Answer the Oppressors in Rhetoric and Creative Speech.
" Ayesha, r.a., narrates: I heard the messenger of Allah,
peace be on him, saying to Hisan: as long as you keep
answering the oppressors in rhetoric on behalf of Allah and
His messenger, the holy spirit will keep helping you."
[Sahih Muslim, 4- 1936, Ibn Jarir and Abu Nayeem].
Comment by Kaukab Siddique: When the unbelievers attack
Islam and Muslims in abusive and insulting ways, Muslims are
obliged to answer them. This creative response is known in
Arabic as Hajw. It is a form of rhetoric and poetry in which
a companion of the Prophet, pbuh, named Hisan ibn Thabit,
r.a., excelled. A number of poets supported the Prophet,
pbuh, with their poetic skills, but Hisan, r.a., was the
best. The silence of American Muslims when they are attacked
almost every day on TV, radio and in newspapers is abhorrent
to Islam. Muslims should learn he skills of rhetoric,
poetry and effective prose. Sarcasm, irony and nuances of
criticism are part of this Islamic rhetoric.
Maybe it's while you're on a long walk under sunny
skies...or sharing an outdoor adventure with your kids and
grandkids...or simply marveling at the birds in your
backyard...
There are so many ways to bring nature into your life every
day!
At this critical time for our natural world, we need
passionate people like you to get out and spread the word
about why nature is so important. You can do your
- no matter where you are - even if you have
less than an hour to spare.
Sign the pledge right now to put your love of nature into
action this month.
By pledging your support, you're committing to doing one
simple thing to bring nature into your life, like:
Taking a nature walk
Volunteering for nature for one hour
Exploring nature with your family
Or any adventure that fits your lifestyle!
As a member, you know better than anyone how important it is
to connect with the natural world that connects us all.
Whatever you choose, I hope you take a moment to spend a
little extra time connecting with the natural world we all
love. I know I can count on supporters like you to lead the
way and show the world how nature can bring so much joy to
our lives.
Pledge to connect with nature today.
Thank you for being a dedicated supporter.
Sincerely,
Dave Strauss
Director of Membership
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100,
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1606
Newark, Delaware
Jamaat al-Muslimeen's 6-Page
Document Given to 90 Muslims. Good khutba+ Children's
Da'wa
On May 12 after Juma' Salat at Masjid Ibraheem, a 6-page
document was given to 90 Muslims, most of them Arab
Americans, a few Africans and a very few Pakistanis and
Bangladeshis.
The khutba was powerful, urging Muslims to repent for their
sins big and small. The imam quoted hadith showing that in
the later part of each night, Allah Almighty "approaches"
the believers and accepts their sincere repentance and thus
they are prepared for Ramadan .
[The imam seemed to be rejecting the popular belief that
only on one night of Sh'aban Allah "approaches" the
believers.
The children at this Islamic Center did some creative
"Da'awa." They chanted at the policemen who were helping
Muslims to cross the extremely busy street with fast moving
traffic. The kids were chanting:
"We love you."
The policemen were surprised and happy.
The items in the 6 Jamaat pages were:
Br. Solano's journney to Islam at age 50.
Sis. Ashira's charitable activity in Ethiopia.
Imams should give message EQUALLY to men amd women.
[hadith]
Seven month long defensive victory of Mosul against huge
Shia armada.
Syria: Islamic fighters trying to enter Damascus while
Russian-Alawite bombing continues.
Biggest bomb dropped on Afghanistan failed to crush
fighters.
Occupied Kashmir
"Muslim" Indian Army Officer Killed.
May 9
Protests against the Indian army of occupation are a daily
occurrence in this beautiful country.
Also common are atrocities by the Indian army and police
against the Muslim population.
Most hurtful for the oppressed people is the secular
attitude of some "Muslims" who have joined the Indian
installed "government and even the Indian armhy.
The public is increasingly turning against people with
Muslim names who are working for the Indian occupation
army.
On May 9, a "Muslim" who had joined the Indian army and been
promoted in the Rajputana Rifles was kidnaped and killedd by
fighters in his own village and his body was left in the
center of the village square.
Indian army troops Rape Hindu Women and then get their
victims forever!
[Daily Mail. April 14]
Two junior officers in the Indian army have had rape charges
against them dropped after agreeing to marry their victim
and her sister.
Sachin Gupta, 27, and Saurabh Chopra, 25, were accused of
luring a 21-year-old woman to a hotel where they raped her
and filmed the attack on their mobile phones.
