Attacks on City University Muslim students will not result in prosecutions

The three men arrested last November after attacks on City University Muslim students will not face court proceedings. According to a police spokesperson, charges have been dropped "due to insufficient evidence and a lack of witnesses coming forward."

The three men, aged 17, 18 and 19, were arrested and released on bail until 4 January. The conditions of bail, stating the men were not to go within 100 metres of the university or to contact any City students or prosecution witnesses, are no longer enforceable as they have expired.

At the time the police said that they were treating the attacks against members of the university's Islamic Society as racially aggravated.

It remains unclear whether the police continue to carry out extra patrols around campus. The incident on 5 November started near the university's Gloucester Building which houses the Muslim prayer room. Fighting then continued on St John Street where the students were attacked with sticks and poles by a group of 30 white and black males.

Although the security services at the university were unaware of this development, Richard Mansfield, Security Services Manager, said that "there is no intelligence to suggest" that whoever was responsible for the attack would try to seek revenge. He added that he did not believe there was added threat to students.?

The Inquirer, 7 February 2010

For details of the November attacks, see Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: a London Case Study by Jonathan Githens-Mazer and Bob Lambert.

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Source: Islamophobia Watch

The rising tide of Islamophobia

"Islamophobia does not appear to be being taken seriously by the Government, the media or the general public and the situation is becoming increasingly dire – why this is remains unclear. It could be because of a lack of understanding and recognition of the seriousness of Islamophobia; it could be because little 'hard evidence' exists; it could also be that anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic attitudes are becoming more socially acceptable. Whatever the reason though, it is clear that neither Islamophobia – nor indeed anti-Semitism – are going to quickly or easily disappear.

"Last week's bleak report on Islamophobic hate crime in London from the European Muslim Research Centre argues that fears and misunderstandings of Muslims were increasingly providing a basis for violent acts. The report found that Muslim Londoners face a threat of violence and intimidation from three primary groups: small violent nationalist groups with similar ideologies as the British National Party; street gangs with no allegiances to the far-right; and a small number of others who appear to be acting on prejudices gained via negative media portrayals of Muslims as terrorists and security threats.

"But hate crimes are just the tip of the iceberg. Anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic attitudes are also increasingly commonplace. As the British Social Attitudes Survey recently highlighted, not only are Muslims the least popular religious community in Britain today but over half the population would be bothered by a large mosque being built in their community. Neither of these attitudes are specifically Islamophobic but they do suggest a hardening of attitudes especially when Muslims and Islam are considered against other religions. As Professor David Voas provocatively put it, Muslims are increasingly being understood as posing a threat to British society."

Chris Allen in the Daily Telegraph, 12 February 2010

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Source: Islamophobia Watch

The government and the MCB

Inayat Bunglawala reports on John Denham's move to restore links between the government and the Muslim Council of Britain, and the backlash against that decision.

Islam Online, 8 February 2010

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Source: Islamophobia Watch

Family: Frontline Against Terrorism

A young man from a priveleged background finishes high school with honors, and goes off to college. Soon afterwards, he is a changed man... a radical who is intent on terrorism, violating the most fundamental tenets of the faith in which he was raised. What is it that changes these young men into dangerous criminals? This is something that families and Muslim communities struggle to understand and combat.

In recent weeks, we have seen at least two such stories emerge. Most recently, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from Nigeria was caught allegedly trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airplane. He had been studying mechanical engineering in the UK, and by all accounts was a good student from a priveleged background. Umar's father recognized the recent radicalization of his son, and contacted authorities to warn them. According to the BBC, he contacted both local and foreign officials to alert them that his son had gone missing.

Several Muslim families in Virginia recently faced the same difficult decision. When five young men disappeared, their parents were naturally worried and concerned for their safety. More importantly, they also feared for the safety of others, as the young men had also been giving signs of radicalization. So what did the relatives do? CNN reported that they immediately contacted the FBI and shared information which led to their arrest in Pakistan.

Young people who become entranced with radical preachings, and take that next mis-step towards performing acts of terrorism, often blend in with their surroundings. Mosques report that such men are not often known to the local, mainstream Muslim community. Most often, family members are the first people to become aware that something is wrong.

