₦airaland Forum

pls can i tell d immigration officer at d point of entry in Dubai dat l will be staying with a friend in Dubai. if he asked where will i be staying?

SUNDAY ADENIYI ADEGEYE (King Sunny Ade) of
Nigeria is one of the most talented musicians
in Nigeria.

Breaking News: Obasanjo Pays Surprise
Visit to Jonathan in Nairobi

President Goodluck Jonathan and former
President, Olusegun Obasanjo, had breakfast
together in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 12,
2013, Thursday.
Both politicians were among other African
leaders that graced the 50th Independence
Anniversary celebration of Kenya at the
Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani, Nairobi, on
Thursday, December 12.
Obasanjo's visit was said to have taken
everybody by surprise as it contradicts the
expected nature of the relationship between
both men, owing to recent public criticisms
of the President by Obasanjo.
The unexpected meeting held prior to the
anniversary event, as the former president,
Obasanjo, paid a surprise visit to President
Jonathan at the Intercontinental Hotel,
Nairobi, where they had a private breakfast
together.
Reports say the two politicians had a "fruitful
discussion" after emerging from the meeting
beaming with smiles and sharing a warm
handshake.
It would be recalled that Obasanjo had written
a strong-worded letter, which went public
earlier this week (Wednesday), accusing the
President of performing below par and taking
actions calculated at destroying the country.
The previous meeting between Jonathan and
Obasanjo was on December 10, 2013, Tuesday,
as they attended the memorial held to honor
the life of Nelson "Madiba" Madela, South
Africa's great man of history and world's single
most significant statesman of the last 100
years.
In his speech, President Jonathan called on all
Kenyans to unite. According to him, there was
no alternative to unity if Kenyans must move
their nation forward. In building their nation,
Jonathan told Kenyans that they must make
unity their focal point.
He said that the destiny of Kenya lies with its
people and as such, the people must strive
hard to take their country to a greater height.
President Jonathan said that he was happy that
former Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga
was present at the event and working with
President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"Nobody can love you more than
Kenyans, so you all have to jointly
develop your country. All Kenyans should
come together to form an inclusive
society.
"Since 2007, many African countries like
Kenya have been celebrating 50 years of
independence and freedom, our founding
fathers talked of political freedom to be
followed by economic freedom.
"The present generation of African leaders
must work hard on science and
technology as well as industrialisation, so
that there could be economic
development and freedom." President
Jonathan stated.
Obasanjo was said to have sat quietly during
the event and was making calls on his mobile
phone at intervals while the event lasted.

NAIJ.COM

OBASANJO'S LETTER: Femi Fani Kayode
Blasts President Jonathan

Outspoken former Aviation Minister, Femi
Falana-Kayode is in the news again this
time its about his response to Obasanjo's
open letter to President Jonathan.
In the open letter the Angry Ex-president,
Olusegun Obasanjo accused the President
Jonathan of taking actions calculated at
destroying Nigeria.
Read what Femi Fani Kayode had to say about
the letter below
"OBJ has finally closed GEJ's chapter with his
letter. Jonathan is finished- mark my words.
Abati should shut up and let his boss speak for
himself on this one.
The Ebora Owu has spoken and the issues that
he has raised are too serious to be ignored or
to be responded to with amatuerish and
cheeky insults and slurs from a mere staff of
the Presidency.
The President should find the courage to
personally answer the charges and address the
message rather than get his aides to attack the
messenger. As Baba said, Jonathan is "bleeding
Nigeria to death". It is time for change.
God used Obasanjo to put Jonathan in power
and, by His grace, He will use that same
Obasanjo to remove him."
What do you think of Femi's Response?

NAIJ.COM

Jonathan, Alison-Madueke,
Okonjo-Iweala Guilty Of Diverting N8
Trillion Oil Funds

President Goodluck Jonathan and two of
his top ministers may be attempting a
cover-up on what clearly competes as
Nigeria's biggest fraud ever, involving the
illegal diversion, or theft, of over N8
trillion crude oil sales proceeds.
In a memo to the president on September 25,
2013, Central Bank governor, Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi detailed how government-owned oil
firm, the Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, had systematically
diverted the huge sum, being sales proceeds
between January 2012 and July 2013.
According to CBN governor, for all crude oil
sales within the period, the NNPC paid only 24
percent proceeds into the federation account,
and diverted or stole the remaining 76
percent-totalling N8 trillion.
As the CBN calculated, the NNPC sold at least
594 million barrels of oil within the period,
and should have paid N10.3 trillion (USD65.3
billion) into the federation account. But the
corporation paid only N2.5 trillion (USD15.5
billion), Mr. Sanusi said, citing documentation
from pre-shipment inspectors.
The whereabouts of the huge balance is
unknown.
Just to explain it in simpler figures: for each
barrel of oil sold, say at an average of
USD100, the NNPC illegally cornered $74 into
an unknown account and gave Nigeria only
$26.
Mr. Sanusi said he was "constrained" to hint
the president after observing the huge
shortfalls for years. What is more, he accused
the NNPC of breaching 2 federal laws and
urged thorough investigation of the case.
Two months on, the president has refused to
act on the damning memo delivered to him
personally by the CBN governor. In fact, after
receiving the letter, the president, presidency
sources say, questioned Mr. Sanusi on why
such letter should be prepared in the first
place and sent to him.
The journalists of Premium Times also claim
that finance minister and former World Bank
chief, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were also aware of
the CBN's information and has done nothing
about it.
President challenged on corruption
Details of the president's failure to act on
such a massive scale of misappropriation came
amid an increasing criticism of Mr. Jonathan's
response to corruption, as several senior
officials of his government, accused of stealing
or wasting public funds, have been spared of
indictment and prosecution.
One of the critics is Aminu Tambuwal, who
accused Jonathan of consistently displaying a
"body language" that encourages corruption.
Between 2011 and 2013, the House of
Representatives has investigated the NNPC
multiple times, and has in many cases found
officials of the corporation wanting. But no
one has been sanctioned by government.
In 2012, top management of the NNPC and
the petroleum minister, Mrs. Madueke, who
directly supervises the NNPC, were
recommended for prosecution by the House in
a shocking fuel subsidy probe. They accused
officials have remained at their posts.
The CBN's allegation is the most scathing yet
for a corporation notorious for secrecy and
corruption.
The diverted or stolen amount-N8 trillion
between January 2012 and July 2013- is the
nearly the equivalent of the total federal
budgets for two years.
More losses and the ECA
Even so, when compared with prevailing data
from different government agencies, the figure
admitted by the CBN is still lesser than what
Nigeria should earn from oil sales.
While the bank said its computation, based on
pre-shipment details, showed that Nigeria sold
N10.3 trillion worth of oil in 19 months,
Premium Times' analysis shows the
government should rather realize N10.6
trillion in the first 10 months of 2013-Janaury
to October-alone.
PREMIUM TIMES's estimates is based on the
government's data of daily production average
of 2.11 million barrels of crude, sold at an
average price of $105.84 per barrel.
If multiplied and converted to naira, the
government should have realized N10. 6
trillion in 10 months alone.
But in that period, total oil receipts data
provided by the Office of the Accountant
General of the Federation, claimed between
January and October, the government made
N5.8 trillion.
The journalists claim to have revealed that the
government has not only lied or misled
Nigerians about its total receipts from oil
sales, but is also deceitful about its earnings in
the contentious Excess Crude Account.
The ECA holds the difference between the real
market price for oil and the government's
projection in the national budget yearly.
For 2013, the government approved rate is
$79 per barrel (called benchmark for oil
price), meaning any raise in price at the
international marker, will go into the ECA.
For most of the year, oil sold as much as $112
and $114 per barrel. At a conservative rate of
$105 per barrel, the government should have
realized $26 as difference per barrel for the
Excess Crude Account.
Calculated at 2.11 million barrels per day, that
should amount to $17.3 billion (about
N2.695trillion) earned as excess crude
revenue from crude oil exports as of October
2013.
But the government claims it generated only
N986.6 billion in the Excess Crude Account.
No explanation
None of the government officials, when
contacted, could explain the huge gaps for the
2013 figures.
A spokesperson for the Central Bank of
Nigeria, responding to Premium Times findings
(not Mr. Sanusi's letter), said as the
government's banker, it could not provide the
requested information, as it was unlawful for
a banker to divulge details about its customer
to a third party.
Controversy over Excess Crude Account
Premium Times own evaluation of government
oil earnings, which started before the
appearance of Sanusi's letter, was prompted
by the lingering controversy over the ECA
between the finance minister, Mrs. Okonjo-
Iweala and the Rivers state governor, Chibuike
Amaechi.
Mr. Amaechi had accused the government of
depleting the account, usually shared between
the federal, states and local governments.
The governor said $5 billion had gone missing
from the account under Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala's
watch.
Defending the administration, Mrs. Okonjo-
Iweala accused the governor of "playing
politics" on the matter, and said the
outstanding $5 billion had been shared to
states as monthly allocation and local
governments, with Rivers State being one of
the major beneficiaries.
The frustration of CBN governor
But in his letter, Mr. Sanusi said he had long
been frustrated by the NNPC's secrecy with oil
sales, and that he raised concerns twice to the
president as far back as 2010 about his
observation that a huge chunk of sales
proceeds were not remitted to government
treasury.
He said the shortfall in revenue as a result of
oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta was
insignificant compared to the scale of money
unaccounted for by the NNPC.
"Your excellency, you will recall that as far
back as late 2010, I had verbally expressed
deep concern about what appeared to be huge
shortfalls in remittances to the federation
account in spite of the strong recovery in oil
prices," the CBN governor wrote, indicating
the losses extending years back far surpasses
the N8 trillion of between 2012 and 2013.
There is no evidence the president acted on
those concerns.
According to him, by 2012, the situation had
gone worse that the government made more
money from tax paid by oil companies than
from actual sales of crude.
The CBN governor urged a thorough audit of
all domiciliary accounts held by the NNPC
outside of the CBN, and a probe of companies
involved in oil lifting and oil swap.
The Special Adviser to the President on Public
Communications, Reuben Abati, was not
available for comments.

