Al-Aqsa Landslide Sounds the
Alarm
Submitted by
MSA on Monday, 3-31-2008 @ 3:20 pm
 |
|
The crater is two meters in
length and 1.5 meters in width. (Al-Aqsa Online
Photo) |
OCCUPIED
JERUSALEM — A landslide at part of Al-Aqsa Mosque esplanade
has sounded the alarm over the ongoing Israeli excavations
near Islam's third holiest shrine.
Worshippers
witnessed a crater at the esplanade as they were en route to
the Friday prayer, Al-Aqsa Online reported Saturday,
February 16.
The crater is
two meters in length and 1.5 meters in width.
"I was cleaning
the mosque's esplanade for the Friday prayers," said Ashraf
Al-Sharyati, the driver of the mosque's cleaning vehicle.
"Suddenly, some
bricks fell down at 10:00 a.m., creating a crater. We
covered the big hole with wooden plans for worshippers'
safety."
The landslide
occurred near Al-Selsela (Chain) Gate and Qatibai Water
Fountain at the mosque's western side.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
is the Muslims’ first Qiblah [direction Muslims take during
prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah
in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi
Arabia.
Its significance
has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al
Mi'raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the
ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings be Upon Him).
The holy place
represents the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict as Jews
claim that their alleged Haykal (Temple of Solomon) exists
underneath Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
Israeli Diggings
Palestinians
blamed the Israeli diggings adjacent to Al-Aqsa for the
earth moving.
"The diggings
and tunnels Israel is building beneath and around Al-Aqsa
Mosque are the cause of the new landslide," said Al-Aqsa
Foundation for Reconstruction of Islamic Sanctities in an
online statement.
"The Jewish
tunnels network have reached Al-Selsela Gate."
The Islamic
Movement in Israel also blamed the Israeli diggings for the
landslide, calling on Muslim countries to step in to stop
Israeli excavations near the holy mosque.
The movement's
leader Sheikh Raed Salah has warned that Israel plans to
build a colossal synagogue at the heart of Al-Haram Al-Sharif
and contiguous to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli
bulldozers started last February demolishing the wooden
bridge leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque's Al-Maghariba Gate and two
underground rooms, sparking widespread protests in the
Palestinian lands and Muslim countries.
Archeologists
warn that leveling the mound upon which the wooden bridge is
built would threaten the foundation of Al-Aqsa Mosque and
open the way for more Israeli excavations.
A part of the
road leading to one of the mosque’s main gates collapsed in
February of 2004 due to the destructive Israeli digging
work.
Rain by Design
Submitted by
MSA on Monday, 3-17-2008 @ 2:20 pm
Rain is indeed one of the most important
factors for the permanence of life on earth. It is a
prerequisite for the continuation of activity in a region. Rain,
which carries great importance for all living things, including
human beings, is mentioned in various verses of the Qur'an,
where substantial information is given about the formation of
rain, its proportion and effects. This information, which never
could have been known by the people of the time, shows us that
the Qur'an is the word of God.
Now, let us examine the information given in
the Qur'an about rain.
The Proportion of Rain
In the eleventh verse of Surat az-Zukhruf,
rain is defined as water sent down in "due measure". The verse
is as follows:
He sends down (from
time to time) water from the sky in due measure, and We raise to
life therewith a land that is dead. Even so will you be raised
(from the dead). (Surat az-Zukhruf, 11)
This "measure" mentioned in the verse has to
do with a couple of characteristics of rain. First of all, the
amount of rain that falls on the earth is always the same. It is
estimated, that in one second, 16 million tones of water
evaporate from the earth. This number is equal to the amount of
water that drops on the earth in one second. This means that
water continuously circulates in a balanced cycle according to a
"measure".
Another measure related with rain is about
its falling speed. The minimum altitude of rain clouds is 1,200
meters. When dropped from this height, an object having the same
weight and size as a rain drop, would continuously accelerate
and fall on the ground with a speed of 558 km/h. Certainly, any
object that hits the ground with that speed would cause great
damage. If rain happened to fall in the same way, all harvested
lands would be destroyed, residential areas, houses, and cars
would be damaged, and people would not be able to walk around
without taking extra precautions. What is more, these
calculations are made just for clouds at a height of 1,200
meters; there are also rain clouds at altitudes of 10,000
meters. A rain drop falling from such a height could normally
reach a very destructive speed.
