Off Beat News

MuslimSister —

Al-Azhar okays controversial book about Prophet Mohammed

Book, published in 1837 by Reverend George Bush, portrays Prophet Mohammed as 'imposter'.

The highest authority in Sunni Islam approved a book describing the Prophet as an "imposter" and Muslims as "locusts" that the Egyptian press continued Friday to attribute to the US president's great grandfather despite denials from Washington.

"The Al-Azhar Institute for Islamic Studies approved the book titled 'The Life of Mohammed, founder of the religion of Islam and of the Empire of the Saracens'," Egyptian newspapers announced on their front pages.

The book was published in 1837 by Reverend George Bush, whom Egyptian newspapers - including state-owned publications - have consistently presented as the current US president's great-grandfather.

But the government-run Al-Ahram daily said it had approved the book's publication "because it is a piece of documentation that paints a lively picture of the life of Prophet Mohammed."

Publication of Reverend Bush's work had initially been rejected by Al-Azhar and the turnaround puts an end to a year-long controversy.

An unnamed Al-Azhar official quoted in the official Al-Akhbar daily denied rumours that the publication was the result of US pressure.

"Al-Azhar does not bow to any pressure, whether foreign or local, when it comes to matters related to Islam," the cleric said.

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You — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 - 01:05

Got a big copy of the pic with that story:

http://i6.tinypic.com/13ztjk6.jpg

wow.

*DUST* — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 - 01:07

lol i saw this story on the bbc. so cute. 😂

You — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 - 19:49

but look at that pic! even if its of somethign diferent (which I doubt), its awesome!

But now onto another story. One I should not find funny to be honest

Lion Kills Man in Kiev

KIEV — A man shouting that God would keep him safe was mauled to death by a lioness in the Kiev Zoo after he crept into an enclosure, a zoo official said Monday.

“The man shouted ‘God will save me, if he exists,’ lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions,” the official said.

“A lioness went straight for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery.”

Police identified the man as a 45-year-old ethnic Azeri with Ukrainian citizenship.

Four lions live in the enclosure.

The incident, on Sunday evening when the zoo was packed with visitors, was the first of its kind at the attraction. Lions and tigers are kept in an “animal island” protected by thick concrete blocks.

Kiev Zoo, one of the biggest in the former Soviet Union, is home to more than 2,000 animals, birds and reptiles and receives about 280,000 visitors every year.

SPTimes

Should have jumped in AFTER they had ate!

MuslimSister — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 - 23:15

Spoilt for choice

Mothers are spending more on designer clothes for their young children than themselves. Has celeb culture reached the toddler market?

Greater love hath no woman than to lay down her credit card for someone else's wardrobe.

But the ultimate sacrifice is being made by mothers who are now spending more on dressing their young children than themselves.

While mothers are kitting themselves out from the bargain bins in Matalan and Primark, they're dressing their offspring in expensive designer gear - claims a survey from financial services company, Mint.

This research found that the average spending on toddlers' outfits is now £406 per year - and that 68% of mothers are now spending more on their children's clothes than their own.

A third of parents are buying designer clothes for toddlers - and Norma Gerrard, head of Mint credit cards, says it's all part of the "obsession" with celebrity.

There are now dozens of adult brands which have junior ranges. Armani jeans for a three year old? Yours for £80. Ralph Lauren junior T-shirt, £42. Burberry infant shorts, £56. Or how about D&G dungarees for a six-month-old, priced £57.

And what's going on with paying a fortune for designer trainers for children who haven't learned to walk?

BBC NEWS

I can relate to this...I have aunties who deck their little kids up reg in designer garms, despite the fact that they can clearly not afford it and the kids are way to young to appreciate what they are wearing.

yashmaki — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 - 09:29

regular high st brands for babies are expensive as it is. A new born baby dungaree can cost 20 quid and it's just very casual nothing amazing. Consider how little cloth is used for this garment, about the size of a large hanky how can they justify the price? To me that's too much, so designer babies clothes i doubt i'd pay for it, not unless i become rich over night.

MuslimSisLilSis — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 - 14:43

my kiddies will always be dressed up in the latest garms

i take pride in kids-all my spare time is spent dressing baby sis up

and i'm often getting into trouble cos i spend my pocket money getting her expensive stuff

i brought her pricy knee length boots the other day

Medarris — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 - 23:55

Dunno if its offbeat or not but

2 US Soldiers, 45 Afghans Killed, Mullah Omar Videotape
AP Headline; Purported Taliban Tape Blasts Coalition

By TINI TRAN Associated Press Writer

Jun 25, 2006, 10:17 AM EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) --

Taliban leader Mullah Omar purportedly said in an audiotape aired Sunday that Afghanistan's government and the U.S.-led coalition supporting it do not have the wisdom to solve the nation's crisis.

