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CNN FollowView Profile Why Arabs and Muslims feel stung by coverage of the Qatar World Cup Story by Nadeen Ebrahim • 1h ago React1 Comment| 2 “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker,” FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said in a fiery tirade on Saturday, comparing his own plight as a redhead son of migrants to that of marginalized communities. His ostensible empathy with Qatar was due to the barrage of criticism the nation has faced in Western media for hosting the tournament. But it’s hypocritical of the West to be giving lessons in morality to others, he said. Those statements on the eve of the World Cup went viral, inviting much anger and ridicule. But to many Arabs and Muslims, they resonated strongly. Omar Alsaadi, a 21-year-old Qatari, told CNN that Infantino vocalized “from a Western point of view” what many of his compatriots have felt about being targets of racism. In the run-up to the tournament, Western media coverage has been dominated by the controversies surrounding the event rather than the sport itself, including the Gulf nation’s treatment of migrant workers, its rules on LGBTQ people and its tight social restrictions. Britain’s public broadcaster, the BBC, refrained from airing the opening ceremony on television, opting instead to cover criticism of the host nation. The BBC said it did broadcast the ceremony on their video-on-demand service. This year’s World Cup is certainly like no other before it. It is the first to be held in a Muslim country and Qatar has gone a long way to give the event a distinctly Arab and Muslim flavor. The Bedouin-themed opening ceremony on Sunday began with a female singer donning a traditional burqa, a kind of face covering that has been banned in several European countries. It also cited a verse from the Quran about God creating humanity into “nations and tribes” so they can get to know each other. According to social media reports, some hotel rooms in the country offer visitors QR codes to learn about Islam, and Muslim volunteers have been teaching visitors about Islamic fashion. Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), which is responsible for overseeing the infrastructure projects and planning for the World Cup, didn’t respond to CNN’s request for comment. But in an earlier statement to CNN, the SC said it was committed to “an inclusive and discriminatory-free” World Cup. “Everyone is welcome in Qatar, but we are a conservative country and any public display of affection, regardless of orientation, is frowned upon. We simply ask for people to respect our culture.” The visibility of Islamic symbols in Qatar hasn’t escaped those attending. An on-air joke by a French journalist about the presence of “a lot of mosques” in the country caused outrage among Muslims on social media. Western news outlets have also been accused of peddling stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims. The Times of London on Monday said “Qataris are unaccustomed to seeing women in Western dress in their country” in a photo caption that was later deleted after being flagged on social media. Around 87% of the country’s population of 2.9 million is made up of expatriates, many of whom are Western. “I think that the Western media is biased because they don’t want to see an Arabic success, a Muslim success in the delivering and hosting of a global cup for football in a third [world country],” Najd Al-Mohanadi, a 20-year-old Qatari, told CNN. But some in the Western media have spoken out against stereotyping and alleged biases. Ayman Mohyeldin, an MSNBC host who previously worked for Qatar’s Al Jazeera, said recent coverage of Qatar shows “the depths of Western prejudice, performative moral outrage and, perhaps most significantly, gross double standards.” The Economist and the New York Times have also run articles defending Qatar’s right to host the tournament. The Times of London ran an essay saying criticism of Qatar was “laced with hypocrisy.” “I always question the timing [of the criticism], as migrants throughout the region endure poor living arrangements for meager pay, while also working under strenuous physical and mental conditions,” said Mira Al Hussein, a postdoctoral researcher from the UAE who is studying at Oxford University in England. “Scrutiny is overdue and it makes no sense to tie it to global events where virtue-signaling becomes deeply problematic,” Al Hussein told CNN. “Especially when it comes from non-NGO entities that are themselves embroiled in human rights violations within and across their borders.” James Lynch, director of the human rights group FairSquare and a former British diplomat in Qatar, said that while some of the coverage around Qatar in the West has reinforced negative stereotypes about the Arab Muslim world, most of the criticism has been “fair and proportionate.” “It’s absolutely right to call out instances of that kind of coverage, but wrong to generalize from those examples to imply that all, or most, criticism is driven by racism,” he said. Workers in the country continue to “face harsh, abusive working conditions and severe exploitation, with domestic and construction workers among those most at risk,” he said, adding that Qatar’s women and LGBTQ people “face serious discrimination and repression, both in law and practice.” Critics of Western media coverage of Qatar have countered that other countries with questionable human rights records didn’t receive such scrutiny when hosting global sporting events. “At the risk of engaging in whataboutism… Qatar’s human rights records, as poor as they may be, cannot possibly be more outrageous than other countries, such as Russia, China and Israel,” said Al Hussein. “Qatar is certainly not engaging in ethnic cleansing, nor are migrants living in concentration camps, despite the poor living conditions.” Maryam AlHajri, a Qatari researcher at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said some of the recent rhetoric around Qatar shows that some Western critics have been more concerned with feeding into an “orientalist discourse,” referring to language aimed at imposing Western worldviews, than human rights. “This should not be read as a justification to cease criticizing the migrant worker condition in Qatar,” she said. “Rather, it should be interpreted as an argument for the necessity to contextualize the migrant workers situation as part of a globalized economic order built on colonialism and racial capitalism.” She noted however that some over-zealous defenders of the government on the Qatari side have neglected the country’s human rights shortcomings. “Many