But this is not how it works; no matter from
what height they fall, the average speed of rain drops is only
8-10 km/h when they reach the ground. The reason for this is the
special form they take. This special form increases the friction
effect of the atmosphere and prevents acceleration when the rain
drops reach a certain speed "limit". (Today parachutes are
designed by using this technique.)
This is not all about the "measures" of rain.
For instance, in the atmospheric layers where it starts to rain,
the temperature may fall as low as 400 C below zero.
Despite this, rain drops never turn into ice particles. (This
would certainly mean a fatal threat to the living things on the
earth.) The reason is that the water in the atmosphere is pure
water. As is well-known, pure water hardly freezes even at very
low temperatures.
The Formation of Rain
How rain forms remained a great mystery for
people for a long time. Only after weather radar was invented,
was it possible to discover the stages by which rain is formed.
The formation of rain takes place in three
stages. First, the "raw material" of rain rises up into the air.
Later clouds are formed. Finally, rain drops appear.
These stages are clearly defined in the
Qur'an centuries ago where precise information is given about
the formation of rain:
It is God Who sends
the Winds, and they raise the Clouds: then does He spread them
in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until you
see rain-drops issue from the midst thereof: then when He has
made them reach such of his servants as He wills, behold, they
do rejoice! (Surat ar-Room, 48)
Now, let us look at the three stages
mentioned in the verse;
1ST STAGE: "It is God Who
sends the winds..."
Countless air bubbles formed by the foaming in the oceans
continuously burst and cause water particles to be ejected
towards the sky. These particles, which are rich in salt, are
then carried away by winds and move upwards in the atmosphere.
These particles, which are called aerosols, form clouds by
collecting around themselves the water vapor, which again
ascends from the seas, as tiny drops by a mechanism called
"water trap"
2ND STAGE: " ...and they
raise the Clouds: then does He spread them in the sky as He
wills, and break them into fragments..."
The clouds form from the water vapor that condenses around the
salt crystals or the dust particles in the air. Because the
water drops in these are very small (with a diameter between
0.01 and 0.02 mm), the clouds are suspended in the air and they
spread in the sky. Thus the sky is covered with clouds.
3RD STAGE: "...until you see
rain-drops issue from the midst thereof."
Water particles that surround salt crystals and dust particles
thicken and form rain drops. So, the drops, which become heavier
than air, depart from the clouds, and start to fall on the
ground as rain.
Every stage in the formation of rain is told
in the verses of the Qur'an. Furthermore, these stages are
explained in the right sequence. Just as with many other natural
phenomena in the world, it is again the Qur'an that provides the
most correct explanation about this phenomenon as well, and
more, that has announced these facts to people centuries before
they were discovered by science
Life Given to a Dead Land
In the Qur'an, many verses call our attention
to a particular function of rain, which is "giving life to a
dead land":
We send down pure
water from the sky. That with it We may give life to a dead
land, and slake the thirst of many beings We have created,
beasts as well as humans. (Surat al-Furqan, 48- 49)
In addition to furnishing the earth with
water, which is an inevitable need of living beings, rain also
has a fertilization effect.
Rain drops that reach the clouds after being
evaporated from the seas, contain certain substances "that will
give life" to a dead land. These "life-giving" drops are called
"surface tension drops". Surface tension drops form on the top
level of the sea surface which is called the "micro layer" by
biologists. In this layer, which is thinner than one tenth of a
millimeter, there are many organic leftovers caused by the
pollution of microscopic algae and zooplankton. Some of these
leftovers select and collect within themselves some elements
which are very rare in sea water, such as phosphorus, magnesium,
potassium and some heavy metals like copper, zinc, cobalt and
lead. These "fertilizer"-laden drops are lifted up into the sky
by the winds and after a while they drop on the ground inside
the rain drops. Seeds and plants on the earth find numerous
metallic salts and elements essential for their growth here in
these rain drops. This event is revealed in another verse of the
Qur'an:
And We send down from
the sky rain laden with blessing, and We produce therewith
gardens and grain for harvests. (Surah Qaf, 9)
Salts that fall with rain are small examples
of certain elements (calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc.) used
for increasing fertility. The heavy metals found in these types
of aerosols are other elements that increase fertility in the
development and production of plants.