The U.S. military said two coalition soldiers had been killed in combat that also left about 45 alleged members of Taliban dead.

The recording aired by independent Pakistan station Geo TV was apparently made during a recent meeting of Taliban leaders in Helmand province, the network said. Its authenticity could not immediately be confirmed.

"They cannot solve the issue of Afghanistan based on their wisdom and thinking," the speaker said.

The station's reporter said the recording also included Omar's claim that the Taliban control large areas of the country.

Geo said the tape came in an e-mail from purported Taliban figures in the capital, Kabul.

The audio recording, if confirmed as Omar's, would be his first since July 2005, when he vowed that the Taliban would continue to fight coalition forces.

Omar led the Taliban in the capture of Kabul in 1996. Following the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, an American-led military campaign invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban for harboring al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his group.

The two coalition soldiers died at a hospital after they were wounded during a four-hour gunbattle Saturday, the U.S.-led coalition said in a statement. Another coalition soldier also was wounded.

The identities of the slain soldiers were not released.

In eastern Afghanistan, a police official said five Afghan aid workers, including two doctors and an employee of a Swedish aid organization, had been kidnapped.

Two doctors, an employee of the aid agency Swedish Committee for Afghanistan and two local government workers were kidnapped Thursday while driving in Nuristan province, said Ghalamullah Nuristani, the provincial deputy police chief.

Abdallah Fahim, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry in Kabul, said the five hostages were still alive and that police and Afghan troops were looking for them.

Mullah Umar audiotape.

Sirus — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 - 02:02

why on earth would you kill someone to get rich quick, when your dad is a millionaire? :?

Tidy notes detail murderous intent

A millionaire's daughter was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in jail on Wednesday after being found guilty of killing an elderly woman. What lay behind the killing of Anne Mendel?

Eighteen pages of neatly hand-written notes found in Kemi Adeyoola's prison cell describe in graphic detail her murderous plan to get rich quick.

Entitled "Prison and After. Making Life Count", the manual talks of finding a wealthy and elderly victim who she would rob and kill.

"She must be wealthy, quite elderly and defenceless," it said of the potential victim.

She talked of finding a victim to rob and kill. This would involve staking out houses worth millions of pounds in isolated areas.

The teenager said it was a work of fiction inspired by her fascination

BEEB

You — Sat, 8 Jul 2006 - 21:50

Polish president's twin to be PM

The twin brother of Polish President Lech Kaczynski has accepted the governing party's nomination to be the country's prime minister.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski first turned down the job after last October's elections, saying it would be wrong for the brothers to hold the two top posts.

Saturday's decision came after current Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz tendered his resignation.

Mr Marcinkiewicz will stand for the post of mayor of Warsaw in November.

The post was held by Lech Kaczynski until he was elected president.

'Major roadblock'

The development will make the Kaczynski brothers the world's only twins to hold the two highest posts in any country.

aroslaw Kaczynski acknowledged possible problems with this.

"There is a certain risk for the president and prime minister to be brothers, that was the major roadblock," he said.

"But for various reasons, we came to the conclusion that, at this time, putting forward a different candidate - of which we have many good ones - would be a worse way out than recommending me.

"The party leadership put forward a proposal, and I accepted it."

However, media reports say three other parties - deriving both from the anti-communist Solidarity movement and the former Communist party - have signalled they will now form a coalition to counter the danger they say the two brothers would pose for Poland's stability.

Mr Marcinkiewicz will formally step down on Monday.

Powerful pair

Over recent weeks, there had been frequent reports of a rift between Mr Marcinkiewicz and Jaroslaw Kaczynski over economic policy.

When the Law and Justice party won last October's parliamentary elections, Mr Kaczynski appeared to be the front runner to take on the role of prime minister, but he turned down the job.

At the time, his brother was due to participate in the second round of the presidential elections and Mr Kaczynski said it would be wrong for both brothers to hold the two top posts.

A former physics teacher, Mr Marcinkiewicz was previously the party's economic adviser head of the parliamentary treasury commission.

