a secret of Allah. Almighty Allah says, “Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace.” All people who genuinely and sincerely live by the human nature created by Allah are highly balanced, moderate, pleasant, happy, and peaceful, as a blessing from Him. They know only too well that greed, a longing for wealth and the things of this world do not make people happy. If living for this world made people happy, if they found peace in this world, why are there almost no happy people around? Why is drug abuse, the use of anti-depressants and psychiatric therapy so high in some Western countries? Why are people so lonely, restless and stressed? Why do newspapers every day carry pages full of stuff about stress-related diseases? It means that, contrary to what some people say, turning away from Allah and religious moral values does not make people happy. Artificial happiness is not happiness. The fact that someone is smiling or shouts out in places of entertainment does not show that he or she is happy. For example, huge concerts take place. Tens of thousands of people attend. But nobody is happy. They all shout out, they all beat the rhythm out as fast as they can. They jump up and down, but they are not happy. If anyone asked the truth, or if they told the truth, they would say they are not happy. Happiness has nothing to do with these things. For example, people were very happy in the time of our Prophet (PBUH). The disciples of the Prophet Jesus (PBUH) were very happy with him. These things are real happiness. The climate of friendship the Prophet Moses (PBUH) established with the people around him was an environment of happiness. We must look for happiness in profundity; in profound pleasures and delights. But this is a blessing and secret from Allah for believers, one hidden from those who deny Him.

Q: Mr. Yahya, how can we create a peaceful and pleasant world, and how can we improve our lives and enjoy success?

A: We must be very sincere right from the start. Allah says that “sincere servants will be saved.” We must be deeply sincere. When we are sincere, Allah will show us the true path. He will inspire us with how to perform our daily prayers, how to fast, with what we must do to possess human and proper moral values and to live in love, and we will then do those things. We merely have to be sincere. Allah brings the Quran into our homes. We look and see the Quran, and we open it up and read it. Allah brings that knowledge to us. We just have to be sincere. People must be sincere; genuinely sincere. Because when they are sincere, they may encounter many things that conflict with their lower selves. They may experience many troubles and difficulties. But these difficulties are still agreeable and pleasant ones. A Muslim will accept them all. Because a person will not tell a lie when one is possible. A sincere person will be loyal when disloyalty might be expected. Loyalty is difficult. It may conflict with one’s lower self. Compassion, for example, may inflict material losses on people. Not being selfish and egotistical may also result in material losses. But a sincere person will nonetheless continue to be honest despite all the difficulties. Insha’Allah, the Almighty God will smooth the path for such sincere servants and bestow profound faith on them, lead them to salvation, and draw them close to Himself in this world and the Hereafter.

Q: Mr. Yahya, what’s your take on hegemonic powers’ occupation of independent nations under the pretext of the ‘war on terrorism’ and Israel’s merciless assault on the people of Gaza?

A: Since we are living in the End Times, these things are all developments which our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) has revealed will take place before the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH). The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) watched these incidents, literally as if in a mirror, saw them, and described them as they are. He referred to Muslim blood being spilled, to such happenings taking place in this period, to terrible corruption and chaos, to the spilling of innocent blood, to the killing even of women and children, to the killing of pregnant women, and to terrible strife. But our Prophet says that after that, “all this will be reversed with the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH), one of my children, and that there will come an age of well-being, abundance, peace, plenty, gentleness, and beauty.” All this will happen. In other words, all the current trouble and difficulties presage the proximity, insha’Allah, of a delightful, enlightened and prosperous age. What Muslims must do at this time, the most urgent issue they must concentrate on from morning till night, is to unite. All Muslims must sincerely ask this from Allah. They must constantly pray to Allah to “Hasten the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH), hasten the coming of the Prophet Jesus (PBUH).” They must cry out for this at legal meetings, write it on legal banners. They must say, “We want an Islamic Union.” As a prayer, they must keep this demand constantly on the agenda at every available opportunity, with great passion and enthusiasm. Even talking about the Turkish-Islamic Union will make those responsible for the oppression very uneasy. Once the Turkish-Islamic Union is set up there will be no such issue any more. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine will emerge into the daylight. But we must all be united, a whole, for that to happen. This is Allah’s command in the Quran. Almighty Allah states in the Quran, “Allah loves those who struggle in His Way in ranks like well-built walls.” We will carry out that command of Allah. At that time, by Allah’s leave, no harm will come even to a hair of Muslims’ heads.

Q: Mr. Yahya, you’ve talked about the appearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and praised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for recalling Imam Mahdi (PBUH) at the beginning of each of his addresses. Could you elaborate on your views?

A: In the Quran, Allah promises sincere believers that religious moral values will rule the world. The Messenger of Allah has also described how Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH) will be the instrument of that dominion as well as Hazrat Mahdi’s moral and physical features and the portents of his coming, all in great detail. Of course, Muslims will seek Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH) with joy and excitement and will pray for the coming of this holy personage. Everything our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said has happened. But if someone attaches no credence to our Prophet’s words, that means they attach no credence to the faith. Muslims must be courageous and determined and persistent, and must offer one another encouragement. If they do not want to sit back in the face of oppression, if they want to be active supporters of Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH), then they must strive for Muslim unity with all their hearts. They must love one another very much; regard one another as brothers and put their brothers’ lower selves above their own, like the parts of a building all welded together. I regard, insha’Allah, President Ahmadinejad as very sincere and genuine. I think he is a model for Muslims with his modesty and courage. The way he expresses his love for Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH) at every opportunity and encourages Muslims on the subject are very excellent traits. President Ahmadinejad sent the world a very important message when he came to Istanbul. The way he prayed behind a Sunni imam was a message meaning, “We are all one, Shiites and Sunnis are brothers, and I support the unification of the Muslim world.” That message made him very valuable in both Shiite and Sunni eyes, and earned him enormous respect, insha’Allah.

How to Fix a Bad Reputation

2009-01-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

In your professional life

Step1

Assess the substance of the bad reputation. Is there any truth to it? Or are you the victim of jealousy or whiners?
Step2

Seek a second or third opinion from trusted colleagues to determine if there is any validity to your bad reputation.
Step3

Reconsider your managerial style if you are in a position of leadership. Could you make subtle changes? Are you a good communicator and listener? Do you give clear instructions? Are raises overdue?
Step4

If you determine that you need to improve a personal attribute, make a commitment to yourself to change your ways.
Step5

Apologize to employees, clients or customers if you realize that your behavior or words have hurt your professional relationship, and let them know you will work hard to improve the situation.
Step6

Tell those around you that you're trying to improve. Others will be impressed if you can admit to your own flaws, and they might have some good pointers.
Step7

Perform one act every single day that counteracts your bad reputation.
Step8

If the bad reputation is not your fault, find out where it originates. Mention the rumors in a direct but nonconfrontational way: "Burt, I heard that some folks think I am having an affair with Helen in graphics. I'm sure you know there's no truth to the matter." Most gossipmongers will clam up if confronted.

In your private life

Step1

Examine the way you treat others. Is there any truth to the bad reputation?
Step2

Seek a second opinion from your spouse, a trusted friend or a therapist. Ask if they have recommendations and listen carefully to their answers.
Step3

If you determine that you need to improve a personal attribute, make a commitment to yourself to change your ways.
Step4

Apologize to loved ones whom you have hurt and let them know you will work hard to improve the relationship.
Step5

Tell others that you're trying to improve. They can hold you to your commitment even when you lapse.
Step6

Perform one act every single day that counteracts your bad reputation.
Step7

If you are the victim of malicious gossip, address its source. Be firm yet nonconfrontational. The gossiper is probably jealous, and if you respond with anger or emotion, it will delight him or her no end.

Israel is the most racist society: American singer

2009-01-17T07:42:00.000-08:00

David Rovics is a world-renowned American folk singer and political activist from the small, northeastern state of Connecticut. He encourages the free distribution of his work by all non-profit means to help spread his anti-war, anti-occupation message.

Rovics has strong anti-Zionist, anti-Imperialist feelings and is an advocate of peace in the Middle East without the intervention of external forces. He has performed several concerts worldwide and dedicated their interests, benefits to the oppressed people of Palestine. What follows is the complete text of Tehran Times’s exclusive interview with David Rovics, discussing the grievous, uncivilized incursion of Israeli forces into the besieged Gaza strip and the massacre of innocent people there. Tehran Times: Israel is carrying a concatenated series of assaults on the people of Palestine from the air, land, and sea. The casualty rates are surging dramatically and most of the victims are infants, children, women and civilians. What’s your opinion about such atrocities?

