Friday, December 31, 2010

Islamic Calendar

Asalamu Alaykum and hello to all my readers.

Earlier today with the months of Sha'ban and Ramadan in mind I asked a Sister who has an outstanding amount of beautiful graphics about Islam etc for a Islamic Calendar. Straight away she came up this result Mashallah :)

By Effat Saleh

You can also see more of her presentations here :)

Soutce : http://reflections4muslimahs.blogspot.com/2010/07/islamic-calendar-by-effat-saleh.html

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Geological Segregations - by இராஜ. தியாகராஜன் (Rajagopalan Tyagarajan)

(My sincere thanks to Evidence : "Tolkaapiyam", "Tolkappiyam Uraigal", Paavaanar's "The Primary Classical Language of the World")
My dear Tamil Loving people, I am writing this article in English because, the contents of this article must also reach the Non-Tamil Speaking people also. However I have also given the Tamil translations below for those whose mother tongue is Tamil, for better understanding.

“Tolkaappiyam” the only earliest known TAMIL literary (Grammar) work available at present, depicts not only about the intricacies of the TAMIL Language and its grammar, but also the geographical features of ancient Tamils people. It is surprising to note that it is the only grammer work which explains in detail about the living conditions of people, based on the geographical/geological segregations. From the Tolkaapiyam, we have come to know that the localities, living conditions, life-styles, eating habits, cults, entertainments, fauna/flora etc., of Tamil people have been divided and fit into five separate habitations, based on their geological conditions and uniqueness. The names of the segregations are given below:

1)      Hilly region (Kurinji Nilam)                   -           குறுஞ்சி நிலம்
2)      Pastoral Region (Mullai Nilam)            -           முல்லை நிலம்
3)      Desert Region (Paalai Nilam)              -           பாலை நிலம்
4)      Agricultural Region (Maruda Nilam)    -           மருத நிலம்
5)      Littoral Region (Neidal Nilam)             -           நெய்தல் நிலம்

Now we will see the something about the above mentioned geological segregations one by one in detail. In today’s point of view/perception, the names like kudi, palli, paadi, kurichi, Oor, are mere names only. Even a Oor may be a village and a palli may be a big settlement like town. As such it is kindly requested to peruse those terms in light of the the period before 2000 years.

1) Hilly Region (Kuriji Nilam-குறிஞ்சி நிலம்):

a)Human Habitation (வாழுமிடம்): Hamlet (Sirukudi – சிறுகுடி) and Hill side Village (Kuruchi –குறிச்சி) (eg for names - sithankudi,kallakkuruchi – சித்தங்குடி, கள்ளக்குறிச்சி)
b)Inhabitants (வாழ்பவர்கள்): Sooth-sayers (Kuravar-குறவர்), Junglemen (kaanavar-கானவர்), hill-men (kundravar-குன்றவர்), hill-slope dweller (Iravular-இறவுளர்)
c)Occupation (தொழில்): Hunting, cultivations of Mountain millets, gathering of fruits/honey, digging of edible roots.
d)Main Food stuff (உணவுப்பழக்கம்): Mountain paddy (கார் அரிசி), Mountain Millets (வரகு/தினை), edible roots/fruits, honey, bamboo seeds (மூங்கில் அரிசி).
e) Cult (வழிபாடு): Murugan (seyon-சேயோன் (அ) முருகன்) worship.
f) Water sources (நீர்த்துறைகள்): Mountain pools and water-falls. (மலைச்சுனை அருவி)
g) Percussion Instruments (முழவுக்கருவிகள்): Drums played during Muruga worship and kuravai (குரவை) dance.
h) Melody type (இசை வகை): Kurinji yazh (குறிஞ்சி யாழ்).
i) Fauna (விலங்குகள்): Elephant, tiger, bear, hog, boar, monkey, stag, deer, mountain sheep, etc.

j) Birds (பறவைகள்): peafowls, parrots, myna, kaadai, kavudari, pigeon etc.
k) Flora (மரங்களும் செடிகளும்): Strobilanthes Kunthianus, Gloriasa superb, Blue nelumbo, East Indian kino, Sandal-wood, Teak-wood etc.

