Abrar A bi-monthly newsletter

published by the

Abrar

Islamic

Foundation

45 Crawford Place,

London W!H 4LP

Tel: 020 7724 3033

Fax: 020 7724 7219

Email:

abrarhouse@hotmail.com

Website:

www.abrar.org.uk

16-30th June 2018

We stand for:

Inter-faith and inter-

civilisational dialogue

Respect for the human

race and rights

Cooperation for the

good of people

Moderation

Modernity

High standards of

spirituality

Abrar Vol 14, No 24 (336)

Edior:

Dr Saeed Shehabi

A bi-monthly newsletter

Published by the

45 Crawford Place,

London W1H 4LP

Tel: 020 7724 3033

Email:

Abrarhouse

@hotmail.com

Website

www.abraronline.net

Charity no. 293802

In this issue

Local Events

Muslim Affairs

Quds day march

In London

Pakistan’s disap-

peared Shia

Razan Al Najjar; vic-

tim of Israeli crime

Feasting and fasting

2

3

4

5

6

8

meant to offset this imbalance and restore a degree of balance in the human life. It is not easy to assess the impact of fasting on these issues, but surely the feeling of those exercising it of achievement. Here the issue of the human will is of paramount significance. Will is the main attribute of the human kind that distin-guishes it from animals which generally lack this will. It also implies that rationale plays a major role in determining the actions and per-ceptions of man. After Ramadan. The aim of the spiritual and material training is for it to last and produce material change in the life of the Muslim so that he/she makes significant strides towards perfec-tion. Whether this enhanced life performance is taken beyond Ramadan and considered a re-vamp of the personal life depends on the will and awareness of the individuals. What is not in doubt is the fact that the Ramadan experience is a significant practical training in perseverance, self-control and quality of life. For this to be-come a way of life the individual needs to com-bat against evil. The power of the satan must not be underestimated. For the training to be effective devout Muslims must always remain vigilant about the weakness of the human self and the evil powers that continue to undermine the role of reason and real faith. Those who possess strong loyalty to their God will not be defeated. They will become better persons and will adopt a policy of self-correction that seeks its strength from the religious teachings and the power of reason. The spirituality gained during the fasting month

is also meant to enhance the quality of faith and cleanse the inner of the person. The night prayers take the soul to new di-mensions of purity, wor-ship and faith. It provides ascendance of the soul to the divine heavens and provide the person of in-ner and outer security. If this is realised by the faithful their lives will become different after Ramadan, they will be better-guided, more en-lightened and richer in content. They start their march towards perfection.

The month of Ramadan is drawing to a close after thirty days of fasting by more than one billion of the earth inhabitants. The month has been a period of reflection for many of those who have observed fasting. It is a serious ap-proach to self-correction, perfection and a prac-tical approach to self-discipline. Fasting has been hard to many especially those in the West-ern hemisphere where the summer days are ex-ceptionally long. Yet fasting has been one of the most joyous religious practices. To abstain from eating or drinking for most of the day is a seri-ous challenge. It needs a strong will, persever-ance and self-discipline. But it also enhances these values, once practices. It is a struggle be-tween the mind with its rationale and the self with its desires. But the experience has been worthwhile to many who have adopted a posi-tive attitude towards religion and the human experience. In difficult times similar to the pre-sent period of existence, such experience is nec-essary. There is a need for more drastic change of life styles to the inhabitants of the planet who are struggling to cope with the harsh realities of modern society and its excessively materialistic life. The end of Ramadan signifies a period of reck-oning. Those who have observed the fasting ritual are well-positioned to examine their achievements to see whether fasting has left any significant changes in their life styles, attitudes and self-disciplines. One of the fundamental assumptions is that devils are chained during the month. Their mission of misguidance and con-fusion is curtailed by the divine disciplines in-cluding fasting, prayers, supplication, Quran-recitation and the divine notion of the persistent battle between the right and the wrong. While fasting implies serious and sudden change in the life styles of people, its mission is clear; to free mankind from enslave-ment to excessive mate-rialism, consumerism and social anarchy caused by bad behav-iour, back-biting, social incoherence and lack of social justice. The holy month of Ramadan is

