Who Wrote the First “Useful” Archery Manual?

1. Introduction

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Figure 1: Miniature painting of the Ottoman Sultan Murat II during archery practice. From Huner-nama ('Book of Skills'), Istanbul, 1584. MS Hazine 1523, folio 138a, Library of Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul. (Source)

It may seem that shooting an arrow is a simple process. As children, we would make simple bows from a piece of wood and string, an arrow out of a twig, and away we would go. However when it is crucial to hit the target, to win a competition or to injure an enemy, then a simple activity is transformed into an extremely complex one. In the process of shooting an arrow, the archer faces many different factors, some external such as wind, and some internal, such as the archers skill, his level of concentration and his physical strength. He must hold all these factors in mind and eventually express them in a physical manner with the perfect shot. If any one of these factors goes wrong, then there is a good chance that the arrow will not hit the target. To become a good archer we must first of all be trained and then we must practice. Part of our ongoing education as archers will be to read what other archers have written on the subject. Some people might argue that there is little point in reading books written hundreds of years ago. However if you are interested in any subject, it is useful to learn about its history so that you can put it in context. Also today there is a great interest in “traditional” archery and there is a healthy trade in building and selling traditional bows. This ranges from the English Longbow to Mongol and Hun composite bows. I myself shoot a bow whose original design was created more than two thousand years ago.

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Wakil rakyat perlu prihatin isu alam sekitar

PUTRAJAYA 26 April - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mahu wakil-wakil rakyat turut bersikap prihatin terhadap isu-isu alam sekitar kerana ia mempunyai kaitan dengan kesejahteraan dan kualiti hidup rakyat.
Perdana Menteri berkata, isu itu amat diminati oleh para pengundi terutama golongan muda kerana mereka mahu kerajaan serta wakil rakyat menunjukkan keprihatinan serta pendirian yang tegas terhadap perkara itu.
"Seperti mana yang kita sedari di sesetengah negara, gerakan memperjuangkan isu alam sekitar merupakan gerakan politik yang cukup berpengaruh.
"Jadi di Malaysia, elok juga wakil rakyat menunjukkan komitmen terhadap isu alam sekitar," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Forum Hijau Malaysia 2010 di sini hari ini.

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According to the Qur'an Muslims have possessions and lead a beautiful life in abundance and blessings

In many verses of the Qur’an Allah promises the dominion of the morality of Islam all over the world. The promise of our All-Mighty Lord is true and Allah never fails to keep His promise.

Those who believe in Allah also believe that Allah’s promise will absolutely come true. Because our All-Mighty Allah gives the news of the dominion of the morality of Islam over the world and promises it, what befalls to sincere believers is to pray for its realization by heart, demand it and strive for it with all their might. Believing that morality of Islam will reign and making effort for the realization of this blessed event is obligatory for every Muslim who abides by the Qur’an. In one verse our All-Mighty Allah says: 

Allah has promised those of you who believe and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their religion with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. ‘They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.’ Any who are unbelivers after that, such people are deviators. (Surat an-Nur, 55)

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According to the Qur'an, it is a religious obligation for Muslims to be united

In the Qur’an, Allah commands believers to be united, to join ranks in faith against denial, to regard and love one another as brothers, to be forgiving and protective abd to strongly avoid fragmentation, division and dispersal. Allah states:

Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and do not separate. Remember Allah’s blessing to you when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together so that you became brothers by His blessing. You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He rescued you from it. In this way Allah makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be guided. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 103)

The believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers and fear [and respect] Allah so that hopefully you will gain mercy. (Surat al-Hujurat, 10)

Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. Allah is with the steadfast. (Surat al-Anfal, 46)

Those who are unbelievers are the friends and protectors of one another. If you do not act in this way there will be turmoil in the land and great corruption. (Surat al-Anfal, 73)

Those who, when they are wronged, defend themselves. (Surat ash-Shura, 39)

Allah loves those who struggle in His Way in ranks like well-built walls. (Surat ass-Saff, 4)

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ALLAH METICULOUSLY CARES FOR HUMAN BEINGS

Allah created humans into an environment of test which He ornamented with unequalled details. We constantly see that Allah offers His blessings out of those details about which we know or not. To think about these details makes us comprehend Allah’s eternal wisdom.