A barren land can be furnished with all the
essential elements for plants in a 100-year period just with
these fertilizers dropped with the rain. Forests also develop
and are fed with the help of these sea-based aerosols. In this
way, 150 million tons of fertilizer falls on the total land
surface every year. If there were no natural fertilization like
this, there would be very little vegetation on the earth, and
the ecological balance would be impaired.
What is more interesting is that this truth,
which could only be discovered by modern science, was revealed
by God in the Qur'an centuries ago.
Fasting on the day of Ashura
(10th of Muharram/18th of January 2008)
Submitted by
MSA on Thursday, 1-17-2008 @ 2:20 pm
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting
the day of `Ashura’, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for
the previous year.” (Reported by Muslim)
`Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted
on the day of `Ashura’ and told the people to fast, they said, “O
Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and
Christians.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
said, “Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by
the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and
blessings be upon him) had passed away. (Reported by
Muslim)
There are three views on fasting the day of Ashura, to fast on the
9th and the 10th or to fast on the 10th and the 11th, but the best is to
fast on the 9th, 10th, and the 11th of Muharram. The more one
fasts in Muharram, the better.
Note: The MSA will sponsor the
Iftar on the day of Ashura, which is Friday the 18th of January 2008 in
ICNL.
Israel hiding settlement facts
to protect image
Submitted by
MSA on Thursday, 1-17-2008 @ 2:20 pm
The Sunday Morning Herald: THE Israeli Government has told a
court that it does not want to reveal the true extent of Jewish
settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories because the
information would damage its image abroad, a local newspaper has
reported.
The news comes on the eve of the arrival of the US
President, George Bush, for a three-day state visit in which the
settlement issue is likely to figure.
Last week Mr Bush said that Israeli settlement building in the
West Bank was an obstacle to peace between Israelis and
Palestinians. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert,
has said that during the visit he would again commit Israel to
removing some of the smaller and newer settlements.
The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz said the Israeli Defence
Ministry, which rules the Arab territories seized by Israel in 1967,
is resisting a petition from two Israeli rights groups for the
publication of an official report showing the extent of settlement
is greater than Israel has previously admitted.
The newspaper said that the report showed both veteran
settlements and newer "outposts" had been built extensively without
legal permits on land deemed as state land by the Israeli military
courts and on the private property of local Palestinians.
Last week the Government asked the Israeli High Court to ban the
publication of the report "for fear of harming state security and
foreign relations".
One of the petitioners, Peace Now, said Israel had built 122
settlements in the West Bank with official state sanction. Another
100 newer settlements - described as outposts of older settlements
following Israel's commitment not to build new settlements - were
built without official sanction.
An officially-commissioned report by the lawyer Talia Sasson
found in 2005 that many of these settlements were built with funding
and the active assistance of various government bodies, often in
contravention of Israel's law.
The International Court of Justice and many other countries
regard all Jewish settlement in the occupied territories as illegal,
citing provisions in the Geneva Conventions which forbid the forced
transfer of populations into lands seized in war.
Israel argues that the term "forced" refers to the settlers, not
the indigenous people, and that its activities are legal because its
settlers move to the West Bank of their own free will.
Peace Now said the number of Jewish settlers living in the West
Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, had almost trebled to 270,000 since
Israel signed the Oslo peace accords in 1993. Another 180,000
Israelis live in parts of the West Bank annexed by Israel as part of
its self-declared East Jerusalem territory.
Mr Bush's attempt to revive the moribund Israeli-Palestinian
peace protest at Annapolis two months ago is already faltering in
the face of Palestinian protests at Israel's subsequent decision to
build hundreds of new homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.
Glimpses from the Book: Riyaa :
Submitted by
MSA on Monday, 11-26-2007 @ 5:40 pm
Hidden Shirk Yasir al-Qathi / Edited By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal
Philips
Linguistically riyaa comes from the root "ra`aa" which means to
see, to behold, to view. The derived word 'riyaa' means "eyeservice,
hypocrisy, dissimulation; dissemblance."
From a Sharee`ah point of view, "to perform acts which are
pleasing to Allah, with the intention of pleasing other than
Allah". Thus riyaa originates in the heart.
....from page. 25...