NAIJ.COM

Housewife, Pastor Arrested For Murder In
Edo

Nigerian police detectives from the Edo
State Police Command have arrested and
detained a housewife and her lover, a
pastor, over the murder of her husband,
Victor Nsongbunyo, a Deputy Manager with
the Nigeria Petroleum Development (NPDC)
Company, in Benin.
It was gathered that the woman and her
deceased husband, a native of Cross River
State, who was recently promoted to Deputy
Manager in the company and was due to retire
from service next year, had been having issues
with the paternity of their children after he
suspected the wife was having an extra marital
affair with the Pastor.
It was also learnt that when he suspected that
the pregnancy the wife was carrying was not
from him, the deceased visited their home
town to complain to his family and his in-laws.
Consequently, the families resolved that a DNA
test would be conducted after the wife gave
birth to the child.
This arrangement, according to sources,
incensed the wife, prompting her into plotting
to murder her husband with her lover-Pastor.
According to police sources, the deceased
returned from work on Friday October 22,
2013, when the suspected killers came and
killed him, and put the mutilated body into
one of his old cars. The car was driven to
Sapele road, Benin, where it was set ablaze
with his body.
The following Monday, October 25, the woman
was said to have gone to her late husband's
office to report that he was missing. She was
also said to have reported the incident of the
husband's death to the police. Thereafter, she
went to her husband's bank where she
allegedly withdrew N4milion from his account.
It was further gathered that following
information to a staff of the NPDC that a
burnt car was sighted somewhere along Sapele
Road, they rushed to the scene and found it
was the Mr. Nsongbunyo's car.
Consequently, the NPDC staff went back to the
deceased wife at their home to inform her of
the finding, but surprisingly, found her sitting
comfortably at home watching African Magic, a
situation which prompted police suspicion of
the woman.
The police were said to have launched a search
for the car given to the deceased by NPDC
following his promotion, and the car was
reportedly traced to a compound at Ekenwan
road in Benin.
The police detectives were said to have
accosted a lady in the compound where the
car was packed and she reportedly informed
the police that the car was packed by a Pastor
who lives in the compound.
Further investigation by the police led them to
observe burns in the Pastor's left hand and
face, even as he (the pastor) reportedly told
the police that one of his daughters in the
church sowed a seed with the car.
He was said to have led the police to the
residence of the said daughter who sowed with
the car in his church, but it turned out that it
was the residence of the deceased and it was
the deceased's wife.
The police then arrested the pastor and the
deceased's wife, both of whom are now
helping the police in their investigation into
the murder of Mr. Nsongbunyo.
Edo state Police Commissioner, Mr. Foluso
Adebanjo, who confirmed the incident, said "it
is a serious crime which we are investigating
and until we conclude, disclosing things might
jeopardise investigations."