2) Pastoral Region (Mullai Nilam-முல்லை நிலம்):

a)Human Habitation (வாழுமிடம்): Group of low-rooted dwellings (Paadi –பாடி ) and group of closely-constructed huts (cheri –சேரி)and a group of shake-downs (Palli-பள்ளி) (eg for names – kurinjipaadi,Puducherry, kaattupalli –குறிஞ்சிப்பாடி, புதுச்சேரி, காட்டுப்பள்ளி)
b)Inhabitants (வாழ்பவர்கள்): Cowherds (Aayar-ஆயர், idayar-இடையர், poduvar-பொடுவர்).
c)Occupation (தொழில்): Cattle breeding and cultivation of Millets.
d)Main Food stuff(உணவுப் பழக்கம்): Common Millet (Kambu-கம்பு), Little Millets (கேழ்வரகு), Pigeon Pea (பட்டாணி), Field bean (payaru-பயறு).
e)Cult (வழிபாடு): Thirumaal (Maayon-மாயோன் (அ) திருமால்) worship.
f) Water sources (நீர்த் துறைகள்): Jungle streams and water ravines (காட்டாறுகள், நீரோடைகள்)
g) Percussion Instruments (முழவுக் கருவிகள்): Drums played tauronachy (காட்டுக் கூத்து).
h) Melody type (இசை வகை): Mullai Yazh (முல்லை யாழ்).
i) Fauna (விலங்குகள்): Fallow deer, spotted deer, hare etc.

j) Birds (பறவைகள்): Jungle fowls, partridge pigeons, myna, quails etc.

k) Flora (மரங்களும் செடிகளும்): Arabian Jasmine(முல்லை), Bedaly emetic-nut(ஒரு வகைப் பாக்கு), golden jasmine(வனமல்லி), Malabar Glory Lily(பெரிய அல்லி), Indian Laburnum, Wild lime (காட்டெலுமிச்சை) etc.

3) Desert Region (Paalai Nilam-பாலை நிலம்):

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sufi Comics: Where does Wisdom come from?

This is the 40th Sufi Comic, Alhamdulliah! :) I didn’t think I’d reach this number when I started Sufi Comics. Thank you all for your encouragement and feedback! You guys made it possible to reach this milestone.
It’s been a learning experience since I drew the first comic. Inshallah we’ll be working on compiling all these comics into an e-book.

Monday, December 27, 2010

World 20 busiest airports

Rank 1: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is located 11 km (7 miles) south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
It has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic and number of landings and take-offs since 1999, serving 88 million passengers per year.
The airport is the primary hub of AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Delta Connection partner Atlantic Southeast Airlines. The Delta hub is the world's largest airline hub.
The airport has 195 gates, domestic and international.
Hartsfield-Jackson held its ranking as the world's busiest airport in 2009, both in terms of passengers and number of flights, by accommodating 88 million passengers (240,000 passengers daily) and 970,235 flights.
Between January and August this year total passenger traffic stood at 59,790,608.

Rank 2: Beijing Capital International Airport Beijing Capital International Airport is the main international airport of Beijing, China.
It is located 32 km (20 miles) northeast of Beijing's city centre.
It was the busiest airport in Asia in terms of passenger traffic and total traffic movements by 2009.
Beijing Capital is the main hub for Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, which flies to around 120 destinations (excluding cargo) from Beijing.
The Conde Nast Traveler magazine named the Beijing Capital International as the World's Best Airport in 2009.
To accommodate the growing traffic volume, Beijing Capital added the enormous Terminal 3 in 2008, the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, and the third largest building in the world by area.
Between January and August this year total passenger traffic stood at 48,912,712.

Shariah Index launched at Bombay Stock Exchange

By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange along with Taqwaa Advisory and Shariah Investment Solutions (P) Ltd. (TASIS), on Monday, launched a Sharia Index with 50 Sharia compliant companies within the BSE 500 that will be known as BSE TASIS Sharia 50.
These 50 companies are the most liquid ones and are strictly adhering to Islamic Shariah norms and that is to stay away from Interest or the sale of alcohol, tobacco and other prohibited goods.

