The Islamic community had been left in ruins. It had been weakened and divided into small nations. The seeds of internal conflict had been planed and nurtured. Every effort had been made to draw society far away from the essence of religion, keeping people in ignorance and luring them with worldly incentives. Attempts to reform within an Islamic framework are still being suppressed. Religious practicing Muslims have become outcasts in their own society.


And yet it was the will of Allah, the Almighty, that this religion would survive - not only survive, but make a comeback. For at the same time that Islam is no longer "fashionable" in Muslim countries, people in the West itself are beginning to discover the truths of Islam which Muslims have neglected. And those who have not yet discovered Islam have at least noticed the great spiritual famine that has taken hold of western culture. They are now seeing before them the failure of the new freedom to bring satisfaction to the human soul. Mankind, in general, is in a state of worry, anxiety and despair. Before him is the failure of present political, social and economic systems to realize justice or to bring peace of mind to the human race. Man longs to believe in a purpose behind existence. He is finally beginning to understand the real need for a belief in God, for nothing else can take place - not a belief of mere words and rituals or of spiritual disciplines that neglect human needs, but a religion which includes every aspect of humanity: the mind, the body and the soul. And there is only one religion on earth that includes and satisfies all of these... Islam.


In spite of the obvious difficulties which appear to us now, the obstacles will lessen as more and more people seek an improvement and turn back to reason and to God. And this time, when men awaken and search, they will find Islam.


How long will this take? It is not important. The reward for those who work towards that end is guaranteed by Him who created the heavens and the earth, and the result is in His hands. By the will Allah, Islam has survived its darkest hour. And by His will, it can again spread its light to every corner of the earth.


"And Allah will give victory to those who support Him. Certainly is Allah exalted in strength and in power." - Surah al-Hajj 22:30


NOTE: Translated from Muhammad Qutb book of the above title. Those who may not know – Muhammad Qutb was brother of Sayyid Qutb (ra)

<b>Studying Islam in Mauritania @ Shaykh Murabit al-Hajj
</b>


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The following article, written by Rami Nsour, provides some basic information about the school of Murabit al Hajj in Mauritania. For those who are serious about studying in Mauritania, it is recommended that you contact or visit the http://www.zaytuna.org/zaytuna/ Zaytuna Institute located in Hayward, California in person to receive more information.


Many people have heard of this traditional school in West Africa, but few have been able to get a good picture of the way studies are carried out there. Since it is located in a remote village, people also have many concerns about the living conditions there. Some people, not having adequate information have come unprepared or over-prepared (bringing unneeded items, which will only burden the person during the travel). Some people, after setting out to go to the school, became sidetracked and lost valuable time before reaching the school. Others did not reach the school at all, mainly due to not having information to contact people to aid them on their journey. The following information should help out those interested in the visiting the school of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj.


<b>THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF MAURITANIA</b>


The traditional Islamic school in Mauritania is referred to as "mahdhara." It literally means "a fenced in or protected place." It has a long tradition going back to the Murabitun who came in and established institutions to train Muslims both spiritually and martially. They also divided the needs of the society among the present tribes. So, for example, certain tribes were appointed the duty of preserving the knowledge, and these tribes are known as the Zawaya. Other tribes were appointed the task of pursuing extensive martial training to protect the other tribes, and these became known as the Bani Hassan tribes. There were also tribes concerned with farming, some with carpentry or blacksmithing, and others with herding. The mahdhara was where the Zawaya focused their concern and succeeded in providing a system to disseminate the traditional Islamic sciences among the Ummah.


<b>ABOUT SHAYKH MURABIT AL HAJJ</b>


The mahdhara that most people have heard of is that of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj. His true name is Sidi Muhammad bin Salek bin Fahfu, and he is from the tribe of Massumi who trace their lineage back to the Himyar tribe of Yemen. The shaykh himself comes from a long line of scholars and is known throughout Mauritania for his knowledge and piety. After studying in the school of his father, he decided to make the trip to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage at the age of about nineteen. A total journey of about three years deserves a book to chronicle his experiences.


He traveled by foot crossing Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan and then by boat to Yemen where he then made his way to Mecca, spending time along the way teaching in many areas, and he was offered a position of teaching in Mecca. Although he had a great love to live in the city of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he did not think he could assume the right of being a neighbor to the Best of Creation (peace and blessings be upon him), and therefore he made his return journey home. It was after his journey to Hajj that his mother gave him the title "al Hajj."


The shaykh then spent most of his time in solitude worshiping through prayers, fasting, and reading the Book of Allah. Staying near the encampment (as they were still nomadic at that time), he rarely interacted with people and had his food and drink brought to him. It was only after students came to sit with him upon hearing about his knowledge that he left his solitary worship. He then spent most of his time teaching with little time for family, sleep, and other basic needs. He would teach late into the night by fire light and then get up in the last part of the night to pray. However, if a student came for a lesson, the shaykh would quicken or give up this time for prayer, as well as all other types of extra praying. He has continued this way of life up until the present day where he still teaches, and the only thing that has slowed him down, although not considerably, is old age as he is about 95 years old. May Allah give him a long life to continue benefiting the Ummah of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).


