AlMujtaba: June 2006

Medina shakes... Prophet (p)’s daughter departs

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Direct link: http://almujtaba.com/articles/3/000990.html

By: Zaynab

In the last moments of her life, the time came for Fatima Az-Zahra (A) to tell her spouse the Commander of Faithful Imam Ali (A) her will. Therefore, she told him: “This is the last day of my life … my children … they will soon be orphans, without a mother!!”

Imam Ali (A) then asked her about the source of knowledge of this news (the day of her departure). She (A) told him that she had seen the Messenger of Allah (A) in her dream and he had told her that she was going to join him that night. She then asked Imam Ali (A) to execute her will.

He said: “Instruct me to do anything you wish, daughter of Allah's Messenger.” Ali (A) then asked everyone to leave the house and he sat next to her.

Fatima (A) started: “Cousin, you are not accustomed to me being a False-teller, un-devoted, or have I disobeyed you since I have become your companion?"

Ali (A) said: “Allah forbid!! You are more knowing of Allah, more devoted, more pious, and more honorable and more fearing of Allah than (to give me a reason) to reprimand you for disobeying me. Surely it is very painful for me to be separated from you and to lose you; but it is an inevitable destination. By Allah, you have renewed the sorrow I have just encountered with the death of Allah's Messenger; surely your death and departure will be a great calamity, but `to Allah do we belong, and to Him shall we return.' What a painful, bitter and sad calamity. Surely this is a calamity for which there is not consolement, and a disaster for which there is no compensation.”

Then they both cried and Imam Ali (A) embraced her head and said: “Instruct me to do anything you wish; you certainly will find me devoted and I will execute everything that you command me to do. I shall also put your matters over mine.”

She (A) said: “May Allah reward you with the best of goodness. Cousin, firstly I ask you to marry after my death… men cannot do without women.”

Fatima (A) then added: “I ask you not to let anyone who did injustice to me to witness my funeral, for they certainly are enemies of mine, and the enemy of Allah's Messenger (A). Also don't give them the chance to pray over me, nor to any of their followers. Burry me at night when eyes are rested and sight is put to sleep.”

Fatima Bint-e-Muhammad (A) was ready to meet her Lord. She bathed, than lay down in her garment... She then instructed Asma Bint-e-Umais to wait awhile and then to call her name; if there was no answer, this would mean that she (A) had departed towards her Lord.

Asma waited awhile, then called Fatima (A)'s name... but there was no answer;

Asma repeated the call:

“O daughter of the chosen Muhammad (A)!
O daughter of the most honorable of them whom women bore!
O daughter of the best of those who have walked on gravel! O daughter of him who was at `A distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer” (a Quranic verse, (53:9))

...There is no answer... silence overwhelms the house ...Asma then proceeds towards Sayyidah Fatima (A) and finds her dead. At that point, Hassan (A) and Hussain (A) entered and asked:

“Where is our mother?”

Yet Asma uttered not a word!

Hassan (A) and Hussain (A) proceeded towards their mother and found that she has departed.

Imam Ali (A) was at the Mosque. Hassan (A) and Hussain (A) went to the Mosque and broke the news to their father. As soon as he (A) heard their words, he fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he said: “Who will console me now, daughter of Muhammad? You used to console me, so who will take your place now?”

The Hashimite women were then gathered to receive the news of the great calamity... Yes, the calamity befell them once more, while the blood was still flowing from the wound of losing the Prophet (A)...

Medina shakes...

Source: http://www.jafariyanews.com

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Second Al-Fatimiyah Season

Friday, June 09, 2006

Second Al-Fatimiyah Season

Martyrdom Anniversary of Sayeda Fatimah Al-Zahra (AS)

Recently @ http://www.almujtaba.com

We send our condolences to our twelfth Imam, Imam Muhammed Al-Mahdi (AS), our righteous Ulama, and to the Muslim World on the martyrdom anniversary of the only daughter of prophet Muhammed (PBUH), The Mistress of all women from the beginning to the end, the wife of Imam Ali (AS), the mother of the Imams (AS), the proof of Allah upon His creatures, the infallible, the chaste, the honest, the blessed one, the virtuous, the gratified one, the one who well-pleases Allah, and the mother of her father,

Sayeda Fatimah Al-Zahra (AS)

who was martyred according to a narration on 13. Jamadi Al-Awwal 11 A.H. (632 A.D), and according to another narration on 8 Rabi Al-Thani 11 A.H. (632 A.D), and according a third narration on 3, Jamadi Al-Thani 11 A.H. (632 A.D).

On this sad and tragic event, AlMujtaba Islamic Network Team have established a special season commemorating Hazrat Fatimah Al-Zahra (AS)

To view this season…Please visit http://www.almujtaba.com

Please don't forget us from your prayers

AlMujtaba Islamic Network Team

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http://www.almujtaba.com

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http://www.almujtaba.com

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Temporary marriage catches on in Afghanistan

Thursday, June 08, 2006

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (AFP) - Twenty-nine-year-old mechanic Payenda Mohammad was married last month in a simple ceremony in this northern Afghanistan town, but the marriage only lasted four hours. Which was exactly what he wanted.

