Alhumdulillah (all Praise belongs to Allah) the practical demonstration on how to give Ghusl (wash) to a dead body went ahead (without any power cuts!) and for me, it was extremely informative and interesting.

The two demonstrators together with help from Moulana Ilyas Dalal, the Imam of Zakaria Masjid and owner of the local Post Office, Abdul bhai put the whole picture of what to do and how to do it in the event of when a Muslim passes away.

Although extremely sobering and not something one would usually associate with Friday night, it was a well attended event as washing and shrouding a dead body constitutes another piece of knowledge, and knowledge is something which Muslims are ordered to seek everyday.

It was the first time we held it and everybody in the Zakaria Masjid back hall heard everything right from what to do when the person is in the throes of death, through to how to position the body as it is laid in the grave.  It might seem a tad too explicit for some people, but as mentioned earlier, it is knowledge, knowledge which we should all know.

In the Qur’an, Allah states that every soul shall taste the flavour of death, however, not a single soul knows when that day will be.

Therefore, as well as preparing for the Akhirah (Hereafter) by living our lives according to the way showed by Allah and His Rasul (Prophet Muhammad PBUH), there is also the duty of knowing how to give a Muslim his or her last rites, in the respectable and dignified manner showed to us by Muhammad (PBUH).  And alhumdulillah it is with that yearning to know such an important aspect of Islam that the people attended.

My thanks go out to our excellent demonstrators (may Allah accept all the good work they have done for the community) Isa bhai and Hafez Yakub, our learned Scholars Moulana Ilyas ands Moulana Qasim, Abdul bhai for his extremely invaluable advice on the necessary paperwork which needs to be done at this stressful time, and last but not least Ebrahim Jogee and Moulana Zakir Daji for arranging the models we used – jazakallah.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

So with over 100 vehicles now and £1 million worth of aid, the Viva Palestina convoy is really picking up some momentum now!

The whole convoy will set off from Westminster on Saturday morning, but I know that from the Dewsbury/Batley area there are 5 vans and 1 HGV truck going to Gaza loaded with all sorts of aid and material to help the plight of our brothers and sisters.

Alhumdulillah (all Praise belongs to Allah) I have been extremely fortunate to have been personally involved in helping get the van ready from Savile Town, Dewsbury.  In our van we’ve loaded essentials such as generators and wind up torches (without batteries!) for the Palestinian people who are struggling for consistent electricity throughout Gaza.

There are also pencils, crayons and other stationery for the children of Gaza, who will insha-Allah remember that there is a life for them other than sifting through the rubble – a life of play, a life of enjoyment, just like that of all the children in the world.  And due to reports of the cold season right now, we have packed in warm wear such as hats, socks and other thermal gear for both men and women.

Anyway, just as they were making their last minute preparations, I got a chance to grab a few words with Imran Mamooniat, who is the driver of our van, and asked him a few questions from us here at Hidayahblog:

HB: So how did you find out about this and decide to drive for Viva Palestina?

IM: I just got an e-mail about the convoy, and so I went on to their website and saw that they needed HGV drivers.  As that is what I do by trade, I decide to apply and do my bit to help out – luckily for me I got the gig!

HB: And how do you feel about doing this?

IM: I feel great!  I feel honoured and as though I have been selected by Allah to be a means of providing aid to these people and spread the message of peace throughout the world.  But to be honest, I’m starting to dread it a little because I know what’s coming – I think it’s finally dawned on me now!

HB: Why are you doing this?

IM: Why? So that I can say that I have done something of note in my life.  So my children and grandchildren can look back and see what we must forever do to help human beings in need.  I know that as a Muslim this is the right thing to do, to help people, and I think that even though I am doing only a tiny part, this tiny part is something bigger to those who are being oppressed by Israel – I think I was born to do this.

HB: What difference do you think this will make to the people of Palestine?

IM: Obviously the aid will make a huge difference, but I think that this will make them feel that they are not alone – that the people of the world have not forgotten them and that we feel their suffering, that we care about them and wanna do as much as we can to help them.  And that we are united with them and are against the injustices caused by Israel.