The families of the two alleged rapists offered money to
have the charges dropped.
Western Syria:
The United States has announced a bounty of $1,000, 000 on
the head of al-Jawlani, the leader of the armed Islamic
group known as al-Nusra. [Fox News. May 10]
Eastern Syria:
A Russian intelligence officer who was helping the Russian
air force to spot and kill Russian Muslims fighting for ISIS
was executed by ISIS in public and a video was released
showing his execution and the message of the Islamic State.
[SOHR. May 9]
Mothers and Mourning
by Kaukab Siddique
"Paradise lies at the feet of the mother." Prophet Muhammad,
pbuh.
For Muslims, every day is Mother's Day. Sura Nisa [chapter 4
of the Qur'an] puts the mother second only to Allah.
Islam gives great love to orphans who lose their mother.
Fatima, r.a., the daughter of the Prophet. pbuh, , mother of
Hasan, r.a., and Hussain, r.a., beloved grand children of
the Prophet, pbuh, is described in hadith as the leader of
the women who will enter paradise.
We mourn Hussain, r.a., the grandson of the prophet, pbuh,
and Abdullah ibn Zubair, r.a., the adopted son of Ayesha.
r.a.
Our souls hurt in our innermost being for the mothers of
Syria whose children have been brutalized and murdered by
the tyrant Bashar Assad, and for the mothers of Kashmiri
children who have been killed by the indian army, and for
the mothers of Palestinian children murdered en masse by the
terrorist entity known as Israel, and for the mothers of the
children being bombdd to death by the armada attacking
Mosul, and for the mothers of children of Afghanistan who
are abused by the regime installed in Kabul and the mothers
of children bombed and killed in US and NATO air strikes,
and for the mothers of our children globally. We mourn them
because being the mothers of Islamic children, the media in
the West will not mourn them.
However mourning in Islam is very limited in time. If we
keep on mourning and do not take steps to defeat the enemies
of Islam, our mourning is not only counter productive but
prohibitd by our faith.
The Newly Elected Leader of Gaza
WHO IS ISMAIL HANIYA?
Ismail Haniya was born in Gaza in 1962 to parents who fled
when Israel was created in 1948.
He was jailed several times by Israel during the first
Intifada, or uprising, in the late 1980s - and later
deported to Lebanon.
Haniya rose to prominence in 2006, when he led Hamas to a
shock election victory over Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the
Palestinian Authority.
He stood down in 2014, after a reconciliation deal between
Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza.
Africa
South Sudan
Tribal War Among Christians
[Source AFP. May 13]
Sacked South Sudanese army chief Paul Malong, returned to
the capital Juba on Saturday claiming he had been asked to
return by the authorities and insisting that he'd never had
any intention of rebelling.
"If I want to rebel I can rebel here (in Juba)... If I was
about to fight I would fight here," he told reporters upon
his arrival in the capital.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir sacked his powerful,
hardline army chief Malong on Tuesday.
Malong, long regarded as an ethnic nationalist of Kiir's
majority Dinka tribe, was replaced by General James Ajongo
Mawut, a career soldier.
The move was described at the time as "routine" but has
raised fears of fighting between troops loyal to him and
those loyal to the president.
In February several senior army officers resigned, accusing
Malong of conducting an ethnic war against non-Dinkas and
ruling with an "unqualified clique of friends and
relatives".
Among those who quit was Lieutenant-General Thomas Cirillo
who has since announced plans to launch his own
rebellion.
Malong is widely regarded as being the mastermind of
fighting that erupted in the capital, Juba, last July
killing hundreds and dashing hopes of a power-sharing
government between Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel
leader Riek Machar, a member of the Nuer tribe.
The Dinka and the Nuer are the two largest ethnic groups in
South Sudan and have a history of bloody rivalry.
Malong said he had refused to return to Juba until he had
received assurances of his safety.
There was tight security at the airport as he arrived
back.
"I want to go and stay home... I want to live with my
(family) if I am not asked to do anything for the nation,"
he said upon arrival.
However he added that he remains a "revolutionary", a
reference to the 1983-2005 war of independence against
Khartoum.
South Sudan has been at war since December 2013 when Kiir
fell out with Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup.
The conflict -- characterised by brutality and human rights
violations -- has triggered famine in parts of the country,
forced millions from their homes and killed tens of
thousands so far.