source: naij.com

We Are Working To Identify Boko Haram
External Sponsors - President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that
his administration is working assiduously
on some available clues to identify the
external sponsors of the fundamentalist
Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
He said the recent large scale attack in parts
of Maiduguri, Borno State, including the Air
Force Base, had further confirmed the
government's suspicion that the sect enjoyed
international backing.
He spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria and
France 24 Radio at the close of a two-day
summit on peace and security in Africa, hosted
by President Francois Hollande in France on
Saturday.
Jonathan, who said the insurgents arrived in
Maiduguri with between 15 and 20 vehicles,
each mounted with rocket launchers,added
that he had approved N1bn for the
rehabilitation of detention camps of insurgents
across the country.
He stated that Nigeria was seeking the
collaboration of friends of the nation to
unravel the foreign sponsors of the insurgents.
The President said, "We believe that a lot of
assistance is coming (to the sect) from outside
the country.
"We have not been able to pin down the
sources and that is why we are talking to our
friends that we should collectively work
together to identify the source of their
funding.
"A terror on any part of the world is a terror
on all of us."
Jonathan said Maiduguri attack clearly showed
that the sect's operations had gone beyond its
classification as a local militia group.
"Initially, we felt that they were local and as
such, some people advocated that because of
poverty, these locals carried weapons against
the State. So you expect that sophistication
will be minimal and you will be able to contain
it easily.
"But looking at the calibre of weapons they
have, you will find out that they have gone
beyond the local expectation. For instance,
this last attack on Maiduguri, they came with
about 15 to 20 Hilux vehicles and each
mounted with two to four rocket launchers.
"They were over 100 and some of them were
carrying assault rifles and other weapons. The
question then is that, where do they get the
weapons? Definitely, these weapons cannot
come from the locals, they are coming from
somewhere.''
He said while military operations would
continue in the affected parts of the county in
order to protect lives and property, his
administration had not foreclosed the option
of dialogue with the sect .
Jonathan also said he approved the release of
the N1bn for the upgrade of insurgents
detention camps in response to a series of
complaints by local and international human
rights groups.
He said the development would ensure that
detainees were kept under normal human
conditions.
Specifically, the President said he was
concerned over a human rights report on the
situation of Giwa Barracks where some of the
detainees were kept.
The President added, "They were talking about
some conditions in the barracks and because
of that, not quite long, I released N1bn to
make sure that they expand the facilities in
detention camps, particularly the camp in
Giwa Barracks that they complained about.
"Boko Haram members that have been
arrested are being detained in a number of
places and not only Giwa Barracks.
"Following complaints that I received about
that particular barracks, I called the Chief of
Defence Staff to go and use the army
engineers to quickly expand and improve the
facilities so that people arrested will live under
normal human conditions."
Jonathan however added that the reports of
human rights abuses by the Joint Military Task
Force were grossly exaggerated.
He attributed most of the cases of torture and
killings the military is being blamed for to the
sect.
"The issue of human rights abuses is blown
out of proportion. Whenever they have a
major encounter, Boko Haram destroys at will,
they kill at will, some of these destructions
that are being ascribed to the Nigerian Army
are actually done by the Boko Haram sect,'' he
said.
The President said that the state of emergency
declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states
had helped tremendously in restoring sanity.
He recalled that before the emergency rule,
even the Federal Capital Territory was not safe
having had its share of terrorist acts with
attacks carried out on the United Nations
building, the police headquarters, a military
market and a newspaper house.
He said the nation had now reached a point
that the challenges were now in Borno and
Yobe states.
"Even Adamawa , the third state that the
emergency rule covers, within this period,
there are no issues unlike before that there
were repeated killings and bombings.
"Though, we are still having this issue of
occasional attacks, but definitely, the
emergency rule has helped,'' he said.
The President also said he had yet to receive a
comprehensive report on a French priest that
was kidnapped in Northern Cameroon and
reported to have been taken to Nigeria.
"No comprehensive information yet on this.
But what we know is that it is quite worrisome
that the issue of commercial hostage-taking is
now a global business. Though, we got the
information, but I cannot give any categorical
statement. But, we know that the tradition of
hostage-takers is mobility because when they
are being tracked, they move," he added.
The 42-year-old Priest, Georges Vandenbeusch,
was reportedly kidnapped on Thursday near
Koza, in Northern Cameroon.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of the Diocese of Osun
North East, Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion), Rt. Revd. Humphrey Olumakaiye,
has urged security agencies and people living
in the Southern part of the country to be
vigilant.
Olumakaiye told one of our correspondents in
Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State that the onslaught
against the Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa states could force its members to
migrate southwards.
He said, "The security agencies and everybody,
especially in the South-South , the South-West
and the South-East should be vigilant. Those
who had been dislodged might want to migrate
southwards to continue wreaking havoc..
"Nobody ever thought that suicide bombing
could come to Nigeria, but here we are now
living with suicide bombers."
The military has been finding it difficult to
flush out members of the Boko Haram sect in
the North-East because no matter the security,
you can't defeat people who are ready to die."

source: naij.com

Is it permissible to rebel against the ruler?

There are people who think that because some
of the rulers commit acts of kufr and sin, we
are obliged to rebel against them and attempt
to change things even if that results in harming
the Muslims in that country, at a time when
there are many problems in the Muslim world.
What is your opinion?

Praise be to Allaah.
The basic comprehensive principle of sharee’ah
is that it is not permitted to remove an evil by
means of a greater evil; evil must be warded
off by that which will remove it or reduce it.
Warding off evil by means of a greater evil is
not permitted according to the scholarly
consensus (ijmaa’) of the Muslims. If this
group which wants to get rid of this ruler who
is openly committing kufr is able to do so, and
can bring in a good and righteous leader
without that leading to greater trouble for the
Muslims or a greater evil than the evil of this
ruler, then that is OK. But if rebellion would
result in greater trouble and lead to chaos,
oppression and the assassination of people
who do not deserve to be assassinated, and
other forms of major evil, then that is not
permitted. Rather it is essential to be patient
and to hear and obey in matters of good, and
to offer sincere advice to the authorities, and
to pray that they may be guided to good, and
to strive to reduce evil and increase good. This
is the correct way which should be followed,
because that is in the general interests of the
Muslims, and because it will reduce evil and
increase good, and because this will keep the
peace and protect the Muslims from a greater
evil.

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah
li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd
al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah
have mercy on him), vol. 8, p. 202

Top 10 Tallest
Buildings in the
World

This shouldn’t affect those with a fear of
heights, but just in case, proceed with
caution. The only way to imagine what it’s
like to be this high up is to remember the
last time you were in an airplane, because
these buildings rise thousands of feet and
often have their heads in the clouds. China
dominates, and even though the Freedom
Tower won’t be complete until 2013, I’d
like this list to remain relevant for at least
a little while.

10. Kingkey 100: Shenzhen, China
Located
in Shenzhen’s financial district, the
Kingkey 100 is named for its 100 floors,
rising to a total of 1,449 feet . The lower
levels contain a mall, office space that
takes up 22 stories, and the remainder of
the floors belong to the St. Regis Hotel
that opened last year.

9. Willis Tower: Chicago, Illinois
Willis Tower used to be called the Sears
Tower until a naming rights change in
2009 by Willis Group Holdings. The Tower
is 108 stories and a total of 1,451 feet
high. When it was completed in 1973 it
was the tallest building in the world, a title
it held for almost 25 years. More than one
million people visit it every year, as it’s
one of the most popular tourist
destinations in Chicago.

8. Zifeng Tower: Nanjing, China
The Zifeng Tower was completed in 2008
and is 1,480 feet tall with a total of 89
stories. Designed by Adrian Smith, the
building’s stair-step shape is functional,
helping to separate the retail centers,
office spaces, restaurants, and a hotel and
public observatory within.

7. Petronas Towers: Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Also known as the Petronas Twin Towers,
these twin skyscrapers are tied as the two
number seven tallest buildings in the
world. They used to hold the coveted spot
at number one in 1998, but in 2004 they
were surpassed. They are however still the
tallest twin buildings in the world, coming
in at 1,483 feet high and 88 floors.

6. International Commerce Centre:
Hong Kong, China
The International Commerce Centre is a
1,588 feet tall skyscraper with a total of
118 floors. It was completed in 2010 and
stands as the tallest building in Hong
Kong.

5. Shanghai World Financial Center:
Shanghai, China
Made up of office space, hotels, and
observation decks with a shopping mall on
the ground floor, the Shanghai World
Financial Center reached its full height at
1,614 feet in 2007. It has 101 floors and
the world’s highest observation deck at
1,555 feet above ground.

4. Taipei 101: Taipei, Taiwan
With 5 floors underground and 101 above,
the Taipei 101 rises to a grand total
of 1,669 feet . It’s also the largest
environmentally conscious skyscraper in
the world, and is often where Taiwan
launches its fireworks during national
celebrations.

3. One World Trade Center: New York,
NY
Called both the Freedom Tower and One
World Trade Center, this building will rise
104 stories high after its completion in
2013. It will then be the tallest building in
the Western Hemisphere. Its spire will
stretch its height to 1,776 feet ,
referencing 1776, the year of
American Independence.

2. Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel:
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
An attempt to modernize this holy city, the
Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower is the
tallest hotel in the world, along with the
tallest clock-tower and containing the
world’s largest clock-face. It stands
at 1,972 feet high and has a whopping
120 floors.

1. Burj Khalifa: Dubai, United Arab
Emirates
The Burj Khalifa, previously known as the
Burj Dubai, is the tallest building in the
world, rising to a
ridiculous 2,723 feet high with 163
floors. It took five years to build, and was
completed in 2009 in Dubai’s main
business district.

Her father will not let her get married on
the grounds that she should complete her
education

I have received some proposals but my father
refuses them, and justifies this by saying that I
must complete my education first. I have tried
to convince them about my wish to marry and
that it will not affect my education negatively.
But my parents insist on their opinion. Is it
permissible for me to marry without their
approval? What shall I do otherwise?.
Praise be to Allaah.