Dr. Sharique Nisar
Dr. Sharique Nisar, Director of TASIS said: “BSE has the largest number of Shariah Compliant companies in the world, in fact more than the whole Middle East and Pakistan.”
There are many Shariah compliant brokerage houses like Parsoli and Idafa but a Shariah Index with the leading stock exchange in India is a great achievement. Dr. Sharique Nisar said, “Islamic Finance of which Shariah Index is a part is a trillion dollar plus Industry. It will provide Muslims in India an opportunity for Halal investment in Shares and will bring in thousands of crores of rupees from the gulf and other parts of the world.”
The managing director and chief executive of the Bombay Stock Exchange, Madhu Kannan, said, “The index would attract Islamic and other "socially responsible" investors both in India and overseas and therefore it’s an inclusive step in nature.”
Several studies have found that the majority of India's 160 million Muslims have been excluded from the country's formal financial sector due to the restrictions imposed by Islamic law and therefore their saving ratio is minimal.
According to its website, TASIS was “founded by a group of finance and investment professionals for providing guidance and support to individuals and corporates having an interest in the nascent but highly potential Islamic finance industry in India. As the name suggests, it is an organization providing Shariah advisory and investment solutions in India, while operating within the Indian legal framework.”
The real issue now seems to be the publicity of this fund and make people understand about the functioning of this index. Dr. Sharique added, “We will be organizing a programme in BSE on 6th January, 2010.
Links:

BSE TASIS SHARIAH 50 Index Details about the Shariah Index.
Source : http://twocircles.net/2010dec27/shariah_index_launched_bombay_stock_exchange.html

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Seasons- A Moral Story

Seasons- A Moral Story

View more presentations from Xenia Yasmin.

This is the introduction and first video of a series exploring a proper Islamic outlook on life. This first video discusses what is meant by an Islamic Worldview. I will attempt to define, illustrate and remove misconceptions about what this outlook means. I have also edited a video discussing the conception of a worldview to provide a visual representation.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Sura Maryam 19: 1 - 36 Mishary Alafasy - Part 1

Muslims love Jesus too

View more presentations from Xenia Yasmin.

A Christmas Greeting From a Muslim Daughter

When I became a Muslim thirteen years ago this month, I left behind the Christmas traditions my family celebrated every year of my childhood. My mother was able to transform our Southern California home into a Winter Wonderland as soon as we walked in the door; it may have been 75 degrees and sunny outside, but inside we felt we were in a Currier and Ives world of red velvet beribboned pine boughs, twinkling lights and beautiful music. I loved it. The Christmas season and our small traditions remained the same no matter how many years passed. My mother worked extremely hard to build warm, and loving holiday memories, and I sincerely cherish them.

Like many American homes, there wasn't much Christ in my family's Christmas. There would always be some discussion surrounding the reason for our celebration, but we didn't attend church services or talk too much about what my parents believed. The beautiful nativity on the mantle, hand-painted by my grandmother, was flanked by tasteful, secular decorations. This led to a kind of vague confusion between the miraculous birth of Jesus, and the magical feat of Santa Claus zipping around the world in one night.

Nostalgia not withstanding, thinking about Christmas is now far more meaningful to me on a spiritual level than it was when I was young. The fact that Muslims accept and believe in the virgin birth of Jesus has been a golden thread that links my childhood Christmas memories to my very fulfilling adult life as a Muslim.

The world's more than 1.5 billion Muslims would like their Christian neighbors to know that we believe in the Annunciation; in the Quran we read that God sent the angels to Mary:

"When the angels said: O Mary, surely God gives you good news with a Word from Him of one whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near to God. And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and he shall be one of the good ones." Quran 3:45-46
Click HERE to read full article.
mailed-by

IslamiCity Bulletin

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The War You Don't See!

The new film is a powerful and timely investigation into the media's role in war, tracing the history of 'embedded' and independent reporting from the carnage of World War One to the destruction of Hiroshima, and from the invasion of Vietnam to the current war in Afghanistan and disaster in Iraq. As weapons and propaganda become even more sophisticated, the nature of war is developing into an 'electronic battlefield' in which journalists play a key role, and civilians are the victims. But who is the real enemy?

John Pilger says in the film: "We journalists... have to be brave enough to defy those who seek our collusion in selling their latest bloody adventure in someone else's country... That means always challenging the official story, however patriotic that story may appear, however seductive and insidious it is. For propaganda relies on us in the media to aim its deceptions not at a far away country but at you at home... In this age of endless imperial war, the lives of countless men, women and children depend on the truth or their blood is on us... Those whose job it is to keep the record straight ought to be the voice of people, not power."

Become a fan of 'The War You Don't See' on Facebook and get regular updates on the film, the latest information on where you can watch it and messages from John Pilger himself. You can also follow the film on Twitter.

