CAIRO — The federal government in Canada has introduced a new draft law that would bar Muslim women from voting if they show up at polling places with a niqab (face-veil), a move criticized by the opposition and Muslim leaders as unnecessary, The Globe and Mail reported on Saturday, October 27.


The new bill would close a loophole that had enflamed the debate about niqab in Canada in the wake of the government's recent dispute with Elections Canada, which has refused to bar people with veiled faces from polling places.


The draft legislation provides for only one exception: bandages on the face worn for medical reasons, for example, after surgery.


But in that case, voters must present two proofs of identity or be accompanied by a qualified elector able to vouch for them.


It also gives some flexibility to Elections Canada officials in administering the law so that it is respectful of religious beliefs.


Electoral officers, for instance, can arrange for veiled Muslim women to uncover their faces behind a screen and in front of a female elections official.


The debate over the veil erupted last September, during federal by-elections in Quebec province.


Several days before the vote, Elections Canada laid down rules, under which fully veiled women could vote without showing their faces.


Led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, MPs in several parties hit out at the country's Electoral Chief Marc Mayrand, accusing him of thwarting the will of Parliament, which had passed a bill last spring aimed at enhancing voter identification requirements.


But Mayrand refused to budge, arguing that there was nothing in the current law that would bar Muslim women to remove their veils before voting.


He said lawmakers should consider changing the law, if they wanted to guarantee propter identification in voting.


<b>Unnecessary</b>


The opposition and some Muslim leaders, however, dismissed the motion as unnecessary, charging that the Harper government was making too much fuss about nothing for political gains.


Liberal deputy leader Michael Ignatieff said.


"What I don't like about this whole project is the idea that we take a bunch of women wearing veils and we make a whole big deal about this ... Let's not have politicians fishing around and creating divisions between Canadians about this," he added.


New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton also questioned the urgency of such an issue given the fact that a handful of Muslim women wear niqab.


He said the government should rather fix an oversight in last spring's electoral law changes that wound up inadvertently disenfranchising one million rural voters who do not have formal street addresses.


Mohamed Elmasry of the Canadian Islamic Congress said the law is unnecessary and will feed discrimination against Muslim Canadians.


Sameer Zuberi, of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Canada, agreed, adding that "there are hardly any" women in Canada who choose to wear niqabs or burkas.


They both agreed that the Tories are hoping to make political mileage among Islamophobes.


Muslims make up nearly two percent of Canada's some 32.8 million people and Islam has become the number one non-Christian faith in the country.

Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum.


Here is another thought on the "<i>theory</i>" of Jesus' resurrection as promoted by Christians.


Thousands of years before Christianity, India, Egypt, Babylonia and almost all the ancient countries, knew very well of the story of resurrection, these countries, with their unlimited religions and gods, their gods and saviors were born of virgins, these saviors were also considered to be gods' sons, they've performed mighty miracles, and after their death they arose from the dead and ascended into heaven.


Sadly, Christians would never believe in such fairy tales, but at the same time they expect us to believe that these incidents happens only to <b>'their savior'</b> Jesus.


Now...


If the story of the resurrection of "god" who was also called the son of God, older than Christianity, then why can't Christians consider these stories to be true?


If millions of people in these ancient countries who lived and died in their conviction that their saviors died for them and risen from the dead, but yet all Christians believe that these stories are merely fairy tales, <b>then how can anyone be sure that Christ's resurrection was not one of these fiction stories of olden days? </b>


For instance, I've studied in Egypt the story of <b>Osiris</b>, who was worshipped for about 6000 years, and during that time, millions of Egyptians believed that Osiris raised from the dead; So...the question here is, <b>Will the Christians accuse the Egyptians for being dumb just because they believed in "the old version of Christianity"? </b>


Please Christians tell me, how did you come to the conclusion <b>that Osiris resurrection was a myth, but Jesus' resurrection was a fact? </b>


My questions are not over, please Christians enlighten me: are the Buddhists in error for their beliefs that <b>their savior Buddha was resurrected from the dead but you are perfectly right for telling us that Jesus raised from the dead?</b> How did you come to know that they are wrong? <b>Is their religion wrong, simply because it happens to be another man's religion</b>.


