shirazi5

Ameen and fully agreed. And the emergency procedures and building codes have indeed saved them from a potentially greater cost. It is just the timing of the disaster that seemed out of place.

This is the third major disaster in a week, all centered around the North American continent. May God protect all. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/08/mexico-earthquake-warning-tsunami Mexico earthquake: strongest tremor in a century leads to mass evacuations At least six dead as president urges vigilance and tsunami warnings are issued for the region

I know it is too early to say for sure, but as time passes and through the role he has played in these days, Abdullah of Jordan is fitting the role of Sufyani. With the "backing of the West", the "backing of the masses" and the one who will "take revenge" against the Shia. Allah knows best.

This was expected after Trump's U-turn statements.. Do you see this escalating into a full-blown ground conflict? How is Russia going to react? May Allah hasten Imam (A.S)'s arrival.

https://www.ft.com/content/6526fbfe-b090-11e6-a37c-f4a01f1b0fa1 " The kingdom is on the brink of its first non-oil sector recession in three decades " As new arrivals hurry through Riyadh’s airport, Ahmed hustles for customers, hoping to lure travellers into his saloon car. One of hundreds of thousands of Saudis who studied in the US on a government-funded programme, the 30-year-old mechanical engineering graduate has yet to find a job which he spent years training for. Instead, he makes an uncertain living, operating an illegal airport taxi, risking fines from the police. “The economy is bad, where are the jobs?” he says. “All my friends are cursing the government.” His generation’s travails highlight the peril of reform for Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who, just a few months ago, was hailed as a vibrant contrast to Saudi Arabia’s previous generations of gerontocracy. The powerful prince has spearheaded plans for economic diversification as the kingdom grapples with low oil prices. His vigour for bold reform was matched by his determination to check Iran’s regional influence by launching an air campaign against the Islamic republic’s proxies in the war in Yemen. But under the 31-year-old’s stewardship, the Middle East’s largest economy has plunged to the brink of its first non-oil sector recession for three decades. Unpaid government invoices have savaged business confidence; cuts to public sector workers’ benefits have hit consumer spending; and Saudi Arabia’s expensive intervention in Yemen has cost lives and triggered international opprobrium. The honeymoon is indeed over,” says one fund manager. “There has not been one bit of good news for the government — from the economy to the disaster in Yemen.” The domestic grumbling is ramping up pressure on Prince Mohammed as he oversees a highly ambitious reform programme intended to wean the kingdom off its dependence on oil and develop the private sector to create jobs for young Saudis. His plans are laid out in two documents, “Vision 2030” and the National Transformation Plan [NTP], which were released to much fanfare earlier this year. Many Saudis acknowledge the need to transform the kingdom and understand the impact of low oil prices on the economy. But voices of dissent are emerging over the means and pace of change. “At least everyone is in the same boat, but we could really do with the money back,” says Nasser, a teacher. His pay has declined by around 7 per cent to $1,400 a month due to an estimated $17bn cut in September to 3m Saudis’ public sector benefits. The government this month set aside $27bn to settle some of its debts to private sector companies, belatedly responding to the fact that delayed payments have made it hard for contractors such as Binladin Group and Oger, large construction companies, to pay staff and creditors on time. Officials privately acknowledge it was a mistake to withhold payments given the knock-on effect it has on state-dependent companies that have been starved of new contracts. “The economy requires a stimulus package that will help bring back growth, investments and increase confidence,” says John Sfakianakis, an economist with the Gulf Research Centre. “It’s important to avoid sharp cuts.” The government’s austerity measures have driven non-oil growth down to 0.07 per cent in the second quarter, compared with 3.5 per cent last year. The prospect of more reductions to fuel subsidies, pension cuts and a Gulf-wide sales tax from 2018 are further dimming the outlook and risks sparking more anger. Reports that Prince Mohammed recently splashed out €500m on a superyacht has already soured opinion. Wealthy Saudis have also been moving billions of dollars outside the country amid pessimism about its prospects, financiers say. Bankers say progress will be made on privatisation and public-private partnerships next year, which should help bolster the economy. But such measures could also be controversial in a country where the state has dominated. The sense of drift in the economic reform plan comes amid rising popular disapproval of the foreign consultants — such as McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group and PwC — that have been drafted in to reshape the country. “Vision 2030 is a joke,” says one veteran Saudi observer. “When people attack McKinsey, that’s a proxy attack on the man who brought them,” he says, referring to Prince Mohammed. McKinsey responded to the criticism last week in a rare statement in Arabic in which it denied it had produced the Vision 2030 document. The transformation plan identifies 543 initiatives across 24 ministries and government bodies to implement this year that will cost Riyadh $72bn. But government advisers say the plan’s budget is likely to be slashed by around 30 to 40 per cent. One ministerial employee who submitted a budget for his initiative in March has been asked to submit alternative plans with cuts of up to 50 per cent. He is still waiting for the final allocation, pushing implementation way into 2017. “I don’t think I will hang around, time to go back to the private sector,” he says.

