Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the American educated Pakistani scientist and mother of three was detained for years by the US in Bagram. She has been the victim of the US programme of secret detention for five years since having been kidnapped in Karachi by Pakistan security services in 2003 along with her three children.


On Monday 4th August 2008, federal prosecutors in the US confirmed that Aafia Siddiqui was extradited to the US from Afghanistan where they allege she had been detained since mid-July 2008. The US administration claims that she was arrested by Afghani forces outside Ghazni governor’s compound with manuals on explosives and ‘dangerous substances in sealed jars’ on her person. They further allege that whilst in custody she shot at US officers and was injured in the process.


According to her lawyer, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, “We do know she was at Bagram for a long time. It was a long time. According to my client she was there for years and she was held in American custody; her treatment was horrendous.”


For more information about Aafia Siddiqui, please visit: http://www.aafiasiddiqui.org


TAKE ACTION FOR AAFIA SIDDIQUI


1. Write to Aafia:


AAFIA SIDDIQUI 90279-054 36


MDC BROOKLYN


METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER


P.O. BOX 329002


BROOKLYN, NY 11232


Aafia's lawyers advise that when writing you do not discuss or solicit information regarding her case or the charges against her, her whereabouts or those of her children for the past five years. You can send photographs along with your letters but no packages.


You can send books, newspapers and magazines directly from the publishers (such as www.barnesandnoble.com or www.amazon.com). Aafia has requested a daily newspaper and books on nature. If you want to ensure that she has not already received a copy of the item you wish to send then please email Sarah Kunstler at sarah@fkolaw.com


If you would prefer for Cageprisoners to forward messages to Aafia, please email us at contact@cageprisoners.com


2. Send a message of support to Aafia's family.


Please email your letters to contact@cageprisoners.com


3. Sign the Online Petition


http://www.petitiononline.com/aafia/petition.html


4. Download and print copies of the petition here.


http://www.cageprisoners.com/Aafia/2...20Siddiqui.pdf


Please return all signed petitions to: Cageprisoners, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3XX


5. Attend protest actions and events for Aafia Siddiqui and her children. Organise an event in your community.


Click here for details of the NYC Protest - 3rd September


http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=785


Click here for details of the London Protest - 12th September


http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=791


6. Donate


Aafia can receive money for the purchase of snacks, toiletries, phone calls, etc whilst in prison. Please send funds to Aafia to the following address and in accordance with the directions provided below:


Federal Bureau of Prisons


AAFIA SIDDIQUI


90279-054 36


Post Office Box 474701


Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001


The deposit must be in the form of a money order made out to the inmate's full committed name and complete eight digit register number. Effective December 1, 2007, all non-postal money orders and non-government checks processed through the National Lockbox will be placed on a 15 day hold. The Bureau of Prisons will return funds that do not have valid inmate information to the sender provided the envelope has an adequate return address. Personal cheques and cash cannot be accepted for deposit.


The sender's name and return address must appear on the upper left hand corner of the envelope to ensure that the funds can be returned to the sender in the event that they cannot be posted to the inmate's account. The deposit envelope must not contain any items intended for delivery to the inmate. The Bureau of Prisons shall dispose of all items included with the funds.


In the event funds have been mailed but have not been received in the inmate's account and adequate time has passed for mail service to Des Moines, Iowa, the sender must initiate a tracer with the entity who sold them the money order to resolve any issues.


Western Union Quick Collect Program


You may also send funds through Western Union's Quick Collect Program. All funds sent via Western Union's Quick Collect will be posted to her account within two to four hours, when those funds are sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST (seven days per week, including holidays). Funds received after 9:00 pm EST will be posted by 7:00 am EST the following morning. Funds sent to an inmate through the Quick Collect Program may be sent via one of the following ways:


1) At an agent location with cash: The inmate's family or friends must complete a Quick Collect Form. Click here to view a sample Quick Collect Form. To find the nearest agent, they may call 1-800-325-6000 or go to www.westernunion.com.


2) By phone using a credit/debit card: The inmate's family or friends may simply call 1-800-634-3422 and press option 2.


3) ONLINE using a credit/debit card: The inmate's family and friends may go to www.westernunion.com and select "Quick Collect".


For each Western Union Quick Collect transaction, the following information must be provided:


1) Valid Inmate Eight Digit Register Number (9027905436SIDDIQUI entered with no spaces or dashes and immediately followed by Inmate's Last Name)


2) Committed Inmate Full Name entered on optional line (Aafia Siddiqui)


3) Code City: FBOP


4) State code: DC


Please note that the inmate's committed name and eight digit register number must be entered correctly. If the sender does not provide the correct information, the transaction cannot be completed. The Code City is always FBOP and the State Code is always DC.


Each transaction is accepted or rejected at the point of sale. The sender has the sole responsibility of sending the funds to the correct inmate. If an incorrect register number and/or name are used and accepted and posted to that inmate, funds may not be returned.