Through his perseverance and sacrifice, Murabit al Hajj has produced many scholars, some of whom are his own children and cousins. At his present school, his cousin Shaykh Muhammad al Ameen; his son, Muhammad Tahir; and his grandson, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmadna teach alongside him providing a complete system to teach the necessary sciences. Also, throughout the village are people who have memorized the Quran and are able to teach it and usually have a few small children learning from them. The wives and daughters of the shuyukh also teach the Quran and the basic texts of fiqh. In addition, there are advanced students who also spend their time tutoring others.


<b>THE MAHDHARA OF SHAYKH MURABIT AL HAJJ </b>


The Mauritanian school system of the mahdhara is a microcosm of the traditional style of learning that was going on throughout the Ummah. Then, within Mauritania, the school of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj is outstanding in that it has preserved the traditional way more so than other areas due to the remoteness of the village, an area where not even the Mauritanians in general frequent. In the early 1970's, Shaykh Murabit al Hajj and his family decided to go down and live in a city that was being established nearby, Guerou, because the drought had made it hard to live in the badia (open land) since their lives depended on their livestock and seasonal farming. It was an easier life, but Shaykh Murabit al Hajj did not feel comfortable living there as he felt that people were drifting away from the Sunnah. So, in accordance with the hadith about the last days, he took his family and livestock and returned to the badia to protect his deen.


The present location of his school has, at times, up to 400 people. About 100 of them are students with the rest being the shuyukh, their families, other families that have come to live with Shaykh Murabit al Hajj, and seasonal workers. There are two other schools in the area which follow the same style of teaching and learning. About 20 km to the northwest is the school of Shaykh Murabit Ahmad Fal, who is the father of Shaykh Abdullah. Shaykh Ahmad Fal was married to the daughter of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj until she passed away. About 30 km east of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj's school is the school of the noble Shaykh Muhammad Zain (who is descended from the Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him).


The method of learning utilizes the lawh , or wooden tablet, whereby the text is written in charcoal ink on the tablet and then memorized and studied under the watchful guidance of the shuyukh. Everything that is studied is committed to memory, and this is one of the reasons why the scholars of Mauritania (also known as Shinquitt) made a distinguished presence wherever they went. The children first memorize the Quran, starting at about seven years of age. After memorizing it, they study the rasm, which is the science related to writing the Quran according to the 'Uthmani script. Next, they study the Quran a second time, though this time they write it on their tablets from memory. The first time they write it either having the shaykh write it for them, dictate it to them, or by looking at a mushaf (copy of the Quran). After that, they learn the dabt which is a science related to the differences between the two narrations of Nafi' (Warsh and Qalun). They then move on to pursue further studies in fiqh, grammar, aqidah and hadith.


The madhab of Imam Malik is taught using traditional texts. The text of Ibn Ashir, Imam al Akhdari, the Risala of Ibn Abi Zaid, Ashalul Masalik, Nathmu Muqadimaati ibn Rushd, and the Mukhtasar of Sidi Khalil are the main texts studied there for fiqh. As for grammar, they use the Ajrumiyyah, Mulhat al 'Iraab, Qatru Nada, and the Alfiyyah of Ibn Malik. In aqidah, they teach the Ash'ari creed using the texts of Imam Ash Sharnubi, Imam al Bulaym, Jawahar at Tawhid, and Idaah as well as other texts.


The school is very simple in its set up, and there is no registration, semesters, or tuition. Each student enters study at whatever level he is on and may begin at any time of the year. After learning the basic texts of fard 'ain (individual obligation), the course of studies is up to the student, although the shuyukh will generally recommend what each particular student should study. Once a subject has been chosen, the student will then write out a small section of the text onto his lawh and then go to the shaykh. The student will read it to him so that he can correct any mistakes, since the teachers there have memorized the texts. Having corrected the mistakes, if any, the shaykh will then give an explanation and answer any questions the student may have.


The entire sitting is one-on-one, and the student is given as much time as he needs for the lesson. This is very important because it allows the student to study at his own pace by going as fast or slow as he wants through the texts. Also, because of this independent type schedule, the student can come and go to the school any time of the year. Once the student finishes that particular lesson, it is studied the remainder of the day for the purpose of committing it to memory. By giving the entire day to study that one lesson, with no other subjects interrupting, the student can concentrate deeply and spend many hours reviewing it. This review comes through sitting with the other shuyukh who are at that particular school, getting tutoring from one or more of the advanced students who are there, and then memorizing it. This last point is the reason that a student studies only one subject a day and goes on to another text once that one has been completed.