Undoubtedly your father’s preventing you from
getting married to someone compatible is
haraam. Marriage is more important than
study, and it does not rule out study because
it is possible to do both.
In your situation it is permissible for you to
contact the sharee’ah court and tell them what
has happened, then after that the final
decision is up to the court. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may
Allaah have mercy on him).

Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah (2/704).

how real is this news, just saw it.

You probably feel like your daily routines
are just fine, so it might surprise you to
find out how much you're actually doing
wrong.

Just because we've been doing something one
way for as long as we can remember doesn't
mean it's necessarily the best way.
For just about every run-of-the-mill activity
we do, there's a life-hack out there
proclaiming you can somehow do it better.
And if you had the chance to be the best of
your friends at breathing or even sitting, why
not at least give it a try? Go for the gold in
washing your hands or taking out the garbage
and you'll be well on your way to a better you.
Know these 10 things you're doing wrong and
then maybe you can finally start doing things
RIGHT.

1. Breathing
You breathe about 17,000 times a day, but
your technique might be flawed. Slower,
deeper breathing that comes from the lower
diaphragm (or even better the surrounding
area of the diaphragm) can help you relieve
stress, lower your blood pressure and improve
athletic performance by increasing stamina
and reducing fatigue. Most of us are chest
breathers, but developing a more focused
approach can help you feel better day to day,
especially if you're also exercising.

2. Showering
If you're shampooing more than a few times a
week, you may be stripping away important
oils in your hair - called sebum - and actually
making your hair greasier: As sebum is
stripped away, it causes oil glands on your
scalp to compensate by overproducing more
sebum, giving your hair an oily consistency.
You also may be taking way too long in the
shower. Long hot showers dry out your skin,
use quite a bit of water (around 17 gallons
each time), and can remove too much"good
bacteria."

3. Working Out
Stretching before exercising can actually be
counterintuitive as it temporarily weakens
muscles and might not even reduce soreness
in the days following exercise.
As for your actual workouts, spending time
lifting lighter weights with more repetitions
actually doesn't have greater slimming benefits
than lifting heavier weights, and a lot of
exercise doesn't have any slimming benefits at
all. You also might want to rethink scheduling
workouts every day.

4. Eating
Making sure to eat breakfast probably doesn't
help you lose weight. You also might be eating
too much meat (especially if it's red), and you
probably don't need to be told this, but fast
food is bad for you.
Also, no matter what you eat, eating it too fast
may disrupt your body's natural chemical
signals, causing you to consume more than
you should, which could lead to a greater risk
of obesity.

5. The Opposite of Eating
You should really be squatting instead of
sitting in the toilet. If the idea of simply
hovering doesn't sound all too appealing, there
are quite a few different ways to help you get
in that squat position. Just make sure you're
not straining.
Oh, and you've also probably been placing
toilet seat covers on backwards. On top of all
this, after you're done, you really need to be
closing that lid, as molecules from whatever is
in the bowl will fly into the air, making your
toothbrush disgusting.

6. Washing Your Hands
Only a few people wash their hands correctly,
so there's a very good chance you're doing this
one wrong. Although the base definition of
washing the right way means "rubbing
vigorously with soap and water for at least 20
seconds," there are even more things you're
probably doing wrong. Antibacterial soaps
have been criticized over their use of the
chemical "triclosan," which may cause
antibiotic resistance and potentially even
hormone alteration. On top of this, there may
actually be no advantage to using antibacterial
soaps when it comes to reducing your chances
of getting sick.

7. Sleeping
A lot of people are not sleeping correctly and
are at risk of significantly altering their
"memory, learning, creativity, productivity and
emotional stability." On top of this, there
really is a sweet spot for how much sleep you
should get. Anything outside of these regular
sleep hours could have long-term health risks
that have been associated with shortened
lifespans. But it isn't just sleep behavior that
can help you get this right. Tips for improving
your sleep include exercising, turning off your
phone, or simply tricking your brain into
thinking you're dead tired.

8. Being Productive
It's actually impossible to multitask and those
who come close are simply switching between
tasks very quickly, which usually decreases
focus. If you're someone who likes to power
through tasks, you should know that your
willpower is actually a finite resource and that
taking breaks could significantly boost your
mental capacities to do work. Here's another
reminder to make sure you're making time for
sleep, because on top of helping ideas solidify
in your head, it can also - surprise - make you
more productive.

9. Shaving
First off, shaving doesn't cause hair to come
back thicker - that is a myth. On a shave-to-
shave basis, you should really be making sure
to prepare your skin with the right creams and
heating techniques to make sure you aren't
totally wrecking your face, legs, armpits, etc.
Also make sure to shave at night if you can, as
the process leaves your skin ultra sensitive.

10. Brushing Your Teeth
First off, you should never brush your teeth
directly after having an acidic meal or drink,
because that can push the acid deeper into
your enamel. Instead, wait 30 minutes or
simply rinse your mouth with water. Some
basic tips: Brush for two minutes each time,
using a soft brush and not rubbing your teeth
and gums too hard.

Source: naij.com

There are many ahadeeth that enumerate the
blessings of this surah in its entirety and
regarding the first or last ten ayat.

1. Abu Darda' ~ may Allah be pleased with him
~ related that the Holy Prophet ~ ~ said, " One
who memorized the first ten verses of Suratul
Kahf will be secure against the Dajjal (Anti-
Christ) . Another version says: "One who
commits to his memory the last 10 verses of
this surah will remain immune from the Dajjal.
[Muslim]

2. From Baihaqi: He who recites Suratul Kahf
on yaumul Jumuah (Friday), Allah will shine a
light for him between the two Fridays. [sahih]

3. From Ahmad, Muslim, An-Nisaa'ie, and Ibn
Habban -- that Abu Darda' said the Messenger
of Allah ~ ~ said, "Whoever reads the last 10
ayat from Suratul Kahf, he will be immune
from the fitnah (corruption) of the Dajjal.

4. Al Bukhari, Muslim and others: Al Baraa'
said a man was reading Suratul Kahf in his
home and there was an animal in it (it did not
specify if it was a cat or dog or goat -- it just
used the general term for animal) that started
to become uneasy or nervous. He looked up
and saw a mist or a cloud and it deceived him.
He mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah ~ ~
and he said, "Read (he said the person's name)
for verily sakinah descends for (the recitation
of) Qur'an". The person who was reading was
'Aseed bin Hadheer, as At-Tubraani explained.

5. From At-Tirmithi who proclaimed it sahih:
Abu Darda' said, "The Messenger of Allah ~ ~
said, 'Whoever reads 3 ayat from the beginning
of Suratul Kahf is protected or immune from
the fitnah of the Dajjal. In another version it
says 10 ayat from the beginning of it or 10
ayat from the end of it.

6. Ibn Mardwiyah Al Daiya' in "Al Mukhtaar"
related that Ali ~ may Allah be pleased with
him ~ said that the Messenger of Allah ~ ~
said: "Whoever reads (Suratul) Kahf on yaumul
Jumuah, he is immune for 8 days from all
fitnah that will happen. When the Dajjal comes
out, he will be immune to him.

7. Found in At-Tubraani' s "Al Awsat" and Al
Haakim's "Mustadrak" and who declared it
sahih, Ibn Mardwiyah and Al Baihaqi and Al
Diyaa': Abu Saeed Al Khudari said that the
Messenger of Allah ~ ~ said, "Whoever reads
Suratul Kahf has a light for him from
"maqaamahu" his place (where he is standing)
to Makkah; and whoever reads 10 ayat from
the end of it (the last 10 ayat) then the Dajjal
comes out, he will not be harmed by him.