David Rovics: I’m so horrified by what Israel is doing to the people of Gaza, and also horrified by what Israel regularly does to the people of the West Bank, Lebanon and other countries. Israel’s war against the Palestinian people is not a response to the home-made, ineffective rocket fire coming out of Gaza .Israel’s war is the reason for the rocket fire in the first place. The idea that Israel is ‘retaliating’ is outrageous and if it were retaliating, the retaliation is so far beyond disproportionate that anyone talking like that can only be viewed as some kind of sick comedian.

Israel’s whole modus operandi is collective punishment, and unfortunately it is undoubtedly the case that not only the Zionist leadership but also many regular Israeli people view Arab life as dispensable. Tehran Times: U.S. vetoed the anti-Israeli resolution of Security Council two times, as it had done several times before. It didn’t allow the UN to impose embargo on Israel for its belligerent genocide of Palestinians. What’s the reason?

David Rovics: The double standards of both ‘democratic’ and ‘republican’ administrations throughout the history of U.S. relations with Israel and the Middle East have been staggering. The U.S. supports a government which has hundreds of nuclear weapons and regularly makes war against other countries. And without this support of the U.S. Israel would not be able to do the things it does. Meanwhile, Iran, which has not attacked another country in 2500 years I believe, is punished terribly in many ways by the U.S. for pursuing a nuclear program. … the U.S. double standard here is outrageous and is one of many instances that demonstrate why the U.S. government has no moral credibility whatsoever.

Tehran Times: The American media pretend that they are independent and non-aligned to government; however, they simply censor and withhold all of the news regarding the criticism of American-Israeli lobby, anti-Israeli remarks of world officials, demonstrations and condemnations. Does it mean that the American media are somehow governmental, while disguising themselves under the mask of independence?

David Rovics: Not exactly, I’d say rather that the government is largely corporate-controlled, and so is the media. It would however be an oversimplification to say that the media ‘withhold all of the news’ regarding criticism of Israel by world officials, etc. In fact, this is not true. What might be called the ‘evil genius’ of the American corporate media and the American system in general is that it’s not entirely monolithic. Voices speaking out against Israel do occasionally get heard in the corporate media, thus giving a lot of people a sense that the media is fair. The reality is that overwhelmingly the media represents pro-Israel voices, and very rarely does one hear the critical voices. That way the media can insure that most Americans are terribly ill-informed, while still allowing many Americans to live under the illusion that the media is not actually censored. In fact, I’d say that keeping critical voices out of the media 95% of the time is much more effective in brainwashing a population than keeping those voices out 100% of the time.

In any case, the corporate media is not independent, though many of the good journalists working for it wish it were. It serves the interests of the elite, even if it does allow a bit of dissenting voices to be heard now and then. Tehran Times: What’s in your view, the main reason behind the unconditional and overall vindication that the U.S. government purveys to Israel, even in the event that Israel commits such a crimes? Why it does not deal with Israel such as other countries.

David Rovics: I often wonder this myself. I mean, generally the U.S. government’s foreign policy represents U.S. corporate interests. You can see this over and over in the history of U.S. foreign policy. When the United Fruit Company wanted the government of Guatemala overthrown, the CIA overthrew it. When the oil companies wanted Mossadegh’s overthrown, the CIA put the shah into power and so on. But given the economic importance of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, why does the U.S. government insist on such unequivocal support for Israeli apartheid and the Israeli slaughter of Arabs?

I’d say the answer is not simple, but actually quite multi-faceted. Partly it’s that the U.S. leadership doesn’t trust Arab regimes, even ‘friendly’ ones, and wants to have a more ‘European’ ally in the region. Partly it’s that the U.S. likes to play with fire, and wants to keep Israel strong in order to constantly demonstrate to the rest of the region what can happen to them if they fall out of line. Partly the U.S. supports Israel because it undermines the so-called democratic movements in the Middle East as long as undemocratic regimes can claim Israel as the source of their problems. It is more difficult for a democratic movement to succeed in opposing monarchies and dictatorships, and of course the U.S. government does not like democracy either at home or abroad). Partly U.S. support for Israel stems from the profits made by the military-industrial complex from this support. Billions of dollars of arms sales every year to Israel alone. Partly it’s about a fundamentally racist attitude many in the powers-that-be have towards Arabs and Muslims in general. And last but not least, partly U.S. support for Israel stems from the power of AIPAC and the confusion of many Jewish Americans around Israel, what it stands for, why it exists and how it behaves. In many cases ‘confusion’ would be a very generous term, and other stronger words might be more appropriate, such as ‘racist’ or ‘fascist.’

Tehran Times: What’s your anticipation about the prospect of Israeli regime with this vicious and savage approach which it has taken toward the world? Is it going to survive with its current stance that is arousing a global hatred and contempt toward itself?

David Rovics: Israel is the most racist society I have ever spent time in. There are many reasons why this is the case, and it’s not simple. I have no idea what the future holds, but it seems to me that positive change could come from many different potential developments. One is that many Jews don’t want to live in Israel; furthermore, most Jews in the world don’t feel particularly connected to Israel, according to polls I’ve read, and most Israelis don’t want to live in the settlements. This threatens the idea of Zionist expansion. Also, Palestinians have a much higher birth rate than Israeli Jews, which threatens the democratic underpinning of Israeli society. But it seems to me the situation is most likely to change not from within Israel, but from within either the U.S. or the Arab world. Either the U.S. or the Arab world, with decent leadership in either, could change everything. Israel can’t do what it does without U.S. support. Also the U.S can’t do what it does without the Arab world being terribly divided, without regimes like Saudi Arabia being motivated primarily by money rather than by any love of their fellow Arabs. I don’t know when the U.S. might have a better government or when the Arab leadership will come together; however I wish I did!

Tehran Times: And finally, what’s your personal agenda about such a disaster which is underway in Gaza? Do you intend to perform any concert or record any piece of music about that? David Rovics: In all of the concerts I’ve done since Gaza has been in the headlines I’ve been talking and singing about the situation there more than usual, trying to take advantage of the fact that people are once again thinking about Palestine in one way or another. I’d love to do more than that, and be involved with lots of demonstrations, concert tours focused on the situation there, etc., but this will depend on people and organizations mobilizing that I can plug into. I hope there will be lots of that going on. Here in Australia where I’m finishing a tour right now, I just sang at a rally for Gaza the other day. When I return to the U.S. tomorrow I hope to do much more than that .

Outrage as Israel bombs UN headquarters, hospital, school, media centre

2009-01-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

BEIT-UL-MOQADDAS

(The Independent) -- Israeli tanks thrust deep inside Gaza City Thursday night as ferocious fighting raged in dense residential areas with terrified families fleeing along streets echoing with gunfire, although many others were trapped in their homes.

Israeli shelling set fire to the UN headquarters, a hospital, a school and a building used by the media, leading to widespread international protests and renewed calls for a ceasefire in the conflict which has so far cost 1,073 Palestinian and 13 Israeli lives.

Three members of UN staff were injured when three Israeli shells hit the headquarters, setting it on fire. Thousands of tons of desperately needed food and humanitarian supplies were destroyed and about 700 refugees given shelter in the building had to be evacuated. UN officials said the shells were white phosphorus, believed to have been responsible for burns suffered by some Palestinian civilians.

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, on a peace mission to the region, said: “I conveyed my strong protest and outrage to the Defense Minister and Foreign Minister and demanded a full explanation.”

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, apologized for the shelling but claimed Hamas fighters had opened fire from the centre.

John Ging, the director of operations for the UN relief agency, UNRWA, in Gaza described the Israeli claim about a Hamas presence as “nonsense”. He added: “It's a total disaster for us.” Mr. Ging said the UN had warned the Israelis the compound was in danger from shelling that had begun overnight, and provided them with GPS co-ordinates to prevent an attack.

The Al-Quds hospital was also hit by shellfire when Israeli tanks moved further into the city. A tower housing the Reuters agency and other media outlets was also hit. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the damage caused to the Al-Quds hospital is “completely and utterly unacceptable based on every known standard of international humanitarian law”.

