DIVINE INSPIRATION TOUR
MUFTI ISMAIL MENK IN FREETOWN SIERRA LEONE
Day 1……
Venue: Siaka Steven Stadium
Date: Friday September 22nd 2017
Time: 4:30pm
Day 2……
Venue: FREETOWN central Mosque mokupa.
Date: Saturday 23rd September 2017
Time: 4:30pm
………Entrance: Free………
![At least 600 people are still missing in the capital Freetown [Saidu Bah/AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2017/8/17/c54af2d683d84c138fd852db9a104d09_18.jpg "Mass burials after devastating Sierra Leone mudslide")
Facing the threat of disease, people in Sierra Leone began burying hundreds of victims of a mudslide that swept away homes on the edge of the capital, Freetown, in one of Africa’s worst flood disasters in living memory.
More than 400 people have been confirmed dead – at least a quarter of them children – from the devastating mudslides that hit before dawn on Monday, triggered by days of heavy rain.
Hundreds of Freetown residents queued on Wednesday to identify relatives crushed by mud on Monday in a valley on the outskirts of Freetown.
Aid workers said there was a high risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera, as corpses are lying out in the open in the heat.
The government summoned families to the morgue and said all unidentified corpses would be buried on Thursday and Friday.
In a statement on Wednesday, President Ernest Bai Koroma’s office asked relatives to come to the city’s overwhelmed mortuary. All unidentified corpses will be given a “dignified burial” in the coming days, it said.
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Authorities have requested airconditioning units to keep the bodies cool and are in need of more protective gear such as masks, aprons and glove disposal stations, said Idalia Amaya, an emergency relief coordinator for Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
“The morgues are just overflowing with corpses and it is becoming a public health emergency,” Amaya said. “They need to get the bodies out.”
Red Cross officials estimated some 600 people remained missing more than 48 hours after the storm hit while most of the victims slept. Thousands of people lost their homes.
Sierra Leone’s government has pleaded for international assistance as it reels from yet another disaster just a couple of years after the Ebola outbreak that left thousands in the region dead. With rain forecast for at least the coming week, the threat of further mudslides around Freetown remained.
READ MORE: Sierra Leone mudslide: What, where and why?
Freetown chief coroner Seneh Dumbuya told Reuters that the burial of 297 of the bodies was under way. They were being transported to the Ebola cemetery at Waterloo, about 30km outside of Freetown, Dumbuya said.
“We cannot wait for tomorrow for the burial, as was suggested by government, because most of the bodies are decomposing,” he said. “The burial will continue up till night.”
Dumbuya anticipated that the death toll would rise as the search continued for more than 600 still missing.
Rescue teams have continued the work of extracting bodies from tonnes of debris, with volunteers digging with pickaxes and, at times, only their hands.
Amaya from CRS’s said: “People are getting text messages from their loved ones saying they’re trapped inside buildings and for someone to come rescue them.”
Sobbing and covering their noses from the stench, relatives stepped around corpses lying on the ground outside the morgue, which was overwhelmed, as the sheets covering them were lifted.
“I came to identify my uncle in particular, but I couldn’t find him,” said 30-year-old Hawanatu Sesay, after her turn came to look through the morgue.
“Let his soul rest in peace,” she said through tears.
Another man said he had identified his wife’s body but had no news of his two young daughters. All had been buried when their house was engulfed in mud, he said.
President Koroma visited Lumley in the capital Freetown, one of the worst affected areas.
Satellite images released showed the extensive damage caused by deadly mudslides and floods.
Musa Kallon, a trauma support expert working with the CRS, shared the stories of devastation with Al Jazeera after he visited Kamayama community on the outskirts of Freetown.
“Most of the people I spoke with today are the sole surviving members of their family,” Kallon said. “People are really traumatised. I spoke to one lady who lost almost her entire family during the ebola crisis. Her only surviving daughter passed away in these floods.”
Kallon and Amaya both stressed that despite the poverty and waves of trauma that have afflicted Sierra Leoneons, from the 1991-2001 civil war to the 2014 outbreak of ebola, and now to this flood disaster, the “strength and resilience” of the people has been a small light in this tragedy.