After Ramadan; the long road to perfection

Local Events Page 2

cal Research on Integrating Islam with Psychotherapy for Depression. Dr Sajjad Rizvi elaborated on the will of Imam Ali to his sons after he had been struck by the sword of Ibn Maljem while performing dawn prayers. He considered it an important histori-cal treatise of eth-ics, morality, hu-man rights and piety. It was an inspirational piece that has survived through the ages and helped deal with one of the most sophisticated period of the early Islamic history. It laid the ground for a moral approach to the foes who must be treated with justice even when they kill. It shows great wisdom of the Imam and an effective means of avoiding fitna (confusion) among his fol-lowers. His will is an advice to the sons and was valuable to the future genera-tions. He left the case of his killers in their hands but reminded them of the im-portance of observing justice when deal-ing with the killer of their father, the Imam of Muslims, especially as he was praying when the assassin, Ibn Muljem, struck. He told them that he would choose what he would with the assassin if he (the Imam) survived the attack. But if he died, they should observe the principle that punishment was of the kind of the crime committed; a hit for a hit. Any excessive punishment would constitute an offence. He also urged them to uphold the banner of Islam and should not resort to taqiyya (hiding the belief) as a normal practice. The speaker urged the audience to be “inspirational”. The second speaker was Sheikh Ghu-lamabbas Lakha who talked about de-pression and how Islam had dealt with it. He said that Muslim community was largely affected by depression with at least quarter of a million affected by de-pression but were the least to seek help for the psychological illness. It is neces-sary to look at your face in the mirror to see if you have depression. This is real problem for real people. What is missing is to build a bridge between Islam and these people. Psychotherapy needs self-awareness, awareness of the problem and that religion has a role to play. Let us see what Imam Ali said about mental health: Your remedy is in you and you do not feel. Your sickness is from you and you do not see. He mentioned ten practical ways to inte-grate Islamic practices with modern ap-proaches; the notion of Nafs, the inner part of us , the intention,

Akhlaq (ethics), Dhikr and tasbeen (invocation and glorification of God), prayers which is daily practice, suppli-cation (duaa), Thankfulness to God, Calling for forgiveness (istighfar), trust in God (tawakkul and finally, contemplation, self analysis and deep thinking (tafakkur).

Imam Ali and Quran

The weekly Abrar's meeting on Thurs-day 7th June was dedicated to the memory of Imam Ali to mark his mar-tyrdom anniversary on 21st Ramadan. The evening started with the special supplication attributed to Kumain ibn Ziyad, one of Imam Ali's companions. Then a young Quran reader, Sayed Mustafa recited some verses in his professional voice. A speech followed by Dr Hisham Al Hassani on "Imam Ali and the Quran". A Hussaini majlis was then performed by Sheikh Rashad Al Ansari to mark Imam Ali's martyr-dom. This was followed by the recom-mended Ramadan daily supplication called "duaa al Eftitah. Prayers and iftar (breaking the fast followed). Then a special worship dedicated for Lailat Al Qadr started and continued until after midnight. Dr Hisham Al Hassani's speech. He started by arguing that this special night (Lailat Al Qadr) had assumed its importance before the revelation of the holy Quran, as commonly believed, adopting the verse (We revealed it (the Quran) in a blessed night) to prove his argument. The Quran had been re-vealed in parts and was revealed in whole at that night. God Almighty had prepared Prophet Mohammad for the big role of the Islamic message. The angels continued to descend to earth and contact the great followers of the prophet, mainly members of his house-hold. The second point is that most interpretations say that the people's fate for the following year is decided on that night. This means that the per-son has a role in deciding his/her fate through their actions. The third point the speaker raise was whether the per-son can catch up to determine his fate on that night. He gave the examples of great people who did that; Salman Al Farisi, Al Hurr Al Riyahi (who switched allegiance from Yazid to Imam Hussain and was martyred with him). The speaker then talked about Ali and the Quran, reiterating that he was the talking Quran, ie, he was practically embod-ying the holy book through his ac-tions. He also re-ferred to many Qurani verses that refer to Ali (AS).

Imam Hassan and Quran On Thursday 31st May, the weekly seminar of Abrar was dedicated to the birth anniversary of Imam Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib. Dr Baha Al Wakil, a physi-cian Consultant, talked on Imam Hassan ibn Ali and Quran. First he talked about the concept of Imamate and that it is prescribed by God Almighty. The Imams are known for their patience and persever-ance. They are also wise and embracing of others even those who oppose them. Imam Hassan possessed these attributes in addition to his generosity. The speaker then talked about what the Quran says about the Prophet's proge-ny. They were cleansed according to the Quran. They are also described as "the next of kin" of the prophet who asked Muslims to follow them. He mentioned several verses that deal with these concepts like Surat Al Dahr and AlMubahala. The prophet had present-ed his progeny (Ali, Fatima, Hassan and Hussain) to the Christians of Najran who wanted to debate with him. When they realised who these people were, the Christians withdrew from the debate. The speaker then talked about what Imam Hassan said on Quran. He said that anyone who claims to love the prophet's progeny must follow them closely in his actions. The Imam says that whoever claims to love Quran must act according to its instructions. He urged people to read it with awareness and action. We have to read the Quran and pray for our brothers and sisters everywhere. The speaker presented examples of Imam Hassan's interpreta-tion of the holy book. The Imam was humble and would set with the dispos-sessed to discuss their affairs.

