The Muslim fashion magazine, Ala appeals to a conservative, chic female market in Turkey and in its debut year (2012) outsold Vogue and many other established fashion magazines. Interviewer: So what are the guidelines for conservation chic? Editor: We should cover our body except our hands, feet and face. Interviewer: Do you want the clothes to make Muslim women look attractive? Editor: No, we don't want to look attractive. Interviewer: But this to me, does look attractive, attractive clothes and an attractive woman. LOL

Read more on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9764870.stm

Three of the world’s oldest mosques are about to be destroyed as Saudi Arabia embarks on a multi-billion-pound expansion of Islam’s second holiest site. Work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, where the Prophet Mohamed is buried, will start once the annual Hajj pilgrimage ends next month. When complete, the development will turn the mosque into the world’s largest building, with the capacity for 1.6 million worshippers.

But concerns have been raised that the development will see key historic sites bulldozed. Anger is already growing at the kingdom’s apparent disdain for preserving the historical and archaeological heritage of the country’s holiest city, Mecca.  Most of the expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi will take place to the west of the existing mosque, which holds the tombs of Islam’s founder and two of his closest companions, Abu Bakr and Umar.

Just outside the western walls of the current compound are mosques dedicated to Abu Bakr and Umar, as well as the Masjid Ghamama, built to mark the spot where the Prophet is thought to have given his first prayers for the Eid festival. The Saudis have announced no plans to preserve or move the three mosques, which have existed since the seventh century and are covered by Ottoman-era structures, or to commission archaeological digs before they are pulled down, something that has caused considerable concern among the few academics who are willing to speak out in the deeply authoritarian kingdom.

“No one denies that Medina is in need of expansion, but it’s the way the authorities are going about it which is so worrying,” says Dr Irfan al-Alawi of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation. “There are ways they could expand which would either avoid or preserve the ancient Islamic sites but instead they want to knock it all down.” Dr Alawi has spent much of the past 10 years trying to highlight the destruction of early Islamic sites.

With cheap air travel and booming middle classes in populous Muslim countries within the developing world, both Mecca and Medina are struggling to cope with the 12 million pilgrims who visit each year – a number expected to grow to 17 million by 2025. The Saudi monarchy views itself as the sole authority to decide what should happen to the cradle of Islam. Although it has earmarked billions for an enormous expansion of both Mecca and Medina, it also sees the holy cities as lucrative for a country almost entirely reliant on its finite oil wealth.

Heritage campaigners and many locals have looked on aghast as the historic sections of Mecca and Medina have been bulldozed to make way for gleaming shopping malls, luxury hotels and enormous skyscrapers. The Washington-based Gulf Institute estimates that 95 per cent of the 1,000-year-old buildings in the two cities have been destroyed in the past 20 years.

Read the rest here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/medina-saudis-take-a-bulldozer-to-islams-history-8228795.html

Burma's president has acknowledged major destruction in the west of the country, after Human Rights Watch released satellite pictures showing hundreds of buildings destroyed in the coastal town of Kyaukpyu alone. There is long-standing tension between ethnic Rakhine people, who make up the majority of the state's population, and Muslims, many of whom are Rohingya and are stateless. The Burmese authorities regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants and correspondents say there is widespread public hostility to them. In Bangladesh, border officials said they believed several boats with Rohingyas on board were waiting to try to cross the river from Burma. One official said 52 Rohingya had been sent back in the last few days. Muslims throughout Burma have abandoned plans to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Adha because of the violence.

Read more on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20110150

Jimmy and the BBC

Sex abuse allegations against the once-loved British presenter have rocked a generation raised on his popular TV shows

24 October 2012 

Jimmy Savile was an eccentric British DJ, TV host and a tireless charity worker who was a big media personality in the UK for close to 40 years. When he died, aged 84 in October 2011, the former coal miner was one of Britain's most well-known personalities, famous for his trademark fat cigar and garish tracksuits.

Savile was a Catholic teetotaller who worshipped his mother and was knighted for his charitable work in 1990, the same year he was given a papal knighthood by pope John Paul II. But, unbeknown to most people, Savile was a paedophile, and police believe he used his position to abuse hundreds of children across the UK.

A year after Savile's death, Scotland Yard revealed it had launched an investigation into his involvement in allegations of child sex abuse "on an unprecedented scale".

Jim'll Fix It, Savile's most famous show, was a ratings hit and a family favourite, broadcast in the Saturday "teatime" slot – a prestigious spot for British broadcasters' flagship shows. The programme involved Savile making people's (usually children's) dreams come true.

The BBC, the UK's most respected media organisation, is now accused of having, at the very least, turned a blind eye to allegations of Savile's behaviour – some of which is said to have occurred on its premises to children Savile had met on his shows. An investigation by the BBC's Newsnight programme was scrapped amid allegations of pressure from senior executives. The BBC said it was dropped because of editorial reasons.

