Pope admits Dec. 25 was not Christ’s birthday

A brother posted a photo of a newspaper saying “Pope Benedict: Jesus wasnt born of Dec. 25” it surprised me so i search it in the internet and then i found out that it is true.

The present Pope released his newest book that also debunks Christmas myths.

FINALLY, after hundred of years on deceiving its members by following a false tradition, the Pope admits DEC. 25 was not the birth date of Christ, he also said that Christ born several years before 1 A.D, meaning to say, the creator of the Christian calendar that we use today committed a big mistake, as he claim.
Here are some news articles about it (for more, you can search it in your favorite search engine):

Pope Benedict XVI has a new book coming out this week in which he offers a closer look at the early life of Jesus, including his birth. The book shines a light on many Christmas myths Christians believe to be true, but in fact are not historically accurate.

Biblical fact vs. tradition
While some people may consider the Pope’s book controversial as it steps on traditional Christmas toes, most of the information he shares is not new. In fact, if you take the time to do a Bible study on the birth of Jesus, the answers are there.

For instance, the Pope points out that evidence in the Gospels does not support the picture of animals and cattle around the baby Jesus in his manger; nor does it support angels singing about the birth of Christ. Luke 2:7 confirms Jesus was placed in a manger or feeding trough when he was born. Because it was a feeding trough people have assumed animals were there. And in verse 8 we are told that the shepherds in that region saw an angel, who announced to them not to be afraid and offers directions as to where to find the baby. The announcement was not sung.

“But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!'” (Luke 2:8-14 HCSB).

Is the Pope the next Grinch?
The Pope’s purpose in writing this book is not so much to debunk Christmas, but:
“The pope was not so much aiming to debunk myths as trying to show that the Jesus depicted in the Gospels is a real historical figure, who walked on earth and talked to people like anyone else.” — Alessandro Speciale: Vatican correspondent for Religion News

December 25
A Bible study on the early church does not mention celebration of the birth of Christ. The date December 25 stirs up a bit of controversy as well as it is tied to a pagan Roman holiday that honored their god Saturn. No one knows what day Jesus was born, but the Western Church in Rome decided on December 25, while the Eastern Church picked January 6. Eventually the time frame between the two dates became known as the “12 Days of Christmas.”

Back to the Bible
To know whether or not your Christmas traditions are biblical, go back to the Bible. You may be surprised by what you learn if you take time to study Christ’s birth. Just take a look at the visit from the wise men. They found Mary and the child in a house…not a stable.

source: examiner.com

______________________________

The ‘mistake’ was made by a sixth century monk known as Dionysius Exiguus or in English Dennis the Small, the 85-year-old pontiff claims in the book ‘Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives’, published on Wednesday.

“The calculation of the beginning of our calendar – based on the birth of Jesus – was made by Dionysius Exiguus, who made a mistake in his calculations by several years,” the Pope writes in the book, which went on sale around the world with an initial print run of a million copies.

“The actual date of Jesus’s birth was several years before.”

The assertion that the Christian calendar is based on a false premise is not new – many historians believe that Christ was born sometime between 7BC and 2BC.

But the fact that doubts over one of the keystones of Christian tradition have been raised by the leader of the world’s one billion Catholics is striking.

Dennis the Small, who was born in Eastern Europe, is credited with being the “inventor” of the modern calendar and the concept of the Anno Domini era.

He drew up the new system in part to distance it from the calendar in use at the time, which was based on the years since the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

The emperor had persecuted Christians, so there was good reason to expunge him from the new dating system in favour of one inspired by the birth of Christ.

The monk’s calendar became widely accepted in Europe after it was adopted by the Venerable Bede, the historian-monk, to date the events that he recounted in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which he completed in AD 731.

But exactly how Dennis calculated the year of Christ’s birth is not clear and the Pope’s claim that he made a mistake is a view shared by many scholars.

The Bible does not specify a date for the birth of Christ. The monk instead appears to have based his calculations on vague references to Jesus’s age at the start of his ministry and the fact that he was baptised in the reign of the emperor Tiberius.
Christ’s birth date is not the only controversy raised by the Pope in his new book – he also said that contrary to the traditional Nativity scene, there were no oxen, donkeys or other animals at Jesus’s birth.

He also weighs in on the debate over Christ’s birthplace, rejecting arguments by some scholars that he was born in Nazareth rather than Bethlehem.

John Barton, Professor of the Interpretation of the Holy Scripture at Oriel College, Oxford University, said most academics agreed with the Pope that the Christian calendar was wrong and that Jesus was born several years earlier than commonly thought, probably between 6BC and 4BC.

“There is no reference to when he was born in the Bible – all we know is that he was born in the reign of Herod the Great, who died before 1AD,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “It’s been surmised for a very long time that Jesus was born before 1AD – no one knows for sure.”

The idea that Christ was born on Dec 25 also has no basis in historical fact. “We don’t even know which season he was born in. The whole idea of celebrating his birth during the darkest part of the year is probably linked to pagan traditions and the winter solstice.”

source: telegraph.co.uk

______________________________

Pope Benedict XVI has opened the way to an historic opportunity that might benefit much of humankind and save the rest of us from enduring another eight weeks of seasonal disorder syndrome, an affliction that starts with the first October Christmas carol and which I believe is more widespread than people want to admit.

The Pope has published the third in a trilogy of works dealing with the life of Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives completes a project the 85-year-old Pope took up after being elected pontiff in 2005. The first two books were big sellers in Italy (and presumably among Catholics elsewhere as well). The latest volume reportedly has an initial printing of one milllion, and hit bookshelves around the world on Wednesday.

The headline issue is the Pope’s acknowledgement that Jesus wasn’t born in the year everyone thinks he was. I’m not sure this is really news; as a certified non-pious Canadian who gets sleepy just thinking about entering a church, I thought it was generally known that historians had long ago sorted out that the dates were off by a few years. Nonetheless, it’s viewed as significant that the Pope would actually say so in print. According to the book, a monk known as Dionysius Exiguus (which translates as Dennis the Small) got the dates wrong when he set out to invent a new calendar about 1500 years ago.

“The calculation of the beginning of our calendar – based on the birth of Jesus – was made by Dionysius Exiguus, who made a mistake in his calculations by several years,” the Pope says. “The actual date of Jesus’s birth was several years before.”

The Pope maintains Jesus was born in a stable, as commonly assumed, though there might not have been donkeys, camels, oxen or other critters present. “There is no mention of animals in the Gospels,” he writes. And he insists Mary was a virgin. But it wasn’t on Dec. 25, a date that was adopted later, perhaps linked to some rituals related to the winter solstice.

Apart from whatever religious significance this may involve, it offers the Church an opportunity to isolate its annual celebration of Jesus’ birth from the overdone commercial orgy that’s known as Christmas. Pick another date — one the Vatican thinks might be more historically accurate, or at least no less inaccurate — and move the religious celebration accordingly, while leaving Dec. 25 to the crass materialists.

Not that the orgy would stop, but it would no longer inspire the tedious annual eruptions of complaint from underoccupied cranks, atheists and misguided zealots upset that trees should appear in schools, mangers should turn up on lawns and other insults to strict secularism should be induced on the unwilling. People could give one another gifts without someone complaining about it.

The prayers that are an offence to the ears of determined non-prayers could be moved to another day of the year, when they could be delivered by consenting adults outside the hearing of the temporally fixated. Dec. 25 would be just another holiday that no one could beef about (unless they just don’t like holidays), while Christmas in March (or whenever) would simply be a religious symbol marked by those who choose to, without bothering those who don’t, and free of the annoyance and excess of the annual two-month build-up.

And who knows, once it was just another long weekend, maybe some of the excess would diminish. Which I suspect would be a welcome change to a lot of people.
source: fullcomment.nationalpost.com

Do you NOW BELIEVE WHAT THE INC SAYS ABOUT CHRISTMAS?

NOTE: This post does not made to hurt the feelings of our Catholic friends and to other Christmas celebrators, this is made as an EYE OPENER to those people who really wanted the TRUTH.

RESPONSE TO THE “CHRISTIAN DISCRIMINATION AT OLD K’LA SS.S” MESSAGE

The malicious massage was sent by the aggrieved members (former staff members) whose contracts were not renewed at the end of the year 2015.
1. The need to correct the false information supplied.

a. The list of terminated staff members had names like Muwonge Vincent, Matovu Ivan, Lutamaguzi Ivan and Kawamala Moses who were terminated in 2013 during the former head teacher’s tenure.

b. All new applicants for vacancies were given muslim names yet a good number of them are Christians e.g Nasiwa Sophia is Nasiwa Oliver, Namaingo Aminah is Namaingo Alice, Nalubale Leilah is Nalubale Diana, Aiita Anifa is Aiita Alex.
c. The structure of the prayer place at school was put up under Mr.Bwire Raphel’s time in 2006.
d. A number of staff (8) who contracts were not renewed have written their statements to dis-associate themselves from the case submitted to KCCA Labour office which was contesting termination of contract. This is because they consented to the end of contract but were also included on the long list of complainants.
e. The length of service was faked e.g Ssekadde Saul served for 1 year as an office messenger not 2 years as personal assistant. Odwori Micheal served for 2 years not 19years. Kawamara Moses served for 6years not 10 years, Nalwanga Mable served for 7 years not 9 years, Sseremba Ronald served for 10 years not 15 years etc.

HOW STAFF ARE LOCALLY RECRUITED AND ALSO LAID OFF
The Board of Governors (B.O.G) employs temporary staff to fill the gaps whenever those on Government pay roll are not enough, with an understanding that the B.O.G staff are on temporary contracts and laid off as soon as a school gets a government staff.

It is under this arrangement that the contracts of the complainants were not renewed and they resorted to lodge their complaints to the KCCA Labour office and social Media.

They were given notice in advance and on top of that they are going to be paid 2 months’ salary in lieu.

The termination of contract is not a new phenomenon. Every end of year contracts are terminated or renewed depending on performance and government posting of staff.

RECRUITMENT OF STAFF

There is a committee in charge of recruitment of personnel and none of the members is a Muslim.
It is not that all the short listed persons passed the interview.
Its un fortunate that all the new recruited staff were given Muslim names to instigate hostility
The KCCA labour office has invited me for mediation meeting on the 1st/Feb/2016

Feel free, to ask any clarification on this matter. Otherwise I will keep you posted on the new developments after the mediation meeting.

Asalam Aleikum

Our Sheikhs are not safe – National Mosque Imam

The Deputy Imam of the National Mosque Shk. Juma Ali Shiwuyo has expressed deep concern over the continued targeting of prominent Muslim clerics all over Uganda especially as the country prepares for Presidential and general elections.

Sheikh Ali Shiwuyo raised the concern while delivering the Khutubah/sermon for last Friday’s Juma Prayers at the UMSC Headquarters Old Kampala.

He specifically urged the police leadership to treat the issue of targeting and trailing Muslim clerics as a matter of priority.

“I call upon all those responsible for the safety of Ugandans to ensure that our Sheikhs are safe” Sheikh Ali said.

The Imam also called upon those who lost in the just concluded NRM primaries (Kamyufu) to concede defeat noting that leaders are chosen and removed by Allah.

“The NRM primaries have taught us that however rich or powerful you are, if you do not serve the people, Allah has the power to replace you with another leader using any means” said Sheikh Ali.

He thus called upon Muslims not to rebel against leaders but to pray for them and obey them because they are leaders by the will of Allah.