“Christians and Muslims regardless of what faith they are, they have come together to help dig out people from the mud, provide clothes and shelter to those who are most affected, particularly women and children,” Amaya said. “They are strong and banding together.”
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
![Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca to perform the annual Hajj [Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2017/6/10/fa71781094534f238548530aa16cb0c8_18.jpg "Saudi King Salman invites Qatar pilgrims to Hajj")
Saudi Arabia will open its land border with Qatar to allow Hajj pilgrims to pass through, its official press agency said.
A statement on the official Saudi Press Agency on Thursday said the Salwa border point would be open for Qatari citizens who wish to perform the annual pilgrimage to pass through with no electronic permissions needed.
The statement added that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has invited Qatari pilgrims to perform this year’s Hajj pilgrimage at his expense.
King Salman also ordered that private jets belonging to Saudi airlines be sent to Doha airport “to bring all Qatari pilgrims on his expenses”.
READ MORE: Qatar-Gulf crisis: All the latest updates
The Salwa border crossing had been shut after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of supporting “terrorism”. Qatar denies the accusations.
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Jeddah is the airport hub for pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Under the same royal directive, Qatari citizens will also be transported to Mecca from King Fahad airport and Ihsaa airport in the east of the country.
There has been no reaction yet by Qatar’s government to the announcement.
Last month, Saudi Arabia said Qataris wanting to perform this year’s Hajj would be allowed to enter the kingdom, but imposed certain restrictions including that those arriving by plane must use airlines in agreement with Riyadh.
OPINION: GCC crisis: Why is Kuwaiti mediation not working?
Qatari authorities had subsequently accused Saudi Arabia of politicising hajj and jeopardising the pilgrimage to Mecca by refusing to guarantee their pilgrims’ safety.
Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) demanded on Saturday that Saudi Arabia lift all land and air restrictions on Qatar-based pilgrims traveling to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE blocked direct air and land transportation to and from Qatar, as well as closed airspace for all Qatar Airways flights after severing ties with its Gulf neighbour in June.
As part of the blockade, the Saudi-led group also asked all Qatari nationals to leave their countries.
Doha did not impose similar restrictions on the four Arab nations.
Qatari journalist and the editor-in-chief of Al-Arab daily, Abdallah Al-AlAthbah, told Al Jazeera that the decision of the Saudi king to let Qatari pilgrims cross over the border without electronic permits is a positive step and signals backing from politicising the Hajj.
Meanwhile, Qataris are criticising the Saudi royal move on Twitter, using the hashtag ‘No pilgrimage without lifting the siege’.
One Twitter user said: “There are no assurances that Qatar pilgrims will not be arrested on charges of terrorism or harassment.”
Another tweeted: “The trust is gone. We will only go if we can fly on our planes and with our money. We don’t need charity from anyone.”
Social media users said Hajj takes place in the House of Allah and should not be traded by the Saudi government through “this royal gesture of generosity”
Others raised concern about lodging and security.
Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, at least once in their lifetime, provided they are fit enough and have the financial means to do so.
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Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday declared a 16-day holiday for the festival of Eid Al Adha.
The holiday period will begin on the end of Thursday, Dhu Al Hijjah 2, 1438. Work will resume on Dhu Al Hijjah 19, 1438.
This year’s Eid Al Adha is likely to fall on Friday, September 1, 2017, or Dhu Al Hijjah 10, 1438.
According to details available on Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department of the Government of Dubai, the festival will be observed on September 1, subject to moon sighting.
Eid Al Adha celebrations come after the Haj — the important annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah, the holy city in Saudi Arabia.
When you were born,
You don’t know who bring you out from your mother’s belly,
And when you died,
You don’t know who will put you in your grave.
A surprise for you, o you son of man,
When you were born,
You were washed and cleaned,
And when you died,
You will be washed and cleaned,
A surprise for you, o you son of man,
When you were born,
You don’t know who was happy and glad for you,
And when you died,
You don’t know who cries for you and felt for you.
A surprise for you, o you son of man,
In your mother’s womb,
You were in a tight and dark place,
And when you died,
You will be in a tight and dark place.