Imam Ali Seminar On Sunday 3rd June the annual Imam Ali Seminar was held in Central Lon-don to commemorate the martyrdom of the Imam in Ramadan of the year 40 After Hijra. It was chaired by Farhana Mayer and addressed by two speakers. The first was Professor Sajjad Rizvi Sajjad Rizvi, Associate Professor of Islamic Intellectual History at the Uni-versity of Exeter whose talk was titled: ‘Created for Another Time’: Ethics and Spirituality in Imam Ali’s Advice to his Son. The second was Gulamabbas Lakha, a researcher and teaches Psy-chology of Religion at the University of Oxford. His speech was titled: Empiri-

Page 3

posed to the match from the beginning and the players were also not willing to take part. Speaking to ESPN, Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain confirmed reports that the game had been canceled. “They’ve finally done the right thing,” he said, adding the issue was over now. Palestinians, who stressed that the match would serve the efforts of Israel to legalize its occupation of Jerusalem, staged protests in many places as well as in Barcelona, where preparation for the game was ongoing. “The match has become a political tool more than a sport due to Israel’s insist-ing on having the game played in Jeru-salem, which it claims as its capital city,” said Jibril Rajoub, chairman of the Palestinian Football Association. Rajoub had asked Argentinian football-ers, especially Lionel Messi, not to ap-pear in the match in order not to white-wash the face of the Israeli occupation. The match was to be Argentina’s final game before they launch their World Cup campaign in Russia against Iceland on June 16.

IAEA told of Iran producing feedstock for centrifuges

Iran has informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog of “tentative” plans to pro-duce feedstock for centrifuges, the ma-chines that enrich uranium, Reuters quoted IAEA as saying. Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei had earlier ordered speedy preparation of the ground for 190,000 SWU (separative work units) enrichment. “The Agency received a letter from Iran on 4 June informing the Agency that there is a tentative schedule to start pro-duction of UF6,” Reuters quoted a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as saying, re-ferring to uranium hexafluoride, the feedstock for centrifuges. Iran will be able to enrich uranium to 3.67 percent in the framework of the nuclear deal famously known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This is while Head of Iran Atomic En-ergy Organization (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday that the infra-structure for Natanz electricity facility, required for achieving long-term goals, including the multi-thousand SWUs project, has been constructed by Iranian scientists. Salehi also emphasized that Iran will remain committed to the nuclear deal and is going to launch and accelerate some activities within the agreement framework.

'The basis of the peaceful programs is the Fatwa issued by the Supreme Leader, that explic-itly says any prolif-eration, accumula-tion and use of nu-clear weapons and weapons of mass destruction is banned by religion,' he added.

Pope warns of global destruc-tion without fuel shift

Pope Francis warned that climate change risked destroying humanity on Saturday and called on energy leaders to help the world to convert to clean fuels to avert catastrophe. Civilisation requires energy but energy use must not destroy civilisation,” the pope told top oil company executives at the end of a two-day conference in the Vatican. Climate change was a challenge of “epochal proportions”, he said, adding that the world needed an energy mix that combated pollution, eliminated poverty and promoted social justice. The conference, held behind closed doors at the Pontifical Academy of Sci-ences, brought together oil executives, investors and Vatican experts who, like the pope, back scientific opinion that climate change is caused by human ac-tivity. “Our desire to ensure energy for all must not lead to the undesired effect of a spiral of extreme climate changes due to a catastrophic rise in global tem-peratures, harsher environments and increased levels of poverty,” he said.

Mogherini cancels visit to Israel European Foreign Policy Chief Federica has canceled an official visit to Israel, which was scheduled for Sunday, Israeli media reported Friday. According to an Israeli channel, Moghe-rini was scheduled to participate in an international conference organized by the Jewish-American Committee (a pro-Israeli non-governmental organization) next Monday in Jerusalem. “Mogherini canceled her trip to Israel after the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamín Netanyahu declined to meet her,” the channel said. It said Mogherini had re-quested Netanyahu's office to arrange an appointment with him, but the latter did not respond.

UN acts to stop Hodeida battle The United Nations (UN) mobilised on Tuesday to avert a "fierce, bloody bat-tle" for a key port in Yemen that pro-vides a lifeline for food, medicine, and other vital supplies. UN Secretary-

General Antonio Gu-terres met with Yem-en's foreign minister at UN headquarters in New York amid warn-ings that an attack on rebel-held Hodeida was imminent. Guterres said his en-voy Martin Griffiths

was locked in "intense negotiations" with Yemen's rebel Houthis; Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to find a "way to avoid the mili-tary confrontation in Hodeida." During his meeting with Yemen's new foreign minister Khaled Alyemany, Guterres stressed that "everyone should redouble efforts to find a political solution and avoid a fierce, bloody battle for Hodei-da," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The Security Council met behind closed doors at Britain's request after London told aid agencies on the ground that it had received a warning from the UAE of an imminent attack. The United Nations has warned that up to 2,50,000 people were at risk if the coalition moves ahead with an all-out offensive to take the Red Sea port. UN aid chief Mark Lowcock said an attack on Hodeida would be "catastrophic" and that aid agencies were hoping to "stay and deliver" in Yemen, which the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Argentina cancels Jerusalem match with Israel