of the people defending Qatar are also using terrifyingly pro-government language,” she said, adding that it reaches a point that doesn’t help the cause of Qatar’s migrant workers. “The plight of migrant workers in places like the US or the UK does not take away from the fact that we have problems in Qatar,” AlHajri told CNN. “It shouldn’t be about whataboutism.” With additional reporting from Mariam Dirar Alqasem in Doha Iran protests Social media videos have emerged allegedly showing Iranian security forces sexually assaulting female demonstrators on the streets. With media access inside Iran severely constrained, CNN went to the region near Iraq’s border with Iran, interviewing eyewitnesses who’d left the country and verifying accounts from survivors and sources both in and outside Iran. The covert testimonies revealed sexual assaults on male and female activists as a women-led uprising spreads throughout Iran. US Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley on Tuesday tweeted it is “a reminder of what is at stake for the Iranian people - and of the lengths to which the regime will go in its futile attempt to silence dissent.” Read the article here. Here’s the latest on the protests in Iran: UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Tuesday that the rising number of protest-related deaths highlights the “critical” nature of the situation in the country. The UN said its sources had reported over 40 deaths “in mainly Kurdish cities in the past week.” Forty foreign nationals “affiliated in riots” have been arrested in Iran since protests started in September, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Masood Satayshi said without revealing their nationalities. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday the US is taking steps to “push back against actions Iran is taking to repress its own people.” Mobile internet was restored in Iran after a major disruption on Monday, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks, which said that cellular data was down for about 3.5 hours as security forces cracked down on protesters in the Kurdish region of Iran. World Cup Saudi Arabia produced one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history Tuesday, beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in an astonishing Group C match. Many had expected the South American team, ranked third in the world, unbeaten for three years and among the favorites to win the tournament, to sweep aside its opponent, ranked 48 places below it in the world rankings. Watch CNN’s Becky Anderson speak to celebrating fans of the Saudi team: Also read: A brief history of World Cup shocks. Watch: hilarious moments of Saudi fans celebrating. Many are wondering how a tiny nation with little footballing history ended up hosting one of the biggest sporting events. Find out here. Some of those attending the matches have experienced difficulties when trying to enter stadiums wearing clothing in support of LGBTQ rights. How World Cup politics explain the modern world. Here’s what fans can’t do in Qatar. Qatar is a minefield for World Cup advertisers. One team has already lost a sponsor. The digest Teenage student dies in twin explosions in Jerusalem Two explosions shook Jerusalem early Wednesday, killing one person and injuring 18 others in a suspected “combined terror attack,” according to an Israeli police spokesperson. The first explosion occurred at a bus station near the entrance of Jerusalem, killing a 16-year-old student at a Jewish seminary, his family told local media. The second explosion occurred almost half an hour later at the city’s Ramot junction. Initial investigations indicated that explosive devices were placed at both blast sites and a search is underway for suspects, the police spokesperson said. Background: The attack brings the number of people killed on the Israeli side of the conflict to at least 29 this year. This year has also been the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2015. Why it matters: Jerusalem has not seen a double bombing like this one in many years. Prime Minister Yair Lapid said after participating in a situation assessment with security officials that the incident was “different from what we have seen in recent years.” The explosions come after months of tensions in the occupied West Bank. Russia to build attack drones for Ukraine war with the help of Iran, intelligence assessment says Iran and Russia have reached an agreement to begin the production of attack drones in Russia, according to a new intelligence assessment from a country that closely monitors Iran’s weapons program. Iran is beginning to transfer blueprints and components for the drones to Russia after the initial agreement was struck earlier this month, said a source familiar with the assessment. Background: US officials have said that Russia has received hundreds of drones from Tehran which have had a deadly effect in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Iranian government acknowledged for the first time that it had sent a limited number of drones to Russia in the months before the start of its invasion of Ukraine. Why it matters: The move would further cement the partnership between Tehran and Moscow and likely provoke significant anger from Ukraine and its western allies including the US. Sources explained that the goal is for Russia to produce thousands of new attack drones using Iranian components and blueprints. Saudi Arabia says it may take steps to balance market Oil rose on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia said OPEC+ was sticking with output cuts and could take further steps to balance the market, outweighing global recession worries and concern about China’s rising Covid-19 case numbers, Reuters reported. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Monday was also cited by state news agency SPA as denying a Wall Street Journal report that said OPEC was considering boosting output. Background: The Wall Street Journal earlier on Monday reported an output increase of 500,000 barrels per day was under discussion for the next meeting of OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, on December 4. The report cited unidentified OPEC delegates. The report sent oil prices plunging by more than 5%. Why it matters: The oil cartel last month cut production by 2 million barrels per day in an effort to stabilize the market “in light of the uncertainty that surrounds the global economic and oil market outlooks.” The oil cut was made despite strong US pressure against it. Potential further cuts could exacerbate already tense relations between the US and Saudi Arabia. LM Add a comment 1