Nobody would give me their daughters to marry because I didn't have family or money," says Payenda, who ended up in Iran after his parents and a sister were killed in a bombing raid about 15 years ago.

"I started doing short marriages in Iran," he says. "When I came back to Mazar-i-Sharif, I continued," he says. He's now been married 20 times. In a country where most marriages are for life and all divorces are a scandal, the idea of the contract or temporary marriage is beginning to catch on. Afghanistan's majority Sunni Muslims bans the marriages, known as fegha in the main Dari language, but the Shiites accept them and some people here, like Payenda, got the idea from Iran.

Such marriages were rare in Afghanistan before the Sunni-dominated Taliban regime was overthrown in late 2001, ending 25 years of war. But with the return of many of the nearly two million Afghans who fled to Shiite Iran during the conflict, contract marriages have been gaining popularity -- although they are still unusual.

The process is simple. To get married, a couple takes an oath in front of a mullah that makes them man and wife for a stipulated period of time -- from a few hours to a few years. Afterwards they can then choose to marry each other again or move on.

Shiite clerics defend the practice as something that benefits both the men and women.

"For a man it means he doesn't have to think about women or sex. For a woman, it means she has a husband to feed and take care of her and her children," said Sayed Barat Ali Razawi, a Shiite mullah in Mazar-i-Sharif.

He says the Prophet Mohammed himself gave permission for soldiers to have short marriages while they were away from home, and for women to marry temporarily if their real husbands had died.

Sunni Muslims say this is wrong.

"In my opinion contract marriage is just for sex," says Mullah Azizullah Mofley, a Sunni cleric, insisting the prophet later outlawed the practice.

Young people "abuse contract marriages just for sex by marrying for just one or two hours," he says.

But Nader Nadery, from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, says the contract marriage is not a way to legitimise sex but an attempt to find a practical solution to difficult circumstances like poverty.

"It is not a new trend to overcome a strict moral code," Nadery says. "It started hundreds of years ago."

In a normal marriage, an Afghan groom must pay a dowry that can be worth anything from 1,000 to several thousand dollars. He then has to pay for the wedding party, which can cost hundreds more.

"I waited for five years but no one came to our house to marry me," says Nazira, whose first husband was killed by the Taliban.

"My father was so poor that he couldn't feed our family. One day a man came to our house and told my father that he wanted to marry me for seven months. My father had heard about contract marriages so he accepted," she says.

Her husband Mohammad Asef, a 38-year-old shopkeeper, learned the custom in Iran, where he had gone to work for a year after his wife died, leaving him with two children.

"When I returned to Afghanistan my aunt helped me find this woman," he says, gesturing to Nazira, with whom he is halfway through a six-month contract.

Mohammad is her second contract husband.

"Short marriages have a lot of benefits for women whose husbands have died," she says, as her husband serves customers in the store.

"It helps them look after their children better and they don't need to go out for sex. Also, we don't have to pay for a wedding party because with a short marriage we just go to a mullah."

She says a regular marriage would have cost them 3,000 dollars.

"It is very difficult," Nazira says. "Where would we find that kind of money?"

Source: E-mail

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Proof of Wahabi Activities in Ethiopia

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

A number of interesting articles have recently appeared on the attempted interference by Wahabi fundamentalists in Ethiopian internal religious affairs.

Erudite writers such as Alem Zelalem and Chisu have expressed various interesting and, at times, diametrically opposite views and suggestions. However, no direct and concrete evidence was provided to the readers on the evolving Wahabi fundamentalist mischief in Ethiopia. Assumptions, however plausible, were made based on circumstantial evidence such as the mushrooming of mosques, and the mimicking of Wahabi garb and external symbolic appearances among certain individuals in Ethiopia.

Finally, here is the concrete, unassailable evidence of actual Wahabi/Saudi involvement in Ethiopia’s religious affairs coming from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, from personalities no less prominent than former senior officials of the National Ethiopian Majlis for Islamic Afffairs (YeEthiopia YeIslimnna Gudayoch Teklalla Mikr Bet). According to a report that was recently published in The Reporter on Tahsas 19, 1996 E.C. (12/29/03), the two senior officials, namely, the former Secretary-General Ato (Mr.) Abdul Rezzaq and the former Chairman for Haj and Umra Services have revealed, in their open letter to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Melles Zenawi himself, that Wahabists were using 4 million Saudi Riyals obtained from Saudi Arabia in order to influence elections for membership of the Majlis with a view to ensuring that their fundamentalist followers would hold key positions in the council on all levels.

This very interesting and extremely important article reveals further the highly corrupt methods including financial incentives used by the Wahabists to influence not only elections but also the government bureaucracy.

The above disturbing and highly significant developments have further been corroborated by another news item that has just been published in The Monitor (Tahsas 30, 1996) (1/9/04) stating that members of the Ethiopian Majlis for Islamic Affairs have been dismissed for easons of corruption. It is also interesting to note from the article that the loyalty of the Majlis’ previous chairman, Haj Abdrahman Hussain is alleged to have been primarily for Saudi interests even at the expense of the interests of the Ethiopian Muslim society!