HB: What problems do you think you will encounter on your journey?

IM: Keeping the convoy together, keeping our spirits up and making sure the whole convoy is united.  And then there’s the issue of what’s going to happen on the Raffah crossing in Egypt.  I just hope that when the patrols see the convoy and its size and unity, they will just be over-awed and let us through without any problems.

HB: What about your family?

IM: They are very happy and proud of me and have given me the strength and back up I have needed to prepare for this trip.  It’s actually been my wife that’s been pushing me!!

HB: What message are you hoping to send out?

IM: I think the whole world needs to wake up to the plight of these people – we need to wake up and step up.  I hope that when people see this convoy on the road, it will give hope to the hearts and give us the impetus we need to do something positive.

HB: So what can those of us who are not going on the convoy do at home?

IM: There’s plenty.  We can donate, write to our local MPs, Councillors and also the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.  Everyone can also pray – it doesn’t matter which religion you are, and also boycott as many Israeli products as you can – remember that every penny we can save from the Israeli companies, means less ammunition they can make which means another life saved.

So there you have it.  The convoys are ready and so are the drivers.  For those of you who can make it, the official launch is on Friday 13 February 2009 at 2pm outside the Dewsbury Town Hall. We hope to see our local MPs for Batley and Dewsbury, Mike Wood and Shahid Malik there and you as well.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

So the days pass by, the events keep on happening, the money keeps on piling up and insha-Allah (with the Will of God) it’ll get to Palestine and help those who need it the most.

So it is with great pleasure that Hidayahblog presents to you the most inspiring fundraiser run done by the Savile Youth Juniors Football Club.

Done by the children of Savile Town, Dewsbury for the children of Gaza, Palestine.  A fundraiser run to raise money for Palestine and guess what?  They raised a whopping £7,000.00 masha-Allah (whatever Allah Wills).

So here’s the video, please take a step back, and reflect on what is STILL happening in Palestine and keep doing your bit.  Whether it’s a fuindraiser, or a boycott of Israeli products or a letter to the Prime Minister – keep doing the actions that will make a difference and keep making the Duas (supplications) that will make a difference so that we can be a means of the Palestinian people recovering the peace and freedom they once enjoyed.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

Well it is with a lighter and more optimistic heart that I write this post.

The ceasefire in Gaza in now underway and so we can now insha-Allah (with the Will of Allah) see an end to, what Gordon Brown called,  the ‘indefensible’ hostilities which Israel have been perpetrating over the last 3 weeks.

In view of the vast coverage of this war on the web and various e-mails and text messages that we have all been receiving, I am now happy to say that I have come into some official UK Government statistics.

I publish this with the intention of everyone knowing the truth and also that the correct UK Government figures are out there in the public domain and not some press figures which are neither here nor there.

Please make note of 2 things: the death toll of the Palestinians compared to the Israelis and also the sources of information:

Deaths due to Conflict – 27/12/08-13/01/09

• Palestinians – 972 (inc. women-76 and children-over 300)
• Israeli civilians – 4
• Israeli soldiers – 10 (inc. 4 in friendly fire)

Source: UNOCHA

Rockets & Mortars fired by Militant Groups in Gaza

• June 2005-June 2008 – 6,000

• Jan-Dec 2008 – 3,102

• April-May 2008 – 967

• June-Oct 2008 – 63

• December 2008 – 602

• Since Operation “Cast Lead” – Approx. 600

Source: Israeli MFA

Shelter

• Number of people displaced since IDF activity – 16,000
• Number of people staying in emergency shelter – 1,200

Source: UNOCHA

Daily Truckloads of Goods into Gaza

• Av. truckloads per day (Nov 2008) – 23
• Av. truckloads per day (30/12-08/01) – 67

Source: UNOCHA

Please keep on praying for peace in this region and also ask Allah that the ceasefire holds and we do not have to see another pointless massacre of innocent civilians.