Muslims face a suicide crisis in America. The taboo of talking about it must end. (yahoo.com)

Sweden Quran burnings: Dozens injured in riots (cnn.com)

Satanists in 2 US states offer Muslims helping hand amid growing Islamophobia — RT USA News

I heard and seen muslims pryingat the faults of others and saying "their not muslims becaue they dont have right namz" or their ignorant of the holy quran so its ok to backbite them, and even non musllims say their not muslim!! what!! What do Shias have to say about this, arent we supposeto help thembetter islam?

Isnt it still wrong to backbite non Shias and non muslims? ordo some allow?Whats the truth on this?

Assalamu aleikoum Brothers & Sisters, i think that many people would be probably shocked of this info. This Church (mother of the other Christian Churches, except Nestorian and partly Tewahedo) is in fact pagan bloodthirsty worship of the sun - go google photos ,,Christianity Sun worship". The Latin Church after Constantine's accepting of Christianity many pagan traditions became part of that faith and the Roman Empire started never-ending war against the ,,pagans" and heretics, for example war against Christian Arianism faith or later crusades against the Muslims, Orthodox (Eastern) Christians, Christian Albigensians and later against the northern and eastern European Pagans. And also how this bloodthirsty ,,Church" behaved towards my people - the Romani people (known as Gypsies, the G-word is somewhat racist), when we were called by the Catholic ,,Church" Pagans or filthy unbelievers even in Europe we were Christian as the local population but we took religion little bit differently than the local White-European population and it was what ,,Church" saw as herezy - it was a part of Witch-hunt and Inquisition. Another example of this sick bloodthirsty ,,religion" is a way how al-Andalus (Spain and Portugal) was re-Christianised and what happened after it, yes i am speaking about the Inquisition and also about Spanish and Portuguese colonisation of Americas and Inquisition there. Also there were pogroms on the Jews done or at least supported by this ,,Church" and the Jews often found freedom of religion in Muslim lands, same way as after fall of al-Andalus. And i should also mention the European Wars of Religion between the Catholic Church and it´s daughters Reformed Churches, which was very bloody and inquisition was working in enormous scale. After the 30 years war between the Catholics and Lutherans in the lands which were regained by the Catholics happened bloody re-Catholisation which in the Czech Lands took life of at least 60% of population and in Hungary around 40%, re-Catholisation was orchestrated by the Church and by the Austrian state. Christianity got under control because of French Revolution which was not only anti-Monarchist but also anti-Catholic and in general anti-Religious, this formed modern-day Europe, if this revolution was not successful Europe and Americas would be probably till now in Dark Ages and full of bloodshed of the innocents. But wait this is not an end of the story! I have to mention that the Catholic Church also supported Nazi Germany and Independent State of Croatia (Nazi pro-German state) which both were doing genocide of the Jews, Romani people, Serbs, Poles and other people who were seen as inferior races. I mentioned before that the Catholic (Latin) Church is a mother of other churches, i must to mention that also other churches supported witch-hunts, anti-Jewish pogroms and called the Romani people pagans which led to genocides of the Romani people. And this is not still the end of a story because last shadows of reality of this Church and it´s daughter Churches we see in Africa where the Christianity is often still so bloodthirsty as it was in Europe before and in fact we have seen it in Europe (or Asia?) recently when the Armenian Catholics started (again) doing genocide of the Muslims in nowadays Eastern Turkey (between 1830 to 1916) and of the Azerbaijanis (since 1830´s with some pauses in all the lands of Azerbaijan and last time between 1988 to 1994 in Azerbaijani land of Karabakh) and also we have seen how Orthodox Christians many times did genocides of the Muslims in Bosnia (many times since 1790´s, last time between 1992 to 1995), Kosovo (last time in 90´s), western part of Turkey (1919-1922), Algeria (Africa- done by the Catholics - 1830 to 1962) Cyprus (1960´s to 1974) and Lebanon (Asia - done by the various Christians - 1975 to 1995).

For those who say nations should forget past experiences and move on, this is yet another example that collective historical memory is difficult to shake off. Other prime examples are Confederate flags inside the US Capitol about 150 years after the US civil war ended. Some Pakistanis believe polio vaccine is a foreign conspiracy to sterilise Muslims, because CIA ran a fake campaign with legit doctors who went from door to door on a spying mission while administering plain water to infants. Iran's distrust of everything and anything that comes out of the mouths of white men in suits. Etc.

I was under the impression they were. But are these offensive wars below (take with a grain of salt because it’s Wikipedia):

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/romania-beacon-coexistence-Muslims-eastern-Europe-190819101957640.html So if life gets tough for you in western Europe, viva România! Interesting to read Nicolae Ceaușescu had a close relationship with Muslims countries like Iran, was anyone else aware of this?