All who are interested in knowing the truth should make it a point to scrutinize this issue seriously including reading the articles published in the Reporter entitled: “BeEthiopia Wahbiyyawoch be4 Million yeSaudi Riya(l) LeMejlis Mircha Sinquesaqqesu Nebber”; (a loose translation: Wahabists have been active in Ethiopia using 4 million Riyals for the Majlis elections); and the report in the Monitor entitled: “YeEthiopia Islimnna Gudayoch Mikr Baet Abalat Tebarreru”; (a loose translation: Members of the Majlis for Ethiopia’s Islamic Affairs Have Been Dismissed).

Alem Zelalem makes another significant point that whereas the Saudi Wahabists and their ilk are misusing the freedom of religion in other countries including Ethiopia, Christian Ethiopians have been facing religious persecution in Saudi Arabia. If evidence may be required regarding the harassment, imprisonment and maltreatment of Christians in Saudi Arabia (a presumably tolerant society?), one need go no further than check on numerous sources from various reliable publications and media reporting on the plight of desperate Christians who have been languishing in Saudi jails. An immediate reference may, for instance, be made to Ben’s “Open Letter to His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia” posted on EthiopiaFirst.com appealing to him to restrain his officials from perpetrating acts of injustice against Christian Ethiopians. Ben and his co-author of the appeal remind His Majesty of Ethiopia’s historic assistance to the earliest Muslims by granting them refuge in Ethiopia where they had stayed for 15 years and were duly protected against the then idol-worshipping Meccan officials.

Another well known source is the International Christian Concern which had expressed concern about the cases of Tinsae Gizachew, Gebeyehu Tefera, Bahrou Mengistu, and Befrdu Fikre, who were in Saudi in jail for the same reason. This case had in fact been reported in Ethiopian media as well.

If further evidence of Saudi intolerance might be required, all one has to do is to talk to the multitude of nationals from developing countries such as The Phillippines, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, etc. about their experiences in Saudi Arabia and the truth would shine bright. They would certainly reveal the fact they lived in daily fear of various harassments including the fascist Mutawa (religious police) who roam the streets of Saudi cities imposing their fanatical standards such as the requirement for women to cover their hair, arms and legs, and handing out direct corporal punishments similar to what has been seen, with horror, on various TV coverages of Afghanistan in the days of the Taliban. One should ask where the ILO, human rights organizations, and universities are while so much archaic and inhuman acts are being perpetrated.

If one still needs a further indication of the truth, one should view the Ethiopian movie entitled: “Hiywot Inde Waza”; (loose translation: As If Life Were Mundane) depicting the desperate plight of Ethiopian female workers in Saudi Arabia. Those who have worked in Saudi Arabia invariably confirm that the reality is worse than the horrors shown in the movie. The tragedy is that innocent Ethiopians have to suffer the indignity of Saudi society in order to overcome their economic difficulties. A Wahabist society with a belief system that permits a husband to beat his wife for misbehaving would have no mercy on a female worker.

Based on the above revelations and other reliable information, the following conclusions and recommendations are worth considering:

1. It is pleasing to note from the various opinions expressed in articles posted in Ethiomedia, etc. that there is a general consensus on the fundamental point that Ethiopia’s unity and independence is sacrosanct to all Ethiopians irrespective of their religious persuasion. The discussion should, therefore, focus on identifying and dealing with foreign elements with latent motives and dangerous aspirations against Ethiopia’s interests.

2. The responses to Alem Zelalem’s article seem to miss the main point, namely, that there is a threat posed by Wahabi fundamentalism in Ethiopia and that it should be resisted by all, whatever faith or religion they may be subscribing to. If there is any doubt about this, one should look at the case of Afghanistan which was taken by Wahabists to a disastrous consequence from which that country is still struggling to survive. It is upto all Ethiopians to wake up in time and nip the Wahabist mischief in the bud. The alternative of letting Wahabist hegemony loose on the Ethiopian scene would have consequences that would be too dire to contemplate.

3. Now that Wahabi fundamentalist machinations in Ethiopia have been rendered stark naked, it appears from the article in the Monitor that appropriate action is being taken. However, it is essential that the people and Government of Ethiopia should remember their history and always remain vigilant against attempts by other countries which use religion as a method of promoting their agenda including the well known desire to control the source of the Nile.

4. It is extremely important to highlight and reiterate the fundamental point that all Ethiopians, be they Christians, Muslims, or followers of any other faith are children of the same mother: Ethiopia. For nearly one and a half millennia, Ethiopian Christians and Muslims have mostly lived together in peace and harmony. They cherish a history of a heroic and successful resistance against external enemies including Fascist attacks and Ottoman/Arab hegemony. Therefore, malicious and divisive foreign elements such as Wahabists would not succeed in their quest for domination and the spread of their evil design.

