Qasseda Mehfil in Mumbra

Last night there was a Qaseeda programme "Jashn-e-Noor" at Mumbra, Thane near Bombay. It was organised by Samar Hasan Rizvi. local and outstation poets graced this celebration dedicated to Imam Mahdi (a.s.) with beautiful and meaningful poems. The venue was Madrassa of Imam Hasan (a.s.), Achanak Nagar.
The programme started with the speech of Maulana Aneesul Hasan Sahab, the Imam of Juma & Jama'at of Bombay Shia Khoja Masjid, Dongri.
It was compered by Najeeb Allahabadi. This was the 23rd year of this Celebration. It has been always held on the last Saturday night of the month of Sha'baan. The programme continued till sunrise of the next day.
Below is the video recording of a poet, Mr. Ehtesham, who had come a long way from Jammu to attend this spiritual celebration.

France: The Ban on Hijab is Talibanic Approach

The ban on Muslim women wearing a veil in France is not a precautionary step in thwarting "Terrorism" or "Islamic Extremism” or Innovation. If France were concerned with the humanitarianism aspect of preventing Muslim women from being forced to wear the veil they could implement social organizations and make support groups and safe houses for those women who are truly being persecuted. But instead they are prohibiting women who choose to wear a veil from getting an education, working in government offices, taking public transportation and in retrospect, forbidding them from leaving their homes (which, in all its hypocrisy is tantamount to the same crimes on women of which the Taliban were accused.)

The burqa or veil is worn by Muslim women when they leave their homes to go out in public places. There is no need in Islam to cover one’s body as such when she is at home with her family. So the very places France has banned the veil are ALL of the places a Muslim woman would wear it. Therefore the message France is sending to Muslim women of France is, “If we can’t see your face, we don’t want to see you at all.” And the message France is sending to the world is, “We will not tolerate anything but conformity to our way of life, our culture, and what we dictate as the acceptable societal norms.”

For the majority of Muslim women, to wear a veil is a choice they have made in order to dress more modestly and in turn pleasing The Creator(Allah). The veil for Muslims dates back to the wives of the Prophet Muhammad(peace & blessings be upon him). They all wore the veil. These women were and still are held in the highest esteem and are referred to as the "Mothers of the Believers." Their superior character and righteousness is a desirable thing to be emulated. Therefore many women choose to wear the veil in honor of dressing and behaving as these women had. There is even evidence of the importance of the veil in the Qur’an (although there are differences of opinion on whether it’s voluntary or mandatory so both are accepted). And it is documented in the Hadith (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad) that the women heard the verses in the Qur’an about covering themselves and they immediately covered their faces as well. They are considered the BEST generation of Muslims with the BEST understanding of Islam. So for a Muslim woman to wear a veil is an exemplary act of worship and not a despicable act of innovation or extremism.

The irony of this is that a woman can walk the streets in a sheer dress, displaying herself for all to see and gawk at, and that is more acceptable in Western society than a woman displaying her modesty by covering her body from public viewing and scrutiny. Some might say the naked woman is the victim of her culture that misleads her to adamantly believe she is free. Yet she is often negatively labeled and categorized by her lifestyle choices. In turn, some might call the Muslim woman a hero for braving a lifestyle with values that are met with hostility, disdain, pity, misunderstanding, judgment, disrespect and discrimination, and often violence, not for the purpose of simply “doing whatever she wants.” But she weathers the opposition all in order to please The Creator(Allah).

By Shama OomJihad

The Holy Month of Ramadhan is Racing towards us

The moon crescent is getting thinner and thinner to end Sha’baan and deliver the opportunities of the faithful brothers and sisters to holy Ramadan. However, still Sha’baan is on, and it is to us to do our best to gain further boons and gifts of this bounteous month. Having been said from Imam Ridha (PBUH), the Almighty Allah releases lots of His servants from the fire flames they have created due to their faults just to greet and respect holy Ramadan. Again, fasting the final three days of Sha’baan, and fasting on the last Friday of Sha’baan has been highly advised by Imam Ridha (PBUH). He has asked us to find our own way to get rid of the effects of the faults we have made. For instance, whispering the following dua (which can be used within Qonut section of daily prayers) has been recommended:

اللـّهُمَ اِن لــَم تـَکـُن غـَفـَرتَ لـَنا فیما مـَضی مـِن شـَعبان، فـَاغـفـِرلـَنا فیما بـَقـِیَ مـِنه

Please have a look to your Mafaatih for further information about the final days of Sha’baan.

Tonight, Jashn-e-Noor In Golibar, Khar (east)

A Jashn has been organised tonight in Khar (east) to celebrate the birth anniversary .of Imam Mahdi (a.s.). The programme will commence at 8.00 PM sharp, as per the organisers. All are invited.
Address: Khar Masjid, Golibar, Transit Camp, Khar East. Contact for detail on: 9930030314

Rizvi Biulder Gags Obama's Islam Envoy in Mumbai

Rashad Hussain, US president Barack Obama’s special envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (IOC), the second largest international body, was on a day’s visit to the city to deliver a lecture titled ‘The Obama Administration’s Outreach to the Muslim World’.
Meeting with the press and students of Rizvi College of Architecture, Hussain was in his element as he listed the Obama administration’s efforts in the field of education, science and technology, entrepreneurship and health to reach out to the global Muslim community and bridge the gaps created by past US governments.
Akhtar Hasan Rizvi, prominent builder and education baron, sat calm and composed as Hussain spoke. When it was his turn on the dais, Rizvi politely welcomed his guest and gave a brief disclaimer, saying, “I welcome the move and support it but doubt the US president’s success.”
Thereafter, the general secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party and former Parliamentarian didn’t mince his words, citing grouses which the Muslim community has held for decades against the US. “America gave birth to terrorism and the Jewish policy needs to be controlled,” Rizvi told a visibly shaken Hussain.

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Surood: Ya Imam-e-Zaman