Unity between Muslims is considered as a crucial matter in Islam. Thus, the Qur'an compares discordance and disunity among Muslims to “a pit of the Fire”: "And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided...And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it." (3:103). Looking at the former nations, we find them honored and glorious when they were united, but disgraced and vulnerable when they fell apart [3]. Hajj, as one of the obligatory rituals in Islam, is one of the ways which encourages unity among Muslim nations. Let’s see how. Every Muslim is Welcomed to Hajj, No Exception! There is no other ritual, social, or political program in Islam greater than Hajj, where every Muslim from any corner of the world finds the chance to approach others and communicate with them freely. Besides, it provides the opportunity to strengthen the emotional, social, and religious bonds with other Muslims. Hajj is a social kind of worship that represents the glorious Islamic unity through its numerous participants of various nationalities, skin colors, languages, and sects who are like brothers (49:10). They have left behind the religious conflicts, and follow the same intention, perform the same actions, and wear the same outfit. Hajj Brings Muslims Power In Surah Ma’idah, it is stated that coming together around Ka’aba makes Muslims powerful (5:97). In other words, the aim of Hajj for Muslims is not just performing some physical actions. It is to bring Muslims of different races and origins together to get acquainted, communicate with each other, initiate political, economic and cultural relations, and find themselves closer to each other despite their many differences. Besides, Islam calls “every” Muslim to Hajj, which means that everyone, regardless of origin and skin color, is invited to the land of Allah. It reminds us of what the Qur'an says; that there is no superiority except rightfulness and the most righteous, is the noblest in the sight of Allah (49:13). This is an important message, especially for the less powerful Islamic nations, causing them to feel more confident and encouraging them to communicate with other Muslims, which ultimately results in a more united Muslim society. Muslims Are Like the Hands which Help Each other In a discourse that Prophet Muhammad ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)&HP) has given during one of his Hajj pilgrimages, he described Muslims as brothers, and like a single hand (a united community) when facing the enemies [2]. Emphasizing brotherhood among Muslims during Hajj shows that this ritual was a good representation of unity. Thus, Muslims are expected to support each other and be close to each other as they are during Hajj. Two Axes of Solidarity in Hajj During Hajj, Muslims learn and practice solidarity in two main areas: 1. Ideology and Principles During Hajj, Muslims can exchange ideas with Muslims of other sects. In the early years of Islam when non-Muslims also went to Mecca for their religious rituals, Prophet Muhammad ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)&HP) took this opportunity to introduce Islam to them and exchange ideas with them to spread his message and find followers in other cities, too. In Hajj, many misunderstandings and ideological conflicts can be discussed among Muslims, and the real beliefs of different sects about the others can be clarified. Hence, the wrong prejudgments and hostilities can be rectified. According to Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام), Hajj is a means to gather all Muslims from east to west to let them get acquainted with each other and achieve consensus [3]. 2. Social and Political Matters Through the communications that Muslims have during Hajj, they find out the social achievements and national advances in other Muslim nations and might decide to follow their path. They also learn about the social problems and deficiencies of others and might find solutions by further cooperation. Moreover, they become aware of the real political situations of other Muslim countries, especially the difficulties that sometimes other countries impose on them. For instance, one of the goals of Hajj is to announce the support of Muslims for Palestinians and those oppressed in the world. This helps Muslims to become more united against common enemies of Islam. To summarize, Hajj is a time that a Muslim finds him/herself in the accompaniment of millions of others who wear as simple as him/her and who repeat the same words as him/her as they move around Ka’aba. This is where “one” is transformed into the totality of ‘people’, establishing the universality of the Islamic community with the goal of approaching Allah. References:

Alhamdulilah, All this because of another thread Converts, Reverts, extrovert, introverts, invert, lil Uzi vert, Gerald levert...convicts, ex convicts!! Assimilation programs, rehabilitations programs?? You people would make new Muslims feel like unfortunate untouchables straight from an animal shelter. Can it not just be new believers or new brothers and sisters of the faith? What is a born Muslim? Technically every soul is pure before being mutilated by its parents or society. There is this pride with “born” Muslims who are from Muslim countries or raised Muslims that serves as a way to make themselves feel better about themselves in a hierarchy way. The bottom line is I have seen a lot of so called born Muslims from Muslim countries who are almost no different from Kuffar. They are out in the dunya here in states doing whatever. I see the kids of Born Muslim parents doing worse things than kuffar kids. A lot of born Muslims in Muslim countries are doing Islamic rituals as cultural habits or cultural norm and not necessarily for the pleasure of Allah. Their hearts are not really about Islam. They would rather be in another country not living as a Muslim or they wish their country wasn’t as “Islamic” strict. I have been to Muslim countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia and lived in Malaysia and Singapore and I can tell you there are “born” Muslims there who don’t know Jack about Islam. A lot of the Arabs only know the language but not Islam. And a lot of the so called Born Shia only know Ali or Hussein and when to come to the masjid and put on a Tear show for Karbala. Both of my parents are Muslim but as an individual I had to embrace Islam and act upon the pillars of my faith no matter where I am in the world especially because it’s easy to be involved in everything haraam in the states because it’s the norm. Even if you are raised Muslim that individual has to find his or her way to the straight path of Allah. Giving new brothers and sisters these systematic identity terms that segregate them as believers is something that even the Christians don’t do here in the states. Some Christians May call themselves born again or reformed which is way better in my opinion. Assimilate the converts ?? Assimilate the reverts?? Sounds like terms for ex convicts getting freshly out of prison who have no money, education, or communication abilities. Awwww! Look at the poor convert/revert Muslim! Should we offer him a meal? Yes, give him Some dates! it’s sadiqah! Can you say SALAAAAM WA LAIKUM??? One thing you can do to make new brothers and sisters feel part of the faith is talk to them like people and befriend them like they are human. Talk to them about their struggles and your struggles. Learn their culture and teach them yours. The foreign Arab and Shia Muslims are socially inept here in the states. They are outta of touch so they isolate themselves in their exclusive cultural center “masjids” to feel better about themselves I guess. It’s really the Sunni tableeki Pakistani brothers and African American Muslims doing the ground work for Islam on the street level which really matters. They make new Muslims feel like Muslims without giving them segregated degrading titles. I saw on another thread someone say what what if their kids marry a a white foreign Muslim or even worse a black Muslim??? Whaaaaaat? The ummah 2019 everybody. Smh This is why when the Mahdi is here Islam is going to seem like a totally different religion. Just how prepared are you guys for the Mahdi? May Allah have mercy on the believing men and believing women.