Mahmood ibn Labeed reported that the Allah's Messenger said,
"The thing that I fear most for you is the minor Shirk; Riyaa"
(Ahmad in his Musnad)
Aboo Sa`eed reported that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s) came
to us while we were discussing about Dajjaal and said, "Should I
not inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the
dangers of Dajjaal? It is the hidden Shirk; A person stands to
pray, and he beautifies his prayer because he see as the people
looking at him." (Sunan Ibn Majah vol. 2, #3389)
Aboo Moosaa al-Ash`aree reported that Allah's Messenger
delivered a sermon to them one day and said, "O People! Fear
this Shirk (meaning riyaa), for it is more inconspicuous than
the crawling of an ant." (Authenticated in Saheeh al Targheeb
wat-Tarheeb, no. 33)
...from page 45...."The causes of Riyaa"
The primary cause of riyaa is a weakness in Eemaan. When a
person does not have strong faith in Allaah, he will prefer the
admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.
There are three symptoms that are indicative of riyaa, and it is
essential that a believer avoid all of them.
1] The love of Praise---as mentioned in a ahaadeeth of the first
three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who
taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the
person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is
generous). All three of these people desired the pleasure of
people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the
praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels
himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore,
of him becoming arrogant and boastful.
Aboo Hurayrah quoted Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s) as saying: "Allaah,
Most Great and Glorious said: Pride is My cloak, and greatness
is My robe, so whoever competes with Me, with respect to either
of them, I shall cast him into Hell" (Saheeh Muslim, vol. 4
#6349, Sunan Aboo Dawood, vol. 3 #4079)
Aboo Hurayrah quoted Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s) warning about a
person's adoration of himself: "There are three destruct full
things: desires that are followed, greediness that is obeyed,
and a person's self-admiration and conceit; and this is the
worst of the three"
Allah also warned against falling into the category of those
Christians and Jews whom the Qur'ân mentions:
"Do not assume that those who rejoice in what they have done,
and love to be praised for what they have not done, think not
that they are absolved from punishment, (but rather) for them is
a painful torment." (Al-Imran : 188)
2] Fear Of Criticism
No one likes to be criticized. The dislike of criticism
regarding religious practices may be divided into two
categories:
a] The first category is that of a person who neglects a
commandment of Allah in order to avoid the criticism of his
peers. However, the true believers are described in the Qur'ân
as follows: "...They do not fear the criticism of those who
criticize. And this is the blessing of Allah; He gives it to
whomsoever He wishes. Verily, Allaah is Self-Sufficient, all
Knowing. " (Al-Maa`idah : 54) b] The second category is that of
a person who obeys certain commandments of Islaam, not for the
sake of Allaah, but because he fears people will look down on
him and criticize him if he does not do it. For example, a man
may make his formal prayers in the mosque because he does not
want people to criticize him for praying at home, or to think
that he is not praying at all.
3] Greed for people's possessions If a person covets what other
people possess, whether it is rank, money or power, then he will
wish them to envy him similarly. For example, if he is jealous
of a position of a certain person in society, he will try by
every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires
lead people to spend their lives putting on a show for other
people so that they will admire their rank, money, or power.
These three categories are implied in the following statement of
the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s). Aboo Moosaa related that a
person came to the Prophet (s.a.w.s) and asked: "A person fights
to defend his honor (i.e. to avoid criticism), another to prove
his bravery (i.e. to be praised for it), and a third to show off
(i.e. so that his position can be seen); of these three, which
one fights in the way of Allah? " He (s.a.w.s) answered:
"Whoever fights to make the word of Allaah prevalent [i.e. to
bring honor to Islaam, and to establish it in the land], he is
the one who fights in the way of Allaah" (Saheeh al-Bukhari vol.
4 #65)
Some scholars advised: "Remove the causes of riyaa` from
yourself by considering the opinion of people as important to
you as animals and small children. Do not differentiate in your
worship between the presence of people or their absence, or
between their knowledge of your actions and their ignorance.
Rather be conscious of the infinite knowledge of Allaah alone."
....lastly, from page. 77...(summarized)
The Ways to Avoid Riyaaa
1] Increasing knowledge of Islaam
2] Du'aa: The prophet (s.a.w.s) taught the specific Du'aa for riyaa:
"Allahumma innaa na`oothu bika an-nushrika
bika shay`an na`lamuhu, wa nastagfiruka limaa laa na`lamuh.