<b>WHY HAVE MEMORIZATION OF THE TEXTS?</b>


Memorization of texts was the traditional way students all over the Muslim world would retain the knowledge they were seeking. There are many stories and sayings of the scholars emphasizing the need to have the text memorized, but there is a famous one of Imam Al Ghazzali with which many people are familiar. Imam Al Ghazzali had spent two years transcribing texts that he would be using in his studies. He then traveled with this library when brigands attacked the caravan. They began to take his books because books in those days were very valuable. He asked one of the brigands to at least leave his books and not take away his knowledge. The brigand responded, "What kind of knowledge is that if a person like me can take it away from you?" Imam Ghazzali realized then that Allah (glory be to Him) had made him say that, and he resolved to memorize any knowledge he pursued in the future. Imam Al Shafi' also stressed the importance of memorization, and there are many amazing stories about his power of memorization. He has some lines of poetry to the effect of, "My knowledge is with me wherever I go, and it is not in my trunk at home," meaning that his knowledge is not only recorded in the books of his library but also imprinted on his mind and heart.


<b>WHAT IS THE STUDENT LIFE LIKE?</b>


The place where Shaykh Murabit al Hajj has his school has actually become a village with many of the residents not necessarily being students. Depending on the time of year, the village, called Tuwamarat (a Berber word), can have up to 400 people. Of these, about 100 are students and the rest comprise of the shuyukh and their families, and other families who had moved there for the sole purpose of living and praying with Shaykh Murabit al Hajj. Additionally, there are a number of laborer families who do jobs for people in the village. These laborers take care of things from building the dwellings to fetching the water to preparing the food. All this is done for a relatively modest wage.


Part of the village is reserved for the students and part for the shuyukh. The masjid is in the center of the village, and the families are on the other side. The shuyukh and the families usually have adobe houses or the traditional sheep-hair tents. The students build small huts with wood frames and then cover them with cloth or canvas. Some students live together and build larger huts (15' by 20'). Others prefer to live by themselves and build small huts (8' by 10'). The students who live together help each other out with daily work such as cooking and fetching water. Other students who prefer not to deal with these chores usually hire some of the laborers to do the work. It is very inexpensive, relatively. Having 20 liters of water brought to you every day costs the equivalent of about $1.50 for one month. The type of food there is very basic and limited.


<b>WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?</b>


The food they usually eat is rice or macaroni for lunch, seasoned by either beef jerky or black-eyed beans, which are grown locally. In the night they usually have wheat cous-cous and sprinkle the jerky on it or add fresh meat when available. In the morning they have milk (when available) and bread cooked by a local baker when he is in the village. They also have dry wheat biscuits and dates that some people might have in the morning when the milk or bread is not available. As there is currently no butcher in the village, fresh meat is available only when a group of students or someone else slaughters a sheep or a goat and then divide the meat among those who participated in the purchase and butchering.


<b>WHAT IS THE WATER LIKE? </b>


The water in the village is from a well which has a pipe that goes about 270 feet down into the mountain. The power needed to bring the water up is supplied by solar panels which are so efficient that the power they generate can carry over into the night and continue pumping up the water. Another well of that type was recently drilled and will soon be providing water as well. The only difference is that the power source for the latter one is by a diesel generator. The actual water is of very high quality and is as clear as the water out of the tap here in the United States.


<b>IS THERE ELECTRICITY?</b>


The village does not have electricity other than the two solar panels which power the well and the three lights in the masjid. So, at night people get around using flashlights unless the moon is full enough to provide adequate light for moving around. The students who study at night usually don't need lighting as they use it for reciting Quran or practice other memorized material. The students who wish to use lighting at night can choose between the lighting in the masjid, flashlights, or candles. Batteries, flashlights, candles, and other basic materials are sold in the village. Some students have brought solar powered flashlights, and there is also room for people interested to bring solar panels from home to provide electricity for personal needs. The only advice for this is to buy quality products as the desert is very harsh, and only good products can withstand the conditions.


<b>WHAT IS THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE AREA LIKE?</b>


The village, known as Tuwamarat, is situated in one of the most remote areas in the world. Most people don't even know where the country of Mauritania is, and even more have not even heard of the country. Then, within that country, there is a mountain state known as Taganet (another Berber word meaning " the forest"), and most Mauritanians have not been to it. This is because the majority of the state is not accessible by roads, and the foot or animal paths are very rugged. The nearest paved road to Tuwamarat is a rugged 20km footpath or a 50km path that only the best 4x4s can travel on.


Many people may have a picture that only top trained people can reach this village, but keep in mind that all paths to the village have been traveled by old men, women, and young children. Then, in other situations, young strong men have refused to travel those same paths or, after travelling them once, have a hard time returning. The main reason for this is "Where there is a will, there is a way," and those who have a will to be in the company of some of the greatest men of Allah and seek sacred knowledge will look past the hardships and focus on the goal. So those young healthy men lost the will and therefore lost sight of the way.


<b>WHAT ARE THE SEASONS LIKE? </b>


The main season that people are concerned about is the summer which officially starts May 15 and goes to August 15, but the heat of the Sahara sets in about April and goes through July. (Precise temperatures may be obtained from some of the tourist websites of Mauritania.) The heat, like that of most deserts, is dry, not humid, and that makes it easier to tolerate. At the peak of the summer, the students usually take a two to three week vacation and either visit their families or go to the capitol, Nuwakshott, where it is cooler.


