26 Safar 1448 AH - August 9 2026 Issue # 31, Newsletter #2149
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The Struggle of Muslim Women
and
A Visit to Pakistan
by Dr Kaukab Siddique
THE BONES OF CHILDREN AND STRING BIKINIS
by Sis Asma
9/11 Petition Against Muslim Mayor
by Sr Aisha
VISUALIZE STANDING IN FRONT OF ALLAH
by Sr. Yasmin
The Struggle of Muslim Women
By Kaukab Siddique
141 pages
What does the Quran say about women,
Difficult uues, can wonen lead men
July 10 2026
A Visit to Pakistan
Some months back, a Pakistani friend from the U.S returned to America after a visit to the homeland. I was extremely keen to find out from him how Pakistan was doing. He was an ex-Army chap with clear-cut, uncomplicated views. He was very optimistic about our country. Most of this optimism came from the restaurants of Islamabad, which he had visited and also the many new Malls. These, he said, were filled to overflowing every day of the week. So, he concluded that economically there was nothing to worry about, and when a country was doing well economically, there was little else to worry about. What gave a further boost to his optimism was his belief that our Field Marshall had planned to come down real hard on corruption, which would make a huge difference to the country.
"This", I thought to myself, " I had to see." And so, within a couple of weeks, after a prolonged absence, I was on my flight to Pakistan.
I began with the restaurants and the malls of the capital, and was stunned to find that they were indeed chock-a-block full. This was indeed a surprising experience. But then I saw the other side. Driving home late winter nights, I saw something that I had never seen before. It was normal to find rows of people, some with flowing white beards, sitting along sidewalks with their pickaxes and shovels, in the hope that someone would come and reserve their labour for the following day. Never did I see our poor man more despondent or hungry than this.
I asked about the state of corruption in the country. I asked hundreds of people. There was near unanimity of opinion that Pakistan had never been so corrupt before. So it was not difficult to understand why our restaurants were bursting at the seams. These were the most convenient outlets for opulence brought in by ill-gotten wealth, while those from whom the money was stolen waited on the sidewalks with their picks and shovels, selling their labour to earn a pittance to fill their stomachs! After all, when the army shamelessly handed over the country to the most corrupt elements, what better could be expected?
I met no one who denied the fact that even the higher judiciary was a sold institution, or that bureaucrats and the police had any truck left with their obligations to their offices. Never had the lower classes been so mercilessly abandoned. The middle class had become a cowering, whispering, silent class, completely reliant on "good" behaviour lest the police or the intelligence goons swoop in and abduct them. And indeed, abductions had become the norm. Abductions of men, one had heard of before. But who would have thought that break-ins of homes and abduction of housewives would also become the new normal?
The other huge change was that hardly did I meet anyone who spoke well of the army. The army, once revered, was now despised and cursed by most, and not least by the retired veterans as well. This was not a day I ever thought I would see. And worse, the standard operating procedure to disperse protestors was a resort to free firing, whether it was the police, the rangers, or the army that was pulling the triggers. Massacring the average citizens had become the expectation of rulers who wanted "law and order" to be restored.
One had heard that because of the insurgency, Quetta had become marooned and isolated.
But when I talked to many army officers whom I had no reason to distrust, I learned that the insurgency had spread and deepened significantly and that very large parts of Baluchistan were now similarly isolated.
The insurgency in KP had also seen a sizable expansion.
And because of army action, seeds of an insurgency had been sown in Azad Kashmir's in the Sudhan area as well, from where the army gets some of its finest soldiers.
One can almost foresee the Indian intelligence beginning its work there, where our people have created fertile soil.
Only military genius could have achieved this.
It is now almost a sure bet that the next insurgency will erupt in Gilgit-Baltistan.
And in a year or two, the Afghan revenge on Pakistan will come in terms of drone attacks in our largest towns.
Those who decided to bomb Afghanistan should have known the consequences of this action.
No border was more important for Pakistan than ours with Afghanistan.
For a people who have "badla" [revenge] as a core value, Pakistan should have been advised more by circumspection than by brazenness.
Serious diplomacy should have been our main tool, rather than a gung-ho resort to F-16s.
As the insurgencies in Pakistan are spreading and gathering steam, similarities between the Pakistan of today and that of 1971 need to be taken note of. In both, it was the policies of the army that were providing oxygen to the insurgency. In both cases, it was the army's hunger to rule that was the main engine that was driving policy. In both cases, when disaster could be seen coming, by the average Pakistani, all the generals remained blind to this. And in case there was a general who could see where the army was driving the country, both in 1971 or in 2026, he did not speak loudly enough to be heard.
Every time there is an election in Pakistan, even a by-election, protests are the result. And then the army resorts to killing the protestors. So, the situation that has evolved is one of the people of Pakistan versus the army. It would be so much better, therefore, that elections be done away with, and so also the hypocrisy of it all. Let the army establish a dictatorship, and call it thus, because this is what they have been running. Compared to the two systems, the latter would be more desirable. Better to do away with the wounded hopes of the people, and its substitution by no hope at all.