The Juma prayers were led by Sheikh Hussein Rajab Kakooza, the first Imam of the National Imam.

His Eminence the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje and Hon. Issa Kikungwe were part of the congregation.

Haji Nsereko Mutumba

Public Relations Officer

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council

Tel: 0701409504 or 0772409504

Email: pro_umsc@yahoo.com

Sending Condolences on the Death of a Non-Muslim

Islam commands us to be good to all people: establishing good neighborliness, reciprocating kindness with kindness, and recognizing the good in all people. Islam is all about justice and compassion. Allah commands us to be steadfast in upholding these virtues at all times. It is permissible, as far as Islamic Shari`ah is concerned, to extend condolences to our friends among Christians and others who have lost a family member or friend or a leader of their faith. We are also allowed to attend their funerals and memorials in order to extend our sympathies to the bereaved.

We are told, (O you who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity; and let not hatred of any people make you swerve from justice. Deal justly; that is nearer to God-fearing) (Al-Ma’idah 5: 8).

The Qur’an further tells us that there are among the Christians those who are full of love and compassion: (And We placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him (Jesus)) (Al-Hadid 57: 27). And we are also told, (And you will find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: “We are Christians.” That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud) (Al-Ma’idah 5: 82).

Prophetic precedents for reciprocating kindness with kindness and his magnanimity, even with his foes, are too numerous to count. He visited non-Muslims who were sick, he was extremely generous with his food and provisions to all of his neighbors, including Muslims and non-Muslims, he welcomed the Christian delegation in his mosque and served them, he extolled the pact of virtue that the pagans had formed in pre-Islamic times, and said that he would gladly hasten to join any similar ventures in Islam, no matter who takes the initiative. We also know from the traditions that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to honor the funeral procession of a Jew. Inspired by these and other precedents, his Companions used to attend the funerals of non-Muslims, including those of the People of the Book.

Muslims and Non-Muslims at Each Other’s Funerals

When a Muslim dies he/she should be buried in an Islamic way. This means washing the body according to Islamic rules, putting on the shroud, offering the Janazah (funeral) prayers and then placing the body in the grave according to the Sunnah. All these are acts of `Ibadah (worship) and only Muslims can perform them. Thus, the general principle about burying the dead is that Muslims should bury Muslims. However, there is no prohibition if non-Muslim relatives and friends want to attend the funeral of a Muslim as long as Muslims bury the Muslim according to Islamic rules. There is also no prohibition if a non-Muslim drives the dead body of a Muslim to the mosque for Janazah prayer or to the cemetery for burial. There is no prohibition according to Islam if a non-Muslim funeral director supervises the burial or non-Muslim cemetery workers dig the grave or close it. Such services are very common in America and they should be acceptable to Muslims without any reservations.

Muslims are also allowed to attend the funeral of their non-Muslim relatives or friends without participating in the funeral prayers of non-Muslims. Muslims only pray in the Islamic way. There is no non-Islamic way of prayer permissible for Muslims.

Since we are living in a non-Islamic society the question also comes whether it is permissible for Muslims to be employed in non-Muslim cemeteries and supervise or help in the burial of non-Muslims in non-Islamic ways. I cannot say that it is forbidden (Haram) but in my opinion it is better for Muslims to avoid such jobs. It is indeed Makruh (non-recommended) if not Haram.

DON’T POST BAD MESSAGES ABOUT AK-47(RIP) ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A MUSLIM

Some people may believe that Islam incite Muslims to hate people of other religions or those who are following no religion. Others may mistakenly relate the violent actions take place here or there to Islam’s teachings.

Unfortunately, this belief is due either to some people’s unawareness of Islam’s teachings or to attributing such wrong, un-Islamic actions to Islam itself.

In fact, Islam does not only condemn violence, but it also calls to mutual understanding and respect, tolerance, peace, freedom, and security.

Muslims are of course allowed and even recommended to make du`aa’ for the wellbeing of all, Muslims and non-Muslims. Islam’s universal values aim at pleasing all peoples of the world.

A Muslim is Islamically ordained to be just, fair, kind, and friendly with all people, irrespective of their faiths, cultures, and races.

Therefore, Muslims are certainly allowed and even recommended to make du`a’ for living non-Muslim relatives, neighbors, and friends. We, Muslims, can pray for their health, wellbeing and guidance. The most important prayer that we can do for them is to pray for their guidance to the straight path; we must do so on a continuous basis.

Muslims are to maintain good social and friendly relations with all people. Caring for the poor, the needy, and helpless is recommended for all. Islamic universal values such as justice, kindness, mercy, etc., are meant to please all people, Muslims and non-Muslims.

May Allah accept your and our good deeds!

Allah Almighty knows best.

In the history of the world, who has killed maximum number of innocent human beings?

1) “Hitler” Do you know who he was? He was a Christian, but media will never call all Christians terrorists.

2) “Joseph Stalin called as Uncle Joe”. He killed 20 million human beings including 14.5 millions who were starved to death. Was he a Muslim?

3) “Mao Tse Tsung (China)” He killed 14 to 20 million human beings. Was he a Muslim?

4) “Benito Mussolini (Italy)” He killed 400 thousand human beings. Was he a Muslim?

5) “Ashoka” In Kalinga Battle, killed 100 thousand human beings. Was he a Muslim?

6) Due to the embargo put by George Bush on Iraq, 1/2 million children were killed in Iraq alone!!!

Why these people are never called terrorists by the media?

Today the majority of the non-Muslims are afraid of hearing the words “Jihad”. While “Jihad” is an Arabic word which comes from root Arabic word “Jahada” which means “to strive” or “to struggle” against evil and for justice.

It does not mean killing innocents.

The difference is we stand against evil, not with evil.

You still think that ISLAM is the Problem ?

1. The First World War, 17 million dead (caused by non-Muslim).
2. The Second World War, 50-55 million dead (caused by non-Muslim).
3. Nagasaki atomic bombs 200000 dead (caused by non- Muslim).
4. The War in Vietnam, over 5 million dead (caused by non- Muslim).
5. The War in Bosnia/Kosovo, over 500000 dead (caused by non-Muslim).
6. The War in Iraq (so far) 12,000,000 deaths (caused by non-Muslim).
7. Afghanistan, Burma etc (caused by non-Muslim).
8. In Cambodia 1975-1979, almost 3 million deaths (caused by non-Muslim).

MUSLIMS ARE NOT TERRORISTS AND TERRORISTS ARE NOT MUSLIMS. If you agree, then must Share.

A Christian Priest’s Response to Dutch PM on Islamopobia

This is a very interesting letter from a Catholic Priest of UK talking about Islamophobia in Europe . I thought everyone here would like.
——————————————————————–
Open Letter to Islamophobe Dutch MP Geert Wilders

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS

Open Letter to Islamophobe Dutch MP Geert Wilders

Dear Mr Wilders,

They say you can only take a horse to the water, you can’t make it drink. But human beings are not horses. Unlike animals, they can be reasoned with. I offer these few remarks in the faint hope you are amenable to reason.

It is about your recent speech to the Alliance of Patriots in New York. In which you paint an apocalyptic picture of ‘the Islamization of Europe’. You describe some European cities with Muslim neighbourhoods in lurid terms. It is a world ‘where women walk around in figureless tents…Their husbands, or slave holders, if you prefer, walk three steps ahead’. Mr Wilders, I live bang near one of those areas in West London. I often visit Whitechapel and Edgware Road – parts of our colourful Londonistan – I have never seen a Muslim woman walking behind her husband. Rather, the mothers stroll about in a proud, dignified manner, alongside the men. Nothing in their behaviour suggests a subordinate role, let alone slavery. And there are tons of lively, even feisty Muslim girls wearing all sorts of gear. True, they may not, as a rule, behave like permissive, liberated females, baring the flesh, hugging and kissing partners in public, no. I would even

guess most of them don’t sleep with boys before marriage. But since when are chastity, modesty and self-restraint so bad? The traditional, Christian mores of the Western civilisation which you claim to uphold used to prize such things, no?

’25 per cent of the population of Europe will be Muslim just 12 years from now’. Lies, damned lies and statistics, someone said.. But if you want native Europeans to stay numerically supreme, how about encouraging them to have more children? To urge them not to use contraceptives, the pills? To give up abortion? To bolster family values? Stop bashing Islam. Embrace the Christian religion in its conservative, sound traditions and all will be kosher.

‘Thousands of mosques across Europe. With larger congregations than churches’, you notice. Well, whose fault is that? Do perhaps Muslims stand at church doors, stopping the eager faithful from worshipping the Lord? Methinks you should rather address yourself to Christians. ‘Look at Muslims’ you should say. ‘Look at how many regularly pray. How keen they are on the observances of their religion. You should do the same.’ Exactly. The flourishing of mosques across Europe should serve as a stimulus to Christians. A window of opportunity. As an urgent reminder to get back to their vital, life-giving roots – the worship of the One True God. Why blame pious Muslims for the faults of lukewarm or nominal Christians, eh?

In Amsterdam ‘gays are beaten up almost exclusively by Muslims’. Awful, if true. Funnily enough, I recall the words of Pym Fortuyn, the gay right-wing politician murdered by a fanatic. ‘I have nothing against Moroccans – I have slept with so many of them.’ From Andre Gide to William Burroughs, the Arab world has been one of artistic gays’ favourite fun destinations. Tangiers’ nickname was ‘Sodom on Sea’. Homophobia can’t be all that endemic amongst Arabs, I should imagine.

‘The history of the Holocaust can no longer be taught because of Muslim sensitivity.’ How bizarre. First, a godson of mine has been to Auschwitz, on a school trip. Part of a programme to learn about wartime horrors. School curricula in Britain do in fact include projects about WWII and persecutions of Jews and other people. London’s Imperial War Museum has a holocaust section, which I viewed just the other day. What’s more, TV channels force-feed viewers with a daily, obsessive dose of films and programmes about the war and Germany’s crimes. If anybody should complain about this state of affairs, it should be Germans. It fuels Germanophobia, the lurking, masochistic English vice. Do today’s Germans deserve such constant pilloring? After all, isn’t Germany amongst the strongest supporters of your beloved state of Israel?

The Prophet Muhammad. Had he been ‘a man of peace…like Ghandi and Mother Teresa wrapped in one, there would be no problem. But Mohammed was…’ I won’t quote the rest, as it would be distasteful. Muhammad certainly did not found a religion like the Quakers, no. And he is definitely different from figures like Buddha and Jesus. However, why you did not compare him to a prophet and lawgiver like Moses? Muhammad had the Jewish tribes of Banu Qurayza slaughtered, you write. Well, Exodus 32:25 has Moses ordering the Levites to slay those who had worshipped the Golden Calf, about 3000 men. ‘Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord’ Moses told the slayers. Hardly like Gandhi, would you agree?

You are silent about Moses, I suspect, because in your speech you wrapped yourself in the mantle of defender of Israel. Mr Wilders, this Anglican priest is opposed to the destruction of the state of Israel. Because I am a Christian, Jews are rather important to me. I support both a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. A modest-sized Jewish Vatican in the Holy Land is the realistic solution. Bernard Wasserstein’s thoughtful book, ‘Israel & Palestine’, points the way. Wasserstein shows how your fantasy of Israel as a heroic outpost of the West against the incoming Jihad is nonsense. Indeed, Israeli society today needs immigrants as much as Europe does. And they won’t be Jewish immigrants. Despite your astonishing garbage about rising anti-Semitism in France (headed by a Jewish President!), Jews worldwide are happy where they are – they not migrating to Israel – or should I say ‘Isra-hell’, as my Israeli friend Ronen once wrote?

