Archive
History of Halloween……..a pagan festival
Halloween is a holiday with ancient roots that had a much greater meaning than the boisterous, costume-filled holiday that we know today. Around 2,000 years ago, the Celts, who lived in what is now the United Kingdom, Ireland, and northern France, had a festival commemorating the end of the year. Their New Year was November 1, and this festival was called Samhain, pronounced sow-en. The end of their year signaled the end of summer, the end of the harvest season, and the beginning of a long, hard winter that often caused many deaths of animals and people. Weaker livestock were often killed and eaten during this holiday, since most likely, they would not survive the winter anyway. Because of this, and the cruel winter to come, this time of year signified death to the Pagan Celtics. They believed the night before the New Year, that the wall between the living and the dead was open, allowing spirits of the dead, both good and bad, to mingle among the living. Some of these spirits were thought to possess living people, cause trouble, ruin crops, or to search for passage to the afterlife.
Samhain was considered a magical holiday, and there are many stories about what the Celtics practiced and believed during this festival. Some say the spirits that were unleashed were those that had died in that year, and offerings of food and drink were left to aid the spirits, or to ward them away. Other versions say the Celts dressed up in outlandish costumes and roamed the neighborhoods making noise to scare the spirits away. Many thought they could predict the future and communicate with spirits as well during this time. Some think the heavily structured life of the Pagan Celtics was abandoned during Samhain, and people did unusual things, such as moving horses to different fields, moving gates and fences, women dressing as men, and vice versa, and other trickeries now associated with Halloween. Another belief is that the Celtics honoured, celebrated, and feasted the dead during Samhain. A sacred, central bonfire was always lit to honor the Pagan gods, and some accounts say that individual home fires were extinguished during Samhain, either to make their homes unattractive to roving spirits, or for their home fires to be lit following the festival from the sacred bonfire. Fortunes were told, and marked stones thrown into the fire. If a person’s stone was not found after the bonfire went out, it was believed that person would die during the next year. Some Celts wore costumes of animal skulls and skins during Samhain. Faeries were believed to roam the land during Samhain, dressed as beggars asking for food door to door. Those that gave food to the faeries were rewarded, while those that did not were punished by the faeries. This is reported to be the first origin of the modern “trick or treat” practice.
In the First century A.D., the Roman Empire had taken over most of the Celtic lands. The Romans had two festivals also celebrated at the same time of year as Samhain. One was Feralia, also in late October, was the Roman day honouring the dead. The second festival was for Pomona, the Roman goddess of trees and fruit. Pomona’s symbol was the apple. These two festivals were combined with Samhain in the Celtic lands during the four hundred years the Roman Empire ruled over the Celts. The goddess Pomona’s apple might be the root of the Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples.
Over the next several hundred years, Christianity had spread to include the lands inhabited by the Celtics and the Romans, but the festival of Samhain was still celebrated by the people. The Christian church reportedly did not like a festival with Pagan roots practiced by Christians, so a replacement was needed. Pope Boniface IV designated May 13 as All Saints Day to honour dead church saints and martyrs. Samhain continued to be celebrated, so in 835 A.D., Pope Gregory IV moved the holiday to November 1, probably to take attention away from the Pagan Samhain festival and replace it. Since All Saints Day was sanctioned by the church, and related to the dead, the church was happy, but many Pagan traditions of Samhain continued to be practiced, including bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costume. All Saints Day was also known as All Hallows, or All Hallowmas (Hallowmas is Old English for All Saints Day). Since Samhain was celebrated the night before November 1, the celebration was known as All Hallows Eve, and later called Halloween. In the year 1000 A.D., the church designated November 2 as All Souls Day, to honour the dead who were not saints, and they eventually became combined and celebrated as Hallowmas.
On All Souls Day in England, the poor would “go a-souling”. They would go door to door asking for food, and in return, would pray for the souls of their dead relatives. It was widely believed at the time that the souls of the dead would await passage into heaven until enough people prayed for their souls. The Christian church encouraged this practice to replace the old Pagan tradition of leaving cakes and wine out for the spirits of the dead. The poor would be given “soul cakes”, which were pastries made for those who promised to pray for their dead relatives. In some cultures, soul cakes would be given in exchange for a performance or song as well. Children eventually adopted this practice, and were given food, ale, or money.