Once again, I must make my point to all my readers, whichever Faith you follow, that this is a humanitarian issue regarding the Palestinian people, their God-given political rights and their God-given land.

Please keep this topic on everybody’s lips, and let’s keep on reminding everbody about the scores of innocents in Palestine who have just been on the receiving end of the most punishing human catastrophe in living memory.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

]]> http://www.hidayahblog.com/index.php/2009/01/18/the-war-in-palestine-the-real-facts-and-figures/feed/ 1 http://www.hidayahblog.com/index.php/2009/01/12/the-difference-between-200000-and-50000/ http://www.hidayahblog.com/index.php/2009/01/12/the-difference-between-200000-and-50000/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:32:25 +0000 Siddique http://www.hidayahblog.com/?p=616 Assalaamu-Alaykum – Peace be Upon you

Well I know that you’re reading the title right now and thinking, ‘that’s easy, it’s 150,000′ but I must inform you that simple subtraction is not the main reason behind my title…..

You see, I was one of the lucky ones who attended the march in London over the weekend in protest to the injustices currently being meted out by Israeli forces to innocent Palestinian civilians.

At 1:30pm the announcement was made by the organisers that the crowd total was approaching 100,000.  By approximately 4:30pm, at the end of the march right after the closing speeches, the organisers confirmed that the total had reached 200,000 people.

So it was with great amusement that I read a BBC news article e-mailed to me by a friend the very same day that there had only been 50,000 people!

So now you understand the reason for my title and another example of the use of the media to downplay something beneficial to the Palestinian cause.

Anyway, the protest itself was really good alhumdulillah (all Praise belongs to Allah) and it was inspiring to see people of all ages, races, religions and creeds standing up together and making their voice heard in protest to the injustices of the Israelis, the cowardly silence of the International diplomatic community and the reckless mis-reporting of the world media.

One thing, however, is that today, the media reporting of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has already decreased and I am worried that this may impact upon the people of the world in lowering their voices.

Please remember that just because the media does not bring us news from Gaza does not mean that there is none to report.

We as human beings have to stay alert regarding this issue and continue to show our support for the victims on both sides of the border.

Remember that we can e-mail the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and also our local Member of Parliament.  You can also sign up to the petitions calling for sanctions against Israel and also that Britain stops selling arms to Israel.

But please remember that after doing all these physical actions, you MUST supplement them by doing the most important spiritual action – and that is Dua (prayer).

Because at the end of the day, this matter rests with the Almighty, and He is looking at us right now, He is looking at each and every one of us and He wants to see what we do and who we turn to.

So for the solution to this problem, we must turn to Allah, God -  whichever Faith you are from, please just pray – pray for these people, because they are no different to me and you.  We just have to remember and that we are not in this crisis because of the Mercy of God – not because we are better than them and certainly not because they are undeserving.

They are also human beings.  They also have families.  They also have dreams and aspirations.  Their flesh is the same as our flesh and the blood that runs through their veins is no different to ours.

So please, do as much as you can through legitimate means and then pray as much as you can and get your effort accepted by the Being that makes it all happen.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

Insha-Allah (with the Will of Allah) there will be a Demonstration in support of the people of Palestine in London on Saturday 10 January 2009.

Please assemble at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park by 12:30 pm.  The March will end at the Israeli Embassy, London W8.

For more information check out the Stop The War website.

Insha-Allah there will be a coach leaving for the residents of Dewsbury. Please meet at Savile Town Post Office, Warren Street.  The coach will leave at 7:00 am sharp and the cost is £20.00 per person.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

As we enter into the 10th day of the unjustified and unfair Israeli offensive upon the people of Gaza it seems that there is no hope.

No hope for justice only unjustified aggression; no hope for freedom only an ever increasing humanitarian crisis; no hope for any resolution only political double-standards and irrelevant rhetoric.

So what do we do – what does a human being with compassion for his fellow human beings do?