The summer begins to cool off as the rains of autumn begin, and this also turns the land green with grass. Autumn is officially from August 15 to November 15. Because of the abundant pastures and water, the animals in the village produce much milk which provides enough milk and yogurt for most of the students. From November 15 to February 15 is the winter which can get very cold at times. The cold does not actually start until about the end of November, and the months of October and November are actually very moderate months, oftentimes resembling the weather of California.


The cold of the winter is increased by ever-present winds which add to the wind chill factor along with the fact that most students don't live in the warm adobe structures. This does not hinder the studies of the students, and for many it actually causes their studies to increase. The reason for this is that the students often collect fire wood and then have a bonfire in the last part of the night both to keep them warm and give them light for reading their lawhs. Other students prefer to stay inside their huts and read by candlelight. With some extra clothing, such as sweaters and warm pants, it is actually not that hard of a season.


The spring is officially from February 15 to May 15. Because of the moderate weather, it is a good time for people who wish to study there to come and begin their studies. Arriving in the spring will allow one to adjust to the weather gradually, and so one will not have too much difficulty dealing with the heat of the summer that follows it.


<b>WHY WOULD ONE CHOOSE SUCH A REMOTE PLACE TO STUDY IN? </b>


Generally speaking, the life there is hard for even the Mauritanians, and more so for the people coming from the West who are accustomed to the luxuries of life. However, once a person experiences the serenity of Tuwamarat, all hardships are patiently borne. Studying with some of the most knowledgeable and God-fearing people is enough of a reward by itself, but there is another peace that is achieved there.


The isolation due to the location of Tuwamarat is something that all should experience. One type of isolation is from family and friends, as travelling in and out is hard, so many don't do it. There are no phones in the village, and the nearest phone is about one day's hard travel. This allows the student to spend his time focusing on the studies at hand. Imam Ghazzali mentions in his section on The Manners of Learning that studying far from one's home and not having many friends is essential for the student. Whereas most people do not have the discipline to implement this technique, those who are in Tuwamarat have no other choice than to follow this, and it works out for the best.


The other blessing that this isolation provides is separation from the vices of the city. Markets, cars, music, pollution of all types, and most other problems associated with the city are not present. This provides for such a pure environment that when a car comes to the village, its sound is heard long before it arrives. Then, once it arrives and after leaving, the stench of the diesel is quickly noticed by those near and far. Many people living in the cities take one weekend out of the year to go camping to try and "get away from it all." Allah (glory be to Him) has blessed those living and or studying in Tuwamarat with this peace every single day.


<b>WHAT IF I DON'T KNOW ARABIC?</b>


One can bring books designed to teach Arabic to non-Arabic speakers and then study them on one's own and get help from other students there who know Arabic, a few of whom learned the Arabic language, for the most part, there in the school of Shaykh Murabit al -Hajj. One of the most ideal books is the Kitab al Asaasi fi ta'lim al lughatil al 'Arabiyah (The Basic Book for Learning the Arabic Language). They are a set of three books and are the books used in the Syrian schools that teach Arabic. With the help of these books, it has been proven that the Arabic language can be learned at this particular school.


When I put this concern of non-Arabic speakers and their not feeling like they can go and study without the language to one of the shuyukh there (Shaykh Muhammad al Amin--the cousin of Shaykh Murabit al-Hajj), his answer was simple. He told me that the reason you go out to study is to rectify your worship of Allah through the traditional texts and that this can be done with having no knowledge of Arabic. Firstly, this is because you will learn the Arabic you need as you go through the text by using a dictionary and the translation. As for sitting with the shaykh and understanding him, there are students there that speak both Arabic and English and can translate for you. This is not a new thing and has been going on for some time. In fact, there was a student who could not hold a conversation in either Arabic or the dialect spoken there, and yet he had studied and memorized the fiqh text of Al Akhdari and (at the time this paper was written) was studying and memorizing the fiqh text of Ibn 'Ashir.


Then, after finishing the basic books, one can choose to move on to a more extensive book in fiqh, the Risalah of Ibn Abi Zaid, and this covers all chapters in fiqh. This book takes about a year, but after having completed it as well as the other books (which should take between two to three years), a person will be well grounded in the areas of knowledge and will have a basic or extensive command of the Arabic language. At that time, if one chooses to continue studying, one will no longer have to rely on translators, translations, or dictionaries and might even be able to do without them after a year. Another thing to remember is that one of the main things to study is the Quran, and that can be memorized without having any knowledge of the Arabic language. This is a promise that Allah has made by making the Quran easy to memorize and has been proven throughout the ages by Muslims from all lands.


<b>CAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN STUDY THERE?</b>


Everyone who wishes to come to the village is welcome, whether they come for a visit or for studies or just to spend their days praying behind the Murabit. The only thing that should be taken into consideration is the difficulty of the life there and the inadequate accommodations, especially for young children.


The Mauritanians themselves have a hard time living there, and they have had hundreds of years to adapt to the lifestyle. Inadequate food is not so much a problem for young men, but it may pose a danger to young children. Many of the young children there around two years of age will often eat dirt or sand, and they say the reason for this is a lack of vitamins. This is even present in some of the smaller towns, where although they occasionally have fruits and vegetables, it is obviously not enough. If you have children, you might consider having them study in a modernized country, such as Morocco, or at least one with adequate facilities. There they can learn the Quran and the other basic texts and then when older go continue their studies with the Murabit.