The hospital is in the Tal Hawa district, a packed residential area. Streams of people fled from the fighting, carrying what belongings they could on foot, by car, and, in some cases wheelbarrows after homes were demolished and set ablaze. Mahmud Tejan Hussein drove away with seven members of his family. “Bullets started hitting our house and I decided that we must get away from here. There are Israeli tanks in the area now and we might get blocked off if we wait. But I do not know where we are going to go. We wanted to go to the UN office, but that has been attacked. Wherever we go, the fighting will follow us.”

Musah Mohammed, 36, who stayed at his home in an apartment block, said: “We cannot go out. There is shooting in the street. My mother is ill and she is old; we cannot leave her here. People are shouting to each other from balconies crying that they need help. We have no electricity and very little food and water. We are very afraid; we do not know what will happen next.” It was unclear whether the escalation was a final push before a ceasefire, as peace talks continued yesterday in Cairo where Israel's chief negotiator Amos Gilad arrived to hear the Hamas response to an Egyptian initiative

Every day is Ashura and every land is Kerbala

2009-01-09T01:09:00.000-08:00

What is Ashura ?

In the month of Muharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680 AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. It seemed in those days insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilised by the Umayyad regime besieged a group of persons numbering less than a hundred and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority.
The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all killed. It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram in Kerbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations. In this article, we shall examine briefly the principal adversaries.

Who is Hussain ?

The leader of the small band of men who were martyred in Kerbala was none other than Husain (A), son of Ali bin Abi Talib (A) and grandson of the Holy Prophet (S). Who was Husain? He was the son of Fatima (A) for whom the Holy Prophet (S) said, "Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May God love whoever loves Husain." [1] With the passing away of his brother Hasan(A) in 50 AH, Husain (A) became the leader of the household of the Holy Prophet (S). He respected the agreement of peace signed by Hasan (A) and Muawiya, and, despite the urging of his followers, he did not undertake any activity that threatened the political status quo. Rather he continued with the responsibility of looking after the religious needs of the people and was recognised for his knowledge, piety and generosity. An example of the depth of his perception can be seen in his beautiful du'a on the day of Arafat, wherein he begins by explaining the qualities of Allah, saying: " (Oh Allah) How could an argument be given about Your Existence by a being whose total and complete existence is in need of you? When did you ever disappear so that you might need an evidence and logic to lead (the people) towards You? And when did You ever become away and distant so that your signs and effects made the people get in touch with you? Blind be the eye which does not see You (whereas) You are observing him. What did the one who missed You find? And what does the one who finds You lack? Certainly, the one who got pleased and inclined toward other than You, came to nothingness (failed)." On the other hand, we have Yazid, whose father (Muawiya) and grandfather (Abu Sufyan - the arch-enemy of the Prophet) had always tried to sabotage the mission of the Holy Prophet, and who showed his true colour by stating in a poem, "Bani Hashim had staged a play to obtain kingdom, there was neither any news from God nor any revelation." [2] Mas'udi writes that Yazid was a pleasure-seeking person, given to wine drinking and playing with pets. It is no wonder that Husain's response to Yazid's governor, when asked to pay allegiance to Yazid was, "We are the household of the prophethood, the source of messengership, the descending-place of the angels, through us Allah had began (showering His favours) and with us He has perfected (His favours), whereas Yazid is a sinful person, a drunkard, the killer of innocent people and one who openly indulges in sinful acts. A person like me can never pledge allegiance to a person like him ..." [3] The revolution of Husain (A) was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Husain (A) act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Husain (A) himself remarked when he left Madina for the last time, "I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil." [4] Hussain (A) was killed on the battlefield as he did Sajdah. His head was removed from his body on the plains of Kerbala, mounted on a spear, and paraded through villages and towns as it was taken to Damascus and presented at the feet of Yazid. Why remember Ashura ? Why is Husain (A) regarded as the "leader of the martyrs" ? It is because he was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Husain (A) himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing. Passiveness by Husain (A) in this situation would have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Husain (A) took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner. It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain (A) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy. As Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat (in Urdu): Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main, Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Kerbala Won't the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kauser (Imam Ali (A)) The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (S). It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet (S) and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.

References:
[1] Ibn Majah: Sunan, Hadith 144.
[2] Ibn Jarir: Tarikhu'l Umam wa'l Muluk, vol.13, p.2174.
[3] Sayyid ibn Ta'us: Maqtalu'l Husain, pp.10-11
[4] Al-Khatid al-Khuwarazmi: Maqtalu'l Husain ,vol.1, p.88.

ARE YOU ANGEY ? ! IF SO, YOU NEED TO READ THIS INDEPTH REVIEW ON WHAT ANGER IS AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOU

2008-12-26T02:49:00.000-08:00

Anger is one of the most misunderstood and overused of human emotions. First, anger is a reaction to an inner emotion and not a planned action. Second, anger is easier to show: everyone gets angry. Third, the feelings
underlying the anger reaction make us feel vulnerable and weak; anger makes us feel, at least momentarily, strong and in control. Fourth, angry behaviors are learned over the life-span and therefore can be unlearned and replaced with healthier patterns of coping. Fifth, anger can be an immediate reaction to an isolated event or it can be a response after numerous events. To repress anger is unhealthy and yet to express it impulsively, as we so often do, may give momentary relief but inevitably will carry negative consequences. To alter our angry responses, we need to
understand from where it comes. There are a variety of factors that increase the probability of an anger reaction. First, if we have seen our parents get angry first and resolve an issue after, we are more likely to use the same approach. Thus, types of anger are learned. Second, if we are frustrated and feel stressed, we are more likely to react with anger. Third, if we are tired, we are more prone to react in an angry fashion. Fourth, if we tend to hold our feelings inside rather than talk them out, we are more likely to have an angry outburst as the pressure increase much like a pressure cooker.

Styles of Anger

Each of us develops their own special style of anger:
The “Mad Hatter” Driver: This person yells, curses, and offers gestures to other drivers when s/he is in a hurry and frustrated.
The Sulkers: This person shuts down in a chair and stops speaking and looking at others.
Safe Haven Abuser: This person takes her/his frustration out only on the ones s/he loves.
The Distracter : This person disregards the object of his annoyance by reading the paper, forgetting to run an errand, or playing the radio too loudly. When s/he is confronted, the response is: I didn’t know; I forgot; I’m tired.
The Blamer: This person blames everybody for everything and rarely accepts responsibility for his own short comings.
The Avenger: This person believes s/he has been given the right to seek vengeance in any way for anything by using the excuse: they deserved it.

Anger Check List — How Is Your Anger? Check off each selection that applies to you.

* People tell you that you need to calm down.
* You feel tense much of the time.
* At work, you find yourself not saying what is on your mind.
* When you are upset, you try to block the world out by watching TV, reading a book or magazine, or going to sleep.
* You have trouble going to sleep.
* You feel misunderstood or not listened to much of the time.
* People ask you not to yell or curse so much.
* Your loved ones keep saying that you are hurting them.
* Friends do not seek you out as much.

Scoring: add up your selections and see how you did.

0 - 2 MANAGEABLE you could benefit from relaxation training
3 - 5 MODERATE you need to learn more about what stresses you, and learn stress management techniques .
6 + OUT OF CONTROL you have an anger problem that could benefit from learning anger management techniques

Conclusion

Anger reactions have been likened to a train running out of control and about to derail. A little anger can motivate us to take action in positive ways. A lot of anger will make us red with rage. Anger that is out of control will drive away those whom we love the most and endanger our employment.

Happiness 'rubs off on others'

2008-12-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Happiness is infectious and can "ripple" through social groups, according to US researchers.

A study of 5,000 adults suggests a person's happiness is dependent on the happiness of those around them.
A friend who becomes happy and lives less than a mile away increases your likelihood of happiness by 25%, the British Medical Journal reported.
But the mood of work colleagues did not have an effect, the Harvard Medical School-led study found.
The researchers used data on adults who took part in the US Framingham Heart Study - set up to look at the risks leading to future heart disease - between 1971 and 2003.
Participants were asked to identify their relatives, close friends, place of residence, and place of work and were followed up every two to four years.

They were also asked whether they agreed with statements on whether they enjoyed life, felt hopeful about the future, were happy and felt they were just as good as other people.
It was found that live-in partners who become happy increased the likelihood of their partner being happy by 8% and similar effects were found for siblings living close by (14%) and neighbours (34%).
The relationship between people's happiness levels seemed to extend up to three degrees of separation - to the friend of a friend of a friend.