An upcoming friendly match between Argentina and Israel’s national football teams in Jerusalem has been canceled. The Argentine Football Association said they had informed their Israeli counterparts about the decision. The match, which was slated for June 9,

was set to be played in Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek Stadium but had drawn intense reactions, especially from Palestinians. It also faced boycotts from various groups. According to local media, the manager of Argentina’s national football team Jorge Sampaoli, was op-

Muslim Affairs

Page 4 Great Personalities

Pro-Palestine rally passes off peacefully despite far-right/Zionist provocation Thousands of people marched through the streets of central London on Sunday10 June calling for an end to Israel’s occupa-tion of Palestine, There was intense provo-

cation and intimidation from far right and Zionists aiming to disrupt the pro-test. The organisers say approximately 8000 people turned out for the Al-Quds Day parade which highlights the ongoing suffering of the Palestinians.

The event passed off without major inci-dent despite fears of sabotage by right wing and pro-Israeli elements who had organised a much smaller counter demonstration. One person from the counter demo was arrested for possession of a noxious sub-stance. Throughout the course of the day counter protestors hurled Islamophobic abuse at the main rally and tried to intim-idate attendees from the sidelines. Numbers were significantly up on last year in an act of defiance aimed at the demonisation campaign and the recent killings by Israeli troops of innocent Pal-estinian protestors in the Gaza Strip. Protestors for the Al-Quds Day march came from as far afield as Yorkshire and the north west of England to take part in this year’s event in which a record-breaking 70m Palestinian flag was car-ried through the capital’s streets. As ever their number included people of all faiths including Jews, Christians and Muslims. IHRC chairman Massoud Shadjareh said: “Today’s turnout just shows how strong the support is in Britain for the Palestini-an cause. Despite renewed threats and intimidation Women, children and men from all walks of life have once again shown up in their thousands to tell Israel that enough is enough.”

Quds Day march in London passes peacefully

Iftar meals are offered in Makkah’s Grand

Mosque and its plazas to bring together

fasting people of different nationalities.

Volunteers prepare the meals daily, and

distribute food and coffee to the mosque’s

visitors. The meals are arranged linearly so

as not to hinder people’s movement in the

mosque.

The meals are organized an hour before the

Maghrib prayer and are distributed half an

hour before it is time to break the fast.

They differ depending on the institutions

and associations carrying out the initiative,

Iftar at Makkah Grand Mosque: A unique spiritual experience which is supervised by the General

Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand

Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

Meals distributed in the Grand Mosque

consist of dates and water, while those

distributed outside consist of wrapped

meals, water, juices, and dates.

Fifty-seven bodies and charities take

part in the daily iftar at the mosque.

The General Presidency of the Grand

Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has

issued more than 1,195 permits for the

distribution of quality iftar meals.

Mohammed Al-Yafei, a Yemeni per-

forming the Umrah pilgrimage in Mak-

kah, expressed his delight at visiting the

Grand Mosque during Ramadan.

“I’m amazed by the expansion of the

mosque and the great efforts made, for

which we’re thankful,” he said.

Mohammed Khan from Pakistan said

the services offered around the mosque

have delighted every visitor.

Mohammed Kamel from Egypt said the

Ramadan atmosphere in Makkah gave

him an indescribable feeling.

Page 5 Open Forum

The story of Pakistan's 'disappeared' Shias By Secunder Kermani BBC News, Karachi It was the night of 16 November 2016. Mr Haider has not been seen since. Despite the CCTV video evidence both the police and intelligence services have denied in court that he is in their custody. Mr Haider is one of 140 Pakistani Shias to have "disappeared" over the past two years, according to community activists. Their families believe they were taken into custody by the intelligence services. Over 25 of the missing, including Mr Haider, belong to Pakistan's largest city Karachi. Mr Haider's family say he had returned to the port city from pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq, with his pregnant wife just two days before he was detained. Uzma Haider has since given birth to a baby boy who has never seen his father. "My kids are always asking me, 'When will our dad come home?'" she told the BBC. "What answer can I give them? No-one is telling us where he is or how he is. At least tell us what he's accused of." Image caption"My kids are always asking me 'When will our dad come home?'" The families of the other "disappeared" Shia men have similar stories of their loved ones being picked up from their homes at night by the security forces. A tearful group of women gathered in a house in a working class Shia neighbour-hood of Karachi told me they have been given no information from the authorities about where their relatives are being held or what the allegations against them are. Community leaders though, say they have been told the men are suspected of links to a secretive militia in Syria, the Zaina-biyoun Brigade, thought to be made up of around 1,000 Pakistani Shias fighting on behalf of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The brigade takes its name from the grand-daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, a figure particularly revered in Shia Islam. Zainab bint Ali's shrine is in the Syrian capital Damascus, and the ostensible pur-pose of the brigade is to protect it from destruction by Sunni extremists like the Islamic State group who believe shrines are heretical. In fact, the Zainabiyoun are also believed to have fought in a number of key battles in Syria, including in Aleppo.