For those thinking about taking a family there, they should get in contact with many people before making any move. They should contact the Zaytuna institute, people who have gone to Mauritania, and people in Mauritania. Taking a family there without proper accommodations can be putting them in a dangerous situation which may lead them to catching a number of diseases which are present in Mauritania (such as malaria). One's hope of bettering the situation of one's family's spirituality can actually cause him to disobey Allah as the Law (Shari'ah) has required us to protect our bodies.


<b>WHAT IS THE COST OF LIVING?</b>


The cost of living will differ depending on if you choose to live in one of the schools in the badia (mountainous, desert regions) or in the city. As for the badia, after buying the materials you will use to build a place to live in and all the necessary utensils (between $250 to 500), you can figure about $20 a month for living expenses. The only thing you would add would be travelling expenses and the cost of the phones if you go down to the city to phone. The phones will range in price from $2 to $4 a minute. You might want to look into buying a satellite phone if you plan to stay a while and want to have regular contact with family or friends.


If you choose to live in the city, you might want to figure about $200 to $300 a month. Remember, these are only rough estimates for a single man, and even that will differ depending on his life style. If he is planning on bringing a family to live in the city, then he would have to figure out a different set of expenses, and he might better work that out after talking to someone from Mauritania.


WHAT IF I CAN'T STUDY IN MAURITANIA BUT LIKE THEIR TRADITIONAL STYLE?


There are students of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj who are now qualified scholars who live in areas where the living is more suitable. So, you don't necessarily have to give up the idea of Mauritania altogether. There are students of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj who are now scholars and teach in the cities, such as Nuwakshott, Kiffa, and Guerou. Life there is more suitable to people who may not be able to live in the badia. You can find an apartment with running water, electricity, etc. for about $50 a month. Many of the modern conveniences, such as phones and an abundance of fruits and vegetables that would make life easier, are found in the cities.


Another choice for people who like the traditional style of living is to go to some of the Mauritanian scholars who live in Medina and Mecca. There are a number of them there, and a few are students of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj.


<b>HOW DOES ONE REACH THE SCHOOL OF MURABIT AL HAJJ?</b>


The most important thing to do before travelling to Mauritania is to get in contact with people there who can help you once you enter the country to get to the school. To protect those people's privacy, these contact numbers are available through the Zaytuna Institute. To ensure that those numbers are given only to people seriously planning on going, you may be asked to fax a copy of your ticket or visa before you receive those numbers or to visit the Zaytuna Institute in person. For anyone interested in going, these contact names and numbers are very important as traveling to the school will be easily facilitated. The other thing to remember is that people who traveled not having these contacts often reached the school after much difficulty, and some did not even find the school and returned home. Thus, it is very important to contact and preferably to visit the Zaytuna Institute before making any plans for attending any schools in Mauritania. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala help those with sincere intentions. May He bless our shuyukh and all those who are striving to preserve this deen.


<b>Source:</b> http://www.ikitab.com/portal/ikitab/public...010926040259193

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatu


MashaAllah this is a wonderful site! I just recently found this site and I have been reading the topics and I think everyone here is so nice and friendly, and it's a great atmosphere here alhamdulillah.


I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone and to know how was your Ramadan this year. I am sort of a new muslimah, I'm 3.5 years old . I've seen a lot of new muslims on this site and it is so inspiring and makes me so happy to read about people finding Islam!


So Ramadan is almost over, subhanAllah! This is the first year that I have tried to read the entire Qur'an during Ramadan, and alhamdulillah it has been such a blessing! Is anyone else having such a wonderful Ramadan?


I'm looking forward to joining the discussions on this site inshaAllah, I'm happy to find such a nice place for talking about Islam


wasalam

Bismillah


As salam alykom


Sobhan Allah, he died in Ramadan during the last ten days in which Allah promised salavation from Hell fire for those who die. Sobhan Allah one really should never make any judgements about any human being. May Allah grant us all salvation from Hell fire ameen


_________________________________________________________________


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6402008/?GT1=5809


Arafat's body begins long journey home


Egypt prepares for 75-year-old Palestinian leader's funeral


Nov. 11: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died early Thursday at a Paris military hospital. NBC's Brian Williams reports on the reaction from Ramallah.


Today show


MSNBC News Services


Updated: 1:12 p.m. ET Nov. 11, 2004CAIRO - Egypt put its security forces on maximum alert Thursday and prepared a modest mosque at Cairo’s international airport for the funeral of Yasser Arafat, the guerrilla leader turned Nobel Peace Prize winner who died earlier in the day at a French military hospital outside Paris at the age of 75.


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A French military helicopter took his flag-draped casket to a nearby military airfield, where crowds of supporters gathered outside, waving flags and pictures of Arafat.