Ok, you don’t like Muslims. Yet they are not going to go away. Your case is analogous to that of the man whose garden was infested by ladybirds. They were everywhere. He didn’t like them. He tried several methods to get rid of them. Sprays, insecticides, this and that. Nothing worked. The ladybirds kept being around. Indeed, they multiplied. The guy was getting obsessed with them, growing paranoid, bitter, haunted. Eventually, he sent an e-mail to a wise old friend, an experienced gardener: ‘What should I do about the damned ladybirds?’

The reply came: ‘I suggest you learn to love them’.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli
“May Peace Be With You”

A non-Muslim View on the ‘Muzaata- Etofari’ comments!

” Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba, my understanding of etoofali is that it has origin in several overt and covert acts of the Central government towards Men go including (a) the nearly 2 year closure of CBS and subsequent censureship of the broadcast content (b) the deliberate refusal to effectively honour the ebyaffe (c) the burning down of the amasilo and it’s aftermath and (d) the targeted dismemberment of Buganda by encouraging/ building / formenting cessation in Buruli, Kayunga and Kooki. This had the effect of crippling the Kingdom economically.

The etofaali was one way of demonstrating that Buganda can unite and restore her glory in the eye of a storm.I have said elsewhere that I have nothing against Sheikh Muzata. I take his words as he says them. He acknowledges the success of etoofali. He hates it that Moslems have contributed to this project so much but not to the building of mosques in Butambala which are of such a standard that he cannot enter with his white tunic! I will not repeat what he says about Churches in the area, He hates it that the money has been given and used for the different projects of Buganda like amasilo and not health centres. He wonders where the Moslems will gain in these projects.

I am not aware of any grand fundraising launched by Sheikh Muzata for building mosques in Butambala or health facilities that Baganda and others have refused to contribute towards. But I may be mistaken.If Muzata was not a Sheikh I would have said he has enugu(malice) against the Katikiro and the establishment that commissioned the etofaali. But then being a Sheikh I expect he is above such pettism.

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba that is why I pray you put up the clip of Sheikh Muzata’s address so that we all draw conclusions based on facts rather than sentiments.I hope we all learn lessons. The enemies of Buganda may not be far from abaana enzaarwa. But also may be it’s time we extended etofaali to improving health and education in Buganda and Uganda”

–—JOSEPH TUMUSHABE VIA THE UAH-FACEBOOK PLATFORM

SHEIKH MUZATA IS WRONG TO EMOTIONALLY ABUSE ANYBODY

Emotional abuse truly damages and hurts as much as physical abuse does.While the meaning of physical abuse is rather obvious, the meaning of emotional abuse might not be, and the abuse itself may be more insidious. Emotional abuse includes name calling, belittling, using threats, e.t.c.Even frequent teasing, though it starts in fun, may become a type of abuse if it takes the form of sarcasm or demeaning remarks.

It is common for some people when they are angry to call others names or belittle them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised us to control our anger, not to call each other names, not to use vulgar language, and not to point a weapon at another person.

These general guidelines are established by the Qur’an in the following verses: “O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are), nor let women (deride) women who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness after faith. And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil doers. O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful.” (Al-Hujurat: 11-12)

Moreover, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to scare his fellow Muslim.” (Reported by Ahmad & Abu Dawud)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet also said: “None of you should point his weapon at his brother, as Satan may provoke him (to hurt his brother) and as a result, he would fall into a pit of Fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhari) In another version: “He who (even) points at his brother with a piece of iron is cursed by the angels until he puts it down, even if the other was his blood brother.” (Reported by Muslim)

it is very important to assure that Islam ordained goodness and the best relationship with every human, especially the People of the Scripture (ahlul-kitab), Jews and Christians.Here are some Qur’anic verses advising Muslims to perfect their speeches and actions with people:

{And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], “Do not worship except Allah; and to do good to parents and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah.” Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 83)

In another verse Allah Almighty says,

{And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.} (Al-`Ankabut 29: 46)

The Qur’an taught Muslims not to hurt people either by tongue or action.

Even the idols that were worshiped besides Allah, He Almighty forbade Muslims from cursing the idols of the disbelievers “mushrikeen”:

{And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.} (Al-An`am 6: 108)

We should avoid cursing or abusing them or even their ‘gods’. We are clearly prohibited to do that in the Qur’an. Allah Almighty says, (Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deeds seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do.) (Al-An`am 6: 108)

Basically, the coleration is in the language Sheik Muzata uses while preaching to people. It hurts others emotionally.

YES, THERE SHOULD BE QUICK DIALOGUE BETWEEN MENGO AND MUSLIMS/ MUZAATA

sheikh Nuhu Muzaata

True Muslims are always willing to try their best to clarify whatever form of distortion is practiced against them, and this should be done only with those who are launching attacks due to their ignorance. In this case, the role of Muslims is to clarify the truth before those who are willing to know it, and are really searching for it although they missed the way and were driven to abuse.

A Muslim, as described by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), is not foul-mouthed. Even when insults are hurled against him, he is supposed to resort to the best course of action. What is the best behavior here? Surely, it is to strive to have a kind relations with the person hurling insults in a bid to make him realize the true manners of Islam. Let us contemplate the following Qur’anic verses, (The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend. But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save the owner of great happiness.)(Fussilat 41: 34-35)

The Qur’an goes to a further extent, teaching Muslims the principles of dialogue and disagreement:

{Say, “Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?” Say, “Allah. And indeed, we or you are either upon guidance or in clear error.” Say, “You will not be asked about what we did in crime, and we will not be asked about what you do.} (Saba’ 34: 24-25)

When you reflect on these two verses, you will find the highest level of guidance in talking to people who disagree with you. In the first verse “ayah”, the Qur’an doesn’t say “you are misguided while we are guided”; it instead reads, {… we or you are either upon guidance or in clear error.} In the second verse, Allah used the word “crime” referring to us “Muslims”, while he used the word “do” to others.

Prophet Muhammad once was sitting with his Companions while a funeral of a Jew passed by them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up out of respect. The Companions said, “But he is a Jew!” Then the Prophet said, “Isn’t it a soul of human being?”

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The believer does not slander, curse, or speak in an obscene or foul manner.” In another hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It does not befit a man of truth to be a curser.”

Ultimately, it is important not to be upset if your friend tells you that you are wrong, based on his own convictions, because it is a matter of differences among people. And we have to respect each other regardless of these differences.

In this matter, every one of us has to think and look for the truth which is an obligation in every faith.

So, the dialogue between Mengo and Muslims over various issues(as proposed by Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba) is the way forward rather than sweeping issues under carpet, and every side should respect the views of the other.The true Muslim is the one who is really keen to treat all people with kindness.

When it comes to hurling insults, the treatment should be more and more kind so that the other party knows the manners of Islam and true Muslims. This does not rule out that Muslims can resort to legal channels to regain their usurped rights or restore their dignity. Stressing this, Allah Almighty says: (The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend. But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save the owner of great happiness.) (Fussilat 41: 34-35)

Allah Almighty knows best.

Non-Muslims in Hell Forever?

It should be clearly known that no human can judge that a given person will be in paradise or go to hell. As this is none of humans’ business, rather it is a divine matter that Allah only can decide; He Almighty knows a person’s heart, intention, speech, and actions.In fact, it is not allowed in Islam to specify hell for any human being, no matter what his or her beliefs are.

For Muslims, Islam is the final religion that Allah has sent for all peoples. So, it is our belief, as Muslims, that Islam is the final message of Allah that people should correctly follow and apply in order to lead a happy life in this world and in the Hereafter.

There are Qur’anic verses which generally indicate that the believers will enjoy the eternal blessings in paradise while the disbelievers will be punished in hell forever. However, a Muslim is not entitled to judge a given living person to be in hell or paradise forever. Ibn `Abbas, the well-known scholar of the Qur’an, comments on the Qur’anic verse {In the day (of Judgment) when He will gather them together (He will say): O you assembly of the jinn! Many of humankind did you seduce. And their adherents among humankind will say: Our Lord! We enjoyed one another, but now we have arrived at the appointed term which You appointed for us. He will say: Fire is your home. Abide therein forever, save him whom Allah wills (to deliver). Lo! Your Lord is Wise, Aware} (Al-An`am 6: 128), “This verses implies that we should leave the question of judging the disbelievers’ fate to Allah”. (Al-Qurtubi, Al-Jami` li Ahkam Al-Qur’an, 7: 84)

Given the above, it is our duty, as Muslims, to deliver Islam’s message to all people through dialogue, good manners, and translating Islamic teachings into practice.

It is also the duty of every person to look and search for the truth and convincingly follow and call for it.

May Allah accept your and our good deeds!

Allah Almighty knows best.

CONCERNED CITIZEN WRITES TO LUBILI S.S HEADMASTER ABOUT MUSLIM SEGREGATION

Dear Mr Ssentongo,

I hope my writing reaches you in good health and spirit. It has been brought to the attention of the Uganda Muslim community that you have decided as an individual that you will with your single hand fight Islam, Muslims and their God with your bare hands. This makes us consider you a gallant solder for whatever god you are serving, but certainly not the Good Shepherd Jesus of the Nazareth since he would not have okay the war you are waging against innocent kids in your school who do not profess what you call right.

But allow me to teach you something, sir; it’s not worth it. Have you ever considered that before the coming of the white missionary or the Arab traders your father and the father of those kids you are fighting today were all Ugandans each worshiping the Lake, the Sun or the Mountain?

But today, you want to play holier than thou and fight others as if you already known God than the rest of fellow humans.

Jesus to whom you pretend to defend said:

Mark 12:31 ESV / 283 helpful votes

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 210 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV / 149 helpful votes

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 82 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

So if what you are doing to your Muslim neighbours kids is for the love of Chris forget it, the above is the true teachings of Christ, but if you are doing for the worldly Jesus then you are in a manifest error and your ending will be a bad one.

Correct your ways before it correct your own children, for what goes around comes around.

Abu’Aarif Abu’Maahir
————————–
LUBILI S.S new headmaster, Godfrey Ssentongo is not a stranger to controversy involving intrigue and unlawful suspension of teachers. See an excerpt from parliamentary activities of 2012:

Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke, (DP, Mukono Municipality) presented a Petition by teachers, parents and old students of Bishop Senior Secondary School, Mukono. Petitioners were seeking for the intervention of Parliament in matters pertaining to the mismanagement of the school, abuse of office and unlawful dismissal, suspension of teachers and other members of staff by the headmaster, Godfrey Ssentongo Sempa . Petition referred to the Committee on Education for consideration

LET US NOT JUDGE FELLOW MUSLIMS LIKE BEBE COOL OR SARAH KAGINGO JUST BSE THEY AREN’T LIVING AS PURELY MUSLIMS:

Friends,

Assalamu alaikum. We have noticed a trend on this forum where some Muslims, like Bebe Cool(Bidandi Ssali’s son), are bashed openly just because they are engaged in something unislamic. Yes, Bebe Cool is a member of UMBS on Facebook. It’s very easy to pass judgement upon others when we see they’re outwardly committing sins, or not actively participating in Islamic matters.

What’s disturbing however, is the fact that each of us at some point and currently are struggling to fight our own demons in some way shape or form but become blind to our own faults. Yes, it’s true that we all have skeletons in our closet and we will do anything to keep them there, but ALLAH knows everything about them.