NIGERIA
Behind the Nigerian Army's Propagand
Boko Haram: Time to Reveal the Hidden Facts now that the
Chibok Girls are Coming out Safe and Sound.
[New Trend Special Report.]
[On May 11, a Nigerian military commander whose daughter had
been kidnaped by Boko Haram stated on BBC that his daughter
and the other 82 girls who have been exchanged are safe and
healthy and were not forced to marry the fighters.]
In Nigeria, its been difficult to report the real news
because right from the beginning the military controlled,
managed and reported the news on the Boko Haram. I was
suspicious of the reporting but had no way of verifying my
suspicions. The Nigerians I know are from the elites and
very much opposed to Boko Haram. I lost a good Nigerian
Muslim friend because he was outraged about my skepticism
about the "atrocities" committed by Boko Haram.
I will restrict myself to what the researchers in the book
titled BOKO HARAM say, and not include my opinion. . They
are from various backgrounds. They definitely do not support
Boko Haram. Their methodology is to provide context and
verifiable information to the extent it is possible to
obtain. The book is packed with properly referenced
information and statistics. The book is difficult to
summarize but I will try to provide an outline of its main
points:
[The last two points are from recent news reports.]
Northern Nigeria is influenced by Sufistic versions of
Islam. The Tijaniyya and other Sufi orders are deeply
entrenched. The Sufis are not supporters of social change.
Under their influence, the Emirs are venerated and these in
turn are connected to British and other foreign powers. For
the masses of people, Sufism is a dead end. The deeply
exploitative system has remained unchallenged by the Sufis
for decades.
The rising middle class wanted a share in the
governmental structure of the country. This class was
willing to compromise with the established system but wanted
a share of it. It challenged the Sufi order by sending its
sons to study Islam in Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Arab
countries. These religious groupings are known as the Izala
who want to reform society and to benefit from it. They are
often scholarly but cannot openly challenge the established
order which is supported by the army which is backed by
America and more recently Israel.
From within the Izala came a leader known as Yusuf. He
realized that unless the established system is challenged
and overthrown, nothing will ever change for millions of
poverty stricken and disenfranchised Muslims. He organized a
group now known as Boko Haram and labelled as opposed to
education. Boko Haram are not against education but against
westernizing education. In fact Boko Haram are adept at
modern technology.
Yusuf's supporters clashed with the police and
established their own enclaves That the despised poor masses
should stand up to the police was seen as an insult and a
challenge by the military. The military would arrest and
execute entire groups of the supporters of Yusuf. Finally
the military got hold of Yusuf himself and several hundreds
of his supporters and executed ALL of them. The military
also smashed into the mosques and Islamic schools of the
Islamic people with tanks and destroyed them.
For a while Boko Haram seemed to be crushed but they
emerged with new strength and organization. This time they
fought well and drove the army out of entire areas in the
northeast.
As the army became more and more brutal, Boko Haram
lashed out and started attacking anything and anyone
connected with the government and the military. The new
leader, Sheikhau, is much more aggressive than Yusuf.
The book also studies Christian organizations and their
varying attitudes towards the Muslims, from friendly to
neutral to hostile and extremely bigoted. Sometimes
Christians attack other churches and then attribute the
attack to Boko Haram. In fact, the media in Nigeria, mostly
located in the South readily attribute any act of violence
to Boko Haram.
The army destroys entire villages suspected of being
supporters of Boko Haram. There are huge body counts of
Muslim civilians and supporters of Boko Haram and the book
gives some of the statistics.
In turn, Boko Haram, unable to face the army's fire
power,often attack any Muslim who is seen as supporting the
military or the government. A Muslim supporting kuffar is a
kafir, according to the Boko Haram.
The government has captured hundreds of women from the
families of Islamic supporters. In turn Boko Haram captured
the women in government related enclaves to exchange them
with their women. [The US media only mention the women
captured by Boko Haram.]
Nigerian regime is coordinating with three countries,
Chad, Cameroon and Niger. In turn, Boko Haram linked up with
al-Qaida and then the Islamic State. and has support now in
various parts of West Africa.
Invitation to Think
from Br.Robert Solano
"Why do Muslims Shoot women in the legs?"
The strange thoughts of a woman in US army.
[Readers should remember that Br. Solano has
an unusual sense of humor...Editor]
Sometimes it's an interesting being a Muslim in America.
