A 71-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to stealing flowers from a child's grave in an east London cemetery.

Berta Manzanero, of Green Lane, Dagenham, admitted stealing four flower pots from Rippleside Cemetery, Barking, in November. She has been fined £300.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16112754

Over 1.5 million Muslims live in the UK, many in poor socioeconomic circumstances and facing social exclusion and discrimination, yet there is a paucity of research on Muslim mental health, in particular on adolescents. This study investigates whether psychological distress is greater in Muslim adolescents in comparison with their non-Muslim counterparts and whether distress is associated with level of ‘Westernisation’, sense of ‘Britishness’ and perceived discrimination.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 14–16-year-olds in two large comprehensive schools. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) were used to measure levels of psychological distress. Contrary to expectations, Muslim students had lower levels of psychological distress than all other religious groups at a statistically significant level (p=0.015). Family structure and academic achievement were found to be significant (p=0.009 and p=0.004, respectively) with the lowest levels of psychological distress being in Muslim students who lived with both biological parents and were doing more than nine GCSEs. Muslim students who were more Westernised, identified themselves as British and perceived less discrimination reported lower levels of psychological distress.

Belonging to a particular religious group may have protective effects on mental health possibly due to aspects of the religious community, such as social cohesion, family structure and support, or to aspects of the religion itself. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution as this is a limited exploratory study and further research is required.

Women Liberation

I find Islam to be liberating not oppressive: women are partners.

Islam is the first religion which systematically empowered women when women were considered as totally subservient to man. There was no concept of her being an independent entity and enjoying equal right with dignity. We live in a country where women are over-sexualised and sold as 'products' for capitalist gains. A woman's beauty is splashed around everywhere, and she is only judged by that. Islam tells a woman to cover up so that she is not abused as Western women are. Islam provides the security and respect to women community than other religions. The western countries are using the women as an entertainment channels. All the women in the world should think about themselves then decide what is right and what is wrong for them in other religions (than Islam)

What is feminism? Nothing but women’s movement to empower her and to consider her full human being and not mere second sex as ‘Simon de Bouire called her. Thus we see in western countries until early part of twentieth century she did not enjoy an independent status. It was only after thirties of twentieth century that she won equal status legally and various western countries passed the laws to this effect. Yet patriarchy is looming large on her in these countries.

Qur’an empowered her and gave equal status. Another important question is what is the difference between Islamic and western feminism or is there any difference at all. If we go by definition of feminism as an ideology of empowerment of women, there is no difference. On the other hand, women had no rights and but won through great deal of struggle and this struggle came to be known as ‘feminism’ i.e. women’s empowerment.

But there are significant differences also between Islamic and western feminism. Islamic feminism is based on certain non-negotiable values i.e. equality with honour and dignity. Freedom has certain Islamic responsibility whereas in the west freedom tends to degenerate into licentiousness, though not in law but certainly in social and cultural practices. In western culture sexual freedom has become a matter of women’s right and sex has become matter of enjoyment and lost its sanctity as an instrument of procreation.

Qur’an does lay down certain strict norms for sexual behavior. Both man woman have right to sexual gratification (a woman has as much right to sexual gratification as man) but within marital frame-work. There is no concept of freedom for extramarital sex in any form. Sex is permissible only with marital framework. Sex, as far as Islam is concerned, is not mere enjoyment but an act for procreations and hence has sanctity.

It is important here to emphasize that in a patriarchal society men decided the norms of sexual behavior. It was theorized that man has greater urge for sex and hence he needs multiple wives and woman tends to be passive and hence has to be content with one. This is not true as far as Qur’an is concerned. Qur’an’s approach is very different. It is not greater or lesser degree of sexual urge which necessitates multiple or monogamous marriage.

Whole emphasis is on monogamous marriage (in both the Qur’anic verses i.e. 4:3 and 4:129). Multiple marriages were permitted only to take care of widows and orphans and not for greater sexual urge and the verse 4:129 gives the norm of monogamy and not to leave first wife in suspense or neglected. Thus as far as Qur’an is concerned sexual gratification is a non-negotiable right for both man woman. And hence a divorcee and a widow are also permitted to marry and gratify their sexual urge.

Also, in western capitalist countries women’s dignity has been compromised and she has been reduced to a commodity to be exploited. Her semi-naked postures and her sexuality is exploited commercially unabashedly. It is totally against the concept of woman’s honour and dignity. Unfortunately western feminists do not consider this as objectionable but accept it as part of woman’s freedom. Some (though not many) even advocate prostitution as woman’s right to earn her bread.

This is against the concept of Islamic feminism as while sanctioning sexual gratification as much right of woman as that of man, it prohibits extra-marital sexual liaison and on one hand upholds dignity and honour of woman and on the other, exalts sex on the level of sanctity and restricts it for procreation.. Thus it would be seen that discourse of Islamic feminism, while having something in common with modern western feminism, it also significantly differs from it. Islamic feminists have to observe certain norms which modern western feminists are not obliged to.