The definition of the term <b>"double standard"</b> according to Oxford Dictionary is:


double standard



• noun a rule or principle applied unfairly in different ways to different people.


Ask Oxford.Com


So why Christians consider the resurrections of other "gods and saviors" of <b>OLDER</b> religions to be false, and accept the resurrection story of Christ when it was only told and preached in a recent religion?


Christians have got 2 options:


<b>1- To believe that Jesus' resurrection was simply another myth borrowed from pagan religions. OR…</b>


2- To accept Islam which recognizes Jesus and places him in his right position



We ask Allah, the Almighty God to open their hearts wide to the light of Islam. Ameen.


Salam


Wael.

Muslim Organizations and Islamic Centers Derail Kaufman Attempt to Demonize Saturday's Muslim Family Day at Six Flags


WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) Oct. 15, 2007 - The Muslim American Society's Dallas chapter led a coalition of Muslim Organizations and Islamic Centers in derailing an attempt by Joe Kaufman and his group, "American's Against Hate", to demonize this past Saturday's Islamic Center of North America (ICNA) sponsored Muslim Family Day at Six Flags, a Dallas-area amusement park.


Kaufman, through his website and planned protest/demonstration at the entrance of Six Flags, operates a website known as, "Americans Against Hate" - refers to the Muslim Family Day sponsors and co-sponsors as "radicals", "extremists" and "jihadists'" (in the sense of that word as used in America to mean armed or violent people) - "which is, in fact, the antithesis of the title, in that it tries to foment hate and anger against law abiding United States citizens who practice their religion (Islam), freely as guaranteed by the United States Constitution," the coalition's slander and defamation lawsuit, filed in Tarrant County District Court prior to the event, states.


District Court Judge Bob McGrath executed a restraining order against Kauffman on October 12, ordering that Kaufman be immediately restrained from threatening plaintiffs in person, by telephone, or in writing to take unlawful action against any person, intending by this action to annoy or alarm Plaintiffs; intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs' associates or members; threatening Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs' associates or members with imminent bodily injury; and/or inciting violence against Plaintiffs, their members or associates.


The court's order also requires Kaufman to appear in District Court on October 22, 2007 at 8:30 AM to determine what other relief might be necessary in the case.


"We would like to encourage the Dallas area Muslim community to make every effort to attend the October 22 hearing as a demonstration of solidarity in seeing that justice is served," stated MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray.


The Tarrant County District Court is located at 401 West Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas.

Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum.


***********************


<b>Question:</b>


I am originally Christian and for the last year I have been discovering Islam. I have now stopped going to church and praying according to the Christian tradition because I gradually became unconvinced of the key Christian teachings about Jesus.


I am missing prayer very much, and I would like to pray in a Muslim way - however, I am not yet ready to convert fully and accept all the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as I still have many questions un-answered. Is it allowed to perform Salat and go to a mosque without being a Muslim? Many thanks in advance For your reply.


Topic


New to Islam, Aspects of Worship


Name of Counselor


Jasser Auda


<b> Answer</b>


Peace, Alexandra.


Thank you for your question and thank you for your interest in Islam.


Praying the Muslim Way


To start with, the answer is: Yes. You could pray the way Muslims pray, for sure. These prayers belong to God and not humans, whoever they are.


No Muslim should assume some sort of 'monopoly' over the way of prayer that Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught humanity.


In fact, Muslims believe that Muhammad merely revived prayers, fasting, and acts of worship that believers before Islam used to practice in the original versions of their faith.


I think that you have got to 'try' to pray (and fast) the Muslim way and try to discover for yourself the feelings and spirituality associated with these ways of praying and fasting, etc, whether in their individual or collective forms.