Many Americans forget that there are over a billion Muslims
in the world and instead they think that everyone has a war
against the Infidels. But the truth of the matter is that
almost all Muslims simply are involved with their families,
their relationship with Allah and their loved ones. American
Muslims have very little, if any, interest in the concept of
Jihad or to force anyone into Islam. Yet we find some State
governments trying to pass laws making Sharia Law
illegal.
I bring this issue up because last week I had a friendly
discussion with a Veteran woman who lost both legs in Iraq.
The young woman was at the VA Medical Clinic and she had her
six year old son with her. She is missing both legs as a
result of enemy fire but with metal ones, that she got from
the Veteran Administration, she is able to get around with
no difficulty.
She had noticed me before, and felt comfortable chatting
with me. I'm a Vietnam Era veteran also with a Service
Connected disability who also gets treatment and medicine
refills every other month there. We started talking about
Mother's Day in Mexico which is held every year on May 10th,
while in the US it is the second Sunday in May. This year in
the US it will fall on May 14th. She wanted to know if
Muslims celebrated Mother's Day and I told her that we did -
every day of the year. I explained that the Holy Prophet
stated that a mother came first, second and last to any
other relationship.
Then she asked me "why then do Muslims always shoot women on
the legs?" She added that she had seen many American women
come back from the war zone with one or two legs missing. I
didn't know that. Yet I stated that instead of shooting to
kill they tried to follow the teachings that it is forbidden
to kill children, madmen, women, priests, impotent old men,
the infirm, the blind, the weak-minded, unless they have
taken part in the combat. I fell for the trap of explaining
what "all Muslims were doing" instead of saying that we had
over one billion Muslims that do not shoot women.
I then started talking about here in the US how dairy cows
never get to see or nurture their babies. That the newborn
calves are torn from their mothers at birth and turned into
veal cutlets, so the dairy industry can sell their milk. I
added that the distraught cow mothers bellow for days,
hoping in vain for their babies' return. But instead they
are chained on a concrete warehouse floor, milked by
machines, then impregnated artificially to renew the
pregnancy and keep the milk flowing.
I wanted to take the conversation away from "Muslims
shooting women on the legs." But since I was not prepared
for the subject matter I felt unease discussing it; I did
not even know there was such a practice in Iraq as well as
in Afghanistan.
- Br. Robert Solano lives in Texas and is a member of the
Jamaat al-Muslimeen leadership team. He's conducted da'wa
over the past several decades to the Hispanic community and
given the Spanish translation of the Qur'an to more than 500
people.
PAKISTAN
This is the Way Ramadan Should be in a Muslim Country but it
Isn't ...
by Qaiser Sharif & Ameer al-Azeem
LAHORE, May 14; The Jamaat e Islami has called upon the
government to take necessary measures to provide a truly
Islamic welfare environment during the holy month of Ramazan
besides preserving its sanctity.
It has demanded a thirty per cent cut in the prices of food
items during the holy month and their smooth supply to
facilitate the fasting citizens. The JI also suggested
relief for the workers in their duty hours during the sacred
month.
JI Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch, while suggesting a
relief package for the holy month, through the media, also
called for a code of conduct for the federal and the
provincial governments and all concerned departments.
He demanded total ban on immoral and vulgar programmes
including Talk shows and so called morning shows, through
the electronic and print and closure of the shops dealing in
immoral audio and video films and obscene materials.
He stressed that the TV channels and the F.M. Radio be
directed to allocate maximum time for programmes related to
the holy Quran and the Sunnah.
He suggested opening of two Utility Stores in each Union
council and Rs. 7 billion as subsidy on the items sold there
during the month. Besides, he said, the prices of POL and
gas should not be raised during the month.
He also called for strict security arrangements for mosques,
imam bargrhs and madrissahs during the holy month.
He suggested that the small venders selling dates, eatables,
vegetables, and fruit should not be penalized and their
stocks be not confiscated, and instead they be given a
warning for small lapses.
The JI secretary General also stressed that necessary
arrangements should also be made and the Roet e Hilal
Committee should be facilitated through scientific devices
in such a manner that month of Ramazan started on the same
day all over the country and the Eidul Fitr was held on the
same day throughout the country.
War News
Iraq
Mosul Week 30. Trump Week 16
Heavy Clashes around West Mosul. Embattled City's Resources
almost at end. ISIS Flag Flies over Biggest Mosque.