Jack o’lanterns are a Halloween staple today, with at least two historical roots. The early Pagan Celtic peoples used hollowed out turnips, gourds, or rutabagas to hold an ember from the sacred bonfire, so they could light their home fires from the sacred bonfire. Another tale from folklore gives jack o’lanterns their name. In Irish myth, a man known as “Stingy Jack”, who was a swindler and a drunk, who asked the devil to have drink with him. Jack convinced the devil to change himself into a coin so he could pay for the drink, but Jack put the coin in his pocket next to a silver cross, which trapped the devil, preventing him from changing himself back. Jack agreed to free the devil on the condition that the devil would not bother Jack for a year. Next year, Jack tricks the devil into climbing a tree to fetch a piece of fruit. While the devil is up the tree, Jack carves a cross into the trunk, preventing him from climbing back down the tree. In order to get out of the tree, the devil promised Jack not to seek his soul any more. When Jack died, he was not allowed into heaven, because of his drunken and swindling ways, but he was not allowed into hell either, because the devil kept his word. Taking pity on Jack, the devil gave him an ember to light his way in the dark, putting it into a hollowed out turnip for Jack to carry on his lonely, everlasting roamings around the Earth. People from Ireland and Scotland would make “Jack o’lanterns” during this season to scare away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits wandering about.
Over the next several centuries, superstitions about witches and black cats were added to to the folklore and legends of Halloween. Cats were thought of as evil, especially black cats, and were killed by the thousands in Medieval times, possibly contributing to the Black Plague, due to the shortage of the rat’s natural enemy, the cat. During this time, the church created the belief that evil witches existed.
In the 1500’s, Martin Luther created the Protestant Church, which had no saints, so no All Hallows Day was allowed. On November 5, 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed for attempting to blow up England’s Parliament. Fawkes, along with an extremist Catholic organization he belonged to, wanted to remove the Protestant King James from his throne. The English wasted no time to have a celebration to replace All Hallows Day, so Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated from then on. Many traditions of All Hallows Day were practiced, such as bonfires, and children asking for money, but the reasons why were different. Bonfires were known as “bone fires” originally, because they were lit in order to burn an effigy of the Catholic pope, burning his “bones”. Two hundred years later, the effigy of the pope was replaced by an effigy of Guy Fawkes, prompting children to go door to door, asking for a “penny for Guy”, so they could make their effigy to burn. In the New World, the colonists celebrated Guy Fawkes Day for a while, but as the colonies became the United States of America, Guy Fawkes Day fell by the wayside.
In the United States
Halloween was not a popular observance in early United States history, as most of the early settlers were Protestant. At the time, Halloween was considered mostly a Catholic, Episcopalian, and Pagan holiday, and therefore largely ignored. In the southern colonies, such as Virginia and Maryland, there were some Halloween customs observed. The first common events were called “play parties”. These parties got neighborhoods together to celebrate the harvest, dance, sing, tell stories of the dead, tell fortunes, and have pageants for children in costume. By the mid 1800’s, immigration increased, and many Irish immigrants, mostly Catholics fleeing the potato famine, brought many Halloween traditions with them. Jack o’lanterns found a new face, the pumpkin, which was very plentiful in the New World. Catholics and Episcopalians sought to preserve their traditions, so started an effort in the late 1800’s to popularize and make their holidays known to the general population. By campaigning to put these holidays (Halloween and All Saints Day) on public calendars, magazines and newspapers started to publicize these holidays, and soon became popular in the United States more as a community and family holiday, rather than one of great religious and supernatural importance.
By the mid twentieth century, Halloween turned into a secular holiday, community centered with parties city-wide, parades, and great costumes. Halloween is mostly aimed to children, but young and old enjoy this holiday, with events and parties for both children and adults. Starting in 1950, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) started a campaign for children to collect money at Halloween for underprivileged children around the world. Halloween is the United States’ second largest commercial holiday, spending approximately $6.9 billion a year.
