It is no secret that Osama was within the reach of Americans when the higher Authority let him go, back in 2001 or so.
Saddam was attacked and was known to be rogue to Americans in 1991 and Bush Senior did not take him Kuwait was liberated (that was within a couple of days of carpet bombing of Bughdad) but Bush continued destruction of Saddam's army and people with much loss of life mostly that of Iraqis. Then everything was left to Bush Junior for attacking and capturing Saddam, there was no hurry here.
while Osama who was the main and the first taget roamed free in Afghanistan.
One wonders what is the aim, what is he purpose of fighting and killing.
War means loss of life and security for all and it continues unabated all over the world today, not just Pakistan.
Are we more civilized than Changez Khan or Halakoo Khan?
Big news about the treatment of prisoners in Iran, but no news of the prisoners in Israel.
Does political arrangement mean fraud only?
Put a label of sun on darkness and call the darkness, a sun and then insist on everybody to agree on that statement.
This is the sum of of our leaders of the most advanced and most civilized nations of the world today.
Feel like striking my forehead against the wall/stone.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
Jum'ah Journal-Spirit of Sacrifice
Hajj is a kind of worship of Allah in which physical, financial, emotional and spiritual participation is required, all. Sacrifice is for hajjis sort of marking the end of nearly all rituals of this worship in which the Muslims all over the world participate, sacrificing a specified animal.
Commemorating the almost sacrifice of the son by Prophet Ibrahim AS.
Detatch your self from all the religious dictates etc. and just think about sacrificing your own son, with your own hand.
Well, that is what that man was doing and the son was prepared for it too. That is amazing in itself.
Now, in addition to the "commemoration" what would you sacrifice?
I have often thought that one of the most diffricult things to sacrifice is of -- "SELF" your ego your self, how you value your own self your own thoughts and ideas etc. In the language of Qur'an I would draw your attention to lust, desire etc. a translation of "Hawa"
"Hast thou ever considered (the kind of man) who makes his own desires his deity. and whom God has (thereupon) let go astray......"
As if following your own desires in opposition to the teachings of Qur'an is making your desire your god. That is a very powerful statement.
That should make us look again at our feelings if they make us feel good about things for which God has a punishment spelled out. We need to 'sacrifice' that good feeling.
Commemorating the almost sacrifice of the son by Prophet Ibrahim AS.
Detatch your self from all the religious dictates etc. and just think about sacrificing your own son, with your own hand.
Well, that is what that man was doing and the son was prepared for it too. That is amazing in itself.
Now, in addition to the "commemoration" what would you sacrifice?
I have often thought that one of the most diffricult things to sacrifice is of -- "SELF" your ego your self, how you value your own self your own thoughts and ideas etc. In the language of Qur'an I would draw your attention to lust, desire etc. a translation of "Hawa"
"Hast thou ever considered (the kind of man) who makes his own desires his deity. and whom God has (thereupon) let go astray......"
As if following your own desires in opposition to the teachings of Qur'an is making your desire your god. That is a very powerful statement.
That should make us look again at our feelings if they make us feel good about things for which God has a punishment spelled out. We need to 'sacrifice' that good feeling.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
12th of Zdul-Hijja
Many Hajjis spend this day in Mina as before, perform the stoning of three Shaitans (Always starting from the great, then go to middle and finally to the little. For sacrifice today would be the last day option.
Now if they wish they can end their stay or continue for one more day (Option given by Allah SWT in Qur'an). The condition is if they are still in mina and sun is set then they MUST stay for the 13th day and do final day of stoning after which ALL Hajjis will finish and leave Mina. If they are leaving they must leave by 'Assr time.
Continuing the Journey, they go back to Makkah-al-Mukarrama from mina. The traveling is by buses, by cars, on foot (Very wide roads constructed for that purpose) and many of you will remember the TUNNELS that the Government had developed for cutting short the distance of walking. Tunnels have good air circulation propelled by large fans.
They will stay in Makkah for the last Tawaf of Hajj (Each tawaf has seven circumambulations, each one beginning from the black stone. Then those who are staying more days in Makkah will perform the tawaf-el-Wida' (Parting tawaf) and then leave.
I have NOT described ALL the performances/arkaan or rituals but only made some comments about some of the rituals and tawafs. Please do not draw a conclusion that I have missed out some aspects. I would be glad to answer questions (To the best of my ability) if any, and would certainly welcome your comments.
I am going to take the option of 12 days and finish my note on Hajj for this year. Would wait for the Hajjis to come and tell us their first hand information of this year. There was lot of rain early on I am told and rain is rare in that part of the country (It was heavy, so I am waiting to learn from the hajjis)
Now if they wish they can end their stay or continue for one more day (Option given by Allah SWT in Qur'an). The condition is if they are still in mina and sun is set then they MUST stay for the 13th day and do final day of stoning after which ALL Hajjis will finish and leave Mina. If they are leaving they must leave by 'Assr time.