There is institutionalised oppression of women in all cultures. In India Hindu female foetocide numbers approximately two million every year. Hinduism is rife with sexism. Women are classed as objects owned by men. The Muslims from the Sub-continent were converted from Hinduism. They carry even now a lot of Hindu traditions of dishonouring women mostly in isolated ruler areas. In urban areas Muslims are well educated both Islamically and worldly and women have all the rights given by Islam.

UNICEF photo of the year shows, a bridegroom, 40, with his 11-year-old bride in Afghanistan. The bridegroom is going to take care of her and their future children. UNICEF photo of the year must show that the teenage pregnancies and abortion, drug addiction, binge drinking and anti-social behavior is on the rise in Britain. All of them are burden on British tax-payers. This is sickening. It's no wonder Great Britain is in such a bad shape. Ten years old British girls are haveing babies out of wedlock. They are not allowed to get married but are allowed to have babies. Teenage pregnancy rate in Great Britain is the highest in Western Europe. It is a civilised country and Yemen is a backward country because it allows young girls to get married.

The Holy Quran gives more rights to women than the so called western civilisation.
Western Secularism cannot teach Muslims how to treat women. Islam teaches us how to be civilised. Islam is a middle path. Women are even abused in the UK Parliament, which is called the Mother of Parliament. It is not just verbal abuse the female MPs have had to deal with. The tradition of killing women for family honour is a “curse”. Violence against women is a global phenomenon. An Australian Judge failed to jail nine males who admitted gang-raping a 10-year old Aboriginal girl, by saying the victim probably agreed to have sex with them. More than half the babies born to British mothers this year will be outside marriage for the first time since records begins. There is a steady decline in marriage among British couples. Nearly all births to Pakistani mothers are within wedlock.

The veil signified the rejection of an unacceptable system of values which debased women while Islam elevated women to a position of honour and respect. It is not liberation, where women go naked. It is just oppression, because men want to see them naked. Miniskirts and plunging necklines represent oppression. Veil is a sign of liberation from a prevailing and dangerous western, secular norm – namely, a view of women purely as sexual objects. Western culture is liberalism, and that is in itself a set of norms. But now the time has come that liberalism must change its attitudes because Britain and the whole of West has undergone significant change. It is a fact that a veil cannot be equated with forced marriages, female circumcision or unequal education for girls. The real difference between man and woman is that they have different kinds of bodies designed for very different purposes, and they have also different kinds of mind because these, too, are designed to contribute differently to human needs and purposes. Men tend to be more imaginative and have more flair than women, but women are much more tenacious and better at multilasking than men.

Muslim boys and Girls need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Male and female Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Muslim youths feel torn between two cultures, thanks to the state schools with monolingual non-Muslim teachers. Islam teaches Muslims youths to be virgin but western education system teaches the opposite. It makes their lives very confusing. They suffer from Identity Crises. The solution is that each and every Muslim child should be in state funded Muslim schools because western education makes a man stupid and selfish according to Lord Bertrand Russell.
Iftikhar Ahmad
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Assalamu assalaikum,

What do you think of widowers who remarry after their wives have died simply because they don't want to get their hands out their pockets and raise their kids. They think its a womans job, i can't or i won't do it?

I bring this up because it often occurs within my community, and its happened twice under severe circumstances, and quite recently. In both cases the women were very young and terminally ill with cancer, leaving behind very young children, infants.

Considering the government fully support single parents and widows/widowers in this country, it's not as if these men couldn't remain at home and raise their infants or older kids alone.

I know islamically there is a waiting period, then the man can go and remarry, but this is a guide, its not a must. There's something sickening about it to me. I find it lacking complete compassion and love for the wife who has just passed and the kids in question. I mean is it too much to ask these men to at least appear to be mourning their wives and giving it at least a year?

Is it right to marry just with the intention that the new wife will be the nanny primarily, thats the purpose of the marriage?

Personally it angers me and disgusts me, i've told my husband if i unexpectedly died i would expect him with the support of my family and his to raise the children. if he wants to remarry give it at least a year, and even then consider the children, never let any woman treat your children like second class citizens. I've seen this occur a lot, men are so engrossed with their new wives they don't see them mistreating the kids. I do fear this a lot when i think about death.

A women who stabbed her husband to death in a row over what to watch on TV was jailed for ten years Dec 6

Leonora Sinclair, 50, repeatedly stabbed husband Lloyd in his leg after he refused to forfeit watching football to let her watch Harry Hill's TV Burp, the court heard.

Mr Sinclair, who was a deacon at the Ministry of Praise in Tottenham, north London, was found by paramedics bleeding heavily at the family home in Enfield, north London, on January 15.

http://voice-online.co.uk/article/woman-who-killed-husband-over-tv-show…

The battle of Karbala (10th Muharram 61AH) was when the Prophet ﷺ beloved grandson, the leader of the youth of paradise, Imam Hussain (as), was martyred in the name of Islam and the truth.