as salaam alakim! What is hezbullahs views of America, I know there against Zionism and isreal, are they against America too?

Read the Reddit comments to understand what the thread was about, since the post has since been deleted. ....................................................................................... I'm so tired of the utterly nonsensical and VERY COMMON Sunni notion of 'I am happy to seek unity with Shias as long as they don't curse/insult/abuse any Sahaba, and especially NOT Aisha, Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman. Firstly, any Shia claim regarding the sahabi that happens to go against the Sunni narrative is considered insulting. Secondly, and more importantly, is that the same notion is true for Shias... You are insulting the Ahlul Bayt by not accepting them as divinely appointed leaders of Allah, and infallible individuals, and perfect preservers of the religion of Islam, and a high means of seeking closeness to Allah (intercession). Not only are you insulting revered Shia figures by not following them, you are commiting MAJOR shirk by giving a false attribute to Allah, by saying that Allah has not always appointed an infallible leader on this Earth, and that there currently isn't an infallible leader. Furthermore, the real kicker is that plenty of revered Shia figures, such as Abu Talib (رضي الله عنه), are considered kuffar by Sunnis. Is this not insulting? So, how can we Shias unite with Sunnis based on their own fallacious logic? Shias are the minority, and Sunnis are the majority. It makes Sunnis think that they are Orthodox and that they have to unite with Heterodox for political and humanitarian reasons, and that Shias must make [ridiculous] compromises. Shias are far more receptive to the unity message, because we actually understand Sunni Islam, and can see the commonalities. We understand that we can't make Sunnis compromise on their beliefs. Simply by being the minority within Islam, by nature we Shias already understand Sunni beliefs, whereas Sunnis have a basic strawman understanding of Shia beliefs... which is natural, considering that they are the majority. Anyways, the point of my post is the following: Let's compile a list of revered Shia figures that are not given their proper status by Sunnis, according to Shia Islam... with an explanation given. ...This is to show that we Shias and Sunnis can unite, but we cannot unite upon revered figures and imamah. ...This will also serve as a way of showing Sunnis that this argument of theirs makes no sense. Another important question we may ask is "What about commonly revered figures like Imam Ali (عليه السلام) who is given different status in both sects? Can we unite upon Imam Ali (عليه السلام)?" ...a common Sunni criticism of political unity is that "Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) is given an improper status in Shia religion because they call upon him... tawassul (intercession) of the 'dead' is Shirk! So there is absolutely no room for unity since we can't even agree on the status of the sahabi" [yes, I am aware that the Imams (عليه السلام) are still alive, but Sunnis don't believe this...] I would love to hear your thoughts. Wassalam. JazakAllah Khair. Fi sabilillah.