Being caught up in the cycle of identifying flaws in others is something we’re all guilty of; myself first. And even if we perceive another brother or sister to be lesser in their commitment to Islam (outwardly), who’s to say that they won’t change and Allah (swt) will grant them a means to come closer to him?. With Allah, all things are possible. Let’s not forget, most of the Sahaba’s were converts to Islam.

“Do not look down upon any Muslim, for even the most inferior believer is great in the eyes of God.” – Abu Bakr

There is, for instance, an OG of mine from Kibuli S.S who I learnt a couple of years ago through friends on UMBS that she had converted to x-tianity after her degree at Makerere University. I later saw a post on UMBS about her and how she was being paraded by ‘Balokole’ as a trophy in their conferences. My initial reaction was ‘shock’ because we used to be close at school, but then i realized that it was my turn to do more to use our friendship to get her back to Islam in the long run. And the only way i could do that was to keep her as an interactive friend for a long time. Unfortunately, she didn’t give us a chance as she immediately blocked and unfriended me on Facebook after hearing that she had become a focal point of discussion on the UMBS platform. Her immediate assumption was that this was only possible on my command.

The point I’m trying to make is that each of us have had moments in our life where we were lost. Let’s not assume others can speed up. Allah (swt) has a plan for each of us, trust in his timing. Allah can change anybody even after years.Prophet Nuh gave da’wah for over 1,000 years.

Let us also bear in mind that the rank you’re at today can easily be replaced by another believer tomorrow.

“Have you not seen that Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He wills, He can do away with you and produce a new creation.” – Qur’an 14;19

As one scholar from Morocco,Imam Ahmad Zarruq, said, and i quote: ”Watch your eye, should it ever reveal to you the faults of others, say to it: ‘O my eye, other people have eyes too.’”

Approach is the key here when it comes to daawa or helping a Muslim brother or sister that has lost it. Often times, your tone or approach in talking ends up driving them further away from doing what is right. it’s from the Sunnah to tell people their faults in a 1:1setting. For instance, there is nothing wrong with approaching a disturbed youth with the following words:” salams yo…..do u wanna do some prayers first with us before u go out”, instead of the usual banter: “abana Mwe …..enjaga ebagana okusaala naye………”

Let me wrap this up with one verse from the Qur’an before I bounce back to my “Kyeyo” –

“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.” – (Surah An-Nahl, Ayah 125).

Byebyo ebyange banange, and please put me always in your prayers inishallah.

Abbey.K. Semuwemba
UK

Jesus: Is He God in Human Form?

Jesus is a great Prophet and Messenger of Allah. He like all prophets before him taught people about Allah, His existence, His Beautiful Names and show people by words and deeds how to be moral.

He is not neither a god nor son of god. He is a man but infallible and righteous. He made miracles like all Allah’s prophets. I remind you also that he was born miraculously without father. He was also called in the Qur’an Jesus son of Marry. He neither said that he was god nor son of god.

In his cradle, he talked to people who accused his mother of fornication and testified that his mother was absolutely pure. He is not a Son of God in any sense and he no other being fathered him. He is a spirit from Allah and a word from Him that came to Mary, and he was directly created by the power of this word. He is a spirit from Allah in the sense that, unlike other humans, his spirit was given to Mary before his body. That is why Allah calls him a spirit from Him.

Allah cannot take a shape or any form of substance; nothing in His creation is similar to Him. He is above time and space, shape or physical qualities. If we say that Jesus was the Son of God, we would do something totally against our mind and reasoning and we would totally ignore the very nature of God. God has not got a wife or any carnal and intimate relationship with any of His creation, nor any kind of physical touch. To say Jesus is the Son of God is to say that Mary was the wife of God and no one accepts this. Since no one accepts this, it is against our reasoning and intellectual persuasive.

If Jesus was created without a father, this does not mean that God is his father, simply because of the difference in nature between Jesus and God. Jesus was born in time and in a certain place; he grew up from babyhood to adolescence to maturity. The description of Jesus we have in the four Gospels and in the New Testament is a description of a man, not of God. Jesus cried, felt tired, suffered and became fatigued. Like all humans, he sought rest and comfort. He felt hungry and searched for food and even got angry because of his hunger, as in the Gospel when he went to the fig tree to find some fruit to eat and when he did not find any, he hit the tree and cursed it. Jesus once felt very tired and some ladies came and massaged him and anointed his feet with perfume. He felt fresh and satisfied as any human. He suffered sickness and even when, according to the Gospel, he was taken by the Roman soldiers to the cross, he was totally unable to carry his own cross. When he was hanged, he cried loudly: “My God! My God! Why have You have forsaken me!” He did not say, “My father.”

Again, according to the Gospel, before he was taken to the cross, he prayed to God to save him from this plight. But finally he surrendered himself to the will of God. What we are telling is taken from the four Gospels. We ask again why should God beget a son? And why one son only? And why not a daughter as well? And how did God send His Son Jesus to be treated inhumanely and let people mock at him and spit in his face? One may say that he was sent and underwent all of these actions in order to release us from the bondage of the original sin committed by Adam and to take our sin away and to reconcile ourselves to our Creator. Unfortunately, there is no direct statement by Jesus himself that he came to fulfill this mission. He was very clear to tell people that God is my God and yours. He used to pray to God and ask Him for support and comfort. He never said, “I am God” or “I am the Son of God.” Rather, he was called several times in the Gospels “a prophet” and “a mighty prophet”. He was also called “the servant of God” like Prophet Muhammad after him. People used to shout, “Here a prophet has risen among us” and repeated this phrase whenever Jesus performed a miracle in front of people.

In the Gospel, he is also called the son of man. “Man” here could be a reference to Mary or Mary’s father, as an indication to trace Jesus’ genealogy to his mother since he has no father. The Christian theologians understand very well that it is beyond reason to prove the that Jesus is a Son of God or that Jesus is divine; but it is very easy and straightforward to prove the manhood and the prophethood of this great Messenger of God.

We hope we do not offend anyone. We are in an age of discovering facts and exchanging views and experiences with full respect to everyone’s human dignity.

The Last Supper of Jesus According to Islam

The last supper is well detailed in Christianity; according to Islam, we have a similar incident that is mentioned in the Quran, specifically in a chapter called “Al-Maidah”, translated as “the feast” or “the table spread”, and it means “a table spread with food”. At the end of this chapter, Allah mentioned the following:

{When the disciples said: O Jesus, son of Mary! Is your Lord able to send down for us a table spread with food from heaven? He said: Observe your duty to Allah, if you are true believers. (They said:) We wish to eat thereof, that we may satisfy our hearts and know that you have spoken truth to us, and that thereof we may be witnesses. Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, our Lord! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a feast for us, for the first of us and for the last of us, and a sign from You. Give us sustenance, for You are the Best of Sustainers. Allah said: Lo! I send it down for you. And whoso disbelieves of you afterward, him surely will I punish with a punishment wherewith I have not punished any of (My) creatures. And when Allah said: O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? He said: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then you would have known it. You know what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Your Mind. Lo! You, only You, are the Knower of Things Hidden? I spoke unto them only that which You commended me, (saying): Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness of them while I dwelt among them, and when You took me You were the Watcher over them.} (Al-Maidah, Chapter 5, Verses 112-117)

To understand the full context, verses before and after have to be also taken into consideration starting from verse 110 until verse 120. In verse 110, Allah starts with the great miracles that He favored Jesus (peace be upon him) with.

Many people expect miracles to believe; however, a true believer is able to see the truth without experiencing any miracles.

Note the Prophet Muhammad’s companions did not ask him for any miracles; it was only the disbelievers of Quraish who asked for miracles and when the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed them miracles that Allah favored him with, they still did not believe.

So here Jesus’s disciples saw great miracles from Allah, such as raising the dead, yet they dared asking for another miracle; therefore, the response of Jesus (peace be upon him) “Ittaqullah”, meaning “fear Allah” and translated in the above verses as “Observe your duty to Allah”.

Unfortunately the translation does not convey the proper appreciative meaning. This is an expression of blame, where Jesus is blaming his disciples for requesting such a miracle; therefore, the following statement “If you are true believers”.

Jesus (peace be upon him) feared the consequences of this trial upon his disciples and asked them to depend on Allah for their provision.

When the disciples insisted, Jesus (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah to bring forth the miracle. However, Allah warned them that whosoever disbelieves, shall receive the most severe punishment.

So disbelieving after experiencing divine miracles is one of the worst sins since knowing by seeing is different than knowing by hearsay.

The following verses are not only a warning but also imply that some of the disciples must have claimed the divinity of Jesus and his mother (peace be upon them); therefore deviating from monotheism.

Micheal Hart in his book “The 100, a Ranking of the Most Influencial People in History”, states that:

“Jesus did not preach any of Paul’s sayings, and Paul is considered responsible for Jesus’ Divinity.”

Allah is blaming those who invented a lie against Him and His messenger, making a rival, wife and son for our creator. Allah is far above what they attribute to Him; therefore verse 118: “If you punish them, lo! They are your slaves and if you forgive them, You are the All-Mighty, All-Wise”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to repeat that verse (5:118) over and over, while weeping during his night prayers, wishing that Allah guides his people and does not punish them.

Allah will eventually question and judge everyone; those who worshiped Allah alone and did not associate anyone with Him shall receive a great recompense; Gardens under which rivers flow. Indeed, it is a great triumph.

So the story is not a diversion like the crucifixion, but the true purpose of such a feast is not clearly mentioned in Christianity even though there are more details. The Quran gives a concise story, explaining that it was a trial of faith for Jesus’ disciples; whoever passes shall receive Paradise otherwise a great torment.

Recognize Hamas’ Legitimacy: Jimmy Carter

Joining a world chorus condemnation for the Israeli war on Gaza, the former US president Jimmy Carter along with the former Irish president Mary Robinson have called for recognizing Hamas as a “legitimate political actor”.

“There is no humane or legal justification for the way the Israeli Defense Forces are conducting this war,” Carter and Robinson wrote for Foreign Policy magazine.

“Hamas cannot be wished away, nor will it co-operate in its own demise.

“Only by recognizing its legitimacy as a political actor — one that represents a substantial portion of the Palestinian people — can the West begin to provide the right incentives for Hamas to lay down its weapons.”

These views have been expressed in an article the US 39th President co-wrote with the former Irish president for Foreign Policy magazine.

The duo western leaders have accused Israel of spoiling the formation of the unity government between Fatah and Hamas, besides destabilizing the region.

Deploring the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the pair said that “war crimes” against civilians should be investigated.

“There is never an excuse for deliberate attacks on civilians in conflict. These are war crimes,” the leaders said.

Condemning the blockade of Gaza, Carter said that the international community should push for the “full restoration of the free movement of people and goods to and from Gaza through Israel, Egypt and the sea”.

Under the auspices of Carter, Egyptian President Mohammad Anwar El-Sadat and late Israeli Premier Menachem Begin have signed Camp David Accords peace treaty in 1978 that left dozens of Palestinian families scattered across both sides of Rafah.

Israel has been launching relentless airstrikes against Gaza since July 8 where hundreds have been killed and thousands injured.

Israel has claimed that its new war on Gaza, under the title Operation Protect Edge, was a response to the rocket attacks being carried out by Hamas.

Israel occupation forces started a ground invasion of besieged Gaza, home to two millions civilian, on Thursday, July 17.