How difficult it must have been for these families to turn in their own beloved sons. However, the Qur'an reminds us that in order to do the right thing, we may have to sometimes stand up against those who are closest to us:  "'Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor..." (Qur'an 4:135).

These Muslim heroes choose to protect the greater good, rather than stand by their loved ones' misguided and dangerous actions.

Read More:

• What does the Qur'an say about terrorism?


• What exactly does jihad mean?


• Does Islam teach its followers to "kill the infidel?"

Family: Frontline Against Terrorism originally appeared on About.com Islam on Monday, December 28th, 2009 at 06:51:00.

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Source: Islam About Dot Com

Cairo

Salamu Alaykum



I'm going to Egypt in a few months and although I'm going for school, I would love to get my share of site seeing and meringue new people.

I'm staying in October city but I understand that it is 'a new suburb/city' so I'm worried I won't have places to tour and places to go InshALLAH.



Do you know of the city?

What are the best places to go?



Wasalamu alaykum

Source: Islamic Board

Sensationalised TV report provokes attack on Nashville mosque

Vandals spray-painted insults on a mosque overnight and left a hate-filled letter to Nashville's Muslims.

Islamic leaders blame Channel 5's sensationalized two-night report about a crackpot organization's unfounded accusations of terrorist ties against a Middle Tennessee Muslim community.

"Muslims Go Home" and a Crusade-style cross were scrawled across the front of Al-Farooq Islamic Center on Nolensville Road, says Salaad Nur, a spokesman. He says the mosque, which primarily serves members of the Somali community, has contacted the police and the FBI.

"They also left a letter at the youth center that says Muslims are friends of Satan and we are here to destroy the United States and to destroy Israel and things of that nature," he says. "We're a little bit shaken up. I hope this is just a scare and things don't get any worse than this."

"It's unexpected," he adds. "The only thing I can think of is the sensationalized reporting [by Channel 5] over Sunday and Monday. That's the only thing I can think of. Even after 9/11 we have never had any vandalism."

Nashville Scene, 10 Fabruary 2010

Via LoonWatch

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Source: Islamophobia Watch

Share Your Hajj Story

Did you travel for Hajj this year? What tips do you wish you had known before leaving? How did you make the arrangements? Was there something you forgot to pack, and really missed? Share your experience, and help others be well-prepared for the journey of a lifetime.

More:

• Share your Hajj experience and photos


• Find out more about the Hajj

Share Your Hajj Story originally appeared on About.com Islam on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 14:42:53.

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Source: Islam About Dot Com

Extraordinary Answers Of Sh Ibn Uthaimeen

Extraordinary Answers Of Sh Ibn Uthaimeen



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Questioner: Shaikh, my question is: About the young lady who has not reached adulthood, what is the ruling with regards to the following three situations: covering the face outside the house? And wearing pants in any form, situation, or reason? And the khimar in the Salah?



Answer: This man is intelligent. He combined three questions in one, may Allah forgive us and him�.



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Questioner: Is it allowed for a man to be with his female servant, and what can see of her?



Answer: If he marries her, then she can uncover her face in front of him, and this is the solution�. But I am afraid that if she becomes his wife, she will demand a female servant, and then this will be a problem!



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Questioner: Is it allowed for me to buy a rooster so that when it crows, I ask Allah of His bounty?



Answer: I don�t know about this! It�s ordained for a person that when he hears the crowing of a rooster that he ask Allah of His bounty, but I am afraid that your rooster will be silent! Alhamdulillah, you ask Allah for His bounty if you hear the rooster or not! Ask of His bounty always.



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Questioner: Shaikh, may Allah reward you with paradise. Many nights I see in my dreams as if I�m sitting in your class! I have certain questions, so I ask you and you give me the answer! So what�s the ruling with regards to those answers? [Questioner laughs]



Answer: I don�t remember this! I don�t remember this! I don�t notice in my sleep that you are asking me anything! [Shaikh laughs] Don�t depend on this. If you listen to a tape, that�s fine, but we don�t give lessons to those who are sleeping!



