http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/a...anies.html

Privacy campaigners condemned Twitter yesterday for allowing businesses to buy access to its archive of millions of tweets.

About seven million people in Britain use the social networking website to post short messages to ‘followers’.

Most believe their tweets are unavailable to those outside

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/a...anies.html#ixzz1oAdgRAzu

But Twitter has archived every tweet – there are about 250million a day – and has agreed a deal allowing the UK-based company Datasift to trawl through all those posted since January 2010.

The company will use the information to help firms with marketing campaigns and target influential users.

The licensing deal is part of Twitter’s plan to generate revenue from its service, which is free to its estimated 300million users worldwide.

But the move has alarmed privacy campaigners, with the online rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation describing it as ‘creepy’.

Nick Pickles, director of the Big Brother Watch campaign group, said: ‘People may consider tweets to be personal property but this deal makes clear they are not. Our personal posts on social media are yet another way for advertisements to be better targeted and that’s a very lucrative industry.

‘It’s clear that if you’re not paying for a service, you are not the customer – you’re the product.’

Datasift charges companies up to £10,000 a month to analyse tweets posted each day for anything said about their products and services.

It claims to have a waiting list of up to 1,000 clients wanting to riffle through the huge Twitter archive for data that could help them target advertising and develop marketing campaigns. Private accounts and tweets that have been deleted will not be indexed by Datasift.

Gus Hosein, of the watchdog group Privacy International, said: ‘People have used Twitter to communicate with friends and networks in the belief that their tweets will quickly disappear into the ether.

‘The fact that two years’ worth of tweets can now be mined for information and the resulting “insights” sold to businesses is a radical shift in the wrong direction.

‘Twitter has turned a social network that was meant to promote global conversation into a vast market-research enterprise with unwilling, unpaid participants.’

Justin Basini, of the data privacy company Allow, said: 'Marketers will stop at nothing to get hold of your data. This move shows all those throwaway tweets have suddenly become a rich new revenue stream for Twitter.

'It has taken a stream of consciousness, analysed it, bottled it and sold it for a profit. And the worst thing is, you never knew it was going to happen.'

Datasift searches through 250 million Tweets a day. It is one of two companies so far offered access to Twitter's 'firehose' - all the information that flows through the site

Graham Cluley from security firm Sophos said, 'The news will surprise some. Twitter has found another way to monetise its service, having partnered with a firm which will make it simple for market researchers working for big companies to search and analyse the last two years of your Twitter updates.

'You thought that tweets you posted months ago had vanished, or were simply hidden away so deeply and awkwardly on the Twitter website that they would be too difficult to uncover? Think again.'

But Datasift’s Tim Barker said: ‘It should come as no surprise to users that their tweets are archived – they can see every update they have ever sent on their timeline.

‘Twitter was always created to be a public social network.’

The row comes amid privacy concerns on other social networks.

Facebook has been criticised after admitting it can read the text messages of those who use the service on their mobile phones.

And the web giant Google has also come under fire for collecting data about internet users.

Datasift is one of two companies granted access to Twitter's 'firehose' - the full amount of data streaming through the site.

'DataSift goes beyond what many social media monitoring companies do,' says founder Nick Halstead.

'Instead of just searching on keywords such as 'Nike', DataSift can search on all the people, products, and links associated with the company, then slice and dice the data for different departments such as marketing, product and the like.'

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Abu Dhar al-Ghafari said: “The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘Sadaqah is prescribed for every person every day the sun rises.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, from what do we give sadaqah if we do not possess property?’ He said: ‘The doors of sadaqah are takbir (Allahu Akbar), Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La-ilaha-ilAllah, Astaghfirullah, enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing thorns, bones and stones from the paths of people, guiding the blind, listening to the deaf and dumb until you understand them, guiding a person to his object of need if you know where it is, hurrying with the strength of your legs to one in sorrow who is appealing for help, and supporting the weak with the strength of your arms. These are all the doors of sadaqah.” [Ahmad]

In other words one does not need to have financial resources to earn the reward of sadaqah. There are many deeds that qualify as sadaqah with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). In addition to those listed above the following ordinary courtesies are also sadaqah if we do them with the intention of pleasing Allah with them.