In Other Countries
Mexico, Latin America, and Spain observe All Saints Day and All Souls Day with a three day celebration starting on the evening of October 31, through November 2. In most areas of Mexico, November 1 is set aside to honour dead children, and November 2 to honour those who died as adults. Starting in mid October, shops are filled with decorations, flowers, toys made like skeletons and other macabre shapes, sweets, pastries, and candies shaped like bones, coffins, and dead bodies in preparation for the festivities. Called “Day of the Dead”, the spirits of relatives are supposed to visit their families homes. An area of the home is cleared away, and an altar is erected decorated with flowers, photographs of the deceased, candies and pastries shaped like skulls inscribed with their name, candles, and a selection of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks. Even after dinner cigarettes and liquors are provided for the dear departed’s after dinner enjoyment. Incense is burning to help the spirits find their way home.
In preparation for November 2, the graves of the deceased are cleaned, painted, and decorated for the occasion. Families gather November 2 for a festive family reunion. Food, drinks, and tequila are brought along, along with sometimes even a mariachi band. In some areas, fireworks announce an open-air mass, the most solemn time of the Day of the Dead. Many customs vary depending on the particular city, town, or culture, but all over Mexico, Latin American, and Spain, the Day of the Dead is considered a celebration of their departed family.
Eastern Europe’s celebration of All Saints Day are usually spent by praying most of the day, praying to the Saints and thanking God. Often, they visit their departed family members at the cemeteries. Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Poland observe All Saints Day as a public holiday, but unlike Mexico and the United States, this day is a somber day of remembrance and reflection. France, Italy, and Germany are celebrating Halloween, American style, as does Canada. Ireland celebrates American style, but a common town bonfire, a remnant of Celtic days is still lit. England still celebrates Guy Fawkes Day on November 5 with bonfires, burning effigies of Guy Fawkes, and fireworks.
Halloween Traditions
Many traditions are observed for Halloween.
Costumes: Dressing in costumes has its roots in the Pagan Celtic roots of Samhain. One theory is they dressed as ghouls to fool evil spirits let loose on October 31, so they would not be possessed by these spirits. Another theory is they dressed in costume just for fun, and to make mischief. Yet another theory is that faeries would dress as beggars asking for food, which would also be the origins of the “trick or treat” practice. After the Catholic Church replaced Samhain with All Saints Day, people would dress as dead Saints and devils for their festivities.
Trick or Treat: This practice might have had it’s start in the legend from Celtic days that faeries would dress as beggars going from door to door asking for food, and those that did not show hospitality would be harshly dealt with by these magical faeries. On All Souls Day, the poor would beg for “Soul Cakes” (sweet pastries) in exchange for prayers for their departed loved ones, expediting their passage to heaven. Sometimes costumed groups would sing and perform in exchange for food, ale, or money. In the United Kingdom, Guy Fawkes effigies to be burned were prepared by children, going door to door, asking for a penny for Guy, on Guy Fawkes Day.
Bonfires: These have two origins. The first is the sacred ritual of extinguishing home fires, and one sacred bonfire is lit in each town for the end of the New Year. Some say the reason home fires were extinguished is to scare away evil spirits from homes, while others say that home fires were supposed to be lit from embers from the sacred bonfire to start the New Year. The second origin was from Guy Fawkes Day in the United Kingdom to burn effigies of the Catholic pope, and later of Guy Fawkes himself.
Apples: A seasonal fruit, and also the symbol of the Roman goddess Pomona, commonly thought at the time to possess qualities of knowledge, resurrection, and immortality. Bobbing for apples, peeling a long apple peel, and other manipulations of the fruit were thought to foretell the future, on this night of Samhain.
Jack o’lanterns: From the Irish folk tale of Jack, who tricked the devil, but was not allowed in heaven or in hell. The devil, taking pity of Jack, gave him an ember to light his way on his eternal walks on Earth, carried in a hollowed out turnip. Because of their size and availability, pumpkins were substituted for turnips in the United States. The Celtics did use a hollowed out rutabaga to carry an ember from the sacred Samhain bonfire home to light their home fires, but the significance and relation to the Irish tale of Jack is unknown.