In the mosque or the 'house of worship', ideally speaking, you will meet pious people, witness many acts of charity, and find the light of belief.


God says in the Quran about His own Light what gives the meaning of:


*{God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is, as it were, that of a niche containing a lamp; the lamp is enclosed in glass, the glass shining like a radiant star: a lamp lit from a blessed tree - an olive-tree that is neither of the east nor of the west the oil whereof is so bright that it would well-nigh give light of itself even though fire had not touched it: light upon light. God guides unto His light him that wills to be guided; and to this end, God propounds parables unto humans, since God alone has full knowledge of all things.


In the houses of worship which God has allowed to be raised so that His name be remembered in them, there are such as extol His limitless glory at morn and evening –people whom neither worldly commerce nor striving after gain can divert from the remembrance of God, and from con­stancy in prayer, and from charity: people who are filled with fear at the thought of the Day on which all hearts and eyes will be convulsed, and who only hope that God may reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did, and give them, out of His bounty, more than they deserve: for, God grants sustenance unto whom He wills, beyond all reckon­ing.}* (An-Nur 24:35-38)


A Mirror of Local Community


However, frankly, I would like to mention to you, sister, that any mosque is a mirror of its local community. In Islam, mosques do not have any divine or doctrinal status, as it is the case in many Christian churches.


A mosque does not represent God or Islam; it only represents its Muslim local community. It is, more or less, a community place that is opened for their collective prayers, in addition to their social events and community functions, and so on.


I do not know exactly which mosque you will visit in order to pray, and thus, I do not know whether the local community of that mosque would be friendly and open to people from outside the community, or otherwise.


So, if you happen to feel uncomfortable in a mosque that you visit, try another mosque.


In addition, pray at home as well. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Observe some of your prayers in your houses." (Muslim)


On the other hand, various Muslim cultures in various mosques are adamant about a certain outlook for all women attendees.


Therefore, when you go to the mosque, try to adhere to this outlook, whatever it is, merely out of respect to the local community.


It is also a good opportunity in the mosque to try to make new Muslim friends and find answers for your questions.


The ABCs of Being Muslim


However, accepting Islam does not mean to have all your questions 'answered'. To become Muslim, you must believe in what is called the 'six pillars of belief'. These are: 1) One God, 2) God's Prophets (including Jesus and Muhammad), 3) God's Noble books (which He had sent to these prophets), 4) the Hereafter, 5) Angels, and 6) that God created everything that had happened and everything that is destined to happen.


If you believe in the above, then you are Muslim (a good translation of the word 'Muslim' is: a believer), and the rest is details. The search for answers for these detailed questions could continue within Islam.


Unanswered Questions


From my experience with questions about Islam, I find that many questions that remain 'unanswered' are related to certain historical factors, being political, social, cultural, or even environmental.


The problem is that many Muslims, including some Muslim scholars, do not recognize these historical dimensions of some of the Islamic rulings, and hence fail to offer reasonable and adequate answers to important questions. This leads to confusion in the minds of many seekers of the truth, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.


For example, some of the common difficulties that many non-Muslims have with Islam are related to the issue of the status of women in the Islamic law.


However, a closer look at many of the popular rulings concerning women will reveal certain underlying historical basis for these rulings that are, today, non-applicable, such as certain guardianship patterns, marriage customs, or acceptable costumes.


These things are subject to change, as long as the principles and moral values behind them are fixed and preserved. Islam is about these principles and moral values; not about the specific manifestations that they take in certain cultures in the past or present.


What I would like to say here is that such unanswered questions, as long as they are not about the basic pillars of belief mentioned above, do not affect the fact that you are a believer in the Islamic sense.


Many Muslims, too, do have unanswered questions of 'why' in these areas, including myself. But we all know that the Islamic spirit of knowledge is to keep on searching for the truth and finding answers.


I hope this answers your question. Please keep in touch and send us your own unanswered questions and we will try our best to answer them.


Salam.


