PALESTINE: Visiting The Land Of The Furthest Mosque

Bayyina Foundation's Hamid Chaudry writes about his recent experience after visiting the Holy Lands...

I recently had the great fortune of visiting the blessed land of Palestine. The memories of the journey will stay with all of us who travelled. Our group... twenty strong, embarked on a visit to the three holiest sites in Islam... the Masjids in Makkah, Madinah and Al-Quds, or Jerusalem, to use its international name. Many of us will be familiar with accounts of Hajj and Umrah; hence this narrative focuses on our travels to Al-Quds.

"Set out deliberately on a journey to three Masjids: the Sacred Masjid (Makkah), this Masjid of mine (Madina), and al-Aqsa Masjid (Al-Quds)." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Blind Date this Ramadhan....?

This Ramadhan as always, Muslims will be breaking their fasts with dates and water, as is the Prophetic tradition. Followed by samosas, kebabs, chicken wings, etc etc...which isn’t quite found in the books of hadith. Anyhow, before my mouth starts watering, let’s get back to the subject of dates...of the blind variety.

 Blind dates?.... I hear you asking. Wasn’t that Cilla Black a few decades back? No, I’m talking about the scrumptious dates we are busy buying from our local grocers and supermarkets. Blind because do we know where they come from? Mecca, Madina, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Israel....

Hijama: Sunnah Healing

What is Hijama / Cupping Therapy?

Cupping is a method of relieving local congestion by applying a partial vacuum that is created in a cup(s), either by heat or by suction. Cupping has been used for thousands of years. Although it is often associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine, the entire world once knew this of therapy and used it. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese used cupping therapy. The oldest recorded medical textbook, Ebers Papyrus, written in approximately 1550 BC in Egypt, mentions cupping (Curtis, 2005).

Say NO To PREVENT

They are at it again!

PREVENT Officers in co-ordination with various Police Constabularies across the UK have been harassing members of the Muslim Community and contacting Masjids and Islamic Charities.

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, UK counter-terrorism police have conducted a series of raids and arrests, all in connection with Syria. Whether it has been Moazzam Begg, the Tahari family, or the heads of UK Muslim Charities, a message is being sent by the UK authorities that contributing through civil society to aid the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria is being made forbidden to the Muslim Community specifically.

CAGE Report: The Prevent Strategy - A Cradle To The Grave Police-State

Julian Assange endorses a new report by CagePrisoners (CAGE)

DOWNLOAD REPORT:

CAGE Report: The Prevent Strategy - A Cradle To The Grave Police-State

EVENT REVIEW: Is Islam Being Criminalised?

The new month (Rabi' al-Awwal, just in case you were thinking January) was witness to a blessed gathering in Manchester on Saturday. Wrong again, it wasn’t at the Etihaad Stadium, but the Eastern Pearl Banqueting Hall. Over six hundred Muslims (or were they Islamists?), both male and female (with segregated seating, I must add, out of choice), of all ages (though males aged 18- 40, better watch out, you do qualify as potential combatants) made a hijrah to listen to a much esteemed panel of speakers (or was it preachers of hate?).

CagePrisoners Responds To Cancelled Event in Manchester

It is with regret that CagePrisoners announces the cancellation of the event “You think you know Guantanamo Bay?” which was scheduled for Thursday 18 April at Manchester Metropolitan Business School.

CagePrisoners were not the organisers of the event but provided speakers. The evening was organised by local students, and featured Jahanghir Mohammed an adviser to CagePrisoners, and Omar Deghayes, a Board Member, as well as two local respected solicitors. It provided a unique opportunity for local students to get involved and hear about the important issues of justice, abuse of human rights and how to voice their concerns and work for change, in a responsible manner, as Cage has done for many years now.

What You Should Know About PREVENT [2.0]

What is PREVENT?

The PREVENT Strategy is a Government initiative led by the Home Office and used to target the Muslim Community. The new strategy has altered from its previous version called “PVE – Prevent Violent Extremism” since the Government has now gone beyond looking only at violence and terrorism.

ANTI-MUSLIM ATTACKS: Telling MAMA Is Not Going to Solve the Problem

Islamophobia has not only passed the dinner table test but it has permeated British society at every level. The media, politicians, security services, policymakers and other public institutions can all be held responsible for the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment over the past few years.

Speaking at a dinner held by a new government-backed organisation, Tell MAMA - set up to monitor anti-Muslim attacks - Baroness Sayeeda Warsi the Conservative Minister for Faith and Communities, hit out at the media, which she claimed fuels the rising level of hatred and suspicion of British Muslims.