'The War You Don't See' will launch in Australia in early 2011 and in the United States in summer 2011, dates will be confirmed on this website.

Directors: John Pilger & Alan Lowery. Editor: Joe Frost. A Dartmouth Films Production.

Source: http://www.megavideo.com/?v=DP4HWOZR
http://www.johnpilger.com/articles/new-pilger-film-the-war-you-don-t-see-currently-showing-on-itv-com

war-you-dont-see.html

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

SCHIZOPHRENIA- SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS

It is a disease, typically strikes in early adulthood, devastating the education and career forming years of many of its victims. This disease affects one person in a hundred and patients afflicted with this disease occupy nearly half of the bed in psychiatric hospital. Nearly half of those who experience schizophrenic episodes never really recovered. Some of the symptoms of schizophrenia are delusion, which are unshakable false ideas about reality and hallucination, which are sensory perception, such as hearing voices or seeing vision that do not exist. The patient of schizophrenia may have trouble finding the right words to express and when he does, he may show a very inappropriate emotion. He may laugh at sad events and his behaviour is bizarre .

Evidence is mounting that schizophrenia involves a physiological disturbances in the parts of the brain that mediates thought, mood and emotions. Researchers have found abnormalities in the limbic system and prefrontal cortex of the brain, in-patient inflicted with schizophrenia. Since the antipsychotic drugs use to treat schizophrenia work by reducing dopamine, it is possible that schizophrenia has relationship with excess production of dopamine. In conventional medicine, schizophrenic patients are treated using neuroleptic medications and patients have to be dependent on the drugs. The drugs are only to relieve the symptoms and it does not cure the disease.

Can schizophrenia be treated and cured? According to our Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w all diseases can be cured and as Muslim, the words of our Prophet is certainly true and using the principles lay down by our Prophet, we certainly can cure schizophrenia that has inflicted millions of people in the world. According to our Prophets, the centre of our body is the stomach and the bowel and we can treat all diseases when we initially treat the stomach and the bowel. CLICK

When the bowel and the stomach are good then the blood will be good and the person will get good health. Stress affects the health of the stomach and bowel. In order to treat schizophrenia we have to treat initially both the physical and the emotional stress. Physical stress treats with correct food supplements, physical exercises and correct diet while the emotional stress treats with the self-talk therapy. Once the stresses reduce, the stomach and the bowel will starts to function effectively and the blood circulating the body will be cleaner and more nutritious. Once the blood becomes cleaner and nutritious, the brain will get more oxygen and nutrition. When the brain is well nourished, inflammation of brain tissues will subsides and finally becomes normal, CLICK. Once the brain tissues become normal, the brain start to function and secrete dopamine normally and the patients cured from schizophrenia.

Allaah Has Combined All of Medicine (at-Tibb) in Half a Verse of the Qur'aan

All praise is due to Allaah and may the prayers and salutations be upon His Messenger, to proceed: Allaah the Most High said, "...And eat and drink and be not excessive (therein)..." (al-A'raaf 7:31)
Ibn Katheer commented upon this verse:

One of the Salaf said: Allaah has combined the entirety of medicine (at-tibb) in half a verse, "And eat and drink and be not excessive..."

Al-Qurtubi commented upon this verse, after mentioning that excessive eating is makrooh (disliked), he mentions the benefits of eating little:

... In eating little there are many benefits. From them that a man becomes of sounder body, of better memory, purer in understanding, (requiring) less sleep, and lighter in (his) soul...

Then he mentioned the harms of eating excessively:

... and in eating much there is the overstuffing of the stomach and putrefaction of undigested food, and from this the variety of diseases are produced, and thus he requires treatment more than what the one who eats little requires. Some of the physicians said, "The greatest treatment (dawaa') is (appropriate) estimation of (one's) food (intake)." And the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) has explained this meaning sufficiently and completely which does away with the speech of the physicians, so he said, "The son of Aadam does not fill a container worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Aadam to take enough morsels of food to keep his back straight (keep him able-bodied). And if it is necessary, then a third for his food, a third for his drink, and a third for his breath."...

Then a little later al-Qurtubi says:

And it is mentioned that (the caliph) ar-Rasheed used to have a shrewd Christian physician who said to Alee bin Hasan, "There is not in your Book (the Qur'aan) anything of the knowledge of medicine, and knowledge of is of two types, knowledge of the religions and knowledge of the bodies." So he said to him, "Allaah has combined all of medicine in half a verse in our Book." So he said, "What is it?" He said, "The saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic: And eat and drink and be not excessive."...