Allah created tens of thousands of cities on Earth. There are millions of houses in these cities. Each and every house possesses aesthetical aspects with millions of details such as color harmony on the rug, order of the sofas, image on the TV screen, beauty of the lining cloths in the wardrobe. However, these details are not limited to what we are able to see. In every house there are details such as microbes, bacteria etc., which we simply cannot see.


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ALLAH METICULOUSLY CARES FOR HUMAN BEINGS

A person who briefly glaces over his surroundings can see the infinite manifestations of Allah’s unflawed creative artistry and might. When a person looks into a mirror, for instance, he generally sees a smooth, symetrical and beautiful figure. Meanwhile, he also sees his impotence and defects.

A person  is in a constant quest to overcome his needs which arise from these impotence and defects in his body and to attain a well-groomed, clean and healthy appearance. Indeed numerous factories are in operation to produce the products needed to overcome these defects. Following long-lasting researches and production-phase these products are released to the market and become instrumentail in meeting their needs. 


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Fatty Liver Histology compared to Normal Liver.

Normal Liver - Gordon & Sweet Stain (G&S)
Nice and fine reticulin fibres.

Normal Liver - Masson Trichrome Stain (MT)

Normal Liver - Perls' Prussian Blue Reaction (PBR)
No Haemosiderin.

Fatty Liver - H&E
Vacuoles = fat

Fatty Liver - Gordon & Sweet Stain (G&S)
Massive appearance of reticulin fibres.

Fatty Liver - Masson Trichrome Stain (MT)
Shows FIBRIN (red) which is an insoluble fibrillar protein from plasma fibrinogen. Its presence indicates tissue damage associated with an acute inflammatory reaction.

Fatty Liver - Perls' Prussian Blue Reaction (PBR)
Unclear haemosiderin (blue) showed. In pathologically, excess of iron, haemosiderin is deposited in liver.

South Park creators warned over Muhammad depiction

South Park has a track record of causing controversy

Islamists have warned the creators of TV show South Park they could face violent retribution for depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit.

A posting on the website of the US-based group, Revolution Muslim, told Matt Stone and Trey Parker they would "probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh".
The Dutch film-maker was shot and stabbed to death in 2004 by an Islamist angered by his film about Muslim women.
A subsequent episode of the cartoon bleeped out references to Muhammad.

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Dutch court acquits Arab group over cartoon

The Arab European League said Geert Wilders was treated more leniently

A Dutch court has acquitted an Arab cultural group of hate crime for publishing a cartoon on its website questioning the Holocaust.

The Dutch arm of the Arab European League said it had wanted to highlight what it said was double standards.
It published the cartoon last year after a decision by Dutch prosecutors not to put MP Geert Wilders on trial for distributing cartoons of Muhammad.

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Kempen tanam 26 juta pokok

PUTRAJAYA 22 April - Sempena Hari Bumi yang disambut di seluruh dunia hari ini, Malaysia melancarkan kempen di seluruh negara untuk menanam 26 juta pokok menjelang 2014.
Angka 26 juta dipilih berdasarkan kira-kira 26 juta penduduk Malaysia pada ketika ini.
Bersempena pelancaran kempen yang bertemakan Hijaukan Bumi: Satu Warga, Satu Pokok hari ini, 16,200 pokok telah ditanam dengan 500 daripadanya ditanam di tapak pelancarannya di sini.
Pelancaran kempen itu disempurnakan Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas di Presint 5 berhadapan Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC).

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Tahfiz boleh selesai masalah sosial

JAMIL Khir Baharom menyampaikan cenderamata berupa senaskah al-Quran kepada Mohd. Ali Rustam pada majlis perasmian Pertandingan Menghafaz al-Quran Peringkat Kebangsaan Ke-31 di Pusat Dagangan Antarabangsa Melaka (MITC) Ayer Keroh, Melaka, semalam. - utusan/Gaie Uchel

MELAKA 22 April - Golongan tahfiz di negara ini diminta tampil membantu menyelesaikan pelbagai permasalahan sosial yang melanda umat ketika ini.
Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim), Datuk Wan Mohamad Datuk Sheikh Abdul Aziz berkata, sebagai golongan yang mempunyai asas kukuh dalam pengajian al-Quran, mereka lebih diyakini umat Islam.
Justeru, menurut beliau, ia perlu diterjemahkan menerusi kebijaksanaan mengaplikasikan ilmu agama dan teknologi terkini bagi mengukuhkan keyakinan tersebut dan mendekati masyarakat.