5. Saudi Arabia should be mindful of the fact that it would be in its best long-term interests to abandon its policy of encouraging narrow minded religious fanatics such as the Wahabists who only promote extremism and conflict. It should be well advised instead to engage in positive and mutually beneficial regional collaboration among the countries around the Red Sea area including Ethiopia. Having a current population of 200 million (estimated to increase to over 400 million by 2025) and huge resources including agricultural, oil, mineral, water and labour, the Red Sea Region could contribute significantly to its own prosperity as well as to international development and security.

Source: http://www.azadarnews.com

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Bohlool's Discussion with a Faqih (Jurist)

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

It is said that a famous Faqih of Khorasan came to Baghdad. When Haroun heard of this, he invited the Faqih to his court. He was respectfully welcomed and was seated next to Haroun and treated very importantly by Haroun. During their conversation, Bohlool arrived. Haroun told him to take a seat. The Faqih took one look at Bohlool and said to Haroun, "The Khalifa's favors and likes are strange that he likes an ordinary man and seats him close to himself."

Bohlool understood that the Faqih was talking about him, so with all his might he turned to that man and said, "Don't be arrogant about your worthless knowledge, and don't judge my looks. I am ready to debate with you and prove to the Khalifa that you don't know anything."

The Faqih replied, "I have heard you are insane and I won't have anything to do with crazy people."

"I confess my insanity, but you don't acknowledge your misunderstanding."

Haroun Rashid looked at Bohlool angrily and told him to be quiet, but Bohlool didn't listen to him and said, "If that person is so confident about his knowledge, then he should debate."

Haroun said to the Faqih, "What is the difficulty? Ask Bohlool some question."

He replied, "I am ready on one condition, which is that I will ask Bohlool something. If he gives a correct answer, I will give him 1,000 dinars (gold coins). If he can't answer, he will give me 1,000 dinars.

Bohlool said, "I don't have anything of worldly wealth, not even gold dinars, but I am ready; when I answer your question, I will take the money and distribute it among paupers. If I can't answer, then I will attend to you as a servant and slave."

The man accepted these conditions and asked Bohlool, "In a house a wife is sitting with her lawful husband. In that house one person is praying Salat and another is fasting. Someone from outside enters the house. Because of his coming, the husband and wife become unlawful for each other, the prayers and fasts also become unlawful. Can you tell me who is the person that came?"

Bohlool immediately answered, "The man that entered the house was the woman's first husband, who had gone on a journey. When a very long time had passed since he left, and news was received that he had died; according to the permission of Shariah, the woman married the man sitting next to her. She hired two people; one to fulfill her dead husband's overdue, unfulfilled prayers, and another to fulfill tardy fasts. During this time the man who had gone on the journey returned, although news of his death was widespread. Therefore, the other husband becomes unlawful as do the prayers and fasts."

Haroun and those present became confident and praised Bohlool for solving the problem correctly. Then Bohlool said, "Now it's my turn to ask a question."

The Faqih said, "Ask."

Bohlool asked, "I have one jar of honey and a second full of vinegar. I want to prepare the refreshing drink Sikanjebeen. I fill one bowl with honey and another with vinegar. To make Sikanjebeen, I mix them both together. Afterwards I see that there is a mouse in it. Can you tell me if the mouse was in the honey or the vinegar jar?"

The Faqih thought for a long time, but was unsuccessful in answering.

Haroun said to Bohlool, "Now, you give the answer."

Bohlool replied, "If this person accepts his inferior knowledge I will answer the question."

Helpless, the Faqih confessed his inferiority.

Bohlool replied, "We should take the mouse out, wash it with water, and after it is cleaned of honey and vinegar, cut its stomach open. If the stomach contains vinegar, then believe that it fell in the vinegar jar. If it contains honey, accept that it fell in the honey."

The entire assembly was astonished at Bohlool's intelligence and knowledge, and praised him a lot. The Faqih bowed his head, and according to the deal, Bohlool distributed the 1,000 dinars amongst Baghdad's poor.

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Bibi Zainab (as), A Brief Look At Her Life

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Bibi Zainab (as), A Brief Look At Her Life

Name: Zainab
Title: Siddiqa-e-Sughra
Kunyat: Umm-ul-Massaib
Born at: Medina on 5th Jamadi ul Awwal
Fathers Name. Hazrat Ali-Al-Murtaza (AS)
Mother's Name: Janab e Fatema Zahra (AS)

The following ziyarat (verbal salutation) for Bibi Zaynab (AS) is traditionally recited to obtain divine blessing while visiting her shrine (in this case, in Damascus, Syria). It can also be recited at any other time in remembrance of the example of courage and submission that she presented to the world, particularly on the acknowledged days of her birth, death, and during the month of Muharram.

Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the Chief of prophets.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the Master of the sanctuary and the banner.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of him who was made to ascend to (highest) heaven and reached the station of two bows' length (to Allah) or even closer.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the Leader of the pious.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the support of the sincere friends (of Allah)
Peace be upon you. Oh daughter of the Leader of the Deen.
Peace be upon you. Oh daughter of the Commander of the faithful.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of him who struck with the sword of two blades.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of him who prayed towards the two qiblahs [Jerusalem, then Mecca].
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Muhammad, the chosen.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Ali, the content (with the decree of Allah).
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Fatima, the radiant.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Khadija, the elder.
Peace be upon you. Oh righteous one, pleasing (to Allah).
Peace be upon you, Oh learned, rightly guided one.
Peace be upon you, Oh generous, noble one.
Peace be upon you, Oh pious, pure one.
Peace be upon you, Oh you who were thoroughly tested by sufferance like Husayn, the oppressed.
Peace be upon you, Oh you who were kept far from your home.
Peace be upon you, Oh you who were held captive in cities.

It was five years after the Muslims had accompanied the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and his family in the migration (Hijrah) to Medina, when the Holy Prophet's daughter, Hadrat Fatima (AS), gave birth to a little girl.'

When her father, Imam Ali (AS), saw his daughter for the first time Imam Husayn (AS), who was then almost three years old, was with him. The boy exclaimed in delight,

"O father, Allah has given me a sister."

At those words Imam Ali (AS) began to weep, and when Husayn (AS) asked why he was crying so, his father answered that he would soon come to know.

Fatima (AS) and Ali (AS) did not name their child until a few days after her birth, for they awaited the Prophet's return from a journey so that he could propose the name.

When finally the baby girl was brought before him he held her in his lap and kissed her. The Angel Jibra'il came to him and conveyed the name that was to be hers, and then he began to weep. The Prophet (PBUH&HF) asked why Jibra'il wept and he answered,

"O Prophet of Allah. From early on in life this girl will remain entangled in tribulations and trials in this world. First she will weep over your separation (from this world); thereafter she will bemoan the loss of her mother, then her father, and then her brother Hasan. After all this she will be confronted with the trials of the land of Karbala and the tribulations of that lonely desert, as a result of which her hair will turn grey and her back will be bent."

When the members of the family heard this prophecy they all broke down in tears. Imam Husayn (AS) now understood why earlier his father had also wept. Then the Prophet (PBUH&HF) named her Zaynab (AS).

When the news of Zaynab's birth reached Salman al-Farsi, he went to Ali (AS) to congratulate him. But instead of seeing him happy and rejoicing he saw Ali (AS) shed tears, and he too was apprised of the events of Karbala and the hardships that were to befall Zaynab (AS).

One day, when Zaynab (AS) was about five years old, she had a strange and terrible dream. A violent wind arose in the city and darkened the earth and the sky. The little girl was tossed hither and thither, and suddenly she found herself stuck in the branches- of a huge tree. But-the wind was so strong that it uprooted the tree. Zaynab (AS) caught hold of a branch but that broke. In a panic she grabbed two twigs but these top gave way and she was left falling with no support. Then she woke up. When she told her grand father, the Prophet (PBUH&HF), about this dream he wept bitterly and said,

"O my daughter. that tree is me who is shortly going to leave this world. The branches are your father Ali and your mother Fatima Zahra, and the twigs are your brothers Hasan and Husayn. They will all depart this world before you do, and you will suffer their separation and loss."

Zaynab (AS) shared with-her brothers and sister the extraordinary position of having such examples to look up to, emulate and learn from, as her grand father, the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HF) her mother Fatima (AS), daughter of the Prophet, and he'r father Imam Ali (AS), cousin-brother of the Prophet. In the pure environment that enveloped her she absorbed the teachings of Islam that her grandfather imparted, and after him her father. Here too she learnt to master all household skills with great proficiency.

She had barely attained the tender age of seven when her beloved mother passed away. Her mother's death had closely followed her cherished grand father's passing away. Some time later Imam Ali (AS) married Umm ul-Banin, whose devotion and piety encouraged Zaynab (AS) in her learning.

Whilst still a young girl she was fully able to care for and be responsible for the running of her father's household. As much as she cared for the comforts and ease of her brothers and sisters, in her own wants she was frugal and unstintingly generous to the poor, homeless and parentless. After her marriage her husband is reported as having said,

"Zaynab is the best housewife."

From very early on she developed an unbreakable bond of attachment to her brother Imam Husayn (AS). At times when as a baby in her mother's arms she could not be pacified and made to stop crying, she would quieten down upon being held by her brother, and there she would sit quietly gazing at his face. Before she would pray she used to first cast a glance at the face of her beloved brother.

One day Fatima (AS) mentioned the intensity of her daughter's love for Imam Husayn (AS) to the Prophet (PBUH&HF). He breathed a deep sigh and said with moistened eyes,

"My dear child. This child of mine Zaynab would be confronted with a thousand and one calamities and face serious hardships in Karbala."

Zaynab (AS) grew into a fine statured young woman. Of her physical appearance little is known. When the tragedy of Karbala befell her in her midfifties she was forced to go out uncovered. It was then that some people remarked that she appeared as a 'shining sun' and a 'piece of the moon'.