Health officials in Gaza said 1,868 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed and nearly 10,000 injured since Israel launched its war on the besieged strip.

A total of 67 Israelis, all but three of them soldiers, have died.

On Tuesday, August 5, Hamas and Israel started a 72-hour ceasefire with Hamas mediated by Egypt as a first step towards negotiations on a more enduring end to the month-old war.

An American Female Finds Islam:Amazed By Muslim Women’s Dress

I am an American who grew up in a strict religious Christian family. By the time I was 16 I became very devout and religious myself. The church was like a home away from home. I enjoyed it thoroughly.I had read and studied the Bible on a regular basis. All the while I was noticing many errors in the Bible. Many conflicting stories. So I would ask my grandmother or the pastor of the church about it, but would never get a solid answer.

I was told to just brush it off and not worry about these little details that weren’t adding up. So for a time I did.Later on in my early 20s I was appointed as Youth Pastor at my local church. It was during this time that my biblical studies had become intense. The more I studied, the more questions I had.

Due to the lack of answers I was not getting from the church, I decided to enroll into Bible College. “For sure I would find my answers there,” I often thought to myself. Again, no such luck.

Nothing could ease my mind and so I decided to step down from “Youth Pastor”. I felt I could no longer lead the youth since I was confused and doubting things myself. I was the one in need of a leader. My heart was crying out to find some peace in all this confusion.

One night I turned on the TV and happened to flip straight to CNN. They were reporting straight from Iraq. Then, there in the background I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

She was adorned only in black from head to toe. She was so modest, and to me that made her so beautiful. I knew that she was a Muslim but I didn’t know what the religious beliefs of Muslims were.

I was more caught up in her clothing attire. It sparked my interest more than anything. My heart immediately desired to be like the woman. Pious and modest. So this is where my search began.

I immediately got online and searched “Muslim Woman Dress” & “Muslim Woman Face Veil”. This is when I came across the words “Hijab” and “Niqab”. Wikipedia also referred to the women who wore it as Hijabis or Niqabis.

These hijabis and niqabis were my newly-found role models. So I immediately changed all my online nicknames to “hijabi” or “niqabi”. It had not occurred to me to investigate the beliefs of Islam yet. But it was soon to come.

One afternoon my neighborhood was having a community cookout. I was setting next to my closest neighbor and we somehow got on the subject of religion.

He said “You know us Christians will probably be in trouble when we stand before God?”

I just nodded in agreement but not really sure where he was going with this.

He said, “Yeah, you know those Muslims pray 5 times a day faithfully and we Christians can barely make time to pray once a day.”

I immediately excused myself and ran back to my home. I opened the Computer and began searching the Internet about Muslim beliefs. I was amazed at their beliefs as it seemed to fit in line with mine.

But I wanted to be sure there were no surprises hidden in their beliefs; you know nothing that was going to throw me for a loop if I choose to convert.

The following weeks I drove to the closest mosque, which happened to be 50 miles away, requesting information. I searched the Internet into the wee hours of the morning reading all about Islam.

After a couple of months of researching and reading, I decided that I want to convert. I drove back to the mosque and took the Shahadah!

A peace entered my heart and soul like never before. Subhanallah!

Was Eve made from the rib of Adam?

First of all, Allah in the Quran explained how He created Adam (peace be upon him). He states in different verses that he had created Adam from clay.

{Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I am about to create man from clay:}-Surah 38 Verse 71

{The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”. And he was.}-Surah 3 Verse 59

The Quran also clearly states Allah also created Hawa (Eve) by His Hands from the same nature of Adam.{O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women….}- Surah 4 Verse 1

Hence, the Quran does not state that Eve was created from Adam’s rib. Yet, there is an authentic Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which uses the metaphor of the shape of a rib to describe women.

The authentic Hadith says that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Treat women kindly. Woman has been created from a rib and the most bent part of the rib is the uppermost. If you try to turn it straight, you will break it. And if you leave it alone, it will remain bent as it is. So treat women kindly.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Another version adds” ..if you wish to draw benefit from it, you can do so despite its shape.”

Some scholars perceived the Hadiths in their literal meaning and accepted the idea that Eve was created from Adam’s rib. Yet many scholars, on the other hand, totally rejected this interpretation. They based their argument on the fact that in Arabic, the words “created from” do not necessarily refer to the substance of creation; they can also refer to the nature of something. These scholars sustain their argument with an example from the Quran in which Allah says “That man has been created from hastiness”. Of course, this does not mean that man’s substance is hastiness; it only refers to man’s nature and behavior.

The Hadith then means that if a man wants to be happy with his wife he should not attempt to re-shape her character, but accepts her the way she is and try to be happy by understanding her habits and her personality.

Nothing justifies the Israel genocide in Gaza!

We hear these justifications all the time : Israel is responding to Hamas’ “provocation.” The “provocation thesis” is often used to justify the visual reality of disproportionate murder. It was used during and after the Holocaust too by indecent and immoral analysts to justify the Nazi slaughter of the Jews. Or, the other noxious justification: Israel has a right to react to a Nazi-type existential threat from Hamas.

It is one thing to be pro-Israel in all things relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That is okay. BUT, it is “immoral” to use the Holocaust and the Nazi slaughter of German and other European Jews to justify the current bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli government. There are former IDF soldiers who have spoken loudly about their government’s approach . Hamas has its excesses as an armed group. But, it is not the Nazi State by any informed comparison. Therefore, to compare an armed Hamas group to a totalitarian Nazi state with an anti-Jewish racial and biological ideology, as Nazi Germany was, is to overdraw one’s historical analogies.

Even in our collective helplessness to do anything about what is going on in Gaza, what we should not do is to indirectly justify the murder of the innocent by reaching for comparisons that overstretch the historical record. We become like the perpetrators of murder when , in the cocoon of our own prejudices, we put the victims of murder beyond our universe of moral obligation , as the perpetrators do, to even consider the humanity of the victims . What happened to our sense of perspective, if not proportion?

Hamas does not have that capability to destroy Isreal, and we all know it. Hamas does not pose that threat to the Jewish State of Israel. Not even the entire defense forces of all the Arab countries together do. They have tried and failed at least three times since the creation of the Jewish state of Israel.The conditions under which Palestinian Arabs live is the most urgent concern of both FATAH and Hamas.

The conditions are so bad that it should not be acceptable to anyone anywhere in 2014. Many Israelis know this for a fact. They condemn the conditions. It is the conditions and FATAH’s abject failure to negotiate real improvements in the conditions that helped to create Hamas. Hamas is a child of circumstance. If Hamas is destroyed, another probably hardline resistance organization may take its place. Is that gamble worth it. It has not been in the past.Israel’s security is for the most part settled. What Israel needs and should seek and find is peace with its Palestinian neighbors not the domination of them.

Those of you who pray to Jerusalem, did you forget that historically Jerusalem was a Jebusite City, fully built and protected, but conquered by David? It was not a no-man’s land or fallow land, or was it? …….can you imagine the injustice of the settlement of Palestine by hordes of Jews, displacing the Arabs who were on the land for hundreds and thousands of years? So, it is even worse, post Balfour Declaration: how has the fate of Palestinians in Palestine been protected by the rest of the world from occupation?

A few moments ago on CNN’s “Crisis in the Middle East” news program (Sunday August 3, 2014), Yousef Munayer, Director of the Palestine Center, provided an illuminating perspective on the physical and symbolic violence of Occupation. He said that the Palestinians are the only people in the world who are required to provide security for their occupiers, and Israel is the only occupying force allowed to demand security from the victims of its occupation.Insightful, isn’t it?

HALIMA KIBERU AND HASSAN AMINA
UMBS MEMBERS ON FACEBOOK

Some Non-Muslims are blindly supporting Isreal Genocide!

CHRISTIANS perceive Israel and her people the Jews as a chosen tribe, God’s people. Well, if you are a believer, we are all God’s chillun and all God’s chillun got right to exist in and on their own patch of land freely and as free men without any threat from divinely ordained hordes of invaders. All God’s chillun have a right to resist captivity, invasion, land grabbing and apartheid. All God’s chillun like blacks in South Africa can form umkhoto we sizwe to take up arms against the invaders, like wise the mau mau in Kenya. Call them terrorist all you like, to their people they are heroes and soldiers fighting for their survival.

Gaza is an open air prison, who wants to live like that. Isreal’s blockade is unjust, Israel’s presence is provocative. Its like beating a child and telling the kid not to cry. The natural response to tyranny is resistance and so long as a 2 state solution is not implemented , accepted and respected by both sides, Hamas aka the zealots have a moral obligation to defend Palestine. Isreal is fast becoming a rogue state and fast losing allies. Public opinion is against her and her vast propaganda and publicity machine cannot spin her conduct in this war. You cannot deliberately target civilians hiding out in schools and hospitals just because some rickety rockets are fired from an area close to those institutions. How big is Gaza, how many vantage point are there to launch attacks. Isreal is punishing all Palestine for the death of 4 teenagers that Hamas denied murdering and this is unjustifiable.

The consequence of the 6 day war and Yom Kippur war is the recognition of the state of isreal by Egypt. Then the Arab coalition were the aggressors and the small young state of Isreal had lots of goodwill especially from the west. Not now. Innocent jews are being attacked in Paris not just by arab immigrants but even French people.

Isreal exists. Palestine should exist.

HANNAH OGWAPITI
UAH GROUP

WARM APPRECIATION- PINA UGANDA

Dear Colleagues,

One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful. We let what was once a miracle becomes common to us. It is not the case with People In Need Agency-PINA Uganda.

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now! So to you, who supported adolescents living with HIV from PINA Uganda to attend the AIDS2014 Conference in Melbourne Australia– We have nothing to say but-Thank you.

Because of you, we have hope for tomorrow! That there is life in this seemingly huge globe…..
Because of you we have got the courage to start the race since we can now manage. We have let go all our disabilities, stigma and shame! We have held onto our abilities, we stand together as a team to step up the pace, as young positives, and reach out to the helpless and let them know that: We have hope for tomorrow…….

Because of you, we met men and women of purpose; the UNAIDS Executive Director- Michel Sidibe, UN Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director- Kate Gilmore, UNAIDS Director Regional Support Team –Eastern and Southern Africa, Sheila TLOU, Yvonne Chaka Chaka-the Princess of Africa Foundation among others and made two presentations in the women Networking Zone and shared our experiences growing up with HIV/AIDS in meetings and panel discussions especially in the area of sexual reproductive health.

Because of you we performed four times in the global village- Main stage! What an incredible achievement! Our song stepping up the pace and no turning back has been suggested by the International AIDS Society to be the theme song for AIDS2016 Conference in Durban South Africa. We were also requested to close the Global Village officially with officials from the International AIDS Society! What an honor! Sharing a stage with stakeholders dedicated to ending HIV.

It is you we are grateful, for we are happy and optimistic. Words can’t say what we feel, but Are used as an expression of how we feel.

Thank you Mama Janet Museveni, Musa Bungudu –UNAIDS Uganda, Ms. Aida Girma – UNICEF Uganda, Prof. Philip Brahman- Emory University, Uganda AIDS Commission and the International AIDS Society (IAS). (Robinah Babirye, Eva Nakato, Nanyonjo Vanessa, Suubi Ruth and Nalugo Sharifah from PINA Uganda)

The PINA Uganda’s campaign, “YOUTHS STEPPING UP THE PACE THROUGH ADHERENCE” launched in AIDS 2014- Global Village- Melbourne Australia is still continuous. Our prayer is only that we get volunteers to support us organize a post conference to practically share lessons learned and success stories with Ugandans.