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Tiada unsur sianida di Bukit Koman

KUALA LUMPUR 22 April - Hasil kajian Jabatan Kimia terhadap sampel air Sungai Koman serta air bawah tanah di Bukit Koman, Raub, Pahang mendapati tiada unsur sianida dikesan di kawasan itu.
Menurut kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Biro Pengaduan Awam (BPA), Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) hari ini, Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) serta Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains bagaimanapun akan terus membuat pemantauan terhadap tahap penggunaan sianida dalam aktiviti perlombongan emas di Bukit Koman.
Pemantauan itu bagi memastikan ia tidak membahayakan penduduk dan mencemarkan alam sekitar.

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THE ISLAMIC UNION OF SALADIN AL-AYYUBI

When the armies of the First Crusade reached the Middle East, the Muslims were divided into fractions stemming from various disputes and arguments. This disunity prevented them from putting up an effective resistance, and so the barbaric European invaders were able to create an empire centered on Jerusalem after slaughtering the native population. However, decades later, the Muslim commander Saladin united the different Muslim groups under his command and defeated the invaders.

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UNITING WITH RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCES-2

Jewish and Christian history is full of conflict because of continuing disunity. Christianity's first 16 centuries also can be described as the history of warring Christian sects. Even small differences in interpretation led to mutual accusations of heresy. The Catholic Church's persecution of religious denominations as the Cathars and the Bogomils from the eleventh century onward, as well as the century-long bloody war between the Protestants and the Catholics, coincide with the darkest era of European history. It is interesting to note that European civilization began to rise after this sectarian warfare ended.

People diverge in their religious practices and understandings because they do not practice morality, as commanded by Allah. This morality recognizes modesty.

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UNITING WITH RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCES-1

The necessity for Islamic union is based not only on the need for a political solution to end the current situation; rather, and more importantly, unity is a requirement of being a Muslim. As in all areas of their lives, Muslims have to abide by the Qur'an's values in their national and international policies. As this morality requires the Islamic world's reunification as a priority, taking Islamic morality as the guiding principle will make this alliance possible, as well as long-lived and active.

Islamic morality requires Muslims to be conciliatory at all times and to be brothers and sisters in faith, as well as in solidarity and union. Allah commands the believers to: "not quarrel among yourselves" (Surat al-Anfal, 46), for doing so will only weaken them. Another verse commands the following:

Do not be like those who split up and differed after the Clear Signs came to them. They will have a terrible punishment. (Surah Al‘Imran, 105)

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TOLERANCE, JUSTICE AND COMPASSION IN ISLAMIC MORALITY

Islam's rapid spread continued even after the Prophet's (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) death. Within a few decades, Islam spread to all of Mesopotamia and North Africa, and reached Spain in the west and India in the east.

Within 100 years, the Muslim empire spread over an immense area and firmly established itself. In this huge geographic area, many different religious denominations existed side by side. Most of them, however, were composed of Christians and Jews. The Muslims, as a general rule, were always very tolerant toward all religious groups in their lands, did not force people to embrace Islam, and respected every person's freedom of conscience, for the Qur'an says:

There is no compulsion where religion is concerned. (Surat al-Baqara, 256)

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THE ERROR OF THE COLLECTIVE PERSONALITY CONCERNING THE PROPHET Jesus (as) AND HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)-2-

The second coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) appearance in the End Times are the glad tidings that have been awaited by the Islamic world for centuries. Bediuzzaman has also provided detailed information regarding the appearance of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) in his works. Among this information are comprehensive statement concerning at what time and in what sort of climate Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear, what kinds of activities he will undertake, his assistants, his struggle, and how, together with the Prophet Jesus (as), he will cause Qur’anic moral values to prevail on Earth.

Yet although Said Nursi’s statements on these matters are very clear and distinct, the subject of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) may sometimes be misunderstood. Some people have clichéd responses they give whenever the subject is raised. When asked, Will an individual known as the Mahdi appear in the End Times? for example, they reply, No, the Mahdi will not come, a collective personality will come, or the Mahdi has already come. Because the Mahdi is a collective personality; that is the Mahdi who will appear. His collective personality already exists. In the same way, when asked Will the Prophet Jesus (as) come to Earth a second time? they respond, No. The Prophet Jesus (as) will not return; the Prophet Jesus (as) himself will descend to Earth, he will be in the world as a collective personality, or The Prophet Jesus (as) has already come, as the collective personality of the Mahdi. Some people try to back up their ideas by using the words of Bediuzzaman, saying, In his works, Bediuzzaman has not made any clear statements regarding the coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) and the Mahdi.