A surprise for you, o you son of man,
When you were born,
You were wrapped with cloth to cover your body,
And when you died,
You will be wrapped with cloth to cover your body,
A surprise for you, o you son of man,
When you were born and grown up,
People would ask you about your certificates (professions) and your stories;
And when you died,
The Angels will ask you on your good deeds.
Hmmmmmm….. O you son of man,
What have u gathered for your end?
REMEMBER: It is not too late for YOU!!!
SEEK FOR FORGIVENESS AND HAVE A GOOD ENDING.
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Later examples include Lewis Hetzer (decapitated February 4, 1529), Michael
Servetus (burned at the stake October 27, 1553, using green branches still in leaf to
produce an agonizingly slow, smoldering fire), * Francis Davidis (died in prison in 1579),
Faustus Socinus (died in 1604), John Biddle (who suffered banishment to Sicily and
multiple imprisonments, the last of which hastened his death). Biddle, who considered
the terminology employed by Trinitarians “fitter for conjurers than Christians,” established a breastwork of arguments against the assault of Trinitarian theology of such
effectiveness that, at least on one occasion, debate opponents arranged his arrest in order
to avoid facing him in public forum. He left a legacy of freethinkers affirming divine
unity—not to mention some of the leading intellectuals of the day—including Sir Isaac
Newton, John Locke and John Milton. Biddle’s days in banishment also gave rise to one of the most touching comments on religious persecution, penned by a sympathetic
correspondent of The Gospel Advocate:
The conclave met, the judge was set, Man mounted on God’s throne;
And they did judge a matter there,
That rests with Him alone;
A brother’s faith they made a crime,
And crushed thought’s native right sublime.”
48
During his lifetime, Parliament attempted to kill (literally, that is) Biddle’s
movement by establishing the death penalty to those who denied the Trinity (May 2,
1648). The year of his death, Parliament passed the second Act of Uniformity, and
outlawed all nonEpiscopal worship and clergy. 49 Under this act, 2,257 priests were
ejected from the clergy and over 8,000 people died in prison out of refusal to accept the
Trinity.
There is at least one case where, in the selective wisdom of the church, the
population of an entire country was condemned:
Early in the year, the most sublime sentence of death was
promulgated which has ever been pronounced since the creation of the
world. The Roman tyrant wished that his enemies’ heads were all upon a single neck, that he might strike them off at a blow; the inquisition assisted
Philip to place the heads of all his Netherlands subjects upon a single neck
for the same fell purpose. Upon the 16 th February 1568, a sentence of the
Holy Office condemned all the inhabitants of the Netherlands to death as
heretics. From this universal doom only a few persons, especially named,
were excepted. A proclamation of the King, dated ten days later,
confirmed this decree of the Inquisition, and ordered it to be carried into
instant execution, without regard to age, sex, or condition. This is
probably the most concise deathwarrant that was ever framed. Three
millions of people, men, women, and children, were sentenced to the
scaffold in three lines; and, as it was well known that these were not
harmless thunders, like some bulls of the Vatican, but serious and practical
measures, which were to be enforced, the horror which they produced may
be easily imagined. It was hardly the purpose of government to compel the
absolute completion of the wholesale plan in all its length and breadth, yet
in the horrible times upon which they had fallen, the Netherlanders might
be excused for believing that no measure was too monstrous to be
fulfilled. At any rate, it was certain that when all were condemned, any
might at a moment’s warning be carried to the scaffold, and this was
precisely the course adopted by the authorities. Under this universal
decree the industry of the BloodCouncil might now seem superfluous. Why should not these mock prosecutions be dispensed with against
individuals, now that a common sentence had swallowed the whole population in one vast grave? Yet it may be supposed that if the exertions
of the commissioners and councilors served no other purpose, they at least
furnished the government with valuable evidence as to the relative wealth
and other circumstances of the individual victims. The leading thought of
the government being, that persecution, judiciously managed, might
fructify into a golden harvest, it was still desirable to persevere in the
cause in which already such bloody progress had been made.
There is every need to know the significance of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah so as not to forget to maximize the virtues in them.
Ibn’ Abbas says about the Aayah, “Remember Allaah during the well known days,” that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related by al-Bukhari]
Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning) “By the dawn; by the 10 nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: “This is the correct opinion.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]
Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.