In the scorching sun in the desert of modern day Iraq, Imam Hussain (as) army outnumbered by Yazid's military and also very thirsty as the opposition had blocked them from the water. Yet they continued fighting until their lives were taken in the name of Islam.

It is said, on the day that Imam Hussain (as) died the skies and the earth 'wept blood'! SubhanAllah! And why wouldn't it! The Prophet ﷺ had said "Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain", he and his family were incredibly special and loved by the Prophet ﷺ and we should do the same!

[qs:3:169]

Anti-police sentiment was a significant factor in the summer riots in cities across England, according to a major study on the causes of the unrest.

The study by London School of Economics and the Guardian newspaper involved interviews with 270 rioters.

Of those interviewed, 85% cited anger at policing practices as a key factor in why the violence happened.

Four consecutive nights of looting and arson in August left five people dead and more than 4,000 suspects arrested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9655089.stm

The Fast of ‘Ashura (The 10th of Muharram) is on Tuesday (6th Dec)

The blessed day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) will be on Tuesday (6th Dec) in the UK. It is recommended to fast a day before or a day after the day of Ashura as well so that we can be different from the Jews who fast only on the day of Ashura.

So we can fast: Monday the 5th of December (9th of Muharram) & Tuesday 6th of Dec (10th of Muharram) or

Tues 6th of December (10th of Muharram) & Wednesday 7th of December (11th of Muharram).

For theUK the Sehri and Iftar times for the 9th, 10th and 11th of Muharram are:

9th Muharram: Sehri ends: 6:03 am Iftar is: 3:52 pm

10th Muharram: Sehri ends: 6:04 am Iftar is: 3:52 pm

11th Muharram: Sehri ends: 6:05 am Iftar is: 3:52 pm

The Virtues of fasting on the day of Ashura

Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Ra) relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it."[Sahih Muslim]

A whole year of sins forgiven for fasting on the day of Ashura:

Abu Qatada (Ra) relates that the Prophet (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallim) said:The fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. [Sahih Muslim]

Fasting the 9th of Muharram as well as the 10th:

Ibn Abbas (Ra) relates that when the Prophet (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallim) said: "If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram (as well)." [Sahih Muslim]

Note: This indicates that it is preferred to fast the 9th as well as the 10th of Muharram, however one can still fast 10th and 11th or even all 3. The more one fasts in the month of Muharram the more rewards one can gain:

Abu Huraira (Ra) reports that the Prophet (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallim) said: After Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim]

The Historical Significance of ‘Ashura

Ibn Abbas (RA) reports that the Prophet (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallim) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said:"It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it." The Prophet (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) responded:"We have more right, and we have closer connection with Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) than you have"; so Allah’s Messenger (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim]

May Allah enable us to benefit from fasting on these days and make us closer to him throughout the year. Ameen

Asalaamu Alaikum,

I wanted to share a very simple website I made recently (link at the bottom). It's basically a google powered search engine, the difference is, when you search for something, it filters out Anti-islamic/misleading websites.

People who are new to Islam or those with little knowledge would try searching for answers, only to be spammed by Islamophobic websites, some unfortunatly buy into this and are mislead. Even those who are knowledgeable, end up being fustrated by having to go through alot decieving sites.

For example, if you go on google and type "Taqiyya", you get this on the first page (jazakhallah to the brother who made this screenshot) -

As you can see it's bombarded by Anti-Islam websites, with the purpose to decieve the reader. However, if we do this same search on the filtered website (link at the bottom), we get this -

As you can see from above, the results are precise and they come from hand picked authentic Islamic websites. This way, you can find whatever you are looking for alot quicker.

I wanted to request two things from the brothers and sisters reading this;

a) That you could share the link with others you know.
b) That you could assist me in adding more Islamic websites to the search database.

In elaboration of b, I have added most of the main Islamic websites to the searches, there may have been some that I missed which I hope people can notify me of. The types of websites I'm looking to add are;

- Analytical websites (these websites are knowledge based and have alot of explanation of Islamic related material)
- Dedicated refute websites (websites that are dedicated to refuting Islamaphobes)
- Question and Answer websites (Involving answers given by Scholars)
- Websites that also refute deviant sects, such as Shia etc.

Blogs, forums etc. are also fine.

Here is a list of all the websites I've added so far - List

And that's basically it. This the website link, please save it -

www.searching-islam.com

Jazakhallakair for reading.

Most Brits think it's an activity best learned behind closed doors.
But an enterprising Swedish schoolmistress thinks otherwise.
Ylva-Maria Thompson has opened the world's first international sex school to teach its students how to be better lovers.
The Austrian International Sex School in Vienna offers 'hands on' lessons in seduction for £1,400 a term.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068218/Vienna-sex-school-opens…