Yet this perspective is exceedingly mistaken and false. All these clichéd responses express solely a personal opinion, based on no evidence, maybe due to force of habit or else that has taken root in the public subconscious. Because Bediuzzaman has actually described the coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) in very clear terms; he has expressly stated that these personages awaited in the End Times will both appear as individuals, not as collective personalities.

This point can be clearly understood from Bediuzzaman’s statements about the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as):

 

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THE ERROR OF THE COLLECTIVE PERSONALITY CONCERNING THE PROPHET JESUS (as) AND HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) -1-

It is possible to give many examples of the statements which clarify the misconception about the concept of “collective personality” Bediuzzaman employed in his works. However, even only a few of these statements suffice to clarify that Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in the End Times, together with the collective personality of the community of believers and that they will lead these communities.

It is revealed in verses of the Qur’an that the Prophet Jesus (as) did not die but was taken into the Presence of Allah, and that he will return again to Earth to the accompaniment of various portents. Our Prophet (saas) has also revealed in great detail in the hadiths that the Prophet Jesus (as) will miraculously return to Earth in the final times and will bring peace, justice and felicity to the world by uniting Christians and Muslims in a common faith around Islam. These statements and signs in the Qur’an and the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) are to clear and detailed to leave any room for any doubts.

 

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CARA-CARA MENUTUP AURAT

SATAN’S PRIDE HAS LED HIM TO DENIAL UNTIL DOOMSDAY

Pride and obstinacy, the deification and elevation of earthly desires in other words, are two of the main subjects on which people are tested in this world. God reveals in the Qur’an that pride and arrogance are a characteristic of deniers and those who deviate into blasphemy: But those who do not believe are full of vainglory and entrenched in hostility. (Surah Sad, 2) FULL ARCHIVE

Beauty and Aesthetics in Islam

Since its outset, Islamic art followed a selective process that favoured certain motifs and styles to others. This process was undertaken by the artists themselves, many of whom were converts to the new religion and, thus, compliant with the new ethical and aesthetic criteria and to the new patrons' needs to which art, hence forward, had to comply. Among these needs, those of worship played a predominant role. It was in religious architecture that Islamic art first expressed its genius for integrating pre-existing artistic traditions and adapting them to its own scopes and demands. The best examples of this kind of early integrations are the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem - the first monument of Islam (688-692 CE) - and the Umayyad Great Mosque in Damascus (ca. 706-716 CE).

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Figure 1: An Abru (marbling) sample from Dr. Mehmet Kileci. (Source). FULL ARCHIVE

Negara Islam ketawakan Eropah selamatkan Greece

BRUSSELS 18 April - Negara-negara Islam 'ketawa' dengan usaha Eropah bergelut dalam krisis hutang yang melemahkan Greece, sekali gus memberi kesan buruk kepada pasaran terbuka terbesar dunia, menurut ketua Forum Ekonomi Dunia Islam. 

Tun Musa Hitam yang juga bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia berkata demikian kepada AFP di Brussels ketika Kesatuan Eropah (EU) merancang memberi bantuan jaminan bagi membolehkan Athens membuat pembiayaan semula berpuluh-puluh bilion euro untuk pembayaran hutang dan menghapuskan komitmen belanjawan kepada anggota EU.

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http://www.1001inventions.com/

For a thousand years, Muslim civilisation stretched from southern Spain as far as China. From the 7th century onwards, scholars of many faiths built on the ancient knowledge of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, making breakthroughs that paved the way for the Renaissance.

The discoveries made by men and women in Muslim civilisation have left their mark on the way we live today. 1001 Inventions uncovers a thousand years of science and technology that had a huge but hidden impact on the modern world.

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The Influence of Islamic Culinary Art on Europe

The fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE brought a halt to the advance of human civilization. It was only in the 7th century CE that another civilization of comparable proportions arose in a totally unexpected area: Arabia. This heralded a period of transition for the world, as Islam expanded beyond the ethnic boundaries of its Messenger.
As different areas embraced Islam, the Arabs encountered a whole range of fruits and vegetables previously unknown to them. The transplantation of a diversity of crops and fruit-bearing trees to different climates became the challenge that motivated the Islamic Agricultural Revolution.