They are not, however, named on a list of proscribed organisations issued by the Pakistani Ministry of Interior, and none of the "missing" men have ever been charged with any offence. Rashid Rizvi is the head of the Shia Miss-ing Persons Committee in Karachi. He has lead a number of protests in the city call-ing for the men to either be released or produced in court. He says most of the men were detained after returning from pilgrimage to the Middle East. "Some representatives of the 'state institu-tions' came to meet me," he tells the BBC, using a euphemism for the intelligence services. "They tried to convince us to end our pro-test movement… I asked them 'Why did you pick these men up?' They said, 'We think they've gone to Syria to fight against Daesh (IS) and al-Qaeda.' "I said, 'If that's the case, then put them on trial… Otherwise what's the point of hav-ing judges and courts?" Pakistan's security forces did not respond to a BBC request for comment. "Missing people" are one of the most sen-sitive issues in Pakistan. According to official data there are more than 1,500 unresolved cases of enforced disappear-ances in the country. Those detained also include suspected Sunni jihadists, ethnic nationalist activists, and secular critics of the Pakistani military establishment. Authorities in Pakistan have often said the security services are unfairly blamed for disappearances and that the number of missing people is inflated. A handful of the Shia men who were picked up have subsequently been let go. Image captionSamar Abbas, an activist, was detained for more than a year One young man, who did not want to be identified, told the BBC he had been held in a "small, dark cell" where he was "badly tortured" by the security services, including by electric shocks. He says he was repeatedly interrogated about the Zainabiyoun, with questions focussed on who he knew in the brigade, and where their funding was coming from. Another is social activist Samar Abbas. He was detained in Islamabad in January 2017 at the same time as a number of bloggers critical of Pakistan's military establish-ment.

They were released a few weeks later after a public outcry, however, Mr Abbas was held captive until March 2018. His brother-in-law was also detained and is still "missing". Mr Abbas was released after he says his captors told him he had been cleared of any wrongdoing. He told the BBC he is "grateful" for having been released, but says his period in detention has been trau-matising for his family, particularly his young children. "They lost their child-hood… My daughter doesn't like to leave me even for a single minute." Mr Abbas told the BBC that he was inter-rogated about his activism, and that some questions focussed on the Zainabiyoun. Image copyrightEPAImage captionSyria is in its seventh year of a civil war "They told me 'You are involved in send-ing people to Syria to fight… Tell us their names.' "I said, 'I have never visited there [Syria] in my life.'" The Zainabiyoun Brigade is part of a net-work of Shia foreign fighter brigades oper-ating in Syria, linked to Iran. Others include Iraqi militias, Hezbollah from Lebanon, and the Fatemiyoun Bri-gade - consisting of Afghan fighters. The Zainabiyoun is the most secretive of the groups; however supporters have up-loaded some pictures and videos of "martyrs" from the brigade. Many appear to be from Parachinar, a city in Pakistan's north western semi-autonomous tribal regions. Parachinar has a substantial Shia population and has been repeatedly target-ed by Sunni jihadists. Researchers believe over 100 Pakistani fighters have been killed in Syria, with their families said to receive financial sup-port from Iran. Shia community leaders told the BBC they believed the intelligence services in Paki-stan likely feared returning Zainabiyoun members would continue to act on Iran's orders, and could increase sectarian ten-sions with the country's Sunni majority. However, they were sceptical that the fighters would ever pose a threat within Pakistan. The families of the disappeared men say their relatives are not involved with any armed groups. Their demands are simple. "For the sake of God, tell me where my

child is," pleads 65-year-old Shamimara Hussain. She breaks down in tears as she talks about the moment her youngest son Arif Hussain was taken away from her home by security forces. "They told me, 'we are just going to ask him a few questions and then let him go.' "It's now been a year and a half now and we've had no news about him. If they've killed him or he's still alive, just tell me something… I've been all over the city trying to find him. I'm tired of crying, I'm tired of praying."