Pakistani.

Wasalam Jwelsh. I read your post with great interest and I will discuss, if not answer, your queries with my own understanding of God, religion and life in general. Topic 1: The fact that you feel your faith questioned frequently is a sign that it is alive, and just like a plant needs frequent watering, so does our faith need replenishment. Stagnancy is a characteristic of the dead. So embrace the questions posed to it, answer them and strengthen your Emaan (Faith). Regarding your concern that Allah does not directly "prove/show" his existence and about the pain and suffering in this world, one needs to believe in the notion that this world is naught but a testing ground. A ephemeral, transient stage, leading to the ultimate eternal existence. The word 'Faith" itself implies belief in the 'unknown' or the 'Ghaib'. Furthermore, I believe that the pain and suffering in this world are a direct consequence of the corruption and weakness of man. A consequence of the CHOICE given to man by Allah. In my opinion, Allah occupies a passive role when it comes to our choices and will judge us based on these choices. I am not at all suggesting giving up on this world and living a hermetic life but to strive towards the betterment of oneself and mankind, even when faced with such darkness and suffering. What else is faith about.. I was delighted to know that you are aware of the verses citing the expansion of the universe and the Big Bang preceding it. I would highly recommend a book "The Quran: Unchallenged Miracle" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129727.The_Quran. It elaborates on the scientific, mathematical and linguistic miracles and truths en capsuled in the Quran some 1400 years ago. Here are some other verses from my limited knowledge: It is God who created the seven heavens and of the earth the same number. The commands flow among them that you may know that God has power over everything and everything is held within the knowledge of God. (65:12) The layers of the earth: Oceanic Crust (1), and another one is the Continental Crust (2). Beneath is the Upper Mantle (3). Another layer is the Asthenosphere (4) that exhibits plastic properties. Beneath is the Lower Mantle (5). The Outer Core (6) is underneath; its liquid content with the dynamo effect generated by the rotating of the earth forms the protective magnetic field around it. And the last layer is the Inner Core (7). He made the earth egg-shaped. (79:30) The world, as we know, is oval shaped just like an egg. Your final and most important query in this topic was about the universality of Islam as the final and absolute religion. This question has dogged me too and I have to come to realize that all religions have in their essence, some universal truths and values and the acknowledgement of the Creator. After critically comparing multiple religions, both monotheistic and polytheistic, I have personally accepted Islam as the one closest to rational truth, as the one that liberated humanity to reach its potential and the one that explained God in the most logical,kind and accurate of ways. As for the millions of people who chose otherwise, I refrain myself from judging their outcomes. That right is reserved only with God and I am one to mind my own way. Love humanity. That is the message preached by the Prophet and his progeny. Topic 2: It pains me to see that the sole religion that has encouraged its adherents to LEARN, to advance, is bestowed with a majority of adherents that have plagued themselves with ignorance, biases and backwardness. As aptly explained by you, the Muslim Ummah is taking retarded steps towards progress. But that is owed to the failure of people. Not the ideology and the teachings themselves. When it is said that "Quran has the answers to everything", it is said figuratively, and not literally. If it contained the all the knowledge of the universe, there would not have been any need for any other source of learning. The Quran gives a COMPLETE framework, both legal and moral. A code of life, per say. It guides towards right and wrong, and that for me does answer almost everything. The Prophet and his progeny (s.a.w) made the Quran their compass and elaborated on its teachings and gave us a set of morals and ideals to base our own lives on. As a digression, I myself am a student of Finance and just got done with my CFA level 1. The legal status of modern-day finance is still a vague topic for me. But more on that later. Topic 3: Hazrat Ali (a.s) is indeed the rightful and sole heir of the Prophet (s.a.w) and his divine mission. When it is said that emulate Ali it does not automatically exclude the emulation of the Prophet, for if you observe their lives, there has not been a single contradiction between their teachings. But before I delve into the details there are a few clarifications that are in order: 1) NO Shia would ever declare Imam Ali (a.s) to be a prophet. That is tantamount to the greatest insult to the Noble Imam himself, as he spent his entire life defending the institutions of Tauheed and Prophethood. People who make such claims are non-Muslims in my opinion and the Shia school of thought is united on this fact. 2) Similarly, no informed Shia would rank the Imams above that of the Holy Prophet. The only reason that Shias talk relatively more about the Imams is because of their due rank and holiness has been assailed by the distortions of history and by the theft of their successor ship. We speak for the oppressed. You should listen to the words of our Imam himself, in the Nahjul Balagha (The Peak of Eloquence) and it will come to show you how elevated the rank of the Prophet is and what his relationship with the Imam is. http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-1-praise-due-Allah-whose-worth-cannot-be-described#prophethood-muhammad As for your question that who would we follow if the Prophet and the AhleBayt differ. Well, there has not been a single incident or teaching that differs between these two. The Ahlebayt are the inheritors of the Prophet's grace,knowledge and mission. Do mention any specific incident if you have come across one. I really hope this helps you in your search for the Truth. I will be here to help you in any way. Hoping to hear from you. May God Bless you.