May 8-14. The regime forces which attacked Mosul from the
north west have managed to just about encircle the city. Two
districts in the path of the regime advance are now are now
control of the attack force. The city is almost surrounded
but the regime admits that violent clashes are
continuing.
Clean water, food and electricity have reached a new low.
The terrified population is streaming out of the city at the
rate of more than a hundred a day.
However the Islamic resistance though unable to bring in
reinforcements is by all accounts quite intact.
On May 13, Isis shot down a regime helicopter near Sinjar It
also hit an F-16 provided to the regime by the US but the
regime says it landed without crashing .
Regime troops were hit in Diyala area by an ISIS roadside
bomb.
In addition to West Mosul, the Islamic State is still in
complete control of Tal Afar [south west of Mosul], Hawija
to the south, parts of Diyala on Iranian border and parts of
areas near Kirkuk.
The regime is indulging in daily propaganda imputing that
victory is at hand and West Mosul will be captured by the
beginning of Ramadan.
US air strikes continue to support the Shia armada and
ensure that ISIS forces do not re-supply Mosul.
The Kurdish forces in Erbil have stopped their operations
after being hit hard by ISIS.
On May 12, Kurdish peshmarga were hit again by Turkish air
strikes.
Syria
Battles at Damascus, Palmyria, Aleppo. US-Kurds Advancing on
Al-Raqqa. Russian Officer Executed. Widespread Civilian
deaths in US Bombing.
May 8-14. The Russian-Turkish de-escalation plan seems to
have failed. The Assad regime, Hizbullah of Lebanon and
Iranian artillery are trying to smash the FSA [volunteer
forces] in their strongholds around Damascus.
Heavy fighting is also reported east of Aleppo with the
regime trying to push back the IS advance,
The Kurdish Communists, SDF, are slowly but steadily
advancing on al-Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State,
with support from US special forces.
In the al-Tabaqa area, IS is back fighting the Kurdish
advance from the south..
Assad's forces are locked in battle with IS east of
Palmyra.
Islamic State publically executed a Russian intelligence
officer who was helping the Russian air force to kill
Russian and Chechen mujahideen who are part of the IS
forces.
SOHR is reporting that American "Coalition" bombing of
al-Raqqa, al-Hasakeh and Deir ez-Zor held by the Islamic
State has turned into a massacre of civilians. SOHR has
documented 85 civilians killed in the US bombing over three
weeks. The dead include 37 children.
News Within the U.S.
73,000 have Signed this Petition to Investigate Trump's
Russian Connection.
by Rashad Robinson
First, Donald Trump fired Acting Attorney General, Sally
Yates. Now, Trump just fired Director of the FBI, James
Comey, who was leading the investigation into his ties to
Russia. The writing's on the wall. Michael Flynn resigned
because he had close ties with Russian contacts. We cannot
forget Jeff Sessions lied under oath about his involvement
with Russian Ambassadors -- and still got confirmed as
Attorney General. This administration can't keep getting
away with its lies. But Trump is putting up a dangerous
fight anyway. It's clear that Donald Trump is running over
anyone who stands in the way of his authoritarian
governance, and now he has the opportunity to appoint an FBI
Director who will do help him do his dirty work. So far over
73,000 Color of Change members have demanded Trump be
investigated, Kaukab, will you sign the petition too?
Our democracy is at risk. Already, people are demanding
James Comey be called in to testify. We need a transparent,
fair and honest investigation run by an independent
investigator now more than ever.
Demand Congress appoint an independent investigator now.
Thanks for standing with us against corruption.
- Rashad and the rest of the Color Of Change team
The original email is below:
Trump is undermining U.S. democracy
Demand Congress to start an independent commission to
investigate Trump's, Pence's and all senior aides' ties to
Russia.
Take Action!
Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn just
resigned after he was caught in a lie about communication
with Russia.1
But here's the scary, yet unsurprising, part: Trump's
administration knew Flynn lied about Russia an entire MONTH
ago. And leaks from Trump aides say the only reason Trump
pushed him out was because of news stories about the
incident.2 Things were so bad, that Flynn was under threat
of being BLACKMAILED by the Russian government.3 Trump is
putting our country's safety and democracy at risk. Now
isn't the time to let him and his fascist administration's
lies go unchecked.
It's past time for Congress to investigate Trump's
administration--and they need to do it NOW before it's too
late.
Tell Congress: Start an independent commission to
investigate Trump's ties to Russia.