8. Al Haakim who said it is sahih -- the hadith
of Abu Saeed -- that the Messenger of Allah ~ ~
said, "Whoever reads Suratul Kahf on yaumul
Jumuah, a light will shine for him between the
2 Fridays (until the next Friday).Al Baihaqi also
provided that hadith in "As Sunan" from the
same narrators and from a different chain.

9. Ibn Mardwiyah from Ibn Omar ~ may Allah
be pleased with them both ~ who said the
Messenger of Allah ~ ~ said, "Whoever reads
Suratul Kahf on yaumul Jumuah, for him light
would shine from beneath his foot to 'Aden in
the heavens, shining for him on the Last Day
and he will be forgiven for what occurs
between the 2 Fridays (minor sins)

10. On the authority of Aiesha ~may Allah be
pleased with her~ the Messenger of Allah ~ ~
said, "Shall I not inform you of a surah which
is so full of greatness it reaches between the
heaven and earth and it has blessings written
for it of similar proportions (from the sky to
earth) whoever reads it on yaumul Jumuah is
forgiven what occurred between that Jumuah
and the next, in addition to 3 days (i.e. 10
days in all) and whoever reads the last five ayat
of it when he goes to sleep, Allah will send him
that night what he wants? They said, Yes, O
Messenger of Allah. He said: Surat Ashaabul
Kahf. [I pray that I have translated this
correctly. May Allah forgive me if I have not
conveyed it correctly as these are the words
His Messenger, peace be upon him.]

Menstruating Women And Women
Experiencing Post-Natal Bleeding: May They
Touch the Qur’aan?


Question:
Noble Shaykh, it is a habit of mine that I
recite certain chapters of the Qur’aan
before I go to sleep, but there are days
when I cannot do this because of my
monthly period. May I write the chapters I
wish to read on a piece of paper, so that I
can read them during my period?


Answer:
Menstruating women and women experiencing
post-natal bleeding may recite the Qur’aan,
according to the most correct view from the
scholars, since there is no authentic proof that
points to the contrary. However, they may not
touch the Mushaf. what they can do is hold it
indirectly, by placing a cloth, for instance,
between the hand and the Qur’aan, and the
same ruling applies for a piece of paper upon
which is written parts of the Qur’aan. And with
Allaah is the facilitation to do what is right.

Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, vol.7, p.47, DARUSALAM

The Ruling Concerning Wishing for Death
due to Harm that Has Come.

Question:
I have faced so many difficulties in my life
that it has made me hate this life. Every
time I turned to Allah, I pleaded for Him to
take my life away from me at the earliest.
This is my wish until now as I do not see
any solutions to my problems except death;
it is the only thing that can save me from
this punishment. Is this behaviour
forbidden for me?

Answer:
When a person wishes for death because of
something that has afflicted him, he is doing
something that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-
wasallam) said,
''None of you should hope for death
because of some harm that has come to
him. If he has wish such, he should say, ‘O
Allah, give me life if You know that life is
better for me. And give me death if You know
that death is better for me.’” [1]
Therefore, It is not allowed for anyone to wish
for death because of some harm, hardship or
difficulty that has come to him. Infact, he
should be patient and expect a reward from
Allah for what he is passing through. He
should also wait for relief to come, as the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) has said,
“Know that victory comes with patience,
relief with distress, and ease with
hardship.” [2]

The one who is afflicted with any affliction
should know that those afflictions expiate some
of his sins that he has committed. No believer
is afflicted with any kind of worry, grief or
pain except that Allah expiates sins from him
due to that, even the pricking of a thorn. When
the person is patient and expects rewards from
Allah, he reaches the stage of being patient.
This stage is a very elevated stage. Allah has
stated about its inhabitants,
''And give glad tidings to the patient. Who,
when afflicted with calamity, say, ‘Truly, to
Allah we belong and, truly, to Him we shall
return.’” (Surah al-baqarah 155 -156)

The women in the question feels that there is
no solution for her problems except death. I
believe this is a mistaken view. Death does not
solve any problems. Infact, the situation of
adversity may get even worse. How many
humans die while being afflicted with pain and
problems but they had been wronging
themselves and did not give up their sins and
repent to Allah. Then his death is just a
quicker coming of his punishment. If he
remained alive, perhaps Allah would have
guided him to repentance, seeking forgiveness,
patience, facing the problems and expecting
the relief. This all would have been good for
him.
Therefore, you the questioner must be patient
and expect relief from Allah. Allah says in His
Book,
''So verily with hardship there is relief.
Verily with the hardship there is
relief.” (Surah al- Sharh 5-6)
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) stated
in an authentic narration,
''Know that victory comes with patience,
relief with distress, and ease with
hardship.” [3]
________________________
[1] Recorded by al-Bukhari, and Muslim.
[2] According to al- Albani, it is an authentic
hadith. See al- Albani Sahih al- Jami al-
Sagheer, Vol. 2, p. 1151
[3] According to al- Albani, it is an authentic
hadith. See al- Albani Sahih al- Jami al-
Sagheer, Vol. 2, p. 1151
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-
`Uthaymeen
Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women - Darussalam
Pg.48-50

as for me Dubai is better. tax free, easy life and accomodating.

Ruling regarding the one who becomes
angry when an affliction befalls him

Question:
What is the ruling regarding the one who
becomes angry when an affliction befalls
him?

Answer:
People are upon 4 levels regarding the
circumstances of affliction:
The First Level: Being angry, and this is in
various ways:

The first type: That the anger is by the heart as
if he is angry at his Lord. So he becomes angry
with what Allaah has decreed for him, and this
(level) is haraam. And it is possible that this
could lead to kufr (disbelief). Allaah said: “ And
among mankind is he who worships Allaah
as it were, upon the very edge (i.e. in
doubt); if good befalls him, he is content
therewith; but if a trial befalls him, he
turns back on his face (i.e. reverts back to
disbelief after embracing Islaam). He loses
both this world and the Hereafter.” - Al-Hajj
(22):11

The second type: That the anger is by the
tongue like making duaa for destruction or
ruin and what is similar to that, and this is
haraam.

The third type: That the anger is by the limbs
like slapping the cheeks, ripping the clothes,
pulling out hair, and similar to that, and all of
this is haraam in contradiction to patience
which is waajib (obligatory).

The Second Level: Being patient, just as the
poet said:
“Patience is like its name - bitter in taste, yet
its outcomes are sweeter than honey.”
So the person sees this thing (the affliction)
weighs very heavy upon him, yet he bears it
although he dislikes that it happened. Rather,
his eemaan bears it and restrains him from
being angry. So the time of affliction and the
time of no affliction is not the same to him,
and this (level) is waajib, because Allaah
commanded the people to be patient, saying:
“…and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with
those who are As-Saabireen (the patient
ones, etc.) .” - Al-Anfaal (:46
The Third Level: Being pleased with the
affliction in that the person is pleased with the
affliction and whether it happened or not, it is
the same to him so he it is not difficult upon
him. He does not bear it as if it is something
weighing heavy on him, and this (level) is
mustahabb (preferred - between haraam and
waajib) and it is not waajib according to the
most correct opinion. The difference between
this level and the one before it is apparent
because the affliction happening or not
happening is the same due to the pleasure of
the one on this level. As for the level before it,
the affliction is hard upon him, yet he remains
patient over it.
The Fourth Level: Thanking/being grateful and
this is the highest level. This is that the person
thanks Allaah for the affliction which has
struck him in that he knows that this affliction
is an expiation for his sins and perhaps a cause
for an increase in his good deeds. The Prophet
( ﻰﻠﺻ ﻪﻠﻟﺍ ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﻢﻠﺳﻭ ) said:
“There is no affliction which strikes the Muslim
except that Allaah expiates with it (sins), even
with a thorn that may poke him.” (Recorded by
Bukhaari and Muslim)
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-
`Uthaymeen
Fataawa Arkaan al-Islaam - Fatwaa 64, page
126

front page pls, so dat many people can read this

SCAM ALERT!!! PLEASE ADVISE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE: You will receive a SMS from a number similar to the one that you get bank notifications from. The SMS will indicate a problem on your account a 'consultant' will contact you. When the 'consultant' contacts you he/she will start confirming all your details, your account number & then they will ask you what kind of phone you are using. The fraudsters will then contact your cell phone provider & perform a SIM Swap. The fraudster will then be able to receive OTP's (One Time Pins) and/or RVN' (Random Verification Numbers from your bank & have access to your bank accounts. By the time you realize that your cell number is not working your money will be out of your account. Please broadcast! Let everyone know about this very Big Scam!!