BBC News

MuslimSisLilSis — Sat, 8 Jul 2006 - 23:38

a 62 year old woman gave birth to a healthy 6lb baby girl and is the oldest mother in britian

so she'll be like 72 when her daughter is 10 :roll:

kas — Sat, 8 Jul 2006 - 23:49

Typical its Bush's great grandfather, now why doesnt that surprise me.

Looks like theyre all playa haters who really dont have a clue about anything.

Beast — Sun, 9 Jul 2006 - 00:46

kasTypical its Bush's great grandfather, now why doesnt that surprise me.

Looks like theyre all playa haters who really dont have a clue about anything.

[pompousness]You should make use of the "quote" button. [/pompousness]

You — Sun, 9 Jul 2006 - 01:06

Beast

kasTypical its Bush's great grandfather, now why doesnt that surprise me.

Looks like theyre all playa haters who really dont have a clue about anything.

[pompousness]You should make use of the "quote" button. [/pompousness]

any idea what the Kas was replying to?

Beast — Sun, 9 Jul 2006 - 09:50

The story about Bush's great granfather's book on the Prophet (pbuh).

Sirus — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 - 18:29

Paper Clip Into A House

A 26-year-old Canadian who started with a paper clip has managed to barter his way up to a new house.

Kyle MacDonald made 16 trades in almost a year using the internet to achieve his target.

He is now due to become the owner of a three-bedroom home provided by the town of Kipling, Saskatchewan.

The aspiring writer first advertised on an internet barter site wanting something bigger or better for his one red paper clip.

He managed to trade it for a fish-shaped pen and then exchanged the pen for a ceramic knob.

In turn, he traded up to a camping stove, a generator, a beer keg and Budweiser sign, a snowmobile, a trip to the Canadian Rockies, a supply truck and a recording contract.

In April, he bartered up to a year's rent in Phoenix.

The rent-free deal was swapped for an afternoon with rock star Alice Cooper and this was bizarrely traded for a snow globe.

There was method to the madness though, with TV star Corbin Bernsen, an avid collector of snow globes, deciding he wanted it.

He offered a paid role in his new movie and the people of Kipling decided they would like one of their community to get the role.

They offered a house in return.

"This is such a cool community project. It feels right," MacDonald said.

"And now that I think about it, I can't believe that another small town didn't think of it. It will literally put them on the map."

pretty funy....started off by swapping a red paper clip, carried on swapping, until he got a house. genius

1 year exactly and 12 swaps

MuslimBro — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 - 00:59

Baby spat upon in Islamophobic attack

A mother wearing a full Islamic niqab was left distraught after three men carrying alcohol cans walked by and spat on her 25-month old baby.

Nusrat Ahmed was heading home last week with her eight and four year old children and pushing a double-pram carrying her 15 and 25-month-old babies to catch the afternoon world cup match when she saw three white Caucasians walking towards her.

While tending to her son, the men walked by and spat on her 25-month baby.

The mother from Smethwick, Birmingham, told The Muslim Weekly that at first she had not realised until her son told her.
"By then they were too far away for me to do anything," she said.

She described how her baby was covered in phlegm that smelled of alcohol.

"I was just disgusted," she said.

"I was so distraught that a man saw me and came over to ask if I was okay. I said that I wasn’t.

"I asked him ‘Does my appearance disturbed you?’ and he said no. "When I told him about what had happened, he was disgusted too."

She said that she had not phoned the police because she believed it was "pointless".

"We as Muslims have to go through this everyday and I know they won’t do anything about it."

But she was certain that the men reacted in such a way because she was dressed like a Muslim.

"I just find it really disturbing that someone could do this to a baby," she said.

Dave — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 - 01:09

Muslim Bro

Baby spat upon in Islamophobic attack

A mother wearing a full Islamic niqab was left distraught after three men carrying alcohol cans walked by and spat on her 25-month old baby.

Nusrat Ahmed was heading home last week with her eight and four year old children and pushing a double-pram carrying her 15 and 25-month-old babies to catch the afternoon world cup match when she saw three white Caucasians walking towards her.

While tending to her son, the men walked by and spat on her 25-month baby.

The mother from Smethwick, Birmingham, told The Muslim Weekly that at first she had not realised until her son told her.
"By then they were too far away for me to do anything," she said.

She described how her baby was covered in phlegm that smelled of alcohol.

"I was just disgusted," she said.

"I was so distraught that a man saw me and came over to ask if I was okay. I said that I wasn’t.

"I asked him ‘Does my appearance disturbed you?’ and he said no. "When I told him about what had happened, he was disgusted too."

She said that she had not phoned the police because she believed it was "pointless".