Ghost Stories: Ghost stories probably have their roots in the original Celtic belief that the spirits of the dead (both good and bad) wandered the Earth on October 31 (Samhain). Later, when the church replaced Samhain with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, the dead were remembered, and spoken about. In the United States today, they are used to amuse and scare children (and some adults) to get them in the “spirit” of Halloween.
Points on How to Improve Your Life……The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
POINTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE
Personality:
1. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don’t have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest
your energy in the positive present moment
3. Don’t over do; keep your limits
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does
5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip
6. Dream more while you are awake
7 . Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past.
That will ruin your present happiness.
8 . Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
9 . Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present
10 . No one is in charge of your happiness except you
11 . Smile and laugh more
12 . You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Community:
1 3 . Call your family often
14 . Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
15 . Try to make at least three people smile each day
16 . What other people think of you is none of your business
17 . Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will.
Stay in touch.
Life:
18 . Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
19 . GOD heals everything
20 . Do the right things
21 . However good or bad a situation is, it will change
22 . No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
23 . The best is yet to come
24 . Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful
25 . When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
26. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy.
While you practice all of the above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with and people you live with.
Not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you
Energy Drink or Energy Drain?
| “Energy drinks may give you wings…but you crash and burn instead of flying” BY Sabika Abbas |
| There have been various different trends for food and drink that we have seen over the years. Nowadays energy drinks are being considered power- inducing beverages, which are becoming increasingly popular among teens as well as adults. According to Gulf News, the UAE alone consumes 12 million liters of energy drinks every year. It would seem that consumers are totally unaware of the hazards associated with their consumption.
Energy Drinks: The Silent Health Hazard What is Caffeine? Reported effects of caffeine can be broken down into moderate and serious: Furthermore, there is no specific regulation that requires the manufacturer to clearly label the amount of caffeine used in making a particular energy drink. This can cause severe harm to your body without you even knowing it. Herbal stimulants Sugar a large part of the “buzz”. Sugar gets absorbed into your bloodstream much faster than any other energy source. It over-stimulates the brain and gives you a quick jolt. However, as anyone who has been on a sugar high knows, a crash always follows sooner or later. Once the peak energy level subsides, the individual then gets lethargic and dizzy. It also weakens the immune system of our body. Excess sugar in the diet has also been linked with cavities, obesity and aging. Remember: “You can increase your power without dangerous drinks. All you need to do is eat well–balanced meals, drink plenty of fluids, and exercise regularly.” |
| References: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20071106/energy-drinks-jolt-heart http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41577256/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/t/energy-drinks-can-be-dangerous-teens-report-says/ http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20070806/energy-drinks-pack-a-caffeine-punch http://gulfnews.com/business/features/uae-consumes-12m-litres-of-energy-drinks-every-year-1.597607 Contriubuted by Sabika Abbas – a housewife with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Human Physiology from Karachi University. She is passionate about reading and in her free time she loves to surf the internet. |
The Humble Lungi
Profound is the word, for such is the glory of the tunic..
They forgot to add the fact that this is the only one cloth which outlives and outsmarts jeans (a capitalistic symbol!) —
1) washing unheard of ———-saves water and reduces global warming
2) versatility—— less clothes required—— saves money.
3) societal integration——- beggars and millionaires look alike !
and it goes on and on and on—————-
Just as the national bird of Kerala is the Mosquito, her national dress is ‘Lungi’. Pronounced as ‘Lu’ as in ‘loo’ and ‘ngi ‘ as in ‘mongey’, a lungi can be identified by its floral or window-curtain pattern. ‘Mundu’ is the white variant of the lungi and is worn on special occasions like hartal or bandh days,weddings and Onam.
The lungi is simple and ‘down to earth’ like theMallu himself. It represents the beginning and the end of evolution in its category. Wearing something on the top half of your body is optional when you are wearing a lungi. The lungi is a strategic dress. It’s like a one-size-fits-all-bottoms for Keralites—–oops Mallus.