Towards the end of my six-month stay in Pakistan, we became mediators in the Iran war, and the Field Marshal's stock began to rise. People liked this because they wanted hope and to begin believing in something. But then came the case of the two foreign women who were abducted, looted, and gang-raped multiple times by Ishaque Dar's grandson. People began to take bets. Most believed that this time the Field Marshal would fall on the culprits like a ton of bricks. But nothing happened. The Field Marshal therefore reclaimed his status as the man the people of Pakistan most wanted to wish away.
The path Pakistan has taken is clear. Spreading insurgencies may or may not coalesce into civil war. But in either case, as in 1971, the generals will ensure its destruction, before they take flights to distant havens.
THE BONES OF CHILDREN AND STRING BIKINIS
By Sis Asma
I am in Sharmal Sheikh ...... (a long while ago) why? It is the last part of our Middle East history tour.
For those of you who have not had the opportunity to lay in the sun on these particular sands or rub shoulders with dignitaries or have not witnessed women in barely string bikinis walking into the hotel lounge, here is what it is described as officially:
The name "Sharm el-Sheikh" comes from Arabic:
Sharm (شرم) means bay or inlet.
El-Sheikh (الشيخ) means the elder, chief, or respected leader.
So the name can be understood as "The Sheikh's Bay" or "Bay of the Elder."
I think whoever named it had an amazing sense of humor: Sharm (شرم) in Urdu and I think in Persian also ( pleases correct me as I am not fluent in Persian) means heya or modesty.
Sheikh of course is not only elder but a respected scholar held in high regard.
So for us Urdu/Persian speaking folks it means a place which in English language " makes the Sheikh blush or feel shy of because of its immodesty and non- respectable behaviour but also the non ethical deals that are made there."
Now you may say well it's a beautiful place and it is!
So here is what I found on it though I saw it with my own eyes but was so blasted with the same feelings as the Sheikh everywhere I looked there were almost naked men and women cavorting around and they were all MUSLIM, thus I really couldn't enjoy it for its own beauty.
Gratitude is defined as using Allahs bounties to obey Him and Not disobey Him.
Sharm el-Sheikh (often spelled Sharm al-Shaykh) is a resort city on the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez at the entrance to the Red Sea.
It is famous for:
Crystal-clear Red Sea waters with some of the world's best coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Ras Mohammed National Park, a protected marine reserve renowned for colorful coral, tropical fish, and dramatic underwater landscapes.
Naama Bay, the city's main promenade with hotels, restaurants, cafés, and shops.
Luxury beach resorts and warm weather throughout much of the year.
Although today it is primarily known as a tourist destination, Sharm el-Sheikh is also an important location for international diplomacy. Numerous Middle East peace conferences and Arab summits have been held there because of its secure location and conference facilities.
For visitors interested in Islamic history and spirituality, Sharm el-Sheikh also serves as a gateway to Mount Sinai (Jabal Mūsā)and Saint Catherine's Monastery. The monastery, founded in the 6th century, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries and stands near the traditional site where Prophet Musa (Moses), peace be upon him, is believed to have received the Torah.
So Trump and Netanyahu want to make a Sharm al Sheikh in Gaza and from what I hear ( please confirm for me) Eygpt, Jordan and Morocco are going help bring it into fruition of course along with the snake next door.
The Sheikh may be shrinking with Sharm شرم
But I am dying of:
Humiliation
Embarrassment
Mortification
Chagrin
Remorse
Guilt
Self-reproach
Self-contempt
Disgrace
Dishonor
Abasement
Contrition (especially with repentance)
Compunction
Regret
Disgust
Revulsion
Repulsion
Loathing
Aversion
Distaste
Abhorrence
Detestation
Nausea (literal and or figurative)
Disdain
Contempt
Horror
Offense
Antipathy
That I am watching this happen with my hard earned taxes!
How many beaches do rich men and women need to lay their bodies on the hot sand?
Maybe they need the owner of Bilal RA give a first hand Bilal (RA) treatment for free?
May Allah forgive me! I love the sea, the wildlife beneath it and the restful calming scenes to the eyes and body and I know Allah is in control.......
BUT ..... How many beach cemeteries do the naked rich need to lay upon ?
If they do they will feel the disintegrating bones of the buried bodies of dead children and when they will open the water taps of these brand new hotels in Gaza Riviera ( Astighfirullah) the blood of these children will gush out of it with their cries .......
I am appalled at the idea of a Sharm el Sheikh in Gaza!
I have to remind myself that Allah is in control and has the last word!
In Allahs realm anything can happen he says " Kun faya Koon"
New research makes a bold claim about a very familiar body of water on the map. The Red Sea, now a long ribbon between Africa and Arabia, completely dried out approximately 6.2 million years ago.
As of 8/03, there have been over 70,000 signatures collected in support of barring New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani from attending the 25th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in September 2026.
