Why I threw the shoe: Muntazer al-Zaidi

I am no hero. I just acted as an Iraqi who witnessed the pain and bloodshed of too many innocents.

I am free. But my country is still a prisoner of war. There has been a lot of talk about the action and about the person who took it, and about the hero and the heroic act, and the symbol and the symbolic act. But, simply, I answer: what compelled me to act is the injustice that befell my people, and how the occupation wanted to humiliate my homeland by putting it under its boot.

Be quick in seeking forgiveness

“The Hour/Qiyamat will not come until the sunrises from the West. When people will see it, then those who are one earth will become Muslims but that is the time when acceptance of Islam will not profit them. For, by then the door of Taubah (seeking forgiveness) will have already closed down on them.” [Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA) and reported by Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 4636].

Recently NASA confirmed sunrise from the west on Mars. Explaining the phenomenon of Retrograde Motion, a scientist said: “All the planets including earth will go through the same experience at least once.”

Muslim Day of Prayer on Capitol Hill

In what is being hailed as an historical, never-done-before event, a New Jersey mosque is organizing a Muslim Day of Prayer on Capitol Hill on Friday, September 25, to pray for the soul of America and showcase Muslims’ spiritual unity.

“The situation of Muslims and how they are perceived by the society at large is still not very good, and what better way to show what we’re about than by gathering together to peacefully pray?” Hassan Abdullah Esq, the head of the Dar-ul-Salaam mosque, told IslamOnline.net.

Indian mission finds water on moon

London, September 24: India’s first lunar mission has found evidence of large quantities of water on its surface, The Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

India’s first lunar mission has found evidence of large quantities of water on its surface.

Data from the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft also suggests water is still being formed on the moon, the British newspaper said.

“It’s very satisfying,” the newspaper quoted Mylswamy Annadurai, the mission’s project director at the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bangalore, as saying.

Muslim Entrepreneurship in India By Zia-ul-haq Husamuddin

Islam was introduced to India by the Muslim merchants long before the Islamic conquests ever begin and one of the largest Muslim population in the world such as Indonesia were converted to Islam due to the interaction with Muslim merchants and not by conquests.

Entrepreneurship has a long history in Islam and in fact it started with the Prophet of Islam who himself was a merchant and encouraged business activities. This tradition was carried on and trade flourished in Islamic world eradicating poverty and developing societies with the increased wealth till the time there was Muslim Rule.

Hyderabadi Ramadan in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has become a home away from home. Ramadan is the blessed month for Muslims and a time to earn great rewards. It is spiritually and physically the best month for Muslims. As Muslims follow the Hijrah (Lunar) calendar, which is shorter by 11 days as compared to Gregorian (Solar) Calendar. This allows the sliding of the Ramadan each year by 11 days and it comes in different seasons over a long period. This gives Muslims an opportunity to fast in different weather conditions.

Pakistanis displaced by Taliban face miserable Eid

Pakistani families uprooted by conflict with the Taliban face a miserable Eid al-Fitr, with no cash to splash on celebrations and longing to return to homes they fear no longer exist.

“All I want is to go back home this Eid,” said Khalida Bibi, a 10-year-old girl standing in a queue to collect packages from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in the Jalozai camp for displaced people in northwest Pakistan.

A year later, the terror continues

On 14th of September 09, exactly one year after starting of random picking of ‘suspected’ people from Jamia Nagar, a Muslim majority area of Delhi in the name of ‘fighting Terrorism’, we got a call from a lawyer friend, who works on human rights issues especially Juvenile Justice saying, a boy has been picked up from Shaheen Bagh of Jamia Nagar. Our first thought was, oh, one more illegal detention! Hence, we started contacting family members, Journalists and community leaders. Meanwhile, some of us rushed towards Jamia Nagar police station to enquire about the same.

The politics of fasting and feasting

The Iftaar dinner hosted by the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad had a surprise visitor– the ISI Chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha. Wearing a black sherwani and a white salwar(rather than the Army uniform), he broke bread with the host Sharat Sabharwal and some other A-listers of Pakistan power circuit.

Ishrat Jahan: Murder in Cold Blood

In the aftermath of Gujarat carnage the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee subtly reprimanded Modi Governemtn that Raj Dharma should have been followed. The implication was that state should have actively intervened to protect the innocents who were killed during the violence. What will one say if the same state selectively picks up innocent citizens, kills them and presents false stories to save its skin?

Id-ul-Fitr, perfect day for forgiveness

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan this year will soon come to an end. Ramadan will be concluded with a festivity called Id-ul-Fitr.

In this modern age where man is full of guilt complexes, perhaps the most forgotten or suppressed concept in their hearts or minds is that implied in the word “forgiveness.”

But Idul Fitri which in Indonesia is more commonly called “Lebaran” is a perfect moment for Muslims to apply the word`s meaning to relatives and friends.