In her character she reflected the best attributes of those who raised her. In sobriety and serenity she was likened to Umm ul-Muminin Khadija, her grandmother (AS); in chastity and modesty to her mother Fatima Zahra (AS); in eloquence to her father Ali (AS); in forbearance and patience to her brother Imam Hasan (AS); and in bravery and tranquility of the heart to Imam Husayn (AS). Her face reflected her father's awe and her grandfather's reverence.

When the time came for marriage, she was married in a simple ceremony to her first cousin, Abdullah ibn Ja'far Tayyar. Abdullah had been brought up under the direct care of the Prophet (PBUH&HF). After his death, Imam Ali (AS) became his supporter and guardian until he came of age. He grew up to be a handsome youth with pleasing manners and was known for his sincere hospitality to guests and selfless generosity to the poor and needy.

Together this young couple had five children, of whom four were sons, Ali, Aun, Muhammad, and Abbas, and one daughter, Umm Kulthum.

In Medina it was Zaynab's practise to hold regular meetings for women in which she shared her knowledge and taught them the precepts of the Deen of Islam as laid out in the Holy Quran. Her gatherings were well and regularly attended. She was able to impart the teachings with such clarity and eloquence that she became known as Fasihah (skillfully fluent) and Balighah (intensely eloquent).

In the thirty-seventh year A.H. (after Hijrah), Imam Ali (AS) moved to Kufa to finally take up his rightful position as khalifah. He was accompanied by his daughter Zaynab (AS) and her husband. Her reputation as an inspiring teacher among the women had preceded her. There too women would throng to her daily sittings where they all benefitted from her erudition, wisdom and scholarship in the exegesis of the Qur'an.'

The depth and certainty of her knowledge earned her the name given to her by her nephew, Imam Ali Zayn ul-Abidin (AS), of 'Alimah Ghayr Mu'allamah, 'she who has knowledge without being taught'.

Zaynab (AS) was also nicknamed Zahidah (abstemious) and 'Abidah (devoted) because of her abstemiousness and piety. She found little of interest in wordly adornments, always preferring the bliss and comfort of the Next World over that of this world. She used to say that for her the life of this world was as a resting place to relieve fatigue along a journey.

Humble and of high morals, her main concern was to strive to please Allah and in doing so she avoided anything which was the least bit doubtful.

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Sayeda Zainab (AS) Season

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Sayeda Zainab (AS) Season

Recently At AlMujtaba.Com

*** We send our congratulations to Imam Muhammed Al-Mahdi (AS), our holy ulama, and the Muslim world on the birth anniversary of the greatest messenger of the Hussaini Revolution, and the daughter of Ameer-ul-Mo'mineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS),

Sayeda Zainab Al-Kubra (AS)

who was born on 5 Jamadi Al-Awwal, Year 5 A.H. according to a narration and on 1 Sha'ban, Year 5 A.H. according to another narration

On this happy occasion, AlMujtaba Islamic Network has established a special season commemorating Sayeda Zainab Al-Kubra (AS).

To view the season, visit http://www.almujtaba.com

***Also, we would like to notify you that the season established to condemn the attacks on one of the holiest shrines in the world, the shrine of Imam Ali Al-Hadi (AS) and Imam Al-Hassan Al-Askari (AS) in Samarra, Iraq and the season established to condemn the cartoons against Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) published in a Danish newspaper are still open.

Please visit the Askariyyain Shrine Condemnation page on http://www.almujtaba.com/statements/samarra

Please visit the Cartoon Condemnation page on http://almujtaba.com/denmark

Please don't forget us from your prayers

AlMujtaba Islamic Network Team

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Note: http://www.almujtaba.com is BACK UP NOW, VISIT IT NOW….MANY UPDATES ARE ONLINE….

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End Terrorism in the name of Muslims by Ending Wahabism Influence in Saudi Arabia

Friday, June 02, 2006

By Hari Sud

A. Introduction

Osama bin Laden, Talibaan Chief Mullah Mohammed Omar, Chief Suspect in Daniel Pearl’s murder, Omar Saeed are all followers of Mohammed Abdul Al Wahab, the eighteenth century fundamentalist Mullah (cleric) in present day Saudi Arabia. His view was, that since the time of Prophet Mohammed the followers of the faith have strayed away from his teachings, hence they have to be refocused back to what Prophet Mohammed said in Qoran. Influence of Wahab’s word, spread in Saudi Arabia during his lifetime. But the Ottomans, rulers of Arabia at that time, who originally are Central Asian Turks and Sunnis, did not encourage this firebrand Mullah. They set out to completely smash his small band of followers, locally called Wahabis. Ottomans did not succeed very well; hence Wahabi’s influence remained strong with Mullahs who control the Muslim holy sites and Mosques in and around Arabia. Wahabis have spent last 300 years waiting for an opportune time to gain political influence.