TOP 10 TIPS FOR LIVING LONGER
AND FEELING YOUNGER
By Jessica Padykula
HEALTH & WELLNESS

Living longer and
feeling younger are
probably two of the
most common
goals for adults
everywhere. Since there are no magic age-
erasers to stop or reverse the aging
process just yet, it’s up to us to do what
we can to slow down the clock.
That may seem daunting, but there are
some simple things we can do every day
to lead longer, healthier lives and
prevent premature aging.
How old are you, really?
The popular RealAge Test, an online health
assessment tool taken by over 27 million
people, has recently launched a major
update. Based on a comprehensive review of
the latest medical, nutritional and fitness
studies, this update recalculates your
biological age, or how old your body thinks
you are, based on a wide cross-section of
questions covering everything from how
much physical activity you get and what you
eat to your stress level and how satisfying
your sex life is.
Whether you take the test to check in on
how well you're doing when it comes to
aging, or just want to know how to lead a
healthier life, we get some insight from Dr.
Keith Roach, chief medical officer for
RealAge, about what it takes to live longer.
How to live longer
Dr. Roach shares some of the most
important things you can do to live longer
and feel younger based on the current
RealAge test, which not only calculates your
"real age" but shows you what you can do to
lower it.

1 Lose extra weight
Excess weight, especially abdominal fat,
causes damage to the arteries and heart, Dr.
Roach explains. Not only will you look and
feel better, but maintaining a healthy weight
helps reduce your risk of several health
problems, including cardiovascular disease
and Type 2 diabetes.
Tips for maintaining your weight >>

2 Eat less red meat
The less red meat you eat, the younger your
RealAge, says Dr. Roach. Focusing on adding
more vegetables and whole grains to your
diet can significantly improve overall health,
and a well-balanced vegetarian diet cuts
your risk for obesity, coronary artery
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and
certain types of cancer.
Try these delicious vegetarian recipes and
vegan recipes >>

3 Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep -- on a regular basis --
helps with everything from boosting your
energy level to keeping your weight down.
Getting at least six hours of sleep a night
(but no more than nine hours) can make
your RealAge three to four years younger.
Tips for getting a better night's sleep >>

4 Look on the bright side
Positive mood and maintaining a good
attitude help all of your body's vital systems
stay in balance, explains Dr. Roach, adding
that staying upbeat can make your RealAge
5.2 years younger.
Correct negative thinking >>

5 Get moving
Being physically active is one of the most
important things you can do to boost overall
health and live longer. A daily 30-minute
walk is one of the best ways to keep your
bones, blood pressure, waistline, joints,
energy, arteries and attitude young, Dr.
Roach says.
Start a walking fitness program >>

6 Lower your stress level
According to the RealAge test, chronic stress
ages you by increasing your risk of
accidents, infections and arterial aging.
Reducing stress with meditation or other
relaxation techniques can make your RealAge
1.7 years younger, says Dr. Roach, and
meditation, relaxation, exercise and
connecting with friends are all good ways to
do that.
Reboot and stress less >>

7 Start strength training
Working out with weights does your muscles
and bones a lot of good, and it doesn't take
a ton of time to make a difference. Strength-
training for just 10 minutes three times per
week can make help you feel better and live
longer. The more strength you can build and
maintain as you age, the younger you'll feel
– and look.
More reasons to lift weights >>

8 Say yes to sex
Satisfying sex is an important part of a
healthy relationship, and can also help you
feel younger and live longer. The surge of
hormones that happens during arousal and
orgasm leave you feeling calm, and the
increase in heart rate and blood flow after
climax are good for your organs and
circulatory system.
More health benefits of sex >>

9 Build strong ties
Reach out to family and friends through e-
mails, phone calls and, whenever you can,
face-to-face visits. Staying connected works
as a buffer for stress, minimizing
inflammation, helping make your blood less
likely to clot when you're tense and lowering
your risk of a heart attack
Follow these steps to a stronger social
life >>

10 Eat to live longer
Do yourself a favor and boost your intake of
fruit, colorful vegetables and whole grains.
Living a longer life depends on the arsenal
of essential nutrients you get from a
balanced, healthy diet, heavy on the items
listed. Your heart, brain and skin will thank
you.

Summary
Ivory Coast and Nigeria qualify for World
Cup
Full Time: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast
Ivorians win 4-2 on aggregate
Full Time: Nigeria 2-0 Ethiopia
African champions progress with 4-1 win
Three remaining play-offs finish by Tuesday

COUNTRIES
WITH THE
MOST
BEAUTIFUL
WOMEN IN
THE WORLD
1 | BRAZIL
Why are there so many Brazilian supermodels?
Because they have the genes for it. Brazilians
are probably the most ethnically mixed people
in the world, so combining different shades
and shapes creates the most perfect of bodies.
And they work on them too, since they live at
the beach in Rio or flaunt themselves at the
trendiest bars in fashion-obsessed São Paulo.
Go to any fashion show around the world or
open a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, and
you're guaranteed to find a Brazilian girl.

2 | RUSSIA
After Brazil, Russia is probably the country
with the most beautiful women per square
mile. You'll find female eye candy on the
Moscow subway, but also throughout the most
remote corners of Siberia, where supermodel
Irina Shayk was discovered. Female beauty is
part of the Russian landscape.

3 | SLOVAKIA
Men who prefer tall blonde blue-eyed women
automatically think Sweden, but the most
gorgeous blondes are actually in Slovakia!
Many women around the world spend fortunes
to look like what comes naturally to Slovakian
women, and these girls don't have to work very
hard to draw your attention.

4 | SWEDEN
Although Slovakians beat Swedes in the hottest
blondes category, there's no denying that
Swedish women do fit the stereotype of
beautiful women. That's why they won the first
two Miss World titles ever, and their beauty is
not just on the outside. Talk to any woman in
Stockholm and you'll find that they're also
well-educated and sophisticated.

5 | VENEZUELA
Venezuela has the most beauty pageant
winners in the world (Miss World and Miss
Universe) and that's because beauty is the
country's biggest obsession. When not blessed
by nature, women are sculpted by surgery, a
major local industry. Female beauty is said to
be the biggest source of national pride and
even national identity, so that explains why
they're the women who spend the largest
portion of their income on beauty. And while
the capital Caracas is an unattractive city,
that's easily overlooked when eyes concentrate
solely on the young women on the streets.

6 | COLOMBIA
They don't all look like Sofia Vergara but many
do come close. Colombian women are proud of
their curves and work hard to show them off.
They're also highly seductive (and often
irresistible), so if you don't want to fall into
temptation, try to contain yourself if you ever
go on a trip to Bogota.