IslamOnline.Net

Bismillah


as salam alykom brothers and sisters


We found, for the purpose of balancing, to dedicate this thread for resources presenting the true shia belief in order to allow better information.


Certainly Karbala is welcomed to surf them at his own pace and see if he agrees/disagrees with them...


Ahlel Bayt


http://www.ahlelbayt.com


The Truth


http://thetruth.hypermart.net


Hosain league


http://www.ansar.org


http://www.muslimworld.co.uk/refutations/sheeah.html


http://www.islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/...f_shia.htm


http://www.islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/shia.htm


http://www.allaahuakbar.net/shiites/exposi...ite_beliefs.htm

Assalamualaikum


Some of u may or may not have noticed that i have been away for a while.


I have been mainly in South America for the past 5 months. I was involved in an effort of deen over there i was in Suriname which is next to Brazil , also went to Argentina and Brazil. The first country we went to was brazil , there was 8 of us all from uk , Brazil is a massive massive country we saw many many muslims who are unfortunately very far from deen. we were visiting mainly the shanty town where the majority of the muslims were situated. The muslims there dont know anything about islam , most cant recite the kalimah. they say they are muslims bcoz their forefathers were muslims. many hundreds and thousands are leaving islam over there , not knowingly but just slowly deen just coming out. In brazil we saw many old masjids which were closed down and locked up. we managed to open us many masjids and revived salat there with the help off allah , argentina was a simalar situation , i remember walking for days and days in argentina and not meeting a single human. its a massive country , when we did meet a person , we found out he was muslim and spoke portugese. one of the brothers in our group was an experienced speaker, alhumdulillah he took on board the concern we came with and started doing the effort of deen in argentina reminding muslims about islam.


Last stop was surinam port mountanious forest , jungly country , deen very weak there amongs the muslims , majority of the familes will have 3 or 4 religions in their family , dad muslim , mum hindu , daughter christian , son jew , the was the case in many families.


Alhumduliallah i have learnt alot , and i will slowly write more when i remeber more , i am ready to answer ur questions if u want

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Tayyboun


Please click the link to be acquainted with the course details.

George Washington University Students Confront Muslim 'Haters'


After Meeting, Mixed Views on Anti-Muslim Posters


Update: Seven GW Students Admit to Hanging Controversial Posters


MAS Freedom Note: During this past week, numerous posters promoting anti-Muslim hatred were displayed at numerous locations on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. It is widely believed that the posters are connected to the promotion of "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" on a number of college campuses later this month. University students and administrators united to remove the posters and voice their opposition to hatred.


MAS Freedom are responding to this unfortunate anti-Muslim outburst with a call of our own campus unity campaign for increased inter-faith dialogue and expressions of solidarity between Muslim and non-Muslim students who oppose the racist and politically motivated mischaracterization of the Islamic faith.


WASHINGTON, D.C. (GWH) Oct. 9, 2007 - More than 100 people - including GW students, administrators and local media - converged on the Hippodrome at Marvin Center Monday night to express outrage over an anti-Muslim poster hung around campus early Monday morning.


The gathering, organized by GW Peace Forum, highlighted several posters that were anonymously placed around campus, slamming the Muslim faith. The poster falsely advertised "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week."


There is an event of the same name sponsored by the GW Young America's Foundation later this month but leaders of that organization firmly deny hanging the posters.


"We're all here, we're not all the same and we need to understand," said sophomore Tarek Al-Hariri, president of GW Peace Forum, during the discussion. "I think something this morning happened. It may or may not have been taken the way it was supposed to be (and) may not have been a mistake. Nevertheless, people were affected and people took offense."


Many of the students in attendance at the event said they were personally hurt by the posters that were hung.


"This is the first time I felt attacked," said Manalle Mahmoud, a junior who is of the Muslim faith.


Representatives from more than a dozen groups on campus and from Muslim, Catholic and Jewish faiths spoke in unison condemning the posters and the unidentified subjects who hung them.