France’s army embraces its Muslim soldiers

Muslims in France’s army who go on the pilgrimage to Makkah this year will not have to travel on private commercial flights or bunk with ordinary civilians. In a break from tradition, the Defence Ministry will provide a plane to fly them to Saudi Arabia and organize their stay.

For any western government to arrange a hajj trip would be unusual. It is especially so here, in a country so protective of its secularism that it regulates what Muslim girls can wear in school and is considering a blanket ban on the face-covering Islamic niqab.

Belgian Schools Ban Hijab

Brussels, September 13: Dutch-language public schools in Belgium will ban the wearing of hijab in classes, following the suit of many European countries.
“This decision promotes the feeling of equality and prevents group formation or segregation on the basis of external symbols of life philosophy,” the schools said in a statement cited by Reuters on Friday, September 11.

The ban will affect 700 schools in the northern region of Flanders, including some in Brussels.

School officials argue that the ban was taken to guarantee equal treatment of all pupils within the school grounds.

Gazans improvise to honor Ramadan traditions

Gaza City, September 11: Gazans have been learning to adapt to Hamas rule and a stifling border blockade, both now in their third year. But their skills of improvisation are particularly challenged during the holy month of Ramadan, when devout Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

Coca-Cola is a Ramadan favorite in Gaza, but is banned by Israel’s blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory, which only allows in humanitarian aid and basic foods.

National leaders should avoid five-star culture

The Congress party asked External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna, and Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, to vacate the five star hotel suites they had been occupying for the last three months as their houses were under renovation.

Though the ministers claim to have paid from their own pocket for their stay at the hotels, they vacated their suites following Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s call for austerity. Yet, all official ministerial residences and perks are far more luxurious and expensive than five-star hotels.

US Increasing Force Size in Iraq by Adding Contractors

A report by Raw Story’s John Byrne notes that despite President Obama’s pledge with withdraw troops from Iraq, the overall force size is actually increasing in recent months, as thousands of new private contractors are being brought in.

The Pentagon is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the new contractors, mostly mercenaries from Uganda and Kenya, and its estimates involve adding significantly more contractors at the bases to cover for the US pullout. In one example, 900 contractors are to replace 400 soldiers.

Gandhi was complex: Feroz Abbas Khan

At the forefront of Indian theatre today, Feroz Abbas Khan is recognized as much for exploring new forms, as for bringing Hindi theatre, mainstream recognition. In a career spanning more than two decades, he has directed some of India’s finest acting talent, both from stage and cinema.

For his directorial debut Gandhi, My Father; Feroz has bagged two National Awards for Best Screenplay & Best Film. In an exclusive chat with Shashank Chouhan of Spicezee.com, Feroz reveals his obsession with Gandhi and his jump from theatre to films.

Waiting for truth to be unveiled

Five women, dressed in a burkha gather once every fortnight in a dark, dank room sharing parenting tips — and discussing the nuances of criminal and anti-terror laws.

Here in their little world in this north Maharashtra town of dying powerlooms, they provide each other the hope and support needed to deal with the isolation and stigma of being seen as a terrorist’s wife.

This all-women’s club is made up of the wives of nine suspects arrested for the September 8, 2006 blasts that rocked the textile town of Malegaon.

Our Gift of Silence

The lack of subtlety in Israel’s policy of aggression and land theft towards the Palestinians can only be attributed to our gift of silence, one for which the Israelis’ are appreciative and fully exploitive of.

AFP -Agence France-Presse- reported last Monday that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had sent a letter to the family of Israeli captive Gilad Shalit on the occasion of the soldier’s twenty-third birthday which coincided late last month.

China’s strategy on India: provoke, pressure

New Delhi, Septembe 07: Chinese troops are challenging India again. Reports say Chinese troops entered the international border in Ladakh and painted “China” in Cantonese on boulders and rocks in Indian territory.

Indian border patrol found on July 3 that Chinese troops had entered nearly 1.5 km into Indian territory near Mount Gya, which is recognised as international border by both countries.

For a woman, being mentally alert is greatest weapon

What should a woman do if a knife wielding man demands her mobile phone when she is alone? Surprise him by offering it to him. Or fling it as far as away. As he runs for the phone, you run in the opposite direction.

Remember you can buy another phone. But you have only one life to live.

Common sense is a powerful weapon that can fell any opponent. It helps you to come out of potentially dangerous arenas without a fight.

Unfortunately, this lesson is not imparted to most women in India. Naturally few use it when they are faced with piquant situations.

Teachers Day

In some countries, Teachers’ Days are intended to be special days for the appreciation of teachers. Some of them are holidays while others are celebrated during working days.

Charminar Mosque

CHARMINAR MEANING “Masjid of the Four Minarets” and “Four Towers”is the most famous and important monument in the city of Hyderabad, capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The great monument is a synonym for Hyderabad and the foundation around which the glory and history of the city has developed. To imagine this 400-year-old city without Charminar is to imagine New York without the Statue of Liberty or Moscow without the Kremlin. Many Westerners refer to Charminar as the Arc de Triomphe of the East.

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