7 | UKRAINE
Why do so many men around the world look
for Ukrainian brides? The reasons are well
known and discussed, but above all, it's
because well-dressed women who take care of
their bodies while keeping a seductive charm is
quite attractive. Walk around Kiev and you'll
see why they get so much attention.

8 | LEBANON
Most people will agree that Lebanon has the
most beautiful women in the Middle East and
Arab world. And everyone really noticed that
through a controversial 2006 photo of affluent
Lebanese women riding through a war-torn
neighborhood in Beirut. It showed that the
young sun-tanned women of this country are
strong and keep the glamour no matter what.
A visit to the Lebanese capital will surprise for
the vibrant and fun-loving attitude of its
people.

9 | ANGOLA
The most beautiful African women are from
Angola. The country is one of only two sub-
Saharan nations to have a black Miss Universe
winner, and its models are now showing up on
the international runways (like Sharam Diniz
who's one of Victoria Secret's angels). Because
of that international success, young girls in
Luanda constantly compete in local pageants
and for the attention of model agencies, and
it's in the capital that you'll see the African
beauties getting male attention, at the recent
trendy (and expensive!) bars and restaurants.

10 | USA

The USA has a reputation as the most obese
nation in the world, and in such a diverse
country there really isn't a particular type of
woman. But America is also obsessed with
weight loss and beauty-enhancement products
and procedures, and some cities do stand out
for their ratio of hot women. Natural or
naturally fake, the bodies you often see in
Miami and Los Angeles are flawless, and
women make sure they flaunt them.

source: www.ucityguides.com/cities/top-10-countries-with-the-most-beautiful-women-in-the-world.html

if u are asked to choose one out of these two gulf countries to live and work, which one will u choose? support ur reason(s) authentically.

great goal

This should be on frontpage mod

Fitr moon sighted in
UAE and Saudi Arabia
Oman to mark Eid on Friday; Japan celebrates
Eid on Thursday
By Staff
Published Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Shawwal moon has been sighted in the
UAE and tomorrow (Thursday) is Eid Al Fitr, the
UAE Moon Sighting Committee said.
Eid Al Fitr moon has been sighted in Saudi
Arabia and tomorrow is the first day of
Shawwal, Geo TV reported quoting an official
statement.
Kuwait, Jordan and Palestine will also mark Eid
on Thursday.
Oman announced that Shawwal moon has not
been sighted and Eid Al Fitr will be marked on
Friday.
Meanwhile, Eid Al Fitr moon has also been
sighted in Japan and tomorrow is the first day
of Shaawal.
Muslim scholars in Saudi Arabia appeared split
on Tuesday on whether the end-of-Ramadan
moon should be sighted on Tuesday, which
marks 28 days of the fasting month.
Quoting Pakistan Meteorological Department,
daily Express News reported on Tuesday that
the chances of sighting the moon on Thursday
are “extremely high in Sindh and Balochistan.”
It said the moon would be clearly sighted in
interior areas of Sindh including Hyderabad
and Karachi. Chances of sighting the moon in
Punjab on August 8 were 50 per cent.
Eid in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is
celebrated a day later.
Image courtesy www.shutterstock.comFitr moon sighted in
UAE and Saudi Arabia
Oman to mark Eid on Friday; Japan celebrates
Eid on Thursday
By Staff
Published Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Shawwal moon has been sighted in the
UAE and tomorrow (Thursday) is Eid Al Fitr, the
UAE Moon Sighting Committee said.
Eid Al Fitr moon has been sighted in Saudi
Arabia and tomorrow is the first day of
Shawwal, Geo TV reported quoting an official
statement.
Kuwait, Jordan and Palestine will also mark Eid
on Thursday.
Oman announced that Shawwal moon has not
been sighted and Eid Al Fitr will be marked on
Friday.
Meanwhile, Eid Al Fitr moon has also been
sighted in Japan and tomorrow is the first day
of Shaawal.
Muslim scholars in Saudi Arabia appeared split
on Tuesday on whether the end-of-Ramadan
moon should be sighted on Tuesday, which
marks 28 days of the fasting month.
Quoting Pakistan Meteorological Department,
daily Express News reported on Tuesday that
the chances of sighting the moon on Thursday
are “extremely high in Sindh and Balochistan.”
It said the moon would be clearly sighted in
interior areas of Sindh including Hyderabad
and Karachi. Chances of sighting the moon in
Punjab on August 8 were 50 per cent.
Eid in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is
celebrated a day later.
Image courtesy www.shutterstock.comFitr moon sighted in
UAE and Saudi Arabia
Oman to mark Eid on Friday; Japan celebrates
Eid on Thursday
By Staff
Published Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Shawwal moon has been sighted in the
UAE and tomorrow (Thursday) is Eid Al Fitr, the
UAE Moon Sighting Committee said.
Eid Al Fitr moon has been sighted in Saudi
Arabia and tomorrow is the first day of
Shawwal, Geo TV reported quoting an official
statement.
Kuwait, Jordan and Palestine will also mark Eid
on Thursday.
Oman announced that Shawwal moon has not
been sighted and Eid Al Fitr will be marked on
Friday.
Meanwhile, Eid Al Fitr moon has also been
sighted in Japan and tomorrow is the first day
of Shaawal.
Muslim scholars in Saudi Arabia appeared split
on Tuesday on whether the end-of-Ramadan
moon should be sighted on Tuesday, which
marks 28 days of the fasting month.
Quoting Pakistan Meteorological Department,
daily Express News reported on Tuesday that
the chances of sighting the moon on Thursday
are “extremely high in Sindh and Balochistan.”
It said the moon would be clearly sighted in
interior areas of Sindh including Hyderabad
and Karachi. Chances of sighting the moon in
Punjab on August 8 were 50 per cent.
Eid in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is
celebrated a day later.
Image courtesy www.shutterstock.com

mtn cutting off blackberry internet subcription for android phones and pcs is also part of d stressfulness lol!

the mtn bb plan are you really sure it works on other devices? if yes, how? because l have been trying to browse with my tecno n3 for more 7 hours now after subscription. pls help?

Aba (Abia) – The Police
Commissioner in Abia, Usman
Abubakar, has described Boko
Haram as deviants of the society
that must be rooted out of the
country.
Abubakar said this during a
familiarisation tour of the Police
Mobile Force 55, Osisioma, near
Aba, on Monday.
The commissioner urged all
Nigerians to support government
in the fight against the insurgents
in spite of their religious
affiliations.
“They are not Muslims, as their
mandate is to destroy.
“I want to disabuse the minds of
most Nigerians who think that
Boko Haram sect members are
Muslims. They are not Muslims,
because Islam preaches peace.
“Bokom Haram members are
deviants of the society. Nigeria
belongs to all of us.
“The constitution of the country
stipulates our right to religion,
education and association, and so,
no one group has the right to
decide our rights for us,’’ Abubakar
said.
Earlier, the Squadron 55
Commander, Wilson Dankwano,
had earlier announced that it had
lost three of its officers to the
militia in different attacks in April
and May in Yobe and Maiduguri,
respectively.
The dead officers, he said, included
Corporals Emmanuel Obongha and
Ekpo Wofai Ubangha
Dankwano also said the command
had performed creditably well
wherever its personnel were
deployed within and outside Aba.
“Its on record that the squadron
had no record of casualties in
nearly 3 years of its consistent
involvement in the fight against
the Islamic insurgency in the
north. Not until recently when we
lost 3 of our men to the dreaded
militia.’’
He said the squadron had also
contributed its quota in the fight
against armed robbery and
kidnapping in Aba.
Dankwano said the squadron
recovered stolen and abandoned
vehicles and sophisticated
weapons as well as arrested
several armed robbery and kidnap
bandits.
He appealed to the police
commissioner to help in
constructing a befitting barrack
accommodation for officers and
men of the squadron, stressing
that the existing facility at the
squadron was not enough.
The commander also appealed to
the commissioner to take over the
running of the squadron’s
maternity/clinic for effective and
efficient administration to mitigate
the cost on the squadron. (NAN)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen (d. 2001 CE), one
of the most senior scholars in the Islamic
world in contemporary times had
numerous verdicts on the issue of suicide
bombings . We reproduce some of them
here as compiled in the book "Kayfa
Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem" (How Do
We Treat Our Painful Condition,
pp.119-120). Please note that these
verdicts were around the mid 1990s if not
earlier.
Question: What is the ruling
regarding acts of jihad by means of
suicide, such as attaching explosives
to a car and storming the enemy,
whereby he knows without a doubt
that he shall die as a result of this
action?