And Imaam ad-Dhahabi in his book "at-Tibb an-Nabawi" (p. 34-35) says:

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: "The son of Aadam does not fill a container worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Aadam to take enough morsels of food to keep his back straight (keep him able-bodied). And if it is necessary, then a third for his food, a third for his drink, and a third for his breath." This was reported by an-Nasaa'ee and at-Tirmidhee, who said, "Hasan Saheeh" ... and this is one from the aspects of preserving health. Alee bin Hasan said: "And Allah, the Sublime and Exalted has combined the whole of medicine in (just) half a verse, so He, the Most High said, "And eat and drink and be not excessive..."

He is Alee bin al-Hasan bin Shaqeeq bin Muhammad bin Deenar bin Mush'ab, Abu Abdur-Rahman al-'Eedee al-Marwazi (d. 215H), the Imaam, the Haafidh, the Shaykh of Khurasaan, he came to Baghdad and narrated from the likes of Ibrahim bin Tahman, Abdullaah Ibn al-Mubaarak, Sufyaan bin Uyainah and others, and Ahmad bin Hanbal, Yahya bin Ma'een and others narrated from him, and his ahaadeeth are in the Six Books. He was a haafidh of a great amount of knowledge, and a haafidh of many books, including the Tawraat and Injeel and he debated the Jews and Christians. His biography can be found in all the major books of Rijaal.
And you can refer to an earlier article on the same subject, from the words of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, as well as this article from the speech of Ibn al-Qayyim.
Source : http://www.healthymuslim.com/articles/fnkaf-allaah-has-combined-all-of-medicine-at-tibb-in-one-verse-of-the-quraan.cfm

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) wedding traditions

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)

As a tradition in the UAE, the setting of the wedding date marks the beginning of the bride's preparation for her wedding.

Although the groom is also put through a series of preparations, the bride's are more elaborate and time

consuming.

She is lavished with all sorts of traditional oils and perfumes from head to toe. Traditionally, she is not seen for forty days by anyone except for family members as she rests at home in preparation for her wedding day.

During the week which precedes the wedding, traditional music, continuous singing and dancing take place, reflecting the joy shared by the bride and the groom's families.

Laylat Al Henna (literally, the night of the henna), which takes place a few days before, is very special night for the bride, since it is a ladies' night only.

On this night, the bride's hands and feet are decorated with henna. The back-to-back feasts and celebrations involve both men and women who usually celebrate separately.
Source : http://www.revertmuslims.com/islam_marriage/wedding_traditions.html#UAE

Cities of the World Dubai United Arab Emirates

Sunday, December 19, 2010

It's time we all be friends, it's time we all unite--Kamal Uddin - Unite with LYRICS

Salaatullaah wa salaam
ala mu'allimul imaan

Salaatullaah wa salaam
ala mu'allimul islaam

Chorus:
Oh my brothers oh my sisters from my faith
rise today before its too late

Remember always follow Allah

wa atee ur Rasoolullah (and follow Allahs messenger)

It's time we all be friends, it's time we all unite,
it's time to leave the shade and walk towards the light
Many errors have been made throughout our moving lives
Its time to seek forgiveness and do that which is right
Then only can we see between just you and me
the glory of Islam and its endless beauty
No matter where you?re from no matter who you are
when its time to leave this world we will all return to Allah
[ www.thenasheedlyrics.com ]

Chorus
Oh my brothers oh my sisters from my faith
rise today before its too late
Remember always follow Allah
wa atee ur Rasoolullah (and follow Allahs messenger)

It's time we all smile, it's time we all share

it's time to be proud of who we are and what we wear
Lets never be ashamed to spread that which is true

Laa ilaaha illallahu

So open your eyes and see that we are one big family
bowing down to our lord, the supreme Almighty
Lets stand in one big line and remember all the time
the qur?an and his ways is what the Prophet (pbuh) left behind

Chorus
Oh my brothers oh my sisters from my faith
rise today before its too late
Remember always follow Allah
wa atee ur Rasoolullah (and follow Allahs messenger)

Salaatullaah wa salaam
Ala mu?allimul imaan

Salaatullaah wa salaam
Ala mu?allimul islaam