In a brief ceremony attended by French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, Arafat’s widow, Suha, wept with her head bowed as eight soldiers walked down the airfield tarmac bearing the coffin, draped in a large Palestinian flag. She then followed her husband’s coffin onto a waiting French jet, which departed minutes later for Cairo, where Arafat's funeral on Friday was to be attended by leaders from around the world.


After the service, Arafat’s body will be flown to his Ramallah compound in the West Bank for burial.


The death of the man both revered as a champion of Palestinian statehood and reviled as a terrorist spread spasms of grief among Palestinians and rekindled calls for new peace talks with Israel.


It also left the Palestinians without a strong leader for the first time in four decades and aroused fears of a chaotic power struggle that could lead to fighting in the streets.


Arafat died at 3:30 a.m. local time at the Percy Military Training Hospital in Clamart.


‘His big heart stopped’


“He closed his eyes and his big heart stopped. He left for God but he is still among this great people,” said senior Arafat aide Tayeb Abdel Rahim, who broke into tears as he announced Arafat’s death.


• NBC: Tenacious


• NBC: What's next?


• NBC: Arab views


• Phares: Failings


• Newsweek's obituary


• Palestinian grief


• World reaction


• Video: Reactions


• Timeline: Slide show


• Possible successors


A wave of grief quickly swept across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.


Thousands ran into the streets, clutching his photograph, crying and wondering how they would survive without the man who embodied their struggle for statehood.


“He is our father,” Namia Abu-Safia, 48, said sobbing in the Jebaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. “He is Palestine.”


Black smoke from burning tires rose across the Gaza Strip and gunmen fired into the air in grief. Palestinian flags at Arafat’s battered compound here were lowered to half-staff. Somber music played on the radio, church bells rang out and Quranic verses were played for hours over mosque loudspeakers.


As Palestinians mourned, many Israelis heaped bitterness on the man they branded a “master terrorist,” blaming him for the 4-year-old “intifada,” or uprising, and for attacks that have killed hundreds of their people.


President Bush and some other world leaders expressed the hope that Arafat’s death will clear the way for successful Mideast peace negotiations with new Palestinian leaders.


But the impediments to peace were quickly visible.


Within hours of Arafat’s death, militants from his Fatah movement attacked a Jewish settlement in Gaza in what they said signaled the start of a new round of clashes with Israel. Soldiers killed three Palestinians, at least two of them gunmen.

Every person has a different way of coming to the Truth. For Moisha Krivitsky this way led through a faculty of law, a synagogue and a prison. The lawyer-to-be becomes a Rabbi, then he converts into Islam and finds himself in prison. Today Musa (this is the name he has adopted when he became a Muslim) lives in a small mosque in Al-Burikent, a mountain area of Makhachkala, and works as a watchman in the Central Juma mosque.


http://www.jews-for-allah.org/Jewish-Conve...a_synagogue.htm

their are three muslim countrys that need to be free, and thats KURDISTAN, palestine, and kashmire.


who agrees with me?

Of all the conspiracies hatched against Islam in modern times, the most dangerous is a false claim to Prophethood made in the beginning of this century. This claim has been the main cause of wide spread mental chaos amongst the Ummah for the last sixty years. Like all other schisms, the root cause of this mischief is that the Muslims are generally ignorant of their religion. Had they been truly imbued with its knowledge and developed a clear understanding of the article of faith relating to the finality of Prophethood, it would have been well-nigh impossible for any false claimant to Prophethood to take root and thrive among the people of Islam after the last ministry of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). At this juncture the most perfect and effective remedy for eradicating this evil is to educate the maximum number of people in the best possible manner about true faith in the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and stressing the importance and value of this article of faith in the religion of Islam. It is also imperative that all doubts and skeptical notions about the final ministry of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) should be dispelled through reason and logic. This booklet has been prepared to serve this very purpose. Readers who find it useful should take a step further and extend their full co-operation in the propagation of its contents. This booklet ought to reach all literate people and they having studied it themselves should read it out to the non-literate. It is hoped that a study of this booklet will not only immunize people who have not been contaminated with this malady but would also make the truth manifest to the right-minded persons among those who have received some of its germs. However, those who have fallen victim to falsehood and are impervious to all reason--for them, hope and salvation lies only with Allah.


Abul A'la Maududi (d.1979) - Lahore - February 12, 1962.


http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/p...nalprophet.html

The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim


community. Once a year 'Badboy Vick' becomes Waqas and 'S*** Sam' becomes


plain Samina. Off come the Moschino jeans, the Morgan top and On come the


yellow Shalwar Kameez. Goodbye brylcreamed hairstyle, welcome uncool white


Topi (cap). Not to forget the bandana switch for the scarf.


It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and


the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference


section - *wink wink*) and begin to act it out. 'MC Vick' becomes


temporarily religious, no more 'wagwans', but Asalamalykum.


It's a sort of spooky feeling. The Mosques are full and you feel good.


Good cos' you've done your bit for the year. One by one you scratch the


days from your Ramadan timetable that your dad brought back from the


Mosque-and then-thank crunchie it's Eid.


Exit Ramdan, ENTER EID!! !!!