Continuing the Journey, they go back to Makkah-al-Mukarrama from mina. The traveling is by buses, by cars, on foot (Very wide roads constructed for that purpose) and many of you will remember the TUNNELS that the Government had developed for cutting short the distance of walking. Tunnels have good air circulation propelled by large fans.
They will stay in Makkah for the last Tawaf of Hajj (Each tawaf has seven circumambulations, each one beginning from the black stone. Then those who are staying more days in Makkah will perform the tawaf-el-Wida' (Parting tawaf) and then leave.
I have NOT described ALL the performances/arkaan or rituals but only made some comments about some of the rituals and tawafs. Please do not draw a conclusion that I have missed out some aspects. I would be glad to answer questions (To the best of my ability) if any, and would certainly welcome your comments.
I am going to take the option of 12 days and finish my note on Hajj for this year. Would wait for the Hajjis to come and tell us their first hand information of this year. There was lot of rain early on I am told and rain is rare in that part of the country (It was heavy, so I am waiting to learn from the hajjis)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
11th of Zdulhijja
Today you complete if you have not completed the things of the 10th day but if you are done you continue your stay in Mina where you get up in the morning and about Zawal time go for stoning of Shataan.
This is a symbolic stoning but people think there is real shaitaan hiding behind that column. In actual fact the column is there to make sure the stone falls in the appropriate area wherein it must fall to be counted. Some would throw their shoes also and you find a heap of thrown slippers or flipflops around that shaitaan. That is unnecessary burdon for the Saudi Government to collect and throw away somewhere else or send it to Haram Shareef for "recycling" Many slippers are thus available free during these days.
Why the stoning?
May be because Ibraheem AS when he was carrying his son for sacrifice the Satan tried to dissuade him and he threw the stone at him three times---BUT really speaking Muslims do it because the prophet Sallah-o-alaih-i-wasallam did it.. The rest of the day you have prayers and takbeer, a special gift of Allah for us we as Muslims make this takbeer-glorify Allah after every salat in loud voices in all the Muslim world. So we say
Allaho Akber x3 La ilaha illallah allahoakber wa lillahil Hamd, repeating ususally three times after each salat. This takbeer begins after Fajr salat on 9th day and the last takbeer is recited after 'Assr salat of 13th Day of ZdulHijja
Keep tracking we are not done yet the Hajjis most important and most difficult performances are done but just one or two more days to go and he/she will be free to go home.
This is a symbolic stoning but people think there is real shaitaan hiding behind that column. In actual fact the column is there to make sure the stone falls in the appropriate area wherein it must fall to be counted. Some would throw their shoes also and you find a heap of thrown slippers or flipflops around that shaitaan. That is unnecessary burdon for the Saudi Government to collect and throw away somewhere else or send it to Haram Shareef for "recycling" Many slippers are thus available free during these days.
Why the stoning?
May be because Ibraheem AS when he was carrying his son for sacrifice the Satan tried to dissuade him and he threw the stone at him three times---BUT really speaking Muslims do it because the prophet Sallah-o-alaih-i-wasallam did it.. The rest of the day you have prayers and takbeer, a special gift of Allah for us we as Muslims make this takbeer-glorify Allah after every salat in loud voices in all the Muslim world. So we say
Allaho Akber x3 La ilaha illallah allahoakber wa lillahil Hamd, repeating ususally three times after each salat. This takbeer begins after Fajr salat on 9th day and the last takbeer is recited after 'Assr salat of 13th Day of ZdulHijja
Keep tracking we are not done yet the Hajjis most important and most difficult performances are done but just one or two more days to go and he/she will be free to go home.
Friday, November 27, 2009
EID DAY--Yaum-un-Nahr
Hajis travel next from Arafaat to Muzdalifa where they spent the night
1. resting
2. Paying, of course
3. Collecting pebbles, getting ready for "stoning of Satan"
At Dawn this am they departed from Mudalifa after Fajr payer and this is going to be the busiest day. First thing is stoning of Great Shatan. Everybody wants to do that the same time and that causes problem. Anyway that done (throwing each pebble with allah-o-Akber seven of them) they move back to Mina where they visit the slaughter houses (Camels, Cowes, Sheep. Goats and lambs all available, take your pick, say bismillah Allah-o-akber on the knife and the man will do it for you in a second. Thousands of animals are sacrificed there and elsewhere all over the Muslim world, so everybody gets to eat meat today. They try to get all meat to all the poor people who cannot afford.
In other parts of the muslim world they do their animals and they are done,
Happy Eid-ul-Ad-Ha
Hajjis have more to do, they can come out of Ihram take a shower if they can after cutting the hair ---Halaq ==shaving the head, or with machine and qassr ---cuting with scissors shortening to more than 50% of the existing crop. Now they are out of Ihram, they can use toothe paste, soap and cut nails etc. and use perfume.
Then they must go to Makkah and perform Tawaf (Circumambulation--seven times-- around K'abah) and then get back to Mina before sunset. This is called Tawaf Ziyara.