"We wish to reaffirm our solidarity with all our brothers and sisters of all faith backgrounds and reiterate our commitment to greater understanding of all peoples, of all creeds and denominations," said sophomore Brandon Hines, in a statement from the GW Catholic community.


Several students present at Monday night's gathering attacked senior Sergio Gor, president of GW YAF, for today's events.


"We are being targeted because we are conservative," said Gor, who left the meeting before its conclusion. "No way in shape or in form do we support hate speech."


Gor said GW YAF is hosting several events at the end of the month for "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week." The week will feature two Iranian women - who were persecuted in the Islamic republic - and conservative writer and activist David Horowitz.


Some individuals in attendance at Monday's discussion said this situation is not as bad as it seems. Lara Nasri, a graduate student and a member of the Campus Anti-War Network, said the video listed on the poster, "The Power of Nightmares," was a documentary questioning the West's fear of terrorist networks.


"It was completely satirical and overblown," Nasri said. "It was the antithesis of racism."


Gor disagreed with Nasri.


"This is not satirical," said Sergio Gor. "It is hatred."


Kareem Shibib, a senior from Cornell University who came to gathering after hearing about the poster, said that the flyer is racist.


"I think this is a rather overt form of racism," Shibib said. "What is important (is) to look further into this."


The University Police Department, GW Housing Programs and the Student Activities Center are investigating the matter and would not comment on the current investigation.


University President Steven Knapp condemned the posters in a news release issued Monday evening.


"We do not condone, and we will not tolerate, the dissemination of fliers or other documents that vilify any religious, ethnic, or racial group," Knapp said in the release. "This flier does not represent, in any way, shape or form, the views of the administration of GW."


Knapp said he plans to attend a GW community Iftar Wednesday night in support of the Muslim community and in celebration of the end of Ramadan. He had planned to attend before Monday's events.


Student Association President Nicole Capp, who did not attend Monday night's meeting, said that SA has taken action against the matter.


"I made sure the (SA office assistants) went around campus to take down every poster," said Capp, a junior.


SA Executive Vice President Brand Kroeger, who also did not attend Monday night's meeting, said GW administrators should take serious action against any students involved with creating and or hanging the posters.


Kroeger said, "I would support expulsion. These acts are completely heinous."


Related:


Anti-Muslim Posters Cause Stir, Administrative Response


After Meeting, Mixed Views on Anti-Muslim Posters


Seven GW Students Admit to Hanging Controversial Posters


Letter


MAS Freedom Exposes Horowitz Deception

Just £2 {Islamic Relief}





bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem


asalaamu alaikum


Once again charity week has dawned upon us, as the name of the project suggests, us students are raising as much money as possible for orphans across the world. There are MANY orphans out there. We all know how we rely on our parents, would you be able to live without them from such a young age? We can't replace these children's parents but we can try our best to secure them a future that is not ridden with poverty, ill health and sorrow. Orphans can't change their past, but WE can change their future inshAllah.


Please Donate! <b>All I am asking you to donate is £2</b>. (Which is the minimum donation allowed on justgiving!) Please donate more than £2 too if you can! If you do choose to donate, please don't forget to put <b>university of Westminster </b> in the comments section!



http://www.justgiving.com/process/EGGDonate/Default.asp


It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah said: ‘Spend, O son of Aadam, and I shall spend on you.’” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5073; Muslim, 993.


jazaakumullaahu khayran


Wa salaam


ps - PLS FORWARD the above onto all your contacts inshaa Allaah





About the charity : Islamic Relief


Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity that aims to alleviate the suffering of the world's poorest people. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, it promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities - regardless of race, religion or gender.


Charity Registration No 328158


For more details;


http://www.justgiving.com/charityweekfororphans

Assalaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh. This is a comprehensive lecture that goes over different fiqh issues related to marriage in Islaam mashaa'Allaah.


DivShare File - ArkanofMarriage_AbdllaahAlAnsaaree.mp3