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Figure 1: Frontispiece of the Latin translation of a medical work by Ibn Zuhr, the De Cognitu difficilibus (Venice, 1628). FULL ARCHIVE

The Courtyard Houses of Syria

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Figure 1: The Al-Azem Palace in Hama. Photo taken by the author.

Courtyard housing dates back to the beginning of the third millennium before common era when it appeared in the buildings of Bilad al-Sham and those of the region between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Arab nomads made use of the concept of a courtyard during their travels and stay in the desert. They set up their tents around a central space, which provided shelter and security to their cattle. With the development of Arab-Islamic architecture, the courtyard became an essential typological element. It is likely that the previous nomadic desert lifestyle of Arabs had a strong influence on their permanent houses. The courtyard therefore fulfils a deep-rooted need for an open living area. The following article describes the typology of the Syrian courtyard house, and presents a number of examples of courtyard houses in Aleppo.

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The Economic Theory of Ibn Khaldun and the Rise and Fall of Nations

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Figure 1: Statue of Ibn Khaldun in Tunis. (Source).

Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406/808) was a 14th century Muslim thinker, born in what is now Tunisia, who wrote on many subjects, including on the rise and fall of nations in his Muqaddima. His writings on economics, economic surplus and economic oriented policies are as relevant today as they were during his time. His emphasis on reduced government expenditure for mercenary armies has been heeded by many developed countries which are in the process of implementing his policy prescriptions in order to increase economic surplus by shifting resources to education and human development. He opposed taxation and tariffs that discouraged trade and production.
Ibn Khaldun opposed state involvement in trade and production activities. He thought that bureaucrats cannot understand commercial activities and they do not have the same motivations as tradesmen. He predicted relative decline of economic surplus and the decline of countries in which state involvement in trade and production exists. He saw a large army as an impediment to the expansion of trade, production and economic surplus.

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Ibn Khaldun’s Theory of Taxation and its Relevance Today

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Figure 1: The imaginary portrait of Ibn Khaldun in a Tunisian 10 Dinar banknote. (Source).

Ibn Khaldun's theory of taxation has been considered an original and one of his most important contributions to economic thought. It is his theory of taxation that has cemented his position in the history of economics. The present paper has a limited scope. It aims at an analytical study of this theory. It is only one aspect of Ibn Khaldun's host of economic ideas. It also attempts to present empirical evidence that may support and strengthen his theory of taxation. Finally the paper examines its practicality and relevance today. But at the outset, as a background knowledge, it briefly presents Ibn Khaldun's life sketch, introduces his most outstanding work the Muqaddimah and the economic ideas found in this work. Since Ibn Khaldun's discussion of taxation is mixed with his discussion of expenditures of government at various stages, and they provide justification for taxation, this aspect has also been dealt with before taxation.

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THE CONTINUITY OF THE SEASONS

The seasons result from the fact that the Earth does not revolve around its own axis at the same speed it does around the Sun. This, of course, is a manifestation of a glorious order created by our Lord. Had God so wished, winter would have lasted for 365 days a year, and we would know no other kind of life. By creating four seasons, God imparts many different kinds of blessings on human beings.

God has created the seasons throughout the known course of human history right up to the present day. And He is still doing so. Everyone expects spring to be followed by summer, and nobody has any doubts on the subject. And summer duly comes. However, if God so chooses there may never be another summer on Earth. This fact is so that people who live by the Qur’an should reflect deeply on and give thanks for the blessings bestowed by God.

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BELIEVERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE OF OPPRESSED MUSLIMS ALL OVER THE WORLD

WOULD THAT THERE HAD BEEN MORE PEOPLE with a vestige of good among the generations of those who came before you, WHO FORBADE CORRUPTION IN THE EARTH, other than the few among them whom We saved. Those who did wrong gladly pursued the life of luxury that they were given and were evildoers.(Surah Hud, 116)

The Qur’an emphasizes the selfish nature of human beings’ earthly nature in the words, “Truly man was created headstrong –desperate when bad things happen…” (Surat al-Ma’arij, 19-20)

When people encounter situations that are difficult in terms of their earthly desires, when they find themselves in difficulties, they make enormous efforts to free themselves. However, because of the selfish nature of earthly desires, they do not show the necessary sympathy for situations that others find themselves in but that do not affect or discomfort them personally. They never try to resolve other people’s problems with the same energy and determination they exhibit in the face of their own.