The opportunity came during WW I, when Britain looking for local support within Arabia, Transjordan and Iraq for war against Ottomans found two competing princes for power in Arabia. They had to choose one for their backing. Prince Ibn Rashid lorded over one era of the Arabia (close to present day Iraq) and Prince/Emir Faisal maintained influence in Western end of the desert. They spent their life as Bedouin nomads; hence Ottoman had difficulty catching them. Briton dispatched Gertrude Bell (later called Desert Queen) to prince Rashid’s camp. She was the first ever lady intelligence officer, Briton had sent on an overseas mission, partly because she had lived in Middle East and partly she was daring in the mold of the proverbial Indiana Jones. She undertook a four-week journey to reach Prince Rashid’s camp through an uncharted desert with a group of Bedouin guards. There she found Rashid’s camp divided and decimated by family feuds over women and spoils of raids. She reported her findings back to her British masters. Dissatisfied with Rashid, British sent a second mission lead by T.E. Lawrence (popularly called Lawrence of Arabia) to feel Prince Faisal. Lawrence found Prince Faisal a valuable ally, worthy of British military and technical aid. This alliance resulted in a series of victories for Lawrence & Faisal and a complete rout of Ottoman in Middle East. Thereafter states of Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia were born (after a long difficult Paris conference in 1919).

Prince Faisal, to broaden his support, aligned himself with the Wahabi Mullahs of Arabia peninsula. With this alliance, Wahabis gained influence within the ruling circles of Prince later King Faisal and became the interpreter of the Islamic ideology in Arabia. King Faisal’s successors not only maintained this alliance but also with the arrival of Petro-dollars, enhanced it by giving them monies to build, maintain Muslim holy sites. This increased Mullah’s influence ten fold. Extra Petro-dollars at Mullah’s disposal gave them ideas of exerting influence outside Arabia in same manner as Pope exerts influence over the Roman Catholics world over from Rome.

B. Wahabis in Arabia and their Influence with the Ruling Princes

All Saudi princes including the king Fahad are Wahabis. They grew up in schools and education system run by Wahabis. Western education to some of them has not changed their outlook. Saudi King(s) have created a special government department which looks after all the religious affairs including Hajj pilgrimage, the up keep of Grand Mosques in Mecca and Madina, free printing and distribution of Qoran in native languages, distribution of cash within Arabia and outside Arabia. The latter is key to galvanizing Muslims in their home countries. With cash at their disposal the local Mullahs are free to open Madarssa (religious school), repair Mosque, build new Mosque and help terrorists find shelter, food money and training. Madarssa curriculum is based on Wahabi teachings.

From 1973 – 2001, the price of oil scaled new height; hence more money became available to be distributed through out the Muslim world. All teachers of the Madarassas, Mullahs of the Mosques under pretext of Hajj pilgrimage underwent Wahabi training in religious schools in Saudi Arabia. Care was taken not to indulge in political propaganda to alarm the home country government. The latter was left for the mullah’s and teacher to undertake after their return.

With the soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Saudis involved themselves in a, first war of the twentieth century against the infidel. To this, they were encouraged by the USA. Open call was given to Muslim all over the world to come to Afghan’s rescue. They did come and came in large numbers. The military hardware was paid for by USA, it was facilitated thru Pakistan by the Pakistani Government. Saudi’s paid for their religious indoctrination and recruitment thru the Mosques and Madarssas built by them all over the world.

C. What is Wahabism all about

Al Wahab in his teachings wished to arrest the decadence in the Muslim society and infuse vitality in it. In its original form it was a reformist movement. It rejected Sufism & saint worship and advocated return to the original teachings of Islam incorporated in the Qoran. He wished to liberate Islam from previous 1400 years of interpretations and distortions of the medieval times. He wished Muslim to go back to the fundamentals.

In a way he was turning the clock back on 1400 years of evolution.

To get a better understanding of Al Wahab message, please go to the following references:

http://www.azadarnews.com/ARTICLES/?news=30

In this simple message, Al Wahab set in motion events, which lead to present day religious and political alignment in Arabia and influence outside its borders. It is the interpretation, which matters. Theologians differ in its true meaning and the underline meaning. But there is only one conclusion – It is a fundamentalist challenge.

D. Where is the major concentration of the Wahabis in the World?

Mostly in the Arabian Peninsula

In Pakistan/Afghanistan

In Indonesia

Smaller proportions exist in Sudan, Gulf countries

Saudi Arabia

It is the home of all firebrands Wahabis. Since they are allied to the ruling princes, hence their influence with in the Saudi society is the greatest.

To repeat, all this has been financed using Petro-dollars under the very nose of USA.

Pakistan

General Zia Ul Haq, the eighties dictator of Pakistan was the first convert to Wahabism in Pakistan. He imported the Wahabi philosophy to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. His other motive was to drive India out of Kashmir under the pretext of freedom struggle.

Zia aligned himself with the local Mullahs and invited Saudi aid to build Saudi style madarssas and other religious infrastructure. The famous Binori Madarssa in Karachi, Pakistan has been built with Saudi aid. It can boast of havingOsama bin Laden,Daniel Pearl’s murders as its graduates.

The greatest damage General Zia did was to the Pakistani army. He instituted Madarssa graduate recruitment into the army. Army officers were promoted on the basis their religious beliefs. In this way he hoped that Pakistani Army would become “defenders of the faith”. In order to ensure that his successors are Wahabi, General Zia ensured that bright young army officers are posted in Saudi Arabia in a Pakistani sponsored army mission in eighties. Current crop of senior army officers in Pakistan are all Wahabis.