Assalam u Alaikum, I am Akram from Canada. It's been a month since I started my research on halal and non-halal food. I am writing an article on this topic and for which I am gathering Hadith from both Shia and Sunni Muslims. It would be a great help if you provide me with Quranic Evidence, Hadith, and Rulings from Ayatollah(s). JazakAllah Kher,

Saw this going around Twitter.Please share @monahed_alsaud antisaudfamily on fb

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. On the first day of Muharram, the Islamic New Year is observed by Muslims. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year. Hence it is a little different from the Gregorian calender that is used in the western nations. When compared with the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar, the lunar month of Muharram shifts from year to year. The month of Muharram is of great religious significance to Islamic people the world over. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. The word "Muharram" is often considered synonymous with "Ashura", the tenth day of the Muharram month. "Ashura" is a highly important day for both sects of Islam - the Shias and the Sunnis. The Shia muslims believe that Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, became a martyr at the Battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram in 61 AH(680 AD). The pre-Islamic period in the Arabian peninsula was the era of warring tribes. In the absence of a strong leadership, there were conflicts and battles on minor issues. But fighting was prohibited in four months of the year. These months, of which Muharram was one, were considered sacred. Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. This period of inactivity was a necessity in heavily decorated replicas of the tomb of the Imam and his family are made for Muharram the era of warring tribes. The tradition was maintained even after the advent of Islam, though provisions to accommodate and accept war in special situations, like a threat to the sovereignty of an empire, were introduced. The gory battle of Karbala was fought against this law and tradition of Islam. The inhabitants on the banks of rivers Euphrates and Tigris were traditional rivals. Their animosity was contained to some extent by Muhammad. But when his son-in-law Hazrat Ali was the Caliph(Muslim civil and religious leader considered to be Allah's representative on earth), the old enmity re-surfaced. Hazrat Ali had two descendants, Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Hassan. Hussain was the ruler of the part of the empire known today as Iran. The other part in modern Iraq was ruled by the Umayyads. Hussain was called upon by the Shiahs of Kufa, a small town in the Umayyad kingdom, to accept their allegiance and claim his place as the leader of the Islamic community. This was against the wishes of the ruler of Kufa, Yazid, who instructed his governor, Ibn-e-Ziad to take appropriate action. Meanwhile, in response to the call of the Shiahs, Hussain accompanied by his family members, headed for Kufa. When they reached Karbala, en route to Kufa, the forces of the governor surrounded them and their 70 men. Hussain, his family and his troops were tortured and killed, and Hussain's head was severed and presented to the king. They received no help from the Shiahs of Kufa. As this tragic incident happened on the tenth day of Muharram, Shia Muslims consider this a day of sorrow. They commemorate the martyrdom of Hussain as a religious occassion called "Muharram" (named after the month of its observance). The occassion starts on the 1st day of Muharram and lasts for 10 days until 10th of Muharram. As Muharram approaches, they put on black clothes, as black is regarded as a color of mourning. During the entire 10 day period, they keep themselves away from music and all joyous events (e.g. weddings) that can distract them in anyway from the sorrowful remembrance of that day. During each of the first nine days of Muharram, "Majalis" (assemblies) are held where Shia orators vividly depict the incident of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his party. Mainstream Shia Muslims fast until the evening. On "Ashura", devoted Muslims assemble and go out in large processions. They parade the streets holding banners and carrying models of the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his people, who fell at Karbala. Some Shia sects observe "Ashura" by beating themselves with chains in public, cutting themselves with knives and sharp objects and holding mournful public processions. This is an expression of their grief on the death of their favourite leader Hussain, considered to be the representative of Allah. (But no Shiite scholar affirms any extreme behavior that harms the body and Shia leaders consider such acts as "Haram", or forbidden.) It is a sad occasion and everyone in the procession chants "Ya Hussain", wailing loudly. Generally a white horse is beautifully decorated and included in the procession. It serves to bring back the memory of the empty mount of Hazrat Imam Husain after his martyrdom. Drinking posts are also set up temporarily by the Shia community where water and juices are served to all, free of charge. While Shia Muslims consider "Muharram" to be a sorrowful occassion, Sunni Muslims observe it as a festival and look at "Ashura" as a happy day though the religious aspect remain intact. Pious Sunnis keep a fast("roja") on "Ashura" as per the "Hadith"(a tradition based on reports of the sayings and activities of Muhammad and his companions) of Prophet Muhammad. According to the "Hadith", the Prophet saw the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram to commemorate their liberation from Egyptian slavery and the extermination of the army of the Pharoah in the waters of the Red Sea. Prophet Mohammed liked the custom for he believed that it was Allah who saved the Israelites from their enemy in Egypt. He started to fast on the same day as the Jews but he planned to fast on the 9th and 10th from the following year. But death came in between him and his pious wish. Usually, Sunni Muslims are recommended to fast either on the 9th and 10th Muharram or on the 10th and 11th

This video was posted by Khamenei.ir website and I decided to share it with you good friends of mine.