Based on the language used in the petition, it sounds as if the mayor is being targeted because of his Islamic faith. The petition was started by 9/11 widower Giovanni Galante and a 9/11 widow. They don't want Mayor Mamdani at the ceremony because it would be disrespectful to their own families and because of the people Mamdani supports.
The mayor's supporters have questioned the effort to ban him since, in the past, many conservative and liberal politicians have attended and have never given speeches while remaining in a designated area. So, if Mayor Mamdani is not expected to speak and he is standing with other politicians, why would his presence be so bothersome?
The 9/11 petition organizers have accused Mamdani of spewing anti-American rhetoric and associating with "anti-American" figures who do not fully acknowledge the seriousness of the events of that day.
Mayor Mamdani is unapologetically anti-Zionist. He accused his mayoral opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, of "anti-Muslim sentiment" during their mayoral campaigns. In addition, one of his campaign promises was to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Palestine.
Dennis McKeon, organizer of a 9/11 survivor group on Staten Island, has accused the 9/11 petitioners of being hypocritical because they have never spoken against mayors or governors who have never done anything for 9/11 families over the past 25 years. McKeon said, "I think everyone's entitled to their own opinion."
Many 9/11 survivors and victims, who have become sick from 9/11-related illnesses, are still struggling to get the government to compensate them.
Mayor Mamdani has stated that he would "proudly" attend the ceremony despite the efforts to stop his attendance. The mayor said, "I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration, reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home and, frankly, by all of us who called this country home."
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum signaled it would not keep Mamdani from joining the remembrance. One of the museum's spokespeople stated: "We have intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics. Government officials from across the political spectrum have attended the ceremony simply to bear witness "
(Source: MSN.com via Express.Co.Uk)
Salaam,
Sis. 'Aisha
Jamaat al-Muslimeen New York City
Guidance Wisdom from Sis Yasmin Hadith consultant
*VISUALIZE STANDING IN FRONT OF ALLAH*{!}~{*AL-KHUSHOO* THE ESSENCE & CORE OF 'SALAH'}~[SUPERB]~!
'Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salatu Was Salaam `ala Rasulillah .
************************************************************
'As-Salaam -Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakahtu'.
~How to attain 'Al- Khushoo' (الخسوع) in our Prayers ~
[ In Shaa Allah ]
How is it possible for us to gain 'Al - Khushoo' (الخسوع) ~(Humility ) in and outside of the prayer and during
recitation of the 'Qur`an' ?
'The Believers will prosper.
Those who have 'Khushoo' within their prayers'.
[Source~ 'Qur`an'~ Surat Al Mu'minoon 23: A # 1-2]
'Al-Khushoo' is the
essence and core of the prayer... !
and it means the presence and attendance
of the Heart !
And that the heart of the person who is
praying does not wander left and right.
However ...
if the person senses something that will divert him
away from (this) 'Al-Khushoo' ...
then he must seek refuge with Allah from the
outcast 'shaitan' just as the
Prophet [Sallallahu `Alayhi Wasallam ]
instructed us to do !
And there is no doubt that the 'shaitan' is
extremely assiduous upon spoiling all acts
of worship especially the 'Salah' which is the
most superior act of worship after the
two Testimonies.
Thus, the 'shaitan' comes to the 'Musalli'
( praying individual ) and says, or whispers
'Remember this and that'... {!}
and he causes him to indulge in thoughts
and ideas that are of
no benefit and which leave his head as soon
as he concludes from the prayer...{!}
Therefore, it is upon a person that he
strives with the
utmost ambition to devote himself towards
Allah the Mighty and Majestic {!}
and if he feels anything from these misgivings and devilish insinuations to seek refuge with
Allah from the outcast 'shaitan'
whether he is Raki' (bowing), in the
'Tashahhud', sitting, or standing
or in any position from his prayer...!
Lastly from the greatest means that will aid
one in attaining Al-Khushoo' in the prayer
is that he Visualizes himself standing in
front of Allah and that he is confiding in
his Lord ALLAH {Subhanahu wa Ta`ala.}
{'In Shaa Allah'} 52
The Believers will prosper.
Those who have khushoo within their prayers [Mu'minoon 23:1.2]
and He - Taa'aalaa - also said:
And stand before Allaah with a devout frame of mind [Baqarah 2:238]
...My 'Salaams' to all...
*************************************
~Y a s m i n ~
"All that is on earth will Perish. But will abide {Forever}
the Face of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor"
{'Quran'- Surah Al-Rahman-55.26-27 }
*******************************************
I Want to Die With my Forehead on the Ground!
The Sunnah in my Heart, Allah on my Mind,
Qur'an on my Tongue, and Tears in my Eyes!
'In Shaa Allah'~'Aameen'.
*******************************************
' Son of Adam! You are nothing but a number of days,
whenever each day passes then part of you has Gone.
{Al-Hasan Al-Basree}