Proximity

The analysis also showed that close physical proximity was important for the spread of happiness.

A person was 42% more likely to be happy if a friend who lives less than half a mile away becomes happy - an effect that declined with greater distance.
Study leader Professor Nicholas Christakis said the results suggest clusters of happiness occur because happiness spreads and not just because of a tendency for people to associate with similar individuals.
"Most important from our perspective is the recognition that people are embedded in social networks and that the health and wellbeing of one person affects the health and wellbeing of others."

Professor Andrew Steptoe, a psychology expert from University College London, said: "It makes intuitive sense that if people around you are happy that might have an impact on your own happiness.
"What's a bit more surprising is that it's not just the people who you closely come into contact with but people a step removed as well."
He said the work had implications for public health.
"Happiness does seem to be associated with protective effects on health.
"If happiness is indeed transmitted through social connections, it could indirectly contribute to social transmission of health," he said.

Iranian Police Officers' Eid Ul Adha

2008-12-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

Millitant affiliated to a terrorist group known as " Jundu'llah " have reportedly executed all 13 Iranian Police Officers who were kidnapped in Jun . Jundu'llah have abducted the officers at the check point , south eastern city in Sarawan & transferred them to Pakistan . The armed group threatened to kill the hostages if Iranian government would fail to release all its 200 members in Iranian prisons .

Jundu'llah operates near Iranian borders with Pakistan . Millitants frequently attack Iranian civillians as well as hight profiles government & security officials .

Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health

2008-11-27T06:10:00.000-08:00

Friendships are good for your health. During hardships, they are a source of comfort and strength. Learn how to find and nurture friendships and how to be a good friend.

It's the shoulder to lean on. The good advice. The unspoken comfort. The good times and shared laughter. Friendships offer all these benefits, and lots more. They boost your self-esteem, provide companionship and even help protect your health and mental well-being.
It's not always easy to form the close bonds of friendships, though. It may be especially hard to develop and keep up friendships when your life is hectic — work demands, family time, school. But friendships are important for both men and women. Take a minute to think about the friends in your life. Do you have close friends? Would you like to develop more friendships?
Learn why friendships are good for you and how you can bring more friends into your life.

Why friendships are so important

Good friends are good for your health. Talking with a friend over a cup of coffee, going to a ballgame together, chatting while your kids check out the playground, or hitting the links for a round of golf can offer simple but powerful ways to connect. The connections of friendship increase your sense of belonging, purpose and self-worth, promoting positive mental health.
Friendships can help you weather the trauma of a divorce, a job loss or the death of a loved one. Your friends may encourage you to change unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking. Or they may urge you to visit your doctor when you feel overly anxious, sad or hopeless. Friends can also share in your good times — a new baby, a new job, a new house.
They can celebrate the good times with you or offer comfort during the bad. Just knowing that friends are there for you can help you avoid unhealthy reactions to stressful situations.

Ways to actively seek out friendships

Some people benefit from large and diverse networks of friends, while others prefer a smaller circle of friends and acquaintances. You may have certain very close friends you rely on for deeply personal conversations, and more casual friendships for movies, a pickup game of basketball or backyard cookouts.
But many adults, especially men, find it hard to develop new friendships or keep up existing friendships. For one thing, time may be short, and friendships may take a back seat to your other priorities, such as long days on the job, tiling the kitchen floor or caring for aging parents. Or maybe you've moved to a new community and haven't yet found a way to meet people.
Developing friendships does take some work. But because friendships are so important to your overall sense of well-being, it's worth the time and effort.

Here are some ways you can develop new friendships:

* Get out with your pet. Seek out a popular dog park, make conversation with those who stop to talk on your daily neighborhood jaunts, or make pet play dates.

* Work out. Join a class through a local gym, senior center or community fitness facility. Or start a lunchtime walking group at work.

* Do lunch. Invite an acquaintance to join you for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

* Accept invites. When someone invites you to a party, dinner or social gathering, say yes. Resist the urge to say no just because you may not know everyone there or you may initially feel awkward. You can always leave if you get too uncomfortable.

* Volunteer. Hospitals, places of worship, museums, community centers and other organizations often need volunteers. You can form strong connections when you work with people who share a mutual interest.

* Join a cause. Get together with a group of people working toward a goal you believe in, such as an election or the cleanup of a natural area.

* Join a hobby group. Find a nearby group with similar interests in such things as auto racing, music, gardening, books or crafts.

* Go back to school. Take a college or community education course to meet people with similar interests.

* Hang out on your porch. Front porches used to be social centers for the neighborhood. If you don't have a front porch, you can still sit out front with a cup of coffee or a good book. Making yourself visible shows that you are friendly and open.

You may not become instant friends the first time you meet someone. But the seeds of lasting friendships can be sown with a friendly wave as you're mowing the lawn or bringing in the newspaper.

Keep friendships nurturing and healthy

Developing and maintaining healthy friendships involves give and take. Sometimes you're the one giving support to your friends, and other times you're on the receiving end. Letting friends know you care about them and appreciate them will help ensure that their support remains strong when times are rough. It's as important for you to be a good friend as it is to surround yourself with good friends.
Here are some ways to make sure your friendships remain healthy and supportive:

* Go easy. Don't overwhelm friends with phone calls or e-mails. Communication can be brief — five minutes on the phone or several sentences in an e-mail. Find out how late or early you can call and respect those boundaries. Do have a plan for crisis situations, when you may need to temporarily set aside such restrictions.

* Be aware of how others perceive you. Ask a friend for an honest evaluation of how you come across to others. Take note of any areas for improvement and work on them.

* Don't compete. Don't let a friendship turn into a hidden battle over who makes the most money, has the best clothes or the coolest car. Don't fight over other friends. This will only turn friendships into unhealthy rivalries.

* Adopt a healthy, realistic self-image. Both vanity and constant self-criticism can be turnoffs to potential friends.

* Resolve to improve yourself. Cultivating your own honesty, generosity and humility will enhance your self-esteem and make you a more compassionate and appealing friend.

* Avoid relentless complaining. Nonstop complaining is tiresome and draining on friendships. Talk to your friends about how you can change the parts of your life that you're unhappy about.

* Adopt a positive outlook. Try to find the humor in things. Laughter is infectious and appealing.
* Listen up. Make a point to ask what's going on in the lives of your friends. Don't talk about your own problems all the time. Friendships can't last when you're self-absorbed.

Friendships pay dividends

Friendships provide a sense of belonging and comfort. Friendships act as a buffer against life's hardships and help you develop resilience. They offer compassion and acceptance. And friendships can make you feel important and needed by giving you a chance to offer someone else comfort and companionship, too.
Relationships change as you age, but it's never too late to build new friendships or reconnect with old friends. The investment in your friends will pay off in better health and a brighter outlook for years to come.

First Iranian female Professor of Cardiac Surgery in Europe

2008-11-20T03:49:00.000-08:00

Biography

Marjan Jahangiri graduated in medicine from University College Hospital , University of London , in 1988. Subsequently, she completed her senior house officer positions at University College London and affiliated hospitals. She completed her training in General Surgery in 1992 and embarked on a career in cardiothoracic surgery. She then became a registrar in cardiac surgery at the London Chest, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal Brompton Hospitals in London . She was awarded a research fellowship at the William Harvey Laboratories at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and Medical School . Having completed her research fellowship in 1996, she returned to the Royal Brompton Hospital as a senior registrar where she trained in the fields of adult and paediatric cardiac surgery. She was awarded a position in sub-specialist paediatric cardiac surgery as a senior resident at the Children's Hospital, Boston , Harvard. Upon her return from the United States in 1999, she obtained a position as national trainee in paediatric cardiac surgery at Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street and Birmingham Children's Hospital for a period of two years. She was appointed as Consultant Cardiac Surgeon and Senior Lecturer at St. George's Hospital and Medical School in 2001. She was appointed Professor of Cardiac Surgery at University of London in 2007. Her major interests in the field of clinical cardiac surgery are: aortic surgery, especially major and major complex cases (Marfan's), aortic valve surgery, minimally invasive aortic valve surgery, beating heart surgery, adult congenital operations and surgery for the pregnant. She is also a specialist in aneurysms of the aorta. Marjan Jahangiri is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed articles and published abstracts. She is also a frequent speaker at national and international forums. At any one time, she has 5 —7 research fellows who work under her direct supervision. She is on the regular review board of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Academic and Professional Degrees