1. To administer justice between two people is sadaqah.

2. To assist a man upon his mount so that he may ride it is sadaqah.

3. To place his luggage on the animal is sadaqah.

4. A good word is sadaqah.

5. Every step taken toward prayer is sadaqah.

6. Your smile for your brother is sadaqah.

7. Planting anything from which a person, an animal or anything eats is sadaqah.

Women Liberation

I find Islam to be liberating not oppressive: women are partners.

Islam is the first religion which systematically empowered women when women were considered as totally subservient to man. There was no concept of her being an independent entity and enjoying equal right with dignity. We live in a country where women are over-sexualised and sold as 'products' for capitalist gains. A woman's beauty is splashed around everywhere, and she is only judged by that. Islam tells a woman to cover up so that she is not abused as Western women are. Islam provides the security and respect to women community than other religions. The western countries are using the women as an entertainment channels. All the women in the world should think about themselves then decide what is right and what is wrong for them in other religions (than Islam)

What is feminism? Nothing but women’s movement to empower her and to consider her full human being and not mere second sex as ‘Simon de Bouire called her. Thus we see in western countries until early part of twentieth century she did not enjoy an independent status. It was only after thirties of twentieth century that she won equal status legally and various western countries passed the laws to this effect. Yet patriarchy is looming large on her in these countries.

Qur’an empowered her and gave equal status. Another important question is what is the difference between Islamic and western feminism or is there any difference at all. If we go by definition of feminism as an ideology of empowerment of women, there is no difference. On the other hand, women had no rights and but won through great deal of struggle and this struggle came to be known as ‘feminism’ i.e. women’s empowerment.

But there are significant differences also between Islamic and western feminism. Islamic feminism is based on certain non-negotiable values i.e. equality with honour and dignity. Freedom has certain Islamic responsibility whereas in the west freedom tends to degenerate into licentiousness, though not in law but certainly in social and cultural practices. In western culture sexual freedom has become a matter of women’s right and sex has become matter of enjoyment and lost its sanctity as an instrument of procreation.

Qur’an does lay down certain strict norms for sexual behavior. Both man woman have right to sexual gratification (a woman has as much right to sexual gratification as man) but within marital frame-work. There is no concept of freedom for extramarital sex in any form. Sex is permissible only with marital framework. Sex, as far as Islam is concerned, is not mere enjoyment but an act for procreations and hence has sanctity.

It is important here to emphasize that in a patriarchal society men decided the norms of sexual behavior. It was theorized that man has greater urge for sex and hence he needs multiple wives and woman tends to be passive and hence has to be content with one. This is not true as far as Qur’an is concerned. Qur’an’s approach is very different. It is not greater or lesser degree of sexual urge which necessitates multiple or monogamous marriage.

Whole emphasis is on monogamous marriage (in both the Qur’anic verses i.e. 4:3 and 4:129). Multiple marriages were permitted only to take care of widows and orphans and not for greater sexual urge and the verse 4:129 gives the norm of monogamy and not to leave first wife in suspense or neglected. Thus as far as Qur’an is concerned sexual gratification is a non-negotiable right for both man woman. And hence a divorcee and a widow are also permitted to marry and gratify their sexual urge.

Also, in western capitalist countries women’s dignity has been compromised and she has been reduced to a commodity to be exploited. Her semi-naked postures and her sexuality is exploited commercially unabashedly. It is totally against the concept of woman’s honour and dignity. Unfortunately western feminists do not consider this as objectionable but accept it as part of woman’s freedom. Some (though not many) even advocate prostitution as woman’s right to earn her bread.

This is against the concept of Islamic feminism as while sanctioning sexual gratification as much right of woman as that of man, it prohibits extra-marital sexual liaison and on one hand upholds dignity and honour of woman and on the other, exalts sex on the level of sanctity and restricts it for procreation.. Thus it would be seen that discourse of Islamic feminism, while having something in common with modern western feminism, it also significantly differs from it. Islamic feminists have to observe certain norms which modern western feminists are not obliged to.