Do we fight or do we cry?  Do we help out or turn a blind eye?  Do we stand firm and show solidarity with the Palestinian people as a sign of our humanity or do we sit back and hope that the news channels stop their coverage and change the channel?

We at Hidayah Blog would like to make clear that we do not and cannot condone violence of any sort.

Whether it be rocket attacks or state sponsored terrorism, where there is the loss of civilian life, there is only injustice.

So we cry out to every single man, woman and child across this world – from the man on the street with nothing but the power of his voice which may go unheard, right through to the leaders and diplomats in office whose voice will be heard, WE IMPLORE YOU FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY, FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION, FOR THE SAKE OF THE SAME FLESH AND BLOOD WHICH IS RUNNING THROUGH EACH OF OUR BODIES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO WE ARE, PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO STOP THIS MINDLESS BLOODSHED.

Do we really disregard human life this much?

Are we so used to seeing the corpses of innocent children on our television sets?

So whoever you are reading this post, your colour, race or creed does not matter to me, only your humanity – I am appealing to your humanity, and I am asking you to do whatever you can through legitimate means.  Whether it is a simple prayer, or a letter to your MP, or taking part in a peaceful demonstration, please do what you can and encourage people to do the same.

Because although it is a conflict on foreign lands, we are all inextricably linked to it.  And who knows which of our tears, or which of our efforts our Lord will accept and make a means to His Mercy descending upon the Earth.

So please, for the sake of the humanity which is inherent in each and every single one of us, do something good, do something positive and keep doing it.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

It was after Fajr prayer yesterday that the Imam said that the month of Ramadhaan was like a golden opportunity for the Believer.

He was reading out of a book which equated Ramadhaan to a summer, when the weather is fine, the fruits are in full blossom and all you want to do is spend your time outside and enjoy all the benefits that summer usually brings.

Well, enough of the metaphors, but that is so true – don’t you think?

Indeed, it IS a golden opportunity – for drawing closer to Allah by reading and meditating upon His Book, by making Dua (supplication) for forgiveness, for standing in those long Taraaweeh prayers and listening to the Glorious Word of God being recited from cover to cover.

It is a chance for me, you and everybody out there, to re-think, re-jig and re-calibrate that relationship we have with our Creator to an even higher setting than before.

It is the summertime for doing good deeds – helping each other, forgiving each other’s faults, paying our Zakaat (charity) and helping the needy.

And in this summer the best fruits are only at the top of the trees.  To pick these fruits -  of patience, of Allah’s Mercy and Allah’s forgiveness, we must abstain from not only the food, but from our vain desires, selfish habits, and protect and fortify oursleves against all that Allah has ordained as evil.

So insha-Allah (with the Will of Allah),  may our Lord will give us the Taufiq (Divine aid) to reap the benefits of this summer of His Mercy and take our golden opportunity and get to Jannah (Paradise).

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

Well he’s coming!

Yes folks, the effervescent Junaid Jamshed, star Naat singer is coming to Leeds Town Hall on Sunday 20 July as part of a fundraiser for the Paradise Prep School, Dewsbury.

From what I’ve heard, the Pakistan cricketers Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammed Yousuf will also be present together with other guest speakers.  As it is an Islamic event, I understand that the women will be seated up on the balcony with the men downstairs.

For all those interested, there’s still a few tickets left, so ya better hurry before they get snapped up.  Check out the poster below for full details.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace

junaid-jamshed

Alhumdulillah (all Praise belongs to Allah) it seems that the Muslims of UK are in for a treat this weekend.

It’s the annual Ansaar Football Events/Activities Day on Sunday 13th which is taking place at Birkdale High School on Wheelwright Lane, Dewsbury. Activities include archery, bouncy castle, rodeo, the football tournament and many more.

As usual there will be facilities for Salaah (prayer) and Wudhu (ablution), not to mention plenty to eat!

So get yourself down there.

And please, e-mail us at hidayahblog@gmail.com or leave a comment and let us know how it went afterwards.

Ma’as-salaam – With Peace