Lord Patten, the chairman of the BBC Trust, the BBC's governing body, has spoken of a "the appalling allegations, the cesspit of the Jimmy Savile allegations". John Simpson, veteran BBC foreign correspondent and one of Britain's most respected journalists, has called the scandal "the worst crisis that I can remember in my nearly 50 years at the BBC". Prime minister David Cameron has said: "The nation is appalled by the allegations of what Jimmy Savile did, and they seem to get worse by the day."

So far 12 victims are believed to have come forward and are considering legal action against the BBC and others. Scotland Yard has said Savile may have been at the centre of a network of paedophiles who targeted more than 200 victims. Police are investigating whether he had accomplices: former pop star and convicted paedophile Gary Glitter is alleged to have raped a 13-year-old girl in a BBC dressing room.

According to reports, Savile abused sick and disabled children at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Berkshire, a hospital that was the beneficiary of millions of pounds raised by Savile, and where he boasted he had his own bedroom. The hospital has said it has "no record" of complaints about him.

The British Broadcasting Corporation is an organisation as central to life in the UK as the National Health Service. While it is not in the strict sense a state broadcaster, it is funded by a compulsory £145.50 ($231.79) TV license. While the broadcaster is held in so much affection that its nickname is "Auntie", ot is also an object of fierce criticism from media rivals who argue that the TV levy has given the BBC an unfair commercial advantage.

The Savile scandal has prompted a fierce debate about the culture of the BBC, an institution run by "control freaks and cowards" according to the newspaper columnist Max Hastings.

Criticism is just as strong within the BBC. Reporters on Newsnight, the BBC's flagship and often hard-hitting current affairs show, have said they believe their editor, Peter Rippon, was under pressure from BBC bosses to drop an investigation into the allegations. Rippon wrote a blog post about the dropping of the show that contained a number of inaccuracies and has been described as a "matter of regret and embarrassment" by BBC director general George Entwistle. A rival BBC show, Panorama, this week broadcast a film that detailed the tensions within the BBC over the Newsnight report.

The British police and the BBC are now conducting formal investigations into the allegations. Under questioning from members of parliament, Entwistle was accused of "an extraordinary lack of curiosity" when first told about Newsnight's Savile investigation. Entwistle was not directly responsible for Newsnight at the time but he did have responsibility for BBC1, which was planning a Savile tribute.

Pressure is also on Mark Thompson, pictured, Entwistle's predecessor and now incoming chief executive of the New York Times. Thompson has said he is prepared to be questioned by MPs but that he was "never formally notified" about Newsnight's Savile investigation. In a blogpost, the New York Times' public editor Margaret Sullivan said the Times must not "pull its punches" covering the story. "His integrity and decision-making are bound to affect the Times and its journalism – profoundly. It's worth considering now whether he is the right person for the job, given this turn of events."

The BBC has some "very big questions" to answer, according to John Whittingdale, the chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee in the British parliament

 _________________________________

The blessed day of Arafaat begins TONIGHT (Wednesday 24th Oct) from Maghrib until tomorrow (Thursday 25th Oct) at Maghrib.

So the fast of Arafaat is tomorrow (Thursday 25th Oct)

In the UK the fast begins and ends:

Sehri ends 6:07 am

Iftar: 5:47 pm

Fasting the Day of Arafaat expiates for 2 years of sins!

Abu Qatada (Ra) related that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Fasting the Day of `Arafah (f: 9th of Dhu’l Hijjah) expiates for two years, one prior and one forthcoming. And fasting the Day of `Ashura (f: 10th of Muharram) expiates for the past year.” [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]

Subhanallah how merciful and generous is Allah. We should do our utmost to keep this fast and gain the immense rewards that are available to us.

ALL IS NOT LOST THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Scholars have concluded that the days (between Fajr and Maghrib) of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year, even more so than the days of Ramadan.

So if we feel down about not having made the best of these blessed days, then all is not lost as there are still 2 days remaining and the best of these 10 days which is the day of Arafaat starts TONIGHT (Wednesday 24th Oct) From Maghrib up until Maghrib tomorrow on Thursday (25th Oct)

Therefore we should increase ourselves in worship during these remaining couple of days by fasting the the which is tomorrow and doing excessive Dhikr, reciting the Qur'an, making much Dua and sincerely repenting as much as possible as Dua’s on the day of Arafaat is readily accepted.