There is institutionalised oppression of women in all cultures. In India Hindu female foetocide numbers approximately two million every year. Hinduism is rife with sexism. Women are classed as objects owned by men. The Muslims from the Sub-continent were converted from Hinduism. They carry even now a lot of Hindu traditions of dishonouring women mostly in isolated ruler areas. In urban areas Muslims are well educated both Islamically and worldly and women have all the rights given by Islam.

UNICEF photo of the year shows, a bridegroom, 40, with his 11-year-old bride in Afghanistan. The bridegroom is going to take care of her and their future children. UNICEF photo of the year must show that the teenage pregnancies and abortion, drug addiction, binge drinking and anti-social behavior is on the rise in Britain. All of them are burden on British tax-payers. This is sickening. It's no wonder Great Britain is in such a bad shape. Ten years old British girls are haveing babies out of wedlock. They are not allowed to get married but are allowed to have babies. Teenage pregnancy rate in Great Britain is the highest in Western Europe. It is a civilised country and Yemen is a backward country because it allows young girls to get married.

The Holy Quran gives more rights to women than the so called western civilisation.

Western Secularism cannot teach Muslims how to treat women. Islam teaches us how to be civilised. Islam is a middle path. Women are even abused in the UK Parliament, which is called the Mother of Parliament. It is not just verbal abuse the female MPs have had to deal with. The tradition of killing women for family honour is a “curse”. Violence against women is a global phenomenon. An Australian Judge failed to jail nine males who admitted gang-raping a 10-year old Aboriginal girl, by saying the victim probably agreed to have sex with them. More than half the babies born to British mothers this year will be outside marriage for the first time since records begins. There is a steady decline in marriage among British couples. Nearly all births to Pakistani mothers are within wedlock.

The veil signified the rejection of an unacceptable system of values which debased women while Islam elevated women to a position of honour and respect. It is not liberation, where women go naked. It is just oppression, because men want to see them naked. Miniskirts and plunging necklines represent oppression. Veil is a sign of liberation from a prevailing and dangerous western, secular norm – namely, a view of women purely as sexual objects. Western culture is liberalism, and that is in itself a set of norms. But now the time has come that liberalism must change its attitudes because Britain and the whole of West has undergone significant change. It is a fact that a veil cannot be equated with forced marriages, female circumcision or unequal education for girls. The real difference between man and woman is that they have different kinds of bodies designed for very different purposes, and they have also different kinds of mind because these, too, are designed to contribute differently to human needs and purposes. Men tend to be more imaginative and have more flair than women, but women are much more tenacious and better at multilasking than men.

Muslim boys and Girls need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Male and female Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Muslim youths feel torn between two cultures, thanks to the state schools with monolingual non-Muslim teachers. Islam teaches Muslims youths to be virgin but western education system teaches the opposite. It makes their lives very confusing. They suffer from Identity Crises. The solution is that each and every Muslim child should be in state funded Muslim schools because western education makes a man stupid and selfish according to Lord Bertrand Russell.

Iftikhar Ahmad

http://www.touchandlearn.com/

Bismillah

as salam alykom,

I received this very insightful email and felt to share it over here:

It was said in old legends that a man once befriended the angel of death. Whenever he would come, the man would ask him: `Have you come to visit [me] or to take [me]?' – and the angel would reply: `I've come to visit.'

One day, the man said to the angel of death: `I ask you in the name of our friendship that you send me a messenger when my time comes; one that informs me that you are coming to take my soul.' – so the angel said: `You shall have that…'

Then, the angel came down one day upon the man, so he said to him: `You are coming to visit, yes?' He said: `No, rather to take.'

He said: `But your messenger never came to me?!'

He said: `Rather, he did…

1. Your back hunching after it was upright;

2. your hair whitening after being black;

3. your voice wavering after it was bold;

4. your weakness replacing your strength;

5. your vision blurring after it was sharp;

6. your despairing after your hopes,

7. and also in those that died before you...'