The Mosques again becomes museums for the old and for those deprived "ACHA


BACHA"- a good baby. The crease-free hijab comes off but 'welcome back


tight fit jeans', whilst the libraries reopen for "business as usual".


Rinse all your payslips on a hired beamer and hit the places like Wilmslow


Road, Green St with your pakistani flag on your back and bangali tatoo up


your @$$. Just 11 more months of "freedom" to go before the smelly breath


season come back with vengeance.


Year after year it goes on, almost as a ritual. You know it's rough. Yet


Allah(swt) is Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem as we are told by our parents (who


probably also have gone through this). And anyway religion is for the old


men in the mosques- with smelly breaths, and beards that sweep the floor


everytime they walk from one end of the mosque to the other.


Religion is for those "fundies"(fundamentalists) at school/college, the


"weirdoes" who only talk to the opposite sex about the benefits of the


Khilafah ruling system or the fallacies of Western ideo logy such as


Capitalism and Marxist Philosophy.(i.e.try saying that in one breath!).


Thinking of a masterplan...


So you go around playing this game. It's like an endless spiral. You think


you're a rebel or tough-yet you're just one of the pack- a zombie,


conforming to master-plan, which is that when you turn 40s you grow your


beard and take your seat in front row of the mosque, invest in a miswak,


pack your bags for Hajj, and then everything is gonna be safe!- well no!


It doesn't quite work like that. The million dollar question is will you


ever turn 40? Game Over.


Suppose you die. Just suppose you snuff it before you turn 40? What then?


It could severely damage that master-plan of yours. Alright, the chances


may look slim yet the stakes are high. Nobody knows when he or she is


going to die. Just suppose you're locked up in a room and there's no way


out. Just suppose there's a time bomb- tickeing away in this room. Now if


this bomb has "6 days" on it ! you would probably turn "fundy" and spend


all six days reading namaz(salah).


Just suppose the bomb had a "? days" on it? What then? That's exactly how


life is!!! A ticking-bomb with a "?" on it, you never know when it's gonna


blow-up. Whereever you are, death will find you. Even if you are in tower


built up strong and high!"


30 days or a lifetime? And anyway, even if you do go along with this


"dodgy" game, don't you think your Creator will know your intention? Many


people have sussed out Islam as a blind faith or and


emotional/spiritual/spooky belief which leaves you contemplating


rationally about the meanings of life. Where did you come from? Why are we


here? Or the question that puts a dampner on all raves, " what's going to


happen to us when we die?"


Islam asks us to answer these vital questions and come to a conclusion,


the correct one. Islam doesn't rely on the dodgy culture we are brought up


with either from our parents or from the Molvi-Saab(imam). Islam is far


from being a "religion" as it is often coined in the media.


Islam is a complete system of life- with solutions to all our problems be


it for Muslims or non-Muslims. Check out Islam for yourself and free


yourself from this shallow zombie-like culture. Before your credits run


out!


This applies to everyone. Including me, the person who sent it to me, the


person who started it. We all in the same boat. Lets help each other out


of this 'BadMan Boat'


Word out!


The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr


out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his


previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan


out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his


previous sins will be forgiven."


its all about the sincerity and not the 30-days-only "effort"

Asalamalaykum


Sadly Ramadan is almost about to end , May we make it to next ramadan with good health, high Imaan, and taqwa in our actions.


I was reading this, so I thought to share it with you all, so that you may benefit from it too.


<b>What After Ramadan?</b>



<i><b>Adapted from "Wa maadha ba`da Ramadaan", by Dar Al-Watan (120) </b></i>


AlHamdulillahi wa kafaa, was-Salatu was-salamu `alaa `ibaadihi-lladheena Stafaa


We leave the blessed month of Ramadan, its beautiful days and its fragrant nights. We leave the month of the Qur'an, taqwa, patience, jihad, mercy, forgiveness and freedom from hellfire…


Have we fulfilled the requirements of taqwa and graduated from the Ramadan school with the diploma of the god-fearing?


Have we fought our souls and desires and defeated them, or have we been overtaken by our customs and blind imitations?


Have we performed our actions in a way that fulfills the conditions for receiving mercy, forgiveness and release from the Fire?


Many questions and numerous thoughts come to the heart of the sincere Muslim, who asks and answers with truthfulness.


<b>What Have We Gained From Ramadan?</b>


Ramadan is a school of iman and a 'stop to recharge one's spiritual batteries' - to acquire one's provision for the rest of the year...


For when will one take a lesson and change for better if not in the month of Ramadan?


The noble month is a true school of transformation in which we change our actions, habits and manners that are in variance with the Law of Allah 'azza wa jall. “Verily, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” [Ar-Ra`d, 11]


If you are from those who benefited from Ramadan, fulfilled the requirements of taqwa, truly fasted the month, prayed in it with truthfulness, and strove against you soul, then praise and thank Allah, and ask Him for steadfastness upon it until you meet your death.