Like President Clinton, we at PINA Uganda believe that eliminating pediatric AIDS and achieving an AIDS-free generation is possible. With your support, we can make that a reality in Uganda . No one is better placed to address this than children and adolescents living with HIV because they have an intimate understanding of what it means to live with HIV. By sharing their experiences of living with HIV, children living with HIV help children and adults with poor adherence find the courage to disclose their status to their families and adhere to lifesaving treatments.

Yours forever grateful
Namusoke Asia
PINA Uganda.

THE MOMENT JAY-Z AND KANVE WEST TOUR MANAGER ACCEPTED ISLAM

Masha’Allah, former tour manager for top celebrity’s Br. George Green by the guidance of Allah swt became Muslim in 2012. He had the opportunity to perform Umrah in April 2012, and I think the following statement by him captured the moment where it all changed.

“As I walked into the masjid and headed towards the crowds of people staring at the Ka’ba, my emotions were uncontrollable. I burst into tears and began saying, ‘Allahu Akbar!’”

In this episode of The Deen Show George Green, a former tour manager for some of the famous celebrities world wide, shares his thoughts on his previous life versus life after Islam.

The Trinity Led Me to Islam

My name is Roger Hadden, and I am originally from Dungannon in Northern Ireland.

I am a dentist currently working in England. I have lived in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and I am now based in England. I was raised as a Christian, and my parents are born-again Christians.

Although I was raised with the teachings of the Bible, I did not particularly adhere to its principles. I suppose I was like most British youth, in that I liked to have fun but maybe didn’t know where the limits were set.

While I did not practice any religion, I always believed that there was a God. I was scientifically minded, but realized that acknowledging there was a Big Bang did not necessarily rule out the possibility of there being a God who controlled and planned this event.

We could not have come out of nothing, and we did not create ourselves, so we must have been created.

I thought about God from time to time, but it never had a real impact on my heart. My first encounter with Islam I suppose was the media, but I tend not to judge people or things until I see or find out about them myself and hear both sides of the story.

When I went to university I met many Muslims. At that time we discussed religion a little, but I was not seriously thinking about becoming religious. My desires were too strong, so I just wanted to enjoy myself.

At that time, I knew that at some stage I would want to change my ways and become a Christian. I then would also want to find out about other religions and understand what makes people believe in them.

When I was in final year at university, I made plans to reform myself and become as my parents, a “born-again Christian”. So I started my research with reading the Bible.

The concept of the Trinity always bothered me, and it was my main aim to understand it. I remember as a child wanting to ask God for something. I was not sure whether to pray to God or to pray to Jesus. I decided to pray to God as I knew if He created everything, then He will hear me and help me.

I spoke to some ministers, and several attempts were made to explain the Trinity. None of them convinced me. I continued to read the Bible, searching for the truth.

Obviously I am not a scholar in the Christian religion but the Trinity issue bugged me. Why did the Old Testament prophets all pray to God and do righteous acts hoping for God’s forgiveness? Who did Jesus pray to?

There was no mention of the Trinity in the Old Testament, and many argue none in the New Testament. I knew God did not change, so there was a problem somewhere. I spoke to my friends at University. Some were Sikhs, Catholics, atheists, and some were Muslims.
When I found out that Islam commands the worship of One God, and not to make any partners with Him, I was very interested. I continued reading the Bible and Christian sources but also started reading some Islamic books.

I read that Muslims believe that God sent His message to mankind through different prophets since Adam the first man. All the prophets believed in only One God and they also believed that there was going to be a day of reckoning when everyone will be raised and judged.

I realized that this is what I believe, and what I thought the Bible was saying to me. I discussed things with my parents, and they were not too impressed. Within a couple of months by the grace of God I became a Muslim.

My conversion changed my life completely, and looking back, I know I made the correct decision, thank God. Instead of living my life in a selfish way pleasing my desires, I try now to help others and please my Lord. I have now been a Muslim for five years and I am still learning new and amazing things about the religion.

Every time I hear something “negative” about the religion, I get the issue explained to me and it turns out to be a very positive and beautiful thing. I am continuing to learn Arabic and the Quran.

In my career it has made me much more focused, and I now desire to do everything to my best ability. My friends at university are often surprised with regards to my change, especially relating to dentistry.

My parents believed I was brainwashed, and many of my friends thought, and still think, it is just a phase. As it has been over five years now, my parents know it is not just a phase.

I first told my parents that I was thinking of becoming a Muslim, and they told me that it was a “hate religion” and that I should not do it. But I was convinced, I was sure I had to do it. I did not want to be punished in the next life.

A few months later I took the best step and embraced Islam. The same day my Dad bought me a car, not as a conversion gift, rather, it was his kindness and it just happened to be on the same day.

Since university, I have always lived away from my parents but I try to visit them a couple of times a year. Overall though, I feel my relationship with my parents has improved, as I try to be good to them as God commands in the Quran.

I have moved on from university and lost contact with many of my friends, some I speak to now and again, but as with life, we keep moving on and old friends we see less of and new friends are made.

I am currently working as a dentist in the UK. I am working and doing a part time masters program. I am learning Arabic, and I regularly attend Islamic talks and seminars in order to increase my knowledge.

I am married to a very special lady and we have, by the grace of God a beautiful 1-year- old boy named Ismael (Ishmael from the Bible). We are trying to improve as Muslims, and we would like to travel abroad to a Muslim country.

Ideally we would both love to study Islam to a higher level, so we are looking for opportunities to fulfill this dream.

Myriam Francois-Cerrah Embraced Islam in 2011 and the actress was Inspired by Prophet’s Life

I embraced Islam after graduating from Cambridge. Prior to that I was a skeptical Catholic; a believer in God but with a mistrust of organized religion.

The Qur’an was pivotal for me. I first tried to approach it in anger, as part of an attempt to prove my Muslim friend wrong. Later I began reading it with a more open mind.

The opening of Al Fatiha, with its address to the whole of mankind, psychologically stopped me in my tracks. It spoke of previous scriptures in a way which I both recognized, but also differed. It clarified many of the doubts I had about Christianity. It made me an adult as I suddenly realized that my destiny and my actions had consequences for which I alone would now be held responsible.

In a world governed by relativism, it outlined objective moral truths and the foundation of morality. As someone who’d always had a keen interest in philosophy, the Qur’an felt like the culmination of all of this philosophical cogitation. It combined Kant, Hume, Sartre and Aristotle. It somehow managed to address and answer the deep philosophical questions posed over centuries of human existence and answer its most fundamental one, ‘why are we here?’

In the Prophet Muhammad, I recognized a man who was tasked with a momentous mission, like his predecessors, Moses, Jesus and Abraham. I had to pick apart much of the Orientalist libel surrounding him in order to obtain accurate information, since the historical relativism which people apply to some degree when studying other historical figures, is often completely absent, in what is a clear attempt to disparage his person.

I think many of my close friends thought I was going through another phase and would emerge from the other side unscathed, not realizing that the change was much more profound. Some of my closest friends did their best to support me and understand my decisions. I have remained very close to some of my childhood friends and through them I recognize the universality of the Divine message, as God’s values shine through in the good deeds any human does, Muslim or not.

I have never seen my conversion as a ‘reaction’ against, or an opposition to my culture. In contrast, it was a validation of what I’ve always thought was praiseworthy, whilst being a guidance for areas in need of improvement. I also found many mosques not particularly welcoming and found the rules and protocol confusing and stressful. I did not immediately identify with the Muslim community. I found many things odd and many attitudes perplexing. The attention given to the outward over the inward continues to trouble me deeply.

There is a need for a confident, articulate British Muslim identity which can contribute to the discussions of our time. Islam is not meant to be an alien religion, we shouldn’t feel like we’ve lost all trace of ourselves. Islam is a validation of the good in us and a means to rectify the bad. Islam is about always having balance and I think the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) message was fundamentally about having balance and equilibrium in all that we do.

The Prophet’s message was always that you repel bad with good that you always respond to evil with good and always remember that God loves justice so even when people are committing serious injustices against you, you have a moral responsibility and a moral obligation in front of God to always uphold justice and never yourself transgress those limits.

Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘Forgive him who wrongs you. Join him who cuts you off. Do good to him who does evil to you and speak the truth even if it be against yourself.’

Islam’s beauty really becomes to its own when it becomes manifest and it becomes manifest when you make it into a tool for the betterment of society, human kind and the world.

The ideal from an Islamic perspective is for ethics to become lived ethics, to become an applied body of values and not remain unfortunately as it often is cloistered in the mosque of somewhere which is some more divorced from reality.

Myriam Francois-Cerrah became popular when she was a child for acting in the 90’s hit film ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ Now she is gaining more popularity for being one of a growing number of educated middle class female converts to Islam in Britain.

She has recently contributed to a series of videos on Islam produced in the UK titled (Inspired by Muhammad).

I Was Taught to Hate Islam like many other non-Muslims

I was born in Athens, Greece , to Greek Orthodox parents.

My father’s family lived in Turkey, Istanbul for most of their lives, and my father was born and raised there.

They were wealthy, well–educated, and as most Christian Orthodox who lived in an Islamic country, they held on to their religion.

A time came when the Turkish government decided to kick the majority of Greek citizens out of Turkey and confiscate their wealth, houses, and businesses. So my father’s family had to return back to Greece empty-handed. This is what the Turkish Muslims did to them, and this validated, according to them, their hatred towards Islam.

My mother’s family was living on a Greek island just on the border between Greece and Turkey. During a Turkish attack, the Turks occupied the island, burnt their houses, and in order to survive, they escaped to the Greek mainland. Even more reason to hate the Turkish Muslims then!

Greece was for more than 400 years occupied by Turks, and we were taught to believe that for every crime committed towards the Greeks, Islam was responsible. The Turks were Muslims and their crimes were reflecting their religious beliefs.

This was actually a very wise plan of the Greek Orthodox Church (religion and politics in Greece are the same thing) to build hatred in the hearts of the Greeks against Islam, in order to protect their religion and prevent people from converting to Islam.

So for hundreds of years we were taught in our history and religious books to hate and make fun of the Islamic religion.

In our books, Islam was actually not a religion and Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not a prophet! He was just a very intelligent leader and politician who gathered rules and laws from the Jews and the Christians, added some of his own ideas and conquered the world.

At school, we were taught to make fun of him and of his wives or his Companions. All the “caricatures” and slander against him which are published today by the media were actually part of our lessons and our exams!

Alhamdulillah (thank God), Allah protected my heart, and hatred against Islam didn’t enter it.

Other Greeks have also succeeded to rid themselves of the burden of the Orthodox religious inheritance placed on their shoulders and they have opened, by the will of Allah, their eyes, ears, and hearts to see that Islam is a true religion sent by Allah, and Muhammad is a true prophet, and the seal of all prophets.

Muslims believe that Allah sent messengers to mankind as a guidance to them, starting from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all). But Allah’s final message was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

It was a great help to me that both of my parents were not very religious themselves. They rarely practiced their religion and used to take me to church only during weddings or funerals.

What drove my father away from his religion was the corruption he was seeing daily among the priests.

How could these people preach for God and goodness, and at the same time steal from the church’s funds, buy villas, and own Mercedes cars, and spread homosexuality amongst them? Are these the righteous representatives of the religion who will guide us, correct us, and lead us closer to God? He was fed up with them and this led him to become an atheist.