1988 University College & Middlesex School of Medicine, London , (MB BS)
1992 Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England , (FRCS)
1999 Intercollegiate Specialty in Cardiothoracic Surgery, (FRCS CTh)
1999 Master of Surgery, University of London , (MS)

Prizes

1985 Department of Pharmacology Scholarship
1985 Pharmacology Project: Prostaglandins and antihistamines (Merit)
1988 Final MB BS Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2 nd prize (Merit)
1989 J Epson memorial prize for clinical research (Distinction) University College & Middlesex Hospitals
1995 Ronald Edwards Medal for Best Paper at the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland .
Societies
British Medical Association
Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland European
Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Royal Society of Medicine

Employment

July 2007 — Present
Professor of Cardiac Surgery, St. George's Hospital , University of London

May 2001 — July 2007

Consultant Cardiac Surgeon and Reader in Cardiac Surgery, St. George's Hospital , London

1999 — 2001

Senior Registrar in Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Great Ormond Street Hospital / Birmingham Children's Hospital

1998 — 1999
Senior Resident, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Children's Hospital, Harvard University , Boston

1997 — 1998
Senior Registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery Royal Brompton Hospital

1996 — 1997
Research Registrar The William Harvey Laboratories, St. Bartholomew's Hospital

1992 — 1996
Specialist Registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery Royal Brompton Hospital / St. Bartholomew's / London Chest Hospitals

Academic Summary

Total number of Papers 60
Total number of Abstracts 65
Book Chapters 4

“‘Sacrilege’ and the Nightmare of ‘Freedom’”

2008-11-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

By Kourosh Ziabari

Kourosh Ziabari is an independent journalist and freelance writer from Iran.

President Obama - Lessons of Success

2008-11-07T05:51:00.000-08:00

I really don’t care too much when it comes to voting in the US presidential elections because, frankly, I’m Canadian *smile*. But the story of Obama is a modern day story of success that repeats again and again for those who understand the principles of success.

Here are three of those principles based on Obama’s rise to Presidency today…

One: Not everyone has to vote for you

A very successful man once said, “I don’t know what the secret to success is, but I do know the secret to failure: trying to please everyone.” You do NOT need everyone to vote for you, you need the majority (and in the case of entrepreneurs, a small minority is enough to make you a million bucks).
Stop trying to cater to everyone. Don’t try to please old and young, rich and poor, Republicans and Democrats… focus instead on those who will vote for you in life. Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.

Two: Just because no one has done it in the past, doesn’t mean it cannot be done.

When setting out on your goals, you may not find anyone who has done what you are planning to do. You may incorrectly come to the conclusion that it cannot be done because of the past history. But remember: every creation of Allah has a beginning.
And once it has been done once, it will be easy to duplicate.
If your dreams are something that hasn’t been done before, then let me give you the glad tidings that when you succeed, in sha Allah, your victory will give “permission” for other leaders to imagine what is possible.

Three: Don’t listen to the nay-Sayers

I was listening, last year, to “experts” commenting on the presidential election, and I distinctly remember the “expert” explicitly point out how America would never ever elect an African American to be their President.
I wonder what that “expert” is saying now.
Take intelligent counsel but always put your heart into what you are doing. In the end, if you open your mind and listen to your heart… you can’t go wrong, in sha Allah.

I vote for you! Now go do something amazing today.

Source: discoverulife.com

Roodaki, Father of Persian Poetry

2008-10-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated the years 2008 and 2009 in honour of two great Iranian scholars, the Father of Persian poetry, Roodaki Samarqandi and the philosopher-theologian Mohammad Ghazali. Every year member states apprise the UNESCO of cultural and artistic events in their countries and also inform it of the century or millennium celebrations of their great figures in the field of science, philosophy, culture and literature.
Accordingly, UNESCO has chosen to commemorate in the years 2008 and 2009 such immortal Iranian figures Roodaki, Mohammad Ghazali, the multi-sided genius of the Safavid era, Sheikh Bahaeddin Ameli, and the great pan-Islamist activist of the 19th century, Seyyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi.

This year, the Persian speaking world, made up of Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia, is commemorating the 1150th birth anniversary of the Father of Persian Poetry, Abu Abdullah Ja'far ibn Mohammad, whose pen name Roodaki Samarqandi is derived from his birthplace Roodak, a village between the two famous cities of Samarqand and Bukhara in Trans-Oxiana. Various programs, including seminars, plays, musical concerts, poetry recitation, etc, will be held on the occasion. Starting today, we would be presenting you a 15-part weekly serial on Roodaki's life and times, as well as his thoughts and works. We will also make you familiar with researches done on Roodaki both in Iran and abroad. Today's edition, the 1st of the 15 episodes, will dwell on Iranian literature till the time of Roodaki.

Poetry is the symbol of human soul and sentiments and the fruit of our inner emotions. Thus, ever since the cognizance of beauty, the tenderness of poetry has existed, and will remain in existence till the human spirit is alive with the feelings of love and emotions. Throughout Iranian history, poetry has had a special status in the hearts of people and even among rulers. Poetry is intermingled with Iranian life to such an extent that Persia or the Land of Iran has become famous for its sweet words and poetic minds all over the world. Although, Iran like all other lands has experienced invasions and foreign domination that inflicted great harm on its artistic and poetic works, very soon, Iran succeeded in conquering the conquerors, thanks to its innate spirit of art, culture and poetry, which always revived its exuberance and led to a greater flowering of its civilization. Perhaps that's why the invasion and plunder of Persia by Alexander of Macedonia or others, has made Iran, like the mythical bird Phoenix, rise to greater heights from ashes. This is the reason that no invader has succeeded in obliterating the brilliant culture and civilization of this land. It is said that after conquering the Persian Achaemenid Empire, Alexander ordered the translation of scientific and literary books of Iran into Greek, and then burned the original texts in a bid to attribute the wisdom of the Iranians to the Greeks. Nevertheless, these pillages couldn't wipe out the Iranian heritage from the hearts of the people.
After the death of Alexander in 325 BC, the Seleucid Empire founded by his general, Seleucus Nicator, could not hold on to the Iranian Plateau for long, thanks to the rise to power of the local Parthian dynasty of northeastern Iran that drove back the Greeks and held sway over most of the lands of the Achaemenids including Mesopotamia or present day Iraq. For almost four centuries the Parthian Dynasty was in power and it helped revive the glories of Iranian art and culture. In 226 AD, the Parthians gave way to a new dynasty that rose from Fars or southern Iran under Ardeshir Babakan. Known as the Sassanians, this new Persian Empire rivaled the Roman Empire and checked its eastward expansion. For over four centuries the Sassanids ruled the Persian Empire and made many innovations in science and culture. With the emergence of Islam the Sassanid Dynasty that was in decadence for some decades, collapsed, as the Iranian people embraced the truth of Islam. Islam infused new life into Iran and the Iranians, and enabled them to achieve new glories. Although the ancient Pahlavi and Middle Persian languages died out as Arabic spread all over the Iranian Plateau, ancient sagas such as the Asurik Tree, Jaamasb-Nameh, Yadegar Zariran, etc, remained alive and were translated into Arabic. Iranian scholars and scientists now started writing their works in Arabic, and made great contribution to the Islamic civilization. For instance, the great Arabic grammarian Sibawaiy was an Iranian. Likewise, theologians both Shi'ite and Sunni, who wrote jurisprudential works in Arabic, which are taught to this day, were Iranians, such as Sheikh Yaqoub Kulayni, Sheikh Sadouq, Ismael Bukhari, Abu Hanifa, Ibn Maja Qazwini, Muslim Neyshabouri, etc. Arabic was considered the language of scholars, as is indicated by its extensive use by such famous Iranian scientists as Zakaria Razi, al-Kharezmi, Abu Ali Sina, and Abu Rayhan Berouni, who seldom wrote books in their native Persian.