`You requested one messenger, and I sent you a number of messengers, so how can you blame me?'

How many messengers reached you until now?

http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/armed-m...42964.html

..CAIRO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A leading Islamist candidate

for the Egyptian presidency was attacked by armed men overnight

and was in an intensive care unit in hospital suffering from

brain concussion, aides said on Friday.

Abdel Moneim Abol Fotoh, 60, was on his way home from a

campaign event in the city of Munufeya when three armed men

wearing masks and carrying machineguns stopped him.

"They beat him on the head repeatedly, took the car and

ran," said campaign team member Ahmed Osama.

"He is now in the intensive care unit and conscious," said

Osama.

The attack occurred two weeks before candidates register to

run in the presidential election that Egypt is holding under

plans by the ruling military council to hand over power to a new

head of state at the end of June.

Abol Fotoh was expelled from the Muslim Brotherhood, which

emerged as the biggest single party in a parliamentary election,

when he defied its decision not to put up a presidential

candidate.

Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, one of the most widely respected

Sunni Muslim clerics in the Arab world, has described Abol Fotoh

as the "leading candidate" in a field including former Arab

League Secretary General Amr Moussa, a liberal and former

foreign minister.

The Muslim Brotherhood's decision not to field its own

presidential candidate is part of an effort to ease concerns at

home and abroad about Islamist domination of Egypt after an

uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak from 30 years of power last

February.

The military council has ruled Egypt since then.

(Writing by Marwa Awad; Editing by Ralph Gowling)

...

Related on the authority of Abu Hurairah (R.A),

The Prophet (Salallahu alayhi wa Salam) said:

A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not wrong him nor does he forsake him when he is in need. Whoever is fufilling the needs of his brother, Allah is fulfilling his needs. Whoever removes distress from a believer, Allah removes from him a distress from a distressful aspect on the Day of Resurrection.

Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

My cousin started of texting everyone on her list,

"Inshallah I am going to text one name with its meaning and I want everyone to try and incorporate the name in their dua inshaAllah and even attempt to memorise the name and its meaning Inshallah"!

So i have decided to share this with you all!

"He is Allah (God), the Creator, the Originator, The Fashioner, to Him belong the most beautiful names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, do declare His praises and Glory. And He is the Exalted in Might, The Wise. (Quran 59:24)

"The most beautiful names belong to Allah (God): so call on Him by them;..." (Quran 7:180)

We all have a story to tell.

We all experience new things in life.

We all influence others.

How many of us think who are we that we can influence or have a postive impact on others?

we sin so much ourself and are trying to get our own iman straight let alone start talking about the topic of islam to others!

Many of us today trying to engage young people or anyone in fact onto Islam, dont always want dawah in terms of so called hard core information being passed on to them, meaning reading long articles, listening to long lectures, reading hadith after hadith or people just telling them YOU GOT TO FOLLOW this your on the wrong path!

My journey My story My life inshallah which give my life experience and how i didnt realise just for example simple talking to a person and mentioning oh i got to go pray how much it influenced and made the other person think hang on a second if she can do it then why cant i?

The above is just one example.

I will be discussing many different issues, typical stereotypes and ways of thinking, Inshallah it will show to others that Islam is a beautiful religion that is for eveyone even those who are on the wrong path and for those who for example we see on the street and judge straight away, oh look at her wearing the hijab yet wearing so much make up! An understanding of the person making this comment and also the one wearing the hijab in this example wikl be explained

you know the saying theres a light at the end of the tunnel.

With hardship comes ease and with ease comes hardship (ayah from Quran cant remember precise reference at the moment).

If I dont make sense with anything please let me know and do post your thoughts!

Speak to you soon inshallah

Assalamu alaikum all,

Alhamdulillah i am back and Inshallah going to be a regular poster after few years of coming and going before of which being a very regular member and moderator.

Inshallah I have many ideas of new threads and loads to post :)

Chat to you all soon.

Sis Muslimah you must have many smiles on your face to see me back here :)