Naeem

Haider (left)

has been

missing

since 16

November

2016 when he was ab-

ducted

(right)

Page 6 Open Forum

Gaza (CNN)Razan al-Najjar is known to the world as the 21-year-old Palestinian medical nurse shot dead by an Israeli snip-er during protests on Friday 1st June. To her parents she was a beloved daughter who died just a few hundred meters from her home in Khan Younis, close to the fence that separates Gaza from Israel. On Saturday, thousands took to the streets of the Gazan city for the young medic's funeral. The streets and lampposts surrounding Razan's home are now adorned with her smiling image. Her father, Ashraf al-Najjar, takes CNN up three flights of stairs and into their apartment. The rest of the family, their small home now filled with mourners, sit in disbelief. Razan's mother, Sabreen, dressed entirely in black, clutches her daughter's blood-soaked medical vest. She tells us Razan had been volunteering since the beginning of the protests, working without pay. "I was afraid for her, but Razan told us she wasn't afraid, she felt obliged to help and was clearly wearing a medical vest," she says. Sabreen says her daughter "may have been small, but she was strong, and her only weapon was her medical vest." Ashraf sits alongside his wife in a quiet state of denial, every so often nodding in agreement. It's a vest Razan thought would protect her. "I'm protected by my vest," she would tell her mother and father before heading out to help, "God is with me, I am not afraid." Razan al-Najjar's death comes after weeks of Palestinian protests, known as the Great March of Return, during which more than 100 Palestinian protesters have been killed by Israeli fire. She is the second medical worker to die. More than 200 others have been injured,

Palestinians mourn death of nurse killed by Israeli forces

according to the Palestinian Health Min-istry. The Israeli military says it is investigat-ing her death, adding, "the IDF constant-ly works to draw operational lessons and reduce the number of casualties in the area of the Gaza Strip security fence." "I want justice for Razan," Sabreen says as she pulls a wad of medical gauze from the pocket of her daughter's vest. "Here is her weapon! I want the world to know this is the weapon of Razan al-Najjar --- and is this the ID of a terror-ist?" she asks rhetorically, holding up her daughter's medical ID that she was wearing at the time of her death. In Gaza City's blazing midday sun a group of medical volunteers gathered outside a United Nations office Sunday in protest of what they say is the target-ing of medics by the Israeli military. The IDF denies it targets medical workers. At the gathering CNN spoke to Rami Abu Jazzar, who was volunteering alongside Razan al-Najjar on Friday. He says he too was shot that day, in the left knee, and is here on crutches. He says it's important the world knows what hap-pened. Jazzar says Friday was like any other day as he, Razan and the group of medi-cal volunteers from the Palestinian Med-ical Relief Society gathered to tend to wounded protesters.

He says Razan arrived early that day. "When she arrived on Friday she told her friends, 'I love working here with everyone.' She smiled all day, it was a beautiful day working with her." Cellphone video filmed by the volunteers and shared with CNN shows the med-ics, including Razan, slowly moving forward, their medical ID badges displayed and their hands in the air. They tell us this video was filmed 10 minutes before Razan was shot. "People were suffering from the [tear] gas," Jazzar explains. "A man was right near the fence and was calling out, 'Come help me, help me'. He was close to the fence. Razan

went to help him." That's when she was shot, he says. Another volunteer working that day tells us she saw the sniper and warned the others to be careful. "Some people on social media say Ra-zan was shot by a woman sniper. She was not. I saw the sniper -- it was a man," Rasha Qudeih tells us. Razan's friends and fellow medical vol-unteers say they'll remember her for her bravery, and will more than ever contin-ue their work.

Muslim woman hopes MBE honour will

‘silence Islamophobes’

A Muslim woman honoured by the Queen hopes her award “silences the haters” who contribute to an environ-ment of Islamophobia. Akeela Ahmed said she accepted her MBE for services to Muslim women on behalf of those she works with through the She Speaks We Hear online platform she founded, describing them as “changemakers” in their communities. The 39-year-old mother-of-three created the project, which seeks to empower women from faith communities, in a bid to defy what she saw as the “binary, stereotypical” representation of Muslim woman as “either being oppressed or being a threat”. Terror attacks last year led to a rise in Islam-ophobia, espe-cially against females who wear traditional Islamic dress, she said. “Unfortunately with all the vari-ous tragic events that we’ve had in the last year we’ve definitely seen an in-crease in Islamophobia and especially for Muslim women who look different and who wear the hijab,” said Mrs Ah-med, from north-west London. “And I really do hope that despite all of that, me getting this award will really help women understand that not every-body views Muslim women in that way and actually we’re as much part of this country as anybody else and our achievements are recognised and vali-dated as well and also hope it just kind of silences the haters a bit as well. “I think that’s really important.” Mrs Ahmed, who also works with not-for-profit social enterprise Seaside CIC which helps the homeless in Brighton, said she was “hugely proud and hon-oured” to be made an MBE.