Tahir ul-Qadri: The Revolution

Amidst much fanfare and media hype, “Mujaddid of the Century, Tahir ul Qadri“, graced the starving lands of Pakistan with his nourishing presence.“Sheikh ul Islam”, Dr, Allama Mohammed Tahir-Ul-Qadri (the limitation of time, space and mere mortal intellect does not allow me to detail his full titles and praises) landed at Lahore and, amongst the showers of adulation from thousands of mureeds (followers), gave the corrupt Pakistani government an ultimatum. They had until 14th January to make the necessary changes in the current rotten system otherwise they would be besieged by a million of the destitute and frustrated Pakistanis, through a sit-in, which will culminate in the end of this PPP government.

RAPE IN INDIA: A Societal Question

A heinous crime took place in India on 17th of December 2012, prompting some deep reflections from those who heard of the horrendous event. It aroused the intellect to assess the deeper rationale and factors behind the occurrence of such tragedies and the attitudes towards women underpinning such behaviours.

To summarise the event, 23 year old 'Damini' (her real name has been afforded anonymity by the ratings hungry media surprisingly) and a male friend were watching a movie in Delhi, the Indian capital.

MI5 Is Systematically Spying On Muslims... Now What Are We Going To Do About It?

By Roshan Muhammed Salih
[pictured]

Personally I hate the victim mentality that many British Muslims have. But after several months of researching a documentary and a book on police/MI5 spying I have to admit – British Muslims are definitely victims.

Since 9/11 the British state has conducted perhaps its biggest peacetime spying operation on its own citizens, its Muslim citizens.

The London Olympics & Ramadan

The London 2012 Olympics have now finished. These Games captivated the entire nation…nay, the entire world, for weeks with the collection of the worlds sporting elite, all vying to prove their superiority against fellow competitors.

To be remembered as ‘true Olympians’ in winning medals at consecutive games. We will recall Usain Bolt’s performances in the sprint events.

RAMADAN - Month of Qur'an

The blessings of Allah (swt) know no bounds, as He gives us the opportunity to seek His grace, forgiveness and bounty in this glorious month of Ramadan. Ramadan is known as the month of the Qur’an, as the first revelation commenced in this month. Further, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) recited the Qur’an to archangel Jibrael (as) during this month, and twice in the last year. So we continue this recitation in this blessed month in our homes and masajid. The Qur’an is our connection with our Creator, for it is His (swt) unadulterated speech, which is the source of all knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. Our relationship with the Qur’an defines our relationship with The Creator. The importance of our closeness to the Qur’an cannot be under estimated. So what should we seek to attain through our recitation of Qur’an in this blessed month?

THE RAMADAN LECTURE: By Jahangir Mohammed

A World Crying Out for Ramadan and Islam

I have been planning to write this essay for a number of years, but it just didn’t happen. This year, with the will of Allah (SWT) and encouraged by friends, it came together. Maybe it is because the time is right. It has been a momentous year and the world faces many great challenges. Many Western nations are facing economic bankruptcy, and people are going to suffer greatly in coming years.

On the other hand, revolutionary movements in the Arab world have toppled tyrants and are resisting those that remain, offering great hope for their people. The direction of these movements is uncertain, and only time will tell which path they take.

VIDEO: The Life of Shaykh ul-Islam of the British Isles W.H. Abdullah Quilliam (Rahimullah)

With Prof. Ron Geaves and Shaykh Ahmad Thomson

VIDEO: Governments Prevent Strategy - Surveillance & Entrapment Of Muslims

VIDEO: How Minorities Can Create Political Power Outside The System

With Jahangir Mohammed
Director, Centre for Muslim Affairs.

Grooming - The Final Word: Time to Face the Truth

Following the conviction earlier this week of nine men for crimes related to the sexual grooming of underage girls, there has been wall to wall coverage of the issue, debating the what, where, why and how of this ugly matter. This brief article is an attempt to provide an objective summary of the key learnings for our community in the aftermath of the debate... though no doubt, the debate will continue.

Tarek Mehanna's Sentencing Statement

Read to Judge O’Toole during his sentencing, April 12th 2012.

In the name of God the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Exactly four years ago this month I was finishing my work shift at a local hospital. As I was walking to my car I was approached by two federal agents. They said that I had a choice to make: I could do things the easy way, or I could do them the hard way. The “easy “ way, as they explained, was that I would become an informant for the government, and if I did so I would never see the inside of a courtroom or a prison cell. As for the hard way, this is it. Here I am, having spent the majority of the four years since then in a solitary cell the size of a small closet, in which I am locked down for 23 hours each day.