For Pakistani Army, like Saudi Arabian princes, 9/11 gutted a carefully constructed strategy. Things, which US did not wish to get involved, previously became issues of the day.

Indonesia

Indonesia is a Muslim country with a gentle form of Islam practiced for the last 400 to 500 years. Its post Dutch independence leaders like Sukarno, Suharto etc. were secular in their dealings. Until 1966, it had the largest Communist Party outside Soviet Union and China. Then why has militant Islam emerged in Indonesia? The answer lies in the economic failure of the politicians giving Mullah’s an opportunity aided by monies from Saudi Arabia. This was further aided by Afghan war which has let Osama bin Laden to establish contact with the local Mullahs.

Wahabi movements are strong in Sudan, Egypt and all of Gulf countries except Iran. The latter follows the Shia version of Islam, hence runs a foul with Al Wahab’s teachings.

E. Why is Wahabism on a Collision course with the West and Others?

Wahabis stayed in the background after WWII. They were thankful to the West for providing them help in exploring and exploiting its oil wealth. The problem first started with the Israel – Palestinian conflict. It galvanized the Mullahs and they began to preach anti Semitism, anti west and anti infidel message.

Second and more important cause of galvanizing Wahabis was the importing of the decadent western values (according to Wahabis) from the West. Oil revenues enriched the Saudi Arabian society. They traveled into the West and acquired modern amenities. Moral values suffered at the expense of Islamic teachings. Arrival of large number of workers from the west to exploit the oil wealth and to build and maintain their new cities further exasperated an already critical Mullah community.

Third, the Afghan War and preaching of Jehad against the Soviets further offered opportunity to the Wahabi Mullahs to take on a political stance more boldly. Princes in power supported it; hence the state and the religion combined their resources to meet the challenge of Jehad.

Fourth, the Gulf War I, resulted in a significant presence of American and British on the Arabian Soil. The former felt that it is a necessity to keep Saddam Hussain under control. The Saudi Arabian Mullahs felt it otherwise. They considered their presence, as an occupation of their sacred soil. USA, which had portrayed itself as liberator of Kuwait became occupiers of their holy land. They plotted to get rid of Americans from their soil and gain complete independence from the West’s economic hold on them.

Lastly, oil wealth provided them an opportunity to run an independent foreign policy with or without ruling princes’ approval by directly supporting Madrssas all over the Muslim world. With this they could preach Jihad on a minor pretext e.g. Jihad for the Palestinian cause, Jihad to get Soviets now Russians out of Chechnya, Jihad to get Kashmir liberated, Jihad to expel Americans out of Arabia etc.

All the above causes have now galvanized Wahabis into action. A major strike at WTC was there first such major act. Many more are threatened. God forbids, if they do succeed in acquiring crude nuclear technology, threat to the rest of the world will be the greatest.

F. What do we do to eliminate this Ever Present Threat?

Former British allies, turned enemies have grabbed the world headlines especially after 9/11. Prior to that, their support for East Africa bombing, USS Cole bombing brought them into the limelight. Osama bin Laden is one of the Wahabi who undertook all the aforementioned acts. In India, Chechnya, Philippines Muslim terror threat is ever present for worthless causes. West is now paying attention to Arabia because majority of the 9/11 terrorists hailed from there.

There is a little US can do directly to the policy making in Saudi Arabia. Indirectly they may be able to influence a few key princes in power to:

Limit the amount of monies, which Wahabis get under the pretext of upkeep of holy places.

Modify the school system in Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere to prevent the Wahabis from affecting the young minds.

Close down some of the premier Madarssas in above countries and replace them with better schools of study and learning.

Mullahs to be relieved of their duties if they preach Jehad in Mosques and other places.

Hajj is not to be used to recruit and indoctrinate people for worthless Jehadi causes.

No monies outside Saudi Arabia’s border are to be handed over to the local religious charities. No matter what the cause.

Israel- Palestine, Chechnya-Russia, India-Pakistan, Bosnia -Serbs are to be treated as bilateral local issues. Calls for recruits to join in the fight are to be thoroughly discouraged.

Guerilla Fighters in Philippines, Talibaan in Afghanistan etc. are not to be given monetary or technical aid under any pretext.

The West and US develop a policy of slowly disengaging from Arabian oil supply.

No political support locally or in any world forums to be given to movements which have smiling face on one side and terrorist face on the other.

In the end, I must say, Wahabis are here to stay. Only Arabian government can control them. West can only help to reshape their education and prevent monies transferred to other countries to galvanize masses there. To end Muslim terrorism, the West has to influence Saudi policy. Only the latter can control the Wahabi influence in the Kingdom and outside it.

(The author is a retired Vice President from C-I-L Inc. and has lived in Canada for the past 34 years. A graduate of Punjab University and University of Missouri; Rolla, USA, the author is a former investment strategies analyst and international relations manager. The Views expressed are his own. email- harisud@hotmail.com)

Source: http://www.azadarnews.com

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