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Questioner: In the hadith: [There is no competition except in shooting arrows, foot-racing, or horse-racing] So what is your opinion if someone engages in rooster-racing or pigeon-racing?



Answer: Look, the Prophet SAWS said: [There is no competition except in shooting arrows, foot-racing, or horse-racing] , because these things are used in war. If your rooster is used in war so that you ride on it, then it�s allowed! Otherwise no�.



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Question: What is your opinion about these duas which are put in the car, like the dua for riding, the dua for traveling, etc. What�s the response to those who say that they are amulets?!



Answer: Amulets! I say that whoever says they are amulets are telling the truth, if the car is sick! The duas are attached to the car, not the rider, and to put them in the car is fine since the remind the riders for the dua for riding or traveling. Everything that helps to do good is good. There is no problem, and they are not amulets! Unless if someone said to you: If the car is sick, attaching the duas to it will cure it by the will of Allah!



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On the issue of killing a locust at the Haram



The Shaikh asked a student about the issue of killing a locust at the Haram since Allah SWT said: [the compensation is an offering, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed] {Al-Maida 5:95}.



So the Shaikh said to the student: What is the closest thing to a locust?



The student said: A camel! [The shaikh laughed and all the students laughed as well]



Then the Shaikh jokingly corrected the student saying: The horse is the closest thing to a locust. So if he killed four locusts, he must give a horse for each locust!



The students were all shocked [and the narrator of the story mentions he was shocked as well because he did not know that the shaikh would joke]



Some of the students said, surprised: He then has to give four horses.



Then the shaikh laughed, rahimahullah.



Then he described the ruling: �The scholars say that the locust is a game animal, and it is prohibited to hunt it. But it has no domestic animal similar to it, so the penalty for killing it in the Haram is its price. If its price is 10 Riyals, or even one Riyal, he must give that price in Sadaqa. And these days it has no price whatsoever.



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[The narrator mentions] :



I asked the shaikh about the ruling of a woman looking at a man. (His view was that it is allowed if there is no fitna). I debated with him for a long time on the issue, and afterwards when I wanted to leave he said: Where are you going? The question seemed a little strange to me, so I laughed and said I�m going out. He said: Wear a khimar so the women don�t see you!



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The shaikh mentioned in the book of Hajj, at the end of the chapter on Mawaqeet:



�If he travels in the air and comes parallel to the meeqat he must put on the Ihram. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiya said that it is not allowed for someone in the airplane to put on the ihram or to delay the Ihram until he lands. He said that the individual must wear the Ihram when he is parallel to the meeqat�



The students were shocked at this statement and wondered how it could be possible.



The Shaikh said that he was speaking about the magicians who would lie to the people and say: We will have the angels carry you to Makkah in one day, and we will go to Arafah in one day. He said they would err because the shayateen would carry them above the meeqat while they would not put on the Ihram. And this is exactly the same issue as the airplane.



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Questioner: What is the ruling on killing an insect in the Haram?



Shaikh: Which?



Questioner: What is the ruling on killing an insect in the Haram?



Shaikh: Like what?



Questioner: Like anything harmful!



Shaikh: LIke what?



Questioner: Like birds!



Shaikh: Birds! Pigeons?! The questioner asked about the ruling on killing insects in the haram, and I wanted an example, but he was unable to answer! And he said birds! Hmm �



Questioner: Anything!



Shaikh: Anything? Humans?!



Questioner: Humans?!!



Shaikh: You�re asking me?! You said anything!!



Questioner: Killing insects!



Shaikh: Like what?!!



Questioner: Like ants!



Shaikh: Ants?! I have never seen an ant in the Haram!! [Everyone laughs]



Questioner: I want the ruling!



Shaikh: Be specific. Now look - You just taught us that pigeons are insects!! [Everyone laughs, including the questioner]



Questioner: I have an example!



Shaikh: Which is?



Questioner: A mosquito



Shaikh: Mosquito, good�.



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Source: http://theauthenticbase.wordpress.co...-al-uthaimeen/

Source: Islamic Board