The churches lost most of their followers, at least in my country, because of their actions. In Islam a sheikh or scholar of the religion helps and guides others with full passion and only with the desire to please Allah and earn their way to Paradise.

In Christianity to become a priest is a profitable occupation. This corruption “within” drives many young people away from the religion they were born with and leads them to search for something else.

As a teenager I loved to read a lot and I wasn’t really satisfied or convinced with Christianity. I had belief in God, fear and love for Him, but everything else confused me.

I started searching around but I never searched towards Islam (maybe due to the background I had against it).

So alhamdulillah He had mercy on my soul and guided me from darkness to light, from Hell to Paradise God willing.

He brought into my life my husband, a born Muslim, planted the seed of love into our hearts and led us to marriage without us really paying attention to the religious differences.

My husband was willing to answer any question I had concerning his religion, without humiliating my beliefs (no matter how wrong they were) and without ever putting any pressure on me or even asking me to change my religion.

After 3 years of being married, having the chance to know more about Islam and to read the noble Quran, as well as other religious books, I was convinced that there is no such a thing as a trinity, nor was Jesus God.

Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God, Who has no son, nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone! No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes.

In the Quran Allah described Himself. He said:

{Say: He is God, the One. God, the eternally Besought of all! He begets not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.”} (112)

No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to or shown any act of worship but Allah alone.

The religion of Islam is the acceptance of and obedience to the teachings of Allah which were revealed to His final Prophet Muhammad.

I became a Muslim, keeping it secret from my family and friends for many years. We lived with my husband in Greece trying to practice Islam, but it was extremely difficult, almost impossible.

In my home town there are no mosques, no access to Islamic studies, no people praying, or fasting, or women wearing hijab.

There are only some Muslim immigrants who came to Greece for a better financial future and who let the Western lifestyle attract them and eventually corrupt them. As a result, they do not follow their religion and they are completely lost.

It was incredibly difficult to perform our Islamic duties, especially for me, as I wasn’t born as a Muslim, and didn’t have an Islamic education.

My husband and I had to pray and fast with the use of calendars, no Adhan in our ears, and no Muslim community to support us. We felt that with each passing day we were stepping backwards. Our faith was decreasing and the wave was taking us.

So when my daughter was born, we decided, in order to save our own souls and our daughter’s, if God wills, we have to migrate to an Islamic country. We didn’t want to raise her in a western open environment where she would struggle to maintain her identity and might end up lost.

Thank Allah, He has guided us and gave us the chance to migrate to an Islamic country, where we can hear the sweet words of the Adhan, and we can increase our knowledge and love for Him, and our beloved Prophet Muhammad.

Are the ‘People of the Book’ the same as the Christians of Today?

Dr.Umar Ahmad Kasule

Assalaamu alaikum once again.I want to inform forumists that the people of the book of the Prophet’s times are the same as the Christians and the followers of Judaism of today. The following verse is indeed just one of the conspicuous proofs:
“O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, (“Be!” – and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: “Three (trinity)!” Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.”

For anybody to think that they were different and that they followed the correct bible or Injiil, they would be missing out on many other verses found in Surat Mariam where Allah tells Muhammad (PBUH) the story of Isah and Mariam and asks whether Isa told the Christians to warship him and his mother and then Isah replied in the negative.

If Amisa thinks the current bible was distorted by Paul and so the Qur’an is talking about a pre-Paul Bible then again that is a distortion of historical facts. Historical Paul live in pre-Qur’an period so it is the same book Allah is referring to when He calls the Christians people of the book. They are the ones whose food is legitimate for us to eat and their daughters legitimate for us to marry even when they don’t revert to Islam, because if they do then we are marrying Muslims.

So there should be not so much effort made to make sure that the Muslims are so different from the Christians beyond the proof is available from the Qur’an and Sunnah. The differences being: 1) the trinity, 2) the belief that Jesus died, (which also negates his resurrection, because if he didn’t die then question resurrection doesn’t arise); 3) the belief that he died for the sins of the Christians and 4) the belief that Jesus is son of God.

That is my submission for now.

Umar Ahmad Kasule (PhD)
UMBS member &
Assoc. Prof. at Islamic University in Uganda.

10 Countries Which Have Largest Muslim Populations

The Fresh statistics tells us that now there more than 1.5 billions Muslims living in different part of the world. Islam is now fastest growing and most practiced religion in the world. in coming decades it will surpass the christian population in the world.The religion to which most people are converting is also Islam surprisingly even in countries like US, France and UK.

Indonesia – 205 million Muslims
Pakistan – 190 Million Muslims
India – 180 Million Muslims
Bangladesh – 150 Million Muslims
Egypt – 80 Million
Nigeria – 79 Million
Iran – 74 Million
Turkey – 75 Million
Algeria – 34 Million
Morocco – 33 Million Muslims

These are the top 10 Countries with most Muslim population. Most important Islamic country Saudi Arabia has over 25 million Muslims. among these countries the country which has the largest growing population is Pakistan and it is hoped that soon it will cross Indonesia to become country which most Muslim population.

Vatican Sends Ramadan Message to Muslims

The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has released its annual Ramadan message to the world Muslims, calling for genuine fraternity between followers of the two faiths to promote mutual respect and friendship.

“Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters in the one human family, created by the One God,” the message, released by the president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, was quoted by Catholic World News on Friday, July 18.

“We thank the Almighty for what we have in common, while remaining aware of our differences,” they continued.

“We perceive the importance of promoting a fruitful dialogue built upon mutual respect and friendship. Inspired by our shared values and strengthened by our sentiments of genuine fraternity, we are called to work together for justice, peace and respect for the rights and dignity of every person.”

Urging Muslims to build bridges of peace, the message said that such a friendship would promote reconciliation and end tensions and conflicts.

“May our friendship inspire us always to cooperate in facing these many challenges with wisdom and prudence,” it says.

“In this way we will help to diminish tension and conflict, and advance the common good. We will also demonstrate that religions can be a source of harmony for the benefit of society as a whole.”

Similar message is issued annually by the Vatican at the end of the Muslims’ holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Last year’s message was signed by Pope Francis personally.

Mothers of all Palestinians must be killed: Israeli MP

A well-known Israeli politician and parliament member has branded Palestinians as terrorists, saying mothers of all Palestinians should also be killed during the ongoing Israeli assault on the besieged Gaza Strip.Ayelet Shaked of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party called for the slaughter of Palestinian mothers who give birth to “little snakes.”

“They have to die and their houses should be demolished so that they cannot bear any more terrorists,” Shaked said, adding, “They are all our enemies and their blood should be on our hands. This also applies to the mothers of the dead terrorists.”

The remarks are considered as a call for genocide as she declared that all Palestinians are Israel’s enemies and must be killed.

MESSAGE FROM BIREETE SARAH ABOUT MUSLIMS BEING HONEST!

”I have always respected moslems for being honest, BUT I did not know how far this goes until today – when I found time to go for my check up – follow up medical routine after my involvement in a motor accident; and time came to pay for medication: I was on the phone and kept waiting for the lady to write down the amount of money, she signaled that i first finish my call BUT went ahead to pack some medicine for me. Then I kept wondering, what if I don’t have the total amount to pay? And then she explained how they have received that medicine for free and therefore, I have no bill to pay!!! Wow!!! Good people still exist in our society.its a private clinic not a government facility!”

BIREETE SARAH

THIS MAY BE USEFUL TO OUR SEBEI SISTERS IN UGANDA

Female Circumcision: Is It Really Obligatory? Circumcision for males is considered an important rite of initiation in Islam. It is a part of the legacy of the Prophet Ibrahim, peace and blessings be upon him, whose role model we have been ordered to follow in the Qur’an. It is, therefore, a highly significant rite in Islam, which distinguishes Muslim males from others.

When we come to the issue of “Female circumcision”, however, the mater is quite different. There is nothing in the sources, either the Qur’an or the Sunnah, to suggest that it is a PRESCRIBED ritual of initiation for women in Islam.

While one finds a number of traditions from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, which clearly indicates that he ordered pagan males who converted to undergo circumcision, it is not stated anywhere that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered any woman who entered Islam to undergo this practice.

Because there is no absolute proof from the sources of Islam prescribing female circumcision, the vast majority of scholars do not include it in the OBLIGATORY rituals of Islam.

It is common knowledge in Islam that if the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had wanted female circumcision to be an integral aspect of religious practice in Islam the same way that male circumcision is, he would have said so clearly. Since he did not do so, we can safely assume it is not a prescribed ritual of Islam.

Allah Almighty knows best.

MORE ABOUT ISLAMIC KISAKAATE

Assalam Alaikum
I would want to commend Imam Kasozi for his highlight of the Islamic Kisaakate. I think whoever brought this idea must have thought about it in broader perspective. I think we need one for old folks here, i suggest. If you analyse well what many people post here on UMBS, its a cry for such trainings,

However, MUMSA(Makerere University Muslim Students’ Association) with MSAU (Muslim Students’ Association of Uganda) have had these programs annually.

1.There’s SISTER’S CONFERENCE that is meant to prepare our Muslim Girls/Sisters to live an Islamic life in times of adoloscents, School, after School and Marriage.

This has been helpful to most of your daughters especially those who have not atested any Islamic dosage at home and School. For those who have had their daughters in this program will tell the difference.

2. There’s TARRIBIYA Program every end of the year. Its an all inclusive program for both males and females. This is the greatest opportunity for those with children that have no opportunity throuth out the year to have an Islamic dosage

This has been helpful especially to thise with kids who live and study abroad with little or no chances of living an Islamic life

3. CARAVANS. These are the most appealing program i exprienced my self. It involves lots of fun and lessons to learn. Well as you in the comfort of the city have choices of Masjids and Sheikhs to attend to, there are some parts of Uganda, less than 100 kilometers from Kampala, where Muslims use an Audio tape for Kutubah every Friday for Jumah. Its the same program where you will meet Muslims that come for Jumah drunk, at times at 3pm. Its under that program that you will exprience the real effects of MUSLIM DISUNITY in Uganda.

Its an oportunity for interactions amongst the sons and daughters of all Muslims of different classes, poor and rich, different tribes, different Muslim proffessiinals amongst the students forum, ie Muslim Student Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers etc all sharing one meal and blanket, PREACHING the word Allah, networking, exposure etc and above all a chance to tour Uganda.

Its within these Caravans that every one is a sheikh, as they are trained to make Kutubahs in every Masjid they are deployed.

Many of you benefited from these programs during your times as students and they are the ones you have have always counted on.
Its through these Caravans that most you met for the first time and have lived as best friends for life.

Its appalling that despite the good things and benefits got from there, few of you send their sons and daughters to be part of them. I have no ill feelings about those who concentrate on their local Masjids during holidays for their kids to get Islamic Knowledge, but you should also give your kids a chance to get exposed. They should get a chance to know all the different sides of the state of affair for Islam in Uganda.

Its through these programs that the mind set of Students have changed especially after witnessing what its like Islam in other parts of the country.

I think we can unite as one, every one contribute using the knowledge Allah bestowed on you and build Islam.

For the sake of Islamic Bisakaate, its an urgent matter and a need for both young and old.