Answer: Indeed, my opinion is that he is
regarded as one who has killed himself
(committed suicide), and as a result he
shall be punished in Hell, for that which is
authenticated on the authority of the
Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam).
"Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills
himself, then certainly he will be
punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein
he shall dwell forever", [Bukhaaree
(5778) and Muslim (109 and 110).
However, one who is ignorant and does
not know, and assumes his action was
good and pleasing to Allah (the Sublime
and Exalted), then we hope Allah (the
Sublime and Exalted) forgives him for that
which he did out of (ignorant) ijtihaad
(personal judgement), even though I do
not find any excuse for him in the
present day. This is because this type of
suicide is well known and widespread
amongst the people, so it is upon the
person to ask the people of knowledge
(scholars) regarding it, until the right
guidance for him is differentiated from
the error.

And from that which is surprising, is that
these people kill themselves despite Allah
having fordbidden this, as He (the
Sublime and Exalted) says:
"And do not kill yourselves. Surely,
Allah is Most Merciful to you." [Soorah
an-Nisaa 4:29].
And many amongst them do not desire
anything except revenge of the enemy,
by whatever means, be it halal or haraam.
So they only want to satisfy their thirst
for revenge.
We ask Allah to bless us with foresight in
His Deen and action(s) which please Him,
indeed He is all Powerful over all things.
And also:


Question: What is the ruling
regarding suicide in Islam?
Answer: Suicide is when a person kills
himself intentionally by whatever means.
This is haraam and regarded as amongst
the major sins, and likewise included in
the general statement of Allaah
(Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala):
"And whoever kills a believer
intentionally, his recompense is Hell
to abide therein, and the Wrath and
the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a
great punishment is prepared for
him " [Soorah an-Nisaa, 4:93].

And it is established from the Sunnah on
the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu
alaihi wa sallam) who said:
"Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills
himself, then certainly he will be
punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he
shall dwell forever" [Bukhaaree (5778)
and Muslim (109 and 110)].
In reality, the one who commits suicide,
generally does so because of his
desperate situation, either as a direct
result of an act of Allah or of a human
being. So you find him unable to cope
with that which has afflicted him. In
actual fact he is like one who is calling for
help from the scorching heat of the fire.
So he has progressed from that which
was tough (bad) to that which is worse.
And if he was patient then Allah would
have assisted him in dealing with the
difficulty.

Unfortunately more and more often,
Islam has been associated with terrorism
and violence due to the actions of a few
extreme individuals who’ve taken it upon
themselves to do the most heinous
crimes in the name of Islam. The Alqaeedah, Boko Haram still unresolvable problem and others are assumed to
be justified by Islam in the minds of some
people. This idea has been fueled further
by many media channels which defame
Islam by portraying these bombers as
‘Islamists’ or ‘Jihadists’, as though they
were sanctioned by Islam, or had any
legitimate spokemenship on behalf of
Muslims. The actions of a few fanatical
individuals who happen to have Muslim
names or ascribe themselves to the
Muslim faith should not be a yardstick by
which Islam is judged. For the same
reason, that one would not do justice to
Christianity if it where perceived as
sanctioning the genocide of the Native
Americans, the atrocities of world war II
or the bombings of the IRA.
To understand Islam’s stance on
terrorism, one must refer to its original
sources, the Quran and the teachings of
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon
him,which are explicit in their prohibition
of any form of injustice including that of
wanton violence which seeks to instill
fear, injury or death to civilians.

The Quran turns our attention to the high
value of human life, whether it is Muslim
or Non-Muslim and makes it absolutely
forbidden to take an innocent life
unjustly. The gravity of such a crime is
equated, in the Quran, with the killing of
all humanity.
“On that account: We ordained for the
Children of Israel that if any one slew
a person - unless it be for murder or
for spreading mischief in the land - it
would be as if he slew the whole
people: and if any one saved a life, it
would be as if he saved the life of the
whole people. Then although there
came to them Our apostles with clear
signs, yet, even after that, many of
them continued to commit excesses in
the land.” ( 5:32 )
Not only is human life sacred in Islam but
the property, wealth, family and dignity of
all individuals in society are to be
respected and protected. Those who
transgress these rights and sow fasad
(corruption) as the Quran describes it,
incur the wrath of Allah.
"…and seek not corruption in the
earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters
" (28:77)
Likewise in another verse
“The blame is only against those who
oppress men and wrong-doing and
insolently transgress beyond bounds
through the land, defying right and
justice: for such there will be a
penalty grievous” (42:42)

Islam goes further than just prohibiting
oppression and safeguarding rights, it
commands its faithful to deal kindly and
compassionately to all those who seek to
live in peace and harmony
"Allah forbids you not, with regard to
those who fight you not for your faith,
nor drive you out of your homes, from
dealing kindly and justly with them:
For Allah loves those who are
just" (60:
In times of war and conflict, where
enmity can obstruct an individual’s
judgement to act morally, Islam
commands that justice be upheld even
towards one’s enemies.
"O ye who believe! stand out firmly for
Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and
let not the hatred of others to you
make you swerve to wrong and depart
from justice. Be just: that is next to
piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-
acquainted with all that ye do" (5:
Centuries before the Geneva Convention
was drawn up, Muslims were bound by a
code of conduct which the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, set. He
forbade the killing of women, children and
elderly in war. In an authentic narration
the Prophet (pbuh) warned that he who
kills anyone who has a covenant of peace
with the Muslims will not smell the scent
of Paradise. In fact, he taught that justice
is not only to humans but must be shown
to animals and all living things.

In a narration the Prophet (pbuh) informed us
about how a lady was sent to hell
because of a cat she had locked up until it
starved and died. If such is the sanctity
which Islam places on the soul of an
animal, how much more grave is the
killing of hundreds of innocent humans?!
Abu Bakr the first Calipha of the Muslims
reflected these prophetic teachings when
he advised his general Yazid, who was
confronting Roman armies,
"I advise you ten things, Do not kill
women or children or an aged, infirm
person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing
trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place.
Do not slaughter sheep or camels except
for food. Do not burn bees and do not
scatter them. Do not steal from the
booty, and do not be cowardly."
The message of the Quran is clear as we
have seen, that the sanctity of any human
life is to be respected and any violation in
that regard is paramount to the worst
crime. Mercy is at the heart of the
Islamic call, “We sent thee (O
Muhammad) not save as a mercy for
the peoples” (21:107) ; a totally different
message to what the terrorists are sadly
imparting to humanity.

This is one of the most recent picture of the young man behind one of most populous african forum site, nairaland Oluwaseun Osewa