No such behaviour is possible in true Muslim moral values. A true believer will regard the difficulties or troubles of another Muslim as his own, even if that person is at the other end of the world. He will use all the material and other means God has given him; his reason, intelligence, conscience, abilities, knowledge and talent, to the very end in order to find a solution. He will never say, “There are many people who are cleverer and more effective than I am who can find a solution to this problem, so let them take care of it.” Almost every days brings with it reports in the newspapers and on the television of the terrible scale of the oppression that Muslims are subjected to. The world is obviously in a state of chaos. Muslims are clearly exposed to a policy of aggression all over the world. The rights of Muslims who are tortured, oppressed, taken away from their homes with no explanation being given and never heard of again or kept prisoner in jails with no justification ever being provided are not being protected.

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Dilarang masuk kelas kerana tudung

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MADRID 17 April - Persatuan pendatang Maghribi di Sepanyol semalam mengutuk keputusan sebuah sekolah yang melarang seorang pelajar berusia 16 tahun memasuki kelas kerana enggan menanggalkan tudung.
"Sejak beberapa minggu lalu, Najwa Malha tidak dibenarkan masuk ke kelas, yang nyata bertentangan dengan haknya untuk mendapatkan pendidikan asas seperti yang tertulis dalam perlembagaan," kata ketua persatuan tersebut, Kamal Ramoini.

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Cobra hood mechanism revealed by electrode study

Scientists have uncovered the mechanism behind the menacing "hood flare" which cobras use as a defensive display. By measuring the electrical activity from the snakes' muscles, they found the precise group of muscles used by cobras to raise their hoods.

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Lowest lpart of Sebako Waterfall

ENLARGE

This picture is taken during my fieldwork, Joint Unimas and University of Copenhagen in Kpg Sebako, Sarawak, Malaysia from 5-16 March 2010.

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THE DARWINIST DICTATORSHIP - 29.09.2008 UNITED KINGDOM/THE INDEPENDENT

The 29 September, 2008, issue of The Independent, one of Britain’s major dailies, carried a report headed, "Creationist offers prize for fossil proof of evolution." The paper, which has a circulation of 250,000, considered the impact of Adnan Oktar's activities in Britain, saying:

... creationist [Adnan Oktar]... has offered a multitrillion-pound challenge to scientists.

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THE SECRET BEHIND THE CREATION OF GOOD AND EVIL

The life of this world is a test specially created by Allah. It is a transitory thing with both good and bad in which human beings are tested.
There is, of course, considerable wisdom in this. It is essential that evil exist beside good for people to understand the value of Paradise.

Human beings are tested in terms of the virtuous behavior they display, by Allah’s leave, in this sphere in which the good are divided from the evil.

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GOD INCREASES HIS BLESSINGS ON THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL

Every person is in need of God at every instant of life. From the air one breathes to the food he eats, from the ability to use one's hands to the faculty of speech, from being sheltered to being in a joyful spirit, one lives completely in need of what God creates and grants him.

Still, a vast majority of people do not perceive their weaknesses and that they are in need of God. They suppose that things develop spontaneously or that they acquire everything by their own efforts.

This is an important error, as well as a serious ingratitude towards God. Ironically, people who render their thanks to a person for even an insignificant gift, spend all their lives ignoring the countless blessings that God gives them all through their lives.

However, so great are the blessings granted to a person that one could never count them. God relates this fact in a verse as follows:

    If you tried to number God's blessings, you could never count them. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat an-Nahl: 18)

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THE ORIGINAL OF THE MATTER CREATED IN THE BRAIN: YOU MUST FIRST READ THIS TO SEE THE ARTISTRY OF ALLAH!

A mighty waterfall tumbling down from on high, the boundless oceans and the glorious, stunning mountains are all matchless works of Allah.

The stars, clouds, birds and fish are all His miracles. Most people are in no doubt that a green forest that blossoms once again, grows and flourishes in the spring is one of the beautiful and glorious works of Allah.

Some people, however, regard skyscrapers, airplanes, laboratories and computers rather differently. The fact that these are made and built by human beings deceives them.

They imagine that technology, civilization, scientific and technical progress are independent of Allah (Allah forbid) and forget that the human beings who are instrumental in their coming into existence are also created by Him.

They fail to think that Allah, Who has made clouds the cause of rain and the Sun the cause of light, has also made man the cause of technology and civilization.

They make the error of thinking that human beings have a power independent of Allah (Allah forbid) and that human beings invented the Internet, that human beings cause planes to fly, that human beings invented the tea spoon or biro, that human beings build space craft and that human beings discovered the forces responsible for keeping planes aloft.