1984 by Goerge Orwell. Reflective of what is happening these days!

Brother Sami, It was really interesting to read your take on the monetary system in place today and the implication of modern day 'money' as the Riba mentioned in the Quran. Your argument concludes that the conventional definitions of money and interest are not in sync with what money and interest really are in actuality and are not in our true ownership. You said that Taqayyah is only allowed if one knows the true circumstance of ones situation. But even if one knows the true situation,there is no choice, even for countries such is Iran to escape from this system. Every individual and country is implicated in handling and using Riba or 'money' as per your argument. So that leaves us, the people, to do WHAT exactly? Awaiting your reply :)

Salam. I have always found the concepts of finance and interest being explained on a very vague basis by our Marja'a and till today there has been no Islamic Financial framework established. The current Islamic banks are known only to change a few terms and paperwork to make financial products Halal I hope a brother or sister sheds some light on this topic and helps the both of us.

The sermon of Hazrat Zainab (s.a) in Yazid's court.. always shakes me.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HafyxNhX7z8 And this (The final parting of Bibi Sakina and Imam Hussain (a.s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGdSlXhMkMw

Jazakallah for sharing these words. The irony and sadness lies in the fact that no society, but that of the Muslim Ummah, has been able to doubt or deny the greatness of the Imam (A.S).

War and strife hasn't reached Hejaz (Saudi Arabia)..yet..

Zainabia: Bless you for these logical refutations to such blatantly absurd attempts by Banu Ummayyah and their present day apologists to cover atrocities on Imam-e-Mazloom (a.s).

He (a.s) is LOVE in its purest form.