However, during this period, a new language, made up of old Iranian and Arabic words, was gradually emerging in Khorasan and Trans-Oxiana. It was Persian and its patrons were the Samanid kings of Bukhara at whose courts Roodaki, and others like Bassam Kord, Abul-Abbas Marvazi, Hanzaleh Badgheisi flourished. The Samanid dynasty encouraged the translation of Arabic works into Persian and among the literary, religious and scientific works translated, was "Kalilah wa Damnah", which was originally a Pahlavi book that had been translated into Arabic. Roodaki rendered it into Persian. Among the other works translated into Persian under the Samanids mention could be made of the famous History of Prophet and Kings, written by Abu Ja'far Tabari and his exegesis on the Holy Qur'an, which are now considered as precious gems of early Persian literature. Although poets did compose in Persian at the Samanid court, but none had the mastery of Roodaki Samarqandi, who is deserves the title of the Father of Persian Poetry. It was Roodaki's immaculate style that popularized Persian poetry and paved the way for emergence of such master poets of those days as Onsori and the celebrated Abul-Qasim, the composer of Shahnameh or the Book of Kings that records Iran's ancient history. Next week we will focus on the life and times of Roodaki.

World Leaders in Tehran for "Religion in the Modern World" conference

2008-10-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

The head of Dialogue Among Cultures and Civilizations Foundation, Mohammad Khatami, held talks with some of the world leaders on the verge of the "Religion in the Modern World" conference in Tehran.

Khatami, Iran's former President, outlined the foundation's activities and approaches which aim at promoting peace between Islamic World and the West.

Prominent think-tanks, political and religious leaders, including former UN chief Kofi Annan, the European Commission president Romano Prodi, the former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, the ex-Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, the former Irish President Mary Robinson and the ex-Seri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga are among guests attending in the meeting.

Participants are slated to review relation between religion and globalization, modernity, democracy, peace and justice.

Khatami's speech at the conference

Mohammad Khatami delivered the following speech at "Religion in the Modern World" conference in Tehran:The world today has affected both people living in the West and those in the East, the former Iranian President said. The roots of the modern world are much looser comparing to the bases of the world in the past, Khatami added. As the time passes emotional, social and cultural disorders between the West and the East are emerging, he added.
Today the fact that the human being will not have a satisfactory life when he forgets about the God is becoming visible, even if he has achieved great financial, technical and scientific success, he added. The God has also stressed that any body who forgets me, will have a bitter life, he added. Such a condition will lead to the annihilation and will destroy life in the world, if continued, Khatami noted. But religion can help us in such a condition, and now the question is that what the religion is, he said adding religion is what the God has sent to lead human being towards the right path and makes his life fruitful.
He also stressed what has been introduced as religion in the history does not necessarily share the same nature with the real image of religion. Religion can help people in difficult circumstances without bringing damages to constructive civilization achievements, the former Iranian President said. What seems to be catastrophic is the absence of the similar nature of religions, so superficial differences among religions should not prevent solidarity among their followers. He also called for religious leaders of the world to try ways to create a peaceful co-existence and invite the world to establish peace and security. Representatives from France, Sri Lanka, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and the former UN Chief have participated in the two-day meeting. Participants of the conference are slated to review relation between religion and globalization, modernity, democracy, peace and justice.

The jewel of Madina an offensive portrayal of Islam

2008-10-16T00:18:00.000-07:00

A piece of news that recently caused some havoc in the west was about the cancellation of the publication of a book entitled ‘The Jewel of Madina’. The book is said to be about the life and times of Aisha, the youngest bride of the Prophet of Islam and has been rated as a ‘national security risk’ by a famed commentator in the US.
The book has been withdrawn by Random House, which said it feared that publication of the book could "incite acts of violence". Critics, however, have accused the publisher of abandoning the principle of free speech and caving into pressure from extreme Islamist elements, wrote the Independent newspaper in London.
This is not about the debate on whether it violates the principles of free speech with fears of extreme actions by a ‘small’ group of Muslims. The publication of this book can only add insult to the mass injury caused to the Muslims with the violent attacks against Muslims in their soul, bodies and heartlands.
Publishing the book will altogether add to what now separates the Muslim world from the western world and that is the right to safeguard the treasures and the icons of the Islamic faith from western bias and western pornography. It is more a question of morality than one of rights and every one with a sane mind will agree that rights cannot take precedence on the morality of a people or of an entire faith that is represented by more than 1.5 billion people.
It is incredible that the west find it easy to target the Muslims and the Prophet of Islam including his family – note that the Prophet of Islam and his family has never offended the western world – but the same defenders of rights and freedoms fails to attack other faiths. Moreover Sherry Jones (the writer of this book) criticized the character of Imam Ali (A.S) & insulted his holy presence.
The biasness is too obvious. From the Danish cartoons that raised the ire of a large section of the Muslim world and forced us to pen down some of the most adverse criticism against the west to the bad ‘movie’ made by a sick MP in Holland, the West seem to have learnt very little about respect.
Do not touch religion has been the call from many Muslims who felt offended by writers like Salman Rushdie who lived a life of a leper after the publication of his book the Satanic Verses.
The western writers find it too easy to pick and choose as they want on the Muslims from time to time and at a far greater rate nowadays, simply to become famous or to make some big bucks. This shows how the west is becoming bankrupt of ideas and is desperately dependent on anti-Islamic writers.
Leave Islam alone, leave religion alone and this should be the core principle of the western world before it tries to teach the Muslims what democracy is or what freedom is about. The United Nations, the EU and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) should come together to once and for all make it impossible for anyone on this earth to publish anything – from books to articles and even blogs – that depicts other people’s faith in a negative fashion. All writers who want to publish their books written with the intent to offend other religions should be banned worldwide.

Sherry Jones, Salman Rushdie and even the short sighted Asra Nomani should be barred from writing and banned from publishing anything until they learn the lesson that touching on the sensitive issues of religion means banishment for them.
Publishers who dare go ahead with such publications should simply be forced to close down while the directors, owners and workers should be struck with a five to ten years banishment that would not allow them to be involved in the publication business.
Well are these extreme? This is how the Muslims would feel if such books are published and we can say that we speak for a majority of the Muslims.

The world is in no need for such portrayals of the people whom the Muslims love and adores.

Natural treasures

2008-10-10T09:42:00.001-07:00

The New7Wonders of Nature campaign will significantly raise awareness of the incredible variety and beauty of nature around us. As our slogan says, “If we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it!” More awareness and more tourism income means that these natural treasures can be better preserved for future generations. Some of the recent reactions to the newly started campaign:“Thanks to (the New7Wonders of Nature campaign), Djavolja Varos and the whole Kursumlija region have gained an opportunity for development that we have been awaiting for decades.” Zlatko Veljovic, director of “Prolom Banja”, 13 August 2008“With four of the country’s tourism destinations (participating in) the Seven Wonders of Nature campaign, more foreign tourists are now coming to the Philippines. Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the online search has generated the interest of the international community in the Philippines in the past few months (and is) increasing the revenue of tourism-related industries.”Philippine Star, June 18, 2008

“A campaign is underway to encourage people to vote for Ha Long Bay as one of New 7 Wonders of Nature and as a result the number of visitors increased by almost 60 per cent in the first quarter of this year against last year’s first three months.”

Real, economic benefits for the world’s treasures

2008-10-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

The economic impact of the New7Wonders campaigns can now be measured in significant sums of money. The most significant successes, as registered by the participants are impressive.