They imagine that plasma TVs, CD players, carpets, lampshades, cars and the products of advanced technology all appeared as the result of human intelligence and ability.

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ALLAH CREATES OUR WORLD AS IMAGES IN THE BRAIN

Everything we see as matter in fact consists merely of photons for us. Photons are light particles with varying wavelengths.

These waves reach us and turn into electrical signals when they strike the retina in our eyes. The electrical signals move along a predetermined path and eventually reach the visual center in the brain. And there they assume meaning in a quite amazing way: We are sure that what we see is really there, and that there really is a television or a skyscraper in front of us.

No matter how convincing the image of a skyscraper may be, what you perceive as matter in fact consists of nothing more than electrical signals. And the image forms in your brain, not in front of you. The real image of the skyscraper outside will never reach you.

All you perceive, as electrical signals, is the light waves emitted from it. To put it another way, what you see is nothing more than light waves and electrical signals. For that reason, throughout your life you only experience an illusory image of a skyscraper, never the original of it. Despite being an illusion, however, it still has a perfectly clear and flawless appearance.

It is very difficult for you to realize the fact that it consists only of electrical signals. The image is so perfectly created in the brain that it is almost impossible to distinguish it from the original. This is the immaculate artistry of our Almighty Lord.

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ASTRONAUTS HAVE FAITH IN ALLAH

Astronauts are people who feel the existence and might of Allah in the face of the magnificence of the completely dark outer space, and who appreciate the smallness of their own existence in comparison to the very big space. 

On the other hand, they realize that nothing scatters randomly in the outer space, and that the universe has an extraordinary order. For example, they notice that if planets moved faster on their orbits, they would be scattered across the outer space, but that they move in a very stable way due to Sun’s force of gravity. 

They also notice that the Earth has an exceptionally sensitive axial tilt, and in the absence of this tilt, the temperature difference between the polar region and the equator would increase extremely and that would make the atmosphere uninhabitable. 

They witness countless details like these and notice that there is a flawless working mechanism in each and every corner of the universe. That is the reason why most astronauts come back to Earth, as people who believe in Allah, after long space journeys.

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PEOPLE GROW ARROGANT DESPITE THEIR HELPLESSNESS

Allah has created human body with great artistry. 

All of the spectacular physical characteristics, such as the skeleton system that enables us to move easily, circular system that feeds 100 million cells one by one, blood that carries the oxygen, heart that makes the blood run through the blood vessels and reach every cell, liver that performs 500 different chemical activities in one cell and hundreds of other systems with countless details, are given to people by Allah in order for them to live in comfort. 

Cells, which make up the body and are too small to be seen with the naked eye, the hormones and enzymes produced by these cells, and hundreds of thousands of details like these are in complete harmony with one another, and each one has miraculous features that make life possible for a human being. 

Each of these perfectly run systems move with a mighty intelligence. This superior intelligence is the Creator of the universe, the Almighty, All-Wise Allah.

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MUSLIMS AND SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT

One of the lights of Islamic morality that illuminated humanity's path was scientific thought. Pre-Islamic Arab and some other Middle Eastern societies had never been concerned with the universe and how nature came to be or how it works. But this attitude changed with the Qur'anic revelation, for Allah tells people to inquire into the origins of the heavens and Earth:

[People with intelligence are] those who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and Earth [saying]: "Our Lord, You have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire." (Surah Al ‘Imran, 191)

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THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF A MUSLIM SHOULD BE DEVELOPING THE ISLAMIC WORLD-2

Islamic morality, on the other hand, frees people from all kinds of worries and anxieties that trouble their minds. 

Believers only heed Allah and seek to win only His good pleasure. Fully aware of their responsibilities to our Lord, they live by their conscience at all times and, as such, are content and well-balanced individuals. 

They offer their environment goodness and beauty. This morality frees people from the pressures of envy, excessive desire, fear of the future and death, and other attitudes and fears that are incompatible with religious morality. 

Freed of these negative characteristics, they experience the freedom and peace derived from submitting to Allah.


FULL ARCHIVE

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF A MUSLIM SHOULD BE DEVELOPING THE ISLAMIC WORLD-1

One of the Islamic world's most serious problems is its general underdevelopment. 

Therefore, one of the Islamic Union's priorities must be to develop the Islamic world by supporting the poorer countries and resolving their economic problems. 