"We as Muslims have to go through this everyday and I know they won’t do anything about it."

But she was certain that the men reacted in such a way because she was dressed like a Muslim.

"I just find it really disturbing that someone could do this to a baby," she said.

Up until thirty seconds ago (see hijab thread) I thought I had just witnessed the most depraved, indifferent, cruel, disgusting treatment of children imaginable. Now I am greeted with an even lower low.

Britain needs the death penalty back - and it needs to fit the crime. For example a bunch of drunks spit on a baby - then they should take their bottles, crush them and have them eat the glass, hopefully they will die a very slow painful death. If they somehow manage otherwise, well that's what guns are really for anyway.

What is going on over there and attacking CHILDREN??!

I've never wanted to blow up the world more than this present moment, I can't believe my kids are going to live here... Kids are getting brainwashed, attacked, spat on, blown up, blown up running away from their homes as they are blown up. And the craziest thing of all is that there are people out there that celebrate this! Defend it!

MuslimBro — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 - 02:57

Man held for poisoning daughter

Police in Saudi Arabia have arrested a man after he confessed to poisoning his baby daughter because she did not smile at him.

The man, from the Kingdom’s south-eastern town Jizan near the Yemeni border, reportedly spiked his child’s fruit juice with bleach, Al-Madinah newspaper reported. He believed that she loved her mother more than him. After the girl became critically ill the man took her to a hospital and told doctors that she had accidentally fallen in a water trough. The girl was transferred to a specialist hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Relatives who saw the body being prepared for burial were not convinced by the explanation given by the father about the cause of death and reported to the police that they suspected a murder.

Police interrogated the father who confessed that he had poisoned the child because she loved her mother and not him. Police took the man into custody and began legal proceedings.

MuslimSisLilSis — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 - 20:27

Students 'own hi-tech gadgets'

Students increasingly own an expensive range of personal items such as MP3 players, iPods, laptops and widescreen televisions, a survey suggests.

A study for Direct Line home insurance shows the average value of students' goods rose 50% over the past 10 years.

In 1996, students had possessions worth £1,900, compared with £2,900 now, the poll of 587 students indicated.

The findings come as students starting courses this autumn will have to pay up to £3,000 a year on tuition fees alone.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed by YouGov owned laptop computers, more than half had MP3 players, 48% owned DVD players, 12% had widescreen TVs and 6% owned PDAs.

BBC NEWS

i agree with this report as IPODS, MP3 players, cars, music systems, latest phones etc amongst teens is not uncommon anymore

dad recently gave us a laptop that is worth £1200

yet ironically most students myself including are umemployed and are looking at a 10,000grand Uni debt, minimum 😢

MuslimBro — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 - 03:37

Theme park Muslims-only day AXED

Britain’s biggest theme park cancelled its first ever Muslim-only day after poor ticket sales.

Alton Towers said it cancelled the September 17 booking because the organiser, the Islamic Leisure group, was unable to guarantee big enough crowds, Up to 28,000 Muslims were expected to visit the park in Staffordshire with music, gambling, smoking, alcohol and mixed-sex rides all banned for the day. But less than 1,000 tickets were sold

The fun day caused a race with non-Muslims being angered by the plans.

An Alton Towers spokesman said: "At least the park will be open to the general public."

Noor — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 - 03:39

Ahh well wasn't going to go anyway...

MuslimBro — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 - 03:40

Me aswell, theme parks were fun when I was young but it's not appealing to me anymore.

Noor — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 - 03:43

Ther still fun, wud have gone but im attending a Nasheed show on that day, Inshallah 😃

Sirus — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 - 14:12

it was not axed because of poor ticket sales - thats a lie

alton towers were pressurized not to go ahead with the muslims only day, and ended up giving in to whoeever, and cancelled

MuslimBro — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 - 03:45

A 70-year old Bangladeshi woman bought the hand of her 22-year old groom with cash and costly gifts, creating a sensation in the local community.

The marriage was solemnised in a mosque in Jalla village, Jamalpur district in central Bangladesh, the Bengali language daily Ittefaq reported.
Hundreds of local residents gathered in the village on Tuesday to witness the wedding of Sundari Begum and Bakkar Fakir. The groom’s family accepted Begum as the bride after she had given them 30,000 Bangladeshi taka ($500), and some other valuable gifts, the newspaper said.

Begum, mother of seven adult children from her first marriage, said she had fallen in love with the young man fours ago and was prepared to pay any price to win his hand.