Page 7 Off the shelf

Hezbollah: Mobilisation and Power times since its inception in the early 1980s. But the fact is that Hezbollah has never stopped growing in power, on the national stage as well as in a regional context. This book has three purposes. It first gives a clear definition of Hezbollah, presenting a thorough history of the par-ty, describing its established internal structure, and the scope of its social and political action. It then explains the evo-lution of the party’s mobilisation. Final-ly, it illustrates another path, political but mainly identity-related — that of the Shiite community, today the main con-stituent of Lebanese society. This rigorous and richly documented study, drawing on primary sources and hundreds of interviews with members, executives and officials of the party, unveils new aspects of this organisation, of the ‘Hezbollah phenomenon’ and of Lebanese politics of the last two dec-ades. Aurélie Daher is Assistant Professor at Université Paris-Dauphine and at Sci-ences Po, Paris. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford in 2010–2011 and 2016–2017, and a post-doctoral research associate at Princeton University in 2012–2013. Her work fo-cuses on Hezbollah, Shiism, and Leba-nese and Middle Eastern politics. Reviews ‘Daher dispels a number of myths: that Hezbollah would be a state within a Lebanese state or that its principal goal is Islamic rule. Daher redefines the roles

By: Aurélie Daher Almost thirty years after its foundation, Hezbollah remains an enigma. Is it an Islamist terrorist group dedicated to destroying Israel or the first Arab na-tional resistance to have ever defeated Tel Aviv’s troops? Should we look at it as a patriotic and respectable party or a fascist network at the centre of Leba-nese political life? Hezbollah intrigues all the more for the difficulty involved in studying it. Its weakening, if not demise, has been announced many

we traditionally attribute to Hezbollah, mouthpiece for the Shiite community, and dwells on its partners’ or adver-saries’ perceptions of its activities. Of-fers a very complete picture.’ — Le Monde Diplomatique ‘A long-awaited book, which turns the body of literature on Hezbollah on its head. From now on it will be impossible to study Lebanon’s “Party of God” with-out taking into account the findings ex-posed in this groundbreaking vol-ume.’ — Bernard Rougier, Professor of Arab Civilisation, Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle and author of Everyday Jihad ‘Daher shares exceptional insights into the origins, structure, leadership and popularity of Hezbollah. This book is admirable for its nuance and richness of detail about the contention for power amongst Shi’i figures, and the par-ty’s central role in resistance to Israel. I highly recommend it.’ — Augustus Richard Norton, Professor Emeritus, Boston University and author of Hezbollah: A Short History ‘An encyclopaedic effort at writing what is arguably the richest and most rigorous account of Hezbollah’s political history. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the party.’ — Bashir Saade, Lecturer of Religion and Politics, University of Stirling and author of Hizbullah and the Politics of Remem-brance: Writing the Lebanese Nation Publisher: Hurst Hardback 376 pages £25.00 ISBN: 9781849046312 • 376pp Publishing date: July 2018 •

Persian Gulf Command A History of the Second World War in Iran and Iraq

By Ashley Jackson A new history of the long-overlooked WWII theater in Iran and Iraq, its unrec-ognized significance, and its impact on local society and politics This dynamic history is the first to con-struct a total picture of the experience and impact of World War II in Iran and Iraq. Contending that these two coun-tries were more important to the Allied forces’ war operations than has ever been acknowledged, historian Ashley Jackson investigates the grand strategy of the Allies and their operations in the region and the continuing legacy of Western intervention in the Middle East. Iran and Iraq served as the first WWII theater in which the U.S., the U.K., and the U.S.S.R. fought alongside each oth-er. Jackson charts the intense Allied military activity in Iran and Iraq and reveals how deeply the war impacted common people’s lives. He also pro-vides revelations about the true nature of

Anglo-American relations in the region, the beginnings of the Cold War, and the continuing corrosive legacy of Western influence in these lands. Ashley Jackson is professor of imperial and military history, King’s College, London, and visiting fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford. He has published ex-tensively on the British Empire in times of war. He lives in Oxfordshire, UK. “A brilliant book that confirms Ashley Jackson’s place among the preeminent scholars of the British empire. Deeply researched, comprehensive and incisive, it is the must-read account of Britain’s Second World War in Iran and Iraq and its enduring consequences.”—Joe Ma-iolo, author of Cry Havoc "In this lucid work, filled with telling details and well-crafted arguments, Jackson has finally revealed the un-doubted significance of Iran and Iraq to the wider war."--Niall Barr, author of Eisenhower's Armies--Niall Barr Publisher: Yale University Press Hardback 432 pages £25.00 ISBN: 9780300221961 Publication date: 15 May 2018

Page 8 Words of Faith

8. If We delay the

penalty for them

for a definite

term, they are

sure to say, "What

keeps it back?" Ah!

On the day it

(actually) reaches

them, nothing

will turn it away

from them, and

they will be com-

pletely encircled

by that which

they used to mock

at!

9. If We give man a

taste of Mercy

from Ourselves,

and then with-

draw it from him,

behold! he is in

despair and (falls

into) blasphemy.