[O Allaah, we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and
ask your forgiveness for (the shirk that we may commit
unknowingly"]
3] Reflecting upon Heaven and Hell
4] Hiding one's good deeds
5] Reflection upon one self's shortcomings
6] Accompanying the Pious
7] Knowledge of Riyaa`
Submitted by
MSA on Monday, 10-29-2007 @ 2:15 pm
By
A. Iris Palmer
Halloween is an annual Western celebration based on
Celtic and European pagan doctrines and traditionally applied to the
evening of October 31st. It is derived from rituals involving dead
spirits and devil worship and symbolizes the beginning of the ancient
Druid's New Year, who hold that the dead revisit their homes at that
time. In essence, Halloween represents the devil worshipper's New Year.
Muslim commemoration of such a day is therefore sinful and haram; as it
involves the most evil elements of polytheism and disbelief. Indeed,
participation in Halloween is worse than participation in Christmas,
Easter or Good Friday, as those innovated days commemorate the birth and
supposed death of a Prophet, whereas Halloween is a commemoration of the
worshippers of Satan. Thus, participation in it is more sinful than
congratulating the Christians for their prostration to the crucifix.
Explaining Ramadan
Submitted by
MSA on Tuesday, 09-11-2007 @ 2:40 pm
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar
calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It begins with the
sighting of the new moon after which all physically mature and healthy
Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any
kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and
sunset. However, that is merely the physical component of the fast; the
spiritual aspects of the fast include refraining from gossiping, lying,
slandering and all traits of bad character. All obscene and irreligious
sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of thought and action is
paramount. Ordained in the Quran, the fast is an exacting act of deeply
personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of
God-consciousness. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from
worldly activities, towards The Divine.
The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer,
doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting
is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and
generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may
rarely get to eat well. It is common to have one meal (known as the
Suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the Iftar), directly
after sunset. This meal will commonly consist of dates, following the
example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. Because Ramadan is a
time to spend with friends and family, the fast will often be broken by
different Muslim families coming together to share in an evening meal.
Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or ar-ramad, meaning
scorching heat or dryness. Since Muslims are commanded to fast during
the month of Ramadan, it is believed that the month's name may refer to
the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one's past
sins. Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur'an to the Prophet
Muhammad during Ramadan (in the year 610 C.E.). The Qur'an commands: "O
ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to
those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint...Ramadan is the
(month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also
clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So
every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should
spend it in fasting..." (Chapter 2, verses 183 and 185). Fasting during
Ramadan did not become an obligation for Muslims until 624 C.E., at
which point it became the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. The others
are faith (Shahadah); prayer (Salah); charitable giving (Zakah); and the
pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).
Another aspect of Ramadan is that it is believed that one of the last
few odd-numbered nights of the month is the Laylat ul-Qadr, the "Night
of Power" or "Night of Destiny." It is the holiest night of the holiest
month; it is believed to be the night on which God first began revealing
the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel).
This is a time for especially fervent and devoted prayer, and the
rewards and blessings associated with such are manifold. Muslims are
told in the Qur'an that praying throughout this one night is better than
a thousand months of prayer. No one knows exactly which night it is; it
is one of God's mysteries. Additionally, Muslims are urged to read the
entire Qur'an during the month of Ramadan, and its 114 chapters have
been divided into 30 equal parts for this purpose.
When the first crescent of the new moon has been officially sighted
by a reliable source, the month of Ramadan is declared over, and the
month of Shawwal begins. The end of Ramadan is marked by a three-day
period known as Eid ul-Fitr, the "Festival of Fast-breaking." It is a
joyous time beginning with a special prayer, and accompanied by
celebration, socializing, festive meals and sometimes very modest
gift-giving, especially to children.
When Ramadan ends, Muslims give charity in a locally prescribed
amount, calculated to feed one poor person in that region for one day.
This is known as fitra, and is meant as another reminder of the
suffering endured by many. Many Muslims also take this occasion to pay
the annual alms which are due to the poor and needy, known as Zakah
(2.5% of assets).
At the beginning of Ramadan, it is appropriate to wish Muslims
"Ramadan Mubarak" which means "Blessed Ramadan." At its conclusion, you
may say "Eid Mubarak.
Compiled from various sources and adapted by Jubril Alao.
September 2004