The campaign to choose The Offcial New7Wonders of the World was a resounding success. More than 100 million votes were cast and it took democracy to a new, global level. Since well before the Official Declaration on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, the campaign has had a signficant impact on local economies involved with the sites participating. In particular, tourism in these places has increased and growing interest continues to be measurable via hotel booking or internet requests. Read some of the reactions of the local press and governments:

According to Peru’s National Institute of Culture, the number of daily visitors to Machu Picchu has increased by over 70% since its election as a New 7 Wonder of the World.” Living in Peru, August 18, 2008“Since Machu Picchu was named a world wonder, the value of real estate has doubled and even tripled, says Lily Quispe Charca, President of the Real Estate Agents Assn.” Living in Peru, May 14, 2008

“In 2007, Chichen Itza’s El Castillo was named one of the Official New 7 Wonders of the World after a worldwide vote. The vote was embraced by government and tourism officials in Mexico who project that as a result the number of tourists expected to visit Chichen Itza will double by 2012.” Cancun Info.net, April 19, 2008“Since being named a wonder of the world, the number of visitors (to Chichen Itza) has increased 75 percent, said Juan Jose Martí Pacheco, secretary of Tourist Promotion of Yucatan.” El Sol de Mexico, 13 February 2008

“A record breaking 3,200,000 tourists visited to adore the beauty of monument of love Taj Mahal in 2007. According to the Archeological Department sources, ‘no sooner the Taj Mahal was included in the 'new Seven Wonders' last year, it observed a hike in the number of tourists, both national and international, visiting the place.’ The figure is much higher than that recorded in the preceding year. The mushrooming number of tourists had also drawn good returns to the hotels and created employment opportunities.” Taj Mahal Online, April 15, 2008

“A record number of tourists visited Petra last year, encouraging the industry to introduce a range of development schemes to sustain the flow. Official figures showed a 62% increase in visitors last year, generating JD9.5 million in tourism receipts for the country.Suleiman Farajat, head of the Petra Archaeological Park (PAP), said the increase in arrivals reflected the importance of Petra as a key historical attraction and its popularity as one of the Official New 7 Wonders of the World.” The Jordan Times, Jan. 10, 2008

The increase in the number of visitors to the kingdom is also borne out by some impressive figures released by national flag carrier, Royal Jordanian. The airline registered the highest monthly total of passengers in its 44 year history.” AME Info fn, The Ultimate Middle East Business Resource, Sept. 5, 2007“(Easter Island Mayor Pedro) Edmunds said (tourists visiting in 2007) were up 20 per cent from 2006 and nearly 10 times 1990 levels. Easter Island has been an UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, but officials attribute the recent spike to last year's New Seven Wonders of the World contest.” The Canadian Press, June 23, 2008“(New 7 Wonders of the World participant) Neuschwanstein Castle hit new record in attracting visitors, as 1.36 million people (an increase of 8.4%) came last year. According to Bavarian Finance Minister Erwin Huber.” Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany, Feb. 22, 2008

Where is my Prophet now

2008-09-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

When Mohammed appear,

like a gentle rain,

gardens stars growing

and everything in Medina

it became green.

***

Allah honered him to be seal

of all Prophets from Allah he is kept

who appeared and he is witnes.

Beside His name Allah joined

Mohammeds name so Owner

of the sky arsh is Mahmudun,

and he is Muhammedun.

***

From my house I am going out lonely

to tell my heart one secret about you,

my beloved Mohammede.

Your name is in my thoghts,

your place in my heart,

so where are you going to dissapear,

where are you going to go

***

I swear with my Allah,

neither sun appeared,

neither sun dissapeared,

that my love for you was no trelated with my breathing,

my beloved Mohammede.

***

And reproach given for love to you it is sweet.

From love for memory of your name,

let that one who is giving reproachs

tell me that reproachs.

I know that my Prophet is the best of all mainkinds,

so your words can not change something

that I already know.

***

When you are mercy than you are like

mother and father and on this world

only they two are mercy.

When you are angry that is justifed,

in that there is no haughtiness,

or hate hidden,my beloved Mohammede.

***

My eyes are looking for you,

and you are in my eyes.

My heart is looking for you,

and you are in my soul.

***

When tree could not hold without you

one moment and start crying like a mother

when she lose her children,

than we can not be better with hearts and souls

than this tree.

***

And white my Prophet was.

With his face is asking from Allah

that rain falls down.And mercy, gentle,kind

and protector of or

phan child my Prophet Mohammed was.

Written by : Sister Asja

Musical taste defines personality

2008-09-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Heriot-Watt University psychologists have defined the personality trait of different individuals based on their musical preference.

Individuals often describe themselves through their musical taste, wearing particular clothes and using certain types of slang but the new study explains how music taste can solely reflect a person's character. According to the findings of the present study, classical music and jazz fans are innovative with good self-confidence, but the former are much more outgoing whereas the latter are shy. Findings revealed that those who listen to heavy metal and classical music share similar personality traits, both groups are creative and introverted; classical music lovers, however, have high self-esteem while heavy rock fans lack this characteristic. Contrary to the general belief that heavy metal fans are depressed and suicidal, the study considers them gentle but not hardworking. Rebellious rap fans are self confident and outgoing. Those who like blues and soul music have similar characteristics in addition to being creative, gentle and at ease with themselves. Pop lovers are hardworking and uncreative whereas Bollywood fans are creative and outgoing. Country music fans are found to be hardworking and shy; indie and dance lovers lack self-esteem and are not very gentle. The study also reports that those who choose to listen to exciting, punchy music are from the higher earning bracket of the society, while those who go for relaxing sounds are from the lower down paying scale.

Eternal Iranian Islands of Persian Gulf

2008-09-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Iran on Wednesday strongly defended opening new offices on the Iranian Islands of Persian Gulf and rejected Arab monarchies' condemnation of the move as interference and unforgivable impudence."All our country's measures on Abu Musa Island are completely legal and in accordance with Iran's rights governing this Iranian islands," foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said in a statement.Ghashghavi was reacting to a statement by the six-nation Persian Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday condemning the construction and calling for the closure of the offices on Abu Musa, one of the triple Iranian islands of Persian Gulf.Iran seriously condemned the GCC statement as explicit interference in Iran's internal affairs and branded the nonsense UAE's claims to Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunb islands as boring, repetitive, baseless, shameful, unfounded and rejected.Tehran's establishment of a maritime rescue office and a ship registration office on Abu Musa island drew a formal protest from the UAE earlier this month.Iran has already warned many times that any bias, media propaganda or intervention to threat its sovereignty will be responded decisively while the case of territorial integrity is vitally sensitive for Iranian officials and they announced frequently that allow nobody to move toward this redline.Iranians believe that taking military options to respond the meditative and devilish statements of Arab governors is a proper choice to end their impertinence, meanwhile the Iranian army commanders never dismissed this option.The Persian Gulf and its islands have been under the absolute administration of Iran from the ancient times, about 5000 BCE and the ridiculous pretensions by Arab Sheikhdoms are just charged by the Zionist lobbies and a part of anti-Iranian project managed by White House.Anyhow, Iran is reviewing some serious and unveiled options to end this artificial dispute and also looking to expand its constructions, buildings, airports, facilities and financial structures in the Iranian islands of Persian Gulf.

Iran makes nanotechnology breakthrough

2008-08-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Iranian researchers have successfully lessened the toxicity of nanoclays, producing material that can be used for medical applications. Nanoclays are used in various industries, including the polymer and medical industries. They are also applied in producing gas absorbents and drug delivery carriers. Industrial clays are generally modified using Alkyl ammonium and alkyl amines, which are considered toxic compounds. Hence, their use particularly in medicine is limited. According to Iranian Nanotechnology Initiatives, however, a researcher from Amir Kabir University of Technology has been able to modify nanoclays in a way that makes the material appropriate for medical uses. "The non-toxicity of the modified clay, in which a layer of clay is present between each two kitosan molecules, has been tested in laboratory cultures," says Kourosh Kabiri, the lead inventor of the product. The modified nanoclays allows the production of polymers with improved mechanical, permeability and thermal effects as the intercalation period has been reduced to around 33 minutes and intralayer thickness has been increased to 12-24 angstroms, according to a study published in Iranian Polymer.

Yahoo finally defeated by Iranians!

2008-08-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Yahoo governors finally acquiesced to re-include the name of Iran in their signup available countries list.
The frequent and intensive protests by angry Iranians started right after the Yahoo banned Persian users from creating new mail accounts and removed the name of Iran from its list of countries in November 2007.
The Iranian users attempted a Google Bomb named "Hello Yahoo mail" which was a responsive movement against what they called "insulting the 7500 years of Iranian civilization by the state-run portal Yahoo".
Helloyahoomail.net provided more than 2 million visitors and users with information on Iranian culture, ancient Persian empire, Iranian literature, history of the land, its people and modern day lifestyle in Iran to prove that Yahoo, mainstream media and other American allies are misleading public opinions by crying that Iranians are terrorists and uncivilized, they want to "conceal" the facts and realities about this ancient and historical land.
It was a dark point of Yahoo mail history to altercate with a people of ancient culture, history and peacemaking backgrounds by removing the name of their country with the pretext that Iran is a terrorist country.
Meanwhile, the main question of Iranian cyber-activists was about the hoarding of 2500 nuclear warheads by US that the state officials confessed to, also about the evident violation of human rights in Guantanamo jails and US government funding the terrorist groups in Iraq, bombarding Afghanistan and killing thousands of civilians etc.
It was always totally clear that which country violates human rights, boosts the terrorism and commits genocide, but the American statesmen and their mercenaries in Yahoo mail planned to alienate the global opinions from human disasters in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan by accusing Iran and pressing its people.
Last night, following the intervention of cyber courts, internet activists and political figures Yahoo finally deferred to include the Iran's name in the lists again and this was a great failure for the state-run portal which has already announced that it is not possible to have ties with Iran and its people!
The page which you are on is a Google bomb that redirects the users searching "Yahoo mail" keyword to articles and news about Iran, its people and their scientific, cultural progresses and mainly is a response to Yahoo men and its users who assume that they are facing with uncultured and terrorist nation.