The technique of wearing a lungi/mundu is passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth, just like the British Constitution. If you think it is an easy task wearing it, just try it once! It requires techniques like breath control and yoga which are a notch higher than than the sudarshan kriya of you-know-who. A lungi/mundu when perfectly worn won’t come off even in a quake of 8 on the richter scale- this has been verified in experiments conducted at Kerala University. A lungi is not attached to the waist using duct tape, staple, rope or velcro. It’s a bit of Mallu magic whose formula is a closely guarded secret like the Coca Cola chemicals.
A lungi can be worn ‘Full Mast’ or ‘Half Mast’ like a national flag. A ‘Full Mast’ lungi is when you are showing respect to an elderly or the dead. Wearing it at full mast has lots of disadvantages. A major disadvantage is when a dog runs after you. When you are wearing a lungi/mundu at full mast, the advantage is mainly for the female onlookers who are spared the ordeal of swooning at the sight of hairy legs.
Wearing a lungi ‘Half Mast’ is when you wear it exposing yourself like those C grade movie starlets.A Mallu can play cricket, football or simbly run when the lungi is worn at half mast. A Mallu can even climb a coconut tree wearing lungi in half mast.”It’s not good manners, especially for ladies from decent families,to look up at a Mallu climbing a coconut tree”- said Confucius (or is it Abdul Kalam, I wonder!!)
Most Mallus do the traditional dance kudiyattam. Kudi means drinking alcohol and yattam, spelt as “aattam”, means random movement of the body. Note that ‘y’ is silent. When you are drinking, you drink, there is no ‘y’. Any alcohol related “festival” can be enjoyed to the maximum when you are topless with lungi and a towel tied around the head. “Half mast lungi makes it easy to dance and shake legs” says Candelaria Amaranto, a Salsa teacher from Spain after watching ‘kudiyaattam’ .
The ‘Lungi Wearing Mallu Union’ [LUWMU, pronounced LOVE MU], an NGO which works towards the ‘upliftment’ of the lungi, strongly disapproves of the GenNext tendency of wearing Bermuda under the lungi. Wearing a Bermuda under the lungi is a conspiracy hatched by the CIA. It’s a disgrace to see a person wearing Bermuda with corporate logos under his lungi. What they don’t know is how much these corporates are limiting their freedom of movement and expression.
A Mallu wears lungi round the year,any weather,any season. A Mallu celebrates winter by wearing a colourful lungi with a floral pattern. The lungi provides good ventilation and brings down the heat between legs. From here we may rightfully and logically conclude that a Mallu is scared of global warming more than anyone else in the world.
A lungi/mundu is very versatile. It can be worn during the day, and can double up as a blanket at night. It can also be used as a swing, swimwear, sleeping bag, parachute, face mask (especially while entering/exiting toddy shops),shopping basket and water filter while fishing in ponds and rivers.
We are not done yet. It also has recreational uses like in ‘Lungi/mundu pulling’,a pastime in households having more than one male member. Lungi pulling competitions are held outside toddy and arrack shops all over Kerala during Onam and Vishu. When these lungis are decommissioned from service, they become table cloths. Thus the humble lungi is a cradle to grave appendage.
What is Hajj ?
1) One of the most important pillars of Islam.
2) A principal means of obtaining proximity to the Almighty.
3) One of the most difficult physical forms of worship.
4) So, vital that one who does not perform Hajj will be barred from Heaven.
The main aim of human creation is to recognize God and attain a stage of acquaintance and love for Him and this depends on the purity and loftiness of the human soul. i.e. The purer the soul becomes the more love will it have for the Almighty.
This stage of love can be attained by abstaining from desires and refraining from worldly pleasures and distractions, and by exerting oneself in the rigorous self-training activities for the sake of God, and, remembering him continuously. For this purpose the Almighty has legislated certain forms of worship (Ibadat).
a) Those involving the expenditure of wealth for His sake e.g. Zakaat and Khums which serve to sever the deep attachments to worldly possessions.
b) Those involving abstinence from desires and pleasures e.g. fasting.
c) Those related to His remembrance and diverting total attention towards Him e.g. Salat/Namaaz.
But Hajj involves all these and more, such as,
i) Leaving one’s hometown.
ii) Physical exertion.
iii) Expenditure of wealth.
iv) Renewal of the covenant with God.
v) Circumambulation (Tawaaf).
vi) Supplication (Dua).
vii) Prayers (Salat/Namaaz).