Any questions or concerns regarding Western Union transfers should be directed to Western Union by the sender (general public). Questions or concerns should not be directed to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.


For additional information concerning inmate Commissary account deposit procedures, please see the Bureau of Prisons Trust Fund/Warehouse/Laundry Manual (PS 4500.04) or 28 CFR Parts 506 and 540. For information concerning a specific deposit, please contact Federal Bureau of Prisons' staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET.


Further information about a fund to enable Aafia's family in Pakistan to visit her and to assist her legal defence will be provided shortly.


7. Write to the US authorities:


* Demand that the state department fulfils their consular duties and provide assistance to Ahmed, the son of Aafia Siddiqui, and also locate her other children; all of whom are US citizens.


* Demand that Aafia Siddiqui’s children, including her eldest son Ahmad who is Afghan custody, must be immediately placed in the custody of her relatives.


* Demand that Aafia Siddiqui be given full and complete access to her lawyer without any impediments.


* That she be given medical treatment and aid during her detention to not put any further pressure on her injuries and to help her recovery.


* That she be transferred from prison to Bellevue Hospital.


* That the unnecessary cavity and strip searches should be stopped by her US jailers due to her current medical condition.


* Call for human rights laws and standards to be strictly adhered to in cooperation between US security forces and those of other countries, ensuring that torture and ill-treatment, incommunicado detentions and "disappearance" play no part in such cooperation.


The Honorable Condoleezza Rice


Secretary of State


U.S. Department of State


2201 C Street, N.W.


Washington DC 20520


Tel: + 1 202 647 4000


Fax: + 1 202 261 8577


Email: http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form...secretary.html


For a sample letter see http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=789


8. Write to the Pakistani authorities:


* Demand the immediate repatriation of Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistani from where she was kidnapped.


* Demand that her children be immediately placed in the custody of her relatives.


* Demand that the best medical treatment be afforded her.


* Demand a full investigation into her disappearance.


His Excellency Ambassador Husain Haqqani


Pakistani Ambassador to the US


3517 International Court NW


Washington DC 20008


Tel: + 1 202 243 6500


Email: info@embassyofpakistanusa.org


Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi


Ministry of Foreign Affairs


Islamabad


Pakistan


Tel: + 92 51 921 0335


Fax: + 92 51 920 7600


Email: spokesman@yahoo.com


For a sample letter see http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=789


9. Download and distribute the following campaign materials to raise awareness for the plight of Aafia Siddiqui and her children.


http://www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=789


To get involved in the campaign for justice for Aafia Siddiqui please email freeaafia@cageprisoners.com

Bismillah


During the same interpretation task where the American adviced my Mulimah colleague, another one who works with an oil company as a rig boss, told me how he is trying to accept other cultures and understand it in order to be able to work with other nationalities. He told me how he enjoys Eid food festiaval. But what is remarkable in his opinion, how an increased level of production concides with Ramadan and sustains for about 4 months after, then takes a declining curve again. Sobhan Allah, I took the chance to explan to him how Sawm has a physiological affect on the human body system, plus the spiritual uplift we attain due to an increased level of worship and struggle to fight both Shyatan and Nafs which Alhamdulelah sustains with some all year long and with others only few months after Ramadan. Certainly I wasnt expecting him to shout outloud Ooooo I found the truth path, but at least Alhamdulelah he gazed forward and kept thinking quitely.


If only people think and ponder, they will easily come to the truth. Alhamdulelah for Islam.

Bismillah


For brothers and sisters like Wael, Jennifer, Suhail, UmmZ, what time is iftar? Here Alhamdulelah, it is at 6:8 PM. Actually, they changed the time to winter time 3 days before Ramadan to accomodate the long hours. I think I know that iftar in England is around 10 PM and Fajr is about 3 AM?? How about the rest? and do u have time to catch Iftar at home, or sometimes you are work??

Bismillah


One week before Ramadan, I was working with a young colleague on an interpretation assignment. She is the type of committed Muslimahs who are trying to abide by the dress code but she is struggling for this in the sense that she dresses in tight clothes, wears bright colours as head covers, ..etc. The american man told her Oo u r fishing, you are looking for trouble trying to find a good Egyptian man. She said why? he said if not then why are u dressed up like this, why are you dressed up in bright colours. Then he continued saying look at your colleauge, she is dressed up in a style that she does not want any one to be attracted to her, unlike you are trying to attract attention. She was stunned. I told him you actually summed up the purpose of why Allah Ordained us Muslimahs to cover up, the whole purpose is not to attract attention.


Sobhan Allah, an american drawing her attention. Of course, he didnt mean to direct her to the correct path. BUt this is natural. See, even if westerners do admit this. Through the course of discussion, he said, American women do the same, they maintain long her, wear make up, and bright stylish clothes, to get a husband. Then everything fades away, they stop maintaing their appearence. Cerntainly his purpose was different, but without noticing, he simply admitted that what Allah Ordained is correct.