I am having a discussion In Shia, Muslim, Multifaith Discussion Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/928589737209147/] in relation to Iran and the situation in Kashmir. All are welcome to join and state their points. I have asked a Press Tv journalist, and am in the midst of asking another journalist that both may have different sides (as requested because the person was blaming Iran said I am bias in supporting the enemy of Muslims [India]). This is the news that I have gathered so far and this was the status (please correct me if I am wrong): One of the comments on this status were: JazakAllah kheir for your contribution.

assalamu aleikum ! I need to know what Muhammad rasool ullah sallallahu aleihi wa alihi and alaimmah aleihim salam said in regards treating people of other religions and how to do tabligh. Thank you

The Silver Lining of Donald Trump's Refugee Ban http://time.com/4652405/donald-trump-refugee-ban-silver-lining/ Forwarded by ABDGEA@yahoogroups.com

Salams This is the second time I have witnessed a Muslim playing the Azaan alarm on his mobile phone on public transport in Sydney. This is rude and unacceptable in my humble opinion. As the peak-hour commuters turned around and looked at the guy hoping that he will show courtesy of turning it off, the 'Muslim mujahid' probably thought that he was inspiring the white man and other non-Muslims. Forcing a sacred recitation in the heads of others not only adds to the hate from the outside but it also causes embarrassment and dissociation from the inside. :End: Rant of the Day.

Salams My understanding is that Sunni Muslims do not permit giving Zakat to non-Muslims.[Source: Link]. However, Al-Mawrid Foundation [Sunni] and its fellows generally tend to present different narratives on many matters including this one. Their video on this topic is as per below. In comparison, I wanted to learn the traditional Shia view. What have the Ahl-ul-bayt taught regarding giving zakat to non-Muslims? Is there a difference of opinions among Shia scholars? Is there a difference between modern and classic rulings? etc. @Ibn al-Hassan @Qa'im

I am a Muslim and I do not hate anyone just because of his or her religion. There is an interesting verse in the holy Qur’an about Christians: So Islam does not urge any Muslim to hate any person just because of their religion. Instead, it commands to abhor the ones who have self-arrogance and are real tyrants. Looking at the Islamic narrations, you find some attributes of the ones who Allah, the Exalted, hates: So, anyone who has some above-mentioned attributes is most despised by the Lord, His Messenger, and Muslims. لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾ Tanzil - Quran Navigator [ii] إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ ﴿٤١﴾ إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٤٢﴾ Tanzil - Quran Navigator [iii] الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ اللّه‏َ يُبْغِضُ كَثْرَةَ النَّومِ وكَثْرَةَ الفراغِ . [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 76, p. 180, no. 10] [iv] رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): ليسَ شَيءٌ أبغَضَ إلَى اللّه‏ِ مِن بَطنٍ مَلْآنَ. [Uyoun Akhbar al-Ridha (AS), v. 2, p. 36, no. 89] [v] الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ أبغَضَ خَلقِ اللّه‏ِ عبدٌ اتّقَى النّاسُ لِسانَهُ. [al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 323, no. 4] [vi] الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أبغَضُ العِبادِ إلَى اللّه‏ِ سبحانه العالِمُ المُتَجَبِّرُ . [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3164] [vii] الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أمْقَتُ العبادِ إلَى اللّه‏ِ سبحانه مَن كانَ هِمَّتُهُ (هَمُّهُ) بطنَهُ وفَرْجَهُ . [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3294] [viii] الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أبغَضُ الخَلائقِ‏إلَى اللّه‏ِ المُغْتابُ . [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3128]