And others like throwing pebbles, running between Safaa and Marwah etc.
Those who wonder at these actions do not realize that when we do not know the hidden meanings and reason of certain commands, we manifest more complete obedience and total submission to the Absolute Master in carrying out those orders.
Those actions whose secrets we have been successful in understanding, our soul, besides obeying the Master’s commands, is also inclined and pleased in performing them. Thus, it is only for Hajj that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) is reported to have said,
“O Almighty, I have responded to your call for Hajj with complete submission and humility.”
Furthermore, the Hajj constitutes the congregation of people from all parts of the world, in the place where revelation was repeatedly sent down to the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h), where the beloved (Khaleel) of God resided, where angles used to descend every now and then. In fact, it is the holy place, which has been the abode of the majority of the Prophets.
Here the leader of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) was born, his holy feet walked; and the Almighty has chosen it for His house so that people should pray towards it. He has sanctified its surroundings and has kept Arafah in the beginning of the Holy Land. He has prohibited hurting animals and uprooting vegetation there in as a mark of respect to the holiness of the land.
He has designed it to be like the throne of Kings so that visitors from far off lands, disheveled and dusty, should remain there in humility to the Absolute Monarch realizing the fact that He is above all needs of time and space. While such a congregation leads to new acquaintances, meeting with virtuous personalities and stimulates quicker response to supplications (Dua), it invariably reminds of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) and his efforts at spreading the Word of God. In this way one attains purity of the soul.
The intention for Hajj
1. The intention (Niyyah) must be pure and sincere for the sake of God only, but not for any other worldly motives, such as,
1) Showing off (Riyaa).
2) Avoiding rebukes for not performing Hajj.
3) Fear of poverty for it is known that one who does not perform Hajj is afflicted with poverty.
4) Business prospects, etc.
All these other motives destroy the sincerity (Ikhlaas) of the deeds and deprive one of the promised rewards. It is foolish to undertake all this rigor and expense only to end up in Damnation because the motive was adulterated.
2. One should sincerely repent of past sins and clear all the dues, (Huquq-un-Naas), and cleanse himself of all distractions so that the mind is easily turned towards God. One should write his will and prepare for the journey to the Hereafter as he leaves his house, relatives, friends, and possessions behind.
3. One should remember the majesty of the House and the Absolute Owner, and that one has chosen to leave family, friends, and possessions for the lofty and noble purpose of visiting a House, which the Almighty has designed as a sanctuary for all people. Hence this journey differs from all other worldly journeys. The pilgrim is one of those who have responded willingly to the invitation made by the Almighty’s messenger.
4. The pilgrim should free himself of all matters, which tend to worry him so his total attention is towards the Almighty.
5. Any financial loss or physical affliction in this journey should be greeted happily, for, it is a sign of acceptance of Hajj.
6. The Pilgrim should ensure his earnings are acquired through lawful means and he should be liberal in expenditure, not extravagant (Israaf) though. But spending for the needy and deserving is not extravagance as it has been reported that there is no goodness in extravagance and no extravagance in goodness!
7. He should behave courteously towards his fellow travelers, smiling and talking gently with them, avoiding harsh words, abuses or vain talk. He should be humble to the other guests of the Almighty. Magnanimity does not only mean not to hurt others but also to endure when others hurt.
8. He should be disheveled and dusty, avoid cosmetics or any cause of pride and beauty, and if possible, travel on foot, especially from Makkah to Mina, Masher and Arafah, not as a means to avoid extra expenses (in which case, transport is better!) rather for exerting oneself for the sake of God, except if it affects other worship (Ibadat) or supplication (Dua).
Wahhabism Responsible For Terrorism; Mr Jethmelani
Saudi Arabian Ambassador to India Faisal-al-Trad today staged a walkout at an international conference of jurists here after former Union Minister Ram Jethmalani accused the Wahabi sect of being responsible for terrorism.
Trad left the conference hall after Jethmalani made some remarks at the inaugural function when he said “unfortunately in the 17th century, they produced an evil man in Saudi Arabia by the name of Wahab, who was concerned about the decline of Muslim world but he hit upon a wrong remedy”.