This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]
Ibn’Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah].” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah’s sake] and returns with neither of them.” [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa’i]
Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn’Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “There is no day more honorable in Allaah’s sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days].” [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it as sahih.
Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr].” [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]
Ibn’ Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “Do you know what is the day today?” The people replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know it better.” He said, “It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?” They replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?” The people replied, “Allaah and His Apostle know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) month.” The Messenger added, “No doubt, Allaah made your blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours.”
Narrated Ibn’ Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja), the Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj which he performed (as in the previous Hadith) and said, “This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) started saying repeatedly, “O Allaah! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message).” He then bade the people farewell. The people said, “(This is Hajjat-al-Wada).” [Bukhari 2.798]
Fasting Day of Arafat
Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of ‘Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it.” [This is related by “the group,” except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]
Hafsah reported, “There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak’ah before the dawn prayer.” [This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasa’i]
‘Uqbah ibn’Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of tashreeq are’ids for us–the people of Islam–and they are days of eating and drinking.” [This is related by “the five,” except for Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih]
Abu Hurairah stated, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of’Arafah for one who is actually at ‘Arafah.” [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
At-Tirmidhi comments: “The scholars prefer that the day of ‘Arafah be fasted unless one is actually at ‘Arafah.”
Takbeer
It is Sunnah to say Takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”), Tahleel (“La ilaha ill-Allaah”) and Tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allaah”) during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allaah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning)
“That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)…” [al-Hajj 22:28]
The majority of scholars agree that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father), “The appointed days are the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).”
The Takbeer may include the words “Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahil- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise),” as well as other phrases.
Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnah that has been forgotten, especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnah and as a reminder to the negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Sharee’ah for doing this.
Credit:
Jami’at ihyaa minhaaj al-sunnah
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To wear a Ring, Twine, or anything similar to them for prevention or lifting of Harm or Affliction, is an act of Shirk
Allah the Almighty said: “Say: Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah, -if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm, or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they
withhold His Mercy? Say: Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust (i.e. believers) must put their trust.” (39:38)
Imran bin Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) once saw a man with a brass ring on his hand and asked him, “What is this?” The man replied, “To overcome the weakness of old age.” He said, “Remove it, for, it can only add to your weakness. Should death overtake you while you are wearing it, you would never succeed.” [This Hadith was recorded by Ahmad (bin Hanbal) (May Allah be pleased with him) with a good chain of narrators.]
He also recorded a Marfu’ Hadith; Uqbah bin Aamir (May Allah be pleased with him)
narrated that Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever wears talisman or an amulet would never see his wish fulfilled by Allah. And w hoever hangs a sea shell would never get peace and rest.”
In an another version the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said: “Whoever wears a talisman has committed Shirk (polytheism).”
Ibn Abi Hatim reported about Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him): He saw a man with a piece of twine on his hand (as a protection or cure from fever) so he cut
the twine and read the verse: “Most of them believe in Allah and still practise Shirk (polytheism).” (12: 106)
Important issues of the Chapter
1) The strict forbiddance of wearing rings, twines and the like.
2) If the Companion had died wearing such a thing, he would not have succeeded (in the Hereafter). This is a confirmation to the statement of the Companions that minor Shirk is
greater (worse) than major sins.
3) Ignorance was no excuse.
4) Wearing any such article will not benefit this life. Indeed, it is harmful as was stated by the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) “It will do nothing except increase weakness.”
5) The intense disapproval and censure of whoever does such a deed.
6) The declaration that whoever attaches something to himself will have that thing put in charge of him.
7) The declaration that whoever wears an amulet has committed Shirk.
8) Hoping to get cured from fever by using a talisman is Shirk.
9) Hudhaifah’s reciting the verse of Qur’an is a clear-cut proof that Companions used to recite the verses dealing with the major Shirk to condemn minor Shirk. As Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) did by reciting the verse from Surah Al-Baqarah. (2: 165).
10) Seeking relief against evil eye by using amulets is Shirk.
11) The curse upon those who use amulets that their wishes should not be granted by Allah and those who use shells will not get rest nor peace. That is, Allah has left them.
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