This is first and foremost about democracy. While Trump is
lying about millions of voter fraud cases, the real threat
to our democracy is Putin's involvement in our election and
Russia's illicit ties to Trump and his administration. But
even more threatening is Congress' refusal to do anything
about it. Black people have fought to make our democracy
real and we won't stand for any threats, foreign or
domestic, to our ability to participate in free and fair
elections.
There's too much evidence pointing to a cover-up of what
could be acts of treason by Trump's administration. Let
alone the terrifying reality that Trump and the Russian
government might have rigged the 2016 presidential election.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, phone records
indicate that members from Trump's campaign team had
repeated contact with senior Russian officials a year before
the election.4 Even Trump said at a campaign rally that "he
hoped Russian intelligence services had stolen Hillary
Clinton's emails and would make them public."5 More
disturbing, a report released publicly in January by U.S.
intelligence agencies revealed that the Russian government
intervened in the presidential election.6 And now Attorney
General Jeff Sessions, who campaigned aggressively for
Trump, is refusing to remove himself from any role that
would involve an investigation.7 But Congress has a unique
opportunity to once and for all stand up to Trump and his
illegitimate presidency.
Demand Congress investigate Trump and restore the integrity
of democracy back into the hands of the people.
We certainly cannot rely on Senate Republicans to do any
investigation. A transparent, fair and honest investigation
should be:
run by an independent commission that can formulate a
much broader and deeper investigation than the Senate
Republicans on the Intelligence Committee.
contain public hearings that require testimony from
President Trump, Vice President Pence, Attorney General
Sessions and other top aides in the Trump
administration.
and should force the administration to release all
relevant tapes, documents, and records.
What the Trump Administration is doing is more than an
insult -- it's an injustice. For every battle to dismantle
Jim Crow and abolish "separate but equal" laws, to make sure
a person has the right to vote, to earn a fair wage, to gain
access to quality education, to hold police and prosecutors
accountability, to live and love freely, Black people have
been on the frontlines. Too many people will suffer from
Trump's attack on our democracy -- we can't let that
happen.
Congress can no longer pretend there's a real leader in the
White House. This has gone on long enough.
Sign the petition.
Until justice is real,
Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Anay, Clarise, and the rest of the
Color Of Change team
References:
"GOP Senate Intel Member: Exhaustive investigation into
Trump-Russia connections needed following Flynn resignation,
" CNN, 02.14.2017.
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7476?t=9&akid=7432.2166399.Cfnwu
"Flynn's Downfall Sprang From 'Eroding Level of Trust',"
The New York Times, 02.14.2017
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7477?t=12&akid=7432.2166399CTfnwu
"White House was warned Flynn could be blackmailed by
Russia, " CNN, 02.14.2017
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7478?t=14&akid=7432.2166399.Tfnwu
"Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian
Intelligence, New York Times, 02.14.2017
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7479?t=16&akid=7432.2166399CTfnwu
"Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian
Intelligence, New York Times, 02.14.2017
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7479?t=18&akid=7432.2166399CTfnwu
"Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian
Intelligence, New York Times, 02.14.2017
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7479?t=20&akid=7432.2166399CTfnwu
"Jeff Sessions Resists Pressure to Remove Himself in
Russia Inquiries, New York Times, 02.14.2017
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7480?t=22&akid=7432.2166399CTfnwu
GUIDANCE
The Teachings of Imam Ghazali
450-505 hijri.
[Considered the greatest scholar of Islam after sahaba -
editor NT]
[From Sis. Yasmin.]
Assalaamu 'Alayku m wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu.
Imam Al Ghazali [May Allah have mercy on him] said...
"You should not neglect your time or use it
haphazardly{!}
on the contrary, you should bring yourself to account...
structure your litanies and other practices during each day
and night,
and assign to each period a fixed and specific function.
This is how to bring out the spiritual blessing
('Baraka')
in each period.
But... if you leave yourself adrift,
aimlessly wandering as cattle do,
not knowing how to occupy yourself at every moment,
your time will be lost...{!}
It is nothing other than your life,
and your life is the capital that you make use of to
reach perpetual felicity in the proximity of
Allah the Exalted {!}
Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel,
since each of them is irreplaceable and once gone, can never
be retrieved...{!}
Do not be like the deceived fools who are joyous because
each day their wealth increases while their life shortens
{!}
What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever
shorter ?
Therefore be joyous only for an increase in Knowledge or in
good works {!}
~for they are your Two{ 2} companions who will accompany you
in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends
stay behind."