The Ambassador returned to the conference after Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily made it clear that Jethmalani’s remarks were personal and not not that of the government.
The Saudi ruling family belongs to the Wahabi sect.
Jethmalani alleged that “Wahabi terrorism” indoctrinated “rubbish” in the minds of young people to carry out terrorist attacks. He lamented that India had friendly relations with a country that supported Wahabi terrorism.
Moily, in his address, said that terrorism cannot be attributed to any particular religion.
Jethmalani said there have been Hindu terrorists and Buddhist terrorists and it was unfortunate that the terrorists that the world was talking about was mainly Muslim.
“But let me make it clear that I am a student of all religions including Islam. I have the highest respect for the prophet of Islam, he was a man of peace.
Salãtu ’l-Jum‘a/A few reminders (Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi)
Salãtu ’l-Jum‘a/A few reminders (Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi)
1. Salãtu ’l-Jum‘a: Whether or not it is wãjib?
During the ghaybat (occultation) of the Present Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.), the Friday Prayer is wãjib takhiyri.
What does “wãjib takhiyri” mean? It means that you have a choice between two obligatory deeds: you must do one of them, you cannot miss both.In our case, it means that you have the duty of doing either the Noon Prayer or the Friday Prayer. However, it is preferable to do the Friday Prayer. And when you do the Friday Prayer, then you will do it with the niyyat of wãjib; and after that you do not have to recite the Zuhr Prayer.
2. On Whom is Salãtu ’l-Jumu‘a Wãjib?
The Friday Prayer, in its wãjib takhiyri form, is wãjib upon the men who are resident of that city, in good health, and not elderly.
The Friday Prayer is not wãjib upon the women, the traveler, the sick, and the elderly. HOWEVER, this does not mean that they are not allowed to participate in the Friday Prayer; it only means that they are exempted from participating in the Friday Prayer.
Considering the Friday Prayer as the most important weekly religious event in a non-Muslim country, it is preferable for the women, the traveler, and the elderly to participate in the Friday Prayer provided it does not cause any inconvenience to them.
The niyyat for these exempted people will still be the niyyat of wãjib when they participate in the Friday Prayer; and they do not have to say the Zuhr after it.
3. Friday Prayer led by a Sunni Imam.
If there is no Shi‘a centre or mosque near your home or work-place, then you can participate in the Friday Prayer led by a Sunni imam. However, in this case, you will also have to recite the Zuhr Prayer after it. One of the conditions for the imam of jamã‘at, in Shi‘a fiqh, is that the imam must be ‘ãdil (of upright character) and Shi‘a Ithnã-‘Ashari.
4. What If I Missed the Khutbas before Jum‘a?
The two khutbas (sermons) delivered by the imam of jumu‘ah are essential parts of the Friday Prayer ceremony. The audience is required to listen to the khutba, and not engage in any other activity, not even doing the nãfila/sunnat prayer.
However, if a person missed the khutbas, he or she can still join the Friday Prayer and it will be considered sufficient.
5. Discipline & Order
Remain silent when the imam is reciting the surahs. Straighten up the rows of jamã‘at. Do not recite the zikr so loud that the imam hears them. Hasten in filling the gaps when the iqamah is being recited.
Do not go into the ruku or sujud before the imam.
Imam ‘Ali ar-Riza (a.s.) said:
“On every Friday, present your family with some fruits so that they may be joyous on Fridays.”
I just killed the pig……..tongue in cheek :)
George Bush and his driver were cruising along a country road one evening
when a pig ran in front of the car.
The driver tried to avoid it but couldn’t.. The pig was killed. The
President told his driver to go up to the farmhouse and explain to the
owners what happened.
About an hour later the driver staggers back to the car with his clothes in
total disarray. He was holding a bottle of wine in hand, a cigar in the
other and smiling happily;
What happened?” asked the President
“Well,” the driver replied “the Farmer gave me the wine, his wife gave me
the cigar, and their beautiful daughter gave me a cake to take home.”!
“My God, what did you tell them?” asked the President.
The driver replied: “I’m George Bush’s driver, and I just killed the pig!”
Provoking Thoughts 