This can be done by fighting poverty,—encouraging new investments, creating jobs,—achieving law and order throughout society, removing economic injustice and guaranteeing social justice, and strengthening international as well as regional cooperation and dialogue.

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FOSTERING A SENSE OF UNITY - 1

Unity requires awareness, devotion, allegiance, and loyalty. Allah prescribes unity for Muslims and reveals that Satan will attempt to create conflict in order to prevent this unity. 

Muslims are obliged to refrain from hurtful words, anger, disrespectfulness, and all other behavior that could damage this sense of unity when dealing with fellow Muslims. 

Each Muslim is required to be devoted to others, patient, work for the good of others, and loyal and true. All Muslims must adopt these superior qualities.


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MUSLIMS WILL BE STRONG WHEN UNITED

Just as disputes and quarrels weaken Muslims spiritually, unity and solidarity strengthen them. For instance, destroying irreligious ideologies will be possible only when the Muslims unite.

However, what truly makes the believers' union so strong is their faith and loyalty. Since only genuine faith can engender true friendship and alliance, Muslims must love one another with a pure heart and for the good pleasure of Allah, without the slightest selfish interest. 

A union built on the strongest foundation known to humanity—the fear and love of Allah—will never shatter, unless Allah wills otherwise. With the following verse, Allah points out that success does not depend upon a group's size:

How many a small force has triumphed over a much greater one by Allah's permission! Allah is with the steadfast. (Surat al-Baqara, 249)

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RETURNING TO FAITH ''My faith lies behind my success''

Kolo Habib Touré is a famous football player who plays for and captains Premier League club Manchester City of UK and plays for the Ivorian national team. 

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ATLAS OF CREATION

INTRODUCTION

Charles Darwin

Some 150 years ago, the British naturalist Charles Darwin proposed a theory based on various observations made during his travels, but which could not be supported by any subsequent scientific findings. In essence, his theory of evolution consisted of various scenarios, assumptions and conjectures that Darwin dreamed up in his own imagination.

According to his evolution scenario, inanimate substances came together by chance to give rise to the first living cell. No doubt this claim was highly inaccurate, and one that could not be corroborated by any scientific evidence or findings. Again according to that myth, this single-celled life form gradually—and again by chance—turned into the first living species of microbe—in other words, it evolved. According to the evolution error, all the life forms on Earth, from bacteria on up to human beings, emerged as the result of this same imaginary process.

Darwin's claims were of course based on no scientific evidence or findings. But since the scientific understanding and technological means available at the time were at a fairly primitive level, the full extent of the ridiculous and unrealistic nature of his assertions did not emerge fully into the light of day. In such a climate, Darwin's scenarios received general acceptance from a wide number of circles.

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THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN

The Sun is the largest body in the Solar System. It is exceedingly hot and consists of burning gases. Explosions like millions of atom bombs going off take place the whole time on its surface. These explosions throw up giant flames 40 or 50 times bigger than our Earth.

The Sun is like a huge ball of fire that gives off enormous heat and light from its surface. Space, however, is pitch black. Our Earth is a heavenly body in that blackness. And, no other heavenly body in that darkness apart from the Sun can warm and brighten our Earth. Were it not for the Sun, it would be permanent night, and everywhere would be covered in ice. Life would therefore be impossible, and we would not exist.

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Manifestations of insincerity in speech (Silence)

Another reaction that reveals insincerity is when people who normally display a lively, cheerful character and engage in sustained, warm conversations, are confronted with criticism.

Suddenly they fall silent and seem unable to speak. Believers in the true faith lose none of their eager willpower, even under the most difficult circumstances. On the contrary, such circumstances make them more eager still and they show the strength of their faith by making even greater efforts.

In such circumstances, of course, people who prefer to remain silent rather than provide satisfactory explanations do so as a protest. In this way, they want to wear down the believer who is warning them. But when they are told that this behavior is unseemly, they offer the excuse that they said nothing because nothing crossed their minds.

Behavior of this type is carried out cunningly and cannot be proved. Again, it can be detected and recognized only with the sixth sense. An insincere person takes advantage of the lack of proof and continues his protest. But with this ugly obstinacy, he loses both Allah's approval and the trust, respect and affection of the faithful.

Because of his crafty plans, the person in question has an extremely confused spiritual state. He lives with a troubled conscience, knowing that what he's done is insincere, and lives with continual tension and discomfort. This, too, is one of the torments given by Allah to people who practice insincerity.