10. But if We give

him a taste of

(Our) favours af-

ter adversity

hath touched him,

he is sure to say,

"All evil has de-

parted from me:"

Behold! he falls

into exultation

and pride.

11. Not so do those

who show patience

and constancy,

and work right-

eousness; for

them is for-

giveness (of sins)

and a great re-

ward.

(Hud)

www.abraronline.

net This is our website.

Have visited it: It

will put you face-

to-face with an al-

ternative world, full

of spirituality mo-

rality coupled with

modern outlooks

and perspectives. We want to hear

your views on its

contents, layout

and general quality.

Join us in our Noon

and Afternoon

prayers

Everyday

at 13.00

Many people wonder why we celebrate Eid at the end of Ramadhan. Are we happy that Rama-dhan has finished? How can we be happy that such a great month of Allah, with all its bless-ings and mercies, has gone away? The actual reason we celebrate Eid is not because we are glad the holy month is over, but because we are thankful to Allah for giving us the chance and the strength to carry out His commands in the blessed month. We are happy that we were able to fast and pray in Ramadhan, and have hopeful-ly attained Taqwa, the goal of fasting. In the holy Qur'an Allah talks about Eid. He says in Sura al-Baqarah, ayat no.185: You shall complete the number (of days) and you may glorify God for His guiding you, and that you may be thankful. Imam Ali (a) has a very beautiful hadith about Eid in which he says: Eid is for him whose fasts have been accepted by Allah, and whose wor-ship has been appreciated by Allah. Everyday in which you do not disobey Allah is a day of Eid. This hadith is something to think about. Every day in which we do not commit a single sin, is actually a day of Eid for us. The Holy Prophet (S) and our Imams celebrated Eid and encouraged all Muslims to do so. They told Muslims to wear good clothes, put on per-fume, and go to the mosque to recite the Eid prayer. They also said we should exchange Eid greetings, visit each other, and generally pass the day joyfully. We are supposed to remember the poor by taking out the fitrah before Eid, and visiting them and sending them gifts if we can. The day of Eid is meant for remembering Allah. The Holy Prophet (S) says: "Give beauty to your Eid by doing Takbir". It is said that the Prophet (S) himself used to come out of his home on the day of Eid, reciitng the Takbir and glorifying Allah in a loud voice. Let me narrate to you a beautiful story about a day of Eid during the time of our eighth Imam, Imam Ali ar-Ridha (a). Mamoon who was the

Thoughts on Eid Khalifa at that time, had appointed the Imam as his successor. When the day of Eid approached, mamoon sent a message to request the Imam to lead the Eid prayer. Imam refused at first, but when Mamoon insisted he said he would lead the prayer in the same way as his grandfather the Holy Prophet (S) did. Mamoon agreed. On the morning of Eid, Imam took a bath and changed his clothes. He put on a white turban and applied perfume. He came out of his home barefooted. He took a few steps, turned his face towrads the sky, and said the takbir; Allahu Akber, Allahu Akber. The people of the city had flocked to see the Imam come to lead the Eid prayer. They responded loudly to the Takbir of the Imam. Allahu Akber, they said. The effect was magnetic. People began to throw off their shoes to become bare-footed like the Imam, and they all followed him to the Mosque, reciting the Takbir as they went. When Mamoon heard of the effect Imam was having on the people, he was scared. He quickly sent a message to the Imam that Imam should return to his home, and that he himself was coming to lead the Eid prayer. Celebrating Eid unites Muslims. As a commu-nity, they get closer to work together to make it a memorable occasion. Eid prayers, and other programs held to celebrate it allow Muslims to meet and enjoy the company of one another.

Four poems on Eid

1- The moon has been sighted The samoosas are ready. Here comes EID so just go steady Lots of dua”s is all i request and just wanted to wish you all the BEST!!! “Eid Mubarak” 2- When the sun has set, and day is done- I”ll break this chain, but only one. By the end of Ramadan, this whole chain will be all gone! It”s time for Eid and lots of fun!!! 3- May God send his Love like Sunshine in his warm and gentle ways to fill every corner of your Heart and filled your Life with a lot of Happiness like this EID DAY. Wishing you EID MUBARAK. 4- Eid… A time for joy, a time for togetherness, a time to remember my blessings.. For me… it’s you! May Allah Bless you & Give u all the joy u bring to my life!

Five resolutions to make this Eid

1- Promise of self-restraint – Ramadan is all about self-restraint, so why not adopt this elsewhere in your life? 2- Sponsor a child – With the Syrian refugee crisis ongoing, now is the perfect time to help via Save The Children, World Vision and Compassion. 3- Practice being more tolerant – Strive to be more tolerant and understanding and more open-minded to ideas. 4- Stop smoking – a popular one 5- Try and eat less meat – It’s healthy and kind, so why not?