Worshipping the 10 days on the nights of the 8th, 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah

Jannat becomes incumbent on those who worship during the nights of the 8th, 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah:

Mu'ãdh Ibn Jabal (Ra) relates that Rasulullah (Sallalahu alayhi wasallam) said, "Jannat is wãjib (incumbent) for those who stay awake with the intention of making 'Ibãdah on the following nights: 8th, 9th and 10th of Zul Hijjah, the night of 'Eedul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha'bãn." (Targheeb)

Therefore we should make utmose effort to worship Allah during these 3 blessed nights. If we cannot worship all 3 nights then we should at least worship on the night of Arafat which is TONIGHT (Wed 24th Oct) from Maghrib until Fajr. We should strive as much as we can to worship Almighty Allah on this blessed nights and ask of him for forgiveness even if it is for an hour, half an hour etc.

Surely on the day of judgement we will look back and be in utter regret at the opportunities we missed to do good deeds.

So grab the opportunity NOW and let us NOT be of those in utter regret saying.."Why didn't i do so and so? I am truly in utter loss."

One of my assignments for one of my mods has to be a case study essay regarding religion (or a religious aspect) online. For example in the past someone did it about confessionals online and the religious nature of those. 

I would really appreciate your ideas no matter how vague or crazy etc they might be, as I might be able to draw something from them and I'm really at a loss with this. 

Cheers guys, hope you're all well and have a great Eid on Friday 🙂  

The best of days is here: 1st of Dhul Hijjah after Maghrib tonight!

The best of days has finally arrived and how blessed we are to be alive so that we can gain the immense rewards available in the next 10 days & nights.

The 1st of Dhul Hijjah will begin tonight (Tuesday 16th October) after Maghrib as Islamically the night comes before the day. Tomorrow (on Wednesday 17th of October) will be the first of the 9 fasts. The main and most important of the next ten days is the day of Arafaat which will fall on Thursday the 25th of October. So Eid ul Adha should be on Friday the 26th of October inshallah.

The next10 days are called the BEST of days!

The Prophet (Sallahu Alaihi Wassalam) said: “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the ibaadat (worship) of each of these nights is equal to the ibaadat of laylatul qadr.” (Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah)

Therefore let us begin immediately in increasing ourselves in worship, dhikr, recitation of Qur'an, dua, contemplation and giving in charity, so that we do not miss out on the immense rewards that are available to us in the next 10 days and nights. Surely on the day of judgement we will beg each other and even our own mothers for just one good deed but we will be rejected as everyone will be in need on that day.

So we need every atom of good deed we can gain. Surely the next 10 days are a perfect opportunity for us to try and redeem ourselves, change our ways, renew our vows to our Lord and get closer to Allah and please him as much as we can before our soul is taken - which can be at ANY second!

In order to maximize these blessed 10 days please refer to the following thread:

10 ways to Maximise the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?307829-10-ways-to-Maximise-th…

May Allah enable us to make the best of these next 10 days in order that we can please him and be successful in this world and the next. Ameen

As you may have gathered, Issue 19 is all out of the way and now its time to concentrate on the next issue. Yes, thats ISSUE 20! For this issue, we'll be having an interview section, so obviously we're interested in hearing your suggestions.

So, who do you want The Revival Team to interview? Whose opinions on certain topics would you like to know? What makes this person special? Which person have you met or heard of, who has impacted you and society in general? Is there somebody you look upto as an inspiration and are they one of your many role models? Who is this 'someone' you'd love to know more about?

So, all i'm asking you to do is to tell me who you'd like to hear from. Who do you think we should interview and if possible, what should we ask them?

HIJAB IN ISLAM

Muslim scholars say that women who don't want to wear hijab will burn in the fire of hell.
Allah will punish girls who want to show off their bodies on the street or in work or at collage. Allah does not like Muslims to follow shameless culture of Kafirs. They let their daughters sleep with everyone in the office or at school. Allah hates such disgraceful actions.

Kafirs want our pious women to be naked like their disgraceful women who show bodies everywhere to all men.

Some Muslims women who have some weaknessnes in them, they give in to pressures by their kafir friends and so they stop wearing Hijab.

Pious women want to wear it. But west forces them to take it off.

France, may Allah curse it, has stopped Muslim girls from wearing headscarf in schools.
It is an evil nation. So is Germany, Spain, and Netherlands. They oppress women.

Media is on frenzy about Muslim clothes. They wants Muslim ladies to uncover themselves. West wants us to never wear modest Islamic clothes. They are paranoid about a simple burka which cover the body of a pious sister. Obsession with Hijab is making kafirs crazy.

What does Islam say?

Allah honours women who believe in Him. Sisters have to put the hijab on. Its better for them if they only knew. If you read the Quran you see that covering yourself up is Allah's order. Allah does not want good women to be enjoyed by every tom dick and harry. Strange men on the street have bad looks in their eyes when they see sisters.

That is why females have to wear clothes which hide their hair, chest and legs.

What do you have to say about covering up, or dressing down?