SHABAN KALEMA

ISLAMIC KISAKAATE IS A GOOD IDEA BUT THEY MAY CALL US TERRORISTS IF WE GATHER

I share the concerns of the brothers who fear that we might be mistaken for training terrorists. We can start by inviting them to open, close or even attend our trainings. Otherwise, if we start by censuring ourselves, we shall never be able to do anything. Indeed, even gathering for tareweeh prayers is dangerous and subject to suspicion. As for the other options, I appreciate them, but the brothers must admit that there is no single solution to the problem.

Some parents can hire sheikhs to teach their children at home, others can not; some parents can send their children to mosques, some can not. Indeed, for people in the villages, there are no functioning darasas in many mosques. We can not abandon them because we are comfortable in town areas where the mosques are functioning.

Let us think further. This could be one of the solutions.

Uthman ibn uthman Katende.

Indian Actress Reverts to Islam

Famous young Indian actress Monica has decided to leave the life of lights behind her back, choosing to revert to Islam, don Islamic headscarf and quit the film industry, Times of India reported on Saturday, May 31.

“I don’t convert for the reason of love or money, am not such a person. I like Islam principles so that I converted as an Islam,” she was quoted by Muslim Mirror.

“Hereafter I won’t act in the film, it gives some pain but I don’t change my mind,” the young actress added.

According to Indian media, Monica’s decision was announced during a news conference on Friday in which she released photos showing her wearing traditional modest costume and a hijab.

Changing her name to MG Rahima However, she did not reveal reasons behind her decision to join the world’s fastest growing religion.

The Azhagi actress started her career as a child artiste in Tamil cinema and has acted in more than 50 films. She is also the popular face in other South Indian film industries like Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

Monica, who had won Tamil Nadu State Award as a best child actor for her performance in Vijaykanth starrer En Aasai Machan, is known for few of the Tamil movies like Azhagi, Imsai Arasan 23m Pulakesi and Silandhi.

In 2001, Monica had changed her name a Paravana for Malayalam film industry. The actress was last seen in Tamil film Jannal Oram, which was released in 2013, November.

Monica is not the first Indian celebrity to revert to Islam this year.

Earlier in February, reports said that both musicians AR Rahman and Yuvan Shankar Raja have taken the same decision to revert to Islam.

There are some 180 million Muslims in Hindu-majority India.

Does Islam Forbid Befriending Non-Muslims?

In the first place, we would like to stress that Islam urges all Muslims to deal kindly and justly with all people. Muslims should have good relations with all people. At school, at work, in your neighborhood, etc., you should be kind and courteous to everyone. Muslims are allowed to have non-Muslims as friends as long as they keep their own faith and commitment to Islam pure and strong. Allah has clearly forbidden Muslims from fighting those who fight not their faith or drive them out from their homes. Referring to this, [Allah forbids you not with regard to those who fight you not for your faith, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them. For Allah loves those who are just. Allah only forbids you with regard to those who fight you for your faith, and drive you out of your homes and support others in driving you out, from turning to them for protection (or taking them as wali). Those who seek their protection they are indeed wrong- doers.] (Al-Mumtahinah 60: 8-9)

Islam teaches us that we should be friendly to all people. Islam teaches us that we should deal even with our enemies with justice and fairness. Allah says in the Qur’an in the beginning of the same Surat Al-Ma’dah: [O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety. Fear Allah, indeed Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.] (Al-Ma’dah 5 :8)

Moreover, Allah Almighty has described Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as “a mercy” to the worlds. He was a sign of Allah’s Mercy to all, Muslims as well as non-Muslims. In his kindness and fair treatment he did not make any difference between the believers and non-believers. He was kind to the pagans of Makkah and fought them only when they fought him. He made treaties with the Jews of Madinah and honored the treaties until they broke them.

He (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have received the Christians of Najran with kindness in his Masjid in Madinah. They argued with him about Islam, but he returned them with honor and respect. There are many examples from his life that show that he was the friendliest person to all people.

UMBS’s Hon.Asuman Kiyingi disturbed by the case of Mariam Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman sentenced to death allegedly for refusing to revert to Islam

Apostasy, or riddah in Arabic, literally means defection or backsliding.As an Islamic legal term, it means denouncing Islam as one’s religion by a Muslim.

‘The case of Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman sentenced to death allegedly for refusing to revert to Islam after becoming Christian is very disturbing. It projects Islam as some kind of prison where believers are locked up with no choice or freedom of conscience. Luckily there is no where in the Holy Quran where death is prescribed as punishment for change of religion. Let us all unite in saving the beautiful face and image of Islam by asking the Sudanese authorities to release Mariam and repeal the repressive unislamic laws on apostacy.’,Hon.Asuman Kiyingi told UMBS.com.

There is no single verse in the Qur’an that prescribes an earthly punishment for apostasy. Verses about apostasy in the Qur’an speak only about God’s punishment of the apostate in the Hereafter. The following Qur’anic verses illustrate two examples:

[Your enemies will not cease to fight against you till they have turned you away from your faith, if they can. But if any of you should turn away from his/her faith and die as a denier [of the truth] – these it is whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the life to come; and these it is who are destined for the fire, therein to abide.] (Al-Baqarah 2:217)

[Behold, as for those who come to believe, and then deny the truth, and again come to believe, and again deny the truth, and thereafter grow stubborn in their denial of truth – God will not forgive them, nor will guide them in any way.] (An-Nisaa’ 4:137)

It is important to note in the above verse that if the Qur’an prescribes capital punishment for apostasy, then the apostate should be killed after the first instance of apostasy. As such there would be no opportunity to “again come to believe and again deny the truth, and thereafter grow stubborn in their denial of truth”. In spite of these acts of repeated apostasy, no capital punishment is prescribed for them.

The silence of the Qur’an on any prescribed mandatory capital for apostasy is quite revealing. More revealing is the fact that there is overwhelming evidence in the Qur’an of freedom of conscious, belief, and worship. The following verses gives an example of this:

[And say [O Muhammad]: ‘The truth [has now come] you’re your Sustainer: let, then, him or her who wills, believe in it, and let him or her who wills, reject it.] (Al-Kahf 18:29)

[There shall be no coercion in matters of faith.] (Al-Baqarah 2:256)

[And so, [O Prophet,] exhort them; your task is only to exhort. You can not compel them [to believe].] (Al-Ghashiyah 88:21-22)

[Thus, [O Prophet,] if they argue with you, say, “I have surrendered my whole being unto God, and [so have] all who follow me’ – and ask those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime, as well as the unlettered people, ‘Have you [too] surrendered yourselves unto Him?’ And if they surrender themselves unto Him, they are on the right path; but if they turn away – behold, your duty is no more than to deliver the message: for God sees all that is in [the hearts of] His creatures.] (Aal `Imran 3:20)

It is inconceivable to attain that peace if a person is forced or coerced into becoming a Muslim or remaining a Muslim against his or her free will. It is also inconceivable to say, “Yes, no one is forced to become a Muslim, but once he or she accepts Islam willingly, it is forbidden to reject it.” Such an argument under whatever excuse or justification is inconsistent with the many conclusive verses in the Qur’an on freedom of belief which is above all an inner feeling of acceptance and conviction.

SECURITY AGENCY AND MADRASA PROPRIETORS DIALOGUE

Muslim Center for Justice and Law remains committed to addressing the controversy surrounding the institution of Madrasa with the aim of strengthening it.

Among the steps that MCJL has taken to address the Madrasa issue include ongoing dialogues with all stakeholders like Uganda police, Madrasa owners, Muslim leadership and others.MCJL has also published hand book titled “Uganda Madrasas Guide”

On January 30th 2014, MCJL held another Madrasa dialogue at Hotel Africana during which further consultations with stakeholders were done to come up with the best way forward.

DrWalusimbi Abdul Hafiz was one of the speakers during this dialogue and while delivering his presentation titled “understanding the contemporary standards of madrasa education”, he said that in Uganda as well as different corners of the world, Madrasas have evolved into some of the best known education institutions in history such as Bilal Islamic Institute, Naggalama Islamic Institute, Bugembe Islamic Institute all in Uganda; Azhar University, Tripoli University and others.

He was however quick to note that along the way, the foundation of Madrasas globally slipped into problems which included miss management.

Dr. Walusimbi cautioned against generalizing bad acts committed by individual Muslims noting that this inhibits efforts towards dialogue.

“It is a great mistake to institutionalize individual mistakes and I pray it should be stopped for the betterment of Muslim relations in Uganda” he said

He also urged Madrasa owners to improve the sanitary and learning conditions noting that the Uganda Madrasas Guide will be key in ensuring proper supervision of Madrasas.

Ntambi Musa
Head strategic Information and Research.
Muslim Center For Justice and Law
0777770786/0700150147

A LETTER FROM A CHRISTIAN TO MUSLIM WOMEN

Brothers and sisters,
Assallam Alaikum. This article is really for you to ponder. After being brain washed and brain deeded by Fox new and Rupert Murdock’s worldwide mass media, we, Muslims detest ourselves for the modest clothes we wear. Please read this article very carefully and I hope you will glean some insight. In US, a Muslim girl, I do not recall which nationality she was, probably Turkish, posed nude saying she feels empowered and wants to set an example for other Muslim girls!! What crap! Nudity empowering? Here is the truth that nobody dares to write about.

So long and sallams.

ABBEY.K.S
———— ——— ——— ——— —
A Letter from a Christian to Muslim Women

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror”, the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home.

I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you.

I can’t help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her.

I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through.

But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy.

I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy.

But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness.

Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time.

It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

Through Temptation:

They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries.

I do not want this to happen to you.

You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence.

Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors.

They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming.

I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes.

They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families.

Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away.

They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don’t bite.

Self-Value:
I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value” spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity.

Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6).

Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you.

The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you.

And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too!

Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss.

You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold.

A Woman’s Heart:
I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears.

Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is the same everywhere. We love. That’s what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love.

But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose.

That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.

Self-Denial:
Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated.

We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot.

Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity.

Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully! I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration.

From your Christian sister with love.

By Joanna Francis – Writer, Journalist – USA

A Non Muslim asks a Muslim priest:

A Non Muslim came to an Alim and asked: Why is it Not Permissible in Islam for a Women to shake hands with a Man?

The Alim said: Can you shake hands with Queen Elizabeth?

The Non Muslim said: Ofcourse not, there are only certain people who can shake hands with Queen Elizabeth.

Alim replied: Our Women are Queens and Queens do not shake hands with strange men.

Then the Non Muslim asked onother Question: Why do your Girls cover up their body and hair?

The Alim smiled and got two sweets, he opened the first one and kept the other one closed. He threw them both on the dusty floor and asked the Non Muslim: If I asked you to take one of the sweets which one will you choose?

The Non Muslim replied: The covered one.

The Alim said: That’s how we treat and see our women. Women should not be like the Moon which everyone can See and Admire, they should be like the Sun which makes the Viewers Lower their Gaze.

Non Muslim: Show me God if he exist.

Alim Replied: Look at the Sun

Man Replied: I Can’t see, the Rays hurt my eyes Alim Said: If u can’t see at the Creation of God then how will you be able to Look at the Creater?

Lastly the Non Muslim invited the Alim to his house and gave him Grapes, the Alim ate them, then he offered him a cup of wine, the Alim refused, the Non Muslim asked him how did you Muslims forbidden wine and ate grapes although the wine came from grapes?

Alim Replied: Do you have a daughter?
He said yes, the Alim asked him could you marry her? the Non Muslim said no, the Alim said Subhan Allah, you marry her mother and can’t marry her although this came from this too.