Olympics: Hadi Saei wins Iran's first Beijing gold

2008-08-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

Veteran Iranian taekwondo fighter Hadi Saei has claimed Beijing Olympics men's welterweight gold medal by beating Italy's Mauro Sarmiento. In the Friday men's -80kg final, the Iranian world and Olympic champion beat the European bronze medalist to win his second Olympic taekwondo gold medal and Iran's first gold medal in the Beijing Olympic Games. Saei, who stepped up to welterweight after winning the -68kg Olympic gold in Athens, lost the first round 4-2 after the 6-foot-5-inches Sarmiento stunned the Iranian with a two-point axe kick to the head. Saei battled back in the second round and managed to tie the score at 4-4 with roundhouse kicks to his opponents left side. The 32-year-old Saei attacked first in the third round to score two points and secure a 6-4 victory in a stunning-comeback fashion. Sarmiento, who had earlier defeated American champion Steven Lopez in the quarterfinals, raised Saei's hand to congratulate the veteran. The four-time world champion Lopez and China's Zhu Guo, who was earlier beaten by Saei, each captured a bronze medal.

Iran launches first home-made satellite

2008-08-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

Alalam Network - Iran successfully launched its first satellite carrier named "Safir Omid" to space on Sunday."Safir Omid" has completely been designed and manufactured by Iranian scientists and experts and the main mission defined for it is to put Omid satellite into orbit."Safir Omid" is 22 meter in length, 1.25 meter in diameter, and 26 tons in weight.The ability to launch satellites into orbit indicates progress in the Islamic republic's missile technology.In February Tehran successfully launched the Explorer-1 research rocket, which is reportedly capable of carrying a satellite into orbit, and unveiled the country's first domestically built satellite, named Omid, or Hope."President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad was at the launch of the carrier from Iran's space station," government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said.President Ahmadinejad termed the launching a great technological achievement for the Iranian nation.Iran has said it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation and improve its telecommunications.Iran has long held a goal of developing a space program. It hopes to launch four more satellites by 2010, the government has said.In 2005, it launched its first commercial satellite on a Russian rocket in a joint project with Moscow, which appears to be the main partner in transferring space technology to Iran.

woman - The Fountain of Life

2008-08-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Islam has prescribed different roles for men and women. Men are the breadwinners while women are the nurturers. Neither gender is superior to the other. God says in the Qur'an:
"I will not diminish the deed of any person, be it male or female, the one of you is from the other." (3:195)
Both roles are complementary and facilitate the smooth functioning of the family unit. On account of the sacrifices a woman makes, and the difficulties she faces in nurturing children, a mother is bestowed with an exalted position in Islam.
Concerning motherhood, Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) said: "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers." This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers that raised it for the first and perhaps the greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother.
In another tradition emphasizing the importance of respecting a mother for the sacrifices she has made, it is reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked:
"Oh Messenger of God, who is the person who has the greatest right on me with regards to the kindness and attention?" He replied, "your mother." "Then who?" He replied "your mother". "Then who?" He replied, "Your mother." "Then who?" He replied, "Your father."

Fourteen Basic Rules for Success

2008-08-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

In order to play the game a man’s way:

• Understand the difference between how he plays the game and how
you play it.

• Recognize that for the time being, his way of playing is the accepted
way.

• Decide if you want to change the way you play.

1. Make a request – asking is the only way o get what you want. Even when men suspect they’re going to get an unfavorable answer, they still charge ahead and ask the question. They won’t personalize the “no” and they’ll keep trying. Women personalize situations, we hear no as a comment on our abilities, a sign that the relationship between our superiors and us have failed. The woman’s definition of the word no: Absolutely not, how could you even ask?

2. Speak Out. Men speak out a lot, and women are concerned about making a mistake or losing face. If you don’t talk no one will know you are there.

3. Speak Up. When a guy is playing a competitive game he will say what he must as forcefully as the situation warrants. Men will tell you that women are too timid, or too evasive, or too circuitous, or too unsure of themselves. Don’t ask for permission to speak – when you do you’re
putting conditionality instead of strength around a statement. Conditional talk doesn’t have much power. Learn to use your voice effectively. Take a course in presentation skills because with training most voices can become more powerful, more effective in business situations.

4. Tot your own horn. Part of getting ahead is getting noticed. The woman who gets ahead is getting noticed. Taking credit for your accomplishments is part and parcel of job performance learn to be your own PR person in a way that’s comfortable for you. Women are champions of small talk. Use your intuition. Learn to bluff as men do.

5. Don’t expect to make friends; Work is no more about friendship than a tough competitive sport is. Men are clear that business is business, and personal is personal. When they disagree about job-related matters, they don’t see each other as unsupportive or uncaring or disloyal.

6. Accept uncertainty. Unlike men who owe their success to a lot of factors, women assume we get ahead because we’re better at our job than anyone else. As a result, over the years we’ve adopted a perfectionist model. We don’t say we know something unless we are completely confident that we do. Men start the game confident and so have a much better chance of triumphing. Most difficult situations that arise at work have no precedent. Learn to make it up as you go.

7. Take a risk. From the get go, men are encouraged to take chances. Women are bought up to avoid situations that re potentially dangerous. But you can’t get ahead without making risky moves. No one who’s afraid to stretch the boundaries ever becomes a CEO. The things we think of as risks are often not risks at all.

8. Be an imposter. Women enter the workplace convinced that the only way to advance is to master our subject backwards and forward. We collect information, we accumulate anecdotes, and we do whatever it takes to get the job done. When we make a presentation, we make sure there is nothing missed – thoroughly over prepared and overeducated. The problem is that eventually you can’t know everything. Everyone is an imposter. Business is no different from life. Men know that. They fake it whenever and wherever they have to. They rely on improvisation, self-confidence and the generalized ability to draw on past experience rather than book knowledge. In business, when you’re doing something new, there is no safety net. That is how creative business ideas are advanced. Replace your imposter scenario with a self-confident one. Confidence is half the game.

9. Think small. Women tend to multi-task and can be overwhelmed. Men can take the first thing he has to do, concentrates on it, finishes it, and then moves on to the next thing. Men can work like this because the larger picture doesn’t distract them. Men compartmentalize.

10. Don’t anguish. Guys wear their game face. Even when the odds are against them, they still try to look as if they’re going to win. Girls are brought up to be nice. In turn, they want everybody and everything to be nice too. We anguish openly. Women are more apt to show their vulnerability. Anguish in private.

11. Follow the team leader. Women have little practice following the team leader because of the orientation of our games. Our social circles, being democratic, make everyone equal.

• Play with the big picture in mind. • You don’t have to like your teammates, but you do have to stay loyal to them.
• You don’t have to think of yourself as an automaton. Each team member brings his or her unique talents to the playing field: you can improve yours by taking advantage of all the talents around you.
• Don’t second-guess the team.
• Examine your internal conversation.
• Let the team help you.
• Don’t torpedo the team

12. Don’t assume responsibility without authority. This is one of the prime issues women face in business. Offer your services only when you are certain that the task is a career opportunity. Be clear that you are making a trade-off.

13. Sit at the table. Its time to realize that if we want o be considered loyal and productive team players we have to sit at the table with the Big Guys. Too often women will come into a board room and sit in chairs peripheral to the table indicating that the table is for the boss and key people. Early on guys learn that they belong at the table, and they are comfortable fighting to be there. Being visible is half the battle. You can’t play if you can’t be seen. Make your presence felt and be fully present.

14. Laugh. Guys learned long ago that humor could cut the tension in any situation. Women’s humor is much different from men’s. It leans more toward the observational, the situational.