Be not like one who has sewn a shirt and then destroyed it... Have you seen one who sewed a shirt or thawb, so when she looked at it, she liked it. Then she destroyed it pulling a thread by thread for no reason. What would people say about such a person?! Or have you seen one who earns a fortune trading throughout the day, then when the night comes, he throws away all that he earned, dirham by dirham. What would people say about such a person?!


This is the condition of one who returns to sinning and evildoing after Ramadan and leaves obedience and righteous actions. So after he was favored with the blessing of obedience and enjoyment of communicating with Allah he returned to the blaze of sins and evil actions. How evil are the people who know Allah only in Ramadan!


My dear ones,


<b>falling short in one's commitment to Islam after Ramadan is manifested in many ways, including:</b>


<b>1 </b>– Men leaving the five prayers in congregation, after they filled mosques for Taraweeh prayers, thus going to the masjid for recommended prayers and leaving obligatory ones.


<b>2 –</b> Return to musical entertainment, forbidden films, women displaying their adornment beyond that which ordinarily appears thereof, free mixing etc.


This is not thankfulness for blessings and favors, nor is it the sign of acceptance of one's actions, rather this is opposition to favors and absence of thankfulness.


These are from signs of one's deeds not being accepted – and Allah's refuge is sought – for one who truly fasts rejoices on the occasion of `eid, praises his Lord for helping him complete the fast, and remains fearful that Allah may not accept his fasting, just as the Salaf would continue asking for acceptance of their actions in Ramadan for six months after it.


From signs that one's deeds are accepted is that he or she has improved in his or her obedience to Allah `azza wa jall. “And remember when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]…” [ibrahim, 7] Increase you in good, faith and righteous actions. So if the servant is truly thankful to his Lord, you will see him guided to more obedience and distanced from sinfulness. Thankfulness is leaving sins, as the early Muslims said.


“And worship your Lord until there comes you to the certainty [i.e. death].” [al-Hijr, 99]


The Muslim must continuously be in the state of obedience of Allah, firm upon His Sharee`ah, steadfast upon His Deen, so that he or she is not of those who worship Allah only during one month or only in one place. Rather, the believer knows that the Lord of Ramadan is also the Lord of other months, and that He is the Lord of all times and places, so he is steadfast upon the Sharee`ah of Allah until he meets Him while He is pleased with him. Allah ta`ala said, “So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah].” [Hud, 112] And, “So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness.” [Fussilat, 6] And the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, “Say 'I believe in Allah', then be steadfast.” [Muslim]


-- If the fasting in Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary fasting, such as fasting six days in Shawwal, on Mondays and Thursdays, the three days in the middle of the month, the days of `Aashoora and `Arafat, and others.


-- If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary night prayer throughout the year. “They used to sleep but little of the night.” [Adh-Dhaariyaat, 17]


-- If the charity in Ramadan and zakat ul-fitr have ended, then there is the obligatory Zakat, and also there are many other open doors to charity, voluntary actions and jihad.


-- Reading of the Qur'an and contemplating it is not only for Ramadan, rather it is for all times.


Righteous actions are for all times and all places, so strive – O my brother and sister – and beware of laziness. And remember that it is not allowed for us to leave the obligatory actions or delay them, such as the five daily prayers on time, in congregation etc.


And do not fall into forbidden actions, such as forbidden sayings, food and drinks, or by looking at or listening to what is forbidden.


Be steadfast and upright upon the Deen of Allah at all times, for you do not know when you'll meet the Angel of Death. Beware of him taking you while you are in a state of sin. “O Allah, Who turns the hearts, keep our hearts steadfast upon Your Deen.”


I ask Allah to accept from us and you our fasting, our prayers and other righteous actions, that our condition after Ramadan be a better one, that the state of our Ummah improves, that we are granted honour and that we truly turn to our Lord…Ameen

After his recent victory, Bush assured his Zionist supporters that the war in Iraq will continue – till the country is ‘stabilized’, which is very essential for the ‘security of Israel’.


In practice that means continued fighting for his next four-year presidential term. France ‘kept fighting’ in Algeria in the 1950s as America did in Vietnam in the 1960s and as the Israelis are now doing in occupied Palestine. It has never worked anywhere. In Algeria, the French employed over three times as many troops, nearly half a million, to fight roughly the same number of Iraqi resistance-fighters as America is now fighting in Iraq. They lost. America had half a million soldiers in Vietnam and gave up. After forty years of warfare against the Palestinians, the Israelis have achieved neither peace nor security.


Wars of national ‘self-determination,’ to use President Woodrow Wilson’s evocative phrase, can last for generations or even centuries. Britain tried to beat down (or even exterminate) the Irish for nearly 900 years, from shortly after the Eleventh century Norman invasion until 1921; the French fought the Algerians from 1831 until 1962; both Imperial and Communist Russia have been fighting the Chechens since about 1731. Putin’s Russia is still at it. There was no light at the end of those tunnels.


At best, ‘keep fighting’ in Iraq can be only a temporary measure as eventually America will have to leave. But during the period it stays, say the next four years, my guess is that another 40 thousand Iraqis will die or be killed while the US armed forces will lose perhaps 5,000 dead and 40,000 seriously wounded. The monetary cost will be hundreds of billions.