<b>Wishing you all the best this month and always</b>

Book title


An Introduction to the Sciences of Hadith


Shaykh Suhayb Hasan


http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/sunnah/0008.htm


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A hadith is composed of two parts:


the matn (text)


and the isnad (chain of reporters).


A text may seem to be logical and reasonable but it needs an authentic isnad with reliable reporters to be acceptable.


As there are many reporters involved in each isnad,the situation demanded strict discipline in the acceptance of ahadith; the rules regulating this discipline are known as Mustalah al-Hadith (the Classification of Hadith).


There are a number of classes of hadith in accordance with their status.


According to the reference to a particular authority:


marfu(elevated), mauquf (stopped) and maqtu (severed).


According to the links in the isnad:


musnad(supported), muttasil (continuous), munqati(broken), mu'allaq (hanging),mu'dal (perplexing) and mursal (hurried).


According to the number of reporters involved in each stage of the isnad:


mutawatir(consecutive) and ahad (isolated),


the latter being divided into gharib (scarce, strange),aziz (rare, strong), and mashhur (famous).


According to the manner in which the hadith has been reported:


mudallas(concealed) and musalsal(uniformly-linked).


According to the nature of the matn and isnad:


munkar (denounced)and mudraj (interpolated).


According to a hidden defect found in the isnad or text of a hadith:


maqlub (overturned) and mudtarib (shaky).


According to the reliability and memory of the reporters:


sahih (sound), hasan (good),da'if (weak) and maudu' (fabricated, forged)


Rijal al-Hadith


Mustalah al-Hadith is strongly associated with Rijal al-Hadith (the study of the reporters of hadith).in descending


order of authentication the reporters are classified to:


Imam (leader), Hafiz (preserver).


Reliable, trustworthy.


Makes mistakes.


Weak.


Abandoned (by the traditionists).


Liar, used to fabricate ahadith.

Bismillah


as salam alykom brothers and sisters


Did any of you encounter a situation when a muslim argued that we can continue eating and drinking and other issues only permitted after fast breaking till sunrise under the pretext that the Ayah says "So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from the black," (Quran 2:187)


Actually, the meaning of this Ayah, is till there is sufficient amount of light that allows you to differentiate between a white and black thread (when there is no other source of light like a lamp or something).


This is very important for all of us to fully understand, since there is a group going around raising suspicion in this area and trying to pursue others with their point. May Allah Protect us ameen.

Muslim Youths


Muslim youths are angry, frustrated and extremist because they have been mis-educated and de-educated by the British schooling. Muslim children are confused because they are being educated in a wrong place at a wrong time in state schools with non-Muslim monolingual teachers. They face lots of problems of growing up in two distinctive cultural traditions and value systems, which may come into conflict over issues such as the role of women in the society, and adherence to religious and cultural traditions. The conflicting demands made by home and schools on behaviour, loyalties and obligations can be a source of psychological conflict and tension in Muslim youngsters. There are also the issues of racial prejudice and discrimination to deal with, in education and employment. They have been victim of racism and bullying in all walks of life. According to DCSF, 56% of Pakistanis and 54% of Bangladeshi children has been victims of bullies. The first wave of Muslim migrants were happy to send their children to state schools, thinking their children would get a much better education. Than little by little, the overt and covert discrimination in the system turned them off. There are fifteen areas where Muslim parents find themselves offended by state schools.


The right to education in one’s own comfort zone is a fundamental and inalienable human right that should be available to all people irrespective of their ethnicity or religious background. Schools do not belong to state, they belong to parents. It is the parents’ choice to have faith schools for their children. Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. There is no place for a non-Muslim teacher or a child in a Muslim school. There are hundreds of state schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools. An ICM Poll of British Muslims showed that nearly half wanted their children to attend Muslim schools. There are only 143 Muslim schools. A state funded Muslim school in Birmingham has 220 pupils and more than 1000 applicants chasing just 60.


Majority of anti-Muslim stories are not about terrorism but about Muslim


culture--the hijab, Muslim schools, family life and religiosity. Muslims in the west ought to be recognised as a western community, not as an alien culture.


Iftikhar Ahmad


www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Bismillah


as salam alykom


I received this very insightful note on an email, thought to share it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.


One day one fellow met the great philosopher and said, 'Do you know what I just heard about your friend?'


'Hold on a minute,' Socrates replied. 'Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test.'


'Triple filter?'


'That's right,' Socrates continued.


'Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test.


The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?'


'No,' the man said, 'actually I just heard about it and...'


'All right,' said Socrates. 'So you don't know if it's true or not.Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?'


'No, on the contrary...'


'So,' Socrates continued, 'you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?'


'No, not really.'


'Well,' concluded Socrates, 'if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?' This is why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.


Friend, use this triple filter each time you hear loose talk about any of your near and dear friends.

Bismillah


Made against him, may Allah Substitute Pakistan with a better Muslim ruler so other Muslim countries ameeeeen.