Yes that is a lot to do. If you could not do all things in one day you can do it the following day
You stay in Mina and daily perform stoning of Satan with the collected pebbles seven of them for each of the three Satans
Great one. Middle one and the third "small one"
Keep tracking my dear, there is more to come. The Journey is not over yet.
1. resting
2. Paying, of course
3. Collecting pebbles, getting ready for "stoning of Satan"
At Dawn this am they departed from Mudalifa after Fajr payer and this is going to be the busiest day. First thing is stoning of Great Shatan. Everybody wants to do that the same time and that causes problem. Anyway that done (throwing each pebble with allah-o-Akber seven of them) they move back to Mina where they visit the slaughter houses (Camels, Cowes, Sheep. Goats and lambs all available, take your pick, say bismillah Allah-o-akber on the knife and the man will do it for you in a second. Thousands of animals are sacrificed there and elsewhere all over the Muslim world, so everybody gets to eat meat today. They try to get all meat to all the poor people who cannot afford.
In other parts of the muslim world they do their animals and they are done,
Happy Eid-ul-Ad-Ha
Hajjis have more to do, they can come out of Ihram take a shower if they can after cutting the hair ---Halaq ==shaving the head, or with machine and qassr ---cuting with scissors shortening to more than 50% of the existing crop. Now they are out of Ihram, they can use toothe paste, soap and cut nails etc. and use perfume.
Then they must go to Makkah and perform Tawaf (Circumambulation--seven times-- around K'abah) and then get back to Mina before sunset. This is called Tawaf Ziyara.
Yes that is a lot to do. If you could not do all things in one day you can do it the following day
You stay in Mina and daily perform stoning of Satan with the collected pebbles seven of them for each of the three Satans
Great one. Middle one and the third "small one"
Keep tracking my dear, there is more to come. The Journey is not over yet.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving/Arafat
Happy thanksgiving to all including those who are on Hajj and they will be the ones who will be offering thnaks to the one and only God in Arafat grounds today for having been forgiven for their all sins and those not on Hajj are at home offering their prayers as usual ans thnaking God for having given them the purities and nicities of life.
Hajjis travel again today fron Mina for their second stop--Arafaat grounds. where they offer two prayers together Dzuhr and 'Asr and then start prayers for themselves for their family for their friends etc. all the human beings' needs of this world--- from Zawal time till sunset time standing in prayers singly and in groups 3 to 5 million of them in vast grounds with no b uildings except one masjid. nothing between Man and God. You can almost feel the angels running around gathering all the good prayers of the believers for their Lord to present to The Almighty
Lord! these are your believers who came from far and near tired and humble in humble attires, so Lord accept their deeds and their prayers and the vastness of the Almighty's mercy spreads to all and He is gorgiving and merciful as always.
Hajjis travel again today fron Mina for their second stop--Arafaat grounds. where they offer two prayers together Dzuhr and 'Asr and then start prayers for themselves for their family for their friends etc. all the human beings' needs of this world--- from Zawal time till sunset time standing in prayers singly and in groups 3 to 5 million of them in vast grounds with no b uildings except one masjid. nothing between Man and God. You can almost feel the angels running around gathering all the good prayers of the believers for their Lord to present to The Almighty
Lord! these are your believers who came from far and near tired and humble in humble attires, so Lord accept their deeds and their prayers and the vastness of the Almighty's mercy spreads to all and He is gorgiving and merciful as always.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Let the Journey (Hajj) Begin
Muslim Pilgrimage is time oriented--ONLY at this time of the year. A Lesser pilgrimage-Umrah- can be peformed any time of the year except during these days 5 of Hajj beginning today, the eighth of Zdul-Hijjah. The number of people performing Hajj this year are ther today and after Fajr Salat in Makkah-al-Mukarramah they bathed, cleaned and took off their clothes to wear two unsewen pieces of cloth, women however donned clean clothes sewen and fully covering themselves except for face:
They put on the "Ihraam" and made intention of Hajj.(Tamattu')
Those who had Ihraam already and made intention for Hajj only (Mufrad) joined them.
This is Yaum-ut-Tarwiyyah
Journey has begun --first stop Mina-- a camp outside Makkah in Mina where they are spending about 24 hours praying (five salats, starting from Zduhr until the Fajr of the next day after which---march again) resting relaxing before the day of Hajj (9th). My friend who performed Hajj before I did, told me
Mina is like a huge camp of picnic. Yes it is.
They put on the "Ihraam" and made intention of Hajj.(Tamattu')
Those who had Ihraam already and made intention for Hajj only (Mufrad) joined them.
This is Yaum-ut-Tarwiyyah
Journey has begun --first stop Mina-- a camp outside Makkah in Mina where they are spending about 24 hours praying (five salats, starting from Zduhr until the Fajr of the next day after which---march again) resting relaxing before the day of Hajj (9th). My friend who performed Hajj before I did, told me
Mina is like a huge camp of picnic. Yes it is.
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